JORDANS BLOG ON THE ATLANTA BRAVES!

TALKING PITCHING!!


I have said since spring training I believe the starting rotation is going to be the weak link of the team, which is hard to think because the past  couple years its been huge for the braves.I didnt see the struggles of Jair Jurrjens coming. Its very suprising. Mike Minors success has been suprising too. I will say Im not a big fan of Minor but I have to tip my cap to what hes done in April. That being said I dont trust him to win big games in September and down the stretch. The same goes for Randal Delgado. They are just too young and inexperienced to rely on in a big pennant race and in the playoffs. Brandon Beachy has been the staffs best pitcher. I trust in him, though I still think he needs to lower his pitch count to pitch deeper into games.

The Braves rotation will have Hanson,Hudson,Beachy,Minor, and Delgado coming up. Tim Hudson has been good for us for many years but how much do you trust a 36 year old coming off back surgery? Im skeptical of how well Hudson will be this season. Tommy Hanson is great when hes healthy. but how long before that shoulder starts acting up again? Do you trust him for entire season? do you trust him long term? I just cant see him staying healthy to win games like the braves need him to. When I take everything into consideration Brandon Beachy is our best starting  pitcher- he has shown he can compete and hold his own down the stretch and against good teams.(how many times has he pitched against the phillies?) I like him alot... but everyone after that is a head scratcher. The offense seems to finally have an idea on how to score and manufacture runs- but now I worry about our starters.YES, we have the best bullpen in baseball  BUT we dont need to over work them. and I dont believe Minor/ Delgado are going to give us 6 innings on a regular.

I dont believe the Braves are confident Jurrjens will ever bounce back and pitch big for them. he may or may not be back in Atlanta. He seems to have lost all confidence in himself and forgotten who he was.. I think if the Braves  want to be serious contenders they NEED to trade for a VETERAN starter who can be insurance for us. I do not believe the Braves can go deep in the playoffs with this current rotation. I hope Frank Wren is beginning to look at veteran pitchers who could bring some missing muscle to this rotation because as of right now- theres too many question marks.