Yes some good news has popped out of Braves camp recently (Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur reup without going to arbitration; Glavine resigns for one year; Derek Lowe and Kawakami and Vazquez join the rotation) but mostly this offseason has been a crappy one. The team misses out on Peavy and Burnett; the team loses John Smoltz; the team THINKS it has Furcal then Griffey only to have BOTH back out; leftfield is still a question mark as is leadoff. Brian McCann should be an all-star again, but only because each team HAS to have an all-star. (He'd make it anyways. He is a friggin stud. I've got a man-crush on Heaps/Lumpy)
So what is a frustrated Braves fan to do until Georgia football starts? The Braves might be competitive for a while, but they just don't have the horses that the Phillies do and the Braves will have to square off with a loaded NY lineup and bullpen for the wild card. I think the rotation will keep the team in the race until maybe July/August before the team eventually fades. Oh well.
If you are frustrated like me and need something to get you through the dog days of summer until it's time to tee it up between the hedges, let me offer you three options (or at least tell you my three.)
#1 Watch the Braves of the future RIGHT NOW in your own backyard! The guys that return Atlanta to contention will all play in the greater Atlanta area this year, in Gwinnett! Jordan Schafer will man Centerfield (according to Atlanta GM Frank Wren, they have him penciled in for AAA for most of 2009.). Jason Heyward will see plenty of time in Gwinnett Park this year. The guy is the future cleanup hitter for the parent club, so why not see that power destroy AAA pitching right now? Freddie Freeman will hopefully make 1B Casey Kotchman expendable. Diory Hernandez, with enough time and practice could push Kelly Johnson into left. And then you have the pitching. With Tom Glavine in the fold, that likely means Tommy Hanson will at least START the year in AAA. Hanson is the 1st ever pitcher to win the Arizona Fall League MVP award and if we are to believe the Score Atlanta beat writer who has watched Hanson highlights on Youtube, this dude is SICK. And when Glavine retires after the season, is there another lefty in the system that can take his place? Perhaps it is Cole Rohrbough. Also, see if Phil Stockman, JoJo Reyes and Charlie Morton can get their careers back on track. All of this talent just a stone's throw from Suwanee!
#2 The University of Georgia baseball team is back and trying to finish the drill by winning the CWS. Last season the team had a 1-0 series lead and a 5-run advantage in game 2 before falling to Fresno State. Now the team will go to battle sans two 1st round draft picks (Gordon Beckham and closer Joshua Fields) and with 18 freshman, including 5 starters. I had a chance to speak with coach David Perno recently and he says he is excited about this team. He said it reminds him of 2004 when several freshmen stepped in and played HUGE roles as the team reached the CWS. The team will start 5 true freshmen tonight against Youngstown State to open up the 2009 campaign. Why will I, a proud alum, be watching? A NUMBER of reasons. Freshman Johnathan Taylor is one of the fastest recruits Perno has ever brought to Athens and I followed this kid at North Cobb with Score Atlanta. All three outfield spots will be occupied by freshmen and two of the infield spots will see 1st year players man positions: Levi Hyams at second and Colby May at third. How will Michael Demperio take over for Gordon Beckham at Short? Matt Cerione should see time in the OF and at DH. Rich Poythress is a preseason Golden Spikes candidate. C Bryce Massanari has a hot wife so I could look for her at games. Lyle Allen and Robbie O'Bryan got a taste of action in the postseason last year. Dean Weaver will try and lock the games down like Fields did last year. Trevor Holder is back as Friday Night starter according to Perno. This team has me excited and intrigued. How will the new blood and the old faces top last season? just get me ONE more win on the end of the schedule.
Option #3 is an acid flashback to my childhood: Follow the Baltimore Orioles! Plenty of storylines with this squad. The outfield will be one of the best young units in the division and league: Greek sensation Nick Markakis, Adam (not Pacman) Jones and Luke Scott. Throw Ryan Freel, a guy I wish the Braves had traded for or signed about 98 times over the last 5 years or so. The infield should jump out to a hot start per usual with Melvin Mora at 3rd (he ALWAYS seems to start out hot), same with Brian Roberts at 2nd (coach's son plays hard and is finally getting signed. MAN I wish the Braves had gotten that guy!) How will Cesar Izturis fit in? Goes Aubrey Huff have anything left after a huge year last year? How many positions will Ty Wigginton play this season? How soon will we get a look at Catcher of the future Matt Wieters?(PS, look for a story I am working on in regards to Wieters. Check ScoreATL.com next week!) Then you take a look at the bullpen: Chris Ray returns and George Sherrill are two all-star-caliber closers. Then you have to wonder if Rich Hill can regain the hook he had two years ago. It will be fun rooting for the Birds again because HEY maybe they can compete through August...
...wait, that's too much like rooting for the Braves.
OK, maybe just two options.
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