**Atlanta Braves offseason thread

[MEbenhoe]

vyse/borgland,

please take this personal argument to PMs and stop derailing thread.

Thanks

[Borgland]

Back on topic:

No surprise that Hampton's hurt again.

The competition for the #4 and #5 spot in the rotation is still wide open. I like Chuck James and all but he has got to develop some consistency. Jair Jurrjens(say that 3 times fast), Reyes, and Jeff Bennett are going to strongly compete for those slots. James may be the favorite but he still has a lot to prove. He'll probably be #4 because it's his third year as a starter so that gives him the experience edge. He actually reminds me of Glavine by his demeanor on the mound. Hopefully Glavine helps him out.

[rwperu34]

[ QUOTE ]
Back on topic:

No surprise that Hampton's hurt again.

The competition for the #4 and #5 spot in the rotation is still wide open. I like Chuck James and all but he has got to develop some consistency. Jair Jurrjens(say that 3 times fast), Reyes, and Jeff Bennett are going to strongly compete for those slots. James may be the favorite but he still has a lot to prove. He'll probably be #4 because it's his third year as a starter so that gives him the experience edge. He actually reminds me of Glavine by his demeanor on the mound. Hopefully Glavine helps him out.

[/ QUOTE ]

James is already a good major league pitcher and is a lock to be in the starting rotation. In fact, he'll project to be the teams third best pitcher, although Glavine will take his turn earlier in the rotation. That last spot will be a battle between Reyes and Jurjens, with Reyes a small favorite based on experience. There is no way a guy with Bennett's track record should be taking innings away from big league ready prospects and the Braves are good about this kind of thing. Reyes and Jurjens would need to fail miserably for Bennett to make it. Even then, one or the other might make the team ahead of Bennett.