Atlanta Braves Thread

I don`t think Bourne will be back with the Braves next year. I don`t think they will pay what he`s due. I wouldn`t mind seeing Victorino playing centerfield for the Bravos.

 

The Braves go 8-2 on the homestand, reversing a trend this year. As long as they don`t start losing on the road, maybe they can pickup some ground on the Nationals.
Uggla still can`t hit and they sure are taking their time with getting Simmons back in the lineup.

 

Gonz said last week of August for Simmons best case.

 

From Insider, Projected 2013 lineup and to do list

For the first time in 18 seasons, the Braves will head into a season knowing that Chipper Jones will not be hitting in the middle of their lineup. The 40-year-old will retire with more than 2,700 hits, almost 500 homers, eight All-Star selections, an NL MVP award and a World Series ring. The post-Chipper era looks promising, however, with a trio of 22-year-olds -- Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons -- forming a talented nucleus along with veterans Brian McCann, Martin Prado and Dan Uggla.

Projected 2013 Opening Day lineup
POS PLAYER SALARY
LF Martin Prado $6M*
SS Andrelton Simmons $490K*
RF Jason Heyward $3.5M
1B Freddie Freeman $565K
C Brian McCann $12M**
2B Dan Uggla $13.2M*
3B Juan Francisco $500K
CF Jose Constanza $490K
Projected 2013 rotation/bullpen
POS PLAYER SALARY
No. 1 Tim Hudson $9M**
No. 2 Tommy Hanson $4M*
No. 3 Paul Maholm $6.5M**
No. 4 Mike Minor $500K
No. 5 Kris Medlen $1.8M
SU Jonny Venters $2M*
CL Craig Kimbrel $600K*
Salaries from Cot's Baseball Contracts and are for 2013 season.
* Estimated ** Club option
The hype has died down considerably on their young pitching prospects, but just because Randall Delgado and Julio Teheran weren't ready to be really good big league starters at ages 22 and 21, respectively, doesn't mean you should give up on them as prospects. They're still very talented and still very young. Assuming the Braves pick up the club options for Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm and allow Kris Medlen to start, the Braves will have the luxury of keeping Delgado and Teheran in Triple-A to start the 2013 season, or possibly use them as trade chips.

Whether Medlen starts or relieves could dictate which direction the team goes this offseason in regard to upgrading its pitching staff. If he starts, the team could pursue a reliever via free agency or trade. If he relieves, they could try and re-sign Ben Sheets, acquire another starter or allow Delgado, Teheran and maybe 2011 first-rounder Sean Gilmartin to battle for a rotation spot.

Holes on the horizon

1. CF
2. 3B
3. RP

Offseason priority

There's no doubt that re-signing center fielder and leadoff man Michael Bourn will be pricey. But there's no bigger hole in the organization. They'll likely have to ante up to fill it. But there will be plenty of competition from several teams in pursuit of Bourn and fellow free-agent center fielders B.J. Upton, Angel Pagan and Shane Victorino. The Braves also have the trade chips to go out and get a guy like Denard Span. Pursuing an upgrade at either third base or left field is also a certainty with Prado playing in the spot they don't fill.

 

The Uggla contract made me furious the minute they signed it, but it's been even worse than I believed.

 

Unfortunately for the Braves the Nationals are also young and have better arms.
Kimbrel will looking at a big payday down the road.

 

Bourn strikes out quite a bit.

 

Medlen doing a hell of a job and the pitcher from the Pirates looks like a steal.

 

Dang-it Dan.

 

The Bravos aren`t doing themselves any favors against the Nationals.