Time for another team preview, our third in a series of 30.  Time to see who the hat wants to see today…

The last of the Divisions makes their debut.

Atlanta Braves – Team Preview

The Braves, they of the long division winning streak, have finally tasted some humility in recent years, due to the churning of a productive farm system and the result of the increasingly tight restrictions of their budget, which once allowed them to spend freely.

However, the Braves still have some talent on the team, also thanks to the farm system, but many of the pieces that make up the Braves are aging and might not hold up for much longer.  You'll see what I mean in a moment.

Starting Rotation

• John Smoltz (RHP) – Still dominant at his age, Smoltz’s stuff hasn’t dimmed much, but he has begun to break down a bit, missing time last season due to injury.  Still, he’s a quality staff ace and one who will serve as a stopper when needed.
• Tom Glavine (LHP) – Glavine returns for a farewell tour with the Braves this season.  While he has proven that he can at least be an innings sponge, I’m not sure how much he has left.  It may have been better for him to just retire.
• Tim Hudson (RHP) – Hudson remains a potential top of the rotation starter and will likely rise to the role of staff ace once Smoltz finally retires.  Though Hudson should be the Number two man, expect the Braves to separate him and Smoltz with Glavine.
• Chuck James (LHP) – James too is another player I’m not high on.  He’s got enough stuff to be a middle of the rotation starter, but he has faded badly during the last month of season.  He’s very homer prone and his control isn’t great.  I’m also not sure he can last a whole season.  So call me skeptical when it comes to how successful I think James will be.
• Mike Hampton (LHP) – On the other hand, I’m a lot more confident in James than I am in the one time ace of the Houston Astros, who has been an out and out disaster for the Braves.  This is supposed to be the season Hampton will actually contribute.  As a fifth starter, the Braves aren’t risking much, as they have an assortment of young starters they can plug in here if Hampton fails or gets hurt.

Bullpen

• Rafael Soriano (Closer) – Soriano is one of the biggest steals that the Braves have made in recent memory.  A lights out reliever that should succeed in the closer’s role, he was acquired for Horatio Ramirez, who has been disastrous for the Mariners.  He should take the next step to eliteness this season.
• Mike Gonzalez (Setup Man) – A solid reliever who could also close if necessary, Gonzalez will likely setup Soriano, depending on whether or not he’s ready.  I’m assuming he is.
• Peter Moylan (RHP) – A dependable reliever, this Aussie is an amazing story, having been virtually signed off of the Australian World Baseball Classic team last March.  He’s since made good on the opportunity.
• Will Ohman (LHP) – Ohman is a more than adequate replacement for Ron Mahay, as he’s an effective lefty specialist. 
• Royce Ring (LHP) – Ring finally got his shot in the majors with San Diego, but was dealt to the Braves in the Wil Ledezma deal. Ring has decent stuff, enough to be a solid middle reliever, but his big issue has been control. 
• Manny Acosta (RHP) - Called up late in the year, Acosta was rather good and should see time with the Braves this season.
• Buddy Carlyle (RHP) – Carlyle was an adequate fifth starter for a bit, but it looks like he’ll be moved back into the swingman role for Atlanta, which may suit him better anyway, as he was figured out late last season.

Starting Lineup

1. Kelly Johnson (2B) – The only real choice here for a leadoff man, Johnson has the potential to be an All-Star second baseman after the Braves shrewdly moved him back to the infield after playing left.  Johnson has decent hands moderate pop for a second baseman, though he isn’t quite as fast of disciplined as your stereotypical leadoff man.  Still, he’s a solid bet to improve and I’m willing to be that he’ll break out this year.
2. Yunel Escobar (SS) – The starting job is all his now after Escobar was impressive filling in for Edgar Renteria last year.  I doubt he’ll hit .326 again, but if he lives up to his minor league numbers, what the Braves will be getting is .294/.367/.411 out of the second spot in the lineup, which still isn’t nothing to sneeze at.  Still, I wonder if maybe shortstop prospect Brent Lillibridge might be the better bet long term. 
3. Mark Teixeira (1B) – Teixeira offers a lot of power, but also is a disciplined enough hitter to hit for a high average and get on base.  He’s a Gold Glove defender at first base and is one of the better players in the game.  He adds a major power threat to this Braves lineup, but to be quite honest, he is a mercenary player, as he is likely going to walk after this season for a bank breaking contract.  Atlanta has said they would try to extend him, but Teixeira is one of Scott Boras’ most devoted clients.  Which means, in the long run, Atlanta will likely only get a pair of draft picks for him.
4. Chipper Jones (3B) – Still a formidable offensive presence in the middle of the lineup, you do have to start looking for Jones’ replacement if you’re the Braves, as Jones is older and will only be good for able 130 games or so.  Still, getting that level of power production for 130 games is nothing to sneeze at and for the most part, he’s still able to handle the hot corner well.    
5. Jeff Francoeur (RF) – Probably a bit overrated, Francoeur is an excellent right fielder that carries a lot of thunder in his bat.  He has also been very prone to striking out and needs to improve on his walk total.  He has improved a bit in the past few years, so it might not be surprising to see if he takes that next step from a masher to an all around offensive force.
6. Brian McCann (C) – Possibly the best young backstop in the National League, McCann is a solid defensive player that is respected by his pitchers and calls a good game.  He also has excellent power numbers and is a solid fit here in the sixth spot, especially when you consider the heavy hitters ahead of him.  While the dip in homers is a concern, McCann does get a bit of a pass because he got hurt, which may have affected him.
7. Matt Diaz (LF) – Not a bad left fielder, as he has nice pop in his bat, is decent defensively and can be a solid contributor until Brandon Jones is ready.  I like him a lot and though Tampa and Kansas City gave up on him too quickly a while back.  He’s a bit of a free swinger, but he’ll likely see his walk totals increase this year because of the pitcher and the next guy on the list.
8. Mark Kotsay (CF) – The Braves are gambling that Kotsay can at least contribute something to the team this year, as Kotsay looked done last year.  Really, I’m not sure what the Braves can expect out of him, as his power looks gone, he no longer looks like he’ll handle the rigors of centerfield everyday anymore and there is no guarantee that he’ll be able to stay upright for most of the season.  Honestly, the Braves should have just offered arbitration to Andruw Jones, hoped he accepted, and just gutted out the season with a big salary.

Bench

• Brayan Pena (C) – A decent backup catcher, Pena doesn’t have much of a bat, but he’s a solid glove that can be relied on in a pinch.
• Omar Infante (UTIL) – A solid utilityman, Infante can adequately play nearly every position except catcher.  His bat is decent and he'd be a adequate stopgap in case of injury. 
• Josh Anderson (OF) – Anderson will likely be the main backup for the Braves outfielders and could see time in center if Kotsay is unable to stand up to the rigors of the position.  Anderson is merely a fourth outfielder, but he could be a decent one, as he has a decent approach at the plate and a little bit of pop.
• Martin Prado (INF) – Prado will likely serve as the other infield backup.  He’s okay, but not stellar.

Minor League Notables

• Jair Jurrjens (RHP) – Acquired from the Tigers in the Edgar Renteria deal, Jurrjens was solid in his major league debut and works with a low 90's fastball and a decent curve and changeup.  However, he's also been overworked in his career, so he could be injury prone later.  Still, he wouldn't be bad as a fifth starter for the Braves. 
• Jojo Reyes (LHP) - Another young lefty, Reyes has enough stuff to become a good 4th starter or so.  He could also see time later in the year.

• Brandon Jones (LF) - Jones has a lot of power and is eventually going to succeed Matt Diaz in left, sooner rather than later.

Final Analysis

The Braves  do have enough talent to keep things interesting in the National League East, but overall I think the aging rotation and the Braves essentially punting away two lineup spots will eventually cost them.  Sorry Braves fans, but you won't be winning the division again for a little while.

Final Standings - 3rd Place, National League East

After a much needed day off, it's back to the previews.

Let's see where the Hat wants to go today...

It's back to the National League for everyone.

Atlanta Braves

The Bravos finally fell from grace last season as the neglect of the bullpen, plus the combustion of the starting rotation, cost them the chance to extend their dominance over the National League East for another year.  However, the team isn’t hopeless, as there are some promising acquisitions by John Schurholz, plus players that stepped up as the season went downhill, that could result in a Braves team that could surpass expectations.

Starting Rotation

1. John Smoltz (RHP) – The resident ace is back for another go around with the Braves, as they wisely picked up his affordable option to keep him in Atlanta.  Smoltz is older now and he’s lost a bit of his edge as far as his stuff goes, but he is still very much a dominant pitcher, even at the age of 39.  Smoltz will head up the rotation once again and should rack up about 15 wins or so, depending on the bullpen. 
2. Tim Hudson (RHP) – Hudson was brutal last season, as lefties murdered him throughout the year.  Despite a winning record, Hudson hasn’t been the ace that he was back when he was with Oakland.  He should be a solid starter again, raking up wins in the double digits and at ERA in the low 4’s, but this isn’t what the Braves signed up for when they traded for him back in 2005. 
3. Mike Hampton (LHP) – Hampton hasn’t lived up to the gaudy contract given to him by the Rockies, but he hasn’t been bat either for the Braves.  He missed last season thanks to Tommy John surgery, but reports are promising that he can at least contribute to the Braves this season as a middle of the rotation guy.
4. Chuck James (LHP) – James was electric when he moved from the pen to the rotation, going 11-4 with a 3.93 ERA after the move.  With a full season now available, James should give the Braves some solid production as the number four guy.
5. Oscar Villareal (RHP) – Villareal was effective in four starts last season and deserves a shot to be a starter.  If he should falter, well, the Braves have got Kyle Davies to fall back on, though he shouldn’t be a liability as the fifth starter.  However, Villareal might not be long in Atlanta, as they view him as expendable.

Bullpen

• Bob Wickman (Closer) – Wickman lead the American League with 45 saves in 2005 and posted a 1.04 ERA in 26 innings after being traded to the Braves last season.  He’s averaged 30 saves over the past three seasons.  However, he is 37 and showed signs of vulnerability last season.  Wickman has been able to last this long because of the movement that he gets on his sinker and slider, though he was far more hittable in Cleveland, where he had a 4.18 ERA.  I don’t know.  It’s tough to project how long Wickman will last.   Pitchers tend to age more gracefully in the NL, where the DH is non-existent.  I think he’ll be solid, but unspectacular, this year.
• Mike Gonzalez (Setup Man) – Atlanta also wanted a setup man that could spot close if necessary, so they pulled the trigger on the deal that sent lefty Mike Gonzalez to them in exchange for Adam LaRoche.  Gonzalez adds depth to the Atlanta pen and is actually a better option to close than Wickman, as Gonzalez has a far better fastball and slider than he does.  The only problem is health, but the only way to prove that a reliever is durable is to toss him out there and see what happens. 
• Rafael Soriano (RHP) – Soriano, when healthy, is a dominant reliever.  In 2006 he posted a 2.25 ERA in 60 innings.  He was also sidelined at one point with shoulder soreness.  His season was cut short last year when he was struck by a line drive in the head in late August.  Soriano is viewed as a closer in waiting, thanks to his mid-90’s fastball and hard slider, but again, bad luck seems to follow him whenever he gets a crack at the job.  Though Gonzalez is the setup man, Soriano will provide great 7th inning relief for the Braves and should provide a spirited challenge for Gonzalez next season when the role of closer is up for grabs.
• Kyle Davies (RHP) – An terribly inconsistent pitcher, Davies will likely be moved into the bullpen in order to allow Oscar Villareal a chance to be the starter.  Davies could get an opportunity if one of the starters gets hurt or if Villareal flames out, but I do think that Davies meeds some time to work out some kinks in his performance before he starts again. 
• Joey Devine (RHP) – I think the Braves rushed Devine to the majors and he paid heavy for it every since.  However, during his September callup, Devine showed that dominance that made him a First Round pick, racking up a ERA of zero over 8 appearances.  Devine will likely make the big club, but he’s no longer viewed now as the closer of the future.
• Macay McBride (LHP) – A solid lefty reliever that can last an inning only, but he’s also not a lefty specialist, as he can strikeout both right and left handed bats.
• Chad Paronto (RHP) – This right hander finally returned to the majors this year and was solid.  He completes the bullpen.

Projected Lineup

1. Edgar Renteria (SS) – With the lack of a leadoff hitter, Renteria will probably fill that role for the Braves.  Renteria experienced a rebirth upon returning to the national league, returning to All-Star form an improving his fielding, committing less errors than he did in Boston (possibly due to the fact he didn’t have those crazy fans after his head.)   He has lost some of the range that he had back in his Cardinal days, but he’s serviceable enough to where his defense doesn’t kill you.  With two years left on a deal mostly paid for by the Red Sox, Renteria should stay in Atlanta for the remaining two years left, in order to give the kids a chance to grow.
2. Kelly Johnson (2B) – The writing for Marcus Giles may have been on the wall as soon as last May, as the Braves asked Johnson to begin learning second base before he underwent TJ.  Johnson is athletic, having been a shortstop, and has decent range for the position.  The question is whether or not he’ll be able to hit.  He’s got decent plate discipline, and the Braves envision him on being their leadoff man.  I’d hold off on that until Johnson proves himself.
3. Chipper Jones (3B) – With LaRoche gone, the onus is now on Jones and, well, Jones to help power the lineup.  Chipper is still very powerful and can be a threat in the lineup, but injuries are beginning to take their toll, as he missed time last season.  He should be good for another .300/25 HR/110 RBI season.  He should also be good for another 15 games on the DL.
4. Andruw Jones (CF) – Likely Jones’ last season with the Braves, due to free agency and the increasing payroll restrictions on the club.  Jones still brings a solid presence in center, despite the questions about his conditioning and his decreasing range, but that bat is still potent and dangerous in the middle of this Braves lineup.  The strikeouts will always be a problem, but Jones will continue to be a run producer for years to come.
5. Brian McCann (C) – With LaRoche gone, McCann moves into the role of run producer.  He overachieved last year with the batting average, as he never hit above .290 in the minors.  Still, it could be because the guy is still young and he’s still developing as a hitter (it happens.)  It’s more likely he’ll hit .290 with 20 or so homers and 100 RBI’s, depending on his lineup spot.  That’s still solid in any case and is more nitpicking on my part.  The biggest critique of McCann is his lack of an arm.  He threw out a Mike Piazza-esque 22% of baserunners last season.  Keep in mind he’s still quite young and needs time to grow, but to continue the Piazza comparisons, he was never really at throwing out runners and it never improved as he got older.
6. Jeff Francouer (RF) – Francouer put up another strong season, playing big as a defender and hitting for powering, hitting 29 dingers and driving in 103.  The biggest criticism is that Francouer has poor plate discipline and as a results racks up several strikeouts.  However, he seems to be getting a little more patient and he hits well in the clutch.  His athleticism has also lead to the belief that he might be able to handle centerfield.
7. Ryan Langerhans (LF) – It appears that Langerhans will be the starting left fielder, though Craig Wilson will see some time against left handed pitchers.  Langerhans was rather disappointing last season, with a drop in batting average and power being the most noticeable differences.  Still, he’s solid defensively and with regular playing time, he could again be a solid option in the back of the lineup.
8. Scott Thorman (1B) – The Braves really aren’t completely confident in Thorman's ability to serve as their starting first baseman, as seen by the signing of Craig Wilson.  Thorman doesn’t’ have the punch needed to keep the position and may only be keeping the spot warm for Jared Saltalamacchia. 

Bench

• Brayan Pena (C) – An okay catcher, Pena will likely continue to warm the bench unless injury (always a possibility with a catcher) crops up.  Pena is exactly what you want in a backup.  A decent defender whose bat won’t kill you.
• Craig Wilson (1B/OF) – Wilson will platoon at first base with Scott Thorton, who will be replacing the departed Andy LaRoche.  Wilson has great righthanded power, but gets murdered by lefties.  
• Willy Aybar (IF) – Aybar has a solid glove and hits relatively well enough that he wont’ be the death of you if he has to fill in for a extended period of time. 
• Chris Woodward (UTIL) – Woodward’s value is that he can play almost the entire infield, plus the outfield corners.  The bat is another story.
• Matt Diaz (LF/RF) – A total unknown so far, but he looks like he’ll make the team. He could be a bust.  Could be a valuable bat off the bench.

   

Farm System

The Braves do have some talent in the low minors, but for now, the system lacks talent that can help out now, as the 2005 promotions cleaned out much of the talent from the upper levels.  True, it’s possible some of the arms may surprise, but these are some of the few prospects that the Braves can work with in the meantime.

• Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) – Salty, as he’ll be called here (as I don’t want to spell that name again) is a solid hitter who experienced a series of injuries last season that kept him from producing as he did in 2005.  With some time to recover, Salty is primed for a rebound year.  The only question is whether or not he’ll remain as a catcher.  Salty’s name was tossed about in trade proposals this past off-season.  It’s more likely that Salty will be converted to first base this year, since LaRoche is gone and since Salty’s injury troubles make it more sensible to keep him in a less stressful position.
• Brent Lillibridge (SS) – Lillibridge was the prospect acquired in the deal that sent Mike Gonzalez to the Braves.  He’s a very good defender with great range, hands and is on target when he makes the throw.  He’s got a high walk rate, a solid bat that can hit for average and for some good doubles power and is a huge threat on the bases.  He projects very similar to Rafael Furcal and if he continues to improve, he’ll make the big club as soon as next year, allowing the Braves to slide Renteria over to second.
• Matt Harrison (LHP) – Harrison is tall and has power stuff, as his fastball sits in the mid 90’s and he’s got a plus curve and changeup.  Harrison still need some work, but he could be a factor late in the season.

In Conclusion

The Braves are better, this season, as the offense is mostly there and the bullpen and rotation are much improved.  But, with the Mets’ strong lineup and bullpen, plus the much improved Phillies, who should compete for a Wild Card spot, I think the highest the Braves will finished is in third.

Final Result:                Third in National League East

Friday Morning Closer

So, here’s my five-pitch outing for the day:

Derek Jeter, Overrated!?  Please.

Players voted Derek Jeter as the most overrated player in baseball in a Sports Illustrated poll.

Please.

Jeter, while getting paid millions, is a solid player who delivers for his team day in and day out.  He plays hard, will often play with injuries during the playoffs so that he can continue to help the team.  He’s a good fielder, an excellent batter, and a capable leader.  Just because he gets paid millions doesn’t mean he’s overrated.  It just mean’s he’s well paid. 

So who is overrated?

Here’s a quick list:

Carlos Beltran – Great complementary player, but not a superstar.  #### You Scott Boras.

Chipper Jones – A solid third baseman and a great team player.  But not as dangerous as people have made him out to be.

Barry Zito – A great starter, but gets way to much pub because of his Cy Young win.  Is likely only a number two starter at best.

Eric Gagne – Was a crappy starter, then suddenly became lights out as a closer before going down with injury and now is fostering rumors of possible steroid use.

Josh Beckett – Had that great World Series in 2003, then became a non-factor in the Marlins rotation since.  However, this may be because the Marlins rushed his #### to the majors too quickly. 

Another Lame Trade Deadline Lies Ahead…

Ah, another crappy trade deadline period looms.  Because of the fact that most of the superstars are locked up and so many teams are going to be remaining competitive until August or so, you’ll probably see a run on complementary players, bench players, and replacement players at the break.  Stars get hurt all the time.  There’s nothing that can be done about it.  And those teams that are so close to contending will raid other non-contenders or teams with excess players in order to get themselves.

So who could we see become a suddenly hot property if a star goes down with a season ending injury?  Here’s a rough guess:

Craig Wilson (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Plays first base and the outfield.  He’s also got some nice pop to his bad and is a good defender as well.  Also has an expiring contract, so he would be under no obligation to stay.

Tony Womack (Free Agent) – Will get a call if something happens to someone’s second baseman.  Not what he once was, but he’s got good speed and can be decent at the infield.  He can’t hit anymore, so it’s likely that he’d be better off in the American League, where he could be hidden in the 9^th spot, something that can’t be done in the National League.

Steve Finley (San Francisco Giants) – An old player, but could be good as a fourth outfielder in some American League clubs.  He’s still speedy on the bases, which is a plus.

Mark Bellhorn (San Diego Padres) – Is a strikeout machine, but Bellhorn can still adequately play second and possibly some other infield position. He’s still got some pop to his bat, which is a definite plus.

Chris Burke (Houston Astros) – Is good enough to play second base on a regular basis, but is blocked by Craig Biggio.  Still, he’s being groomed as their second baseman of the future.  He can also play the outfield and is a great defender.  Also can hit the ball hard and consistently. 

Bill Hall (Milwaukee Brewers) – Still can produce, but he’s no longer a starter.  A great utility player, Hall can still produce good numbers, but doesn’t draw walks consistently.  Also strikes out a lot.

Reggie Sanders (Kansas City Royals) – Can still hit the long ball and plays a great right field.  His contract will turn off some teams, but Sanders is a great pickup for those teams that need another power bat in the lineup. 

Nationals Finally Have An Owner

Well, the Nats finally have an owner after the team was bought in 2002 from Jeffery Loria.  The team has been to a group headed by Ted Lerner, sold for the cool price of $450 million, which will equate to about $15.5 million dollars for each of the 29 teams.  The team was largely dealt a bad hand by baseball as a whole.  There was too little money given to the team (the most example was in 2003, when baseball refused to give the Expos $50,000 to call up minor leaguers to help them compete for a playoffs) and at times thought to be undercut by competitors.

The new management has a tough road ahead.  First off, they must market the team in a town that has long been dominated by Peter Angelos and the Orioles.  They’ll have to ensure that their television contract is adequate, that they are able to mend fences with the DC City Council, which is miffed that Lerner does not more minority owners in his group and is still angry at Baseball over the fight for the stadium-financing plan.

Second, the team has a weak farm system.  Terrible drafts and trades have severely weakened the system, which has some talent down in the High Class A and a couple in Triple AAA, but most of the major league ready talent that the Nats could have called up has been.  While they’ll likely be in position to draft well for the next couple of years and possibly bring in a few free agents that could make a difference, the bread and butter of a team is always the farm.  Still, I have high hopes for the Nationals  as they will begin to start rebuilding the right way, without the rest of the 29 teams butting in.  The best thing about all of this is that the Nats are finally self sufficient and have an owner that is willing to not only put in money into the team, but seems to be well grounded and has Stan Kasten, who will keep the team on course.   Things might be rough in the short term, but the future is bring in Washington.

The Most Valuable Royals Card Ever!!!!!!!

For those people who used to collect baseball cards, this story is for you.

The hottest baseball card in all of baseball isn’t of Nolan Ryan, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, even Derek Jeter.

It’s of Kansas City Royal prospect Alex Gordon, who has yet to play in the major leagues. 

Why is his rookie card so hot, selling for as much as $2,550 in recent weeks?

For those that follow the hobby, the MLB Players Association ruled that card manufacturers could only make rookie cards of players who either made the 25 man roster or played in a major league game the season before.  Gordon does qualify, as he didn’t sign his contract until late last September.  Topps realized at the last minute, destroyed the cards already produced and the production plate themselves.  But some cards did make it into circulation at some Wal-Marts in the earliest production runs only.  A fan named Jeremy Troutman pulled five of Gordon's cards and sold all five of them to different collectors for a total of $5,761.79.  Other copies are circulating eBay, including other variants of the card.

The last major error of this magnitude in the trading card industry happened in 1989, when a Fleer card featuring Billy Ripken was released.  According to legend, Billy’s big brother Cal wrote the words #### Face on the knob of the bat that Ripken used in the picture.  Fleer noticed the error and produced more than six versions of that card, but the original remained the hottest property, selling for hundreds of dollars at the time. Today, that card can be had for $5. 

Will I buy it?  Probably not.  But it’s just part of the fun of collecting baseball cards.

Genius!

Yesterday it was announced that the Team USA bus would be unmarked during the FIFA World Cup in Germany.  The reason being is so that terrorists would not be able to tell which bus was the American’s bus while traveling or while parked.  All the other buses will be marked with their Flags, leaving Team USA’s bus as the only blue one in the parking lot.

Right….