Braves have a new Skipper!! Free Agency check list.

I am excited to see that the Braves have chosen their next manager. It is going to be Fredi Gonzalez. You might recognize that name. He was the Braves 3B coach from 03-06 before taking the Marlins job. Gonzalez has shown he wont take any BS and I think with the Braves getting younger this is a good move. Bobby Cox was to busy being everyone best friend that it seemed at times that the Braves lacked accountability. Doggin it to first? Dont worry, Bobby has your back. Mistakes on the basepaths? Fugetta bout it. Fredi got fired as the Marlins manager bc he told Hanley Ramirez to hit the showers and that he wouldnt play again until he apologized to the team and fans. Since superstars run the sport the Marlins turn around and fire Gonzalez for pretty much no reason. Im going to go bold on this one. Fredi Gonzalez is going to win more World Series titles than Bobby Cox did before he is done managing the Braves.

The Braves are actually pretty well built but lack 1 major thing and another not to major component that if filled, could lead us to a very good year next year and years to come.

First: We need some kind of power hitting OF. I dont know what kind of money the Braves are going to have but with Chippers, Lowe and Hudson's contract expiring within the next few years they could backload a few contracts to get what we need. In an ideal world the Braves would sign Carl Crawford to play center and Adam Dunn to play left. Dunn is a defensive liamility but who cares. He is a gauranteed 35+ HR guy with an OBP of close to .400. Crawford is just a stud. hes only 29 and averages 14 HR, 14 Triples, almost 30 doubles, steals 38 bases a year and hits just below .300 every year. He would add speed and would help solidify our outfield.

Second: We need to add some speed. If Crawford is signed then that addresses the speed issue. The Braves of the last decade and a half really dont steal that much. I know that has alot to do with the way Bobby Cox managed but teams that have a threatening base stealer can manufacture runs without having to sacrifice outs. Example being stealing second as opposed to sacing him over. I know 1 guy coming over isnt going to all of a sudden make us this base stealing machine but it certainly helps. I know when we play teams like the Phillies (rollins,victorino), Marlins (bonifacio), Mets (reyes) and so on I get so nervous late in games when 1 of those guys gets on. I know they are a threat to swipe a base at any time.

I think we should excercise our player options on Alex Gonzalez and Infante. Resign Hinske and see if their is any trade value to Nate McLouth (i know everyone is laughing). Ankiel, who easily has the best nickname on the team-The Nature Boy) should be told to go and kick rocks. Let Freeman play first and tell Troy Glaus to go raise the bars on everyone's cell phones somewhere else. Resign David Ross if he isnt already. Bring in some kind of veteran for the BP since Wagner is gone and Kimbrell is the new closer. Seriously consider making Venters the closer if your not liking what Kimbrell is doing.

Pitching staff:

Hudson
Lowe
Hanson
Medlen
Minor
Jurjjens: Honestly try and trade Jurjjens. You are not going to get rid of Hanson and i think we could get a serious outfield bat for him. Of course, if we sign Dunn there is no need. I think the Dodgers would take him for Matt Kemp and that would be a great fit for us.

BP:

Moylan: Australian for sucks
Venters
Kimbrell
O'Flaherty
Dunn
Martinez
Kawakami ??

Starters:

C: McCann
1B: Freeman
2B: Prado
SS: Gonzalez
3B: Chipper, Infante
LF: Dunn/Hinske/Infante/Diaz/Kemp
CF: Crawford
RF: Heyward

Bench:

Ross
Hinske
Infante ?
Diaz
McLouth ?