Could 2010 be the second coming of the Baby Braves
by gondeee on Jan 5, 2010 8:29 AM EST
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PrintIt may have seemed like a doomsday scenario for the Atlanta Braves in 2005. Despite a bunch of players with question marks, the season was cruising along, but in mid-May Kevin Gryboski and John Thompson get injured, here come rookies Frank Brooks (1) and Matt Childers (2). A couple of days later Eddie Perez gets injured, here comes rookie Brayan Pena (3). The next day Mr. Glass goes on the DL, enter rookie Kyle Davies (4). At the end of May, rookie Kelly Johnson (5) replaces the failed Raul Mondesi experiment. In early June, Chipper Jones gets hurt, and the long awaited debut of rookie Andy Marte (6). A few days later Johnny Estrada gets run over by Jackass-McDumb-Hustle, and here comes rookie Brian McCann (7).
In mid-June, rookies Blaine Boyer (9) and Jorge Vazquez (10) take the place of rookies Roman Colon (11) and Brayan Pena. July rolls around and Brain Jordan gimps off the field to the tune of rookie Jeff Francoeur (12). Macay McBride (13) arrives a couple of weeks later. In mid-August, Joey Devine (14) makes his grand entrance. And the last full measure of clearing out your farm system comes in mid-September when Chuck James (15) is called up. Oh, and don't forget that rookies Ryan Langerhans (16), Pete Orr (17), and Wilson Betemit (18) spent the entire season on the roster.
And what might happen this year with all the players the Braves have signed who have question marks...
It starts off innocuous enough, with Bobby Cox impressed in an Orrian fashion with spunky non-roster infielder (and rookie) Luis Bolivar (1). Brooks Conrad (2), still a rookie, and Mike Dunn (3) also make the team out of spring training. An injury to Billy Wagner in mid-May heeds a call to the minors for rookie Luis Valdez (4). Shortly thereafter, Kenshin Kawakami goes down and rookie starter Todd Redmond (5) gets the call. A few days later pinch hitter Eric Hinske goes down (I'm speculating here, folks) and rookie Mitch Jones (6) gets the call. A blister forces Derek Lowe to the disabled list and forces rookie Jonny Venters (7) into action.
In mid-June calamity strikes and in the span of a few days as Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus both go on the DL. In their place the team calls up Brandon Hicks (8) and Freddie Freeman (9). Rookies Jeff Lyman (10) and Lee Hyde (11) replace the ineffective Luis Valdez and Kris Medlen in the bullpen. In early July to add more offense, the team answers the long-awaited call for outfielder Jason Heyward (12), who takes the league by storm, prompting his very own Sports Illustrated cover with the eerily familiar tag line, "The Natural."
More bullpen switch-a-rooing in August, and an injury to Takashi Saito, leads to the debuts of rookies Juan Abreu (13) and Stephen Marek (14), then more rotation troubles lead to Jose Ortegano (15) and Kyle Cofield (16). Desperate for bullpen help, the Braves finally turn to Craig Kimbrel (17). To complete the repeat of history, when rosters expand the team calls up still-rookie James Parr (18) for depth. Eighteen rookies!?!
And that's how the 2010 season could turn into 2005. But hey, we make the playoffs! Right?
Think that's crazy? I was going to have David Ross and Clint Sammons get injured and call up J.C. Boscan, but then I thought, naa.
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If we ever see that cover...
Unabomber style mail bombing of Sports Illustrated should immediately commence.
agreed.
i’m thinking of unabombing whoever made that cover up now.
"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson
I don't know what you're talking about
It’s a mighty fine and dapper looking cover, and whomever photoshopped it must be like an incredible wizard or something.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
Evil Wizard...
"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"
by The Keith Lockhart Era on Jan 5, 2010 9:51 AM EST up reply actions
Molding Heyward with Francouer? Sick man, just sick. Now if Heyward starts talking about OBP not mattering, we’ll know why.
Plus, a wizard would have been able to change the R on the back of the jersey.
"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson
Even Gandalf isn't perfect
Looks like this amazing wizard made one snafu while trying to be discreet and work on a personal project amongst the vigilant eyes of nosy co-workers, and missed a negligent letter.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
Good observation!
"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host
by bwellnjonesco on Jan 5, 2010 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
Merlins beard
questions why hes batting Right handed
I thought hurricane season was over........
by bravesguy311 on Jan 5, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks to the mini Carolina Panther blurb hiding the twisted hips, you could easily say thats a left hander before swinging.
"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson
Except....
a lefty would have his hands switched….just a minor detail, I know….
;-)
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
I told y'all,....
sometime this year Jason Heyward will have the following conversation with an opposing C…
JH: “That pitcher, he is wonderful.”
OC: “Thank you, he’s worked hard to become so.”
JH: “I admit it, he’s better than I am.”
OC: “Then why are you smiling?”
JH: “Because I know something you don’t.”
OC: “And what is that?”
JH: “I am not left-handed.”
+1
Classic movie. Book is good too.
"…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
why would we hope to suffer through...
over a dozen injuries and under performing rookies? The playoff ending is great, but I really don’t want that many injuries, or a struggling Medlen, etc.
Wow
I wish the Braves would hurry up and sign someone else because apparently the well has run dry!
haha
"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host
by bwellnjonesco on Jan 5, 2010 9:04 AM EST up reply actions
Anything
that compares Heyward with Failcoeur should be banished from TC forever. I just threw up at my desk.
Exception: If Heyward marries a cute little blonde girl…
"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host
by bwellnjonesco on Jan 5, 2010 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
I was meaning to say that it will be OK to say that Heyward’s blonde(s) is way hotter than that thing FYF had…
In a world that can’t have comparisons between the two, talking crap about their women will always be OK in my book. No offense to the Ladies of TC (whens that calender coming out?)…
"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host
by bwellnjonesco on Jan 5, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
In a very real sense, that Baby Braves season in 2005 set the Braves up for the following seasons of failure. Most of those young players either weren’t ready or just weren’t any good. I’d prefer not to repeat the experiment again.
But he's a really good one.
At least there is that.
Most importantly
Who’s going to be our 2010 Andruw Jones? Sure, the rookies were a great story and all, but so much of the team was anchored by the MVP-caliber season of Andruw and his 51HR/128RBI. So far, you’ve offed Chipper, Glaus, and one of the outfielders, so that leaves McLouth, McCann, Prado, Escobar as potential candidates to explode out of their heads and become offensive juggernauts, with none of them having seen north of 25 homers once in their careers.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
yep, for sure....
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
I bet it would have been will be Kelly Johnson….with the D-Backs.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 5, 2010 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
why not go ahead and boldly predict his stats for the year?
that way, when you are totally wrong, we can ridicule you mercilessly.
or be a wimp.
your choice.
I think he can flourish in that lineup...
especially if they don’t foolishly stick him in the leadoff spot. They lack a leadoff, and could use a 1B and OF. But say they sign Johnny Damon or Randy Winn to join Parra and Upton in the OF and leadoff, pick up a Branyan or LaRoche for 1B. Not a bad lineup of…
Winn/Damon
Parra
Upton
Reynolds
LaRoche/Branyan
Drew
Johnson
Montero/Snyder
In that order, I think KJ could go .285/.365/.450 with 40+ 2B, 15 HR, driving in a lot of runs and making a good double play duo with Drew.
That's not an official prediction...
and apparently they have less payroll room than I thought (i.e. none unless they can dump a salary). I was clearly more bully on Arizona than I should have been (although if Brandon Webb is healthy, he and Dan Haren are a helluva 1-2 punch); they seem to think of Parra as a Blanco, and no money for an OF with Chris Young, Eric Byrnes, and Connor Jackson as the fall back.
With these guys around him…
http://www.azsnakepit.com/2009/12/31/1224127/a-first-stab-at-the-2010
I’d be a little less bully on KJ’s #s, but he still can be a 40 2B type with slightly lower slash stats if he’s healthy.
Here’s me not being a wimp:
.265/.345/.785
14 HRs, 35 2B, 3 3B, 11 SB
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 5, 2010 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
If anything close to this happens, you will forever become my cyber whipping-post.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 5, 2010 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
curious:
what do you expect out of Prado? I mean, I would think he would finish somewhere in the same neighborhood of .265/.345/.785
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
the reason i ask
is that if you think he can match that production, why were you so dead set against him replacing kj? He is cheaper and if he can match the production — what’s the downside?
Do you think KJ has some untapped potential that will make him an all-star in years to come?
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
In short, yes. I think KJ has a whole other level to his game. I think we got max production out of Prado last year.
To answer your question, I am expecting about a .290/.320/.380/.700 line out of Prado this year with about 8 HRs. That’s the pessimistic side of me.
But, to be fair, I was fairly pessimistic in my prediction with KJ’s numbers for this coming season too. I think in about another year or two, KJ is going to be a star.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 6, 2010 9:58 AM EST up reply actions
Now, you post Prado’s line.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 5, 2010 1:17 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously, I’m doing this only so that at the end of the 2010 season, we can compare and make a rational decision who came closer, with the loser having to do something utterly stupid, like post a fanpost of shame and self-abnegation, or some other agreed equally ridiculious, but agreed upon bet. your choice.
And we have to make some assumptions: each of our respective choices has to be a starter all season or if in any sort of platoon or bench role at any point in the season (excepting injuries), has to accrue a minimum of 550 PAs – otherwise, its an automatic loss; and if there are injuries resulting in less than 550 PAs, the totals are adjusted downward by some rational formula.
Deal or No Deal?
.306/.360/.456/.816
14 HRs, 47 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 SBs
Deal…but I need to clarify something – the .785 is the OPS of my prediction, not the SLG%.
lol.
If Prado has an OBP of .360, I will forever be glad we made that decision!
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 5, 2010 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
That would make the slash line look like this:
.265/.345/.440/.785
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 5, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
and so it was and shall be.
we don’t need to sign a formal legal document, of course, in blood, do we?
I’ve got the pocket knife…
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 5, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
His career OBP is .360.
Why is it so hard to believe he matches it? I mean, he could regress or have a sophmore slump or something, but it is hardly a far-fetched projection.
I’m just not a believer yet. He has yet to play a full season and still has a relatively small sample size (although, it is getting much, much larger).
I think his BaBIP will regress somewhat, and that will be the source of his numbers falling this season.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 6, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
hey, thanks for the support!
and anybody else who wants to jump up with predictions is welcome to the party.
I want it clear that I’m actually rooting for Kelly to re-establish himself and have a big year, although I’m much more confident in Marteeen and believe his production will have Justin eating major crow.
And I’ll say that I am rooting for Prado to prove me dead wrong.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 6, 2010 9:36 PM EST up reply actions
I think McCann is a good bet to break out into atleast a 30HR threat…
"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host
by bwellnjonesco on Jan 5, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
or Esco could explode...
not to 50 HRs, but being a huge offensive weapon ala Renteria in 07. Even McLouth, if he got hot and started hitting say .280-.300+ for a while, could carry an offense for a little while.
I too threw up in my mouth when I saw the Jay-Hey kid on that cover so why not get rid of the toxicans…
Who is the lucky fella to give up the grand slam to the ’stros and make me wish I cheered for the Hawks?
by Chesterhighwater on Jan 5, 2010 11:06 AM EST via mobile reply actions
That will be Kimbrel.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 5, 2010 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
That day sucked
The Falcons lost to the Patriots on a last second Vinatieri field goal, and then Ausmus hit the game-tying homer moments afterwards. The city of Atlanta was a sad one that afternoon.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
I remember it well. I was still in college, living in the dorms, so we had two tvs in adjacent rooms, one on the Falcons’ game, one on the Braves’ game.
Of course, after about the 13th inning, I had this growing sense of impending doom-I knew it only took one fat pitch to end the game for the ‘Stros. I just didn’t think it would be Chris Burke. Of course, looking back, the thing that truly amazes me is that we still had an unused relief pitcher for the bottom of the 18th.
I watched that game as i was moving into my house, as it was on a good portion of the day. So whenever i’m asked how long i’ve been in my house, its an easy answer.
"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson
So the Braves have never won while you’ve been in that house?!? Time to sell or just move out for the good of the team.
Hmmm. I’ve never thought of it that way. Maybe i should present this evidence to the team. I might be able to get a new house out of this deal! Otherwise, we may be looking at 2-3 more years of losing before we build.
"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson
Oh,
I was reading Bowman’s mailbag (too lazy to go find the link right now) and someone asked him the current player who he would compare Heyward to (not just historical, ie. Strawberry). Bowman said Ryan Howard. Maybe there is hope. Thats a good question to ask to Neyer or the like. In fact, I’m going to do just that.
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I disagree with Bowman on that one...
…Howard has more power and strikes out way more than Heyward likely will. Good power, good average, good strike zone judgment, and reasonable strikeouts—-I’ll stay close to home for my “who could Heyward be like” and say, as a hitter, Chipper Jones.
Junior?....
plate discipline, maturity, the complete package both in the field, at the plate, and off the field? He’s sounded like Junior Griffey to me.
I also like that call. When I read it it struck me as weird. Jr. is a great call. Maybe a little like Mauer but not so much
"Ain't no sense worrying: If you have no control over something, ain't no sense worrying about it -you have no control over it anyway. If you do have control, why worry? So either way, there ain't no sense worrying."
-Mickey Rivers
Francouer was horrid the last few years no doubt. But do you really need to attack his wife? Calling her “that thing he had”. Makes you sound like the douche you always claim Jeff to be.
maybe im an idiot
but wth are you talking about?
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
I just did a ctrl+F for that exact phrase you quoted and the only place on this page with it is in your post…Who are you talking to, and what are you talking about???
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 6, 2010 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Oh, I see now. This is just a matter of someone taking a post (made in obvious jest) way to seriously, in order to sound righteous on the blog.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Jan 6, 2010 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
not to mention the fail of not using the reply button
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
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