A Simulated Opening Day: Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies

With only a week remaining in Spring Training, I am comfortable with throwing out my Opening Day roster (I hope all major dealing is through).

I am also, just for the heck of it, going to give a "simulated" recap of Opening Night based on what MLB '08 The Show gives me.

First, here are the line-eps I see both teams putting out, along with some explanations for the "odd" picks:

Atlanta Braves

1 2B L Kelly Johnson

2 SS R Yunel Escobar

3 3B S Chipper Jones

4  C  L Brian McCann

5 RF R Jeff Francoeur

6 LF R Matt Diaz

7 1B L Casey Kotchman

8 CF L Jordan Schafer

9 SP R Derek Lowe

OK, KJ is leading off here because that has been his spot when BOTH Jordan Schafer and Josh Anderson have been in the line-up.  Personally, I would put him seventh with Schafer first and Kotchman eighth, but Bobby has had him where I put him above, so that's what I'm going with.

Jordan Schafer, I believe, will win the center field job.  He has had the better spring (better avg., more stolen bases) and already has the "center fielder of the future" tag on him, giving management all the reason to patrol Citizen Bank's center field on April 5.

(BTW, I know that I have picked Anderson in the past, but Schafer's spring has changed my mind.  I also know that Schafer isn't on MLB '08 The Show, but I am going to create him—above average speed, and power a little better than Martin Prado's-at least at this point.)

Team MLB Rank (according to game): 10th

Philadelphia Phillies

1 SS S Jimmy Rollins

2 RF R Jayson Werth

3 2B L Chase Utley

4 1B L Ryan Howard

5 LF L Raul Ibanez

6 CF S Shane Victorino

7 3B R Pedro Feliz

8  C R Carlos Ruiz

9 SP L Cole Hamels

I have Werth second because, if my memory serves me right, that's where the Phils wanted him last postseason (correct me if I'm wrong my Phillie associates).

Victorino is fifth because, well, he's better than the two guys behind him as far as RBI production goes, although I could see him in the eight hole because of his speed or second for the same reason.

Team  Rank (according to game): 7th

Now, what MLB 08 The Show has happening.

Braves   5   10   0

Phillies   1    5    0

WP: Lowe 9 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

LP: Hamels 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Brave Standouts

Matt Diaz: 2-5 HR RBI

RBIs: Johnson, Escobar, Kotchman, Schafer

2B: Schafer, Kotchman

HR: Diaz

SB: Escobar, Schafer

Phillie Standouts

Jayson Werth: 1-4 HR RBI

RBIs: Werth

2B: 2 Utley

HR: Werth

Hey, don't blame me, this is what the simulation produced.

If this would come to pass, I think I would be ecstatic.  This would be a true testament to the pitching strength that the Braves will have on display for the entire '09 season.

Do I think that these will be the exact results on Opening Night?  No, but we can dream.