The Atlanta Braves opening day roster is finally set, with Brooks Conrad filling out the last spot for Braves batters, and Jesse Chavez and Jo-Jo Reyes claiming the last two bullpen spots. Conrad was in a pitched battle with infielder Joe Thurston, but in the end Conrad came on strong and he was already on the 40-man roster, which may have had something to do with him being added and not Thurston.
Jesse Chavez didn't have the best spring, in fact he had the worst spring of just about any Braves reliever, but in the end it was likely his experience that won out and earned him the spot. Jo-Jo Reyes is an unlikely bullpen addition, but after having a good spring the Braves must believe he can contribute to the staff in some form or another. His addition does leave the Braves without an experienced starter in the minor leagues in case of an injury on the big league staff. They do have Kris Medlen and Reyes himself who could fill in, but they are not stretched out and likely could not fill in for extended periods of time.
Overall, there are not really any surprises. These three additions are about what we expected for the past week.
The Braves opening day roster now looks like this:
Lineup: Nate McLouth, Martin Prado, Chipper Jones, Troy Glaus, Brian McCann, Yunel Escobar, Jason Heyward, and Matt Diaz
Backups: Eric Hinske, Omar Infante, David Ross, Melky Cabrera, and Brooks Conrad
Rotation: Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson, and Kenshin Kawakami
Bullpen: Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito, Peter Moylan, Eric O'Flaherty, Kris Medlen, Jesse Chavez, and Jo-Jo Reyes
0 recs | 28 comments
So, our Opening Day 2010 roster is:
C – McCann
1B – Glaus
2B – Prado
3B – Chipper
SS – Escobar
LF – Cabrera
CF – McLouth
RF – Heyward
C – Ross
IF – Hinske
Util – Conrad
Util – Infante
OF – Diaz
SP – Lowe
SP – Jurrjens
SP – Hanson
SP – Hudson
SP – Kawakami
RP – Medlen
RP – Reyes
RP – O’Flaherty
RP – Chavez
RP – Moylan
RP – Saito
CP – Wagner
Not bad at all. My prediction for the season is 90-72, with us winning the Wild Card and falling about 3 games short of the Phillies.
Scott Coleman - April 2, 2010
yeah
thanks for adding on to the post Gondeee. Now I look like a dumbass for posting that!
Scott Coleman - April 2, 2010
Opening day,...
it’s looking like Melky in CF and Diaz in LF.
Mr. Sanchez - April 2, 2010
Eh. I don’t know if I like Conrad over Thurston… but like you said, the 40-man roster spot probably was the deciding factor.
BigG1392 - April 2, 2010
Must have been,
because as much as I like Conrad, Thurston out played him in the end.
HEYJUDE - April 2, 2010
Also, their pasts. You know what you’re going to get out of Thurston as a Major Leaguer: average defense at second and third, a low average with no power. You don’t really know what you’re going to get out of Conrad as a Major Leaguer over a full season. He’s more versatile, able to play SS and 1B, and he’s got more pop. With a good bench, Infante, Hinske, Ross, Cabrera/Diaz, the Braves have enough leeway to see what the guy can do.
cbwilk - April 2, 2010
Bobby can really play around with lineup combinations...
let’s see if he actually does it. Several players on that bench are good enough to start for several teams.
Mr. Sanchez - April 2, 2010
Whooooo Conrad!
anyone want a Conrad autographed ball? got like 5 of em at ST, (also got Thurston too, told both of them good luck against the other)
BravesRaleigh - April 2, 2010
I got some stuff I can trade you for one
Quilvio Veras - April 2, 2010
like what?
BravesRaleigh - April 4, 2010
I am happy for JoJo…I think this was a great move that will pay off big down the road.
justincredubil02 - April 2, 2010
samesies
I don’t think he could handle being a closer like you do, but i could definately see him being a 7th or 8th inning guy down the road.
Scott Coleman - April 2, 2010
Why didn’t we screw over Medlen for his arbitration clock if we were going to keep Jo Jo anyway? Also, I’m pumped for this year. Really good looking roster.
freekhalidelamin - April 2, 2010
Sweet! Now I can get all my Scott Proctor cards signed and some of my Joe Thurston cards signed when they come to Norfolk.
cbwilk - April 2, 2010
I'm totally
Going to make the CBtits baseball card.
Complete with stats about games you attend, number of cards you get signed, alcoholic beverages you drink (complete with a bold 1 indicating career-high if you ever start drinking) and other miscellaneous statistics I’m sure other people could help me add on.
royhobbs - April 2, 2010
Cards signed:
2007: 3684
2008: 4981
2009: 3495
2010: (as of Apr 2nd) 1126
Career: Appx. 36000
That’ll get you started.
cbwilk - April 2, 2010
When I make these public
Don’t be scared when random lurkers are downloading them, printing them out, and come to you with them, asking for autographs out at random minor league fields.
royhobbs - April 2, 2010
That would actually be pretty awesome. It was funny enough when I was at the minor league fields in ST and the players were asking about my book and my stand-up and a few other graphers were like, “Wait, who are you? Should I know?”
cbwilk - April 3, 2010
Good stuff…happy for Conrad.
lemke2blauser2bream - April 2, 2010
on the braves website it says diaz over the milk man. it was updated today?
David G. Little - April 2, 2010
Geez,
another season of sitting on the edge of my seat, when Jo-Jo and Chavez enter the game.
This ST they have been bi-polar, never knowing which side of them you would see when they pitched.
Other then those two and Conrad playing over Thurston, I am happy with the roster.
It’s gonna be a fun year! Go Braves!
HEYJUDE - April 2, 2010
Somebody has to come in when we are down by 4 in the 7th inning, I bet we don’t see much of either Reyes or Chavez. I thought Thurston won the spot, but he won’t be far away if we need him. I like Conrad, but he seems so streaky, I wish we had started him at AAA and brought him up when a DL situation arose. But, congrats to all who made it. Tremendously better team than this time last year.
bighop - April 2, 2010
very excited, etc
but Bump Fred Hickman. Most every other team gets the hottie sports chick (i.e. Katy Temple) and we get……Fred “Sucks a Helluva Lotta Dick” Hickman
Chief Noc-A-Homa - April 2, 2010
Well
that was unnecessary.
sunking1056 - April 2, 2010
first game is against zambrano so i would assume melky starts at least opening day
lund123 - April 2, 2010
GO BROOKS!!!
You guys have no idea how excited we are to open against the Braves this season. Here’s hoping that at least (at most) one guy on the Braves puts a charge in a few balls at Petco.
Dex - April 2, 2010
gaslamp ball is by far my favorite non Braves team blog
Quilvio Veras - April 2, 2010
Dex!
How I’ve missed thee and GLB. I should actually start swinging by again. I totally name dropped you to Brooks last season when I was sitting right behind the dugout. He seemed amused.
royhobbs - April 2, 2010
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