I try to do a post every year looking at the Braves at the midpoint, or All Star break, to see how the team is doing. What my feelings are seem to be different than what is on the page...or the stats. I've viewed much of the first half as a failure in many ways...the team not performing as expected (Uggla, Heyward, injuries a plenty.) But the standings say differently. These Braves are one of the top four teams in all of baseball.
What to make of it? Let's take it by position as I normally do,
Catcher - Brian McCann has been the man this year. Ross as back-up rarely leaves anything on the table. 'Nuff said. Plus.
1st Base - Freeman has been this year's Heyward without the injuries. And plus, plus defense. This Brave could actually win the ROY. Plus.
2nd Base - Uggla has left a lot to be desired this year, especially after signing that contract after the trade. His power is still there to a point, but his average is way down. He seems like he is picking up some steam and we can only hope that is true. Hold.
SS - Alex Gonzalez has been steady if not productive. If we could find a better SS, we could certainly do better. He still has it on defense but where are those power numbers from last year? Toronto? Hold
3rd Base - With Chipper down, Prado steps up hopefully. It will take some time to see if he is back or still hurting. I won't count his poor numbers during rehab against him. Thankfully Chipper is back within weeks. But I said last year - Prado should not be playing 3rd every day. That madness leads to Conrad at 2nd. Hold for now.
RF - Heyward is trying to come back into his own. It is always a learning process and I think his is well on his way. Sophomore slump, sure, but the man still has plenty of talent. Plus
CF - Here is the place to upgrade if we replace an everyday player. The two we run out there everyday have some issues, no doubt about it. McLouth has proved some usefulness this year finally, and Schafer has had his moments, but this is definitely a Minus.
LF - Same thing here, I am afraid. He have some warm bodies to fill the hole, but Prado moving to 3rd causes McLouth and Schafer to play together too often. Because of the bench, I'll give this a Hold.
Starting Pitching - Excellent! What else can I say? I could get on Lowe and Hudson if I wanted to, but I don't. Old men getting it done. Good on them for it. Thankfully the system is stocked and JJ, Hanson and Beachy/Minor/etc. is getting it done even better. Plus.
Relief Pitching - Steller. Venters has had a set back or two of late, but Gonzalez uses him a lot. Kimbrel has been amazing especially given his some time wildness. There are holes here, however, and given the workload of the big four or five (and Moylan coming back soon from surgery) the team likely needs a fresh body. Still, Plus.
Bench - Another strength. Management has done well to mitigate the various injuries and the farm teams seemed stocked. Still...championship teams often have that one guy that has been around forever. Chipper may be that man on this team, but often it is a bench player. I'd like to see one more steady and veteran bat on the bench. I still say Plus.
I suppose I should say a word or two about Gonzalez as manager. His overuse of the bullpen is a sickness, but managers go with the hot hand and we have some good ones. Outside of that, he seems very much in line with Bobby Cox - a player's manager. The Braves are in line for winning the division depending on how the second half goes. I'd say that is a success. Given the Phillies starters, I am happy. Never liked the wild card, but I am willing to take it if it means getting this team into the playoffs. I am not certain we will lose the division, but even if we have to take the cheap route, this team can deliver. It is very talented and as stated, stocked in the minors. This could be a very happy October. That is all.
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