Are we contenders?

jecqua · January 31st, 2007, 01:37 PM

I am curious as to how everyone (that counts, lol) feels about the Braves chances this year...

What move over the winter made us better/worse?

Why are we (or aren't we) contenders?

Where do we stand in the NL East?

Thank you for your input!

BravesRule22 · January 31st, 2007, 02:13 PM

I think IF Hampton comes back as Hampton and Hudson is Hudson, we win the East....

I just think our pen is too good that if those guys come back with their normal stat lines, I dont see how we arent the winners in the East.

Now if hudson and hampton fail and Hudon is crap again and Hampton cant seem to get right then I think we will stay right around the same level with the Phillies and stay w/in striking distant of the Mets.

If everything clicks I think we have a legit claim to be the best team in the NL.

IMO, the key to the season are in the left arm of Hampton and the right arm of Hudson...as they go, so do the Braves

Snowman · January 31st, 2007, 02:14 PM

I still don't believe we have the starting pitching or the depth to be contenders.

rniki10 · January 31st, 2007, 05:41 PM

I think the Braves success complete rests on the shoulders of the rotation. I don't think the rotation will be awful and the talent is there, but a lot of things would have to go right. With that said, I think they will be a good team. Whether or not they are good enough to win the division remains to be seen.

TheDeathlessHorsie · January 31st, 2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BravesRule22

IMO, the key to the season are in the left arm of Hampton and the right arm of Hudson...as they go, so do the Braves

And the gloves and bats of Thorman and Kelly Johnson.....

diceman · January 31st, 2007, 06:52 PM

I agree that starting pitching will be the key, and not just Hudson and Hampton. Smoltz has to be durable, also. I have a feeling our run production may fall off a bit so our pitching is going to have to be dominant like it was through the 90's.

Perfect Cell · January 31st, 2007, 08:34 PM

Wish we could have fixed Lf and added some depht to the pitching staff.. but i loved everything else we did (sans the giles debacle)

Cosmic_Avenger · January 31st, 2007, 11:20 PM

I think we did ourselves a big favor shoring up the pen. That alone makes us contenders.

The random variable in all of this will be if the Braves can avoid costly injuries, which has seemed to really bite this team the past few years.

I don't know if we can keep up with the Phils.

I like our chances in the wild card slot, however.

renny · February 1st, 2007, 07:36 AM

The Braves are no different than any other team in the league, in that much depends on the health of key players, and banking on subpar performances not repeating themselves (Huddy). This team is going to possibly try too hard to prove that last year was a fluke. I expect the team to get off to a slow start, as is their nature, but I see Hampton being one of our more dominant pitchers in 07 - especially after the AS break.

We have as good a chance as any team in the NL, but Mets still have the momentum going in, because they will live off "dethroning the Braves" for some time. If AJ plays true to form as most players do the last season before free agency - he should be on fire. We'll need that, as I don't see our offense performing as well as last year. We'll make it to the PS,though. I have a gut feelling that this is the year Smoltz is good, but not as dominant - but I pray I am wrong.

jecqua · February 1st, 2007, 09:52 AM

Can someone tell me if Thorman will equal LaRoache offensively?

pfiggy · February 1st, 2007, 10:26 AM

In yer dreams Jecky....

BravesRule22 · February 1st, 2007, 11:03 AM

Thorman is the man, thats all you need to know

bravejo · February 1st, 2007, 01:42 PM

Anybody want to take bets on how long it will take Cox to platoon Thorman?

Especially the way Craig Wilson hits lefties. I think Thorman has as much upside as anyone else here does, but we've seen a lot of platoons in our day and although it's not being said now, there could very well be yet one more.

How long did it take LaRoche to get the full-time job?

Cosmic_Avenger · February 1st, 2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renny

The Braves are no different than any other team in the league, in that much depends on the health of key players, and banking on subpar performances not repeating themselves (Huddy).

I agree with your statement in the aggregate with respect to all teams, Renny. However, with respect to contenders, the Braves with their payroll issues, will not be able to recover as easily by getting an infusion of players as other big wallet teams can. To be sure, the Braves cannot match the Phils or Mets in addressing unforseen injuries on a talent or experience level on par with the player that has gone down. Hopefully, we won't have to experience this issue on a major scale.

Cosmic_Avenger · February 1st, 2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravejo

Anybody want to take bets on how long it will take Cox to platoon Thorman?

That's a sucker bet, Jo. I ain't bitin', and I am gonna collect my marbles and go home.

January 31st, 2007, 01:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
jecqua Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 654	Are we contenders? I am curious as to how everyone (that counts, lol) feels about the Braves chances this year... What move over the winter made us better/worse? Why are we (or aren't we) contenders? Where do we stand in the NL East? Thank you for your input!

January 31st, 2007, 02:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	I think IF Hampton comes back as Hampton and Hudson is Hudson, we win the East.... I just think our pen is too good that if those guys come back with their normal stat lines, I dont see how we arent the winners in the East. Now if hudson and hampton fail and Hudon is crap again and Hampton cant seem to get right then I think we will stay right around the same level with the Phillies and stay w/in striking distant of the Mets. If everything clicks I think we have a legit claim to be the best team in the NL. IMO, the key to the season are in the left arm of Hampton and the right arm of Hudson...as they go, so do the Braves __________________ Braves, Knicks, Bucs, Louisville

January 31st, 2007, 02:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Snowman Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Topsail Beach, NC Posts: 1,335	I still don't believe we have the starting pitching or the depth to be contenders. __________________ That corpse you planted last year in your garden, Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year? Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed? If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.

February 1st, 2007, 11:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	Thorman is the man, thats all you need to know __________________ Braves, Knicks, Bucs, Louisville

January 31st, 2007, 05:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
rniki10 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 94	I think the Braves success complete rests on the shoulders of the rotation. I don't think the rotation will be awful and the talent is there, but a lot of things would have to go right. With that said, I think they will be a good team. Whether or not they are good enough to win the division remains to be seen.

January 31st, 2007, 06:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
diceman Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Port Orange, Florida Posts: 1,329	I agree that starting pitching will be the key, and not just Hudson and Hampton. Smoltz has to be durable, also. I have a feeling our run production may fall off a bit so our pitching is going to have to be dominant like it was through the 90's.

January 31st, 2007, 08:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Perfect Cell Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 215	Wish we could have fixed Lf and added some depht to the pitching staff.. but i loved everything else we did (sans the giles debacle)

January 31st, 2007, 11:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cosmic_Avenger Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 907	I think we did ourselves a big favor shoring up the pen. That alone makes us contenders. The random variable in all of this will be if the Braves can avoid costly injuries, which has seemed to really bite this team the past few years. I don't know if we can keep up with the Phils. I like our chances in the wild card slot, however.

February 1st, 2007, 07:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
renny Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: along side the veteran presents `) Posts: 2,038	The Braves are no different than any other team in the league, in that much depends on the health of key players, and banking on subpar performances not repeating themselves (Huddy). This team is going to possibly try too hard to prove that last year was a fluke. I expect the team to get off to a slow start, as is their nature, but I see Hampton being one of our more dominant pitchers in 07 - especially after the AS break. We have as good a chance as any team in the NL, but Mets still have the momentum going in, because they will live off "dethroning the Braves" for some time. If AJ plays true to form as most players do the last season before free agency - he should be on fire. We'll need that, as I don't see our offense performing as well as last year. We'll make it to the PS,though. I have a gut feelling that this is the year Smoltz is good, but not as dominant - but I pray I am wrong.

February 1st, 2007, 09:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
jecqua Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 654	Can someone tell me if Thorman will equal LaRoache offensively?

February 1st, 2007, 10:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
pfiggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Location: Location: Posts: 3,716	In yer dreams Jecky....

February 1st, 2007, 01:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
bravejo Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 13	Anybody want to take bets on how long it will take Cox to platoon Thorman? Especially the way Craig Wilson hits lefties. I think Thorman has as much upside as anyone else here does, but we've seen a lot of platoons in our day and although it's not being said now, there could very well be yet one more. How long did it take LaRoche to get the full-time job?