Wednesday, October 19, 2005
let the overreaction begin
Okay, yes, you can't deny that Leo's done some amazing work these past fifteen years. I'm sure the truly great, like Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz, would have excelled regardless, but the list of pitchers whose careers peaked with Atlanta is impossible to ignore. Still, though, I don't think his departure (if it does happen) will automatically doom the team. The reclamation projects might be fewer and farther between in the future, but if Hudson and Smoltz can stay healthy and effective, Atlanta should be able to hang in the East for at least the next couple of seasons. Also, comments over at Braves Beat speculate that Nick Markakis could be sent to Atlanta as compensation. That seems highly dubious, as Baseball America lists the right-fielder and Woodstock native as Baltimore's number one prospect, and you'd think Atlanta would be looking for immediate help, a la Tampa sending Randy Winn to Seattle after hiring Pinella away. Markakis could only be wishful thinking on the part of Braves fans already overstimulated by an abundance of home-grown talent. If true, though, it could help lessen the sting of seeing Leo rock elsewhere, as Markakis looks like a good candidate to stick around in the majors for a while. An outfield of Jones, Francouer, and Markakis could rule for a good decade or so, if the kids pan out, and if the team doesn't let Andruw walk when his deal is up, which, of course, will most definitely happen, as long as AOL holds the pursestrings.
Okay, yes, you can't deny that Leo's done some amazing work these past fifteen years. I'm sure the truly great, like Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz, would have excelled regardless, but the list of pitchers whose careers peaked with Atlanta is impossible to ignore. Still, though, I don't think his departure (if it does happen) will automatically doom the team. The reclamation projects might be fewer and farther between in the future, but if Hudson and Smoltz can stay healthy and effective, Atlanta should be able to hang in the East for at least the next couple of seasons. Also, comments over at Braves Beat speculate that Nick Markakis could be sent to Atlanta as compensation. That seems highly dubious, as Baseball America lists the right-fielder and Woodstock native as Baltimore's number one prospect, and you'd think Atlanta would be looking for immediate help, a la Tampa sending Randy Winn to Seattle after hiring Pinella away. Markakis could only be wishful thinking on the part of Braves fans already overstimulated by an abundance of home-grown talent. If true, though, it could help lessen the sting of seeing Leo rock elsewhere, as Markakis looks like a good candidate to stick around in the majors for a while. An outfield of Jones, Francouer, and Markakis could rule for a good decade or so, if the kids pan out, and if the team doesn't let Andruw walk when his deal is up, which, of course, will most definitely happen, as long as AOL holds the pursestrings.
