Never Let Go, Bobby

Continuing along the wonderful offseason journey that was the NL East, we stop by the ATL to check out the Redskins Braves.  It’s been a sad state in Atlanta, since they finally fell off their perch after their magical 14 year run at the top of the world.  However, after piecing together possibly the most retarded offseason of any team in the NL East, they find themselves scrambling for a trip to Mediocrityville.

I may be a little more pessimistic than some, but the Braves had damn near the worst offseason in the MLB.  Looking at the numbers below, they lost anywhere from 6-9 wins from their team over this past offseason.

They certainly have their fair share of holes.  Age and injuries seem to be the two words that keep coming up with this ballclub, and with good reason.  Their offense still has little pop, and most of their power is dependent on an ancient Chipper Jones and this Troy Glaus fellow who had major surgery last season.  34 year old Tim Hudson has come back from arm surgery #128390, 38 year old Billy Wagner is still a rat bastard with an arm with a ton of miles, and Takashi Saito is 40 years old and coming off a glorious UCL sprain.

So in essence, they replaced younger injury prone players in Mike Gonzalez/Rafael Soriano with older injury prone players in Wagner/Saito, and replaced a healthy Adam LaRoche who had a .900+ OPS with the Braves last year, and replaced him with mediocrity and injury prone Troy Glaus.  Not generally a recipe for success, eh?

Additions (’09 WAR):

• OF Brent Clevlen (.1)
• 3B Joe Thurston (.1)
• P Takashi Saito (.4)
• P Billy Wagner (.4 – 1.2 in ’08)
• OF Eric Hinske (1)
• 3B Troy Glaus (-.2 – 5.3 in ’08)
• OF Melky Cabrera (1.7)

Subtractions (’09 WAR):

• OF Garret Anderson (-0.9)
• P Mike Gonzalez (.9)
• 1B Adam LaRoche (2.5)
• 1B Greg Norton (-.2)
• P Boone Logan (0)
• P Javier Vazquez (6.6)
• 2B Kelly Johnson (.6)
• P Rafael Soriano (2)
• OF Ryan Church (1)
• OF Brandon Jones (0)

Totals: (3.5) – (12.5) = -9 wins

Even AT BEST (and this is assuming they get a healthy Wagner/Glaus), they still ended up on the losing side.  It looks even worse when you consider the contracts that LaRoche/Church ended up signing, while the Braves were going through the MLB Bargain Bin.  I understand they’re having financial problems, but refusing to even do something that Omar “Smelly Fingers” Minaya has grasped, with waiting out the market to sign good players for below-market value contracts… that’s inexcusable.

Who's Gay?

However, after all of this bashing for their offseason, they still have a decent middle of the road team that has a shot at the Wild Card.  Notice, only a shot.  Their pitching is good (even while being extremely lucky bastards), and their hitting is better than some, but worse than most.  If they stay completely healthy, get a ROY season from Heyward, and bounceback seasons from Chipper/Glaus/Wagner/Saito… then yes, they could win the Wild Card.  Otherwise, you can expect another disappointing season from the ATL.

But hey, at least they got rid of Jeff Francouer while they still could.  Word has it he’s been accepted by the Mets super secret Smelly Fingers Club.

Hooray! Cuddle time with Reyes and Minaya!

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