| On paper, Atlanta's 2009 season didn't seem that bad. | | | | Joe Thurston, catcher Orlando Mercado, and veteran |
| They had 6 players batting over .300, and a team | | | | first baseman Troy Glaus round out the off season |
| batting average of .263. The team ERA was a | | | | moves to date. |
| respectable 3.57. Yet somehow, Atlanta managed to | | | | Even with all of the changes, it is questionable how |
| win just 86 games, losing 76, finishing third in their | | | | much the moves actually improved the team. The |
| division and seven games back of the Philadelphia | | | | Braves were a young team with one of the |
| Phillies. | | | | best-potentially-starting rotations in the league. Many of |
| A closer look at some of the player stats, however, | | | | the trades seem to have been an even swap, with no |
| may shed some light on the problem. The bullpen | | | | great advantage gained. |
| struggled, posting such horrific numbers as Blaine | | | | The starting rotation will likely be Kenshin Kawakami, |
| Boyer's 40.50 ERA, acquired in only 1.10 innings of | | | | Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe, with, |
| work. It is very difficult to win a game when your | | | | naturally, Jair Jurrjens in the number one slot. Takashi |
| pitcher walks 3 and gives up 6 runs during such a brief | | | | Saito will probably take over as closer, with Billy |
| time. Vladimir Nunez also had problems with the 1.00 | | | | Wagner, Eric O'Flaherty, and Peter Moylan being the |
| inning he threw, allowing 2 walks, 4 runs, and 2 home | | | | primary bullpen personnel. |
| runs to net him a 36.00 ERA. | | | | Despite their stats, Atlanta just could not seem to find |
| They got some good numbers from some of their | | | | a way to win. Nor do injuries play much of a part in the |
| starters, such as Jair Jurrjens, who had a 2.60 ERA | | | | record; with the exception of Chipper Jones, who was |
| and 215 innings of work, and Javier Vazquez, who | | | | out several times for various injuries, and Jordan |
| turned in 219.1 innings and ended the season with a | | | | Schafer, who went out in September for surgery on |
| 2.87 ERA. Nevertheless, Vazquez was traded to the | | | | his right wrist, most of the team stayed pretty healthy |
| Yankees for outfielder Melky Cabrera in a complex | | | | throughout 2009. It remains to be seen just how well |
| 5-player deal. In addition, the Braves have made a | | | | they can respond to the challenge of ending |
| number of moves intended to help the team break | | | | Philadelphia's winning streak. |
| Philadelphia's 3-year run. Gone are pitchers Mike | | | | This is probably going to manager Bobby Cox's last |
| Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, and Boone Logan. Garret | | | | year before retirement, so there may be some |
| Anderson, Ryan Church, Kelly Johnson, Adam | | | | additional impetus for the players' to see that he |
| LaRoche, and Greg Norton have all been traded. | | | | leaves with a division championship. He had the |
| The Braves have acquired pitchers Billy Wagner, | | | | personnel in 2009, most of whom are still with the |
| Takashi Saito, Juan Abreu, Jesse Chavez, Scott | | | | team despite some risky trades by the front office. |
| Proctor, Michael Dunn, and Arodys Vizcaino. Right | | | | How things will play out, however, remains anyone's |
| fielders Brent Clevlen and Mitch Jones, third baseman | | | | guess. |