Braves.Today.Com

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — Today is a huge day in Georgia sports. It’s Good Old Fashioned Hate Day.

Georgia vs. Georgia Tech brings out the best – or in some cases, the worst – in the Georgia sports fan. It’s a rivalry that stokes the fires and boils the blood like no other.

In the spirit of today’s Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, not to mention the fact there is little news surrounding the Atlanta Braves as we embark into this holiday weekend, I thought it’d be fun to look at the rivals that get Braves Nation all riled up:

Braves vs. Dodgers: This is more historical in nature. Remember 1982, when the Braves ran out to 13 straight victories to start the season, then backslid into second place with a 2-19 stretch in late summer? The Dodgers were the chief competition then, and nine years later, Darryl Strawberry’s famous announcement that he wasn’t worried about the upstart Braves launched this rivalry to a whole new level.

Braves vs. Cubs: Ted Lilly and his tendency to throw fastballs at Braves’ hitters’ heads, not to mention the fact annoying Cubs fans make their presence more than known at Turner Field, has pushed this rivalry to the forefront. Atlanta swept the Cubs in the 1998 NLDS; the Cubs topped the Braves five years later.

Braves vs. Phillies: It’s not a rivalry if one team dominates the other, and let’s face it … the Braves might as well call the Phils “Daddy” for the way Philly has whipped Atlanta the past two years. Getting beat nine out of nine times at home this season only adds fuel to this fire.

Last, but not least …

Braves vs. Mets: Playoff matchups, John Rocker, chants of “Larry” at old Shea Stadium … good stuff indeed. Nothing ticks off Braves Nation more than the mere sight of David Wright, Carlos Beltran and the Amazin’s. The highlight of the horrid Braves 2008 season had to be a four-game sweep of the Mets in late May at Turner Field, a stretch that helped cost Willie Randolph his job.

Even though the Braves missed the playoffs the past three years, the fact the Mets lost in the 2006 NLCS, then choked away leads in the NL East in the closing days of 2007 and 2008 put a smile on the face of Braves Nation.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — Speed never has been one asset the Atlanta Braves have possessed. Heck, that’s one of the things that made 1991 such a special season, when you consider Otis Nixon came in and destroyed the team’s stolen base record, finishing with 72 thefts until a drug suspension ended his season.

The Braves never really have had a burner in their ranks. Sure, names like Nixon, Deion Sanders and Rafael Furcal jump to mind, all game-changers with their speed. But for the most part, the Braves never have had guys who can shape the makeup of a game with their feet.

That’s what made the November 2007 deal that brought Josh Anderson to the organization so appealing to me. When the Braves sent Oscar Villarreal to Houston for Anderson, Atlanta acquired a player who led all of minor-league baseball in steals in 2005 with 78 swipes.

Anderson did little to disappoint in his first season with the Braves. Granted, he had a roster spot pretty much locked up with two weeks to go in spring training, but faded and ended up at Triple-A Richmond as Gregor Blanco leapfrogged past Anderson and Brandon Jones to earn the fourth outfield spot.

But all in all, it’s hard to fault what Anderson did. In 40 games with the Braves, Anderson hit .294 with three homers, 12 RBIs, seven doubles, and 10 stolen bases (in 11 attempts). A couple of folks who were at spring training remarked to me the kid was by far the fastest player in all of camp, and we saw that speed and his hustle on display when he got time with the big-league club in 2008.

So, what will we see from Anderson in 2009? I hope we see a lot more of him in Atlanta and a lot less of him in the minors.

He struck out 33 times in 126 at-bats, so he needs work at the plate, mostly on pitches down and away. Dude needs more plate discipline. Remember the old saying, “you can’t steal first base?” That came to mind from time to time as I watched Anderson swing at curve balls down and away in the zone.

But when dude makes contact and gets on base, good things happen. I think he has tremendous upside. The problem is super prospect Jordan Schafer appears ready to grab hold of the reins in center field at some point in 2009.

Still, the Braves can use Anderson, either as a platoon in left field, or as a speedster off the bench. His nine multi-hit games in September showed he’s making strides at the plate; his 29 strikeouts vs. two walks in the season’s final month shows there is work that remains to be done.

But speed kills, and Anderson uses it at the plate to beat out infield hits, cause havoc on the bases, and run down balls in the gap that remind some of us of the way Andruw Jones used to track down balls early in his career. I think you’ll see Anderson play a bigger role with this team next season, regardless of whether he’s starting or not.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — And so, the day of giving thanks is nearly gone, soon to slip into the swarm of people – including my wife – who will descend on stores before dawn’s early light.

Then, we’ll launch full blast toward Christmas. Then we’ll welcome in 2009, and with that, the anticipation really will build, as spring training will sit just six weeks away.

But first, let me offer a moment of thanks.

It would be easy for me to sit here and thank baseball, thank my grandfather (who introduced me to this great game), thank the sports editors who allowed me as a young scribe to cover baseball, thank the Braves for being my favorite, team, thank all the people who have read my writings, from covering high school games for my hometown newspaper as a high school senior to you good people who have made this blog a pretty happening and cool place the past seven months.

And indeed, I thank God for each and every one of the things mentioned above, not to mention about a million other things for which I’m thankful. On this night, though, I want to thank the 2008 edition of the Atlanta Braves.

What the heck, you say? That team that posted the franchise’s worst record since 1990? That team that drove this correspondent crazy night-in and night-out?

Yes, and yes.

I sit here in the Sports Garage on this night, just as I did for almost every night of the 2008 campaign. And on this night, I find myself looking back at the Braves of ’08 with sincere thanks.

You see, we good people of Braves Nation got spoiled rotten from 1991-2005. All those division championships, five pennants, a World Series title and memories to last a lifetime. The exhilarating highs of following a team that’s a serious title contender year after year after year.

Even in 2006 and 2007, seasons in which the Braves missed the playoffs, there was hope in late August, in early September. But not in 2008. That train left the station in mid July, the Braves left standing on the platform, no ticket to the dance, no hope for the postseason.

I believe when we look back a few years from now, we’ll be thankful for 2008 and all the misery and heartache it caused fans of this proud franchise. It served as a heck of a wake-up call, loud and jarring …

Much like the wake-up call my wife will get in five hours, but I digress.

What happened in 2008 shook this franchise to its core. There is no way the Braves can endure another season like this, and it took a season like this to make everybody from senior-level management to the average fan realize this team needs to reshape itself if it wants to compete in the NL East in 2009 and beyond.

It also gave us an acute sense of perspective when it comes to looking back at those championship seasons. The cord clearly has been cut now. The Braves moving forward will be different, not linked to the streak of division titles or of the heyday when Atlanta baseball stood among the giants in the game.

Tonight, on Thanksgiving Night 2008, the Braves are poised to move into a new direction, one that we all hope will return this team and its fan base to the upper echelon of the sport.

You go through pain to achieve gain. We’ve all been through plenty of pain this season. Now, it’s my belief we’ll see the gain we all want moving forward.

And for that, I say thanks.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — Yeah, he strikes out far too often. He doesn’t provide the pop the Atlanta Braves needed from their outfield this season.

But still, when you look back at Gregor Blanco’s rookie season in the major leagues, it’s hard to argue too much.

Those of you who visited this space throughout the 2008 season heard me whine about Blanco’s whiff ratio. Yes, Blanco fanned 99 times in 430 at-bats in 144 games. Project that out to a full season of 502 ABs, and you’re looking at 115 strikeouts, which isn’t acceptable for a guy who finished with one home run all season.

But Blanco gave this team a spark. First and foremost, he hustled like nobody’s business. Remember, NOBODY gave him a chance of winning the fourth outfield spot coming out of spring training. But when Josh Anderson cooled off toward the third week of Grapefruit League play, and when Brandon Jones couldn’t take advantage of Anderson’s slide, Blanco did. And as a result, he ended up on the 25-man opening-day roster.

He earned that spot, and when Mark Kotsay’s back flared up and Matt Diaz tore up his knee – both coming in the final days of May – Blanco found himself playing every day, either in center or in left. He did some really good things, mainly the 13 stolen bases, the hustle, the solid defense at both positions he provided.

Blanco faded badly in the final two months of the season, hitting .207 in August and .212 in September. But still, while his on-base percentage was too low for him to be considered a true leadoff hitter – a spot where the Braves had to employ him far too often – he still produced enough to give us hope this kid is going to improve in 2009.

Look for Blanco to play a big role with the Braves in 2009, be it as the starter in center field while Jordan Schafer finishes his minor-league seasoning, or as a key part of the bench. There is room for improvement, especially with plate discipline, but this guy can help the Braves, and the feeling here is his second season in the bigs will be better than his first.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — A two-day absence from daily blogs in my rear-view mirror, I’m back and ready to write about all the Atlanta Braves are doing to bolster their chances in the NL East in 2009.

(Cue the crickets here.)

Yep, it’s pretty quiet on the Braves’ acquisition front these days; expect it to continue through the Thanksgiving weekend. With three of the next five days off from my day job, and with very little news to report on the ballclub, we’ll probably jump back into our review of position players from 2008 and assess their future with Atlanta in 2009. I may even take another day or two off from blogging duties.

I spent last weekend diving head-first into Atlanta sports: Georgia Tech football Thursday, Hawks basketball Friday, Thrashers hockey Saturday. On each journey into the capital city, I jumped off the interstate at Turner Field, and the ballpark looked sad and lonely as thousands zoomed by on the Downtown Connector, on their way to other ports of call.

Something about a baseball field being empty, the cold winds blowing, that makes me long for spring training. And we’re not too far away, good people. Three months from now, the players will be at Lake Buena Vista, preparing for the start of the Grapefruit League season.

Carrying out a few spring training assignments on location in the Sunshine State remains one of the highlights of my newspaper career. I’ve covered plenty of regular season action and even a World Series, but spring training is so much more relaxed. It’s so enjoyable to be in Florida (or, I imagine, Arizona) in February and March. The weather is warm, the sun is out, and the boys of summer are breaking out of their winter hibernation.

Alas, it’ll be here soon enough. For now, we’re waiting on the Braves to do something. I’m sure there are some talks going on, perhaps even for Jake Peavy (I still won’t be surprised if Big Jake – see, got a nickname already for the right-hander – toes the slab for the Braves in the season opener at Philly).

But I don’t expect much to happen in the short term. For now, let’s hold tight. I know Braves Nation is anxious, and I am too. But enjoy the holiday week, and it’s good to be back.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — We’re getting into the depths of winter earlier than scheduled here in the South, with temperatures into the mid-20s at night … and we’re still a few days shy of Thanksgiving.

Gonna be a long, cold winter, but Braves Nation knew that already, and we’ve known that since, oh, June.

But there is a glimmer of warmth and hope floating around out there concerning this ballclub: the spring training schedule is out, and it features some pretty enticing matchups.

The big date to circle, though, is Feb. 25 – the spring opener against Detroit at Lakeland. On that date, we get to put the wretched horror of 2008 behind us and watch the Atlanta Braves play a baseball game.

The first week of March features two games against national teams performing in the World Baseball Classic: March 3 against Panama, and March 5 against Venezuela. In between, the Yankees visit Lake Buena Vista … yeah, that might be a good week to take a few days off and head to Disney.

Atlanta plays the Yankees at Tampa March 7 (a Saturday), then comes home and plays host to the world-champion Phillies March 8. On March 11, Atlanta plays the Phillies in Clearwater.

Two home-and-homes with the Mets are scheduled: March 17-18 (the first game at Disney; the second at Port St. Lucie), and March 21-22 (again, first game at home, second on the road).

The Yankees return to Disney March 28 (a Saturday), and the Red Sox arrive at Disney two days later. In between: a trip to Lakeland for a game with the Tigers. Again, a great time to attend camp.

After finishing the Florida portion of the exhibition schedule April 2 against Houston at Kissimmee, the Braves play the Tigers twice in Atlanta, on April 3-4. Then, it’s on to Philly to see the Phils get their rings and play on Sunday Night Baseball to kick off the season on April 5.

So, as the cold winds blow and we get ready for turkey and dressing in a few days, let the thoughts of warm sunshine and Florida breezes warm you up as we wait to see what the makeup of this team will be in 2009.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — One of these days – provided he’s not traded for a front-line starter – Jordan Schafer is going to man center field for the Atlanta Braves.

But it seems Schafer keeps running into obstacles that have nothing to do with his talent on the field.

We all know about his 50-game suspension for testing positive for using HGH early last season. Now comes word the organization’s heir apparent to take over center field – perhaps as early as opening day 2009 – injured his finger playing winter ball in the Mexican League when he was hit with a pitch.

The good news is there were no broken bones in the finger, according to published reports. Schafer, who hit .269 with 10 home runs, 51 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 84 games for Double-A Mississippi in 2008, is expected to be ready for spring training.

But what will happen when the Braves convene at Lake Buena Vista? Certainly, Gregor Blanco showed signs of promise in 2008, and Josh Anderson definitely impressed with his hustle, speed and defense. However, if Schafer is ready to go and has a good camp, he’ll likely win the job.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — So for now, you know Jake Peavy isn’t coming to Atlanta, at least not anytime soon.

And now, you can cross Ryan Dempster off the list, the right-hander opting to stay in Chicago by signing a four-year deal with the Cubs.

Yep, that wish-list for a top-of-the-rotation starter is shrinking like the Christmas list of a kid who doesn’t behave. Every day, another one is erased from consideration.

If you’re the Braves, you gotta wonder what shoe is going to drop next, and whether or not it will drop in your lap.

A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe are at the top of the shrinking list of big names who occupy the Braves’ focus as we near Thanksgiving. Burnett went 18-10 in 35 starts for Toronto last season, posting a 4.07 ERA, and received a public endorsement from Chipper Jones last month as the type of lock-down, game-changer the Braves need toeing the slab every fifth day.

But the 31-year-old is receiving attention from the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, and Blue Jays. Landing him is not going to be easy.

But landing Lowe won’t be a walk in the park.

The 35-year-old features the durability the Braves desperately need – dude’s never been on the disabled list. He has big-game, postseason experience. He went 13-11 with a 3.44 ERA for the Dodgers, and was lights-out down the stretch as L.A. salted away the NL West.

He takes his turn and pitches deep into games. Lowe has posted 199-plus innings pitched in five of the past seven seasons, and has won 12 or more games every season since 2002.

But of course, like Burnett, landing Lowe won’t be easy. His old team, Boston – who Lowe helped pitch to the 2004 World Series, curse-smashing title – would love to have Lowe back. You better believe the Yankees are in play, too.

So you see, all of this could have been so simple had San Diego general manager Kevin Towers taken the Braves offer and shipped Peavy to the Southeast last week. Instead, Towers had to get greedy and indecisive.

It is what it is. Time for the Braves to land either Burnett or Lowe. It won’t be easy, but it’s necessary if Atlanta fancies itself as a contender in 2009.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — Remember this time last offseason, when Braves Nation already was wringing their hands and sweating bullets over the future of first base?

Yeah, a lot like Braves Nation has done this offseason surrounding the makeup of Atlanta’s starting rotation, with the Jake Peavy talks halted for now – yes, I still think there is a decent chance Peavy will be here next season.

But regardless of who toes the slab for Atlanta when we kick off the 2009 season, there is no debate who will man first base.

Casey Kotchman may not be Mark Teixeira, but I think he’s a much better player than what we saw through most of his first two months with the Braves. If you remember, we first got a glimpse of Kotchman when he beat Jorge Campillo and Atlanta on Sunday Night Baseball in June with a two-run homer, on a night Campillo pitched great but the Braves couldn’t do anything about the Angels.

Six weeks later, Teixeira was with the Angels and Kotchman was a Brave. At the time of the trade, Kotchman was hitting .287. But the combination of going 11-for-70 in his first 20 games in an Atlanta uniform, then his leave-of-absence to be with his ailing mother, left the 25-year-old struggling to find his footing in a new league, with a new team, trying to take over a position manned by one of the game’s better sluggers.

And in a way, it’s unfair to hold Kotchman up against Teixeira. He’s just as good defensively as Tex, but he’s not a power-hitter. He’s more of a doubles’ hitter and, yes, I know traditionally you want your first baseman to have some pop. Twenty-one of his 25 hits in September were single, in a month that saw Kotchman hit.305 and drive in 15 runs.

You’ll see a better showing from Kotchman next season, I believe. Changing leagues isn’t easy, and the time away to be with his mother – which was the right choice; any son would go in a heartbeat to be with his mom if her health was failing – kept Kotchman from really getting his bearings until September. And by then, all of us were looking toward 2009 and beyond.

Check out his 2007 numbers: .296 average, 37 doubles, 11 home runs, 68 RBIs. Kotchman finished 2008 with 14 homers and 74 RBIs, both career highs. I think you’ll see Kotchman continue to develop, perhaps into a 20-homer, 90-RBIs guy, and the good news is he’s going to be here for a while, signed through 2011.

So worry all you want about the top of the pitching rotation. At least this winter, nobody’s sweating over who will play first base.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — So the pursuit of starting pitching for the Atlanta Braves has hit a snag, now that the San Diego Padres have carried their indecisiveness to a ridiculous level and forced the Braves to move on for now from trying to trade for Jake Peavy.

But Atlanta still is working the phones in trying to bolster a pitching staff riddled and ripped by injuries in 2008.

One move the good people of Braves Nation have wanted to see is bringing back left-handed relief specialist Will Ohman, who rejuvenated his career during his first season in Atlanta. While Ohman has filed for free agency and said he plans to listen to offers from other teams, he heaped praise upon Bobby Cox and the franchise repeatedly throughout the season.

News Monday that the Braves have made Ohman an initial offer should be taken as a good first sign, one that may lead to the lefty returning to Lake Buena Vista for spring training in February.

The loyalty shown to Ohman by Cox caught up to the lefty down the stretch, as the career-high 83 appearances wore down Ohman by season’s end. But he finished 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA with one save, and was the most consistent pitcher out of the Braves bullpen.

I totally understand when a player files for free agency, he has a right to listen to other teams. And certainly, there are going to be some good offers for Ohman. He had a great season and deserves to give the other teams showing interest in him a chance to talk and make him an offer.

But I really, really hope Ohman comes back in 2009. Put him in front of Mike Gonzalez and (a hopefully healthy) Rafael Soriano, with Peter Moylan returning sometime around mid season, and you’ve got the shapings of one heck of a bullpen. Ohman is a big part of that.

Go ahead, Will, and listen to everybody else. Then come back and sign with the Bravos.

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