Even though we are only 24 games into the season I thought that it would be a good time to take a look at how the players that we aquired this offseason are doing.

The first guy that we brought in was Eric O' Flaherty.  He was claimed off waivers from Seattle on November 20.  So far this season he has appeared in 10 games throwing 7.2 innings.  He has a solid 3.52 ERA and a great 0.913 WHIP.  It's a very brief sample but so far he has proved to be a solid pickup.

On December 4 we traded for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan.  So far this season Vazquez has a 2-2 record in 5 starts.  He has thrown 32 innings striking out 42 and walking just 8.  His ERA stands at 3.38 and his WHIP is at 1.219.  Boone Logan is at AAA having not made the team as the lefty in the bullpen out of spring training.  Of the players we sent to Chicago only Brent Lillibridge has played in the majors.  He has played in 16 games with a .143 avg.  They have used him in CF and at 2B mostly.

Our first free agent signing was catcher David Ross.  We signed him to a 2 year $3 million on contract on December 5.  This season he has been great for us stepping in in place of the injured Brian McCann.  He has played in 10 games so far with a .281 avg. 2 home runs and 6 RBI along with a .410 OBP.  A great pickup this offseason all in all.

We then starting working on the pitching staff by signing Kenshin Kawakami to a 3 year $23 million contract.  So far this season Kawakami has struggled adjusting to the majors.  He has started 4 games and has a 1-3 record.  He has pitched 21.2 innings striking out 18 and walking 11.  He ERA stands at 7.06 and his WHIP at 1.615.  I have not yet begun to worry about him yet.  Most pitchers who come here from Japan struggle at first.  I think that if he can cut down on the walks he should be fine as the season goes along.

A few days after signing Kawakami we signed Derek Lowe to a 4 year $60 million contract.  Some people thought that it was high at the time and others questioned giving him 4 years but this deal has been great so far.  Lowe has came in and been a legitimate ace for our team.  Lowe has made 6 starts and has a 3-1 record.  He has thrown 35.2 innings striking out 28 and walking 14.  His ERA stands at 3.03 and his WHIP at 1.290.  The scary thing is that if the Mets would have went to 4 years he would probably be in New York now.  I would hate to think where we would be without him.

So far our one bad free agent signing has been Garrett Anderson who signed a 1 year $2.5 million contract.  He was signed to be a veteran who could hold LF and be a solid hitter for a year.  In reality he has been terrible this year.  He is currently on the DL.  So far this season he has played in 10 games managing a .200 avg and a .231 OBP.  He has 0 home runs and 0 RBI.  The .200 avg. is even a little misleading because its only 5 hits.  That .200 avg. is higher then it should be because most of those hits came in one game.  It is looking more and more like he won't be here all season.  The most disheartening thing is that he doesn't look like he even wants to play anymore.

Our last move was the in-season trade of RP Blaine Boyer to the Cardinals for LF Brain Barton.  Boyer was terrible with Atlanta having a 40.50 ERA in 1.1 innings and has been somewhat better in St. Louis.  He has pitched in 4 games tossing 3.2 innings with 3 strikeouts and o walks.  His ERA stands at 4.91 and his WHIP at 1.091.  Brain Barton has played in 9 games at AAA.  He has a .256 avg. with 0 home runs and 2 RBI.  He has struck out 12 times and walked just 3 times in 39 at-bats.

All in all it was a good offseason for Atlanta. Only Kawakami and Anderson have struggled so far and I think that Kawakami will get it turned around and be fine as the season goes along.  Like I said above I don't think that Anderson will finish the season in Atlanta unless he comes back from the DL and turns into a hitting machine which I think is unlikely.