Winter Stats

Here are the winter stats from the Braves players who played this winter. The top performers were Wilson Betemit, Brayan Pena, and Moises Hernandez. Pete Orr also played well, hitting .346, but he displayed no power. Of course he doesn't project to have any power. "Toolsy" outfielders Carlos Duran and Gregor Blanco stunk it up as they have done their entire minor league careers.

* Marte is included but of course has been traded to the Indians via the Red Sox
* Vazquez has signed a minor league deal elsewhere

PLAYER AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS SLG OBP E

Pena Jr., Tony, .250 39 140 20 35 4 2 3 17 7 29 4 0 .371 .286 0

Marte, Andy, .226 35 115 12 26 5 1 2 9 16 19 0 0 .339 .321 0

Pena, Brayan, .326 46 172 24 56 15 1 3 25 18 19 2 0 .477 .389 0

Betemit, Wilson, .292 45 168 29 49 12 0 7 23 26 47 0 0 .488 .387 0

Prado, Martin,2B .266 37 109 14 29 8 2 1 21 8 8 0 1 .404 .314 0

Duran, Carlos,OF .174 31 46 2 8 0 0 2 3 1 13 0 1 .304 .191 1

Blanco, Gregor,OF .196 32 51 10 10 2 0 1 4 10 13 2 3 .294 .328 0

Orr, Pete,3B .346 33 133 20 46 7 1 0 18 13 21 7 3 .414 .405 5



PITCHER W-L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR HB BB SO WP

Vasquez, Jorge 0-2 3.38 22 0 0 0 1 21.1 15 9 8 0 0 12 27 0

Sosa, Jorge 0-0 0.00 7 0 0 0 1 7.0 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 0

Villarreal, Oscar 2-0 4.56 21 0 0 0 7 23.2 27 12 12 2 2 8 18 2

Hernandez, Moises 3-3 3.08 14 14 0 0 0 73.0 69 35 25 2 5 31 41 4

Closer Prospects

Although open to trade offers, it looks like the Braves will go with an in-house solution to their closer vacancy. There are six options which have been mentioned by various sources and I would like to take a look at each of them individually. These options are in no particular order.

Chris Reitsma:
He was the closer last year following the Kolb debacle and saved 15 games. However, it was apparent that he ran out of gas at the end of the season. He provided no dependability at all towards the end of the year. But he was successful early on in the closer role. I think that after two straight years of running out of gas, the Braves should limit his innings and he can hopefully be a solid middle relief or setup man. But I don't see him as a good fit for the closer role.

Jorge Sosa:
His name has been mentioned once or twice but Scheurholz has shot it down in his recent statements. He has closer stuff but his lack of control and lack of success in general as a reliever means that he won't get a shot at the job. Plus he was one of our most dependable starters last year and will be counted on to help make up for not having Hampton all year.

Blaine Boyer:
Boyer seems to be a popular option to land the closer job. He surely will get every opportunity in spring training to win it. He doesn't have overpowering stuff but pitched extremely well last year. My only fear stems from his injury that kept him off the postseason roster last year. He apparently had been overworked and his arm was numb one morning when he woke up. Hopefully he can last the full season.

Anthony Lerew:
Lerew is a young guy with a good fastball who started during his career in the minors. The Braves depth of starters and lack of relievers has forced Lerew into the bullpen this season. He is inexperienced so I doubt he will be closing any games but he could become an option down the road.

Chuck James:
His amazing statistics in the minors suggest that he is ready for the big league rotation. I would love for him to make the rotation but with Smoltz, Hudson, Thomson, Ramirez, Sosa, and Davies, he might not make the rotation. If this happens there has been talk of making him the closer, but I would rather see him work in AAA because I see him as a much more valuable player down the road as a starter.

Joey Devine:
He is their closer of the future. I don't think anybody will deny that. He dominated in the minors and showed flashes in the majors, but nobody will forget the two grand slams he gave up and the walk-off, season ending home run that the also gave up. If he works hard and impresses in spring training he could come away with the job. I think he is almost a lock to be the closer in 2007 but the Braves would love it if he took a page from the book of Chad Cordero and Huston Street by making the jump very quickly and successfully.