Updated Roster news/thoughts

nsacpi said:
It now looks like the bench will be: Laird, Doumit, Schafer, Pena, Pastornicky. Pretty much what I expected, though the delay in Pastornicky's recovery created some uncertainty for a while. It is a positionally versatile group, with good righty-lefty balance as far as pinch hitting goes.

Starting rotation will initially be: Teheran, Wood, Hale, Harang.

Pen: Kimbrel, Walden, Carpenter, Avilan, Gearrin, Varvaro, Thomas and Schlosser.

Schlosser will probably be get sent down when Santana is ready.

The pen is a solid group. The key will be Fredi using the guys with significant platoon splits in the right way and distributing the work load properly. Given what has happened to the starting rotation, I think the pen will get a relatively heavy workload in April.

An important position that is little appreciated is the bullpen role I call Sacrificial Lamb. As the name suggests this is the guy who gets sacrificed in certain circumstances so that the more important bullpen guys save their arms. Varvaro is the logical candidate for this position right now. Hopefully, Fredi figures it all out.
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I thought we cut that guy.
 
nsacpi said:
Varvaro had 17 multi-inning appearances last year. Fredi also used Avilan, Gearrin and Carpenter to pitch multiple innings last year. And Thomas was a starter part of last season. The key will be distributing the load properly and using guys in roles that maximize their effectiveness. I think we have a well-balanced pen.
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Forgot about Thomas. He could get thrown in the fire early and often.
 
There were a lot of questions surrounding Dan Uggla (2B, ATL) at the start of spring training as he is coming off of a truly dreadful 2013 season. Could he rebound? Might he lose his starting job, be dealt or possibly even released? While those questions remain, there have been some relatively positive signs over the past few weeks.

Uggla reportedly reviewed a lot of video and determined that adjustments needed to be made with his hitting stance. A couple of weeks ago he began using a wider stance at the plate. The 34-year-old says that he now feels much more comfortable in the batter’s box and feels as though he can see the ball better. He has also been doing a better job of hitting the ball the other way with authority. Since making the changes, he has been swinging the bat pretty well (10/33, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 BB, 10 K). Obviously, striking out ten times in 33 AB is a bit much, but Uggla has always been a free-swinger and that’s not going to change.

Time will tell exactly how much of a difference, if any, the adjustments will make in his 2014 production. However, there is at least reason to be cautiously optimistic about some semblance of improvement over last year’s performance.

Updating a previous item, Freddy Garcia (RHP, FAN) was released on March 24. It was a pretty surprising move, but Garcia was due $1.25 million if he made the team. The Braves then signed Aaron Harang (RHP, ATL), who had been released by the Cleveland Indians earlier that day despite pitching pretty well (9 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K). According to GM Frank Wren, Harang’s fastball velocity has been up just a bit this spring (clocked at 91-92 mph as a starter and 92-93 as a reliever compared to 89-90 mph over the past three years).

As it stands now, the team is expected to begin the season with a starting rotation of Julio Teheran (RHP, ATL), Alex Wood (LHP, ATL), Harang and either David Hale (RHP, ATL) or Gus Schlosser (RHP, ATL). The loser of the Hale/Schlosser battle for a rotation spot will likely earn a bullpen job. Schlosser has outperformed Hale so far this spring, but hasn’t pitched above Double-A whereas Hale has a season of Triple-A as well as 11 major league IP under his belt.

Ervin Santana (RHP, ATL) is expected to join the starting rotation during the second week of the regular season. Mike Minor (LHP, ATL) and Gavin Floyd (RHP, ATL) are now looking to return in late April. Incidentally, the team has reportedly been very impressed with the way Floyd has thrown the ball so far. When those guys return, Harang will most likely shift to the long relief role that had previously been planned for Garcia while Hale and Schlosser figure to join Triple-A Gwinnett’s starting rotation.
 
I don't understand why we can't just have someone like Santana throw 5 innings in a regular season game and let the bullpen handle itself. Wouldn't you rather 5 innings from a pro like him over a wildcard young pitcher?
 
I'll say it again: Floyd is going to be really good for us this year, and that signing is being overlooked too much.
 
Krgrecw said:
There were a lot of questions surrounding Dan Uggla (2B, ATL) at the start of spring training as he is coming off of a truly dreadful 2013 season. Could he rebound? Might he lose his starting job, be dealt or possibly even released? While those questions remain, there have been some relatively positive signs over the past few weeks.

Uggla reportedly reviewed a lot of video and determined that adjustments needed to be made with his hitting stance. A couple of weeks ago he began using a wider stance at the plate. The 34-year-old says that he now feels much more comfortable in the batter’s box and feels as though he can see the ball better. He has also been doing a better job of hitting the ball the other way with authority. Since making the changes, he has been swinging the bat pretty well (10/33, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 BB, 10 K). Obviously, striking out ten times in 33 AB is a bit much, but Uggla has always been a free-swinger and that’s not going to change.
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Under any circumstances, Uggla is going to be expected to strike out a lot. As others have pointed out, he's at least developed an eye and can dry walks to compensate a bit. He's still capable of power with HR's and banging doubles and to maybe drive in a few runs. If he could average around .230 or better, that and a return-to-form for BJ Upton, would dramatically improve chances of defending the division title. Odds would be against both of them having similar seasons and the team repeating as champs.
 
thethe said:
I don't understand why we can't just have someone like Santana throw 5 innings in a regular season game and let the bullpen handle itself. Wouldn't you rather 5 innings from a pro like him over a wildcard young pitcher?
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True, but we are still going to need a 5th starter before either Minor or Floyd is ready.
 
thethe said:
I don't understand why we can't just have someone like Santana throw 5 innings in a regular season game and let the bullpen handle itself. Wouldn't you rather 5 innings from a pro like him over a wildcard young pitcher?
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Do you want to take the chance that Santana will throw 100% before he's really ready? I think we should take our time with him, Minor, and Floyd. If they can't come back ready to go, the team is in a lot of trouble.
 
Dalyn said:
Do you want to take the chance that Santana will throw 100% before he's really ready? I think we should take our time with him, Minor, and Floyd. If they can't come back ready to go, the team is in a lot of trouble.
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I don't think they should push his innings but keep him on his same schedule but just pitch in a regular season game. Maybe I'm naive but I don't see what hte difference is.
 
thethe said:
I don't think they should push his innings but keep him on his same schedule but just pitch in a regular season game. Maybe I'm naive but I don't see what hte difference is.
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I mean 100% on a pitch or three (or inning) before his arm is really there. Probably wouldn't matter, but it could.
 
thethe said:
I don't think they should push his innings but keep him on his same schedule but just pitch in a regular season game. Maybe I'm naive but I don't see what hte difference is.
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I think there is a difference in intensity of effort. A pretty big difference.
 
Its possible I suppose...but I don't think he would pitch any different in an early April game.
 
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