Player Predictions

Back before the start of the 2008 season, I was going through the Braves roster and giving a quick overview with a prediction of season stats. That didn't go so well. As you can see I only got a couple players in before I became a slacker and then all of the sudden the season started. I disappeared thereafter.

I'd like to give this another shot. I think I'll go through the starting pitchers first. It's early yet, and at this time pitchers are easier to predict. I am not sure of what lineup the Braves will be throwing out for the season quite yet, but I can guess. It does have an effect on a players statistics in some regards. For example, a player batting lead off is more likely to have more Runs and less RBI than a guy batting in the 6th spot.

I don't think Fangraphs has all its predictions or "projections" up yet. The fan projections are up, but I will wait. I like to look at Bill James, Chone, and Zips as well. Looks like Fangraphs only has Marcel, Zips and Fans for comparing this time around.

A Look at an Oldie Article

I had another general look at my old articles. Upon skimming through I found something very interesting, bringing a smile to my face. Posted on June 9, 2007.

Braves Draft

I did mention that I liked Jason Heyward. How he got to us at 14th in the first round is beyond me. I recall reading at the time that he was a steal in the draft.

I also noticed another guy on there who could be a fixture for years to come as well. His name is Frederick Freeman.

This is why I came back to blogging. This thing is a time capsule!

Chipper Jones' Knee Update

Found right on the main page of MLB.com. So far so good, the team could use his veteran presence and his usually good batting.

ATLANTA -- As Chipper Jones navigated the crowded and still-icy Atlanta interstates to simply experience a couple rounds of batting practice at Turner Field on Friday, he certainly didn't seem apprehensive about his attempt to return from left ACL surgery for the second time in his career.

If Jones chose to walk away from baseball right now, he would at least avoid the possibility that he could realize the same fate as his former Braves teammates John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, who are among the many great professional athletes who have seen their careers end in unflattering fashion.

Since having his ACL surgically repaired in August, Jones has had plenty of time to think about this possibility. At the same time, the Braves' veteran third baseman has had plenty of time to think about the frustration he felt this past summer when he was a bystander as his teammates experienced the jubilation created by a postseason berth.

"Everything that goes along with pro baseball you can do without from time to time," Jones said. "But there's nothing that can replace running out between those lines and competing and doing things to help your club win."

As the Braves attempt to earn a second straight postseason berth, they find themselves encouraged that Jason Heyward will be a year older and now a member of a lineup that includes Dan Uggla's power. But the true X-factor in this equation could prove to be Jones, who will seemingly get the opportunity to prove that he can indeed continue serving as a productive three-hole hitter.

While hitting .265 with an .813 OPS over the past two seasons, Jones hasn't looked like a three-hole hitter or the beast that he was when he hit .342 with a 1.027 OPS from 2006-08.

"One of the things that has concerned me over the past year-plus is the fact that the ball isn't coming off the bat the way I want it to, and it's not because I'm old," Jones said. "It's because I'm doing something fundamentally that's not right.

"Right-handed, the ball is still coming off the bat the way that it should. Left-handed, it's just a little different. There are just a couple of tweaks that I've tried to make over the offseason that have really taken flight."

While working out in his basement over the past couple of months, Jones believes he might have tinkered with his swing in the mirror enough to make the necessary mechanical adjustment. It will be a couple months before the veteran truly understands where he stands from an offensive standpoint.

But while spending the past two days routinely centering the pitches being thrown by Braves baseball systems operator Alan Butts, Jones has given himself reason to be encouraged by where his swing stands after taking batting practice just three times this year.

"My hand-eye coordination is a lot better than I thought it would be," Jones said. "From just a purely baseball standpoint, I can't ever remember a first two or three sessions that were ever better. Just centering balls from both sides of the plate, hitting the ball the other way, being balanced and whatnot. ... Maybe a six-month vacation was just what the body needed."

While there's not reason to get overly excited about what transpires in an indoor batting cage in the middle of January, Jones did provide reasons to be impressed as he handled the bat and allowed it to make that unique sound reserved only for the sweetest of swings.

More importantly, there wasn't a hint of hesitance whenever he attempted to turn on a pitch from either the right or left side of the plate.

Braves general manager Frank Wren watched Jones take batting practice and walked away believing his veteran third baseman was much further along than he would have envisioned with a month remaining before Spring Training.

"People are coming in here and watching to see if the knee is sound," Jones said. "I'm not coming in here just to see if the knee is sound. I'm coming in here to get my mechanics right so that I can start rolling come April. I'm not worried about the offense. I'm fairly certain that I'll be sound offensively. But that's only a third of the game."

Because he ended the 2010 season on the disabled list, Jones will be able to begin official on-field workouts when Braves pitchers and catchers hold their first workout of the year on Feb. 15 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

As things stand, Jones believes that will be the first time that he begins testing his knee from a defensive perspective. While ranging to his left will be important, he seems quite eager to see how he feels once he ranges to his right like he did on the night of Aug. 10, when he suffered the knee injury while leaping and making a pinpoint throw in Houston.

Once Jones proves that he can move laterally and make the straight-leg throws often necessary after charging a ball, he'll tell manager Fredi Gonzalez that he's ready to begin playing games. But until he feels he can pass all of the tests in confident fashion, he doesn't even want to put himself in position for a potential setback.

"The last thing I want to do is get gun-shy and put a ball in my pocket," Jones said. "I don't want to put a ball in my pocket one time for fear that I'll reinjure myself. Then all of the sudden everybody will be saying, 'He can't do it.' I don't want to hear that I can't make a play. I want to make sure that my mobility is there and that the injury is long gone from being a problem mentally."

From a physical standpoint, Jones feels much different than he did as recently as November, when the knee didn't react kindly to increased demands.

From a mental standpoint, Jones appears to be miles away from where he stood in June, when he was so frustrated by his play that he told the Braves that he would likely retire at the end of the 2010 season.

Jones' mindset changed as he proved more productive in the two months leading up to the knee injury. Now five months removed from a surgical procedure that could have ended his career, he no longer seems to be even thinking about retirement.

In fact with Spring Training quickly approaching, a recharged Jones isn't allowing himself to even think about the possibility that this could be his final season.

"I'm certainly not coming into Spring Training saying this is my last year," Jones said. "I think some of the enthusiasm would be dimmed. I've said all along that as long as I'm producing and helping this team win, I want to play. It's when I'm not playing well and my body isn't allowing me to play well that it gets discouraging.

"I certainly realize that my days are numbered and I'm close to the end. But as I sit here right now, I'm under contract for 2011, and I'm excited about the challenges ahead of us."

Waiver Claim-Anthony Varvaro

A small move. Not anything major here.

"ATLANTA -- If Anthony Varvaro proves to be as valuable as Eric O'Flaherty has been, the Braves will certainly be happy about their latest attempt to enhance their organization's bullpen depth with a pitcher who had been deemed expendable by the Mariners.

The Braves claimed Varvaro off waivers this week. The Mariners had designated the 26-year-old right-handed reliever for assignment on Jan. 3.

When the Braves claimed O'Flaherty off waivers from the Mariners two years ago, he had already enjoyed some success at the Major League level. Varvaro's Major League experience is limited to the four appearances he made for the Mariners this past season.

Varvaro posted a 4.02 ERA and registered 72 strikeouts while issuing 35 walks in 65 innings with Double-A West Tennessee and Triple-A Tacoma this past season.

Varvaro's fastball has rested around 93 mph and occasionally touched 95. The Mariners selected him in the 12th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. He was projected to be selected within the first couple rounds before he blew out his elbow while pitching at St. John's University."

-Not a terrible player
-Room for improvement/has upside
-Only 26 years old
-Already had Tommy John surgery
-bullpen depth/40 man roster?

I'll see what else I can find on this and keep you posted.

Return of the Blogger

It's been nearly three years since the last article, and now "Braves Baseball Blog" will spring back to life again with abundant information and opinions on the Atlanta Braves. Hurray for those dedicated readers I had during my time(none); your life is now worth living as I plan on writing at least one article a day. Let's see how I do this time.

Most likely there are already several sites covering the Atlanta Braves. Take a look at TalkingChop if you haven't already. Not only that, there are numerous sites that cover all of the major league team's latest moves such as MLBTradeRumors. Just consider this another source I guess. I like to label myself as one with a good understanding of baseball. I have good knowledge of baseball statistics including saber-metrics. Not just knowing what they mean, but how to use them correctly. OPS vs RBI? One is meaningful and the other is almost trivial.

I don't know where to start. I haven't done any kind of serious writing in some time. I don't consider a comment here and there on Facebook or on a message board to be writing.

I did go back and read a few articles I created ages ago. Obviously a lot has changed...including my feelings towards those Philadelphia Phillies.

It doesn't make sense to go posting detailed articles about things that have already happened months ago, but I will do a quick summary of some of the more important changes that have happened recently.

-Some things to take note of:

• Legendary Braves Manager Bobby Cox retired as a manager, however he still has a role with the Braves
  
• Braves acquired slugging second baseman Dan Uggla from the Florida Marlins for Omar Infante and Mike Dunn
• Dan Uggla signed five year $62 million extension
• Braves signed relief pitcher George Sherrill
• Relief pitcher Scott Linebrink and $3.5 million obtained by trade from the Chicago White Sox
• Eric Hinske re-signed for $1.35 million
  

The team's roster moves have gone pretty well for this off-season; no outrageous moves or real head scratchers. Rookie Freddie Freeman brings excitement as he will be given the job at first base at just 21 years old. With the current roster, they should contend for the upcoming 2011 season barring any serious injuries.

The NL East won't be easy to grab. The Phillies remain a huge threat and have signed top of the line starting pitcher Cliff Lee after trading him a year ago for Roy Halladay. I like to label this this Phillies team as the "Yankees of the NL" with their recent spending ways. They are clearly trying buy their future titles. Atlanta may end up with the wild card for a second consecutive season. Nothing wrong with that.

That's it for the first post of my return. Following this will be the most recent team transaction.