What Concerns you most about 2014?

[zitothebrave]

Everyone has to have something. Somefolks way more than one. So what has you concerned.

For me I'm not that worried about Uggla or Bossman since I think we have enough options to replace. What I'm concerned about is Chris Johnson. I expect some regression but if he regresses a lot we're in trouble. Say he has a repeat of 2011, we're up ****s creek at 3B. All we could do is throw someone like Pena over there who won't hit a lick but can field, which is not good for 3B. Every other position we have quality depth at thanks to good potential corner guys like Doumit or Terds, or good 2B types like TLS, or a very talented prospect like Bethancourt. 3B though, we don't have anyone but Pena to back it up, and Pena can't hit. Sadly if Johnson goes down with something serious, I think our best option for 3B would be to call up Salcedo and pray. Or Joe Leonard and pray. Pena could be better than them but we know what we get with Pena, maybe Salcedo or Leonard can provide a Charles Thomas type of explosion.

[Millwood1Hitter]

For me Uggla and BJ are the biggest concerns, if they can even remotely get close to previous ATL production we will have a solid team.

And t

[mossy]

BJ and Uggla.

And you guys constantly bringing up Fredi not brining in Kimbrel in the 8th. Because I never get enough of it

[nsacpi]

Second, center and left-handed relief are the spots we're most likely to have a need for mid-season reinforcements. I'm not as high on La Stella as a lot of people around here. The chances of Uggla rebounding to a satisfactory level (an OPS of .700 or so) are below 50%. I actually think a Pena-Pastornicky platoon may be our best internal solution for second this year and even there I have doubts.

I also think that BJ is going to have only a modest rebound. He'll probably hit over .200, but he won't be much of an asset. The other centerfielders in our system are all pretty fringy. So as with the case at second, we might need some external reinforcement at center.

Finally, we don't have much in the way of left-handed relief. Avilan was overused last year, which makes him a higher injury risk this year. Hard to say when Venters will be back and what kind of pitcher he will be. Buchter is overpowering but wild, very wild. I suppose Wood could go to the pen when Floyd is ready, but that assumes all our starters stay healthy. Chances are one will go down for an extended period. So chances are Wren will have to pick up a lefty for the pen during the season.

[Gary82]

The offense.

BJ and Uggla have to bounce back.

I don't know what to expect from Gattis.

I don't expect much offensively from Simmons, and I am afraid he'll swing for the fences even more this year to earn a big contract.

Chris Johnson will not be as good as last year.

Heyward's health. If he's healthy, he'll be fine.

[Heyward]

Hmm.

Probably Gattis, not sure how he'll do as a full-time C.

CJ will probably regress but nothing insane.

I think BJ will bounce-back somewhat.

Uggla i dont expect much/anything from.

Lefty-relief is a big concern imo.

[zitothebrave]

Injuries aside I think we're fine at LHP. With Avilan, Venters (when he's back) Buchter, and odds are when FLoyd comes back Wood we have tons of options. Things may be dicey to start the year but if Avilan and our SP hold up we'll be in great shape. Imagine come July we'd have something like

Kimbrel
Walden
Venters
Wood
Avilan
Carpenter
Whoever

[nsacpi]

Injuries aside I think we're fine at LHP. With Avilan, Venters (when he's back) Buchter, and odds are when FLoyd comes back Wood we have tons of options. Things may be dicey to start the year but if Avilan and our SP hold up we'll be in great shape. Imagine come July we'd have something like

Kimbrel
Walden
Venters
Wood
Avilan
Carpenter
Whoever

Solid group, but there will be attrition. We lost Venters, EOF and at various points Walden last year.

[skillet]

Nothing, this team is set to kick some serious a__ this year.

[zitothebrave]

Of course there will be some attrition. But some guys will come from nowhere as well. Who thought anything would amount from Venters, EOF, Carpenter, Martinez, Avilan, etc. Kimbrel is literally the only guy with pedigree to come up to the majors and be in our pen.

[Hawk]

I carry some reservations about the overall strength of the starting rotation. Wish the Braves had a true ace, as Medlen/Minor/Teheran are basically equal to me. Beachy is a wild card, as is Floyd. Does Wood start the season in the bullpen or the rotation? Is making him a swing man prudent?

[zitothebrave]

I carry some reservations about the overall strength of the starting rotation. Wish the Braves had a true ace, as Medlen/Minor/Teheran are basically equal to me. Beachy is a wild card, as is Floyd. Does Wood start the season in the bullpen or the rotation? Is making him a swing man prudent?

[AUTiger7222]

Bullpen and bench. We got unbelieveable product from the bench last year with Pena (for a while before he got hurt), Gattis, Schafer (for a while before he got hurt) and even Laird was solid off the bench. Gattis is now a starter and we're counting on Ryan Doumit to replace Gattis's production off the bench. Can he? I don't know. Will Pena be able to do what he did last year? I don't know, it was so unexpected. What about Schafer? Again, totally unexpected, who knows?

The bullpen. The bullpen has been a tremendous strength of the Braves the last 4 years, but can they keep up with this insane level of production? Will David Carpenter and Luis Avilan continue to pitch like they did last year? Will Venters be able to come back and be effective? Who will emerge this year? Seems every year the Braves have a new guy or two come out of nowhere to have big years. Who's that guy this year? Graham? Vasquez? Butcher? Obsipo? Hale? Someone else?

[Russ2dollas]

OPS.

Uggla and BJ being super low.
CJ and FF BABIP causing a drop
Gattis being what the national writers say he is vs what my eyes say he is.

[Dalyn]

Fredi. Depth. Uggla.

In that order.

[ChapelHillMatt]

Washington improving and playing like they are capable.

[Julio3000]

How to get the champagne stains out of the carpet.

[Dalyn]

How to get the champagne stains out of the carpet.

Uggla should know all about that.

[Heyward]

Washington improving and playing like they are capable.

Because the Braves can't improve either, can they?

[thethe]

We have Gattis. Why should we worry?