All-Time Favorite Braves Team

[nsacpi]

With a nod to Zito's All-Time best thread, this one is for your favorite Braves by position. Not best. In my case there are certainly some sentimental choices that are quite far from being the best Braves to ever play the position.

Catcher-Greg Olson
1st-Willie Montanez
2nd-Glenn Hubbard
SS-Simba
3rd-The Pendletonian
RF-Justice
CF-The immortal Rowland Office
LF-this one is easy-Garret Anderson-mostly because everyone hated him so much. I thought it was kind of funny. Please note the correct spelling of his first name.

Rotation: Buzz Capra, ***lord Perry, Phil Niekro, Smoltz, Rick Matula

Closer: Señor Smoke

[AUTiger7222]

LINEUP
1. C - Javy Lopez
2. 1B - Fred McGriff
3. 2B - Marcus Giles
4. 3B - Chipper Jones
5. SS - Rafael Furcal
6. LF - Andruw Jones
7. CF - Marquis Grissom
8. RF - David Justice

BENCH
9. C - Brian McCann
10. 1B - Andres Galarraga
11. 2B - Mark Lemke
12. SS - Andrelton Simmons
13. OF - Ron Gant
14. OF - Gary Sheffield

ROTATION
15. SP - Greg Maddux
16. SP - Tom Glavine
17. SP - John Smoltz
18. SP - Tim Hudson
19. SP - Steve Avery

BULLPEN
20. MR - Kerry Lightenberg
21. MR - Jonny Venters
22. LOOGY - Mike Stanton
23. SUP - Mark Wohlers
24. SUP - Eric O'Flaherty
25. CP - Craig Kimbrel

[Julio3000]

1. C. Brian McCann
2. 1B Andres Galarraga
3. 2B Kelly Johnson
4. 3B Chipper Jones
5. SS Not Not Simmons
6. LF Ron Gant
7. CF Andruw Jones
8. RF Jason Heyward

9. 1B Julio Cesar MFing Franco
10. IF Tony Graffanino
11. C Eddie Perez
12. IF Rafael Belliard
13. IF Mark DeRosa
14. OF/1B Brian Hunter

15. Greg Maddux
16. Tom Glavine
17. Kevin Millwood
18. Tim Hudson
19. Phil Niekro


20. RHP Mike Remlinger
21. LHP Kent Mercker
22. LHP Jonny Venters
23. RHP Mark Wohlers
24. RHP John Smoltz
25. CP Craig Kimbrel

Notes:
—No room in the OF for Ryan Klesko and Gary Sheffield, who was one of the most entertaining hitters I've ever had the pleasure to watch. I gave Gant the nod because my affection for him dated back to watching him as a skinny 2B in AA.
—I tried to stick with true bench players for the bench, and stick with a modicum of realism in roster construction. Still didn't get any true reserve outfielders.

[zitothebrave]

Since I'm a youngin my team will reflect it.

C - Mac
1B - McGriff
2B - Giles
3B - Chipper
SS - Blauser
LF - Justice
CF - Andruw
RF - Heyward

Bench
Freeman
Javy
Gant
Simmons
KJ

Rotation

Maddux
Smoltz
Glavine
Hudson
Millwood

CL - Kimbrel

(don't care about the rest fo the BP really)

Manager - Bobby
Pitching coach - McDowell
GM - Wren
Owner - Turner

[cajunrevenge]

C. Mr. Gattis
1B. Julio Franco
2B. Mark Lemke
Ss. Rafael Belliard
3B. CHIPPA
CF Andruw
RF Heyward
LF Klesko
SP Smoltz
SP Avery
SP Smoltz
SP Medlen
SP Smoltz
RP Kimbrel
RP Smoltz
RP Venters
RP Smoltz
RP O'Flaherty
RP John Smoltz



Least favorite Braves
Blauser - I did a happy dance when he signed with the cubs.

Chris Hammond - douche goes like 4 months without giving up a run which of course came to an end in the playoffs. It was worse because I knew that would happen.

Mark Teixeira - glad he is hurt

Glavine - mr. Met

[Dalyn]

C - Javy Lopez
1B - Freddie Freeman
2B - Quilvio Veras
3B - Chipper Jones
SS - Andrelton Simmons
LF - Ryan Klesko
CF - Andruw Jones
RF - David Justice

Julio Franco, David Ross, Omar Infante, Mark Kotsay, Erik Hinske

Greg Maddux
Tom Glavine
John Smoltz
Steve Avery
Kevin Millwood

Craig Kimbrel
Mark Wohlers
Mike Remlinger
Jonny Venters
Kent Mercker
Kerry Ligtenberg
Darren Holmes

[CyYoung31]

I thought this was going to be about everyone's favorite Braves team.

[zitothebrave]

I thought this was going to be about everyone's favorite Braves team.

My favorite Braves team is the Atlanta Braves.

[drewdat]

C: Charlie O'Brien
1B: Wally Joyner
2B: Jeff Treadwell
3B: Jose Oliva
SS: Rey Sanchez
LF: Dave Gallagher
CF: Bobby Kelly
RF: The Franchise

SP: Shane Reynolds, Kenshin Kawakami, Mike Hampton, Horacio Ramirez, Odalis Perez
RP: Antonio Alfonseca, Roberto Hernandez, Chris Reitsma, Ken Ray, Jesse Sanchez, Kevin Gryboski
Closer: Dan Kolb

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez

Eh, started out as guys who are somewhat forgotten, but switched over to guys who memorably sucked since it felt like cheating to look up old rosters. 4/10

[mossy]

C: Javy Lopez
1B: McGriff
2B: Prado
SS: Simmons
3B: C. Jones
LF: A. Jones
CF: Murphy
RF: Justice

Smoltz
Glavine
Maddux
Avery
Medlen

[Nerfherders]

C - Brian McCann
1B - Freddie Freeman
2B - Mark Lemke
3B - Chipper
SS - Rafael Belliard
LF - Ron Gant
CF - Andruw Jones
RF - Brian Jordan

Pitchers - Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, Kimbrel, Ligtenberg

[Julio3000]

Can't believe I forgot Omar. Sorry, Tony G. You're out.

[AUTiger7222]

C: Charlie O'Brien
1B: Wally Joyner
2B: Jeff Treadwell
3B: Jose Oliva
SS: Rey Sanchez
LF: Dave Gallagher
CF: Bobby Kelly
RF: The Franchise

SP: Shane Reynolds, Kenshin Kawakami, Mike Hampton, Horacio Ramirez, Odalis Perez
RP: Antonio Alfonseca, Roberto Hernandez, Chris Reitsma, Ken Ray, Jesse Sanchez, Kevin Gryboski
Closer: Dan Kolb

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez

Eh, started out as guys who are somewhat forgotten, but switched over to guys who memorably sucked since it felt like cheating to look up old rosters. 4/10

My memories of Ken Ray and what he actually did aren't jiving together correctly. I remember Ray pitching very well for the Braves, at least for the most part but then looking at the numbers and seeing that he had a 4.52 ERA and a 5.08 FIP with terrible walk and strikeout rates tell a different story. So I just don't understand what's going on there. I guess he had a few terrible outings that skewed the stats? The same thing with Kevin Gryboski.

[AUTiger7222]

C - Brian McCann
1B - Freddie Freeman
2B - Mark Lemke
3B - Chipper
SS - Rafael Belliard
LF - Ron Gant
CF - Andruw Jones
RF - Brian Jordan

Pitchers - Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, Kimbrel, Ligtenberg

I was starting to wonder if I was the only Lightenberg fan here. Dude was great for the Braves.

[Knucksie]

C Joe Torre
1B Andres Galarraga
2B Felix Milan
SS Chipper Jones (Chipper was drafted as SS and played there when Pendleton was re-acquired in '96)
3B Eddie Mathews
OF Hank Aaron
OF Andruw Jones
OF Dale Murphy

Rotation: Greg Maddux, Warren Spahn, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Phil Niekro
Closer: Mark Wohlers

[Heyward]

C- McCann
1B- Freeman
2B- Giles
SS- Simmons
3B- Chipper
LF- Justice
CF- Andruw
RF- Heyward

SP- Smoltz
SP- Glavine
SP- Maddux
SP- Hudson
SP- Avery

CP- Kimbrel

[NinersSBChamps]

C: Johnny Estrada
1B: Fred McGriff
2B: Quilvio Veras
3B: Chipper Jones
SS: Rafael Furcal
LF: Ryan Klesko
CF: Kenny Lofton
RF: Gary Sheffield

SP: Greg Maddux
SP: John Smoltz
SP: Jair Jurrjens
SP: Tim Hudsn
SP: Steve Avery

RP: Kerry Ligtenberg
CP: John Rocker

[NinersSBChamps]

I was starting to wonder if I was the only Lightenberg fan here. Dude was great for the Braves.

Some amazing sideburns too.

http://thegmsperspective.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/thumbcache/cd3c51e1e95b54f076c8786d902e97e4.300.jpg

[AUTiger7222]

C Joe Torre
1B Andres Galarraga
2B Felix Milan
SS Chipper Jones (Chipper was drafted as SS and played there when Pendleton was re-acquired in '96)
3B Eddie Mathews
OF Hank Aaron
OF Andruw Jones
OF Dale Murphy

Rotation: Greg Maddux, Warren Spahn, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Phil Niekro
Closer: Mark Wohlers

Yeah because Blauser got hurt in 96. I remember that. It was pretty cool having Chipper and TP playing together, although TP's bat had declined considerable by that point his career and he was pretty much a black hole offensively.

[AUTiger7222]

Some amazing sideburns too.

http://thegmsperspective.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/thumbcache/cd3c51e1e95b54f076c8786d902e97e4.300.jpg

Yep. Those sideburns were sick!

[Knucksie]

Yeah because Blauser got hurt in 96. I remember that. It was pretty cool having Chipper and TP playing together, although TP's bat had declined considerable by that point his career and he was pretty much a black hole offensively.

Definitely they brought Pendleton back with the thought that they could give him a World Championship for "prior service." Excellent in theory but, unfortunately, not in practice.

[jason27nc]

Mac can not and will not ever be my favorite Brave catcher anymore after going to the Yanks. Lopez was better anyway in my book. So here is mine.

C J. Lopez
1B Freeman
2B Lemke
SS Simmons
3B Chipper
LF Gant
CF A.Jones
RF Murphy

SP Smoltz
SP Maddox
SP Glavine
SP Hudson
SP Merker

RP Venters
RP Rocker
RP Whohlers
RP EOF
RP Kimbrel

Manager Bobby Cox

[Knucksie]

Javy Lopez was an offensive force to start his career, but Maddux must've had something against throwing to him. Then Javy was just OK. The season before his contract year he was awful. Suddenly, his numbers jumped off the charts in his contract year ('roids?). After that, he was sort of OK for a while in the AL, but had already come back to earth after signing his big deal.

[AUTiger7222]

Javy Lopez was an offensive force to start his career, but Maddux must've had something against throwing to him. Then Javy was just OK. The season before his contract year he was awful. Suddenly, his numbers jumped off the charts in his contract year ('roids?). After that, he was sort of OK for a while in the AL, but had already come back to earth after signing his big deal.

Javy seemed to struggle a lot after he blew out his knee in 1999. Remember that? Eddie Perez became the Braves starting catcher after that. Javy struggle for a little while after that, I'm not exactly sure why. Then in 2003 it all clicked again for him and he crushed everything that year. I don't know if it was a product of steroids or not but I remember how awesome it was to watch him that year because he was my favorite Braves player at that time. I've always had a thing for catchers. Then he was pretty good for a couple seasons after that with the Orioles and then just fell off a cliff and his career was over.

[drewdat]

My memories of Ken Ray and what he actually did aren't jiving together correctly. I remember Ray pitching very well for the Braves, at least for the most part but then looking at the numbers and seeing that he had a 4.52 ERA and a 5.08 FIP with terrible walk and strikeout rates tell a different story. So I just don't understand what's going on there. I guess he had a few terrible outings that skewed the stats? The same thing with Kevin Gryboski.

For Ken Ray, strong start, weak finish I think. By the time he turned to a pumpkin we were dead in the water.

Gryboski somehow got the reputation as "double play specialist" when in reality he was just a "below average reliever."

Neither were a disaster or anything. Just fun to remember.

[CyYoung31]

My memories of Ken Ray and what he actually did aren't jiving together correctly. I remember Ray pitching very well for the Braves, at least for the most part but then looking at the numbers and seeing that he had a 4.52 ERA and a 5.08 FIP with terrible walk and strikeout rates tell a different story. So I just don't understand what's going on there. I guess he had a few terrible outings that skewed the stats? The same thing with Kevin Gryboski.

He once struck out Barry Bonds with a sick curve. That's probably what you are remembering.

[CyYoung31]

My favorite Braves team is the Atlanta Braves.

I meant by year. 2010 is my favorite Braved team, for example.

[AUTiger7222]

He once struck out Barry Bonds with a sick curve. That's probably what you are remembering.

I honestly do remember that. He came into a jam to face Barry Bonds and struck him out and all of Braves nation went WOW!

[AUTiger7222]

I meant by year. 2010 is my favorite Braved team, for example.

2010 was definitely a fun year, absolutely sucks that I ended up missing most of those games because I didn't have cable. Had to listen to them on the radio.

[CyYoung31]

I honestly do remember that. He came into a jam to face Barry Bonds and struck him out and all of Braves nation went WOW!

I think that may have been his first Major League appearance too.

[Gary82]

I meant by year. 2010 is my favorite Braved team, for example.

92 and 95 for me.

[AUTiger7222]

I think that may have been his first Major League appearance too.

Well his first appearance for the Braves. Ray actually had a cup of coffee with the Royals in 1999.

[AUTiger7222]

92 and 95 for me.

If I had to rank my favorite seasons, based on the ones that I can honesty vividly remember, here's how I would rank them.

1. 2010
2. 2013
3. 1998
4. 2000
5. 2003

[CyYoung31]

I meant by year. 2010 is my favorite Braved team, for example.

I'm clearly drunk.

[Gary82]

If I had to rank my favorite seasons, based on the ones that I can honesty vividly remember, here's how I would rank them.

1. 2010
2. 2013
3. 1998
4. 2000
5. 2003

2003 and 1998 were fun teams. It's a shame they didn't go all the way.

[AUTiger7222]

2003 and 1998 were fun teams. It's a shame they didn't go all the way.

I still can't believe that 1998 team won 106 games and then lost to the Padres in the NLCS. The 2003 team ran into the buzzsaw known as Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.