Atlanta Braves Spring Preview: Which MLB opponents look toughest in 2010?
Pitchers and catchers will be reporting before we know it and with March comes the start of Spring Training. Baseball’s back, basically, and with so many teams making big offseason moves it’s like it never really left us.
MAKE THE CALL: Which MLB teams – NL or AL – among the Braves’ 2010 opponents retooled themselves best for the upcoming season and who’s already looking like a cellar dweller? Also, are you headed to Spring Training? Which teams are you most eager to see and why?
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110 comments Add your comment
Matt
January 26th, 2010
4:59 pm
Whoever is running the show on this one: I think that people are confused when you have this link (Will re-tooled Braves contend for NL East title?) and then open it and it is the Mets. Maybe you can rename it to say something to the effect of this — Will the Mets be a tough opponent for the Braves after Spring Training?
You can thank me for doing your editing later. As always, I’m not surprised that the editing stinks at the AJC.
Snowman
January 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
I think the pitching will be fine, and although I hated to see Javy go, I’ll be surprised if he has as good a year in 2010 as he did in 2009. Just don’t think we have nearly enough hitting to compete with the Phillies. I’m crossing my fingers for Johnny Damon, but I’ll be shocked if the Braves get him.
Blobie
January 26th, 2010
5:21 pm
I am a huge Atlanta Braves fan. I have picked the Braves to win 44 of their 16 division titles. Braves in 2010.
PN
January 26th, 2010
5:32 pm
Man, I am a die hard Braves fan, the Braves are one of my earliest memories as a child. But unfortunately I am pretty honest with myself when it comes to the Braves and Georgia Tech, and the Braves are unimpressive at the best. What have the 2010 Braves down to improve from 2009? The bullpen is essentially unchanged in terms of strength. It should be solid as it was last year. Wagner may not be able to make it through the whole season, but that was the same issue we had with Soriano, so the bullpen is a wash. Starting pitching? Essentially unchanged and a great strength. I think Javier Vazquez played over his head last season. You don’t have a 4.00 ERA over a 10+ year career then suddenly turn into a 2.90 pitcher. He was great and he will get his K’s, but I’d be shocked if his ERA was under 3.70 next season. Therefore, our SP remains unchanged and a strength. Offense. What did the 2010 Braves do to improve over 2009? Melky Cabrera — absolutely NO improvement over Francoeur, maybe even a downgrade. Troy Glaus — a big time gamble, but I cannot imagine he will do any more for us than LaRoche did in the second half AT HIS ABSOLUTE BEST. And I don’t think he will be at his absolute best as he will be playing a foreign defensive position. 2B — having Prado for a full season has to be a plus but almost a moot point/improvement. Bench — anything is an improvement over Greg Norton coming up every other night with a man on 2nd and 3rd base with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th with us trailing by a run.
Overall impression — Absolutely no improvement. Finish 3rd in the NL East behind Philly and Florida.
Bravo
January 26th, 2010
5:35 pm
The Mets are in serious need of starting pitching, and they did not address that critical need this winter. Bay will make a positive contribution but not enough to compenstae for the lack of pitching – additionally, Bay is below average defensively. Santana is a 6 inning ace, and after him there is next to nothing (Maine erratic, Pelfrey unproven, and Ollie “The Faucet” Perez who runs hot and usually cold). K-Rod is a stud closer, but after Santana who is he closing out games for? The Mets need to score at least 6-7 runs a game to have a chance whenever Santana is not on the mound. Realistically, The Mets will win about 70-75 games, and that should make them a lock for 4th place unless The Nats make a run at them in 2010.
JT
January 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
As a fan since 1959, I have been through it all with this team. For 2010, I put this team well above average for that 50+ years, so I am hopeful.
Braves fan since '89
January 26th, 2010
6:26 pm
It’s too early to know what this team will do. We’ve got a lot of question marks. Quite a few of our position players have a lot of upside, but not a terribly consistent history. So there’s a wide range. I guess people feel better coming on here and ranting and raving one way or the other. Otherwise, why do they do it?
Let’s hope for Bobby’s sake that some of these guys have a career year, so he can get to the playoffs one more time. (I guess it’s telling that no one has mentioned the World Series yet. Must be out of the realm of possibilities).
When do pitchers and catchers report?
Braves fan since '89
January 26th, 2010
6:27 pm
A wide range of possible outcomes is what I meant to say. Anywhere from 1st to 4th place in the NL East.
ugaaccountant
January 26th, 2010
7:00 pm
The mets can’t possibly be finished yet without adressing their pitching staff. Eric Bedard or other dwindling free agent or a trade will occur.
Chopper
January 26th, 2010
7:16 pm
I WANT SOME MARK BILES DRUGS!! With those, UGA goes undeated in 2010. No oppenent scores on them. Florida does not even show up in Jacksonville out of fear, the Falcons have a perfect season and win the Super Bowl, the Hawks win the finals in a sweep, the Braves increase their payroll to $200 million and Frank Wren resigns! Yeah, Mark Biles drugs!
toon
January 26th, 2010
7:38 pm
i’d like to point out that the braves were 6th last yr in mlb and 3rd in nl in run differential… which is a good indication, usually, of record… and they did this with several starters having horrible years (chipper, kotchman, anderson, 1/2 yr of johnson, schafer, and frenchy)… the offense is only going to get better and while we got rid of the best starter we had, he’s also the one most likely to decline after a career year… the pitching should be about the same, so we can expect run differential to go up which should see a better record, which means we will be competitive…
scbravefan
January 26th, 2010
7:44 pm
ok ok ok its just starting let see how many still have it right by july. i will start with the braves ending up year in 2nd or 3rd. others who cares. phil will win it again but not too big a margin. this is guessing with out seeing how players do. i do not agree with the pitchers we have. lowe is not going to improve by much. tommy will win 17.jj win18 and not sure about everyone else. time will tell
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 26th, 2010
9:54 pm
“Which MLB opponents look toughest in 2010?”
How about……every team in baseball except the Braves.
Hetch Hetchy
January 26th, 2010
9:58 pm
Braves fans, prepare yourselves for a colossal year by Chipper Jones. By colossal I mean colossally horrible. And idiot-in-chief, Bobby Coxsuxer, will bat him 3rd until the end of the season no matter what.
And the local media will sing the praises of Cox as the ship crashes onto the reef yet again.
Tim Tebow's Tears
January 26th, 2010
10:00 pm
Wren Sucks…Great pick ups. One years leases on bums…Better hope Glaus puts up a JD Drew type year or Wren will feel the HEAT. Now on to my Senior Bowl practices..All I have to say is I was sick, wahhhhhhhhhhh
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Wayne Kelley
January 27th, 2010
12:22 am
The Braves will be better this year. Last year when the closers came in I would just pray they would get it done but even when they did it wasn’t 123. I really like Wagner and always have. Escabar, Prado and McCann are a year older and should be even better. I love Mclouth and the energy he brings to the team. But what I like the most is our starting pitching, it’s potentially the best in the game. The Phillies are NL champs and you have to beat them. The Mets are the Mets, they always overpay to get players who don’t perform. The Marlins should be the team we fear. They are young and good. I’m looking forward to baseball, it should be a great year. I’m a big Tommy Hansen fan, he’s a great kid! I like Chris Medlen too.
Bravesfan101
January 27th, 2010
1:25 am
I’m looking forward to seeing if the braves are gonna make the playoffs in coach cox last year I hope they can make it.
JRCates
January 27th, 2010
3:08 am
A Completely Biased loyal fan of 35 years prediction
1. Braves 93 -69
2. Phillies 85-77
3. Marlins 83-79
3. Mets 83-79
4. Nats 70-92
Coach (2011 or Bust)
January 27th, 2010
5:35 am
An unbiased opinion from a loyal lifelong Braves fanatic.
the 2010 N.L. East division is the Phillies to lose. Our Braves are a wild card entry and their fate will pretty much be an unknown until sometime around mid-June.
Here is one clue pertaining to the upcoming season. Our Bravos were ranked 11th in team payroll in 2009. They are presently ranked 15th.
But one prediction can be written down in stone. The Blue Jays, Royals, A’s, Nationals, Pirates and Padres all presently have a hammer lock on last place in each of their respective divisions, and the season won’t even start for another two months.
That said, baseball’s competitive level looks like a long tilted slide into oblivion if you ask me.
enz
January 27th, 2010
10:54 am
what a brutal division!
Beldar
January 27th, 2010
12:33 pm
Braves will finish second to the Phillies.
101-61 Phillies
90-72 Braves
86-76 Marlins
84-78 Mets
76-86 Nationals
Falcon66
January 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
bvillebaron
You have made the most sensible post on this blog. This is a better Braves team than last year. I enjoyed your post.
ChippersLoveChild
January 27th, 2010
1:19 pm
In the NL the teams I feel that will have similar records and challenge the Braves for the playoffs are Philly, Florida, Milwaukee, St. Louis, San Francisco, and the Dodgers… not seeing much change from last year. Going to be a good race.
J-Rod
January 27th, 2010
1:25 pm
Can’t we all stop with the negative predictions from the Braves fan and just support them for the whole 2010 season. I was disappointed in the fans of Atlanta that didn’t support their team fully by givng them full house games during the Braves’ postseason entry attempt. I believe the Braves have one of the deepest rotation in the National League and I can’t wait to see the faces of Kimbrel, Teheran, Freeman, Minor, and especially ESPECIALLY Jason Heyward. Wagner and Saito will give experience to the young guys in the bullpen like Medlen, O’Flaherty, Moylan, Chavez, Dunn, etc. Hopefully, the Braves can compete against those damn Phillies. Let’s just support our Braves 110% than before.
Jonas
January 27th, 2010
1:33 pm
If everything going well with no serius injuries to key Player and Chipper,Mac & Glous have a decent season, write the Bravos in the top of this Difficult Division…hoping The Phillis has a off Season with the reverse of the Braves (injuries to key player) we can see the Braves back into the Playoff this coming season.
Braves McWhatnot
January 27th, 2010
1:34 pm
Phillies 95-67
Braves 92-70
Marlins 88-74
Nats 83-79
Mets 78-84
Braves win the wild card
Art Vandalay
January 27th, 2010
1:35 pm
Braves will be 89-73 and win the wild card…write it down
Braves McWhatnot
January 27th, 2010
1:35 pm
Nats 79-83
I put their record backwards
Mark Biles
January 27th, 2010
1:43 pm
To any of you who think Braves starters can’t win 81 games by themselves, the Orioles had 4 starter win 20 or games each in 1969:
Palmer, McNally, Cuellar, and Dobson. Look it up. I’m old enough to remember it. Go Braves!
Mark Biles
January 27th, 2010
1:59 pm
Correction: The year was 1971 not 1969 for four Orioles starters that won 20 or more games. Sorry.
LB
January 27th, 2010
2:05 pm
Great to see some baseball chatter. Not a braves fan, but I believe the braves can be competitive for the WC. Do not necessarily think they improved, hedging alot of their success this season on players who have been injured the last few years or are coming off major surgeries. Glaus is a downgrade and switching positions. Chipper needs to rebound, otherwise it will be a disaster. Phils will win at least 93-95 games. Mets are a 4th or 5th place club. The Marlins staff can be scary good, to many holes elsewhere.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 27th, 2010
2:19 pm
The Braves should fear the Obama administration.
Mark Biles
January 27th, 2010
2:36 pm
We ALL should fear the Obama administration–not just the Braves.
Chief of the Hekowees
January 27th, 2010
2:38 pm
Phillies win the Div. 2nd place goes to whoever has the least amount of injuries (Braves, Mets, Marlins)
NORRIS
January 27th, 2010
2:42 pm
So, How have the Braves upgraded. Everything we did was a BIG question mark. We made a lot of those hope moves like we always do. Just like when we hoped all the veterans would be the pitching staff we all hoped. well, the Braves once again made no moves to make the team better. They made a lot of hope moves. Dont get me wrong. I hope that Glaus performs like he is capable.
But if he dont. Then we are once again sitting with a team that has no power on the nights that Mccann sits.
NY Frenchy
January 27th, 2010
2:52 pm
The Braves starting outfield is McClouth, Melky, & Diaz! Be afraid Mutts, Phils, & Marlins be VERY AFRAID! What a JOKE! We passed on Nady for what, a measley 3.3 a year, I hope he bangs 30 bombs & over 100 rbi for the Cubbies, you think counting on Chipper & Glaus to make comebacks is a SOLID plan??? I think NOT! Booby needs to go & so does Liberty Media, we need local ownership, Hello Mr. Blank??? HELP
Branch Rickey
January 27th, 2010
3:06 pm
With Vazquez gone the Braves’ success is contingent on their starting pitching and IF Hudson is healthy; and IF Lowe is consistent; and IF Kawakami continues to improve. Jurrjens and Hansen are solid. Would like to see Medlin in the mix. Offensively, no speed, little power and too many free swingers. Bullpen is led by old Billy Wagner and older Saito. Third place at best !
William
January 27th, 2010
3:19 pm
Will the Braves coach be using a walker this year or wheel chair? Until the Braves get a younger more agressive coach, I will avoid baseball. UGA took too much out of me this year to watch more mediocrity.
Mixxo
January 27th, 2010
3:50 pm
Fourth place…….here we come!!
Tomy Fournier
January 27th, 2010
5:03 pm
Atlanta….:FIRST”
Glenn Beck
January 27th, 2010
7:54 pm
THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAX MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WITH HIGHER TAXES STARTING THIS YEAR FORCING THE NY YANKEES TO CUT PAYROLL.
BRAVES NOW HAVE A CHANCE. (NOT)
Hat turnt sideways
January 27th, 2010
8:33 pm
William…………..
THEN GO WATCH ICE CREAM MELT
ricky
January 27th, 2010
9:31 pm
hmmm…. well there’s the Phillies, Dodgers, NY Mets, Marlins, and the new look Nationals. These teams got better we did not. 1st- Phillies
2nd- Marlins
3rd- Mets
4th- Braves
5th- Nationals
Kentavo
January 27th, 2010
11:30 pm
I don’t fear the top teams at all – Braves teams of last few years have played better against the better teams – it’s the inability to beat the likes of the Nats, Reds and Bucs that did ‘em in, especially last year.
As for Halladay – let’s just match up Kamikaze Kawakami with him every time and wear ol’ Doc out.
38YearBravesFan
January 28th, 2010
8:03 am
As has been said by others here, Phillies, Braves, Marlins, Mets, Nationals and Braves take the Wild Card.
GO BRAVES!! 21 Days!
Chief pitchanono
January 28th, 2010
1:25 pm
Think the braves did the best they could with what they have to work with. The 2010 braves will go as Glaus and Heyward go. If they both have decent years I see us making a serious run at philly and or the wild card. If not I think we will end up allot like last year, close, but no cigar! Division will be a little tougher with some improvements in D.C. and the mutts cant be as bad as they were last year. Florida will be good again and of course philly has turned into the braves of the 90’s, there just doing it with offense instead of pitching. The Braves proved last year they can have the upperhand in head to head matchups, if cox will just stop pitching to howard late in games. Cant wait for the season to start! Go Braves!
Bobbymahlon
January 28th, 2010
7:09 pm
For all you people who think we could win it all if we sign Dan Uggla. I ask myself which would be better a second baseman who hits 30 home runs,strikes out 100+ times, bats around .270 and is a poor defensive second baseman or a guy who hits 15 home runs,strikes out around 70 times, bats .300 and is a good defensive second baseman. I did not include RBIs because of where they would hit in the lineup. I guess as I look at it I would stick with Prado and spend the money some place else. How do some of you people feel about this?
Bobbymahlon
January 28th, 2010
7:12 pm
Chief : I agree with you but I think we got to include Chipper and Lowe to have good years or we are dead.
Bobbymahlon
January 28th, 2010
7:13 pm
Oh by the way I love the Braves and I can’t wait for the season to begin and start kicking some butts.