The Brewster

For the Braves (hey, I'm from the South), I think things could be better than expected...though they aren't going to compete for a playoff spot:

Rotation: 24yo Julio Teheran, 24yo Alex Wood, 24yo Shelby Miller, 35yo Eric Stults/23yo Mike Foltynewicz/27yo Mike Minor (Wandy Rodriguez was just released), 27yo Trevor Cahill (just acquired from D-Backs)

Top 3 is superb and will be around for a long while. Minor has (another) shoulder injury. Foltynewicz is a flamethrower who will show up in the Bigs at some point this season.

Pen: 26yo Craig Kimbrel - 'nuff said; call me a homer, but the best closer in the game...since 2011, when he became Atlanta's full-time closer, his lowest K/9 was a ridiculous 13.2, he's never saved less than 40 games, with 1.43 ERA and 0.90 WHIP; young studs 23yo Arodys Vizcaino and 24yo Luis Avilan; and 2 former closers in Jim Johnson (Orioles) and Jason Grilli (Pirates/Blue Jays)

Lineup: Yeah, the Braves jettisoned a lot of offensive talent this season, but they also jettisoned a lot of strikeouts...and only 3 teams struck out more than Atlanta in 2014. Replace Justin Upton (171 Ks), Gattis (97 in 108 G), and Heyward (98) with Nick Markakis, A.J. Pierzynski, Jace Peterson, and Eric Young, Jr. And there is still one of the top first basemen in the game Freddie Freeman w/ Jonny Gomes, Chris Johnson, and Young, Jr. getting on base in front of him. It will be in the lower tier of offenses in 2015, but not as bad as people are predicting.

Youngsters: Christian Bethancourt (one of the top catching prospects in MLB) and Jace Peterson get full seasons as starters, the Braves' top prospect Jose Peraza will debut at some point this season, as will the aforementioned Foltynewicz. Always fun to watch young guys develop.

So, somewhere around 80 wins. Let the Nationals run away with the NL East this season...the Braves are going to be scary good by 2017 with some quality FA additions and set up to be good for a long while.

White Sox ought to be competitive for the first time in a while. That's good news for me.

There is little doubt that the Toronto Blue Jays have constructed the best team ever in the history of baseball this year

Actually, I really like whats been done in Baltimore and Washington

Actually, I'm looking forward to this season more than any in a long time, so many great story lines; teams in Chicago, Houston, San Diego, it goes on and on

think I might get the MLB TV for the first time

Really looking forward to it, the most since I was a young lad

I love the moves the Red Sox made. This should be a really good season.

Jays offense should be good, pitching staff should be... meh.

I miss my Expos.

felipe wrote:There is little doubt that the Toronto Blue Jays have constructed the best team ever in the history of baseball this year

Actually, I really like whats been done in Baltimore and Washington

Actually, I'm looking forward to this season more than any in a long time, so many great story lines; teams in Chicago, Houston, San Diego, it goes on and on

think I might get the MLB TV for the first time

Really looking forward to it, the most since I was a young lad

I miss the Expos too. Loved that logo.

Cliche wrote:Jays offense should be good, pitching staff should be... meh.

I miss my Expos.

The Brewers didn't do much to get better, but then again, they were pretty good for 7/8ths of the season. My other team, the A's, completely blew it up. Can't wait to see what they do.

aaronweiner wrote:White Sox ought to be competitive for the first time in a while. That's good news for me.

I am driving up to Chicago next weekend, and will be seeing Sale make his first start of the year. I am pumped 8)

mrbornac wrote:

aaronweiner wrote:White Sox ought to be competitive for the first time in a while. That's good news for me.

I am driving up to Chicago next weekend, and will be seeing Sale make his first start of the year. I am pumped 8)

A Chicago polish and a few Budweisers are on me!

cheekimonk wrote: Pen: 26yo Craig Kimbrel - 'nuff said; call me a homer, but the best closer in the game...since 2011, when he became Atlanta's full-time closer, his lowest K/9 was a ridiculous 13.2, he's never saved less than 40 games, with 1.43 ERA and 0.90 WHIP;

Sucks that he's a Padre now, eh dude? That's gotta piss off Brave fans.

Whoo good first game for the red sox

c-mitch wrote:

cheekimonk wrote: Pen: 26yo Craig Kimbrel - 'nuff said; call me a homer, but the best closer in the game...since 2011, when he became Atlanta's full-time closer, his lowest K/9 was a ridiculous 13.2, he's never saved less than 40 games, with 1.43 ERA and 0.90 WHIP;

Sucks that he's a Padre now, eh dude? That's gotta piss off Brave fans.

Actually, a majority are pretty satisfied. Not that he's a Pad, but that B.J. Upton and the $48+ mil still owed him on his contract belong to San Diego. Kimbrel has 2 years plus an option left on his deal. The Padres bought themselves 3 years of Kimbrel for $48+ mil, their top prospect, and a draft pick (plus some gravy). The Braves now have 5 of the first 70 picks in the 2015 draft.

c-mitch wrote:

cheekimonk wrote: Pen: 26yo Craig Kimbrel - 'nuff said; call me a homer, but the best closer in the game...since 2011, when he became Atlanta's full-time closer, his lowest K/9 was a ridiculous 13.2, he's never saved less than 40 games, with 1.43 ERA and 0.90 WHIP;

Sucks that he's a Padre now, eh dude? That's gotta piss off Brave fans.

Actually, a majority are pretty satisfied. Not that he's a Pad, but that B.J. Upton and the $48+ mil still owed him on his contract belong to San Diego. Kimbrel has 2 years plus an option left on his deal. The Padres bought themselves 3 years of Kimbrel for $48+ mil, their top prospect, and a draft pick (plus some gravy). The Braves now have 5 of the first 70 picks in the 2015 draft.

Oh, and their farm has gone from ranked 24th to top 10.

The shitter situation is so bad in Chicago that the Cubs are now cancelling their games. What a bunch of losers...

It's been a pretty good year to cheer for the Cubs.

The Brewers have been abysmal this year. I never thought they were this bad, but, yikes.

The Phillies are going for history! I'm so proud.

The Tigers suck.

nerfHerder wrote:The Brewers didn't do much to get better, but then again, they were pretty good for 7/8ths of the season. My other team, the A's, completely blew it up. Can't wait to see what they do.

Brewers 27-46
A's 33-41

Needless to say I know how Tropics fans feel.