Opening Day 25 man roster

by themurph on Jan 12, 2008 10:51 PM EST

Humor me for a second:

MI: Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, Omar Infante

Corner Inf: Chipper Jones, Mark Teixiera, Scott Thorman

OF: Matt Diaz, Brandon Jones, Josh Anderson, Jeff Francoeur

C: Brian McCann, Clint Sammons

SP: John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Tom Glavine, Jair Jurrjens, Chuck James, One of Jo Jo Reyes/Hampton/Bennett

Bullpen: Rafael Soriano, Peter Moylan, Manny Acosta, Will Ohman, Royce Ring, Blaine Boyer, Tyler Yates

Thoughts? Anyone know if Ring has any options left so he can go down to Richmond when Mike Gonzalez is ready in June?

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Forgot Mark Kotsay...doh!

I guess he would make in place of Brandon Jones. We need the speed of Josh Anderson in late innings so I bet he makes it over Brandon Jones.

by themurph on Jan 12, 2008 10:53 PM EST 0 recs

Not a bad lineup...

but, it will be tough to win the division with those guys....

by BC1898 on Jan 12, 2008 10:56 PM EST 0 recs

If, and I mean IF...

...if Brandon Jones has a huge spring, do you think Anderson is the odd man out?

by secondbass on Jan 13, 2008 6:11 AM EST 0 recs

If you're asking me...

I think Anderson could be released after ST if he proves to be an average player in Bobby's eye. He hits lefty and has speed to burn (according to reports) but so does Gregor Blanco.

Brandon has options left so he could sit in Richmond...that's the only reason I suggested that.

I have no idea what's going to happen...

by themurph on Jan 13, 2008 11:04 AM EST up 0 recs

I think Thorman has to mash this spring, otherwise I see him being flipped for something small (sort of like the Pena Jr. trade) during the spring. I think he is on thin ice and Canizares or Pena could force their way on.

by was385 on Jan 13, 2008 12:16 PM EST 0 recs

Sadness.

C - Brian McCann
1B - Mark Teixeira
2B - Kelly Johnson
3B - Chipper Jones
SS - Yunel Escobar
LF - Matt Diaz/Brandon Jones
CF - Mark Kotsay (damn it...)
RF - Jeff Franouer

BN - C - Clint Sammons
BN - 1B - Scott Thorman
BN - CF - Josh Anderson
BN - LF/RF - Matt Diaz/Brandon Jones
BN - UTIL - Omar Infante

SP - John Smoltz
SP - Tim Hudson
SP - Tom Glavine
SP - Chuck James
SP - Mike Hampton

CL - Rafael Soriano
SU - Peter Moylan
MR - Tyler Yates
MR - Blaine Boyer
MR - Royce Ring
LOOGY - Will Ohman
LR - Jeff Bennett

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by ejruiz on Jan 13, 2008 1:00 PM EST 0 recs

Man...

...that makes my heart sink just looking at it. Kotsay just isn't supposed to be there..but I guess thats why they pay Wren the big bucks. But you just don't trade 6 years of young pitching for a one year rental on a guy who had his career year at 28...

by RainDelay on Jan 13, 2008 5:34 PM EST up 0 recs

Manny Acosta?

You don't think he will make the opening day roster?

by themurph on Jan 13, 2008 7:02 PM EST up 0 recs

Acosta.

On skill alone, he'd probably make it. But he has options and most of the others don't. He's a rook and the others are vets. Just be glad I didn't put the line-up in batting order, with KJ and Yunel splitting time at leadoff (depending on the handedness of the pitcher) and Kotsay batting second...

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by ejruiz on Jan 13, 2008 7:05 PM EST up 0 recs

Thorman

I would seriously doubt Thorman makes the squad. What role does he fill? He isn't an effective pinch hitter...not going to use him as a defensive replacement over Tex. The only way I could see him making it was if he out hit Brandon Jones by a country mile and they decided to give him a few ABs in LF. But that is not real likely.

I think you will see this:
C: McCann
1B: Tex
2B: KJ
SS: Escobar
3B: Jones
RF: Franceour
CF: Kotsay
LF: Diaz/Jones

Util: Infante
C: Pena (I think they will give Sammons a little more time to find his bat).
OF: Anderson/Blanco. I don't know which route they would go yet. My hunch is Anderson because he has ML playing time but that is purely a guess.
PH: This is the one area I could see the Braves going after someone in a trade. They could use one more bat off the bench; especially if Diaz is going to start alot in LF. The only other internal option here could be Aybar if he was healthy (in mind and body) and had a good spring.

by calbers on Jan 17, 2008 12:23 AM EST 0 recs

Pena not viewed as a catcher by the orginization

C: Pena

According to what I gathered over last season, the Braves no longer see Pena as a Catcher. While in Richmond this year, he got more playing time at 1B,3B and LF. I think they've given up on Pena as a backstop - and that Sammons is their goto now.

I of course could be wrong, but you can't work on your D (one of the sticking points for Pena)behind the plate when you're not getting the playing time in the position.

Look for Sammons to come out of spring with the back up gig, or Javey Lopez for that matter (forgot Lopez was signed to minor league deal with a invite to spring training).

by RainDelay on Jan 17, 2008 1:10 PM EST up 0 recs

Javy

I don't see Javy Lopes mentioned here by anybody. I don't think he makes it, either. But, would Bobby keep a veteran around instead of some young catcher who has minor league options?

by MurphyHOF on Jan 19, 2008 9:06 PM EST 0 recs