Are we contenders?

[TheDeathlessHorsie]

Originally Posted by TonyBagO'Donuts

I think the Braves will win the division AND the World Series. Smoltz wins 20games and his second Cy Young, Hudson rebounds, knowing that the Braves won't have to rely on him going more than 5 or 6 innings, by winning 15+ games, Hampton comes back in pre-Rockies form and wins 15 games, James and Davies both prove that they are the future of the Braves pitching staff and win 10+ apiece. The Jones boys both hit 30+ hrs. and drive in 100 rbis with Chipper batting .300 as usual. Kelly Johnson takes a while to get in a rhythm at second, but eventually proves worthy filling the hole left by Marcus Giles and does a decent job of batting lead-off. Scott Thorman starts the season off hot and hits .290 with 30 hrs. and 90 rbis but proves to be a defensive liability and Brian McCann duplicates last years numbers while improving on defense. Jeff Francouer has a career year hitting .300 with 40 hrs. and 100 rbis and Craig Wilson becomes the full time left fielder by the All-Star break. And the bullpen will be lights out, not blowing a single save the entire season.

But, then again, the Braves will probably prove me wrong, as the do every season. But it doesn't hurt to be optimistic.

First paragraph: How HIGH WERE YOU when you wrote this? Because I want to trip on that stuff and see if The Grateful Dead sounds different than it did when I ate mushrooms/ acid.

But I soooo want you to be Nostradamus.
Second paragraph: It never hurts to be optimistic. Unless you happen to be a Cub's fan, or someone who watched every pitch of the hometeam's loss in the 18th inning in Houston a coupla years ago. That one ripped what was left of my heart out.

[jecqua]

ya know, I'm going to try and not live w/every pitch this year, be more relaxed; no cursing, just chill, steal some of alex or "p" diddio's beer...you know, just "enjoy" the season...let it unfold

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[Phydeaux]

If this team stays healthy it's better than last years team. The bullpen alone is worth the price of admission

[bedir than average]

The Braves likely have the best pen in the game right now.

[Snowman]

3 good relievers and 4 mediocre to bad relievers makes for the best pen in the game? I think we'll have a good pen (for a change), but I just can't envision them being in the top 3 in the game.... especially with Roger "put everything up and in so when you miss it'll be sure to leave the park" McDowell on the job.

[jecqua]

I take it you're not a fan snowman? lol

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by jecqua

I take it you're not a fan snowman? lol

Of Roger? Not really.

How'd you guess?

[bedir than average]

When the three good relievers are throwing the innings that matter, yes.

The hollow ERAs of the Mets last year was laughable. They had guys perform well in situations that didn't matter. I'm guessing that Cox knows how to use a bullpen and that the Three will be used in high leverage situations and the rest will throw when things don't matter so much.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

When the three good relievers are throwing the innings that matter, yes.

The hollow ERAs of the Mets last year was laughable. They had guys perform well in situations that didn't matter. I'm guessing that Cox knows how to use a bullpen and that the Three will be used in high leverage situations and the rest will throw when things don't matter so much.

Eh, it just so rarely seems to actually work out that way with this little depth. Either you've got three bums blowing it in the 6th so badly that the good ones never get a shot at making a difference, or you end up needing them in close games for 5 or 6 games in a row and one or two of them need some rest, which brings in the lesser guys in the important situations for a couple of days, or someone gets hurt and suddenly the 6th inning guy becomes the 7th inning guy.... and so on, and so on. The most important thing in the long baseball season (IMO, of course) is depth ,and I don't feel like we have any, on any portion of the team. Of course, depth is always the first thing lost when payroll is cut, so that's hardly a surprising development.