We've waited all spring to see who it will be and here they are:
PITCHERS (12): Jeff Bennett (RH), Blaine Boyer (RH), Jorge Campillo (RH), Buddy Carlyle (RH), Mike Gonzalez (LH), Jair Jurrjens (RH), Kenshin Kawakami (RH), Derek Lowe (RH), Peter Moylan (RH), Eric O'Flaherty (LH), Rafael Soriano (RH) and Javier Vazquez (RH)
CATCHERS (2): Brian McCann and Clint Sammons
INFIELDERS (7): Yunel Escobar, Omar Infante, Kelly Johnson, Chipper Jones, Casey Kotchman, Greg Norton and Martin Prado
OUTFIELDERS: (4): Garret Anderson, Matt Diaz, Jeff Francoeur and Jordan Schafer
No Boone Logan as the LOOGY, instead they choose O'Flaherty, who finished the spring strong. Jeff Bennett also finished strong and gets the nod, as does Jorge Campillo. Manny Acosta misses the cut and the long shot Kris Medlen does as well.
Not many surprises for the hitters. Clint Sammons will backup McCann while David Ross works back from an injury.
And your Atlanta Braves 2009 starting center fielder, Jordan Schafer. Congrats kid. Gregor Blanco loses out to Schafer and will start the year at Gwinnett. Schafer will wear uniform number 24.
0 recs | 46 comments
Looks fine to me….If O’Flaherty struggles then can call up Boone. I have a feeling we’ll miss having Ohman on this team, but overall it looks better constructed than last year’s team.
jwrocks - April 3, 2009
Medlen
Any chance they move him into the starting rotation in Gwinnett since Campillo made the big club?
Or is Campillo likely to be sent down when Glavine is ready to pitch?
I’m glad we took one LOOGY instead of two because guys like Campillo and Bennett are more valuable then that second LOOGY.
AAA
Hanson, Reyes, Morton, Redmond, Medlen?
gutisking - April 3, 2009
Don’t forget Parr.
Weldon - April 3, 2009
I think Medlen is the number one starter for Mississippi.
KC Ryan - April 3, 2009
Morton is on the DL
acie4mvp - April 4, 2009
Where did you get this info? Its not on braves.com or espn or anything..
bravesfansc - April 3, 2009
AJC, BIOTCH
sdp - April 3, 2009
Actually, no
I get press releases from the Braves, so I had this up about 5 minutes after the news came out. Of course, Carrol Rogers had the players up 2 minutes before I did within the bowels of the blog, but she certainly has an inside track being at the stadium.
gondeee - April 3, 2009
rub it in why dont you
why dont you talk about how you get to meet all the players too???
traphicg - April 3, 2009
That’s my job.
cbwilk - April 3, 2009
Well...
sdp - April 3, 2009
Pitching
The braves have only 2 left handed pitchers oh my gosh.
bobbywarren95 - April 3, 2009
NL East
There’s like an abundance of power hitting lefties in our division…. maybe it will work out
traphicg - April 3, 2009
It’ll be three soon enough when Glavine’s turn comes up in the rotation.
KC Ryan - April 3, 2009
KC Ryan
Maybe Tommy Glavine want get a turn in the rotation, shoulder is still hurting you know.
bobbywarren95 - April 13, 2009
WE NEED MARK REDMOND!!!!! GET IT DONE FW
Swo12bv - April 3, 2009
Stop confusing Mark Redman with Mike Redmond
bigjoe - April 3, 2009
I’m stunned Acosta didn’t make the team after the hard-on people seem to have for him…not that I’m complaining.
BJONES WAS HOSED.
bigjoe - April 3, 2009
More flaccid that you imply
There was no hard on for Acosta… I was sick of him blowing everything in the 7th and 8th. This breath of fresh air (and arms) is welcomed. Ship Acosta elsewhere.
Cammando2317 - April 4, 2009
I’m disappointed Brandon didn’t make the team either…not sure who’s place he would have taken though.
Smoltz's Beard - April 4, 2009
Anderson’s?
bigjoe - April 4, 2009
Well yeah, that would have been nice…but it was pretty obvious that donk was making the team.
Smoltz's Beard - April 4, 2009
Way to go kid
Schafer, I’m all for him. He’s fun to watch.
traphicg - April 3, 2009
Escobar just got hurt.
bravesfansc - April 3, 2009
Not what I was hoping to see, but pretty much what I was expecting to see.
Tokyokie - April 3, 2009
Where in the hell
is the left handed pitching. Am i missing something here. I hope i’m wrong, but we’re going to get killed. WHERE ARE YOU TED TURNER!!!!!!!!!!!
rstan - April 3, 2009
Y HALO THAR!
WHO R U?
sdp - April 3, 2009
Hey sdp. I’m the one that is thinking this may be the year that Bobby says ’ the hell with this crap’ . One of the few things that i don’t like about Cox is the lefty , righty crap that he plays around with. But i’ll say one thing , it doesn’t look like i’ll get to cuss at him about that too much this year.
rstan - April 3, 2009
O’Flaherty is going to get into 90 games this year.
Maybe he’ll use Gonzo as a LOOGY more often.
bigjoe - April 3, 2009
actually not a horrible idea. lets say its the 7th inning and there’s 2 outs, bases loaded and Ryan Howard is at the plate. why not bring in gonzo to get an out and maybe pitch the 8th, and then have moylan or soriano pitch the 9th?
bravesfansc - April 3, 2009
I don’t think its a bad idea either. But Bobby is one of those guys that loves using his CAPITAL C CLOSER, no matter whether its for the better or for the worse.
bigjoe - April 3, 2009
but we have two capitol c closers. i think floating gonzo to match up when we see the lefties in the 7th 8th or 9th and letting soriano and moylan take care of the righties is a better idea then bringing in oflogan in the 7th vs howard.
heapofoatmeal - April 3, 2009
That’d be the smart way to manage, but too many people hold on to the notion that your best pitcher in the bullpen should only be used in the 9th inning. Hell, announcers shit a brick anytime a closer is brought into the 8th…
Smoltz's Beard - April 4, 2009
bravesfansc
You have got to be kidding. soriano and moylan in the 9th on a regular basics. ha ha
bobbywarren95 - April 13, 2009
yeah we all saw that when chris reitsma would come in after blowing 3 straight saves or when bob wickman would tumble in from the ’pen with his unfinished hotdog in his hand.
bravesfansc - April 3, 2009
+1
classic
heap16 - April 3, 2009
woah woah woah. We don’t use the ‘R’ word around here son.
yondaime4 - April 3, 2009
A long way from Rome....
Schafer was one of my family’s favorite players when he was in Rome – very nice guy, exciting player. We’re in for a great summer with him in CF.
Well played, Bravos!
secondbass - April 4, 2009
12 pitchers
This without the need for a 5th starter through the first couple of weeks. That’s 8 pitchers in the ‘pen, isn’t that too much when it means that a quality OFer like Blanco doesn’t even make the team?
Lennox - April 4, 2009
Moylan and Soriano probably can’t pitch back to back days. You argue that 8 is overkill, but I think a 6 man bench is overkill. There aren’t too many teams, if any, that utilize 6 bench spots.
beeniez - April 4, 2009
It wasn't that long ago that teams got by just fine with 5 man bullpens.
And a 6 man bench is hardly overkill when you’re otherwise lacking a solid backup CFer.
And, no, Infante doesn’t count as a solid CFer.
Lennox - April 4, 2009
You can’t backup every position with someone on your bench. If something happens where they need a backup for an injury/not performing, I’m sure they’ll call up Blanco.
jwrocks - April 4, 2009
Infante is not that bad of an outfielder, especially in limited playing time. Blanco needs to work on his base-running and slug a whole lot more before he can be considered quality. There probably wouldn’t be such a drastic difference in production and defense from the two players, especially in limited playing time, that it would be worth risking Moylan and Soriano’s health and having a fresh arm in the bullpen.
I’m not going to argue that a five man bullpen would never work since it did in the past. But pitchers are too fragile now to switch to another routine and pitch twice as much as they have been. If one person went down, regardless of why, the organization would be beyond heavily criticized and blamed for the old technique. With two guys who can’t pitch back to back, a situational lefty, and the depth to overcome these shortcomings it would be to our advantage to use them.
As bigjoe pointed it, it is a bit curious that they are carrying three long relievers. I’m guessing Carlyle will be used more as a set-up guy this year while Campillo will be used for two inning stretches and Bennett as the spot starter/long reliever. Probably a tryout until April 19th when one gets demoted.
beeniez - April 4, 2009
If you can't find a way to avoid pitching guys on back to back days
with 7 men in the ‘pen, then having an 8th guy out there isn’t going to help you.
Lennox - April 4, 2009
They can’t, but we have THREE long relievers for godsakes
bigjoe - April 4, 2009
Jordan Schafer
Not only has the good got a good bat he also plays defense pretty well. Not to mention he also is a good looking guy.
bobbywarren95 - April 13, 2009
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