The original Making the Team Meter returns for its fourth year as the one-stop shop for finding out which players will break camp with the Braves. Throughout spring training I'll track the progress of each player who does not yet have a guaranteed spot on the opening day roster.
This year, like last year, the MTM will be broken down into two parts, one for pitchers and one for hitters. Today's installment will cover all the pitchers in camp and who might have a chance at making the team. To begin with we'll assume that there a is group that has already made the team, a pretty safe assumption with these guys. Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens, Kenshin Kawakami, and Mike Gonzalez are the pitchers who are safe on the opening day roster. As you'll see I'm keeping the rest of the bullpen guys on the bubble, though many of them are probably pretty close to locks as well. This will help us track recovery from injury and a return to effectiveness. Enjoy.
Player, Position | Chance | Notes |
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Manny Acosta, RHP | He's sort of the forgotten guy in the Braves pen, but he pitched well after coming back from injury. He should get a spot. | |
Jeff Bennett, RHP | A valuable guy as a swing man or a setup man. Say all you want about where he came from, but he kept the ball in the park last year and had a terrific finish to his season. He should have a spot in the pen. | |
Blaine Boyer, RHP | He was probably overused last year. I see him as trade bait or a setup man. | |
Francisley Bueno, LHP | Nobody wants Frank Good, who snuck through waivers last month. He's still the fourth option as bullpen lefty. | |
Jorge Campillo, RHP | He should have a spot on the team, but will it be in the bullpen or the rotation? | |
Buddy Carlyle, RHP | He's the ultimate no-frills reliever. I say he's on the bubble to make the team, and will likely get the pass to Gwinnett. | |
Rafael Cruz, RHP | As a teammate last year of Kawakami, Cruz is here as a friendly face to help the Japanese star. | |
Emiliano Fruto, RHP | He's one of those 4-A relievers who keeps getting chances, but he's behind a lot of people in Atlanta. | |
Mariano Gomez, LHP | A very tall left-hander who's trying to win a job. | |
Tommy Hanson, RHP | Just some kid who got an invite to spring training. | |
Anthony Lerew, RHP | Lerew is a real wildcard. He's coming back from elective TJ surgery and needs to prove he's a competitor. He could come out of nowhere this spring to compete for a bullpen spot. | |
Boone Logan, LHP | He will have the first crack at winning the LOOGY role out of the pen. | |
Stephen Marek, RHP | I'm eager to get a look at what this kid brings to the table. I think he'll be a solid member of our bullpen by 2010. | |
Kris Medlen, RHP | Is he going to stay in the starting rotation, or move back to the bullpen? | |
Charlie Morton, RHP | Oh, Charlie. I wonder if he's found any more "fierce competitor" in him. | |
Peter Moylan, RHP | He should be a lock for the pen, but we'll keep him on this list to monitor his health to see if he breaks camp with the team. | |
Eric O'Flaherty, LHP | The 2009 left-handed version of Chris Resop. | |
James Parr, RHP | It can't hurt for him to have an impressive spring. He needs to shake the "organizational arm" label. | |
Juan Perez, LHP | Yet another LOOGY candidate in camp. Perez has big league experience with the Pirates. | |
Todd Redmond, RHP | As a finesse pitcher he will have to really impress to get noticed -- the Braves haven't had good luck with finesse pitchers lately. | |
Jo-Jo Reyes, LHP | What will happen to Jo-Jo? Some people say he has the inside track on the fifth starter spot, but he's got a lot of competition. Could he make a play for the bullpen lefty role? | |
Jeff Ridgway, LHP | He's probably behind Logan and O'Flaherty for the LOOGY role. | |
Rafael Soriano, RHP | Everyone is eager to see if he will be healthy this year. | |
Phil Stockman, RHP | Will this be the year that Stockman gets a spot in the pen? | |
Luis Valdez, RHP | Minor league veteran had a breakout year as Mississippi's closer last year. Is he major league material or will he have to make a stop in Gwinnett first. |
Arrow Key: |
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= Chance of making the team is even. |
= Chance of making the team is going down. |
= Chance of making the team is going up. |
The hitters edition will be out later this week when they report to camp, then there will be weekly editions for both the hitters and pitchers throughout the spring. (Programming note: the final prospect Q&A with you-know-who will be up tomorrow around noon -- and it might just be the best one yet.)