I’m going to try to get player comments written over the next six weeks. That’s a change from last year, where I didn’t get anything up until spring games had already begun. The plan is to string them out. The roster, with the exception of left field/reserve outfielders and the back of the bullpen, appears pretty much set. (Probables in GRAY.)
SS FURCAL
2B GILES
3B C JONES
CF A JONES
RF MONDESI
C ESTRADA
1B LAROCHE/FRANCO
LF LANGERHANS
SP HUDSON
SP SMOLTZ
SP HAMPTON
SP THOMSON
SP RAMIREZ
OF MCCARTHY
IF BETEMIT
IF GREEN
1B FRANCO
C PEREZ
CL KOLB
RP MARTIN
RP GRYBOSKI
RP REITSMA
RP WHITE
RP COLON
That’s 24 men. The 25th will presumably be another reliever, because God Forbid we should get caught with only one mopup man in case a game in Colorado goes 14 innings. I’m a lot more sure about the reserve infielders than I am McCarthy as the extra OF/platoon LF, and the Braves will probably call in another veteran to be Dave Gallagher to Langerhans’ needlessly platooned Klesko.
Mac, do you think it’s necessary to keep platooning LaRoche? I realize that Julio had a good season last year, but Adam already has more power and showed more plate discipline as the season went on. In my eyes, LaRoche should start every game, with Julio being a great right-handed bench bat, DH for interleague games, and #1 pinch hitter.
I probably wouldn’t, unless it was against a tough lefty (in the division, Randy Wolf and Al Leiter would qualify, plus Julio pounds Glavine). But I think Bobby will continue to do so. It’s hard to justify keeping Julio on the team just as a bench bat, only going to pinch-hit or come in after LaRoche has been run for. You only have five spots on the bench, and using one on a guy who might have 80-100 PA and who doesn’t have any defensive value is questionable. This is especially true with the Braves’ without a lefty on the bench other than the switch-hitter Betemit.
The bullpen looks painfully thin when written on the screen. We’ve seen weirder things but sometimes I wish we didn’t have to wait for magic.
How far is Marte from finding a spot on the roster? Could it depend on his Spring?
It doesn’t appear at all likely. Chipper is apparently going to be at third come Hell or high water, so unless he’s hurt it won’t happen. My understanding is the the Braves intend for Marte to play the outfield in Richmond. If he does well, he might get called up in May or June should a corner OF get hurt or flop. There’s probably at least a fifty percent chance of the latter.
What do you think the reality is on Ted Turner becoming the Braves owner again?
I agree with awb–the bullpen looks shaky. I know that JS has great scouts who can evaluate players far better than I, but Kolb’s second half worries me. There is still plenty of time to get some more help, but at this stage the pen looks like our weakest link.
TSN reporing Braves are about to sign Brian Jordan. Terrence Moore must be doing cartwheels down the hall.
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3336344