| | What is it about the Braves and closers?
They've had some really good ones recently: Mark Wohlers, Kerry
Ligtenberg and, of course, John Rocker. The problem has been keeping them sane
(Wohlers), healthy (Ligtenberg) and quiet (Rocker).
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BRAVES LOWDOWN |
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|  | | John Rocker held hitters to a .180 average last season. |
1999: 103-59
Runs: 840, 7th in NL
Allowed: 661, 1st in NL
Key facts
The Braves had the lowest on-base percentage from the 1-2 spots in the order of any NL team.
Kevin Millwood led all major league starters with a .202 opposition batting average -- better than Pedro Martinez (.205) or Randy Johnson (.208).
Chipper Jones was "clutch" last year -- his .417 average in "late and close" situations led all hitters.
Tim Kurkjian's scenarios
Best-case: Someone replaces John Smoltz, John Rocker deals with distraction, Andruw Jones has an MVP-like season and the Braves win the East again.
Worst-case: Rocker is a distraction, Smoltz cannot be replaced, Andres Galarraga tires in his courageous comeback attempt and the Braves struggle to make the wild card.
Prediction: 1st in NL East
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As recently as last spring training, all three of those guys had a
chance to be the Braves' closer. Wohlers received an opportunity to regain the job
when Ligtenberg's season ended before it started because of an elbow injury
that required surgery. After Wohlers walked six batters in two-thirds of an
inning during Atlanta's first series, his season -- and perhaps career --
also ended, the victim of his psychological control problems.
That left the job to Rocker, a whacko with a lethal left arm.
For all his foolish, immature and insensitive bluster, Rocker is an
incredible talent. With him in the role of closer, the Braves are a better
team. Ligtenberg had a sensational 1998 season, but it would be tough for
Bobby Cox to count on a guy coming off elbow surgery as his closer. Even
healthy, Ligtenberg is not as imposing a figure on the mound as Rocker.
At a time when the depth of the starting rotation has been reduced by
the season-ending injury to John Smoltz, the Braves need Rocker to duplicate his 1999 performance on the mound while toning down his act off it. Nobody in baseball will be more closely scrutinized this season than Rocker. And
nobody knows how he will react.
That spring training ovation he received in Orlando was almost as
shocking and offensive as Rocker's words in that Sports Illustrated story.
Rocker followed the fans' inexplicable embrace by saying some more stupid
things rather than showing proper humility.
Rest assured, in spite of what he says and thinks, Rocker will not be
embraced everywhere he goes this season. In fact, he was bombarded by boos
during the Braves' trip to Venezuela. It will be much worse in New York and
they'll be times when his violent temper will be tested while he's wearing
street clothes and eating lunch on the road.
Can Rocker control his temper and remain an effective pitcher? Will the
Braves trade him? Can the Braves get anything for him? Can the Braves afford not to have him?
All that's riding on these questions is the Braves' season.
-- Bob Brookover
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Lineup comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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|
Player
|
Comment
|
Grade
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|
Quilvio Veras, 2B
|
Braves' leadoff OBP last year: .318. Veras' OBP leading off in 1999: .377
|
B
|
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R. Sanders, LF
|
Those broad shoulders. That thin waist. No one in baseball looks better in his uni
|
B
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C. Jones, 3B
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Club-record 87 extra-base hits in '99-and you can't turn him around anymore
|
A
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Brian Jordan, RF
|
If the man whose name appears next in this lineup is back, BJ could be scary
|
B
|
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A. Galarraga, 1B
|
Even opponents want Cat to be his old, smooth-swinging, slick-fielding self
|
A
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Javy Lopez, C
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Repeat of 1998's 34 and 106 would help the Braves defend the NL title
|
A
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A. Jones, CF
|
Batting 7th? Sure makes the 28 and 87 he's averaged last two years look nice
|
A
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Walt Weiss, SS
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Got Braves to NLCS with diving save vs. Astros. Hears Rafael Furcal's footsteps
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C
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Pitching comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Pitcher
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Comment
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Grade
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Greg Maddux, SP
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Still won 19 games last season despite having highest ERA since 1987
|
A
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Kevin Millwood, SP
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Led major league starters in opposition batting average: .202
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A
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Tom Glavine, SP
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Allowed career highs in hits and runs. Wasn't helped by narrower strike zone
|
A
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Bruce Chen, SP
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Only 7 starts last year. 27 BB in 51 IP. Gets first shot at the vacant spot
|
C
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K. Ligtenberg, RP
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Had such a long, strange road to bigs in the first place. Can he make it back?
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C
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John Rocker, RP
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Struck out 104 batters of all races and ethnic backgrounds in 72 innings
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A
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