Holiday Tidbits

Written by Colin on December 23, 2007 – 9:16 pm

Well with no real news coming out of the Braves organization this time of year (who can blame them - I’d want Christmas off too), I’m just sharing a few thoughts between stuffing myself full of Christmas cookies and meats.  Hope your weight-gaining fest is going as well as mine is.  Without further ado, seven random thoughts.

1) I’m not sure David Justice is hall-worthy, even without this whole Mitchell Report thing.

Yeah, he’s on the ballot, but that doesn’t mean much.  If you look at his career stats (around 1600 hits, a .279 average, 305 HRs, 1017 RBIs, 999 strikeouts), he doesn’t have anything that stands out and yells “HOF.”  Not everyone agrees with me.  Recent poll of Atlanta Braves fans shows about half of Braves fans think he should end up in the Hall sometime.

2) Only a little more time to enter to win that Brian McCann ball.

Contest ends December 31 - comment on an article to enter to win that sucker.  Comment on the “Submit Question” with a good question and we’ll count it twice.

3) Smoltz on Clemens

I heard Smoltz issue a quote with regards to Roger Clemens’ denial of using HGH or steroids - and I have to say I agree.  Smoltz says he’d be suing, yelling, doing whatever he had to do to clear his name (that’s a paraphrase there, folks, don’t nail me for misquoting).  He even suggested taking a lie detector test, I believe.  Clemens issued a video statement denying his involvement, but I’d go further than that if I were him.

4) Our rotation is going to be decent, just aging.

Hudson, Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton (maybe?), and James.  That’s a solid mixup.  Glavine should be good for James (Remember Damien Moss, anyone?), and if Hampton is hurt, look to see Buddy Carlyle or one of the other arms compete for the rotation spot.  Yeah, I want to see the Braves get someone that is good for years to come, but we’ll see what happens.

5) Detroit is going to rake the AL.

They took a lineup that was 2nd in the AL with a .287 average and added Edgar Renteria, Jacque Jones and Miguel Cabrera.  Oh, that same former lineup was in the top 5 AL lineups when it came to Runs, OBP, SLG %, and OPS (which is a derivative of the OBP and SLG, for those of you who don’t know).  These guys will destroy opposing pitching staffs.

And then they took a good pitching staff and re-signed Kenny Rogers, and traded for and extended the contract of Dontrelle Willis.  I’m glad we don’t play in the AL.  These guys mean business.

6) The NL East is a three-team race.

OK, you say there’s no rocket science here, and you’re right.  The Marlins have an incredibly young team that will set records for the lowest combined salary ever.  The Nationals are still trying to find themselves.  That leaves the Phillies, Braves, and Mets.  However, the Phillies lost Aaron Rowand to San Francisco, and the Mets have some serious questions about their rotation, so we may break back into the NL East title picture this year.  More analysis on the division is coming soon!

7)  I like Buckeyes

I don’t mean Ohio State, I mean those peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate.  Gosh, those things are amazing.  Greatest part of the Christmas candy schmorgashboard around here.  And the best part?  I don’t care if I spelled schmorgashboard right.

Enter to win that McCann ball!

Colin

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