2008 Atlanta Braves Thread

bigfische · February 17, 2008 11:06AM

OK, every other team has their thread started so it's time for the Braves' fans to get one going.

The East should be a very competitive this year. Last year the horses, metros, and Braves were only 5 games apart at season's end, and it could be close again this season.

Hudson
Smoltz
Hampton(obviously being optomistic here)
James(I like him)
and whoever

This rotation appears solid on paper with the 5th spot being contested between no less than 3 qualified candidates. I feel like we have finally brought our pitching quality back.

Soriano, Moylan, and a returning Mike Gonzalez should anchor a much improved bullpen.

Having Teixeira for a full season will be a huge plus for the braves, i can not think of a better switch hit combo than Chipper and him.

Escobar and Kelly Johnson could both lead of the line up and i would be confident. I would rather have Escobar lead off, with Johnson batting 7th or 8th. I am very worried abou Kotsay, but i feel overall our hitting will be improved. I would like to see Diaz in LF full time, but im not sure that is going to happen. Cox seems to not want to mess up a good thing with his roll as a platoon player, but i think he desrves an everyday job finally.

Overall, i think the team has improved, but not by a lot. The pitching should be better, the hitting marginally better, but the defense a little less with the absence of Druw. I optimistically predict between 86-90 wins. If that is enough to take the division will be the question.

Goot · February 17, 2008 3:22PM

<< 

Hudson
Smoltz
Hampton(obviously being optomistic here)
James(I like him)
and whoever

This rotation appears solid on paper with the 5th spot being contested between no less than 3 qualified candidates. I feel like we have finally brought our pitching quality back.
>>

HOW do you forget GLAVINE?!

Other than that......I agree

bigfische · February 17, 2008 11:01PM

Ha! Went a little to fast there.

Newcomp103 · February 18, 2008 1:32AM

I will cheer for them from day 1 until the last pitch of the season...I will talk about all of the "potential"with my friends and family....I will go to a couple of games like I usually do...I will get psyched if/when they go on a winning streak...I will expect the quirky injuries,Bobby getting tossed and the "why did he bring in that guy in that situation???"...I willl shake my head in disgust when they blow those "shoulda won" games...And I will watch and listen to as many games as my schedule will allow. I guess it is all part of being a fan!!!

bigfische · February 18, 2008 2:42AM

I am going to have to siwtch to direct TV in the next month or i will not be able to watch them unless they are on National TV. TBS made me like the Braves in the first place, and now they are gone

Goot · February 19, 2008 9:27AM

Let's not let this thread die! I'm also just curious to see who thinks Hampton will actually make it a full season without going on the DL.

By the way, here's Francoeur from last spring...

bigfische · February 19, 2008 9:41AM

Great picture!

Hampton........

I cant say i think he will make it without a trip to the DL, but i am somewhat optimistic that he can make it with a couple small stints on it. I dont know that anyone can expect more than that.

Newcomp103 · February 19, 2008 10:20AM

OK...Ok...I will go out on the limb....Hampton will win 15 games this year and not have any major injuries! He will probably have some weird something that may cause him to miss a few starts....but after the season is over, it will be considered a good year for him!!!

BTW.....I reserve the right to laugh at, taunt, make fun of or completely criticize myself in 3rd person if he blows out his arm in spring training!

bigfische · February 19, 2008 10:24AM

I am actually more concerned with Chuck's shoulder right now, i think he can put together a good season if healthy.

Since hampton will be gone after this year, it would be nice if some young guys got some spot starts for him on occasion, to gain experience but hopefully he can throw 150+ innings.

baseballfan · February 19, 2008 10:06PM

since you forget glavine i'm not sure your worthy of starting the thread but with that being said, what about that young SS they have is he going to start this year and will he be up with the team to start??

bigfische · February 19, 2008 10:55PM

Yunel escobar? Yes, he is the starting ss. if u were talking about elvis andrus, he was traded in the teixeira deal.

Goot · February 25, 2008 9:13PM

Mike Hampton was among the living at camp on Sunday and I actually saw him pitch. It was the first time I'd seen that in probably more than a year!

I'm actually really liking this team. I could see a wild card berth or maybe the division if all the pieces fall into place and we don't have many injuries (some are bound to happen).

LF- Matt Diaz, CF- Mark Kotsay, RF- Frenchy

3B- Chipp, SS-Yunel, 2B- K. Johnson, 1B- Tex, C-McCann

Rotation-
Smoltz
Hudson
Glavine
James
Hampton/Reyes/ Jurrjens

Bullpen:
Moylan, Gonzalez, Lerew, Acosta, Ring, Soriano,

As for back ups, Infante, Prado, and Lillibridge should keep the infield steady in case we have an injury in there (unless it's Chipper because if it's him.....blah). Thorman is decent and has experience. For the outfield Anderson (from Pitt) and Brandon Jones are good right now, but I see Jones being phenomenal in a year or so. Clint Sammons appeared to be decent at practice the other day but I'm really hoping we keep Javy for not only leadership reasons but also because he's comfortable with Smoltz and Glavine if McCann is not an option.

mrbecker712 · February 26, 2008 7:56AM

<< I am going to have to siwtch to direct TV in the next month or i will not be able to watch them unless they are on National TV. TBS made me like the Braves in the first place, and now they are gone

>>

Do you not get FSN or SportSouth?

bigfische · February 28, 2008 12:12AM

Goot- did you get a chance to see Jo Jo or Jurrjens throw? It looks like James will not be ready for the beginning of the season so i am interested on how some of the other options there look.

Also, i am pretty excited about some of the speed that some of the younger players will provide, i would love to see Atl be more active on the bases. It seems like Frenchy has the speed, but he is roughly at .500 on his stoen base attempts. I love willie harris stealing bases last season and i hope Cox emphasizes stealing a bit more in his last year or two with the Braves.

Mrbecker- I am in Iowa and get Foxsports Midwest; Cardinals games mostly.

Goot · February 28, 2008 6:10AM

<< Goot- did you get a chance to see Jo Jo or Jurrjens throw? It looks like James will not be ready for the beginning of the season so i am interested on how some of the other options there look.
>>

Yep, I sure did. Both threw live bp and looked pretty solid. I believe Jurrjens struck Johnson and Brandon Jones out. I can't recall Jo Jo striking anyone out though. However, Jurrjens allowed a homer to Tex and Jo Jo gave up, what would be, an extra base hit to Chipp. Jurrjens is a whole year and a half younger than Jo Jo though, so he has some time.

Also, I heard Roger Mcdowell talking with the media on Sunday and he said that James won't be ready for the season but is on schedule to make a Spring appearance in mid-late March. At least he's not totally shut down.

Here's Jurrjens...

and Jo Jo....

bigfische · February 28, 2008 8:07AM

jo jo looks slimmer than last year.

Goot · February 28, 2008 11:40AM

<< jo jo looks slimmer than last year. >>

I was shocked when I first saw him. I had an 8x10 of him with me for him to sign (which he didn't) and I kept having to look back and forth to make sure it was the same person.

bigfische · February 29, 2008 2:16AM

Jurrjens throwing on espn now.

bigfische · March 2, 2008 2:26AM

here we go again-

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Less than four games into the Grapefruit League season, Chipper Jones once again has reason to wonder when his injury woes will cease. The Braves third baseman was forced to abbreviate his Sunday morning batting-practice session after feeling discomfort in his right hamstring.
Based simply on the disgust he showed when he initially suffered the injury, it looked like Jones might have suffered a significant injury. But after getting treatment for nearly an hour, he told reporters that he doesn't think he's going to miss any significant time.

"You're going to do it down here from time to time," said Jones after arriving at his locker with a slight limp. " caught it early enough. I don't think this should be a big deal."

Jones felt some tightness in the hamstring during infield practice at Disney's Champion Stadium, and the discomfort increased while he was taking batting practice from the right side. After taking his first swing from the left side of the plate, he became disgusted and began walking off the field.

Once he reached the dugout, Jones threw his bat into a rack and exclaimed, "Stupid."

"I've got to be cautious down here," Jones said. "I'm not going to blow it out."

Jones had a similar response in mid-March last year when he strained his right oblique muscle during batting practice. That ailment kept him out for less than a week, and he's hoping to realize the same fate while rehabbing this hamstring injury.

When Jones pulled his right hamstring in April 2004, he went on the disabled list for the first time since 1996. During the three seasons that have followed, he's made four more trips to the disabled list.

But his hamstring hasn't sidelined him since 2004.

"This is not near as bad," Jones said. "In 2004, that was scary."

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

mrbecker712 · March 2, 2008 10:34AM

Anyone know anything about this Peachtree TV station that's carrying Braves games this year? Are they just regional for the Atlanta area?

bigfische · March 5, 2008 9:26AM

Nice showing by jurrjens today. I didnt watch it, but three scoreless innings is promising.

bigfische · March 7, 2008 3:40AM

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- All of the recent optimism that has surrounded Mike Hampton was erased on Friday afternoon, when he was forced to make an early exit from his start against the Tigers at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.
Hampton, who missed the past two seasons while recovering from separate left elbow surgeries, departed with an mild right groin strain with one out in the second inning. His exit followed a brief consultation on the mound with Braves manager Bobby Cox and assistant athletic trainer Jim Lovell. Hampton is listed as day-to-day.

As Hampton made his way to the clubhouse, it wasn't initially clear what he might have injured. While he hasn't had any recent elbow discomfort, the 35-year-old southpaw has still been concerned about the right hamstring strain he suffered in November while pitching in the Mexican Winter League.

Hampton's exit came after he'd thrown his 38th pitch of the afternoon. He produced two scoreless innings against the Astros in his Grapefruit League season debut on Sunday. That marked the first time he'd faced a Major League team since Aug. 19, 2005.

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Goot · March 14, 2008 9:23AM

Smoltz makes his spring debut and I'll be on hand to watch. He's schedule to pitch 4 or 5 innings, so I should have some decent pictures if I can get close enough.

bigfische · March 14, 2008 9:51AM

He seems to be pleased with his change up and curve from what i have read.

bigfische · March 16, 2008 12:30PM

Francouer was hit in the face with a pitch today, i hope it doesnt bother him this season.

bigfische · March 26, 2008 9:18PM

3 days, 11 hours 52 minutes

Newcomp103 · March 27, 2008 2:04AM

<< 3 days, 11 hours 52 minutes >>

Let's go Braves....let's go....Clap clap!

Goot · March 27, 2008 7:13AM

Heyward saw action today vs. the Mets. Yeah, he went 0-2 but I'd be shocked if a 19 year old would walk in and start to dominate like he will starting in 2010.

bigfische · March 30, 2008 8:06AM

getting close now

perkdog · March 30, 2008 8:30AM

Im officially Voting for Chipper to win the Triple Crown this Year!

Ok, maybe not such lofty goals but I did draft him in the 6th round of my fantasy draft so GO CHIPPER!!!!!!!!!!!!

bigfische · March 30, 2008 8:46AM

<< Im officially Voting for Chipper to win the Triple Crown this Year!

Ok, maybe not such lofty goals but I did draft him in the 6th round of my fantasy draft so GO CHIPPER!!!!!!!!!!!! >>

Im just hoping for 145 games. If he plays, he produces!

bigfische · March 30, 2008 10:06AM

playing very sloppy baseball right now.

bigfische · March 30, 2008 10:14AM

There we go!

bigfische · March 30, 2008 11:37AM

Not over yet!

Goot · March 30, 2008 11:42AM

I'm happy we used Ohman first and then Moylan. If we would've wasted Moylan for 1 out when there are extra innings on tap, I would've been pretty upset.

Aussie Aussie Aussie... Oy Oy Oy!

Goot · March 30, 2008 11:44AM

<< I'm happy we used Ohman first and then Moylan. If we would've wasted Moylan for 1 out when there are extra innings on tap, I would've been pretty upset.

Aussie Aussie Aussie... Oy Oy Oy!

>>

wow. I don't take back what I said about Moylan though. He's probably one of the best relievers on the team.

bigfische · March 30, 2008 11:46AM

Great game even though we lost.

Chipper hit well
Mark had some good swings
Mccann had what shoulda been a double
kelly hit the ball hard a couple of times
and Hudson was outstanding after the first inning.

Goot · March 30, 2008 3:21PM

<< Great game even though we lost.

Chipper hit well
Mark had some good swings
Mccann had what shoulda been a double
kelly hit the ball hard a couple of times
and Hudson was outstanding after the first inning. >>

Yep. We just don't like cold weather, that was it haha. I'm not worried though, the Nationals will begin to "assume the position" (4th place you sickos), within the next few weeks. Even if they don't, we all remember what they did back in 2005.

Edit: On to Pittsburgh and we get to see Glavine!!!!!!!

What are you going to do about your not TBS problem Bigfische? I, for one, got the Extra Innings package. The minute after my dad found out about the TBS thing he was on the phone with our cable provider haha.

Simply put:
Rays moving to FSN + Braves not on TBS + tiredness of lack of West Coast games on natl. TV = Excessive amounts of baseball for the Gootist in the form of "Extra Innings"

bigfische · March 30, 2008 11:17PM

well, they are doing the mlbtv free preview on the internet this week so i am going to check that out, if it seems ok ill just order that and hook the laptop up to the TV.

bigfische · March 31, 2008 11:40AM

not going down without a fight

bigfische · March 31, 2008 11:48AM

Yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh Boooooooooooooooooyyyyyyyyyy!

perkdog · March 31, 2008 11:57AM

Chipper off to nice start!

bigfische · March 31, 2008 12:19PM

Indeed, I thank you for the Chipper support.

kuhlmann · March 31, 2008 2:55PM

Bigfische ruff start!

im going to all 3 games this weekend. hope for a mets sweep. no offense.

sunday when santana pitches i hope glavine brings his A game. im want a pitchers duel. as friday and saturday i think will bw shoot outs!

bigfische · March 31, 2008 10:55PM

kuhlmann

should be a good series.

Im glad we get a shot at santana early.

Newcomp103 · April 1, 2008 2:59AM

It's a long season...but losing to the Nats and the Pirates the first 2 games is not good!! Is Kelly Johnson going to miss much time?

mrbecker712 · April 2, 2008 5:52AM

<< It's a long season...but losing to the Nats and the Pirates the first 2 games is not good!! Is Kelly Johnson going to miss much time? >>

If so, Prado will fill in nicely. I'm most concerned about our bullpen right now. Everything else seems okay thus far...

mrbecker712 · April 2, 2008 11:15AM

GO BRAVES! Win #1!!!!

Goot · April 2, 2008 11:18AM

Chipper Jones is determined to have a HUGE year and prove once and for all that he belongs in the HALL!

Nice win, the kid can pitch. Diaz had some great situational hitting and really stepped up for us. Tex finally did what he's supposed to.

I'm happy with it!

bigfische · April 2, 2008 11:36AM

Didnt get a chance to see the game but sounds like a hell of an eighth put it away.

Yunel is the shiznit.

Goot · April 2, 2008 12:08PM

<< 
sunday when santana pitches i hope glavine brings his A game. im want a pitchers duel. as friday and saturday i think will bw shoot outs! >>

It's going to be Smoltz vs. Santana on Sunday.

2008 Atlanta Braves Thread

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