2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

-Sick Bullpen
-Starting Pitching question marks
-Hitting question marks
-Lots of Young Talent
-Very Deep Bench

Go Braves!
My Prediction: 87-75 - 2nd in the east behind the Mets. Battling for the WC

40-Man Roster
Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
* 62 Manny Acosta R/R 6-4 170 05/01/81
* 60 Jose Ascanio R/R 6-0 150 05/02/85
* 48 Blaine Boyer R/R 6-3 215 07/11/81
40 Lance Cormier R/R 6-1 200 08/19/80
26 Kyle Davies R/R 6-2 205 09/09/83
* 34 Joey Devine R/R 6-1 225 09/19/83
51 Mike Gonzalez R/L 6-2 220 05/23/78
32 Mike Hampton R/L 5-10 195 09/09/72
15 Tim Hudson R/R 6-1 170 07/14/75
36 Chuck James L/L 6-0 190 11/09/81
* 50 Anthony Lerew L/R 6-3 220 10/28/82
49 Macay McBride L/L 5-11 210 10/24/82
58 Peter Moylan R/R 6-3 220 12/02/78
54 Chad Paronto R/R 6-5 250 07/28/75
19 Mark Redman L/L 6-5 245 01/05/74
29 John Smoltz R/R 6-3 220 05/15/67
39 Rafael Soriano R/R 6-1 220 12/19/79
* 57 Phil Stockman R/R 6-8 250 01/25/80
37 Tanyon Sturtze R/R 6-5 230 10/12/70
56 Oscar Villarreal L/R 6-0 215 11/22/81
28 Bob Wickman R/R 6-1 240 02/06/69
33 Tyler Yates R/R 6-4 240 08/07/77

Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
16 Brian McCann L/R 6-3 210 02/20/84
8 Brayan Pena S/R 5-11 220 01/07/82

Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
14 Willy Aybar S/R 5-11 200 03/09/83
10 Chipper Jones S/R 6-4 230 04/24/72
4 Pete Orr L/R 6-1 185 06/08/79
24 Martin Prado R/R 6-1 170 10/27/83
11 Edgar Renteria R/R 6-1 200 08/07/75
20 Scott Thorman L/R 6-3 235 01/06/82
5 Chris Woodward R/R 6-0 190 06/27/76

Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
* 61 Gregor Blanco L/L 5-11 170 12/12/83
* 27 T.J. Bohn R/R 6-5 210 01/17/80
23 Matt Diaz R/R 6-1 205 03/03/78
7 Jeff Francoeur R/R 6-4 220 01/08/84
2 Kelly Johnson L/R 6-1 205 02/22/82
25 Andruw Jones R/R 6-1 210 04/23/77
18 Ryan Langerhans L/L 6-3 205 02/20/80
38 Craig Wilson R/R 6-2 220 11/30/76

Good news on Hampton (if they're can be):
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/artic...sp&c_id=atl

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

How in the world could you predict them to place ahead of Philly?

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
How in the world could you predict them to place ahead of Philly?

[/ QUOTE ]

Very Easily?

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
How in the world could you predict them to place ahead of Philly?

[/ QUOTE ]\

because maybe he, like I, has failed to see any rationale for everyone assuming philly will magically be so much better

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

Magically? Phillies were better last year and are really young so most likely improving, and added starting pitching, their problem from last year.

In short, you are a moron.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
-Sick Bullpen
-Starting Pitching question marks
-Hitting question marks
-Lots of Young Talent
-Very Deep Bench


[/ QUOTE ]

This doesn't sound like a playoff team. While I think that there were some good decisions made in the offseason (Bullpen upgrades), the starting pitching is average at best, the right side of the IF is questionable, and the lineup will not score more runs than Philly or NY. I don't see them placing better than 3rd.

Enjoy Mark Redman.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

aiy, i think the phillies get a little too much credit every year, but there is talent on that team...

i can't believe how much the braves upped their bullpen lately, it was atrocious the first half of last year if i'm not mistaken...

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
Magically? Phillies were better last year and are really young so most likely improving, and added starting pitching, their problem from last year.

In short, you are a moron.

[/ QUOTE ]

in short, the phillies are over-rated every single freaking year

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

1) the braves rotation is better
2) the braves bullpen is better
3) the braves outfield is better (hugely so in center and right)
4) the braves depth is better
5) the phillies infield is better (3b huge advantage braves, 1b huge advantage phils, 2b huge advantage phils, SS slight advantage to phils, but not much)
6) the braves catcher is light years better


tell me where you see Philly being better?

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

i think the braves and phillies match up, but do either team stack up against the mets??

offense goes to the mets, enough so to cancel out the depth imo...

met pitching is weak, but gets a boost with pedro coming back...

if sanchez finds his form, then him, heilman, ring(?) and wagner could hold up...

the met starting pitching again worries me as it's very questionable...dunno if the braves can challenge though this year...

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
Magically? Phillies were better last year and are really young so most likely improving, and added starting pitching, their problem from last year.

In short, you are a moron.

[/ QUOTE ]


I'll believe the Phillies can win that division when I see it.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
-Sick Bullpen
-Starting Pitching question marks
-Hitting question marks

My Prediction: 87-75

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
-Sick Bullpen
-Starting Pitching question marks
-Hitting question marks

My Prediction: 87-75

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't worry, they have orange & blue blood running through them this year, they will win. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

Also, I didn't expect this thread to turn in to a Philly love fest(go make your own thread) & a Braves hate fest. I really wanted to discuss with Braves(or others) who know the Braves better than me. I wanted to see what everyone feels about the upcoming season, not how the Phillies are dominate(oh wait, they're not)

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

Just because the Braves have question marks doesn't mean they are bad, so yes there can be question marks and plenty of hope to make a run at the division/WC. They had similar issues last year & would have been competing for the division/winning the WC if they had half a bullpen.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

Face it man, the Bravos are gonna suck for a while, they had their time to be good and won 1, thats right only 1 WS. GL beating the Mets this year.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I didn't expect this thread to turn in to a Philly love fest(go make your own thread) & a Braves hate fest. I really wanted to discuss with Braves(or others) who know the Braves better than me. I wanted to see what everyone feels about the upcoming season, not how the Phillies are dominate(oh wait, they're not)

[/ QUOTE ]

I will never claim the phillies are "dominate." However, they led the NL in runs scored last year and didnt lose anybody (Braves were second in runs scored). The Braves and Phillies had the same ERA last year, mediocre.

The Braves no longer have their 1B and 2B (who wasnt productive anyway). Their starting pitching is still average, (like many teams, one ace, a few guys who will probably be about average, and scrubs fighting for the last spot or 2). Their bullpen is now pretty awesome, and I guess we'll see how many leads they have to protect.

The Phillies improved their SP depth, and the emergence of Hamels makes the rotation formidable. The bullpen sucks, admittedly, and it is unclear how the lack of depth there will affect the team's success. However, I would rather have a solid rotation and undefined bullpen than vice-versa. Tom Gordon needs to stay healthy (not a given).

Lastly, it was said somewhere that new threads for each team are unwieldly and not desired. I dont think anyone wants to see 30 different threads discussing each team.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
How in the world could you predict them to place ahead of Philly?

[/ QUOTE ]

http://static.flickr.com/70/168036681_2e20de98f8_m.jpg vs. http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/33/2006/336642.jpg

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

Mark Redman:
http://graphics.boston.com/bonzai-fb...58563_3979.jpg

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
1) the braves rotation is better

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait, are you sure about that? I'll take the Phillies rotation.

[ QUOTE ]
2) the braves bullpen is better
3) the braves outfield is better (hugely so in center and right)
4) the braves depth is better

[/ QUOTE ]

No doubt.

[ QUOTE ]
5) the phillies infield is way way way way way way way better

[/ QUOTE ]

Best infield in the NL. This is an enormous difference.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
Lastly, it was said somewhere that new threads for each team are unwieldly and not desired. I dont think anyone wants to see 30 different threads discussing each team.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. This can be the NL East thread instead of having seperate threads for the Phillies, Mets and Braves.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

Atlanta blew 29 saves last year and still only finished 6 games behind the Phils.

Beating them will be eeeeeasy.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Magically? Phillies were better last year and are really young so most likely improving, and added starting pitching, their problem from last year.

In short, you are a moron.

[/ QUOTE ]


I'll believe the Phillies can win that division when I see it.

[/ QUOTE ]
I do not dispute that the Braves have a chance to win the division, but I do say it's extremely unlikely. I see 2 better teams. You say the Phillies can't win; would you give me 20:1 odds in a friendly wager?

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
Atlanta blew 29 saves last year and still only finished 6 games behind the Phils.

Beating them will be eeeeeasy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think beating anyone will be easy this season, but I'm confident if we stay healthy, the bullpen will be the difference in a much improved year.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

I don't want to talk about the Mets in my thread. [censored] that.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

Watching Andruw and McCann go back to back against zumaya yesterday made me ejaculate a little bit...

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
I don't want to talk about the Mets in my thread. [censored] that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
Watching Andruw and McCann go back to back against zumaya yesterday made me ejaculate a little bit...

[/ QUOTE ]

Damn I missed it, highlights?

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Watching Andruw and McCann go back to back against zumaya yesterday made me ejaculate a little bit...

[/ QUOTE ]

Damn I missed it, highlights?

[/ QUOTE ]

Andruw went op field with a weak (99 mph) fastball and McCann pasted a curveball about 395 ft. So sweet...

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
1) the braves rotation is better

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait, are you sure about that? I'll take the Phillies rotation.

[ QUOTE ]
2) the braves bullpen is better
3) the braves outfield is better (hugely so in center and right)
4) the braves depth is better

[/ QUOTE ]

No doubt.

[ QUOTE ]
5) the phillies infield is way way way way way way way better

[/ QUOTE ]

Best infield in the NL. This is an enormous difference.

[/ QUOTE ]


one big difference doesnt outweigh the obvious disadvantages at every other position

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
one big difference doesnt outweigh the obvious disadvantages at every other position

[/ QUOTE ]

True, but last time I checked the infield is four positions, not one. Futhermore, the Braves aren't better at every other position.

Top to bottom, the Phillies have a better line-up.

The Phillies have a better rotation.

The Braves have a better bullpen.

The Braves have a better bench.

The Braves have better coaching.

I'd say that's about equal overall.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

I think Tim Hudson is going to have a great year.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

really strongly dont think the phillies rotation is better when you factor in that noone even approaches smoltz (or hudson if he returns to form for that matter)

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
really strongly dont think the phillies rotation is better when you factor in that noone even approaches smoltz (or hudson if he returns to form for that matter)

[/ QUOTE ]
Hudson even in good form is no better than Myers or even Hammels for that matter and he has been unable to show that form in Atlanta.

I think Jamie Moyer is the same age as Smoltz. Oh, you didn't mean that approaches.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

This thread is absolute rock-solid proof of why every team needs its own forum. My eyeballs, they bleed, and now I want Washington and Florida to beat both the Braves and Phillies, so annoying are some of you.

Anyway, Braves question. In the absence of any team in Phoenix, from the early 80s through the 90s I adopted the Braves as "my team" since they were on WTBS a lot. You know, Dale Murphy, Bruce Benedict, Claudell Washington, Chris Chambliss, Ken Oberkfell, Bob Horner, Brad Komminsk, Pascual Perez, Steve McMurtry, Len Barker, Brett Butler, et al.

My question is about those last two. Do any of you Braves historians remember the Barker-Butler trade? Didn't it actually happen in the course of the season but wasn't to take effect until the following campaign? I thought I remembered Turner authorizing the (horrible IIRC) trade, but then he was like WTF, Butler for Barker (and others I believe) is a total suck ass trade, and tried to back out of it while he still had time? I couldn't find anything about this online. Does this ring a bell with anyone? Thanks.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
My question is about those last two. Do any of you Braves historians remember the Barker-Butler trade? Didn't it actually happen in the course of the season but wasn't to take effect until the following campaign?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm pretty sure it took effect immediately. The '83 Braves were in a close race with the dodgers and felt they needed another solid starter. The Braves also gave up Brook Jacoby who became an all star. It was pretty much the worst trade ever.

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

I'm about to get some Braves/Red Sox tickets for later this season in Atlanta. Ship it!

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

Brett Butler was a PTBNL

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

[ QUOTE ]
Brett Butler was a PTBNL

[/ QUOTE ]
Ah that makes sense, thanks. I remembered him being a lame duck player for the Braves and there being some outcry that they gave up too much in the trade and tried to reverse it.

My knowledge of how the PTBNL process is handled is nil - is it done via an arbitrator?

Re: 2007 Atlanta Braves Thread: Reclaiming the NL East
 

No, they're negotiated though the two teams. Normally the team with the PTBNL will give a list of players that they'd give up, and the other team will take time to evaluate their needs and the players before choosing.