Hi

[The Edge]

I'm sure most remember me. I have been a rather controversial figure in forums over the past couple of years.

I am pretty outspoken and blunt but trying to tone it down a lot.


I am an Atlanta Braves fan and just looking to have the occasional baseball discussion and this is really the only baseball forum still going it seems. I doubt how much I will be contributing but do enjoy the occasional discussion. I will apologize in advance but in general conversation it may be very possible that I will offend you with just the style in which I type/talk/speak and it is not intentional. It is not done with intent. I hope to have plenty of discussion going forward.

[RickD]

Welcome back to Baseball Nation. I look forward to your contributions.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Welcome. If you know yourself that well, isn't it better to avoid the general discussion section?

Enjoy your stay.

[runningshoes]

http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g418/runingshoes/howdy0tu.gif

[Mudge]

Welcome back Edge.

I look forward to your sharing with us your great knowledge of and passion for baseball.

[RickD]

this is really the only baseball forum still going it seems.

This is true. I see lots of all-sport forums, hockey and basketball forums but besides us and baseball fever, not much in the baseball only dept. They seem to come and go so fast and here we are starting our 3rd year!

[Old Sweater]

Hey, welcome back Edge! There is the PSD forums but it takes me forever for the front page to come up, then the kids always get bubblegum all over me.

[OutfieldGrass]

Welcome to the forums!

[astrosfanatic]

We are very accepting and understanding here at BN. I look forward to reading your posts, and having some good baseball discussions. The past is the past, and all we can do is make changes for the future. The future is bright here at B-N, and i am hopeful that you will be a productive part of it. See ya around!

-AF

[Old Sweater]

I think Edge should put up the A-Rod vs Pujols comparison thread with his stats. Then we can kick this around and that around, then stick to our personal preference or disdains like we usually do. But hey, it's fun. That's what we do.

[Mr. Baseball]

Welcome back to the Nation.

[klwalk]

I'm sure most remember me. I have been a rather controversial figure in forums over the past couple of years.

I am pretty outspoken and blunt but trying to tone it down a lot.


I am an Atlanta Braves fan and just looking to have the occasional baseball discussion and this is really the only baseball forum still going it seems. I doubt how much I will be contributing but do enjoy the occasional discussion. I will apologize in advance but in general conversation it may be very possible that I will offend you with just the style in which I type/talk/speak and it is not intentional. It is not done with intent. I hope to have plenty of discussion going forward.

I'll start a discussion with you; what's your thoughts on the Braves off season moves? Will they keep up with the Nats once the season starts?

[The Edge]

I'll start a discussion with you; what's your thoughts on the Braves off season moves? Will they keep up with the Nats once the season starts?

What moves do you speak of?

Keep up with the Nats? I think you are looking at the standings a bit wrong. Its more like can the Nats catch the Braves.


Seriously. I think the Nats just aren't at the next level yet. They've made some nice moves but I think they are in waiting mode for Bryce Harper to step up and become the superstar he's supposed to be before they will make a lot of noise. I don't think they are a bad team, I just don't think the Philly's are in a far enough decline at this time and the Braves are obviously improving. The Braves are an 89 Win team that have dumped a pitcher that forced a lackluster offense to put up 5-6 runs to win a game and are expecting Jason Heyward to not slump the way he did last year. Martin Prado also put up a rather sub par year with having to learn the outfield. While Chipper is in decline, its really the only negative thing I think Atlanta has going for them. We have bolstered our bullpen some, we no longer have one of the bottom dweller offensive producing shortstops on our team, and we start the year from day 1 with a legit lead off man to sit in front of what should be the big boppers in our lineup of Heyward, Uggla, McCann and Freeman. We were an 89 win team last year. I would say that any fewer than 92-95 wins for this team would be disappointing and I just don't think the Nats have improved themselves 10-14 games on last year to be able to compete. They will be a solid team and I'd venture to guess get above .500 this year and in the hunt for the wild card but just not quite there. I think right now in the NL you have to win 92 games to have expectations of the playoffs.

With that said, what Miami is doing, and the Nationals, with the Braves and Phillies as well I think it could be one of those hair pulling years where we drop our win totals back out of the 90s with the division winner around that 90-92 mark. there is a lot of talent moving to the NL East and right now, disregarding the heavy new england area bias. I believe the NL East will have the most exciting division in baseball. The Marlins are not a bad team. If they stay healthy, we could see 4 teams in our division in the 84-90 win range. It will be exciting to watch with guys like Josh Johnson, Mark Buerhle, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Gio, Strasburg, Hanson, Hudson, Jurrjens (then any one of the young guys the Braves are sending up of Minor, Beachy, Teheran, Delgado, Vizcaino could have a big year) all coming out of the same division. I think the "AL Beast" may have some contention for best division in baseball over the next few years.

[AxeGrappler]

Here Here! Totally agree with you Edge, and well said.

The Nats are clearly a team on the rise, along with the fish, but the Braves and Phillies are clearly the class of the division, with everybody looking up to Philadelphia. I like the Braves chances to compete for the division crown this year, but this is going to be a knock down drag out race from the get go.

The Braves have not made any "big splash" moves this off season, but that is, in my opinion, because we have so much young talent in place that those types of moves are largely unnecessary. Instead, we will continue to allow our young players to develop and improve, and perhaps make a trade deadline move to shore up any deficiencies that appear as the season progresses. We certainly have the depth in our minor league system to make such a move, but I think the organization is largely opposed to letting young talent go, which is a point of view that I agree with.

GO BRAVES!

[klwalk]

What moves? That was kind of my point, it seems like the Braves have been doing nothing and with what the other teams as you mentioned have been doing they will be hard pressed to keep up. Maybe status quo will be good enough. I totally agree with all you and Axegrapler said, the Nats need a CF/lead off hitter and I think one more front end type for the rotation. I'm hopeing they go after Upton from Tampa, he would slide right into the line up. It will definitely be fun to watch the NL East for once, may very well be the tighest race top to bottom when it's all over.

I'm actually a life long Cub's fan and I think I got caught up in the post non Fielder euphoria. I think he would have been a death sentence to the franchise unless we got him for 5/6 years only.