Braves.Today.Com

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — There weren’t too many people mentioning the name James Parr when it came to talking about the Atlanta Braves’ pitching staff last offseason.

Now, after a season where injuries ripped apart the rotation that could have been one of baseball’s best in 2008, Parr finds himself as one who very well could start next season in Atlanta.

He made his major-league debut Sept. 10 against the Nationals, and dazzled, throwing six shutout innings of two-hit ball, earning the victory. He followed that up with another six-inning, no-run performance Sept. 10 against the Rockies.

Then things got shaky for the 22-year-old right-hander. Parr got bombed by the Phillies on Sept. 16, allowing 10 hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings. To be fair, the Phillies were just kicking into high gear at that point – a gear that looks like might carry them to a place they haven’t been since 1980, and that’s winning the World Series.

Back to Parr. He allowed four hits and four runs with four walks against the Mets on Sept. 21, and concluded his season with eight hits allowed and four runs in 4 1/3 innings Sept. 17 at Houston.

So, where does this kid fit in? I think, given the question marks surrounding whether Tom Glavine can return from surgery, that Parr indeed is a candidate to make the rotation as the fifth starter. A lot of that will depend on how he fares in spring training, and whether or not the Braves are able to land two new starters, either by free agency or by trade.

It’s clear the Braves will pursue at least one big name out there, whether it’s signing Derek Lowe or Ryan Dempster off the open market, or by trading for Jake Peavy or Roy Oswalt. I really think at least one of those guys is going to be in an Atlanta uniform, toeing the slab on opening day next season. My bet now is on Lowe, but a package of prospects and one front-line major-league player to the Padres might be enough to bring Peavy – an Alabama boy – to Atlanta.

I don’t know if the Braves can get two front-line starters to go with Jair Jurrjens and Jorge Campillo, who are – at this point – locks for next year’s rotation (as far as locks can go on Oct. 15 … long way to go between now and April). If the Braves find a way to get two starters, via either free agency or trade, and re-sign Mike Hampton (hey, it could happen, although I think there will be teams that toss Hampton plenty more cash than the Braves are willing to offer), then Parr likely is squeezed out of the mix. Of course, in that scenario, the Braves could look to move Campillo back to the bullpen, where he started out last season. Personally, I like Jorge in the rotation, but he’s versatile enough to pitch in either role.

If there’s room for competition for the fifth spot, Parr figures to be in the midst of it. He’s got the skills to pitch at the major-league level. His stuff isn’t as good as Charlie Morton’s, but he’s definitely got the mental makeup to succeed up here. He doesn’t get as rattled as either Young Charlie or Jo-Jo Reyes, and holding it together when you don’t have your best stuff is just as important to succeeding in the majors as a 95 mph fastball.

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