NL East: Atlanta Braves
I really have no rational reason why the Braves will come in first other than, well, they're the Braves. Atlanta has won a division title every season since 1991, and while this team is no where near as talented as the Braves teams that advanced to five World Series during the 90s, or even the teams that lost Division Series after Division Series in the earlier part of this decade, it is good enough to make Met fans wonder whether all the money their team spent will only result in a second place finish. This is a very young Braves team, but it is very talented.
Lineup: Nothing has changed in that the lineup is anchored by the Jones', although Andruw certainly surpassed Chipper last season. Andruw had a career season, hitting 51 home runs with a .575 SLG, and would have won the MVP award had Albert Pujols not put up his typical monster numbers. Chipper struggled with injuries again, but when he was healthy was unstoppable, with a .412 OBP and .556 SLG. He's not going to win any more MVP awards, but I still don't want him up with the game on the line. The corner outfield spots are filled by youngsters Ryan Langerhans and the immensly overrated Jeff Francoeur and his whopping 11 walks in half a season of work. Adam LaRoche will need to improve on last season's OPS, but he also young, and should improve with time. Brian McCann established himself as a good catcher last season, and figures to be a steady figure behind the plate for years to come. Veteran Todd Pratt backs him up. Rafael Furcal left for Los Angeles, and will be replaced by Edgar Renteria, who strugglied mightily in Boston last year, but should bounce back now that he's in the National League. At second base, Marcus Giles is the starter, and has become one of the top second basemen in the league, posting a career OBP/SLG of .366/.465, and he has some speed as well. The bench is solid, with Pratt, Wilson Betemit, Pete Orr, Kelly Johnson, and Matt Diaz all solid hitters. Aside from the Jones' and Giles, the lineup lacks explosiveness, but assuming the young players improve, shouldn't be a hinderance. The Braves lineup is an excellent mix of youth and experience.
Starting Rotation: Although it is not the same rotation that dominated baseball in the 90s, the Braves figure to have a very good starting rotation. However, the biggest story is the departure of famed pitching coach Leo Mazzone. He has recieved a lot of the credit for Atlanta's pitching dominance, and it remains to be seen whether the Braves pitchers can succeed without him. The staff is headed by John Smoltz, who made a triumphant return to the rotation after a stint in the bullpen. Smoltz may be getting up in years, but he hasn't shown it. Tim Hudson, while not having lived up to his performance with Oakland earlier in the decade, remains a good 2nd starter, posting a 3.52 ERA. At 30, he still has some good years left. John Thomson fell off from 2004, posting a 4.47 ERA in over 98 innings. Before coming to Atlanta, he was a well-traveled veteran, and there is no guarantee he will post good numbers. Jorge Sosa was a pleasant surprise last year, and while he won't have a 2.55 ERA again, he should remain a good mid-rotatio starter. The back of the rotation is anchored by Horacio Ramirez, who had a 4.63 ERA in 202 innings in 2005. He's had several other good years, and at 26, has many good years ahead of him. Kyle Davies could get a chance as well. Smoltz and Hudson are the only stars, but all in all, the rotation is still better than most other ones in the game.
Bullpen: The bullpen is by far the Braves weakest link. After losing Kyle Farnsworth, the closer situation is unsettled, and will be filled by Chris Reitsma, who is a good reliever but has not had success closing games. The rest of the bullpen is even weaker. Blaine Boyer pitched 37 innings as a rookie last year, posting a 3.11 ERA. The Braves need him to equal that performance this season, because their only other setup men are similarly unproven John Foster and Oscar Villarreal, who has not has not had a good season since 2003. Lance Cormier is the only other reliever to have pitched significant innings last season, but his 79.1 innings of work only yielded a 5.11 ERA. Youngsters Macay McBride, Joey Devine, and Anthony Lermier will also have a chance to prove themselves. Devine is the most highly regarded of the bunch. Overall, this is an extremly weak group.
X Factor: Chipper Jones. While his production is as good as ever, he hasn't had over 500 at bats since the 2003 season. Without him in the lineup everyday, the Braves offense will be weak.
Biggest Strength/Weakness: Starting Pitching/Bullpen
Prediction: 1st place in the NL East
Win Range: 86-91
31 Comments:
Do You interesting how to [b]Buy Viagra per pill[/b]? You can find below...
[size=10]>>>[url=http://listita.info/go.php?sid=1][b]Buy Viagra per pill[/b][/url]<<<[/size]
[URL=http://imgwebsearch.com/30269/link/viagra%2C%20tramadol%2C%20zithromax%2C%20carisoprodol%2C%20buy%20cialis/1_valentine3.html][IMG]http://imgwebsearch.com/30269/img0/viagra%2C%20tramadol%2C%20zithromax%2C%20carisoprodol%2C%20buy%20cialis/1_valentine3.png[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://imgwebsearch.com/30269/link/buy%20viagra/3_headsex1.html][IMG]http://imgwebsearch.com/30269/img0/buy%20viagra/3_headsex1.png[/IMG][/URL]
[b]Bonus Policy[/b]
Order 3 or more products and get free Regular Airmail shipping!
Free Regular Airmail shipping for orders starting with $200.00!
Free insurance (guaranteed reshipment if delivery failed) for orders starting with $300.00!
[b]Description[/b]
Generic Viagra (sildenafil citrate; brand names include: Aphrodil / Edegra / Erasmo / Penegra / Revatio / Supra / Zwagra) is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction regardless of the cause or duration of the problem or the age of the patient.
Sildenafil Citrate is the active ingredient used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence) in men. It can help men who have erectile dysfunction get and sustain an erection when they are sexually excited.
Generic Viagra is manufactured in accordance with World Health Organization standards and guidelines (WHO-GMP). Also you can find on our sites.
Generic [url=http://viagra.deutafilm.ru]buy generic viagra online in canada[/url] is made with thorough reverse engineering for the sildenafil citrate molecule - a totally different process of making sildenafil and its reaction. That is why it takes effect in 15 minutes compared to other drugs which take 30-40 minutes to take effect.
[b]dicloxacil viagra side effects
get viagra on internet
Like Viagra Lyrics
viagra in holland
viagra cheap online
Viagra Church
Viagra Anxiety
[/b]
Even in the most sexually liberated and self-satisfied of nations, many people still yearn to burn more, to feel ready for bedding no matter what the clock says and to desire their partner of 23 years as much as they did when their love was brand new.
The market is saturated with books on how to revive a flagging libido or spice up monotonous sex, and sex therapists say “lack of desire” is one of the most common complaints they hear from patients, particularly women.
By Anonymous, at 8:41 AM
where can i order xanax online generic xanax no imprint - much does 1mg xanax go
By Anonymous, at 2:05 PM
viagra online viagra 5 mg - buy jelly viagra online
By Anonymous, at 4:14 AM
viagra pills generic viagra united states - viagra dosage altitude sickness
By Anonymous, at 5:07 PM
generic viagra cheap generic viagra online pharmacy - generic viagra 100mg sildenafil
By Anonymous, at 4:42 AM
soma generic soma generic vs watson - soma compared other muscle relaxers
By Anonymous, at 3:34 PM
generic soma soma swimsuit sale - order soma online no rx
By Anonymous, at 9:01 PM
tramadol buy buy tramadol visa - tramadol withdrawal thomas recipe
By Anonymous, at 5:48 AM
tramadol cheap buy tramadol online no prescription cod - tramadol hcl 50 mg for back pain
By Anonymous, at 11:01 AM
buy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg to get high - prednisone and tramadol for dogs
By Anonymous, at 3:56 PM
can i buy xanax online buy xanax bars online - xanax side effects for women
By Anonymous, at 2:35 PM
generic xanax xanax pills pink - xanax vs lorazepam
By Anonymous, at 8:14 PM
xanax price blue round 2mg xanax - drug test valium xanax
By Anonymous, at 9:35 PM
tramadol 50 buy tramadol online usa cheap - tramadol hcl ultram 50 mg
By Anonymous, at 9:43 PM
where to buy tramadol online buy tramadol online with cod - tramadol lexapro
By Anonymous, at 3:28 AM
cheap alprazolam 4 mg xanax side effects - order xanax legally online
By Anonymous, at 10:25 PM
generic xanax 1 xanax drug test - fake xanax bars g3722
By Anonymous, at 5:28 PM
buy tramadol tramadol 20mg dogs - tramadol high heart rate
By Anonymous, at 12:45 AM
buy cheap carisoprodol order carisoprodol 350 mg - soma carisoprodol back pain
By Anonymous, at 3:36 PM
cialis online order viagra or cialis online - cialis online free sample
By Anonymous, at 1:47 AM
xanax no prescription xanax bars 15 mg - xanax side effects elderly
By Anonymous, at 10:04 PM
20000 :) Generic Azithromycin - buy azithromycin no prescription http://www.zithromaxhowtobuy.net/#cheap-azithromycin, [url=http://www.zithromaxhowtobuy.net/#buy-azithromycin]Cheap Azithromycin[/url]
By Anonymous, at 7:36 PM
http://buytramadolonlinecool.com/#63102 tramadol hcl 150 mg - tramadol addiction and seizures
By Anonymous, at 12:45 AM
buy tramadol online tramadol online international - tramadol stada 100mg retardtabletten nebenwirkungen
By Anonymous, at 5:35 AM
aaa!!! Topamax Cost - topamax without rx http://www.topamaxbestonline.net/#order-topamax, [url=http://www.topamaxbestonline.net/#order-topamax]Buy Topamax[/url]
By Anonymous, at 7:51 AM
learn how to buy tramdadol tramadol for dogs onset of action - buy tramadol overnight delivery no prescription
By Anonymous, at 8:50 PM
http://www.integrativeonc.org/adminsio/buyklonopinonline/#use klonopin side effects toddlers - klonopin 0.25
By Anonymous, at 10:47 PM
03 cheap lorazepam 2mg - generic ativan online http://www.ativanonlinenorx.net/#cheap-lorazepam-2mg, [url=http://www.ativanonlinenorx.net/#buy-ativan]ativan cost[/url]
By Anonymous, at 5:01 AM
buy tramadol tramadol rxlist - tramadol reviews
By Anonymous, at 5:39 AM
all, order levitra without prescription - levitra drug http://www.recoverinchrist.org/#levitra-drug , [url=http://www.recoverinchrist.org/#generic-levitra-10mg ]generic levitra 10mg [/url]
By Anonymous, at 10:49 PM
http://www.integrativeonc.org/adminsio/buyklonopinonline/#9183 can you overdose klonopin die - buy clonazepam canada
By Anonymous, at 6:29 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home