Braves Set Opening Day Roster: Schafer Wins CF Job
by gondeee on Apr 3, 2009 6:11 PM EDT
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PrintWe've waited all spring to see who it will be and here they are:
PITCHERS (12): Jeff Bennett (RH), Blaine Boyer (RH), Jorge Campillo (RH), Buddy Carlyle (RH), Mike Gonzalez (LH), Jair Jurrjens (RH), Kenshin Kawakami (RH), Derek Lowe (RH), Peter Moylan (RH), Eric O'Flaherty (LH), Rafael Soriano (RH) and Javier Vazquez (RH)
CATCHERS (2): Brian McCann and Clint Sammons
INFIELDERS (7): Yunel Escobar, Omar Infante, Kelly Johnson, Chipper Jones, Casey Kotchman, Greg Norton and Martin Prado
OUTFIELDERS: (4): Garret Anderson, Matt Diaz, Jeff Francoeur and Jordan Schafer
No Boone Logan as the LOOGY, instead they choose O'Flaherty, who finished the spring strong. Jeff Bennett also finished strong and gets the nod, as does Jorge Campillo. Manny Acosta misses the cut and the long shot Kris Medlen does as well.
Not many surprises for the hitters. Clint Sammons will backup McCann while David Ross works back from an injury.
And your Atlanta Braves 2009 starting center fielder, Jordan Schafer. Congrats kid. Gregor Blanco loses out to Schafer and will start the year at Gwinnett. Schafer will wear uniform number 24.
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Medlen
Any chance they move him into the starting rotation in Gwinnett since Campillo made the big club?
Or is Campillo likely to be sent down when Glavine is ready to pitch?
I’m glad we took one LOOGY instead of two because guys like Campillo and Bennett are more valuable then that second LOOGY.
AAA
Hanson, Reyes, Morton, Redmond, Medlen?
Actually, no
I get press releases from the Braves, so I had this up about 5 minutes after the news came out. Of course, Carrol Rogers had the players up 2 minutes before I did within the bowels of the blog, but she certainly has an inside track being at the stadium.
KC Ryan
Maybe Tommy Glavine want get a turn in the rotation, shoulder is still hurting you know.
robert warren
by bobbywarren95 on Apr 13, 2009 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m stunned Acosta didn’t make the team after the hard-on people seem to have for him…not that I’m complaining.
BJONES WAS HOSED.
SWAGGA LIKE BJONES, SWAGGA LIKE BJONES
More flaccid that you imply
There was no hard on for Acosta… I was sick of him blowing everything in the 7th and 8th. This breath of fresh air (and arms) is welcomed. Ship Acosta elsewhere.
I’m disappointed Brandon didn’t make the team either…not sure who’s place he would have taken though.
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 4, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Well yeah, that would have been nice…but it was pretty obvious that donk was making the team.
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 4, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Where in the hell
is the left handed pitching. Am i missing something here. I hope i’m wrong, but we’re going to get killed. WHERE ARE YOU TED TURNER!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey sdp. I’m the one that is thinking this may be the year that Bobby says ’ the hell with this crap’ . One of the few things that i don’t like about Cox is the lefty , righty crap that he plays around with. But i’ll say one thing , it doesn’t look like i’ll get to cuss at him about that too much this year.
O’Flaherty is going to get into 90 games this year.
Maybe he’ll use Gonzo as a LOOGY more often.
SWAGGA LIKE BJONES, SWAGGA LIKE BJONES
actually not a horrible idea. lets say its the 7th inning and there’s 2 outs, bases loaded and Ryan Howard is at the plate. why not bring in gonzo to get an out and maybe pitch the 8th, and then have moylan or soriano pitch the 9th?
Be quick, but don't hurry.
I don’t think its a bad idea either. But Bobby is one of those guys that loves using his CAPITAL C CLOSER, no matter whether its for the better or for the worse.
SWAGGA LIKE BJONES, SWAGGA LIKE BJONES
but we have two capitol c closers. i think floating gonzo to match up when we see the lefties in the 7th 8th or 9th and letting soriano and moylan take care of the righties is a better idea then bringing in oflogan in the 7th vs howard.
by heapofoatmeal on Apr 3, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions
That’d be the smart way to manage, but too many people hold on to the notion that your best pitcher in the bullpen should only be used in the 9th inning. Hell, announcers shit a brick anytime a closer is brought into the 8th…
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 4, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
bravesfansc
You have got to be kidding. soriano and moylan in the 9th on a regular basics. ha ha
robert warren
by bobbywarren95 on Apr 13, 2009 7:28 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah we all saw that when chris reitsma would come in after blowing 3 straight saves or when bob wickman would tumble in from the ’pen with his unfinished hotdog in his hand.
Be quick, but don't hurry.
A long way from Rome....
Schafer was one of my family’s favorite players when he was in Rome – very nice guy, exciting player. We’re in for a great summer with him in CF.
Well played, Bravos!
12 pitchers
This without the need for a 5th starter through the first couple of weeks. That’s 8 pitchers in the ‘pen, isn’t that too much when it means that a quality OFer like Blanco doesn’t even make the team?
Moylan and Soriano probably can’t pitch back to back days. You argue that 8 is overkill, but I think a 6 man bench is overkill. There aren’t too many teams, if any, that utilize 6 bench spots.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
It wasn't that long ago that teams got by just fine with 5 man bullpens.
And a 6 man bench is hardly overkill when you’re otherwise lacking a solid backup CFer.
And, no, Infante doesn’t count as a solid CFer.
Infante is not that bad of an outfielder, especially in limited playing time. Blanco needs to work on his base-running and slug a whole lot more before he can be considered quality. There probably wouldn’t be such a drastic difference in production and defense from the two players, especially in limited playing time, that it would be worth risking Moylan and Soriano’s health and having a fresh arm in the bullpen.
I’m not going to argue that a five man bullpen would never work since it did in the past. But pitchers are too fragile now to switch to another routine and pitch twice as much as they have been. If one person went down, regardless of why, the organization would be beyond heavily criticized and blamed for the old technique. With two guys who can’t pitch back to back, a situational lefty, and the depth to overcome these shortcomings it would be to our advantage to use them.
As bigjoe pointed it, it is a bit curious that they are carrying three long relievers. I’m guessing Carlyle will be used more as a set-up guy this year while Campillo will be used for two inning stretches and Bennett as the spot starter/long reliever. Probably a tryout until April 19th when one gets demoted.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
If you can't find a way to avoid pitching guys on back to back days
with 7 men in the ‘pen, then having an 8th guy out there isn’t going to help you.
Jordan Schafer
Not only has the good got a good bat he also plays defense pretty well. Not to mention he also is a good looking guy.
robert warren
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