I like music. A lot.
All kinds too. Rock, pop, jazz, blues, progressive. Anything with good guitar ... or, as my family says, the kind of guitar I can't play!
During the first few days of spring training, the media naturally asked virtually everyone in Atlanta Braves camp about last September, especially after the team started the spring slate 1-10. But my sense is that like Fleetwood Mac, the Braves understand that "yesterday's gone" and that tomorrow, every man on that roster has a chance to start with a clean slate in the rugged NL East.
It's no secret that the Braves need big rebound years from Jason Heyward, Brian McCann and Martin Prado offensively. In fact, the Braves last year won 89 games despite ranking No. 22 in runs, No. 26 in one-base percentage, 27th in stolen bases, and 26th in hitting among all MLB teams. Pretty amazing.
If March is any indication, Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman and Prado are locked in as we head to New York for Thursday's Opening Day game against the Mets (1 p.m. on SportSouth). If that's true, 2012 could very well "be better than before."
In keeping with the musical themes, how about all the ch-ch-ch-ch-changes on the roster in the last week? First, the Braves signed Livan Hernandez to bolster the bullpen. They traded JJ Hoover to the Reds for 3B Juan Francisco, and signed RH reliever Chad Durbin after he opted out of a deal with the Nationals.
Both Durbin and Hernandez are headed to the bullpen. The Braves have really stockpiled arms down there. Remember, not only will they have to make up innings lost in April to Tim Hudson's recovery, they also have to pick up Derek Lowe's as well. So far, Brandon Beachy, Mike Minor,and Randall Delgado have been five-inning starters.
With Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens returning from injury, the Braves have, wisely I think, provided themselves with several multiple-inning relievers to help get them to their "Big 3" of Eric O'Flaherty, Jonny Venters and Rookie of the Year Craig Kimbrel.
Francisco is an interesting story. Last year, Baseball America tabbed him the seventh best prospect in the Reds' rich farm system. Originally a switch-hitter, he is now a LH hitter only. He was a four-time minor league all star, has played in the MLB Futures Game, and already has a 502-foot home run on his major league resume. Scouts tell me he has big-time power and a strong arm on the plus-side, but has shown low walk and high strikeout totals on the negative side. Should be fun to see how or if he develops in Atlanta with Greg Walker and more consistent major league playing time.
Speaking of fun, I can't wait to get the season started. Game One of a new baseball year is like Christmas, New Year's, Easter and a birthday all wrapped in one neat package.
This year promises to an exciting season in the NL East, with the much-improved
Nationals, the Marlins and their new ballpark, the Mets with Johan Santana and Citi Field's more hitter-friendly dimensions, and of course, the defending champion Phillies.
We will have 153 Braves telecasts for you on FOX Sports South, SportSouth and Peachtree TV. I'll be alongside Joe Simpson every day. Braves legends Dale Murphy and Tom Glavine will join us for selected games throughout the year as well. Tom Hart will patrol the clubhouse and dugout for us, and Jerome Jerinovich will host Braves Live with Brian Jordan and Ron Gant.
We have a great team on and off the field, and hope you'll help us and join our team too. This blog is for YOU. Send in your questions to me here at FoxSportsSouth.com; email to AskChip@foxsports.net. You can even ask a question of your favorite current Braves player, coach, manager or executive. I'll do my best to get as many answered as I possibly can.
Wow ... time flies! I'd "Better Get this Party Started!" Charter for New York leaves shortly, and I don't want to miss it. See you at noon Thursday for Braves Live, and 1 p.m. for the ballgame. Until then ...
