Attention Braves Fan

[LouivillSlugger]

Guys, it's obvious our boys us let down this past 06' season. But the question is, is it really their fault? Jeff Francoeur, Andruw Jones, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, Adam Laroche, Chuck James, Brian McCan, Edgar Reneteria, basically their whole line up did everything they could to give us another clinched division title - I realize this is a team thing, but if the bullpen would of been more solid I can see them winning over the wild card.
Nevermind the changes that had to be made all season long throughout the lineup and pitching rotation. Not once did I remeber a 100% solid pitching rotation, Villareal constantly being took in and out, guys coming back and forth from the Minors. We had a new leadoff man Marcus Giles who admitted to hating that spot, also Giles is one of my favorite plaes, but hes not lead off material, he just doesn't have the wheels as one Rafael Furcal. Im not making exuses, but I believe if changes would of been made early in the season we would of had a igger and better chance at the Wild Card.
Next season, its guarenteed to be a big one. A more solid lineup and pitching rotation to me would look like this...

Leadoff - SS - Renteria
Batting 2nd - 2nd - Giles
Batting 3rd - 3rd - Chipper Jones
Batting cleanup - CF - Andruw Jones
Batting 5th - C -Brian McCann
Batting 6th - RF - Jeff Francoeur
Batting 7th - 1B - Adam Laroche
Batting 8th - LF - Ryan Langerhans
Batting 9th - DH - Scott Thorman

Pitching Rotation

Tim Hudson
Chuck James
Mike Hampton
John Smoltz
Horacio Ramirez


Bullpen

Oscar Villareal - middle relief
John Thompson - middle relief
Bob Wickman - closer
Ken Ray - 8th inning man
Chad Poronto - 2 out runners in scoring position situations.

and use the rest for emergencys. What do you guys think?

[General]

First off, welcome to the forums.

Second, I would gouge my eyes out if Ken Ray was in the pen next year, let alone the 8th inning guy. Thomson is gone. I think Giles is just as much a Padre as he is a Brave. I don't want Langerhans in LF, I want him on the bench.

My ideal lineup would include a leadoff guy with some speed, like a Coco Crisp or a Dave Roberts. As for the 8th inning guy, I think Giles for Linebrink will solve that issue.

[DravenX]

Welcome.

Is that pitching rotation in order? I hope not because Smoltz won't be the #4 starter. I would have it like this:
John Smoltz
Tim Hudson
Mike Hampton
Chuck James
Horacio Ramirez

James still has some learning to do. Hampton is really up in the air since he hasn't pitched since when? 2004?

[ATLien]

Welcome to the board.

I dunno about Renteria at the 1 spot..

[love_that_reefer]

Do you guys still want Ramirez? I think you could get some help in the pen for him, not much but something. I agree about the Braves getting a real leadoff man. Roberts would be ideal.

[brewersfan19]

Welcome to the forum... And I think with the guys you have mentioned, there are just too many question marks! But then again, health will be the issue, just like it is for most teams in the MLB. Good luck to your Braves this year!

[LouivillSlugger]

Well, I would have to disagree - John Smoltz shouldn't be the #1 starter - Yes, he's good enough to be, and he's the best - but he's older and he clearly explained he doesn't like being on the top.
Ryan Langerhans is one of the best defensive LF'er you'll find in the game of baseball - and Scott Thorman would make a perfect DH and BackUp First Baseman.
However, I like Brian McCan behind the plate, he seems to be a newer virsion of former brave, one Javy Lopez.
Yes, Marcus Giles is a Padre at heart, because that's where his family is from, but he works his ass off for our Braves, give the credit where credit is due.
A great leadoff man was one Rafael Furcal, wow I wish they'd never got rid of him - I think they would do good with someone new to lead off, BUT, you would then need to get rid of some of the defensive.
I don't know about you guys, but Chipper, Andruw, Laroche, Francoeur, McCann, and Giles just have to say to me.

[General]

Langerhans can't hit. Left field, like first base, is a high-powered offensive position. And we get diddly squat from there.

[iluvfrenchy&bri]

Welcome!

I don't know about you guys, but Chipper, Andruw, Laroche, Francoeur, McCann, and Giles just have to say to me.

And I would have to agree.

[DravenX]

Any true Braves fan would want Chipper, Andruw, LaRoche, Francoeur, McCann and Giles to stay with the team but I could see Giles leaving. The others should stay and JS would be a fool not to keep them.

[LouivillSlugger]

I actually think Francoeur is the future of the Atlanta Braves squad- I mean look at the talent, nevermind his patience that he needs some serious work with.
Brian McCann has the most talent I think I've ever seen in such a young catcher, he'll be one of the Jason Varitek's- Jovy Lopez- Pudge Rodriguez- ect.
Chipper & Andruw being the two most popular- I think they should stay and even after their much older, they could still do some coaching.

[DravenX]

Chipper, Andruw, Brian and Jeff is a great combo of players. The one thing am a little worried about is Chipper's injury history. He has to be healthy and stay healthy. We need him in the lineup throughout the season. Aybar seems like a reasonable backup with his Braves debut but got injuried himself.

Only time well tell.

[mcmccullough01]

Andruw along with Giles will be gone at the end of this offseason. We simply do not have the money to keep Andruw around past next season, so we deal him now for maximum return. I have heard:

Andruw and Chad Paronto to Angels for Ervin Santana, Nick Adenhart, and Scott Shields
and
Giles, Salty, Horacio, and Villarreal to San Diego for Jake Peavy

Both would work great for the team now and the future.

[General]

Arr, how I wish the other teams would do that. Hell, the Angels can keep Adenhart and I'd still do that deal.

[DravenX]

Andruw wants to stay and I think his agent said he would stay with Atlanta for at least one more season.

From Nov. 17
The Chicago Sun-Times says the White Sox have strong interest in Andruw Jones.
Even though he's represented by Scott Boras? Boras has said that Andruw has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause and leaving Atlanta. "Andruw has the control and Andruw is going to be an Atlanta Brave for the '07 season, that's clear," the agent said last month. "He'll see how the season plays out and what the team's situation is."

Welcome to the forums. Got another Braves fan here.