Atlanta Braves @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

02/06/2006
Do you think Tim Hudson will perform up to his capability this year? I was disappointed with his performance last year, except for in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.-- Jonathan C., Harrisburg, Pa.
There were a couple of other games that were just as impressive. The one that definitely comes to mind was April 18, when he tossed nine scoreless innings against Roger Clemens and gave Ryan Langerhans the opportunity to end things with a 12th-inning home run.
It was the most exciting game I saw last year until the 18-inning Game 4 thriller, when Hudson's sterling seven-inning effort was ruined by Kyle Farnsworth's inability to secure a five-run lead.
I don't think it's completely unfair to label Hudson's first season with the Braves disappointing. At the same time, you have to wonder how nice it would be to be so good that going 14-9 with a 3.52 ERA leads some to think the season was a disappointment.
Yet that simply goes with the territory in regards to elite athletes. The fact is he didn't pitch like the guy who entered last year with the third-best all-time winning percentage among pitchers with at least 100 decisions.
Instead, he simply showed glimpses of his greatness. But more importantly he displayed a fighting spirit that would lead anyone to want to take him and his 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame into a tavern filled with the fiercest barroom brawlers.
Whether it's been time to rise to the occasion like he did in the playoffs or at Auburn University where he didn't even become a regular starting pitcher until his senior year, Hudson has always come out fighting and, more times than not, emerged victorious.
If Hudson is able to avoid the oblique injuries that have hindered him at some point during each of the past three seasons, there's certainly reason to believe he could bounce back and enjoy a 20-win season.
My reasoning for not labeling last year a disappointment for Hudson is that he proved he is a warrior and at the same time one of the best teammates a player can hope to have.
So yeah, if I had to guess, Hudson will indeed bounce back this year and prove why the Braves signed him to be their long-term ace through at least the 2009 season.
Who will platoon in left field with Langerhans?-- Patricia H., Lawrenceville, Ga.
That remains to be determined. It might be Matt Diaz, a right-handed slugger who has had plenty of success against left-handed pitchers. The darkhorse contender is Brian Jordan, who would have to prove he's healthy and capable of being productive during Spring Training.
With left-handed hitters Brian McCann, Langerhans and Adam LaRoche all in position to fill out the batting order at the bottom of the lineup, there seems to be a need to find right-handed replacements to platoon or at least be available to negate the strength of a left-handed relief specialist in the late innings.
Using Langerhans in a platoon role would cause the Braves to put an outstanding defensive player on the bench when the opponent starts a left-handed pitcher. At the same time, it would prevent Langerhans from further proving he can hit southpaws. He produced a .293 (17-for-58) batting average in limited opportunities against them last year.
Do you think the beginning of the Braves' 2006 schedule will prove to be extremely difficult? -- Scott C., Jackson, Tenn.
There's no doubt that the first portion of the schedule will provide many challenges. The Braves play just 11 of their first 35 games at Turner Field.
In addition, there are going to be a number of quick turnarounds. They play a night game in Los Angeles on April 5 and then are scheduled to play a 1:05 p.m. PT game the next day in San Francisco.
The series against the Giants ends with a 4:05 p.m. ET game on April 9. The next day back in Atlanta, the Braves will open the home portion of their schedule with a 7:05 p.m. ET against the Phillies.
Let's just say their might be quite a demand on coffee during those first two weeks of the season.
Edgar Renteria had a disappointing season last year. How optimistic are you that he will play like he did during his last season with St. Louis? -- Zach R., Bend, Ore.
After meeting Renteria and seeing he has great character and still is in great shape, I'm apt to believe he still has plenty of good years in front of him. He's just 30 years old, and it really seems like Boston simply wasn't a good fit for him.
When the Braves played the Red Sox in late May last year, Renteria was struggling. But all I heard that weekend from those surrounding me was that he would soon break out of his funk.
Those words primarily came from Atlanta-Journal Constitution writer David O'Brien, who covered Renteria in Florida and Braves third base coach Fredi Gonzalez, who coached Renteria in the Marlins' Minor League system.
Obviously they were speaking with some optimism about a guy they genuinely like. But at the same time, they were saying it because they know he's a special player.
There have obviously been some great athletes that have seen their careers quickly decline. But at 30 years old, and after just one bad season in which he did produce 70 RBIs, Renteria isn't likely heading down that path.
I know we have Roger McDowell now, but what do you think about Greg Maddux coming back to Atlanta as the pitching coach soon (or ever)?-- Caleb L. St. Louis, Mo.
First, let's just say it would be nice to see a guy like McDowell have a chance to be a pitching coach for as long as he wants or at least until a better opportunity arises.
My first impressions of him have been very favorable and the pitchers truly seem to look forward to the chance to work with a personable coach who has firsthand knowledge of the everyday ups and downs a big league pitcher encounters.
As for Maddux, he loves the game and might know more about pitching than anybody ever has. Yet, I don't see any reason he'd give up the chance to golf everyday just to come back and collect a pitching coach's salary, even if he were offered something like $500,000 per year.
The last time his salary dipped that low was back in 1990. Since then, his combined annual salaries total more than $124 million.
Besides, there's already one great Maddux serving in that role. Based on what he's done in Milwaukee the past few years, I'm of the belief that Greg's brother, Mike, is the currently the game's best pitching coach.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/08/2006
ATLANTA -- When general manager John Schuerholz began constructing the roster for the 1991 Braves team -- the one that began the club's current string of 14 consecutive division titles -- he focused on finding defensive players who would provide the necessary support for his talented cast of young hurlers.
Using that successful formula, Schuerholz has always made sure his club has possessed a top-notch center fielder to anchor what has annually been one of the game's finest defensive outfield trios. Whether it was Otis Nixon, Marquis Grissom, Kenny Lofton or Andruw Jones, the center fielder Schuerholz selected supplied his pitchers with a defender capable of covering both alleys and making a number of acrobatic catches.
With Jones, who has won eight consecutive Gold Glove Awards, returning, a talented Braves starting rotation will once again have that confidence. It's enhanced by the knowledge that defensive wizards Jeff Francoeur and Ryan Langerhans will be manning the two corner outfield spots.
"Any time you can have a guy like Andruw out there, it's going to let you pitch with a lot more confidence," Tim Hudson said. "He covers so much ground and makes everybody around him that much better."
When Jones was flanked by J.D. Drew and Charles Thomas for the final three months of the 2004 season, some thought they were the best outfield trio the Braves had possessed during their historic streak of consecutive division titles.
But when Francoeur and Langerhans joined Jones for most of the second half of last season, there was reason to wonder if this trio was even better.
"I don't know if you can say which one was better," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "They were both really, really good."
Defensively, Jones has very few equals. In fact, some consider him one of the greatest defensive outfielders ever to play the game.
While time and normal wear may have caused him to lose a half-step, Jones, who will be 29 in April, still covers an enormous amount of the outfield grass and possesses an arm that is both strong and accurate.
Since Jones became Atlanta's starting center fielder in 1998, the Braves haven't had reason to worry about his defense. They simply were hoping he'd one day produce the strong offensive numbers that he managed to last year, when he finished second to Albert Pujols in balloting for the National League MVP Award.
Coming off a season in which he led the Majors with 51 homers and the NL with 128 RBIs, Jones seems intent on proving that last year wasn't a fluke. An offseason conditioning program focused on building strength has allowed him to come to camp with his body better defined than it ever has been.Jones isn't the only outfielder who is expected to be in camp when pitchers and catchers report next week. Francoeur, Langerhans and Kelly Johnson, who are all coming off successful rookie seasons, are also expected to be among the early arrivals.
"All these young guys, they're all hungry to start playing a new season," Jones said. "I'm right there with them. It's going to be exciting."
After making his Major League debut in early July, Francoeur proved to be Mr. Excitement with both his bat and glove. He hit .300 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs in just 257 at-bats.
Defensively, the 22-year-old right fielder was just as impressive. Appearing in the field in just 67 games, he still managed to record 13 assists -- a total that ranked second among all NL outfielders.
"He plays good defense and has a strong arm, too," said Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, just hours before an Aug. 13 game in which Francoeur homered and made two throws that led to two outs at the plate.
Like Francoeur, Langerhans has the speed and range of a center fielder. At times he may not have pinpoint precision, but his arm is certainly strong, especially when compared with other left fielders.
"He's a great outfielder," Cox said of Langerhans. "His defense is incredibly great."
Cox began playing Langerhans on a regular basis toward the end of last season, and the soon-to-be 26-year-old outfielder responded by hitting .333 in September. His progress offensively should allow him to remain in the lineup on a regular basis.
Before getting a regular role, Langerhans shared time with Johnson, who was having a strong rookie season before losing his sense for the strike zone. He has great athletic skills, but he didn't begin playing the outfield until 2004 and still has to improve his reads.
If the Braves choose to use a platoon in left field, they could use the right-handed Matt Diaz against left-handed pitchers. Both Langerhans and Johnson are left-handed hitters.
While playing for the Royals last year, Diaz batted .370 (54 at-bats) against left-handed pitchers. He was claimed off waivers in December and will come to camp as part of the 40-man roster.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/08/2006
ATLANTA -- It's not accurate to state the Braves are heading to Spring Training without a closer. In actuality, they'll simply arrive in camp without having announced who they will use in that role.
While many believe Chris Reitsma will ultimately be given the job that a leg injury caused him to lose last year, the Braves are keeping their options open. There's still a chance general manager John Schuerholz could work his magic and make yet another March trade.
Or there's a chance manager Bobby Cox would feel more comfortable putting Joey Devine or possibly even Oscar Villarreal in that role.
There are a number of options and just two men have the power to make the ultimate decision. It's just one that doesn't necessarily have to be made in February.
"We're not announcing it, because we don't know who it is going to be," Schuerholz said. "Bobby has done this many times in the past when we've had openings at various positions. We'll let them compete for it, and whoever impresses the most will get the opportunity to be our closer."
During their current streak of 14 consecutive division titles, the Braves haven't always ended the season with the same closer who had been assigned that role when pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training. Last year it took three tries before they found a dependable closer in Kyle Farnsworth.
When camp began in 1998, Kerry Ligtenberg was simply hoping to grab a roster spot. A couple of Mark Wohlers fastballs to the backstop later, Ligtenberg found himself in the role en route to a 30-save season. One year later, Ligtenberg injured his elbow in camp and some guy named John Rocker suddenly became a beloved closer, albeit one whose mouth ultimately ruined the fame his arm had created.
Other than 2002-04, when John Smoltz was filling the role, the Braves really haven't had reason to enter a season feeling overly confident about their designated closer in recent memory. Yet, they've still managed to continue a historic streak of success.
If Reitsma is indeed the man who proves capable of filling that role throughout the season, Schuerholz wouldn't be surprised. In fact, he considers the veteran right-hander to currently have the inside track on the job.
"He's done it before, and we know he can do it again," Schuerholz said of Reitsma, who converted 13 of his 15 save opportunities in June and July last year.
After being named the National League's Rolaids Relief Man of the Month for July, Reitsma injured his right leg and continued to pitch through the severe discomfort. Consequently, he struggled and lost his job to Farnsworth.
Even after seeing him falter down the stretch both of the past two seasons, Smoltz has said numerous times that he believes Reitsma is the man for the job. His sentiments have been echoed by Chipper Jones.
"He's certainly the best that we have, and he has the stuff to do it," Jones said.
Reitsma has a fastball that is clocked in the mid-90s, a devastating changeup and what scouts consider to be a plus-curve. The combination could lead to dominant success if he's able to both mix and locate his pitches better than he has.
"Personally, I think this is going to be Chris Reitsma's year," said Blaine Boyer, who has the potential to be the Braves' closer in the future.
Although Jorge Sosa has been impressive as a reliever in the Dominican Winter League and Caribbean World Series, the Braves seem intent on putting him back into the starting rotation, where he flourished during a 13-win season last year.
If Sosa returns as a starter, the Braves will go to camp with six legitimate candidates for their five-man starting rotation. There's a slight chance they could trade John Thomson or Sosa. Or they could simply send 22-year-old Kyle Davies back to Triple-A Richmond for more seasoning.
Davies was part of last year's successful rookie cast that also included Macay McBride and Devine, who Schuerholz says are both viewed as candidates for the closer role.
McBride is a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher who has an outstanding curveball. As for Devine, his most important attribute might be his strong resolve, something he'll need to bounce back from the rocky start to what still could be a long and productive career.
Devine, the club's top selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, has the distinction of being the first hurler to allow grand slams in both of his first two big-league appearances. Adding to the list of forgettable events was the fact that he surrendered the walk-off homer in the 18th inning of the season-ending Game 4 loss to the Astros in the National League Division Series.
Still, the Braves are high on the 22-year-old right-hander who has a powerful sinker -- a pitch that will be even more effective when located better. Some of his struggles last year were caused by a hip flexor injury that he suffered in his Major League debut.
"I think once he's able to pinpoint his fastball a little bit better, he's going to be awesome," Cox said of Devine, who made his professional debut at Class A Myrtle Beach in June.
Two other top candidates are Brad Baker, whose outstanding changeup has delighted the Braves, and Villarreal, who appeared healthy while pitching in the Mexican Winter League.
Villarreal, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks in December, has appeared in just 28 games since making a rookie-record 86 appearances in 2003. But Braves scouts that have been in Mexico the past few months say that the 24-year-old right-hander's fastball once again has good velocity and action.
"It's going to be real exciting seeing all of the guys compete," Schuerholz said. "It will certainly be a spot of great interest for all of us."

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/10/2006
ATLANTA -- Roger McDowell has been in town for a little more than a week, and it appears the initiation into his new role as the Braves' pitching coach has gone smoothly.
After a few infuriating attempts to find the best route to Turner Field from his Buckhead hotel, McDowell introduced himself to Peachtree St. and found that with the help of a small compass he recently purchased, he can always find his destination.
As for the job itself, everything seems to be going just peachy. Of course, such is to be expected when your first big-league coaching job is with an organization that seemingly produces successful pitchers at the same rate that MIT produces engineers.
"There are a lot a great arms here," McDowell said. "It's very impressive."
During the club's 10-day early throwing program, which will conclude on Saturday, McDowell has been able to formally introduce himself to all of his new pitchers and at the same time get a better understanding of what to expect when pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Thursday.
"Everybody seems to be progressing right where they need to be," McDowell said. "It's been a tremendous help, because I've been able to get advance knowledge of knowing personalities and how to gauge their needs. This just gives us a head start so that it doesn't have to happen in Spring Training."
A total of 19 pitchers have participated in the program, which used to be called Camp Leo, for former pitching coach Leo Mazzone. Shortly after Mazzone left to become the Orioles' pitching coach in October, McDowell was hired to be his successor.
During the past week, McDowell has been able to acquaint himself with veterans like John Smoltz and at the same time realize the southern twang he'd heard on the phone this winter actually belongs to a baby-faced left-handed reliever named Macay McBride.
Along the way, McDowell has been able to both evaluate and instruct. He's helped Horacio Ramirez work toward regaining his four-seam fastball, and he's also seen that Brad Baker has a top-notch changeup.
"They've pretty much all stood out," said McDowell in reference to the cast of participating pitchers, which has also included Tim Hudson, John Thomson and Mike Remlinger.
While Baker, who is considered a darkhorse candidate for the closer job, has taken advantage of the opportunity to make an early impression, Remlinger has used the past few days to simply prove to himself and the Braves that his shoulder truly is feeling better.
Remlinger, who had shoulder surgery in October 2003, feels like a new man back in his old stomping grounds. The left-handed reliever was a tremendous asset for Atlanta from 1999-2002, and he's starting to believe there's something left in his arm.
Throughout the next few weeks, Remlinger -- who will turn 40 on March 23 -- simply wants to remain patient and fight against the temptations of trying to overthrow in an attempt to prove he's not the same reliever that the Red Sox released in August last year.
"The way I felt [Thursday], I don't need to try to do too much," Remlinger said. "The stuff I have is great, and I still have a month and a half to get my arm stronger. I'm really excited."
After getting to town on Tuesday, Remlinger went to lunch with McDowell and found why the Braves are really excited about the chance to work with their new pitching coach.
"I like him a ton," Remlinger said. "He's real easy to talk to. I feel like I've known him forever and I've only been here three days."
Over the course of the week, Braves pitchers have raved about the patience and knowledge displayed by McDowell, who spent 12 seasons in the big leagues as a reliever. It seems they're very comfortable with him serving as a leader -- with or without his compass.
"He's real approachable," Ramirez said. "With him, no question is a dumb question."

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/13/2006
How do you see Jeff Francoeur doing in his first full season in the Majors? Do you think he will have the offensive success he had last year or struggle now that pitchers have seen him more? -- Nick J., Richmond, Va.
There will be a couple of factors that Francoeur didn't have to deal with last year. First, there is the reality that his rookie success has created an enormous expectations. How he deals with the pressure remains to be seen.
In addition, opponents now have a better idea of how to attack his weaknesses. Thus, he must display more consistent plate discipline in order to force opposing pitchers to throw him pitches that he can hit.
In other words, he's simply going to have to deal with the same pressures and realities that are presented every established Major Leaguer. He'll just have to do so at the ripe age of 22.
While still young and green, Francoeur seems to have all of those special qualities that allow certain athletes to rise to the top of their profession. He's got Arthur Fonzarelli-like cool, Reggie Jackson-type power and an arm that would have made Roberto Clemente proud.
It appears he has everything it takes to be a bona fide superstar at the Major League level for many years to come. But first he must prove he's capable of commanding the strike zone.
Through the first 154 at-bats of his big-league career, Francoeur was hitting .342 and had drawn six walks. Each of those walks came between Aug. 21-Aug. 31 and two of them were intentional. In his final 102 at-bats of the season, he walked five times and hit .235. Two of those walks were drawn on Sept. 26 against the Rockies.
Breaking it down, he drew six of his 11 walks last year over the course of five games. When you consider he had more than one plate appearance in 68 games, it's obvious that patience isn't exactly a virtue he's acquired yet.
That being said, Francoeur shouldn't lose his feisty, aggressive style. He simply needs to harness his aggression and get comfortable with the fact that pitchers will eventually make a mistake or choose to challenge him with a hittable pitch.
Francoeur should hit at least 20 homers this season. If he's able to produce a .280 batting average and an on-base percentage in the neighborhood of .335, his sophomore season will be a success.
Who is the player to watch for this season for the Braves? And who will be their most exciting player? -- Matthew I., Dillon, S.C.
I'm looking forward to seeing Chipper Jones rebound from the injury-plagued seasons that have hampered him the past two years. He was simply sensational when healthy last year, and at 34 years old, there's plenty of reason to believe he still has some productive years ahead of him.
As for the most exciting player, it could be either Andruw Jones or Marcus Giles. Jones has the potential to make a highlight catch at any time, and with his bat, he's the one who created the most late-inning excitement last year.
While Giles might not be able to hit 51 homers like Andruw did last year, he certainly has the ability to delight the fans in many different ways.
Giles can create excitement with his glove, legs and bat. Nobody plays the game harder, and it's evident every time he goes into second base to break up a double play. For me, his aggressive style at the plate and in the field provides constant excitement.
I've read about John Thomson being on the trading block. Who's interested and what are the Braves looking for in return? -- Buck C., Birmingham, Ala.
Saying that Thomson is on the trading block isn't exactly accurate. It has simply been written that the Braves could choose to trade him. With six legitimate candidates to fill their five-man starting rotation, he's simply somebody they could choose to trade.
There would obviously be some interest from other teams in Thomson. His $4.75 million salary is a bargain for a veteran starter who is capable of notching 15 wins.
What are the Braves' plans for Kyle Davies? -- P. Gobin, Toronto, Ontario
It appears the Braves are planning to have Jorge Sosa back in the rotation. Thus, if they don't trade Thomson, Sosa or Horacio Ramirez, there's a good chance Davies will begin the year at Triple-A Richmond.
While he appears to be ready for the Majors, there wouldn't be anything wrong with having Davies begin the year at Richmond. He's just 22 years old and still has room for development.
When the starting rotation was ravaged with injuries last year, it was nice for the Braves to dip into their Minor League system and call upon somebody like Davies, whose maturity and skills signal a bright future.
One of the reasons for Andruw Jones' great year last year was offseason conditioning. Has he continued the good offseason program he began last year? -- No name submitted, Winston Salem, N.C.
Jones chose to put more of an emphasis on lifting weights this offseason. Last year the focus was on cardiovascular activities.
At first look, it appears he might be in even better shape this year. His body is much more defined and he says he's added close to 10 pounds of muscle.
Why does the media accept that the Braves have won 14 consecutive division championships? Did the commissioner's office declare that the '94 season did not count? -- No name submitted
When the players went on strike on Aug. 12, 1994, the Braves trailed the Expos by six games in the National League East standings. Because the season was never completed, nobody won a division championship that year.
If play had never been halted, there was certainly a chance the Braves could have overtaken the talented Expos. Just one year earlier, they had overcome an even greater deficit. On Aug. 11, 1993, they trailed the Giants by nine games, but Atlanta rallied down the stretch and edged San Francisco by one game.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/14/2006
Chipper Jones and Jeff Francoeur are two of the most recognizable members of a group many have long called America's Team. Now, the two Braves will be teammates on the United States team that will compete in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
Jones and Francoeur are members of Team USA's 30-man roster, which was announced on Tuesday afternoon. Barring any injuries or unforeseen circumstances, these will be the 30 players who are used throughout the tournament.
"I've always wanted to play in an Olympic-style tournament," Jones said. "We all want to go out there to represent our country and represent it well."
Jones, who will celebrate his 34th birthday in April, realizes that this might be his only opportunity to represent the United States. As for the 22-year-old Francoeur, he may have many more of these kinds of opportunities before his promising career concludes.
"This is going to be a neat opportunity," Francoeur said. "It's going to be great to be able to go out there and have 'USA' across my chest. It's certainly an honor."
Team USA will hold its first workout in Phoenix on March 3. The members of the 30-man roster will remain together until the team is eliminated. With the U.S. team standing as one of the favorites, there's a good chance that Jones and Francoeur wouldn't rejoin the Braves until March 21, one day after the WBC championship game is held in San Diego.
While Braves manager Bobby Cox would like to have all of his players together throughout camp, he doesn't seem too bothered by the fact that two of his top hitters will be training elsewhere.
"They'll have time to get their necessary at-bats," said Cox, pointing out that the Braves will have 11 exhibition games remaining after March 21.
While Jones will likely be a regular member of the lineup as either the designated hitter or third baseman, Francoeur will likely be used as a backup outfielder and right-handed pinch-hitter. It appears the starting outfielders will be Johnny Damon, Vernon Wells and Ken Griffey Jr.
Considering that Francoeur didn't make his Major League debut until July 7 last year, it's certainly a great honor for him to be selected to this team. He caught plenty of eyes while hitting .300 with 14 homers during his rookie season. The strong-armed right fielder caught even more eyes by recording 13 outfield assists while playing just 67 games in the field.
"Jeff Francoeur is a guy who has played himself into prominence in a very short time," Team USA manager Buck Martinez said.
Martinez hasn't officially announced who will be his starting third baseman. Instead, he's indicated that Jones and Alex Rodriguez will both see time there. Whoever is not playing third will likely serve as the DH that day.
"I think both of them are very capable of playing third base, and we certainly want both of their bats in the lineup," Martinez said.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/15/2006
ATLANTA -- When Julio Franco arrived for the final month of the 2001 season, the Braves were hoping they'd found a short-term solution for their problems at first base.
What they had was an ageless wonder who proved to be an invaluable role player over the course of the next four seasons. Now that he's gone, the Braves' bench is full of much younger players who will be called upon to provide those vital late-inning at-bats in clutch situations.
With Franco now with the Mets, the Braves are looking to fill his roles, which included being a right-handed hitter who platooned at first base and always gave manager Bobby Cox confidence in pinch-hit situations.
Heading into the 2006 season, Atlanta's top bench players appear to be Wilson Betemit and Pete Orr, who will serve as utility infielders for the second straight year. The switch-hitting Betemit and left-handed-hitting Orr are both strong defensive players who are very capable with the bat.
Betemit, who hit .305 during his rookie season last year, would likely be in the starting lineup for many big-league teams. While he's not a speed demon, the 25-year-old infielder is a solid defender who possesses good power from both sides of the plate.
After Chipper Jones began a six-week stint on the disabled list on June 6 of last season, Betemit took advantage of the opportunity to play every day, hitting .325 in 83 at-bats in June and proving to be a reliable third baseman. He hit just four home runs last year, but he banged out 12 doubles and four triples.
Unlike Betemit, Orr was never considered a top prospect. But in his rookie season last year, the 26-year-old Canadian hit .300 and displayed impressive hustle. He was successful in seven of eight stolen-base attempts and hit eight doubles in 150 at-bats.
Orr, who will play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, has also shown he can be successful with the bunt. Being speedy and left-handed, Orr should be a late-inning factor in a number of games this year.
The reason the Braves' bench didn't get significantly younger with Franco's departure is because it now includes the 39-year-old Todd Pratt, who will continue his career-long role as a backup catcher.
Pratt, who hit .251 with seven homers while making a career-high 49 starts in 2005 with the Phillies, is looking forward to filling the backup role behind Brian McCann, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday shortly after reporting to Spring Training.
"I'm excited to work with him and teach him what I can," Pratt said after signing with the Braves as a free agent in December. "I'm going to be the best that I can be for the Braves and the best that I can be for Brian McCann."
Before determining who will serve as their backup outfielder, the Braves must decide who is going to play left field. The left-handed-hitting Ryan Langerhans seems to be the best option, but Cox could choose to use Langerhans in a platoon with Matt Diaz, who was acquired in a December trade, or the left-handed-hitting Kelly Johnson, who showed glimpses of good plate discipline in his rookie year last season.
Diaz, who will celebrate his 28th birthday on March 3, has spent most of his six seasons of professional baseball in the Minors. He had brief big-league stints with the Devil Rays in 2003 and 2004, and his longest Major League stint came last year, when he hit .281 in 89 at-bats with Kansas City.
With Langerhans and Johnson both being left-handed hitters, Diaz certainly has a chance to earn a roster spot. He hit .370 in 54 big-league at-bats against left-handers last year.
Without Franco, the Braves may decide to give Adam LaRoche a chance to be an everyday player at first base. They also could choose to give the right-handed-hitting James Jurries, who hit .284 with 21 homers and 72 RBIs at Triple-A Richmond last year, some time there.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/15/2006
ATLANTA -- Arthur Blank still has a great interest in purchasing the Braves, according to Wednesday's edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Since it was announced in December that the Braves were for sale, Blank has had a number of meetings with Time Warner executives. According to the report, the most recent discussion between the parties occurred Tuesday.
But multiple Time Warner officials have told MLB.com and the AJC that a deal with Blank isn't imminent.
Shirley Powell, Turner Broadcasting's senior vice president of corporate communications, said in the report, "As we have previously stated, we are in the process of exploring the sale of the Atlanta Braves and have received significant interest in the franchise."
She added: "We are not nearing any final decision or announcement at this time," she said.
Blank has been told that Time Warner's asking price for the team is $400 million. The talks haven't reached a point to where he's made an offer.
Before selling the team, Time Warner will likely wait until Major League Baseball approves more potential buyers. Blank, who founded Home Depot and currently owns the Atlanta Falcons, was approved in January.
Time Warner would like to sell the Braves and Turner South. But it doesn't appear Blank is interested in purchasing the regional cable network.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/16/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Even at the very beginning, a calm, positive professionalism pervades the camp of the Atlanta Braves.
And why not? The Braves have won a record 14 straight division titles. They are the kings of the regular season. If there had ever been a season in which the Atlanta streak was supposed to be stopped, it was 2005, in which circumstances forced the Braves to use 18 rookies. But the vast majority of the rookies played with poise and maturity, and the streak continued.
What would stop the Braves from turning 14 in a row into 15 in a row? There is obviously the issue of the major offseason improvements made by the New York Mets. But if you're the Braves, there is no need to focus anywhere other than your own team.
There is, as usual, significant quality and depth in the Atlanta starting rotation. In the everyday lineup there is a blend of top-flight veterans and younger players, but younger players who already proved their worth last year, at least one season ahead of schedule.
If you wanted to raise a substantial doubt about the Braves, the bullpen might be your only chance. There is not a tremendous amount of experience here. In the closer role, Chris Reitsma was the job for much of last season and then lost the duty down the stretch after a hyper-extended left knee diminished his effectiveness.
But the Braves have maintained faith in Retisma's stuff and his ability to handle the task. There are other possible candidates to be the closer, but on Thursday, reporting day for the Braves' pitchers and catchers, manager Bobby Cox gave the right-hander a renewed vote of confidence.
"If we had to break camp right now, I think (the closer) would be Reitsma," Cox said.
Reitsma, who will pitch for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, was in good spirits upon his arrival, kidding teammates who had chosen not to participate in the WBC, that their choice was based primarily on a fear of losing to Canada. And he was in a positive mode about his own prospects as the Braves' closer as well as the prospects for the Atlanta bullpen.
"I'm very confident," Reitsma said. "You take out a couple of appearances last year and my numbers were as good as anybody in the league. I'm starting my sixth big-league season, and I feel like I have a lot to offer.
"I know there are some people saying that the bullpen is the weak spot with this team. We don't have a lot of experience, but the arms here are way above average."
There can be little debate with that notion. There has been some debate about what effect the departure of longtime pitching coach Leo Mazzone will have. But the new pitching coach, Roger McDowell, appears to have made a solid early start with the pitchers in pre-Spring Training sessions.
Cox was offered some opportunities to talk about Mazzone on Thursday, but, not surprisingly, he turned those into opportunities to talk about McDowell. "He's fit in already and we haven't even had our first workout," Cox said.
This remains a team that finds the right way, and the right people, to win. A classic example last summer was catcher Brian McCann, who had to be rushed to the Majors as a 21-year-old, coming out of Double A. He handled all phases of the game considerable composure, not to mention with success. The Braves were so impressed with his work that they the felt confident enough to trade the previous starting catcher, Johnny Estrada, to Arizona for bullpen help.
Now Brian McCann, all of 22, is the starting catcher for the division champions. And there is no reason to doubt that he will be up to the task. Like all of the Braves, he understands perfectly what it means to wear this uniform.
"It's starts in the Minor Leagues," McCann said. "They run an unbelievable Minor League program and they breed winning and I think that's why a lot of us came up and did well.
"What the Braves have accomplished in the last decade and a half has been ridiculous. Nobody is ever supposed to do that. It's definitely awesome."
And now? "Last year was to get your feet wet, and this year is to show everybody what you can really do," McCann said. "It's definitely a great feeling to come here knowing that you're the No. 1 catcher and knowing that they've got enough faith in you to go out there and get the job done." Faith in getting the job done, individually and collectively, is at the core of the Braves' success. With 14 division titles in a row, that approach does not require much of a reach. That faith has been earned and earned again.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/16/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Chipper Jones has always been one of the first players to arrive at Spring Training. This year, deep concern for his hospitalized 1-year-old son, Shea, delayed his arrival.
When Jones arrived at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex on Thursday, he looked both mentally and physically drained. For the past week, he's battled the remnants of the flu and spent long hours at Shea's side with his wife, Sharon.
Last week, the Joneses were forced to place Shea in an Atlanta-area hospital because of an intestinal problems, caused by what has been termed the Rotavirus. The infant, who was born in August 2004, was unable to keep food and nourishment in his body.
Fortunately, Shea began returning to health this week and was sent home on Wednesday.
"He's gotten his personality back," Jones said. "When we took him in a week ago, he was in bad shape."
About three weeks ago, Jones says he was in top shape. His offseason work with a physical trainer had allowed him to gain the frame he'd hoped to carry into the season. But he got the flu in late January and went through an eight-day stretch in which he was carrying a fever. Consequently, Jones' weight has dropped from 228 to 220 pounds and he hasn't had much time to swing a bat. He took just one round of cuts in the batting cage on Thursday, before deciding it would be best for him to go home and get some rest.
Jones still plans to play for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. But he says if Shea gets sick again, then he'll likely stay as close to Atlanta as possible.
Team USA will begin a minicamp on March 3 in Phoenix, where it is scheduled to play its first-round games March 7-10. The final two rounds will be held the next two weeks in California. If the team continues to win, there's a chance Jones wouldn't return to the East Coast until March 21, one day after the championship game is staged in San Diego.
"I would love to play, don't get me wrong," Jones said. "But my family is most important. My kid has been in and out of the hospital for a month now. If that continues to be the case, then I'll certainly want to be here, as opposed to out West."
Almanzar signed: As pitchers and catchers were reporting to Spring Training on Thursday morning , the Braves announced they had signed right-handed reliever Carlos Almanzar to a Minor League contract and offered him an invite to big-league camp.
Almanzar had Tommy John surgery in May and will not be ready to pitch at the beginning of the season. The 32-year-old right-hander went 7-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 67 appearances for the Rangers in 2004. He has appeared in 210 games for five different big-league organizations.
The Braves also announced that they have voided the Minor League contract that had been signed by right-handed reliever Jeff Bennett. He is still having problems with the elbow injury he suffered while pitching in the Brewers' Minor League system last year.
Best wishes: Braves camp opened without a familiar face. Bill Acree, the club's longtime director of team travel and equipment manager, was back in Atlanta recovering from a surgical procedure in which doctors removed a five-foot strand of his intestines.
Acree, who has been with club since its 1966 arrival in Atlanta, has told manager Bobby Cox that he plans to be arrive at camp sometime this week.
Braves bits: Kelly Johnson, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow during the offseason, has seemingly made a full recovery. Other than the poison ivy that covered his arms, Johnson arrived at camp early and intent on fighting for playing time in left field. ... Cox says he would feel comfortable using Adam LaRoche against left-handed pitchers this year. But he wants to get a good look at James Jurries, an impressive right-handed hitter who could platoon with LaRoche at first base. ... Pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout on Friday at 10 a.m. ET. The first full-squad workout will come on Wednesday.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/16/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- It's been a little more than four months since the Braves were forced to dwell upon the despairing circumstances of Kyle Farnsworth's unexpected meltdown in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
Lost with the five-run eighth-inning lead that he squandered were hopes of October jubilation. Gained was a hunger that the Braves could use in preparation for the upcoming season, one in which they hope to notch a record 15th consecutive division title and experience a much more satisfying October.
When the Braves welcomed pitchers and catchers to their Spring Training headquarters at Disney's Wide World of Sports on Thursday, they officially began a new chapter in which they intend to continue their winning tradition.
By doing so, they would prove wrong many of the critics who have crowned the much-improved Mets the team to beat the in the National League East.
"If I were to look at it objectively, I'd probably favor other teams as well," Chipper Jones said. "But there's something about this clubhouse and this uniform. We walk out on the field and expect to win. I know other teams walk out on the field and they're hoping to win. And there's a big difference. We expect to win. It's not going to be any different this year. If we don't win this division, everyone in this clubhouse will be shocked."
Jones was among the handful of position players who have made early arrivals to the Disney complex. He was given the opportunity to reunite with Chris Reitsma and Joey Devine, the two top candidates to be named the club's closer.
The Braves had planned to bring Farnsworth back to serve in that role, but he instead signed with the Yankees. As he spoke to reporters in Yankees camp on Thursday morning, the right-hander said it was a decision based on his belief that the Braves' run on division championships is set to end.
"The main thing was winning," Farnsworth said. "With what the Braves were doing, I didn't think they had a chance to win the division again. They're a great team, but to get a chance to come to the Yankees, play for this organization, I never thought I'd say I'd be a Yankee. It's the greatest organization, so I was willing to come here.
"Maybe it's [the Braves'] time. Fourteen straight is long enough for them. They're a great organization, and hopefully, [Braves manager] Bobby [Cox] can do something again like he did last year. He's a great manager and the coaching staff is unbelievable."
Gone from last year's coaching staff is pitching coach Leo Mazzone. But he's been replaced with Roger McDowell, a man the Braves' pitchers have praised during their short association with him.
The Braves don't seem too concerned with the fact that they'll have a new pitching coach for the first time since 1990. Instead, they're more interested in seeing how things develop in the competition to win the closer's role.
"I think there's a lot out there," Cox said. "Everybody is excited to see Devine throw again, that's for sure. Reitsy has done it. So if we had to break camp right now, I think it would be Reitsma. We'll see how it all shakes out."
Had Reitsma not hyperextended his left knee last August, Farnsworth likely would never have earned the opportunity to be the closer, a role he capably filled until his struggles that led to the season-ending 18-inning defeat against the Astros in the Division Series.
Now that Reitsma's healthy, he's intent on returning to the form that allowed him to convert 13 of the 15 save opportunities he had in June and July of last year.
"I feel I have a lot to offer, and I'm very confident," Reitsma said. "I'm looking forward to it, and we'll just go from there."
Cox believes Reitsma can capably fill the role. But before naming him his closer, he would like to see how the competition evolves. It's a decision the right-hander says he respects.
"He's the best manager in baseball, so you do what he says," Reitsma said. "If that means pitching the eighth [inning], I'll pitch the eighth. Obviously I'd love to pitch in the ninth. But if he makes that decision, that's his decision and I'll have to stand by it."
If Reitsma doesn't win the job, the role could be filled by Oscar Villarreal or Devine, whose eventful rookie season ended rudely when he allowed the walk-off homer to Chris Burke in the 18th inning of the NLDS loss.
Devine returned to camp seemingly unfazed by the whirlwind events last year brought. He instead seems to be the confident and capable 22-year-old right-hander the Braves envisioned when they selected him out of North Carolina State with their first selection in last year's First-Year Player Draft.
"The offseason after that first month and a half seemed a little too long, just because I wanted to get back out here and start playing again," Devine said.
Devine, John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez and Tim Hudson were among the pitchers who took time to play catch under the bright Florida sun on Thursday. Absent was John Smoltz, who will be in camp when pitchers and catchers stage their first workout on Friday morning.
Like all of the pitchers and catchers, Smoltz wasn't required to physically be present on Thursday. They all simply had to call and let the team know they were in the Orlando area.
Smoltz and Hudson headline what looks to be a solid rotation. Thomson, Ramirez and Jorge Sosa, who arrived in camp with a Pedro Martinez-like hairstyle, give the rotation plenty of veteran experience.
If the Braves were to trade one of their starting pitchers, they would likely move Kyle Davies into the rotation. But Cox says Anthony Lerew and Chuck James should also be considered potential candidates for a starting role.
"We have depth in the starting rotation," Cox said. "We'll see how it all plays out with the younger guys."
While using 18 different rookies last year, Cox saw the immediate success young players could enjoy at the big-league level. Now, with a new chapter set to begin, he and his veteran players are looking forward to the chance to see how valuable the gained experience will prove to be.
"It's always exciting when you've got so many young kids who played so well for you last year," Jones said. "You're anxious to see how much they improved and what kind of contributions they'll be able to make this year. You certainly feel with each guy improving, your ballclub is going to be better. If that's the case, we look to be at the top of the division."

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/17/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A bright sunny sky and temperatures in the 80s gave the Braves almost perfect conditions for the first workout for pitchers and catchers at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex on Friday afternoon.
"It's just enjoyable to watch guys throw," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "It was a beautiful day, and everything went smoothly. There was nothing out of the ordinary, so it was a good day."
After a short team meeting, the Braves hit the main field and got a good look at many of their top arms. John Smoltz and Tim Hudson were the first of many of the club's pitchers to throw live batting practice against an array of hitters, including Andruw Jones.
Because they are competing in next month's World Baseball Classic, position players Jones, Chipper Jones, Pete Orr and Jeff Francoeur have been given permission to participate in these early workouts. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Wednesday.
"I haven't seen anybody who remotely looks to be out of shape," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Everybody looks good."
Right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer, who experienced tendinitis in his shoulder at the end of last season, hasn't been cleared to throw off the mound yet. He's been long-tossing with pitching coach Roger McDowell on a regular basis.
And Mike Remlinger, whose fatigued shoulder forced the Red Sox to release him in late August, says his arm still feels strong. Cox has been impressed with his early looks at the veteran left-handed reliever, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on March 23.
"His arm feels real good he says," Cox said. "He was really [throwing] free and easy for me."
Remlinger, a non-roster invitee, will be fighting fellow left-handed relievers Macay McBride and John Foster for a spot in the bullpen. Cox carried both McBride and Foster for most of the second half of last season.
Starters appear healthy: While Mike Hampton will miss this season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, the other members of the Braves' rotation seem to have overcome the injuries that plagued them last season.
Smoltz, who began experiencing shoulder fatigue in mid-September, says he hasn't had any problems with his right shoulder since mid-November. As for Hudson and John Thomson, they're confident they won't have to deal with the injuries that placed them on the disabled list last year.
Hudson was on the disabled list from June 15-July 15 with a strained left oblique muscle. It's the same injury that plagued him in 2003 and 2004. But because it was in a different area of the large muscle, there wasn't extreme concern that he will have to deal with this every year.
Heading into last season, Hudson regularly did a number of exercises that added strength to his oblique muscles. This past offseason, he decided it would be better to focus on adding flexibility through stretching exercises.
"I just kind of backed off it a little bit," Hudson said. "They were great workouts for me, but I think there's a point in time where you can overwork something."
Thomson was on the disabled list from May 17-Aug 12 because of a right middle finger injury. Once he gained confidence that the injury had healed, he finished the season strong and then struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
"I know that it's fine," Thomson said. "There's no doubt in my mind that there is no effect from last year on my finger. I'm just ready to go. I'm ready to show everybody and myself that it's not going to be a factor mentally."
More praise for McDowell: When the Braves hired McDowell, they showed that they weren't concerned by his lack of coaching experience at the big-league level. The immediate praise he's received from the pitchers and Cox makes it look like they made a good decision.
"He's really good," Cox said. "He looks like he's been in the business for 20 years."
McDowell, who spent 12 seasons as a big-league reliever, took time to get to know all of his pitchers by calling them during the offseason. He also got a jump on things with the early throwing program that was held at Turner Field from Feb. 1-11.
"He's got a good grasp already of what they have, what they got and what they're makeup is," Cox said.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/17/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- During each of his 20 previous trips to Spring Training, John Smoltz remembers being the guy who wanted to prove he was ready to throw four innings on the first day of camp.
A little older and a little wiser, he's entering this year's camp with a determination to prolong a newfound sense of patience, one that he hopes will allow him to remain healthy and strong throughout the entire season.
"I'm just looking to have a blast and do the things that come naturally instead of pressuring every single thing," Smoltz said. "I'm a hard whip on myself. I'll still have that drive, but it won't be at the sake of proving something. I really don't have anything else to prove."
As Smoltz threw off the mound during the first workout for Braves' pitchers and catchers on Friday afternoon, he did so without the pressure of having to prove his shoulder is healthy or that he's capable of duplicating last year's success as a starter.
Smoltz's plan is to pace himself as he prepares for his 18th season as a big leaguer. While proving critics wrong during his successful conversion from the closer's role back into the starting rotation last year, he went through a dominant stretch in which his stubborn determination left his right arm dead by the time the postseason had arrived.
Using sheer will power and working with a fatigued right shoulder that had depleted a healthy portion of his arm strength, Smoltz continued his October wonders by notching his postseason-record 15th win in Game 2 against the Astros in the National League Division Series.
It didn't matter that the Braves' postseason run would end three days later. That victorious seven-inning effort signaled the end for Smoltz. He knows he likely wouldn't have been able to throw again the rest of the postseason.
Thus, after notching 14 wins, completing 229 2/3 innings and tossing three complete games, Smoltz was forced to look back on his impressive season and wonder if he'd navigated the course in the most intelligent manner.
"What I'd rather do is have that ability to turn it up at the end of the year," Smoltz said. "Last year, I could only do it one game. That was very frustrating, to the point where I said, 'I can't let this happen again.'"
Had John Thomson, Mike Hampton and Tim Hudson not all been on the disabled list at the same time most of June and July, Smoltz might not pushed himself to the point that he totaled 94 1/3 innings during those two months.
Then again, had that stubborn determination not prevailed, the Braves likely wouldn't have won a record 14th consecutive division title. It's Smoltz's competitive fire and desire to push his body to the limits that has allowed him to win a Cy Young Award, become October's most successful hurler and be dominant both as a starter as a closer.
That intense desire could also be the cause of his many arm ailments. He's had his elbow surgically repaired four times. Fortunately for Smoltz and the Braves, last year's shoulder discomfort was gone after two months of rest.
While Braves general manager John Schuerholz says Smoltz "is still our stud," the veteran right-hander, who celebrates his 39th birthday in May, believes it's time for Hudson to be viewed as the staff ace and the man responsible for carrying the load for the rotation.
"I'm not going to be the guy who leads the team in innings this year unless something crazy happens," Smoltz said. "I've told you guys that Hudson is the anchor in this rotation. He's in a class by himself when you look at his record and his statistics. I just want to give us that presence in the postseason and down the stretch, when our division matters the most."
Hudson, who admits he was disappointed with the 14-win season he provided the Braves last year, welcomes the responsibility.
"I'll gladly do it," Hudson said. "[Smoltz] did it last year. Maybe it will take a little pressure off him, make him feel like he doesn't have to carry the load like he did last year. It would be nice to help him out."
While manager Bobby Cox gave Smoltz several opportunities to take a few extra days of rest or possibly skip a few starts last year, the veteran hurler never allowed himself to take advantage.
Obviously, the Braves are pleased to hear Smoltz say he's entering Spring Training determined to be a little wiser and more cautious this season. But this isn't something they can force on him. They can only hope that he maintains this mindset as long as possible.
"You don't force that on anybody, especially a veteran of his stature and with his success," Schuerholz said. "They have to be the ones that understand what they can and can't do, should and shouldn't do."
During the offseason, Smoltz heard an accomplished veteran golfer say that if you want to play at a slower pace that specific day, you have to begin by getting up slowly, brushing your teeth slowly and taking your time on the way to the course.
The message hit home with the often-excitable Smoltz, and he's applied this approach to his preparation for the season. He didn't throw as much in the offseason as he did in the past and attempted to be much less aggressive during his time on the golf course.
During those instances when he almost always would have attempted to go for the green in two on a Par 5, he found himself laying up and taking a more conservative approach toward the pin. He's hoping that he once again takes the smarter, more conservative approach when he gets the urge to regularly blow 95 mph fastballs by hitters.
"I'm always thinking outside the box to be better," Smoltz said. "Now I just want to do it and enjoy it."
Had Smoltz agreed to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, he knows he wouldn't have been able to harness his aggression. But he's hoping that he can still show this patience when Grapefruit League games begin in March.
Then when the season begins, he plans to once again display his aggression and know when he needs to harness it. Getting a little extra rest or possibly skipping a start will allow him the opportunity to be at his best when the Braves need him the most.
"I'm going to be doing all the things that you have to do," Smoltz said. "But I'm going to take time to enjoy what I am doing, too."

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/18/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Many players come to Spring Training to compete for roster spots and playing time. Brian Jordan and Eddie Perez have arrived in Braves camp looking to prove their playing careers haven't reached an end.
Although both Jordan and Perez missed most of the 2005 season and had offseason surgery, the Braves signed the likable duo to Minor League deals and invited them to camp. Given a chance to audition, the veterans now must make the most of their opportunity.
"If I knew I couldn't compete at the level these young guys are competing, I'd be sure to give it up," said Jordan, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on March 29. "I wouldn't waste my time. But I feel like I still have a lot to offer."
While doctors surgically repaired Jordan's troublesome left knee on Nov. 15, they found a completely torn meniscus. The veteran outfielder, who missed almost all of July and August last season, has since been able to rebuild strength in his left leg. He feels he can return to full health and earn regular playing time in left field.
Jordan arrived in camp on Saturday and is permitted to workout with pitchers and catchers because he's rehabbing.
"Now I've got a chance to play Brian Jordan baseball again," said Jordan, who hit .247 in 231 at-bats last year. "I'm excited. I've just got to come out here and keep on it. I can't come out here and try to be hero these next couple weeks."
Braves manager Bobby Cox knows left-handed hitters Ryan Langerhans and Kelly Johnson are capable of manning left field. But he's willing to take a look at the right-handed Jordan and see if he could possibly be used in a platoon at that position.
"He can help, if we get him back to normal," said Cox, who also has the option of using right-handed Matt Diaz in that platoon role.
While Jordan has felt the strength return to his left leg that that has bothered him each of the past three years, Perez knows it may take some time before his surgically repaired right shoulder is strong enough for him to resume his catching duties.
"I know I'm going to be OK," said Perez, who currently is throwing with approximately 50 percent of his arm strength. "But I don't know how long it's going to take to be OK."
When the Braves signed Perez, who will be 38 in May, to the Minor League contract, they provided a number of accommodating assurances. They told him if he proved healthy during camp, they'd help him get a job with another team looking for a big-league catcher. Todd Pratt is slated to serve as Atlanta's backup catcher.
The Braves also told Perez that they would allow him to play in their Minor League system, where he could continue to regain his strength and also provide leadership to the younger players. Many believe he will be a big-league manager in the near future.
If Perez, who had just one at-bat after the shoulder forced him to go on the disabled list on May 15 last year, finds his shoulder won't allow him to continue playing, the Braves have told him they'll give him a coaching spot in their Minor League organization.
"Eddie is one of those guys you want to keep around in the organization," Cox said. "I'd love to carry him on our bench if I could."
Because Perez began the season with the Braves, Cox was afforded that opportunity last year. It was one that provided dividends with the maturation of 22-year-old Brian McCann, who enters this season as Atlanta's starting catcher.
Perez's preference is to remain in the Braves organization either as a player or a coach. But he also wants to continue playing and is comfortable with the reality that he might have to go elsewhere.
"I would love to go to the Minor Leagues and play and wait for something to happen up here, because I don't want to go anywhere else," Perez said. "But if I'm ready, I'll go somewhere else in play."
Uncertainty regarding Boyer: In Blaine Boyer's mind, there's no doubt that he'll be healthy and ready to be a productive asset when the regular season begins. But Cox knows there's a chance the right-handed reliever won't be available on Opening Day.
"Right now, we can't count on him [being healthy]," Cox said of Boyer, who battled tendinitis in his right shoulder at the end of last season.
Boyer says he has regained almost all of his strength and is anxious to prove he's overcome the shoulder ailment. He is scheduled to throw off the mound for the first time on Feb. 26 and could possibly begin throwing in games on March 11.
"This is really the best I've felt in the past six months or seven months," Boyer said. "I feel great."
Early impressions: Chad Paronto and Jose Ascanio have emerged as the early favorites to earn a surprise spot on the Opening Day roster. Cox has been impressed with what he's seen from both of the right-handed pitchers.
Because he has some Major League experience with the Orioles and Indians, Paronto would be the more likely of the two to begin the year in Atlanta's bullpen. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound hurler allowed 40 hits and issued 19 walks in 39 1/3 innings with Triple-A Richmond last year. But Cox believes he could be productive as a double-play specialist, a role sinkerballer Kevin Gryboski held most of the previous four seasons.
"Paronto looks like Gryboski," Cox said. "He's got a really good sinker, with an even better slider."
As for the 21-year-old Ascanio, he could be in the Atlanta rotation within the next couple years. First he must overcome the back problems that limited him to just five games (three starts) at Class A Myrtle Beach last year. This will be just the fourth season in professional baseball for the young Venezuelan.
"You're going to like him, I think, a lot," said Cox, while pointing out that Ascanio has a live fastball and impressive curveball.
Braves bits: It appears there will be a good battle to win a spot as one of Atlanta's left-handed relievers. Cox has been impressed with Macay McBride, John Foster and Mike Remlinger, the top three candidates. ... Feeling better than he had while battling flu-like symptoms earlier this week, Chipper Jones hit in the batting cages on Saturday afternoon.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/19/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Back in Raleigh, N.C., there are a number of young adults who entered North Carolina State University in the fall of 2002 preparing to graduate and experience life in the real world.
Minus those who may be called into military service, none will enter the work world and receive the immediate on-the-job pressures and lessons that former classmate Joey Devine received amidst a slew of adversity last year.
Exactly one year ago, Devine was a hotshot All-American on the N.C. State campus. Now as he prepares for his first full professional baseball season, he's a humbled and ever-confident 22-year-old relief pitcher, who seems quite capable of overcoming the potentially disastrous events that marred his rookie season in Atlanta.
"I still have a hard time believing what took place last year, just because so many things happened," Devine said. "But I was very blessed for what took place. I don't think there could be a better learning tool than what took place last year."
After fast-tracking his way through the Minors and finding himself in the big leagues just two months after being drafted by the Braves, Devine immediately made an unwanted entry into the record books. But becoming the first pitcher to allow a grand slam in each of his first two Major League appearances simply set the tone for the first chapter in his career.
The chapter and the Braves' season concluded in an even ruder manner when Devine's final pitch of 2005 was deposited into the left-field seats in the 18th inning of the Game 4 loss to the Astros in the National League Division Series.
"I still think about it to this day, don't get me wrong, but just because it was an unbelievable baseball game," Devine said. "That was the best baseball game I've ever been a part of. But as far as the home run, that's gone. It happened. It's already happened. It's in the past."
Such is the impressive mind-set the mature Devine brought when he arrived in Braves camp last week. It's obvious the Braves have no need to put him on suicide watch or even provide a sports psychologist who would be available 24 hours a day.
For a few weeks, Devine couldn't escape the pain and disgust that came after he allowed Chris Burke to drill the memorable walk-off homer in the longest postseason game ever played. But as time passed and his strong will rebuilt his confidence, he came to the conclusion this was simply something from which he could learn.
"It was one of those things, I had to break it down, think about it and leave it at the stadium," Devine said. "If I would have dragged that on with me the rest of the offseason, I would have showed up at Spring Training a different person."
Other than possessing a few extra pounds of muscle and the lessons learned from last year, Devine came to Spring Training as the talented young hurler the Braves envisioned when they selected with their first pick in last year's draft.
He also seems to have total support from the veteran pitchers, coaches and members of team management who still regard him as a potential superstar.
"Joey D had a little rude awakening to the big leagues last year," Tim Hudson said. "But the kid has a lot of talent and a tremendous ceiling ahead of him. We're hopefully going to help him reach it the best we can. I know where I was right out of college, and I wasn't where he's at."
After being named the 1997 collegiate player of the year by some groups, Hudson needed three Minor League seasons before he got his call to the big leagues. Devine had made just 22 appearances in the Minors before the injury-plagued Braves called him to Atlanta.
Devine's Aug. 20 Major League debut began favorably when he tossed a scoreless 12th inning against the Padres at Turner Field. But he tweaked his side during the 13th inning and minutes later allowed a game-winning grand slam to Xavier Nady.
Attempting to pitch through the discomfort three days later at Wrigley Field, he was slammed yet again by Jeromy Burnitz. Life hadn't been this cruel just a few months earlier in Raleigh.
"You don't like to see that happen to any young player," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "But of all the people that we could have had to endure that, he would have been the best."
Including the postseason, Devine has delivered 145 pitches in his big-league career. Two resulted in grand slams and another slammed the Braves' hopes for a world championship. But with his great confidence intact, his future remains bright.
"Joey Devine has such an incredible upside," John Smoltz said. "I don't know any player in the history of the game that has gone through what he did. His personality will deal with it."
Instead of simply reflecting on the longballs he surrendered, Braves manager Bobby Cox remember how impressive Devine was in the Minors and during his final three regular-season appearances in which he totaled three scoreless innings, struck out three and surrendered just one hit.
"He's got to feel pretty good about himself coming right out of college, pitching in the playoffs and under pressure and everything else," Cox said. "That's a huge step."
It's also a huge endeavor to work 81 1/3 innings, which Devine did from the start of the N.C. State season through Game 4 of the Division Series. But he rested his arm during the offseason and is prepared to accept whatever role the Braves present him this year.
Devine's success as an All-American closer at N.C. State puts him in position to compete against Chris Reitsma for that role in Atlanta. But the young hurler says he wouldn't be upset being used in any sort of middle-relief role.
"It's going to be exciting," Devine said. "It's going to be an exciting year. I'm really excited about getting out there playing and being an important part of the Braves organization."
As for the Braves, they feel fortunate to have found another young hurler whose mental makeup appears to be just as impressive as his talented arm.
"This game is going to bring adversity every step of the way," Devine said. "Hopefully if I'm playing long enough, there is going to be several more times where I'm going to have to fight adversity. No one is perfect.
"The better you can handle the adversity and learn from what takes place, I think that's what is going to build you as a player and a person."

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/19/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- When camp opened, the Braves were looking forward to the opportunity to get a look at Oscar Villarreal, their top offseason pitching acquisition. Now that they've had that chance, they're happy to see his seemingly rejuvenated right arm may be as healthy as it's been in three years.
Villarreal, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks in December, has a chance to be one of the club's top setup men or possibly even the closer. But first he must prove capable of staying healthy, something he hasn't been able to do since making a rookie record 86 appearances in 2003.
"I like what I've seen for the past [few] days," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He's pitched in [the Mexican Winter League]. But his arm looks fine."
Villarreal, who has appeared in a total of 28 games over the past two seasons because of injuries to his elbow and shoulder, has told Cox he plans to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. If he does, he'll leave Braves camp on March 2 to join his national team.
While Cox would like to get as many looks as possible at his new right-handed reliever, he understands the hurler's patriotic decision.
"We'd love to see a little more of him early," Cox said. "But if he wants to pitch for his country, that's fine, too."
Villarreal and the Mexican team will be in the same first-round pool as the United States, Canada and South Africa. With the top two teams advancing to the second round, the heavy belief is that either Mexico or Canada, along with South Africa, will be eliminated.
Either way, the Braves will get at least one and possibly a larger handful of their players back after the first round concludes on March 10. Playing for the Canadian team will be infielder Pete Orr, first baseman Scott Thorman and Reitsma.
Other Braves competing in the World Baseball Classic include Jeff Francoeur and Chipper Jones (United States); Andruw Jones (Netherlands) and Jorge Sosa (Dominican Republic).
"For us, it will be fine," Cox said. "It gives us really a great chance to see more of the young kids play."
Schuerholz book coming soon: Throughout his highly successful career, Braves general manager John Schuerholz has prided himself on being very private and professional with business matters.
Next month, when his book "Built to Win: Inside Stories and Leadership Strategies" is released, baseball fans will have a chance to see the thoughts and events that surrounded many influential decisions Schuerholz has made throughout his 25 years as a general manager.
The book, which was written with Larry Guest, will also take a look at Schuerholz's entire 40-year career in baseball. He left his job as a teacher to join the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 and then began his ascent toward the top of his profession.
"It's not a criticism or a critique," Schuerholz said. "It's just sort of a broad stroke observation of my 40-year career."
Along with possibly taking a few jabs at agents, such as Scott Boras, the book will also give fans a chance to have an inside look at how he completed some trades and signed top free agents.
When Schuerholz began writing the book, he was thinking he was nearing retirement. But he's gotten a second wind and will continue serving as the Braves' GM through at least the 2007 season.
"I'm still doing this and I still enjoy it," Schuerholz said.
Braves bits: Braves pitchers will begin throwing batting practice for 10 minutes on Monday. During the first three days of camp, they have been throwing off the mound for five minutes. ... Newly acquired right-handed reliever Armando Almanzar reported to camp on Friday wearing beads around his neck and braided hair. He was told to immediately lose the beads and by Sunday had a clean, closely shaved haircut. ... Left-handed reliever John Foster got married in Costa Rica in early January and remained there for the next two weeks.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/20/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Anthony Lerew drew praise from Braves manager Bobby Cox on Monday, then declared that he's got his sights on being the Braves' closer.
Minutes after Cox had proclaimed that Lerew had been the most impressive pitcher he'd seen during Monday's workouts, the right-handed pitcher said that he came to camp with hopes of emerging victorious in the battle for the closer's role.
"I'd like to be the closer," Lerew said. "That's something I think I could do and have fun with."
Lerew, a 23-year-old hurler who threw a scoreless inning in last year's All-Star Futures Game, has been a starting pitcher throughout his Minor League career. But Cox believes that Lerew could be successful as a reliever or starter at the Major League level.
"The feelings are [that] he could be either one and be good at it," Cox said. "From what I saw today, he could do anything and be good at it."
Lerew caught Cox's eyes on Monday with the pinpoint control he displayed with his live fastball, biting slider and quickly developing split-finger fastball. He didn't begin throwing the splitter until mid-August last year, and he really didn't begin working on it again until a few weeks ago.
During the club's early throwing program, which was held in Atlanta earlier this month, new pitching coach Roger McDowell told Lerew to begin throwing the split-finger pitch on the outer part of the plate. Suddenly, he saw improved action and displayed better control with the pitch.
"I throw hard, and I think if I get this split working for me, I believe I can [be the closer]," Lerew said. "It's something that I'd want to do."
Improved mechanics have allowed Lerew to find quick success with the split-finger pitch and at the same time see his velocity rise into the upper 90's. These pitches combined with his slider give him a well-round repertoire.
Since being selected by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft draft, Lerew, who was recruited to play quarterback at Penn State University, has shown great control. In 568 Minor League innings, he's recorded 484 strikeouts and issued just 183 walks.
While combining for 27 starts with Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Richmond last year, Lerew recorded 117 strikeouts, issued 55 walks and posted a 3.71 ERA. He received a September promotion to Atlanta, where he held opponents scoreless in five of seven appearances.
"Hopefully, I opened some eyes out there on the field today," Lerew said. "I want them to realize what I can do."
Chris Reitsma currently stands as the front-runner in the competition for the closer's role. But Cox is keeping an open mind, and he could ultimately choose to give Lerew, Joey Devine or Oscar Villarreal the job.
"I want to fight for it," Lerew said. "It's something I think I could be good at."
Cox on Bonds: Barry Bonds seemingly hasn't reached a definite decision regarding the possibility of playing past this season. But from what Cox has seen from a distance, he believes that the legendary slugger still could absolutely obliterate Hank Aaron's all-time home run record.
"He could [be a designated hitter] for anybody and hit 850 home runs," said Cox, while conceding the fact that Bonds' troublesome right knee might force a move to the American League after this season.
After USA Today reported on Sunday that Bonds had said that he'll retire at the end of this season, MLB.com's Barry M. Bloom spoke with the slugger and learned that a definite decision hadn't been made.
Bonds, who is in the final year of his contract with the Giants, enters this season with 708 career homers. He needs eight more to surpass Babe Ruth and 48 more to unseat Aaron as baseball all-time home run king.
"I don't think there's been a more feared hitter since ... forever, probably," Cox said.
Cormier impresses: When Johnny Estrada was traded to the Diamondbacks in December, it was a financial move that freed some cash for the Braves. It also might have landed them two valuable relievers.
Villarreal and Lance Cormier, the two pitchers acquired in the trade, have both made favorable impressions on Cox. Villarreal appears set to play an important role in the bullpen. As for Cormier, he's doing well early in his fight to land a roster spot.
Cox has said that John Smoltz's curveball is the best one the Braves have to offer. But he was also impressed with the one he saw from Cormier on Monday.
"The kid is in that class with John's breaking ball," Cox said.
Cormier began last year in impressive fashion, allowing just two earned runs in 23 1/3 innings (16 appearances). He entered the All-Star break with a 2.70 ERA, but he allowed 17 earned runs -- and 11 in a span of two consecutive games -- in August, finishing the year with a 5.11 ERA.
Last year was Cormier's second big-league season and the first of his professional career in which he was used exclusively as a reliever. The 25-year-old right-hander went 17-15 with a 3.51 ERA in 59 career Minor League appearances (46 starts).
Braves bits: Marcus Giles and Edgar Renteria are the only position players targeted for an Opening Day roster spot who hadn't reported to camp by Monday. All position players must report by Tuesday, and the first full-squad workout will be held on Wednesday. ... Giles was in Daytona on Sunday to watch his good friend Jimmie Johnson win the Daytona 500.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/20/2006
I know all of the "experts" will be flocking to the Mets with their preseason picks. Who do you actually think poses the biggest threat to the Braves? -- Mike D., Tucson, Ariz.
With the acquisitions of catcher Paul Lo Duca, first baseman Carlos Delgado and closer Billy Wagner, the Mets have addressed three significant needs by making three significant upgrades.
As for the Phillies, they have a potentially potent offense (Chase Utley is superstar in the making) that can once again take advantage of the hitter-friendly environment that Citizens Bank Park provides. With Brett Myers and Jon Lieber, the front of their rotation provides the preseason comfort that their bullpen doesn't.
Along with Wagner, the Mets have also seemingly improved their bullpen with the addition of right-handed reliever Duaner Sanchez. But like the Phillies, they don't have the depth in their rotation that the Braves will once again use to their advantage over the course of a 162-game season.
If Pedro Martinez's shoulder, toe and whatever other body parts become sore over the next few months, prove healthy, he and Tom Glavine form a solid one-two punch. But with Steve Trachsel, Aaron Heilman and a to-be-determined fifth member of the rotation, their starting staff has more questions than certainties.
With John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez and Jorge Sosa, the Braves arguably have the best rotation in the National League. This takes pressure off their offense, lessens the likelihood of extended losing streaks and provides confidence that they have a good chance of winning every day.
The young Braves bullpen must prove itself. But it's a relief corps that appears stronger than the one they possessed last year and one that should be able to consistently preserve the efforts of the NL's best starting rotation.
On paper, the names of Cliff Floyd, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Martinez, Glavine and Wagner, certainly make the Mets appear to be the team to beat.
But the key to winning a division is being able to be the most consistently successful team over a six-month span. Having the deepest and most reliable starting rotation provides the best opportunity to achieve this.
Thus, I'm going to say the Braves have exactly what it takes to hold off the much-improved Mets and finish the marathon season once again on top of the NL East.
Since Julio Franco is gone, will anyone platoon with Adam LaRoche at first? -- Todd P., Lexington, S.C.
James Jurries has always produced impressive offensive numbers and the Braves are going to give him a long look during Spring Training. If he continues to hit and proves that he won't be a defensive liability, he could find himself platooning with LaRoche at first base.
LaRoche possesses a very reliable glove and has never been given the chance to prove if he can hit left-handers. He batted .188 against them last year, but had just 48 at-bats. He's had a total of 68 at-bats against them during his first two years in the big leagues.
Braves manager Bobby Cox says he may give LaRoche a chance to play every day. But he's also interested in seeing if Jurries proves capable of being a sound defensive player.
There was similar doubt regarding Robert Fick heading into the 2003 season. But he developed his defensive skills at first base and was far from being a liability.
Why is it that in every preview for the upcoming season I keep reading that the Braves bullpen is weaker than it was last year? Compared to what they had at the beginning of last year, I think they're doing just fine. -- Tyler S., Milledgeville, Ga.
It's not fair to declare that this year's bullpen is weaker than the troublesome one the Braves had to deal with last year. It would be better to describe this year's relief corps as both inexperienced and promising.
Chris Reitsma has shown an ability to be a reliable closer and Oscar Villarreal has made a favorable impression during the first week of camp. Villarreal, Joey Devine, Anthony Lerew and Blaine Boyer all have the potential to be dependable setup men or closers.
With Macay McBride, John Foster and Mike Remlinger, the Braves have the luxury of having an abundance of left-handed relievers from which to choose when the regular season begins.
Last year's bullpen as a whole might have been the worst one the Braves have had during the past two decades. This year's cast of potential relievers appears capable of preventing Cox from experiencing a second straight season filled with indigestion.
With the loss of Franco, not only as a reserve player but clubhouse leader, who steps up and helps develop the younger players? -- Brian E., Lithonia, Ga.
Franco's greatest clubhouse influence came in regards to the club's Latin players. Bench coach Pat Corrales has also always been great in that role and fortunately for the club, he'll return to his role this year.
As an overall team leader, Smoltz has capably accepted that role for a long time. Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones have also accepted more leadership responsibilities over the past few years.
The Braves have always focused on having talented players, who also have great character. This has allowed them to always have an abundance of individuals capable of being great leaders.
With the Braves losing Leo Mazzone, how much will the pitching staff suffer. Let's face it, is Mazzone replaceable? -- Brian E., Shreveport, La.
This question has been answered on numerous occasions and still it's one that appears in my inbox on a regular basis. Before they even hired Roger McDowell to be their new pitching coach, I stated the Braves would be just fine without Mazzone.
At the time, I knew that there were veterans who didn't care to see him go and younger pitchers, who didn't feel comfortable working with him. Those feelings have been expressed over the past few months by John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, John Thomson, Kyle Davies and Horacio Ramirez.
Almost one week of camp has passed and not one pitcher, coach or member of team management has even provided a hint that Mazzone will be missed. So I'll just let their lack of emotion back up the assessment I made back in October.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/21/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Fresh off a weekend in which he celebrated a Daytona 500 victory with his good friend Jimmie Johnson, Marcus Giles reported to Spring Training on Tuesday.
As he unpacked a few boxes in the home clubhouse at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex on Tuesday morning, the Braves second baseman was wearing his usual mischievous smile and showing no signs of being nervous about having to get used to a new double play partner or adapting to life as a leadoff hitter.
"I don't see it being a problem at all," Giles said. "But at the same time, you just got to get it done."
Both Giles and shortstop Edgar Renteria made their first appearances in camp on Tuesday, the deadline for all Braves position players to report. Neither seemed to believe it would take them too long to get used to each other and form what could be a very strong double play combination.
"As easy as [former shortstop Rafael Furcal] made it on me, I don't think it's going to be any different with him," Giles said. "As good as he is, I just think he can make my job just as easy. It's just repetition."
While Giles has known Furcal to be his double play partner throughout a majority of his professional career, Renteria hasn't enjoyed that consistent luxury. Since 2002, he's had to get used to a different second baseman every year.
"The most important thing is communication," Renteria said. "If we have the communication, I think we could be good."
Braves manager Bobby Cox hasn't officially announced his plans for the batting order. But he's already told Giles that he wants him to keep his aggressive approach if he's ultimately placed in that leadoff position, one which Furcal filled the previous six seasons.
"We'll see who is the guy," Cox said. "But [Giles] sure can do it."
In 231 at-bats as the leadoff hitter during his 2001 rookie season, Giles hit .260 and produced a .337 on-base-percentage. Since then, he's regularly batted second, a spot in which he's displayed his unselfishness by routinely hitting the ball to the opposite field.
"Every new challenge is exciting," Giles said. "To me, it's just another challenge. Like I've said since I was a rookie, 'Leadoff or eight or second in the order, it's always better than 10th.' At least you're still in there."
It's obvious Giles, who has produced a better on-base-percentage than Furcal each of the previous three seasons, doesn't plan on losing the aggressive approach that has brought him so much success early in his career.
This past weekend, he says he told Johnson, "I'll be the first person ever in the history of the baseball to swing at the first pitch. And I'll swing hard, too."
Hampton in camp: Mike Hampton won't be pitching for the Braves this year. But along with both of his surgically-repaired limbs, he plans on being with the team for most of the upcoming season.
When Hampton learned that he needed Tommy John surgery -- which was performed in September -- and would miss the entire 2006 season, he opted to also have scar tissue removed from his left knee. That procedure was performed in January.
Hampton said his arm is strong enough to begin throwing exercises. But doctors have told him he needs to rest his knee a little longer before he starts throwing.
"Everything looks great," Hampton said. "The doctors said there's no reason that I couldn't get back to where I was before."
Hampton will have two years remaining on his contract and be just 34 when he prepares for the 2007 season with Atlanta. He's looking forward to the opportunity to once again focus on pitching, without worrying about the aches that have hindered him while performing his craft the past few years.
"I just wanted to get in the best shape that I can and get everything taken care of, so that when I do come back, I can just go [all out] and what happens, happens," Hampton said. "It's been a long time since I've been able to think about only baseball and what not what's aching and what's hurting."
Braves bits: Renteria worked with a personal trainer throughout the winter and spent some time taking batting practice in his native Colombia. ... Hampton, Giles and Chipper Jones were all in Johnson's pit when the accomplished NASCAR driver won the Daytona 500 on Sunday. ... Chairman Emeritus Bill Bartholomay and Terry McGuirk, who serves as the team's chairman and president, headed a group of team executives who arrived in camp on Tuesday.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/21/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Those who expected Andruw Jones to simply rest on last year's accomplishments don't understand that his passion for the game of baseball prevents him from staying away from the game for any extended period of time.
After filling his home's trophy case with the multitude of postseason awards he earned last year, Jones began spending a number of hours in another wing of his Atlanta-area home -- the one with the state-of-the art batting cage.
With every swing, Jones was quenching his incredible thirst for the game and at the same time attempting to further perfect the swing that enabled him to hit a Major League-best 51 homers and finish second in balloting for last year's National League Most Valuable Player Award.
"Even if I hit 20 home runs or 10 home runs last year, it doesn't matter," Jones said. "Or I could have won the MVP last year, it doesn't matter. I'm always looking forward to getting to [Spring Training] and start working on stuff."
When Braves pitchers and catchers reported to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex last week, Jones was among the early arrivals. Because he's playing for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, he was allowed to participate in the team's workouts.
But the early arrival wasn't anything new for the 28-year-old center fielder, who has won eight consecutive Gold Glove Awards. The difference this year is that he was able to do more than simply spend the first week of camp limited to taking swings in the batting cages.
"He's working hard enough now to surpass everything that he did last year," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.
Along with his Major League-leading homer output last year, Jones also set a career high mark in RBIs with 128. The total might have been much more impressive had he not hit .207 with runners in scoring position.
When it came time for media members to vote for the NL MVP, that was a number they couldn't overlook. Nor could they ignore that even with seemingly more consistency, he batted just .263 -- a mark that was marred with an 0-for-28 April spell and the fact that he had just six hits in his final 51 at-bats of the season.
It's not as if Jones isn't capable of producing better numbers in either of these categories. From June 10 to Sept. 14, he hit .299. During the months of July and August, he produced that exact mark with runners in scoring position.
Jones knows he still has room to improve in the consistency department. Thus, he's more than willing to spend extra time in the batting cages and do such things as being one of the first arrivals to Spring Training.
"I'm always looking forward to coming down here," Jones said. "I get bored at home. It's not that I don't love my wife or nothing. I love the game. I love to play baseball. I love to come out here and hit the ball and get ready to do something."
While he believes another 50-homer season is definitely possible, Jones isn't making any guarantees. But he expects pitchers are still going to be willing to challenge him, which could lead them to make the mistakes that he took advantage of on a regular basis last year.
Jones doesn't think it was a coincidence that he, Albert Pujols and Derrek Lee -- all right-handed hitters -- were the top three home run producers in the NL last year. With most of the league's pitchers being right-handed, he believes it created more situations in which they were challenged more than a left-handed hitter would have been.
"I think I've got an advantage on a lot of the guys, because I'm a right-hander and there's a lot of right-handed pitchers who think they're going to get you out," Jones said. "They probably will get you out. But they'll probably make more mistakes to a right-hander than they will to a left-hander."
If Jones is able to improve upon last year's accomplishments, he'll be positioning himself for a hefty raise. His contract doesn't expire until the end of the 2007 season and he says he has never envisioned a future away from Atlanta.
"I love the Braves," said Jones, who has been in the organization since signing as a 16 year-old in 1993. "I love Atlanta. I've got my house there. So why try to find somewhere else and find another home. Hopefully when the time gets here, we'll get something worked out. But I don't think about it right now. I feel like I've signed a 100-year contract."
A year before becoming a free agent at the end of the 2002 season, Jones showed his dedication to the Braves by neglecting the responsibility of his agent Scott Boras, and using his father to negotiate his current six-year, $75 million contract.
It doesn't appear the Braves will have the same luxury this time around. Boras called Jones numerous times last year and said, "don't do anything crazy."
But for now, the next contract seems to be the furthest thing from his mind. Since making his Major League debut with the Braves in 1996, he's been a part of 10 division-winning teams and played in two World Series. As for a world championship, it's something that's eluded him and been in the back of his mind during every extra hour of work he's completed during the offseason.
"I want to win a championship and I want to win a ring," Jones said. "You can win all these stuff and put up great numbers. You can be the home run king or whatever. But if you don't win the World Series ring, you don't feel like you have everything."

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/22/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Atlanta Falcons owner and Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank announced on Wednesday afternoon that he has halted talks regarding his possible purchase of the Braves.
Blank's AMB Group had been discussing a possible purchase with representatives of Time Warner, the club's parent company that announced in December they had put the Braves up for sale.
A release provided by the AMB Group read: "Over the last two months, representatives of Time Warner, Turner and AMB Group have worked diligently and in good faith to reach a preliminary agreement on the sale of the Atlanta Braves to AMB Group. Unfortunately, we were not able to get closer together on terms during this time to achieve that goal.
"At this juncture, we have suspended our discussions with Time Warner and Turner."
Turner senior vice president Greg Hughes said Time Warner is in continued talks with a number of interested parties and won't be disclosing the details of the specific negotiations.
"To maintain the integrity of the process and the confidentiality of interested parties, we are not commenting on individual discussions we have had concerning the Atlanta Braves," Hughes said. "We will say that our initial assumption, that the franchise has significant marketplace value and that there is widespread interest in it as a possible acquisition, has been confirmed. We continue to have meaningful discussions with outside parties about a possible sale of the Braves."
The sticking point for Blank is apparently the asking price for the franchise, and an executive vice president of the AMB Group told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution later Wednesday that the deal may not be entirely dead.
"It doesn't necessarily mean it's totally terminated," Kim Shreckengost of the AMB Group told the AJC. "If they want to discuss it with us again, we'd be open to doing so. ... Obviously we were looking at this from an investment standpoint, so we had to be able to justify a return on the investment."
According to the AJC, Time Warner wants in excess of $400 million for the team, while Blank believes it is worth significantly less than that.

Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/

02/22/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- It was obvious there was something different about Kelly Johnson during the second half of last season. But never did the young Braves outfielder give any indication of how much his right elbow was bothering him.
After playing through the pain, Johnson opted to have surgery in the offseason. He reported to camp with much more flexibility and the confidence that he can fight for playing time in left field.
"For me, it feels like it's at 110 percent, because I haven't been there forever," Johnson said. "Now I just have to worry about the throwing more than anything."
Johnson began feeling discomfort during the 2003 season, when he was still being used as a shortstop. He was told surgery wasn't a wise option at that time. He played pain-free in 2004 and didn't begin feeling the discomfort again until last summer.
After recording just one hit in the first 30 at-bats of his big-league career, Johnson, who was promoted from Triple-A Richmond in late May, caught fire. He was named the National League's Player of the Week after hitting .417 (10-for-24) with three homers and a league-best 11 RBIs from June 13-19.
During a 25-game stretch from June 13-July 9, Johnson hit .351 and was the club's regular left fielder. But that was about the time elbow began bothering him to the point that he couldn't extend his left-handed swing across the plate to reach outside pitches.
"I was able to foul those pitches off, but it got me behind in too many counts," said Johnson, who recorded just 10 hits in his final 67 at-bats of July.
Johnson rebounded and hit .282 in August. But Ryan Langerhans was proving himself offensively, and by early September, he had become the club's everyday left fielder.
Langerhans, who is superior defensively, appears to be the favorite to win the starting left-field job this year. With both he and Johnson being left-handed hitters, Johnson understands there's a chance he could begin this season in the Minors.
It's something that doesn't bother him. But for now, he's just focusing on proving he's healthy and fighting for a job that he held for a good portion of last season.
"I'm here to compete and do whatever I can," Johnson said.
Devine impresses: Brian Jordan, Jeff Francoeur and Eddie Perez all got a first-hand look at just how impressive Joey Devine can be. Each of them struggled to get a bat on the ball while taking batting practice against the young right-hander on Wednesday.
Devine was humming a live fastball and dazzling them with a slider that had enormous bite.
"It's good to see Joey do so well," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "That's the best I've ever seen his breaking ball break."
Devine, who was the club's top selection in last year's draft, seems unfazed by the forgettable events of last year. He became the first pitcher to allow grand slams in both of his first two big-league appearances and then served up the season-ending walk-off homer in the 18th inning of the Braves' Game 4 National League Division Series loss to the Astros.
Cox will continue taking a long look at Devine as he determines who will be the club's closer. Chris Reitsma is the favorite and Anthony Lerew has improved his chances with an impressive first week of camp.
Cox delivers preseason speech: When Cox addressed his team before the first full-squad workout on Wednesday, he reminded each of the players in camp about how influential the 18 different rookies used last year had been.
Cox also reminded some of the young players in camp that they would be given plenty of chances to prove themselves this year. With eight different Braves slated to play in the World Baseball Classic, there will be more opportunities for them to prove themselves.
"Everything went well," Cox said. "The first day with the full squad is always fun."
James aching: The Braves opted to give Chuck James a chance to rest his aching back on Wednesday. They don't believe the ailment is serious and there's a chance he could begin throwing again later this week.
Cox has taken an early liking to James, who made two September big-league appearances after breezing through three Minor League levels last year. The 24-year-old southpaw could be a surprise addition to the starting rotation when camp ends.
"He's not a