The Bender 2/25/09

The Beginning of Spring Training has arrived!

Today the Atlanta Braves took on the Detroit Tigers in both teams first ST game of the '09 campaign.  

Though the score came out against the Braves today, something special happened.  Jordan Schafer, the heralded future of the Braves center field, went deep in a huge way to show all of us Braves fans that he is the real deal.  Josh Anderson may have earned a shot at the end of last year with his performance, but it will take a huge effort from him to if J. Anderson wants to stay the starting center fielder for skipper Bobby Cox.  

Unfortunately for the fans of the boys from Atlanta coverage was reduced to either paying MLB.com money for "game-day audio" or watching the live box score updated once every 30 seconds.  I know it's only ST, but I was still kind of disappointed.  

Some other notes of interest: Jair Jurrjens pitched 2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs; Jeff Francoeur went 0-4, leaving 3 on base; a couple acclaimed slugging prospects, Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman, got some good playing time.  Freeman had a hit knocking in 2 runs.  

It is this fan's thought that if Jeff Francoeur does not put up, once again, he may find himself being replaced by the younger Freddie Freeman.  Though Freeman is a first baseman, his power and skill with the stick could give Frenchy a run for his money.  

Notable absences from the lineup were third baseman Chipper Jones and newly acquired left fielder Garret Anderson.  Neither were hurt, just not in town at the time of the game.  

I cannot wait for Thursday at 1:05 pm when the Braves are playing on ESPN so I can watch it.  

So until next time fellow fans: pray for pitching, be proud of the Tomahawk Chop, and if you need a smile just remember when Sid slid.

The Bender 2/22/09

The Braves have just signed Garret Anderson to a 1-year deal for reports of $2 million, with incentives could reach higher!

This is a great pick up for Atlanta, not only does it give a sense of completion for the off-season for the Braves, but also shores up what was planned to be a platooned Left Field.  

A quiet pickup that was in response to the missed acquisition of Ken Griffey, Jr, Braves GM, Frank Wren, inked the lefty who will presumably split time with Matt Diaz.  This platoon will have Diaz hitting against left handed pitchers and G. Anderson hitting against right handed pitchers. 

I, dear readers, am a big fan of this deal.  We do not lose prospects via trade, it looked like the Braves were pursuing Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher, outfielders for the New York Yankees, and it's a player that is older and I view that as a positive.  A huge reason people were excited about Griffey was for him to be an on the field leader to go alongside Chipper Jones.  Those two, along with the newly signed Tommy Glavine, are the three  "old men" of the team.  Chipper for the infield, G. Anderson for the outfield and Tommy Glavine for the pitchers.  All three guys are vets who play smart and well enough to stay in the game as long as they have.  

The interesting thing will be to see if Garret Anderson is chosen to platoon, he hits both righties and lefties well.  I'm thinking that the season will start with Matty D and Garret platooning, but if G. Anderson turns it on, Diaz could be just a bench bat.  Garret Anderson will more than likely bat 4th when he's in, and when Matty Diaz is in, Brian McCann will hit 4th.  

However, Chipper Jones has said that Jeff Francoeur will be hitting in the clean-up spot.  We'll just have to wait for time to tell.

More to come in the near future.  

So, as always dear readers, pray for the pitching, be proud of the Tomahawk Chop, and if you need a smile, just remember when Sid slid.