2010 Braves Postmortem

I don't blame Derek Lowe.  I don't blame Brooks Conrad.  I don't blame Melky Cabrera.  And I certainly don't blame Bobby Cox!  My immediate blame was in the 5 game series that poorly decides the Division Series, but in the end, I can blame no one.  This was easily the best Braves season I have watched since 2005 and frankly, this club reminds me more of some 90's clubs...up and coming and ready to start a new dynasty.  Or a few postseason runs at least.

Derek Lowe pitched his heart out in Bobby Cox's last game and for that, Bobby allowed him one more hitter.  Who is to say that he's pulled before he walks Burrell and we're out of it?  The next guy could easily give up a HR, even with our bullpen.  But if Kimbrel isn't taken out in Game 3, we might have won that one too.  If, if, if...if Chipper and Prado and Wagner and Medlin and JJ and...well, you know where that argument goes.  If those guys are healthy, then Conrad never ends up with 3 errors in a very important game.  But maybe Chipper makes a poor play because he's playing on bad legs...which he most certainly would have had would he not have gone on the DL.  Prado was already walking wounded.  So was Wagner, in some ways.  Medlin hurt, no doubt.  And JJ...well, I just hope the kid comes back strong next year.  There are tons of injuries that have hampered this team all season, and if they can get this far on fumes, let's just consider what they might do next year when healthy.  If only.

It will take some time before next year's roster will take shape, but you can be sure Heyward will be in RF barring some unfortunate offseason injury (keep him locked in carbonite, please), Freeman will most likely take on 1st, Prado will likely be back at 2nd and McCann will certainly be at catcher with Ross backing up.  Venters, Kimbrel and Dunn are locked up.  Moylan should likely be back, depending on arbitration and one would think O'Flaherty.  Lowe is scheduled for 2 more years and JJ, Hanson and Hudson will all be back as well.

Medlin will take some time to come back and there is plenty in the pipeline to throw in there should we need a starting pitcher with Beachy having already impressed.  The biggest issues to look at are Chipper's ability starting next season; finding a place for Infante to play (and perhaps not every day - getting him back to super sub should be a priority); finding a steady center and left fielder; and deciding on Alex Gonzalez over some substitute.  What that might be, I don't know.  I'll admit that he shows some flashes of brilliance with the glove, but he drops them these days too.  His bat is...not the best.

One might hope we could start with something like this:

C - Brian McCann

1st - Freddy Freeman (he's playing in the Arizona Fall League)

2nd - Martin Prado

3rd - Chipper Jones

SS - Alex Gonzalez (he's under contract for one more year)

RF - Jason Heyward

CF - ?

LF - ?

 

SP - Tim Hudson

SP - Derek Lowe

SP - Tommy Hanson

SP - Jair Jurjjens

SP - Mike Minor/Brandon Beachy or some other

Closer - Kimbrel or Venters (both tutored by Billy Wagner)

And plenty of other pen.

I should mention the bench will keep Diaz most likely (he has some arbitration, I believe), McLouth and maybe Ankiel (not certain on his contract terms).  Where Melky ends up...I really don't care.  I held out hope he'd show some promise, but it just didn't happen.

I'd love to somehow keep Lee but he'd be too much money when we have other needs.  Freeman is known for being a good defender.  I suspect Conrad will be back even with his goat image.  I hope he gets out of the funk early on.  And then there is Chipper.  I firmly believe he'll make a strong attempt to come back but even if he does, I suspect he will not be playing in 140 games.  Not even 100, likely.  When not in there, Infante/Prado can cover but a better option for infield back-up is needed over Brooksie and Diory Hernandez.  If it is likely that Chipper cannot go after spring training, something more drastic needs to happen.  Prado should not be the everyday 3rd baseman, nor should Infante be the everyday 2nd baseman.

Plenty of off-season to think about it but here is where we say goodbye to a few folks that will not be back.  Bobby Cox?  What can I say about the man.  I could type an entirely separate post for that and may someday but for now I can only say he's a class act with some screwy management skills at times.  He's always been a season manager, not a postseason manager.  But he got back there his last year and the way the Phillies are playing (and the way we played them in our last 6 games) we almost certainly would not have made it all the way.  Almost the best way to go out if we could not get a win in his last game.  We did in the regular season.  I look forward to his day in Cooperstown.  Wouldn't it be something to see him inducted along with Maddux and Glavine?  Not sure the timing works.

And let me also say a terribly sad goodbye to Billy Wagner.  He debuted just a few years after I started really following baseball and has beat up on my teams for years.  When he joined us, I finally figured out why.  He is a special player and has had a tremendous influence on the growth of the bullpen he leaves behind.  If we cannot get Maddux as a pitching coach, the Braves could do a hell of a lot worse than signing Wags up for the role.  Not sure he makes the HoF given the weird closer thing, but he has some solid credentials and I am near 100% certainty that had he been able to close out Game 3, we would have been up 2-1 last night.  What a finale, Billy!

I also say goodbye to Glaus and Lee.  Troy had a hell of a month and a half and he deserves every bit of glory for his exploits.  It was sad to see him crumble and he had one last great moment with the double play in Game 2.  And Lee?  I could be roundly dismissive of what he brought to the table with his bat if his glove wasn't so damn smooth.  I was so excited when we got him even with the bad back.  I'd seen his track record up close many times.  But he just didn't bring his A game with him at the plate.  But on defense?  It was a great comfort knowing he was manning the bag.

For all the injuries suffered, games lost in terrible ways, bone headed plays by various players and strange decisions at times flowing from the dugout...this was one hell of a season.  I enjoyed nearly every bit of it and can only hope that next year sees one more step towards that ultimate goal - winning a World Series.  Thank you 2010 Braves and let's get 'em next year.  This time around, I have zero qualms throwing my weight behind the Giants.  Too long since they won a World Series and never in the city of San Francisco.  'Bout time, I say!  That is all.

Comments

[Harris]

I was with you until the last paragraph.

[AL Hurd]

Come on, Harris? How can you not get behind the Giants? One could make a case on the WS title part for Wash/TX, but SF has been in play longer than Texas (NY/SF hasn't won one since '54. Wash/TX has never won.) NY and the Phillies each have a WS in the last 2 years.