Patience is a Virtue

So is hanging in there. They say good things come to those who wait. Baseball fans, especially, know this. It was only last Saturday that I sat complaining to my wife that every time I got to watch a game the Braves lost. Only one week after watching an 11-1 loss to the bitter end, I found myself elated with the joy of a walk off Grand Slam, the third walk off hit in as many days.
After the Braves lost 11-1 I thought I should probably spare other Braves fans and not watch any more games. I was convinced I was cursed. This was a bit superstitious but superstition is another word that baseball fans understand particularly well. The worst part of watching the 11-1 loss was actually the fact that I was unable to watch the game before (another walk off win) because I was blocked out by MLB.com. Of course the next game was on Sunday and I was faithfully attending church (texting google was my trusty score updater) so I didn't watch Sunday's game either. What was so significant about Sunday's game? Well my Braves won 13-1. It seemed like I hadn't seen the Braves score a run in a week but every time I couldn't watch they scored in droves.  So I faithfully tuned in on Monday before FHE hoping to see some of this Braves offense that I had some how managed to miss all season. Anyone who has watched a tragic comedy would know what happened Monday. We only mustered two runs and squandered a very good start by Derek Lowe and lost 2-3. Tuesday's game started out very similar but had a very different ending.
Kris Medlen, starting in place of injured Jair Jurrjens, matched Met's ace Johan Santana pitch for pitch only giving up 2 runs in 6.1 innings. But the magic didn't descend on Turner Field until the bottom of the ninth. With runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out, Melky Cabrera attempted to bunt the runners into scoring position but was unable to. So with two strikes he laid down the perfect swinging bunt and after a Met's error the Braves walked off with a 3-2 win. For Braves fans, it would only get better.
After witnessing two straight walk off wins, the third being the most dramatic and improbable I've decided I don't have the right to complain about missing out because I got to see one of the greatest and most improbable comebacks in the history of the Braves. My dad on the other hand missed all three nail bitters and only caught the highlights. I don't think he'll give up any time soon though. My dad knows about waiting for good things. He watched 10+ miserable years of baseball in the 80's then watched the worst team in baseball in 1990 only to enjoy an NL Championship in '91, a walk off single by Cabrerra in '92 for another NL Championship and a World Series victory in '95 all in the midst of 14 straight Division championships. So he knows about hanging in there. He knows good things come to those who wait.

Chips and Salsa for the Season

Figuratively I've got my chips, salsa and my Dr. Pepper just waiting for the season to start. Literally I've got my MLB.TV premium package ready I won't have to miss a single game. OK let me retract that last statement. I'll probably miss at least half of the 164 games or I may not have a wife by the end of the season.

Since most of you don't have a job that allows you to peruse the internet machine for Braves tidbits during the off season, I have decided to put together a brief rundown of what you missed. This should bring those of you coming out of baseball hibernation up to date.

Acquisitions:

Troy Glaus: Glaus is a power hitting first baseman who is coming off of some shoulder problems. If he can overcome his injuries he will be a more than adequate first baseman who can hold down the fort until prospect Freddie Freeman is ready to take the job. We need Glaus to show some power and take some of the pressure off of Chipper and McCann.

Eric Hinske: A bench player who has some big shoes to fill as a pinch hitter. Everyone knows how well Norton did as Bobby's go to guy. Hinske will really have to pick up his game if he expects to come anywhere near Greg "Mr. Automatic Strike-out" Norton's impressive 20 Strike outs in 76 at bats. Seriously though, Hinske is a proven winner that should turn out to be a very good pinch hitter/bench player.

Melky Cabrera: Not too excited about this guy. We picked him up from the Yankees in the Vasquez trade and if Heyward does as he is expected then Cabrera looks to split time with Diaz in Left and maybe play right field if the Braves are facing a tough left handed pitcher.

Takashi Saito: Japanese relief pitcher that should take over the job as set-up man. He posted a 2.43 ERA last year with the Bo-Sox in 55 innings. He is one of the guys that we picked up this year that make our bullpen extremely deep.

Billy Wagner: This guy doesn't really need any introduction. What I will say is this: Close your eyes for a minute and imagine any one of our starting pitchers get through six innings. Peter Moylen can take over the 7th then Saito in the 8th and Wagner in the 9th. Having these guys in the bullpen gives Bobby Cox a lot of leyway in later innings. If he wants he can save Moylen and just bring him in when he needs a double play.

So those are the guys that we gained, so who did we lose?

Javier Vasquez: Huge loss, we're really going to miss this guy. Chipper made comment that he was still holding out hope that the Braves will be able to sign Vasquez at the end of 2010. Here's to hoping.

Soriano and Gonzalez: Tough to take the loss of these guys but I think overall our bullpen was significantly upgraded even with the losses of our 8th and 9th inning guys.

Adam Laroche: Man I really like this guy and I wish he could have ended up in a Braves uniform. He was fun to watch and I wish him all the success in the world next season. The Braves would have had to pay him around 4 Million for a 1 year deal (which is what the D-backs got him for) if they would have wanted to keep him. For a comparison they are paying Glaus half that for a 1 year deal.

What to watch for?

Jason Heyward: Most of you have probably heard about the net that they put up at the Braves' spring training complex to protect the cars while Heyward is batting. That should get you excited enough to tune into a spring training game or two to watch this kid. Most people don't want to mention Albert Pujols when making comparisons with Heyward, but he has the ability to make that kind of an impact.

Tommy Hanson: Hanson looked good in his first spring game today and will look to avoid a sophomore slump this year. I'm going to make an early prediction and say that he will be in the Cy Young conversation at years end.

Kris Medlen: Medlen has some really good stuff and I'll look for him to be a go to guy for Cox in late innings this year.

Jair Jurrjens: He was experiencing some discomfort in his throwing shoulder but all indications are that he'll make his first start of the season when he is supposed to. I don't think there is anything to worry about and I expect him to have another stellar year.

Lastly this is Bobby Cox's last season as manager. He has had a wonderful career and he will be missed. I've got to believe that Braves' players will be giving a little extra each day to make sure their beloved manager goes out on a high note.

Here's a little something to keep your tongue wet until opening day:

So with the bases loaded, two out, and the season on the line, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox called on little-used Francisco Cabrerato pinch-hit for Jeff Reardon. With only 10 at-bats all season to prepare for this moment, Cabrera slapped a single to left. The first run scored easily to tie the game. Then Bream, the former Pirate, came lumbering toward the plate from second. The game came down to the injury-riddled legs of Bream vs. the Gold Glove arm of left fielder Barry Bonds.

Bonds fired home to catcher Mike "Spanky" Lavalliere, who grabbed it and applied the tag. Not in time. Bream slid in safely, sending the Braves back to the World Series. Atlanta would miss the playoffs only once the rest of the decade. The Pirates haven't been back since.

Never too early Atlanta Braves Preview: Pitching

Pitching wins Championships

The first four starters listed (and maybe even the 5th) aren't really going to be in any particular order because anyone of them could be the #1 starter depending on who the Braves sign in the off season. If Hudson gets signed (and it looks like he will) then the Braves will either let go of Lowe or Kawakami. I would like to see them unload Kawakami as Lowe's dip this year goes against the rest of his career and I think he will be a front line starter again next year.

1. Jair Jurrjens: Jurrjens followed up an excellent rookie season with an even better Sophomore season. Jurrjens was great down the stretch as he won the NL pitcher of the month award in September. I've got to believe Jurrjens would have been a front runner for the Cy Young award if he would have gotten any run support at all. Nonetheless he posted 14 wins and had an ERA of 2.60.

2. Tommy Hanson: Can't say enough good stuff about this kid. He's got a really bright future and will front line this staff with Jair Jurrjens for a long time. These to kids will take the Braves to the playoffs like Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz did in the 90's. Hanson's season was definitely worthy of ROY honors with an 11-4 record and a 2.89 ERA. He would have benefited a lot from a little run support also.

3. Javier Vasquez: 15-10, 2.87 ERA. Great veteran leadership in the clubhouse to go along with his more than stellar season. One of three Braves starters with ERA's under 3.00. A little more support from the offense and he could have easily been in contention for the Cy Young Award also.

4. Tim Hudson: Right now there is no reason to believe Hudson won't be in a Braves uniform in April. Hudson looked really promising in his final starts of the season after coming off a year of being out from Tommy John surgery. Anyone would love to have this guy as there #4 starter.



5. Kenshin Kawakami/Derek Lowe: Although I would love to see KK shipped off and Lowe in a Braves uniform, I've got to believe that we'll ship Lowe to someone like the Yankees or Red Sox and keep KK as our 5th starter. Either way that is a heck of a 5th starter to have. If Lowe does end up staying all 5 of our starter could be aces on any other staff. WOW.
Outlook: The Braves have the best pitching staff in baseball, hands down. With or without Lowe. This team will win the division even if they don't change their lineup at all. They were one of the best team in Baseball post all star break and they will continue that trend next year. Predicted Finish: 1st

Diaz still undecisive about going home.

Matt Diaz recently answered questions from reporters following the Braves devastating loss where Diaz was thrown out at 3rd base ending the game and the Braves bleak hopes of going to the playoffs. When asked about the vital decision the Braves outfielder said that he was still unsure as to whether or not he should run towards home plate or 3rd base. Diaz, who was just recently a hero in Atlanta's 5-4 loss on Tuesday night, was also having a hard time adjusting to his new role of "the goat". After speaking with reporters Diaz was injured in a collision with Martin Prado because he could not decide whether to exit through the front or back doors of the locker room.

Braves find themselves just 3.5 games back

With 10 games to play in the 2009 season, the Braves find themselves just 3.5 games back of the Rockies for a wild card spot in the playoffs. So what would have to happen for the Braves to make it? Well the Elimination # is at 7 right now so that means any combination of Braves losses and Rockies wins will eliminate us from contention. So if the Braves go 9-1 from here on out then that would mean we just have to hope the Rockies go 5-4 in their remaining 9 games. That's not all that unlikely. Now if the Braves go 8-2 (we are 8-2 in our last 10 right now) then we just need to hope the Rockies go 4-5 (they are just 4-6 in their last 10). The Braves finish off the season with 7 games against the Nationals and 3 against the Marlins. The Rockies on the other hand have 3 games against the Cardinals, Brewers and Dodgers. The Cardinals and the Dodgers have locked up Division titles but are both fighting for Home field advantage in the Playoffs so they will be a tough match up for the Rockies. I will have my permanent rally cap on until we make the playoffs. GO BRAVES!!!!!!!

COX: First Place a lock if Met's were in first.

In a recent interview with a local newspaper, Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox was asked about the Braves chances at winning the division. After mumbling something incoherant he replied that "This thing would be a lock if the Mets had managed to be in first place." Cox, apparently referring the the Met's uncanny ability to choke down the stretch of a pennent race was somewhat cocky when talking about the odds that they would finish ahead of the Mets.

News Flash:

Last Thursday before the series with the Dodgers, I said that how we did against them would be a measuring stick of sorts for how good they really are. Well this just in: THE BRAVES ARE GOOD. We've always known that we have the horses in the starting rotation to get to the playoffs and win. Now we have to offense to match it. Now with Infante back and Johnson hitting well we have possibly the deepest bench in the majors. All we have to do now to get better is get rid of Greg Norton. I have seriously yet to see the guy get a hit. I know he got a couple last week cause I read it in the box scores, but I have watched a lot of games and I have only seen him strike out. Jurjjens, Vasquez and Lowe all have better batting averages. I would love to see Conrad back up in the Majors. We don't have to send Norton to AAA we could just make him a bench coach or something.
So here's my prediction for the Phillies series: SWEEP BABY! That's right we're going to roll this weekend taking three from the struggling Phils. We'll be just a half game out of first and from there I don't think we'll look back. It will mark the end of the Phillie's season and the beginning of the Braves Playoff run. GO BRAVOS!