5 reasons to be concerned about your 2011 Atlanta Braves
"Now boarding: Flight 2011, bound for ... October?" (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Ever notice how every player and manager always says he’s “excited” about spring training? Because every player and manager always is. Spring training is the fun part. But somebody has to function as a wet blanket, and here I stand. (Or drape, as the case may be.) Here are five reasons I’m concerned about the local nine as it readies for Lake Buena Vista.
1. The defense could be deadly. Dan Uggla will help the batting order, OK? We’re agreed there. But Uggla is a bad defender — 47 errors over the past three seasons, which is a bunch for a second baseman — and he’s the new Braves second baseman. Which means Martin Prado moves to left field, where he has played a total of three big-league games. Even if Chipper Jones is healthy, he’ll still turn 39 in April. And Alex Gonzalez, who turns 34 next month, was a major defensive disappointment.
Think about it: At how many positions do the Braves have a first-rate defender? Freddie Freeman should be fine at first base, but Brian McCann is only OK, and even Jason Heyward had some odd moments in right field last season. I worry that some fine pitchers will be undercut by the men stationed behind — or, in McCann’s case, in front of — them. But that’s what I do. I worry.
2. Nate McLouth is again projected as the center fielder. That’s a major position on any ballclub, and I haven’t seen anything from McLouth since he arrived in June 2009 that makes me think he’s even a minor asset. (From what I’ve seen, the Pirates got rid of him just as his career took the ol’ Matterhorn nosedive.)
It was noteworthy that Rick Ankiel was the Braves’ starting center fielder in the Division Series even though McLouth was on the active roster. The Braves thought so little of Ankiel they let him leave after the season, and now they plan to run McLouth out there again. Maybe this makes sense to you. It doesn’t to me.
3. Craig Kimbrel walks people. The Braves haven’t officially designated Kimbrel their closer, but they’re clearly leaning that way. And he has everything you’d want in a closer … except control.
Over 151 minor-league innings, Kimbrel walked 95 batters. (That’s an average of 5.7 walks per nine innings, which is terrible.) He walked 16 men in 20 2/3 big-league innings after his promotion. He walked Travis Ishikawa in the devastating ninth inning of Game 3 of the NLDS, and sure enough Ishikawa scored the tying run.
Speaking Wednesday at Turner Field, Kimbrel said: “From right now until the season, [working on control] becomes my focus. I want to improve it.”
It’s not an option. Either Kimbrel throws strikes or he doesn’t work the ninth inning. As Jeff Brantley, himself a closer, once said after watching John Rocker blow a save via bases on balls: “You can’t walk people if you want to close.”
4. There’s still no speed. The Braves ranked 14th in a 16-team league in stolen bases in 2010, and their new position players are Freeman, who’s no deer, and Uggla, who has 19 steals in five big-league seasons. The guess is that Fredi Gonzalez would like to play more Small Ball than his managerial predecessor, but he wouldn’t seem to have the tools.
5. Magic might not be transferable. Last season the Braves won 25 games in their final at-bat. Much went wrong along the way, but enough games went improbably right at the end for this team to slip into the playoffs on the final day. It was a wild ride and a good ride and, not incidentally, Bobby Cox’s last ride, but the doings of 2010 weren’t anyone’s concept of a blueprint.
The 2011 Braves have Uggla and Freeman and Kimbrel but will be missing Billy Wagner and Omar Infante and Troy Glaus — who in one month changed the course of 2010, let’s not forget — and Matt Diaz. This team will again pitch well, and it figures to hit better than it did last season while fielding worse. It took 91 wins to qualify for postseason in 2010, and that number would seem the ceiling for the 2011 Braves.
By Mark Bradley
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387 comments Add your comment
Bartman-n-Orl
February 10th, 2011
12:06 pm
Terry
10:56 am: Agreed and I understand the stats. But in watching Uggla & Pardo field, and I watched Uggs plenty, I would MUCH prefer Prado at 2nd and Uggla in LF. But that’s my opinion and I’m sure Freddi will know better and do what he thinks is best
Could be a dark horse closer if needed in Sherril. If McDowell can help him regain his location he had a couple of seasons ago that could be a great option. If not, he’ll find the wavier wire and a job in KC.
Fan in Missouri
February 10th, 2011
12:15 pm
Any chance the Braves bring Pujols to Atlanta to play left field, Prado moves to 3rd when Chipper can’t make it back?
DS1
February 10th, 2011
12:16 pm
I can’t believe I just wasted 5 minutes of my life reading and then responding to this rubbish! All teams have concerns. What if there is a collisionn in the outfield and Prado, Heyward and Uggla all break their legs in the fall, and some AA or AAA players come up and we win the World Series. What Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens and Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters all decided they would rather be stock brokers?
What if we actually have a very good year??? WOW, but that would screw up Bradley’s worrying self now wouldn’t it…
5 minutes, never to have back again……….
Bartman-n-Orl
February 10th, 2011
12:20 pm
Fan in Missouri
: Only in our dreams.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
12:22 pm
Fan in Missouri @ 12:06 – how could we forget Slugger’s Wife? Of course, Quaid was outplayed by the Murphy-esque O’Keefe
Terry
February 10th, 2011
12:23 pm
Okay, Bartman, I’ll concede that Uggla has made more errors but Prado is very much the versatile player they can put anywhere with confidence. Uggla…not so much so he pretty much has to play second.
Fan in Missouri
February 10th, 2011
12:24 pm
Pujols could bring Rasmus with him. It is nice to dream a little.
Coach13
February 10th, 2011
12:25 pm
Ramblingman- I was shocked they made it. Considering how many last ab wins they had. A team can only be so lucky so many times.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
12:34 pm
What is overlooked is that Uggla is an unknown quantity. He has already shown he will not back down. He was pretty adamant in Miami that he play 2nd and that they give him more money. The Braves traded for him, and before they could get his name on an extension, you want the first thing they do to be alienating Uggla by insisting he move from his preferred position?
I know some of you will come unglued at that thought. He’s a major leaguer getting millions to play a game, he should just shut up and move and like it. Reality is that it’s not that way.
Make him move before the extension is signed, and risk him saying fine, I’ll play out the contract and sign somewhere where I can play 2nd. Or make him move after the extension (and after reassuring him of no move) and risk him sulking and/or not playing up to his potential.
Not saying he would. Not saying he wouldn’t. I’m saying he is unknown, and the best thing for the Braves was probably to leave Uggla at 2nd where he will be happy and can focus on producing at the plate, and move Prado, who is known to be unselfish when it comes to moving to help the team, plus he has LF experience in games. I think any drop-off in defense will be negligible, because I truly feel that Uggla’s defensive abilities have been overblown immensely. The gain in offense should more than offset any defensive drop-off.
MitchC
February 10th, 2011
12:50 pm
I remind you, Mr Bradley, that you were the guy who said the 2010 Braves were going to finish, and I quote you: “Bah humbug, third place”. You were wrong in that prediction, weren’t you?
You mentioned 91 wins being the celing for this team. First off, we all know that unless Philly has major unexpected injuries, or really underachieves, the NL East should be theirs by a mile.
That leaves the wild card, which I think the Braves should be the favorite to win. 91 wins may get the wild card, but.. I’m not so certain that the Braves might not get a bit further into the low 90s with wins.. say.. 93.
My prediction: At least 91 wins, and maybe a few more than that, and a wild card berth. The wild card should be the Braves to lose. I was right in my prediction that the Braves would win the wild card last year, and I have a feeling I may end up being right again.
b
February 10th, 2011
12:53 pm
To Terry, dimwit, just because someone makes a lot of money,
no you don’t have to play him.
In that perspective let’s just all pay the highest paid players.
b
February 10th, 2011
12:53 pm
That should be play the highest paid players for Terry.
Robert
February 10th, 2011
12:57 pm
Actually, those are all legitimate reasons to worry
But there’s a reason to smile that more than makes up for all of those.
Cox isnt managing any more
Think about it. This team that has some flaws won 90 games and had the eventual WS champs dead to rights if not for an incredible managerial bluinder.
Now the blundering donkey has brayed off into the sunset.
See, the thing is, every team has flaws. It’s only Braves fans – actually, it’s only Cox apologists, who claim that only a genius could take a team that has any slight flaw and do so much as win a division title with that team.
Which is of course lunacy. Flawed teams win all the time. There is no team that doesnt have a weak area or three and yet one of them wins the whole thing every year any way – and without Einstein managing.
So take heart – this team got really close last year with baseball’s biggest idiot making the strategic decisions.
I dont know how good or bad Fredi is going to prove to be as far as stratgic decision making isa concerned – but to start, you can count it a safe bet that his decision making is ten games better than Cox’s was
Robert
February 10th, 2011
12:59 pm
“All teams have concerns.”
Of course they do. Normal baseball fans realize this. It’s in only in Atlanta where the thinking is that if the team has any minor issue, then if they win more than 40 games in the regular season it’s proof that the manager is Einstein and belongs in the HOF
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
1:06 pm
“baseball’s biggest idiot”
Hyperbole much? That line of reasoning merely reveals your lack of understanding on many things and lessens your chances of being taken seriously.
DaveInDallas(NC)
February 10th, 2011
1:08 pm
Quick! Someone call me back from the edge of the bridge! Mark Bradley has that effect on me.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
1:13 pm
I truly believe all of these predictions on who will win which division, especially when they are delivered in January and February.
I know this is true because I know for a stone cold fact that everyone across the land had Tampa, Texas, Minnesota, Philly, Cincinnati, and San Francisco winning their divisions and Atlanta and New York taking the wild cards. Nobody picked against any of these guys, and absolutely no one wasted a pick on St Louis, or Los Angeles, or Boston.
I also remember it was unanimous that all of these wise bloggers were filling the pages last winter picking SF over Texas in the series.
gcs
February 10th, 2011
1:17 pm
6. Giving the Closer Role to a Rookie. The Braves are giving Kimbrel this high-pressured job with 1 major league save opportunity. I cannot understand why they are not giving Jonny Venters a chance after his gritty performance last season under the tutelage of future Hall of Famer Billy Wagner.
7. Chipper’s Health. He’s another year older and another year weaker. If he plays 120 games in 2011, I will eat Chipper’s hat. It’s only a matter time before he gets injured again moving Martin Prado to third. Which leads me to…
8. The Minor Leaguers in the Outfield. Outside of Jason Heyward and Prado’s eventual move to third base, most of the Braves outfielders could not make other teams. Fool yourself all you want about McLouth. He’s not going to all of a sudden get better again. Beyond that it’s question mark Jordan Schafer and somebody called Joe Mather who has not hit a MLB homerun since 2008. Hinske is a good bench player but he can’t play everyday.
9. Rushing Freeman to the Major Leagues. I am rooting for Freddie but he has yet to show me he can hit major league pitching. He is only 21 years old.
10. Weak Bench. Outside of Hinske and David Ross, there are not too many guys on the Braves bench I believe in. I already covered the outfielders. Diory Hernandez has no stick and 31-year old Brooks Conrad is looking like a flash on the pan. The Uggla trade was great but the loss of Omar Infante creates a HUGE hole.
.
Mitchell
February 10th, 2011
1:29 pm
This little column sure has touched a nerve, hasn’t it? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some of these concerns myself before Mr. Bradley so graciously brought them out into the light.
Definitely something or things to think about as we approach Spring Training. But hey, what’s thinking ever done for us?
All I know is, I like the way this guy thinks.
urban redneck
February 10th, 2011
7:51 am
5 reasons I am not worried:
1. Jason Heyward
2. Uggla’s 30 HRs (God bless his little heart)
3. Huddy
4. Hanson’s first 20 win season
5. Bobby Cox watching over us as we sleep
We shouldn’t have a problem til we get to the BoSox in the Series.
Git r done.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
1:33 pm
OR…
6. Who cares? While (Papelbon) it’s (Steve Howe) true (Huston Street) that (Gregg Olsen) good (Mike MacDougal) rookie (Kaz Sasaki) closers (Todd Worrell) aren’t (Dan Plesac) always (Roger McDowell) great (Scott Williamson), there (Billy Koch) are (Dick Radatz) plenty (Ligtenberg) who (Rich Loiselle) are.
7. Your opinion
8. Your opinion based on #7, which is your opinion
9. Your…well, you know. He has yet to show you that he CAN’T hit ML pitching, either.
10. Would you rather have the hole created by Infante leaving, or the hole that was plugged with the arrival of Uggla? Which one will likely affect the team more? A hole in the starting lineup or a hole on the bench?
Mitchell
February 10th, 2011
1:39 pm
Bobby can watch us or the Braves from anywhere he wants, just as long as he’s not on the field.
Just remember in 2008 Fredi Gonzalez’s Marlins won 84 games. Bobby’s Braves? 72.
And again in ‘09, Fredi’s Fish finished ahead of the great Braves for the second straight year.
I mean, really. Who do we want managing this team going into the 2011 campaign… Bobby?
No. Nobody wants that.
Fredi’s our man. There is finally hope in Braves land.
That rhymes.
O'flarity's water bottle
February 10th, 2011
1:40 pm
Bobby had a pretty high winning percentage of active coaches,when he was active. He just wasnt too good in the world series.
Matt
February 10th, 2011
1:41 pm
I think Schafer will make a run a center field, that adds some speed.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
1:42 pm
Twist things all you want, but nothing will convince everyone that Bobby Cox is not one of the best managers in MLB history and a sure fire HOFer.
Repeating things over and over do not make them true.
O'flarity's water bottle
February 10th, 2011
1:42 pm
If he won the 91,92,96, and 99 world series then what would your opinion be?
O'flarity's water bottle
February 10th, 2011
1:45 pm
You do that here, rambling..
Doc Holiday
February 10th, 2011
1:54 pm
29 Atlanta Braves: Jason Heyward
Age: 21; 2010 Stats: .277 AVG/.393 OBP/.456 SLG
To state the obvious, when, at age 21, you’re the best player on a playoff-caliber team, you’re something special. And so it is with right fielder Heyward. Exceptional defensive skills, good baserunning, poise and plate discipline far beyond his years, a beautiful left-handed stroke — Heyward has it all. And Sam Perkins should surrender all rights to the nickname “Big Smooth” because it should totally belong to Heyward.
Athens Hacker
February 10th, 2011
1:57 pm
Let’s play ball already! Ready to see what the new young pitchers can do for a whole season. Want to do something, trade Jurrjens and gonzalez out for an young upcoming shortstop and outfielder.
Puzzled
February 10th, 2011
1:57 pm
MB,
You didn’t mention it, but McLouth had just as many poor defensive plays as Heyward, in a lot fewer games played.
Overall, the Braves will be fine. If they can hit as well as expected, they will overcome the defensive liabilities.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
2:04 pm
water bottle – I use facts to back up the things I say. It’s not that I am trying to make things true simply by repeating them, I am refuting those who repeat without facts. Therefore, your assumption is wrong.
This is a post I made a couple of days ago.
Well, let’s see how Bobby stands in the all time ranks of MLB managers
Games managed – 4th all time
Games won – 4th all time
Games over .500 – 3rd all time
Playoff appearances – 1st all time
Pennants won – 9th all time
Division titles won – 1st all time
Manager of the year – 4 times (only person to win it in consecutive years)
Among the top 20 managers in # of games managed, Cox has 4th best winning pct
Yeah, all of you who say that Bobby is the worst manager of all time, you’ve got me convinced.
There – see how that works?
StevenFromJC
February 10th, 2011
2:04 pm
MB you are a BUZZ KILL
yeahsure
February 10th, 2011
2:16 pm
There goes Mark Bradley with the Atlanta team hate. We might as well not play the games and rest for the 2012 season.
74 Dawg
February 10th, 2011
2:17 pm
Guys, cut Mark some slack. And pray he doesn’t pick the Braves to win the World Series.
j
February 10th, 2011
2:25 pm
Want to know why our fan base sucks? It has to do with all the negative crap that gets stirred up by putzes like MB on this crap hole of a website/paper.
Did your dad write for the ajc or something? Seriously, how did you ever get a job in this town?
Horner's Corner
February 10th, 2011
2:27 pm
Doc Holiday-
Hate to mention it, but I believe Sean Marshall of the Cubs also goes by the nickname, “Big Smooth”.
Terry
February 10th, 2011
2:30 pm
To B; I only called you a dimwit because we’ve only been discussing the plight of McLouth on these blogs since the season ended.. You stated “why are they giving him another chance?” When a player is making roughly 7 to 8 % of your entire payroll, you have to give him a “chance.” If he fails, you either bench him (not likely) or send him down to Gwinnett (like last year). C’mon, keep up.
Matt
February 10th, 2011
2:32 pm
http://dawgs311.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html
Check out my blog write a comment there, tell me what you think
Horner's Corner
February 10th, 2011
2:35 pm
I would like nicknames with a stronger 1970’s feel. How about “Chocolate Thunder” for Heyward and “White Lighting” for Freeman? Then after a few years, when they’re the heart of the Braves offense, they will simply be known as “Thunder `n` Lighting”.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
2:56 pm
Chocolate Thunder? Why don’t we just use the following then…
Chipper becomes “Larry Legend”
Peter Moylan becomes “Pistol Pete”
Hinske becomes “The Round Mound Of Rebound”
Hudson becomes “The Mailman”
Nate becomes “World B. McLouth”
and Kimbrel can be “The Human Eraser”
VOICE OF REASON
February 10th, 2011
3:00 pm
Stop being homers guys, you have to look at a team from a unbiased standpoint and that will result in a better team.
Shelby
February 10th, 2011
3:02 pm
Well that was an interesting read….i def don’t agree that McCann is only..ok…like you stated, and while i can see some truth in what your talking about i don’t think were in as bad of shape as you seem to think.
VOICE OF REASON
February 10th, 2011
3:03 pm
I hope the people crapping their pants over an article they chose to read aren’t adults. Also you people need to understand both aspects in order to be a better fan.
bernie
February 10th, 2011
3:06 pm
It seems as though other teams such as the Marlins and Nats just eat the Braves hitters up with there no name pitchers and I realize that they did get Uggla but heis only one man in the batting rotation but how consistant is he going to be. It seems as though another good bat would have been persued but lets give the Braves the benefit of the dought until we see what they are going to really do.
Coach13
February 10th, 2011
3:09 pm
Pujols to left?!?!?! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! IF, and that is a HUGE “IF”, the BRaves could aquire Pujols it’s going to be playing 1b. Let it be known that there is no way they can afford him and a player of his caliber will never play in Atl. under the current regime of owners.
Spur931
February 10th, 2011
3:09 pm
Schafer will have a great spring and start in center. McLouth will move to left amnd find his old swing. Lineup will have speed it didn’t know it had. Prado will be at third and Chipper will help make out the lineup card and carry to the plate.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
3:14 pm
Voice, looking at a team from an “unbiased standpoint” would also require seeing the good possibilities, the upside, the optimistic viewpoint.
That being said, this is a site for fans. You can choose to call them (or us) homers, but you know, that kind of goes with the territory. This is not an ESPN blogsite that is discussing all baseball teams. It’s a Braves blogsite discussing the Atlanta team, and is populated (mostly) by two types – those who are fans and generally do see things in a positive light (that’s part of being a fan) and those who are constantly negative and make flaming remarks to stir things and get attention (that’s part of being a troll). I think you actually realize this.
BigTimeTECHFan
February 10th, 2011
3:14 pm
Mark Bradley – Did you notice the Braves have a new Manager, I think that should be no 1 in your 5 reasons.
Does team buy into or do Brave have right players for his sytem
How does clubhouse gel
Matching a new Mgr with Team gan be rough at 1st.
VOICE OF REASON
February 10th, 2011
3:18 pm
AJC is usually on the positive side, there is no reason to get mad at the occasional negative side.
Kashi
February 10th, 2011
3:20 pm
I just wish we had kept Greg Blanco and Yunel Escobar. Chipper territory is reduced, Alex Gonzo can only catch straight ground balls, Dan ugla is ok. Fredi Freeman so so. So I gues MB has reason to shout this early.
ramblingman
February 10th, 2011
3:26 pm
This is not AJC, this is Bradley, who is usually on the negative side, which is why it draws attention from fans. Bradley, as the conventional wisdom goes, does this in order to get more readers.
Oh, and earlier you said how we look at the team will result in a better team. How the fans see the team has no effect on its makeup. How the management sees the team plays a huge part in its makeup. That is another reason why management does not buy into all the extremes displayed on these sites.
I know all of these responses to your comments are very simplistic, but there could be younger readers who read your comments who don’t understand that you are most likely merely being contrary.