OFF TO A 3-4 START

Iam honestly not really concerned about the Braves 3-4  start to season- I believe the offense is just feeling itself out and will get it together and produce- Freeman doesnt suprise me because he is a rookie and I knew he would have  times where he played like it. I do think he will eventually contribute though. I will say this - Dan Uggla's defense hasnt impressed me at all- there have been some balls I thought he should have gotten to that he missed. It makes me miss Prado being there. Our bullpen has been great and the starters have done well so far. I think the Braves have been weary being away from Atlanta so long. I fully expect them to do well after  sleeping  in there own beds and  being able to come to turner field ready to handle buisness. It is way too early in the season to be worried- I trust the offense will come together and produce and the pitching will continue to carry this team. If Mcclouth doesnt start hitting and Freeman looks more like a star struck rookie then a Rookie with potential then yeh I will begin to scratch my head- but at 3-4 I'm not losing any sleep over it.

BRAVES WEAKNESS IN 2011

 I think the defense will again hurt us. I dont think we will be the 2 or 3rd worst defensive team like we were last year but I dont think we will be a great  defensive team. I  hope that Iam wrong though- defense comes up huge in the playoffs.. Its not suprising that the teams that make the playoffs normally are all good defensive teams.I also worry about  center field position. Is Nate Mcclouth going to produce this year? Is he right for the number 2 spot in the batting order?? These are my 2 concerns for this team this year.What do you think will be the weakness of this team this year?

OPENING DAY- PREDICTIONS & EXPECTATIONS FOR 2011

Less then 12 hours from now the Atlanta Braves will begin there quest for deep playoff run in 2011. I know Philly is getting all the hype in the National League East But I really like the makeup of this Braves team. They are young in some areas- but they have major talent. Iam still concerned about Chipper Jones even though he killed it in spring training. I do think Nate Mcclouth will produce decently this year. I expect Freddie Freeman to struggle some as all rookies do butyou cant deny the power this guy has. The offense shouldnt be a burden as much as it was last year for us and the pitching again will be the power of this team. I think Philly will do good this year but pound for pound the Braves pitching depth is better, the relief core is better, the overall offense is better- and the Braves  starting 5 can match up with phillies in a 7 game series. I think Philly and Atlanta will go down to the last 3 games of the season. I think the Braves will suprise and impress many people in baseball this year and win the division- and I think they are strong enough to go to the world series- if they stay healthy.  They are my world series pick from the national League- I think they will win divison by 2 games and I think they will beat philly in playoffs- but it will not be easy by any means.. what do yall think???

NL EAST RIVALS

 Everyone is jumping on phillies bandwagon because the signing of Cliff Lee- it seems to be they are forgetting the offense lost Jason Werth- that is a huge loss for them. He was there #5 hitter and big run producer. There offense was already inconsistant with him so imagine how it will be without him? They have nobody even close of impacting the offense like he did. He murdered Braves pitching last year. Also look at the phillies roster and see they are aging and injury riddled- Utley seems to have  knee and hip problems that could shorten his career- Rollins hasnt been healthy in the last couple seasons. Ibanez is old as dirt and falling off and there rotation is all in there mid to late 30s with the exception of Hamels. The phillies will have a great rotation but besides that to me the Braves match up well with philly. The Braves have more depth in the pitching department, a better overall  lineup- a younger line up  and seem poised to battle Philly hard this year. I think Philly will be good and will make the playoffs but I think they are being overhyped due to the Cliff Lee signing. If the braves stay healthy ( with or without Chipper Jones) I think they will be serious threats to make the playoffs or win the division.  The only 2 areas that concern me for the braves is the  bullpen  ( alot of young relievers) and defense (Uggla and 2nd base, Prado playing new position in left, and how will Freddie Freeman be defensively) I respect Philly to the fullest but I think  its going to be tougher for philly this year more so then last year- barring injuries it should go down to the final week of the season between braves and philly.. I cant wait!! what do yall think??

JASON HEYWARD & INJURIES

Is it just Me or does anyone worry about Jason Heyward being healthy in 2011? I dont think he is  fragile like Chipper Jones I actually think quite the opposite. Any fan who watches the braves on an everyday basis should recognizes Jhey plays the game very intense and hard. He goes all out- diving, crashing into walls, sliding hard into  bases- which in turn creates more of a chance for injury. He injured his wrist last year in May sliding head first into third base and that thumb injury honestly affected him the rest of the season. He had a big encounter with the right field wall in game 3 of the playoffs which clearly dazed him. I just worry for as hard as he plays he will always battle thru nagging injuries. He has got to stay healthy- his numbers last year when he was healthy were off the charts. It was very clear when he wasnt healthy( hitting under .200) The Braves offense cannot afford Heyward to miss long stretches of time due to injury. Im not saying he should quit playing hard but he really needs to be careful. I wish he would quit sliding head first. He needs to cut that out. The Braves coaching staff should pull him aside and remind him about the risk of injury.  I know he has a great natural instinct for the game and they take over once the first pitch is thrown but at the rate hes going hes goin to be Chipper Jones little buddy next to him on the disabled list and we cannot afford that. Jason Heyward we need you healthy. I hope he will be more cautious and careful. I nor any other Braves fans wants to see him injured.. Hes just too valuable to this team.

THE CURSE OF 1996

 1996 game 2 of the World Series in Yankee stadium- Braves fans probably remember this as the game Andruw Jones  introduced himself to the baseball world and the history books by becoming the youngest player ever to hit a home run in the world series. He hit 2 home runs matter fact en route to  a Braves blowout of the yankees. Sadly to say the Braves havent won a single world series game since. They went ahead 2 games to 0   on the Yankees in New York and on the flight back to Atlanta were already talking about a 2 peat and planning victory parade downtown. Hold up... The Yankees came to Atlanta and won 3 straight games and  the series ended in  6 games when the Yankees took care of business in New York. How could the Braves get so ahead of themselfs to blow this lead? 

 In all honesty this is the moment I really think the Braves organization changed. There was so many magical moments from 1991- 1995. The worst to 1st  season in 91 and losing game 7 in world series to Twins and of course Sid Breams slide in 1992.  Coming back from 7 games down to catch the Giants in 1993 and of course Winning the World Series in 1995. SO many great memories in those 5 years alone. But since 1996 it seems the Braves have never been the same. They made it back to the world series in 1999 only to get dominated and swept by the yankees. I actually went to the game 3 in Atlanta in 1996 I was so confident the Braves were going to go up 3 games to 0. We lost that 1st game I didnt panic. We lost game 4 I didnt panic. When we went  up 6-0in game 5 I went to bed happy thinking we would take a 3 games to 2 lead back to New York- I woke up the next morning shocked to see we lost 8-6.. WHAT HAPPENED?? it seems like the braves turn of events  fell off with the slider Mark Wohlers threw to Jim Lyritz.  Wohlers could never throw a strike again and the Braves havent come close to sniffing a World Series win since. I think back to 1996 alot- I was so confident in the Braves back then- it seems 1 way or another we always found a way to get it done ( '91,92,93 and 95). But since then the Braves havent been the same. I guess that happens when you whipp the yankees in the house that Ruth built and head back home up 2 games.

That game 5 loss blowing a 6 -0 lead I honestly believe is the turning point of the decline of the Braves. We went to 4 world series in 5 years but since then we have only been to one and got swept. Most teams dont recover from blowing a 6-0 lead in game 5 at home in the world series. Its crazy how one single game can change a fate of a franchise. Maybe you will disagree with me but  I honestly believe that game 5 loss has had affects on the Braves to this day. Your talking about winning in 1995 and being  up 2 games to none on the Yankees blowing them out in New York and coming home to Atlanta for the next 3 games- feeling confident as ever  thinking a dynasty is in the making- and then losing 4 straight games. I read  an article one time where John Smoltz said he thinks about that 1996 World Series loss  often and is still bothered by the blown lead.  Do you ever wonder what would have happened if Wohlers sticks to his guns and throws a fastball instead of a slider?? If  Braves win that game and go up 3-2 in the series you think they can manage to win 1 of the final 2 games in New York? Momentum is such a huge thing in sports. Sometimes when you get it you cant lose other times when you lose it you cant ever win again  and sad to say since 1996 I think  thats the Braves problem..Oh how I wish we could rewind the times and go back to game 5 world series in Atlanta ...Mark Wohlers where you  at?? :(

Chipper Jones 2011

What do you expect from Chipper Jones in 2011? I love and respect Chipper to the fullest but I will be honest. I  really dont expect him to stay healthy or be a major contributer to this team. Even if he stays healthy I think he would give us .270 average 15 home runs and maybe 56-70 rbis.. which isnt bad but from Chipper its not that good for a guy getting paid $12 million this year. I think the braves are making a big mistake by keeping him in the #3 hole.  Yes Chipper is  one of the smartest if  not the smartest hitter in all of baseball but be honest since 2008 has he impressed you at all?  I   could be tottally wrong about him but I think its time the Braves realize hes not what he used to be. Hes not a #3 hitter anymore- its time to put Heyward or Mccann or Uggla in that 3 spot- Chipper just doesnt produce enough to be in that sweet #3 spot anymore. There is no doubt that Chippers leadership is priceless on this team. But its come about where his leadership is worth more then his actual skills anymore. What other teams would keep a guy whose hitting .270 with 15 home runs in there 3 hole? Chipper needs to be moved down lower in the order. I pray that Iam wrong and chipper produces numbers closer to the .300 and 20 home runs with 85 rbis but his health and declining skills just dont make it realistic for me. I hope the Braves dont have too much love for Chipper and keep him in the #3 hole longer then he needs to be- and who knows if he will even stay healthy?  I will put my money on it right now that Martin Prado plays more games at third base this year for the braves then Chipper does.. What do you think??