Braves Sign a Plug for Hampton

May be expected to be as serviceable as Hampton from the get go.  Maybe a little better.  Through spring training, the Hampster has given the indication that he may be a little worried about the success of the surgery, which is normal according to an interview with Smoltzie on XM Home Plate 175.  Smoltzie definately helped Hammy in this area, but its still difficult to pitch if you have your mind on the health of your elbow.  I think, we'll be fine.  Oakland A's need a CF, if this doesnt work out, maybe we send an outfielder to Oakland for a starter????? Just a thought....GO BRAVES, BEST BULLPEN IN THE NL.

Bringing in Redman is great--especially at that price.  Given Davies and Cormier, I only wish that it had not taken an injury to Hampton to do it....

have we no dignity?

redman is one of those pitchers that just shouldn't be considered a major leaguer. for heaven's sakes, he was 10-11 last year with a 5.79 ERA. the only reason he was an all-star was because he was on the royals. if reitsma was on the royals last year, he probably would have been on the all-star team, too.

i just hope he doesn't cause too much damage.

It is a sad commentary on where the Braves stand that they feel the need to go out and sign a pitcher that even the KC Royals found no use for this season.  

BP is projecting an ERA of 5.62.  Eating up innings by pitching poorly isn't a winning combination.  I would rather give Davies a shot rather than signing someone with absolutely no upside.

Redman pitched 3 innings, gave up one run and struck out two.  Not bad for your first day of spring training but Lance Cormier rocked today.
4 innings, 3 hits, 5 k's, no runs and his third win of the spring.

rpjonesga,
with hampton out, davies is penciled in as the #4 guy.  davies will see more starts than redman.  you might have been referring to giving cormier a shot.  redman is no worse than an average #5 guy in the league.  it's davies who i am actually worried about.  with hampton out, he's supposed to be our #4 guy and he has shown that he still needs more work in the minors. if davies does not improve quick, he might be flip-flopped with cormier. not that it means much, but cormier is having a terrific spring.

I have always been a big fan of Davies, but he has yet to prove that he will be as good a pitcher as Redman.  I would not be unhappy to see Davies spend some more time at Richmond--if the Braves feel he needs it.

Redman should be a perfectly adequate 5th starter and he cost next to nothing.  Given the contracts which Gil Meche and Jason Marquis received, Redman was a coup for the Braves.  With a little luck he will pitch as well as HoRam, which might not inspire us (in fact, it will actually piss us off from time to time), but it will certainly get the job done.

To my way of thinking, the only issue with signing Redman is how much they will have to pay him.  I say that simply because everyone knows the budget is tight.  It's hard to argue with acquiring another starter.   Prior to Hampton's oblique injury, I felt the Braves needed another starter.  Now the case for acquiring another starter has become stronger.  

Here is the Braves' rotation:

John Smoltz - Righthander turns 40 years old in May.

Tim Hudson - Righthander hasn't won 15 games, struck out 150 batters, or had an ERA below 3.50 since 2003 season.

Mike Hampton - Lefty rehabbing from ligament transplant surgery, hasn't pitched since first half of 2005.  Now out until at least May with  oblique muscle injury.

Chuck James - 25 year old lefty who has pitched 125 major league innings with 18 major league starts and a 3.68 lifetime ERA.

Mark Redman - 33 year old lefty who has pitched 1152 major league innings with 186 major league starts and a 4.65 lifetime ERA.  Last year at Kansas City, he started 29 games and threw 167 innings, with an 11-10 record and a 5.71 ERA.  He threw two complete games in 2006, with one shutout.

Kyle Davies - 23 year old who has pitched 151 major league innings with 28 major league starts and a 6.38 lifetime ERA.

Lance Cormier - 26 year old who has pitched 198 major league innings with 14 major league starts and a 5.72 lifetime ERA.

Now, I'm not knocking any of these guys.  But this starting rotation cannot carry this team back to a pennant contending status unless Smoltz, Hudson, and at least one other starter have big seasons.  Because of his elbow surgery, the chances of Hampton becoming that other big starter in 2007 were never good.  Now those chances are even worse.  This means Roger McDowell will have to get strong seasons out of his other starters.  Of course, we all like James and Davies.  Kyle's performance in 2005 and Chuck's in 2006 certainly suggest they MIGHT be able to help fill the voids in the rotation.  But from th Braves' point of view, the margin for error here has gotten very thin.  Cormier and Redman are journeymen, who may or may not actually give the rotation the boost it obviously needs.  But under the circumstances, it makes a lot of sense to look at both of them.  And if one of them can do the job, then maybe the Braves can hang around in contention for the first half, while Hampton and Hudson try to get things straightened out.  

It doesn't take a major league scout to see that Matt Harrison and Anthony Lerew are not ready to help the rotation.  Neither kid has ever started a single major league game, and both are being lit up in spring training.  Getting "experience" for them might be good, but not if this means the Braves fall out of contention again in May and June.

It would be better to go out and trade for a proven starter, but the club simply does not have that kind of room on their payroll right now.   So when one considers all of those issues, acquiring Redman makes a lot of sense.  Redman doesn't make the Braves a pennant contender, but he gives them a chance to avoid falling out of contention early.