Your most important Braves for the 2009 season
by Braves Examiner on Mar 5, 2009 2:01 PM EST
29 comments
Who are the key players for the 2009 Atlanta Braves? We kind of know what we'll get with players like Lowe, Chipper and McCann. I'm talking more about players that need to rebound, improve or play with more consistency. Obviously a guy like Jeff Francouer may have a spot on the list!
Here's my list; in no particular order.
http://www.examiner.com/x-2496-Atlanta-Braves-Examiner~y2009m3d5-The-ten-most-important-Braves
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francoeur and the andersons are the key to our season. everyone else is a fairly well know commodity. frenchy could hit 300 or 200 he could hit 2 or 30hr. there is no knowing what we will get out of any of them.
by heapofoatmeal on Mar 5, 2009 2:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
My Top 5 Players Who Need to Perform
1. Jeff Francoeur
2. FYF
3. Liliburn Flash
4. Frenchy
5. Worst player in the major leagues in 2008
"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism,
but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism,
until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism." --Nikita Khrushchev
by jeg on Mar 5, 2009 2:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Oh and I forgot to mention: #7 can’t OPS south of .750
"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism,
but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism,
until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism." --Nikita Khrushchev
by jeg on Mar 5, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Where's #6
best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)
by mvandonsel on Mar 5, 2009 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
"The crows seemed to be calling his name, thought Caw."
by WienerDog on Mar 5, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
60% of the time, it works every time
by ATLandUNC on Mar 5, 2009 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
+1000
Proof that when posting while high or intoxicated can lead to some really funny posts
by bravesrbaseball on Mar 6, 2009 2:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If these guys play with consistency and above average stats I'll see you in October
Francoeur
Kotchman
J. Anderson
Soriano
Diaz
by Charmin519 on Mar 5, 2009 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sherry Haithcock
We need her to take over the cleanup spot and carry our offense.
Oh, Bobby.
by sdp on Mar 5, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Where are you finding these new SH pics?
by TradeAndruw on Mar 5, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Haha, I was wondering the same thing. Probably has an archive on his computer.
I'm not not licking toads...
by Smoltz's Beard on Mar 5, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
My wild cards
Offense: Frenchy and Escobar
You know what you’re getting with Chipper, McCann, G. Anderson, and Kotchmann (I think his 08 with the Braves was an aberration); KJ and Blanco don’t need to improve to be productive, though it would be nice. Frenchy and Escobar seem to have the most upside and haven’t been as productive for whatever reason (total ineptitude at the game of baseball and injuries).
Starting Pitching: KK and JJJ
See: Offense above. Lowe and Vazquez have an excellent track record, KK and JJJ don’t.
Bullpen: Moylan and Boyer
Gonzo and Soriano have a solid record of dominance when healthy, and they figure to be healthy this year. Boyer was outstanding in 05, but struggled a bit at the end of last year. Moylan was awesome in 07, but has no track record. A big season from these two will make the difference between a decent bullpen and an outstanding one.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
by buzzdeadwax on Mar 5, 2009 4:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agree
I’m with you on KK and JJ, they really need to be solid for us.
by Braves Examiner on Mar 5, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Kawakami....
pitches like a number 2 starter (or better if he wants to…) or at least like he has somewhat this spring, this staff will pitch us to the playoffs.
by nickfeely8 on Mar 5, 2009 6:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Francoeur
is the obvious choice, but I think i’m gonna go with the Braves two closers. I think if they pitch lights out all season, then Atlanta can very well end up in the playoffs…
by MIZIKE on Mar 5, 2009 6:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I honestly think Chipper’s health will be vital to our success. I don’t think many realize, outside of us genius braves fans, that Chipper, when playing, is arguably the best hitter in the game, with the only better hitter, in my opinion, being Pujols. I am not counting on Frenchy giving us anything… at all, but I think Chip and Heap will be able to carry our line up to enough runs for our vastly improved staff to win ball games.
by MatM on Mar 5, 2009 11:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think more than any thing this team needs to steal more and please for the love of god learn the game of small ball!
Proof that when posting while high or intoxicated can lead to some really funny posts
by bravesrbaseball on Mar 6, 2009 2:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Stealing bases is the least of our problems. It’s also a bad decision in most cases.
by TradeAndruw on Mar 6, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Unless you have Josh Anderson who’s successful at an 80% rate.
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Mar 6, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Juan Pierre is available now. Any takers?
by TradeAndruw on Mar 6, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What’s your point? That he sucks now? Sure, but when he was good, he was a dynamic part of the lineup. He played out of his head on year and won a World Series. Speed is a great tool when you can combine it with good hitting. And Anderson is a much better fielder than Pierre.
www.dropoutproductions.com
by cbwilk on Mar 6, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously Francoeur. The difference between his offense in 2007 and in 2008 was worth 2.5 wins on its own. If he returns to that level our offense will be a lot better. If he actually breaks out (.300/.350/.500 or something), he’ll add 4 wins from last year just on his own.
Unfortunately, PECOTA has him down for a 275/328/444 with a reliable 0.83 beta. That’s still going to add 2.5 wins.
by 17843 on Mar 6, 2009 11:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Went back and found this from USA today last year, seems to pretty much sum it up:
“If Atlanta had won half its 26 one-run games this season, it would be 52-40 and three games ahead of Philadelphia in the NL East.”
We need clutch hitting. Anyone who can do that for us (Kotchman, Yunel, Kelly…not to mention the obvious names) is going to be a huge part of us reclaiming our rightful position atop this division.
by Bravely going forward on Mar 6, 2009 1:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That’s another plus from the GAnderson signing. He gets better as the game gets closer. I’m too lazy to go look up his averages but I know they’re in the 300’s
by acie4mvp on Mar 6, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Andersons.
If they get more than 400 PA combined, we’re fucked.
SWAGGA LIKE BJONES, SWAGGA LIKE BJONES
by bigjoe on Mar 7, 2009 6:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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