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The Making the Team Meter Returns

I did this last spring over at my old site and people liked it, so I'm reviving it for this spring as well. The basic gist is that each player who might be on the bubble about making the team is listed and followed throughout the spring. The arrows indicate their current chance of making the team depending on how they're doing in spring games and what's being said about them in the press. It's a rather optimistic outlook, and it's certainly a day to day what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of outlook as well. It will be a good place to come back to and quickly check to see how everyone's doing. It will probably be posted about twice a week once games start.

For the purposes of the MTM, I'm assuming that the following people already have a secured spot on the team: Brian McCann, Scott Thorman, Chipper Jones, Edgar Renteria, Craig Wilson, Andruw Jones, Jeff Francoeur, Willy Aybar, Matt Diaz, Ryan Langerhans, Brayan Pena, and Chris Woodward for the hitters; and John Smoltz, Mike Hampton, Tim Hudson, Chuck James, Bob Wickman, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Macay McBride and Oscar Villarreal for the pitchers.

Spots probably open: 1 infield, 1 rotation, 3 bullpen.

Now, some of that could change depending on trades or injuries, so that's why there's no reason for the guys on the outside to let up, and that's why this is an optimistic assessment of these players' ability to make the team. Enjoy.

Player, Position Chance Notes
Kelly Johnson, 2B
He's the front runner for the 2B job, but is his defense up to the task?
Gregor Blanco, OF
--
When the Braves picked up Craig Wilson that hurt Blanco's chances, but a strong showing in spring and he might get the LF job. Speed is his asset.
T.J. Bohn, OF
I still have no clue why he was claimed off waivers. He's the poor-man's Matt Diaz.
Pete Orr, INF
His performance last year and the presence of Woodward may put Orr out of the infield pitcure.
Tony Pena, SS
Whole lotta field, not a lotta hit means he's in the minors unless we are riddled with injuries.
Martin Prado, INF
He's one of the favs to win the 2B job. A lighter hitting better fielding version of Kelly Johnson.
Yunel Escobar, SS
--
He's really just here to show everyone what he's got, but a spring equal to the AFL he had and he might change some minds and open up a spot for himself.
Brent Lillibridge, SS
--
Same as Escobar, he's here to impress. He's also on display for everyone to see what we got in exchange for Roche.
Carlos Mendez, 1B
I've never heard of this guy and I'm not sure why he was invited to spring training.
Doug Clark, OF
Minor league journeyman outfielder has a huge uphill battle.
Willie Harris, OF
Super-utility guy, but we already have Woodward.
Kyle Davies, RHP
He's the fave for the fifth spot in the rotation, but can he shake the ills of seasons past.
Anthony Lerew, RHP
McDowell and Huddy have helped him straighten his delivery out. An impressive spring and he's in consideration for several jobs.
Lance Cormier, RHP
Still has an option left, but along with Davies he's one of the top contenders for the fifth spot in the rotation.
Manny Acosta, RHP
Old minor leaguer needs to impress to have a shot.
Jose Ascanio, RHP
Once considered a pitcher with some upside, but not anymore. He was also late to camp.
Blaine Boyer, RHP
--
Is he healed enough for the majors?
Joey Devine, RHP
--
He broke camp with the team last year, then he broke down, will they gable again?
Jonathan Johnson, RHP
No shot in hell.
Peter Moylan, RHP
--
Ausi, Ausi, Ausi, Oye, Oye, Oye. He pitched well at the end last year, and has already impressed this spring.
Chad Paronto, RHP
Probably makes the team; a poor-man's Kevin Gryboski. Though, he was very consistent last year.
Phil Stockman, RHP
Blazing fastball, but he's coming back from injury and they may want to take it slow
Tyler Yates, RHP
The hard thrower is now two years removed from TJ surgury, and that's when pitchers really regain their form.
Kevin Barry, RHP
No one picked him up on waivers last year and he's not on the 40-man.
Buddy Carlyle, RHP
Minor league journeyman has an uphill battle.
Steve Colyer, RHP
See the note for Carlyle.
Matt Harrison, RHP
--
He's impressed Cox early in camp, but he'll need to do more.

Key:
-- = Chance of making the team is even.
= Chance of making the team is going down.
= Chance of making the team is going up.

0 recs | Comment 14 comments

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Lord
I had forgotten about some of these guys. I totally had forgotten boyer. If he is healthy and wins a spot in the bullpen and throw Yates in there our bullpen really does look amazing on paper.
.....Matt

by yondaime4 on Feb 19, 2007 3:17 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

This team needs a spark
I buy the idea that the key pieces are there for a big improvement.  I'm not so sure about the fire, though.  This is a team that really needs someone to come out of nowhere and have a big season in a surprise role.  Maybe a leadoff hitter.  Maybe a starting pitcher.   A surprise development like that could really give them a spark and get them out of the gate in April in better shape.  They need that positive momentum builder to step forth.   The Mets got that last year from Jose Reyes.  
Braves fan since 1958.

by Messenger on Feb 19, 2007 5:38 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

KJ
Maybe Kelly Johnson will do that for us??

by themurph on Feb 21, 2007 11:22 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Damn
A little harsh on Jonathan Johnson. What's the big hold-up with Devine? Why isn't he another Zumaya?

by TradeAndruw on Feb 19, 2007 7:07 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

the AJC reported today...
that Cox has been high on Moylan so far this Spring. Said that if he continues to pitch like he's been doing, no hitter would want to face him.

But i'm still skeptical. The Braves have always been keen on getting these no-namers to fill their bullpen. But it seems like 9 times out of 10, they bust before the end of the season.

by wuky on Feb 19, 2007 8:13 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Devine
I don't see what all the hype has been about Devine.  Another Zumaya??  maybe in his dreams.

by Jeff on Feb 20, 2007 12:13 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Well
supposedly we haven't actually seen him completely healthy since we drafter him. We'll see. When he has been good he has been really good, but when he is hurt he has been horrendous. His upside is great because of his pure stuff, but zumaya has that amazing fastball. I don't know if zumaya will stick but i do know that devine needs to have a full healthy season this year.
.....Matt

by yondaime4 on Feb 20, 2007 2:16 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Johnson/Sean White
I agree completely with Gondee (from the earlier thread) about Johnson; why protect him and not Sean White?  Its not the like the Braves are particularly deep in starters at the upper levels of their farm system.

At least Sean White (and, for that matter, Matt Wright) had good upsides....

by Stephen on Feb 20, 2007 12:50 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Mendez
Though he is listed as a first baseman (the position he played in his Major League cup of coffee) he played catcher in AAA last year.  If he could actually catch he's a good enough hitter to be a candidate for a backup job somewhere, but I am assuming he can't.  He is, however, in camp because he has a catcher's mitt, just like fellow NRIs Clint Sammons and Iker Franco.

by Mac T on Feb 20, 2007 8:37 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thanks
I was wondering who he was. By the way, we hardly invited anyone to spring this year. Although, there will be plenty of players who will cycle through as they usually do, so what's the point of inviting the Richmond and Mississippi rosters.

by gondeee on Feb 20, 2007 8:42 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

By the way...
...after finally looking at his "cube" page (I'm a slacker), I noticed that in his major league cup of coffee he had a lower OBP than a batting average - that seems really hard to do. Is that a baseballcube goof, or is that really possible? Does that sac fly count against him and make is OBP lower - seems wrong, but baseball-ref has the same stats for him. That is strange.

by gondeee on Feb 20, 2007 8:52 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yep
A sacrifice (SH or SF) lowers the OBP.  I think Francoeur has had a lower OBP than BA on a couple of occasions.

by Mac T on Feb 20, 2007 9:28 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The 'Pen Is Mightier
Am I wrong in thinking that we're pretty much set as far as our bullpen in 2007 is concerned?  Wickman, Gonzalez, Soriano, Villareal and McBride have been considered certainties because of their skill, cost and/or handedness.  I would think that Yates and Paronto would get the last two spots, seeing as they were the best of the rest last year and our out of options.  Sure, guys like Devine, Boyer, Cormier, Moylan, Stockman and all the rest are solid arms, but we can certainly afford to keep them in the minors this season.  Jeez... our bullpen at AAA this year might be better than the bunch we had to open the 2006 season in Atlanta!

by ejruiz on Feb 20, 2007 10:47 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

One more spot
I heard they were going to carry 7 relievers to start the season, so add one more of the rest of that bunch to the ATL mix. I like the fact that we are well protected against injuries or ineffectiveness. I think Moylan has already quipped that the Richmond pen is going to be awesome.

by gondeee on Feb 21, 2007 8:37 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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