Archive for the 'Atlanta Braves' Category

Jurrjens Is All Good

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on February 17, 2010
in Atlanta Braves, Fantasy Baseball, Jair Jurrjens, MLB and NL East
. 1 Comment

Well, maybe not all good, but for the most part. An MRI on dude’s throwing shoulder revealed no structural damage, and the 24 year old right hander just needs to rest his sore shoulder. The official diagnosis is anterior shoulder inflammation. Jurrjens should be on pace to make his first start of the season without any issues.

This is great news for the Bravos as well as their fans. It is also good news for you fantasy players, because a lot of people will see this as a red flag and drop him on their boards. Good. Drop him all you want. Jurrjens will prove to be a solid fantasy option again this year, if not a top 10 starter. Yes, I know that a lot of publications, including Baseball Prospectus, are a little bit down on him in relation to last year. My advice is to ignore them and listen to the Mike Bohn gut algorithm. Of course, I’m also a Bravos fan so I may be a little clouded here, but I expect Jurrjens to win 15+ games this year with an ERA around 3.00.

Braves Send Soriano to Tampa

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on December 10, 2009
in AL East, Atlanta Braves, MLB, NL East, Rafael Soriano and Tampa Bay Devil Rays
. 0 Comments
Rafael Soriano agreed to allow the Braves to trade him early, and they obliged by sending the closer to Tampa in exchange for Jesse Chavez.  This move allows the Braves to free up some cash, while keeping a right handed arm in the bully.  While Chavez did not light the world on fire last season, dude is only 26 years old and did hold opponents to a .264 batting average.

Braves Build Bullpen of Death?

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on December 8, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, Billy Wagner, MLB, NL East, Rafael Soriano and Takashi Saito
. 0 Comments

Okay, that might be a little bit strong, but the Atlanta Braves are building one of the best bullys ever right now. First they added Billy Wagner to the mix as the new closer. Then they added Takashi Saito to fill the set-up role. Then a strange thing happened, Rafael Soriano accepted the Braves arbitration offer.

Deep breathes, people. Soriano is not going to be the 7th inning guy. He is going to ask to be traded, just like Mark Bowman says in the article linked above. If he does not ask to be traded, the Braves will have to wait until June 15th to move him due to current MLB arbitration rules. The Braves could outright release him during Spring Training if they choose to, but that scenario is about as likely as me being offered the GM job in New York.

Billy Wagner Set to be a Bravo?

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on December 2, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, Billy Wagner, Boston Red Sox, MLB and NL East
. 1 Comment

I just raked my own eyes out. Billy Wagner, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, is set to become a Brave. Apparently they have agreed on a one year deal, pending a physical. Wagner is set to make $7million for the 2010 season, with a $6.5million vesting option if dude finishes 50 games.

Wagner, whom I have always despised for various reasons, pitched well last season after returning from Tommy John surgery. In 17 trips to the mound, he compiled an ERA of 1.72 while striking out 26 batters in his 15.2 innings of work.

The move will make it hurt less if either Mike Gonzalez or Rafael Soriano leave via free agency. Like Wagner, who was offered arbitration on Tuesday by the Red Sox, both players have been offered arbitration and are Type-A free agents. K-Ros explains some of what that means in his column, and we will try to give a full breakdown when time permits.

Bravos Top 10 Prospects – Baseball America

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on November 6, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, MLB Prospects, NL East and New York Mets
. 0 Comments
Baseball America, the leader in prospect information for MLB, has released is in the process of releasing it’s top 10 lists for the NL East.  The Braves and Mets are up.

It is no surprise that the Bravos top two needs are also their top two prospects, outfield and first base with Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman.  We will refrain from posting the entire lists so that you visit the BA entry.

The two top Mets prospects are Jenrry Mejia (right handed pitcher) and Wilmer Flores (short-stop).

Hudson Wants To Remain a Bravo

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on October 27, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, MLB, NL East and Tim Hudson
. 0 Comments
According to various reports (MLB.com, AJC.com), Tim Hudson wants to stay in Atlanta.  We could have word on a contract extension any day now, and it looks like it will be a three year deal worth somewhere between $27 and $29 million dollars.  Hudson wants an option for a fourth year as well, and he claims that his best pitching is ahead of him after returning from Tommy John surgery on September 1st.

My thoughts?  Sign Hudson now, before he can sniff free agency.  He wants to be in his home state of GA, and pitching in a Braves uniform.  He is only 34 years old, and posted a 3.61 ERA in his seven starts in 2009.  He also posted his best K:9 ration since 2001 with a 6.4.  So sign Huddy now, and try like hell to trade Derek Lowe.  The problem with trading Lowe, however, is that the Braves will have to pick up some of his salary.

Adam LaRoche is the Answer?

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on August 25, 2009
in Adam LaRoche, Atlanta Braves, Fantasy Baseball, MLB and NL East
. 4 Comments
When the Braves brought Adam LaRoche back, we were pretty confused as to why (other than his expiring contract).  Well, 20 games in and the answer is pretty clear.  Check out what “Clutch” has been doing so far:

.406 AVG
.500 OBP
.739 SLG
1.239 OPS
7 HR
16 RBI
15 Runs
14 BB
19 Ks

Oh, he has yet to make an error as well.  Hats off to Frank Wren for pulling the trigger on this one.  If LaRoche is available in your fantasy league, scoop him the hell up before he cools off.  “Clutch” is riding a seven game hitting streak, for what it is worth.  The Braves needed some pop from their one bagger, and they certainly seem to have found it pretty inexpensively.

Prospect Watch – J.J. Hoover August 24, 2009

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on August 24, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, Fantasy Baseball, J.J. Hoover, MLB, MLB Prospects and NL East
. 1 Comment
J.J. Hoover is a right handed starting pitcher for Class A Rome in the Atlanta Braves farm system.  Dude is also pretty sick with the baseball.  He has an ERA of 3.36 on the season, but that is not what is turning heads.  His 130:27 K:BB ratio, however, is kind of neck-breakingly off the charts, and he is sporting a 1.25 WHIP.  In his last three starts, Hoover has gone 18.1 innings while striking out 20 and walking six.  He gave up 15 hits over those same innings, and a total of two earned runs. 

Hoover just turned 22 this month, and his only stint above Class A Rome was a three inning, three earned run outing earlier in the season.  The 6′3″, 215 pound 10th round draft pick (2008 draft) is set to move up the ranks next season, and a possible late 2010 MLB debut is not out of the realm of possibilities.  My bet would be that he ends the 2010 season in AAA, and pushes to join the MLB club in Spring Training of 2011.

Of course, we will keep our eye on Hoover and do our best to keep you up to speed on his progress.

Hanson Versus Scherzer?

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on August 18, 2009
in Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Fantasy Baseball, MLB, MLB Prospects, NL East, NL West and Tommy Hanson
. 0 Comments
Last night we got to see Tommy Hanson face off against Max Scherzer.  In a matchup of two of the games best young starting pitchers, Hanson showed why he may be the games best young starting pitcher not named Tim Lincecum.  Both guys fanned seven batters, but Scherzer got blown up to a tune of nine runs, only three of which were earned.  Both gave up six hits, and both gave up a homer (Scherzer actually gave up two long balls).  Hanson got the win, his eighth of the season.

Quick Braves Notes

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on August 12, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, Fantasy Baseball, John Smoltz, MLB, MLB Prospects, NL East, Philadelphia Phillies, Tom Glavine and Tommy Hanson
. 0 Comments
In 2006 the Atlanta Braves selected Cory Rasmus with their first round pick.  Fast forward through some rough years that included almost a full season lost to shoulder surgery, and you have a guy listed as a reliever headed into the year by Baseball America, and unranked on the prospect chart.  Well, last night Cory, brother of current St. Louis Cardinal Colby Rasmus, tossed his first career no-no.  Now we will have to keep our eye on this kid, as last year a no-no turned a lot of heads, including mine, and now some guy named Tommy Hanson is dominating the NL.

In case you missed it, John Smoltz was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox.  Damn.  Even thought he marriage saw a rocky breakup in the end, Smoltz has always been one of my personal favorites, and I wished him the best in Beantown.  With this move, and Tom Glavine not pitching for anyone this season, it looks like Atlanta GM Frank Wren deserves some credit for knowing when to say when.

Despite being only 4.5 games back in the division, and 3 games back in the Wildcard, the Braves are getting no love and seem to be flying under the radar.  Here at The Sports Idiot we have told you not to overlook the Bravos before, and perhaps it is time to do so again.  Do not look now, but the Braves are suddenly 59 – 54 on the season, and riding a 4 game winning streak.

Like the Phillies did this week, the Braves will have to make a rotation decision before too long, as Tim Hudson will be making his next rehab start on Thursday.