Reality-BasedTM Political Numbers from Nicholas Beaudrot
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Reality-BasedTM Political Numbers from Nicholas Beaudrot
Pushback, Part Deux | Home | Topics I Really, Really, Really, Cannot Comment On
It hasn't been a good two weeks for Atlanta. Chipper Jones and Marcus Giles have already gone down with injuries, and for the first week of the season the pitching was wretched. The rotation has improved a bit, but the bullpen has continues to struggle mightily.
On the plus side, this team can mash. The Braves are currently second in the NL in runs behind Cincinnati, and only Colorado and Arizona stand much chance at passing them. When healthy, a Renteria-Giles-CJones-AJones-Francoeur-LaRoche-Langerhans-McCann lineup has plus hitters everywhere, with Kelly Johnson, Matt Diaz and Wilson Betemit on the bench (!!). Of course, the large caveat here is "when healthy"; right now the Braves are putting Pete Orr & Tony Pena, Jr. on the field day in and day out. Needless to say, that's ... suboptimal.
The real question is what to do with Chipper Jones. It's time to admit that he's getting too old and injury-prone to play third base every day. In many ways, the team would be better off sticking Chipper at first base, letting Betemit play third all the time, and packaging Adam LaRoche for some relief pitching. Now, let me just say that I love Adam LaRoche as an everyday first baseman, and if the Braves didn't have so many decent young outfielders, I would just put Chipper in left field and solve the problem that way. But as it is, I'd rather see LaRoche find another home where he can hit 28 home runs a year. Hopefully in the American League.
Beyond the Chipper conundrum, there are two questions that will define the season.
Solve those questions, and the Braves can win 95 games this year and keep pace with the Mets.
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updated by Nicholas Beaudrot on 01:47 22 April 2006
