Where have you gone, Edgar Renteria? Oh, right. Detroit.
They needed another hitter like I need more taxes. Leave it to the Atlanta Braves to voluntarily part ways with a hard-hitting, proved commodity at shortstop. Why, you ask? The answer: Yunel Escobar. Who? The 6' 2", 200-pound Cuban who hit an impressive .326 in 319 at-bats last season.
Equally impressive is the fact that Escobar played three positions (2B, 3B and SS) in '07. The Braves are pinning their hopes at shortstop squarely on Escobar's shoulders. Will the decision to sever ties with Renteria prove to be a sound one? We'll soon find out.
At second base is Kelly Johnson, a steady if unspectacular player thus far in his relatively short career. In 2007 the Texas native amassed a .276 batting average along with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs in 521 at-bats.
One number Johnson will look to reduce in '08 is his strikeout total: 117. Ouch! This number is far too high for a middle infielder who needs to focus more on getting on base and less on leaving the yard. While Johnson can at times be an offensive liability with his Ks, he is anything but a liability defensively. In 133 games last season Johnson committed only 14 errors at second base. Translation: the guy can field.
Just what will Mark Teixeira do during his first full season in a Braves' uniform? Just a guess: about 30 HRs, 100 RBIs, a .285 batting average, a gold glove, and 150+ games. Consistency is something the Braves have sorely missed at first base for several seasons. "Tex," in a contract year, will be looking to post attractive numbers for all potential suitors in '09. If he stays healthy, look for him to have a career year at the Ted. And he'll be a richer man in 2009 regardless of where he lands.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Last but far from least: Larry Wayne Jones. Ever heard of him? C'mon! Oh, yeah—he's commonly known as "Chipper." Make a difference? Thought so.
Though it seems like Chipper Jones arrived in Atlanta just a few years ago, he'll be 36 by the end of April. During a stellar 13-year career in Atlanta, Jones has put up some pretty strong numbers: a .307 batting average; 2,117 hits, 386 home runs and 1,299 RBI. In fact, if he can put together two or three more solid seasons, Chipper could be Cooperstown-bound after hanging up his spikes.
Aging like a fine wine, the 35-year-old version enjoyed one of his finest professional seasons at the plate in '07. Attaining 500+ at-bats for the first time since 2003, Jones carried a .337 average with 29 dingers and 102 RBI. I wouldn't count on a repeat performance in '09, but if he avoids injury Jones shouldn't fall off too much this year.
Caveat: if any of these four infield starters goes down with an injury, all bets are off. Why? Scott Thorman. Omar Infante. Martin Prado. Brent Lillibridge. Never heard of 'em? If you're a Braves' fan in '08, you want to keep it that way.
Barring injury, the corner positions are givens. Teixeira and Jones are among the game's elite at their respective positions. They will be relied upon heavily to anchor this club at the plate and on the field. If Johnson can get on base while reducing his strikeout total, his offensive numbers should improve.
Fortunately, in a lineup featuring the likes of Jones, Teixeira, Francoeur and McCann, Johnson will not be counted on for offensive contributions. A steady glove and a timely hit in the clutch will suffice. The biggest question mark in this infield is at shortstop. Will Yunel Escobar justify the decision by Braves' brass to part with Edgar Renteria? Will he settle into the shortstop position and play solidly at the major league level for an entire season?
It's a long way to October...
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