Maybe I'm alone here, but I'm a bit concerned about our rotation.  I just think there are a lot of question marks:

Medlen - Should be good, but has an injury history.
Hudson - Has had a great career but he's 37 now.
Maholm - Decent #3 
Minor - I still don't trust him.
Delgado - Still pretty young.

Not really. You can go through any team and find something.

Strasburg - Really good, but has had injuries
Gio - about the only one I cant find anything on. Faded down stretch(?)
Zimmerman - good, but has had injuries
Detwiler - was last season a fluke?
Haren - never is healthy

Our pitching is fine. With our bullpen as deep and good as it is, takes the load off our starters and dont forget we are getting Beachy back all star break.

Gio posted the best season of his career, so there's a very real chance he regresses some, though who knows maybe Stella got her groove in Washington.

I'm not too concerned with pitching, but I'm somewhat concerned since it seems like the hope of the Braves hinges on Medlen and Minor being TOR starters. I think our pitching will be good, I'm just concerned it won't be good enough.

Don't trust Minor??  Why because Keith Law proved to be a horrid judge of talent??

weso1 wrote: Maybe I'm alone here, but I'm a bit concerned about our rotation.  I just think there are a lot of question marks:

Medlen - Should be good, but has an injury history.
Hudson - Has had a great career but he's 37 now.
Maholm - Decent #3 
Minor - I still don't trust him.
Delgado - Still pretty young.

Hansen and Jurrjens GONE. Rotation improved. Minor and Delgado both pitched better than those two guys.

bwtbird wrote: Don't trust Minor??  Why because Keith Law proved to be a horrid judge of talent??

weso1 wrote: Maybe I'm alone here, but I'm a bit concerned about our rotation.  I just think there are a lot of question marks:

Medlen - Should be good, but has an injury history.
Hudson - Has had a great career but he's 37 now.
Maholm - Decent #3 
Minor - I still don't trust him.
Delgado - Still pretty young.

yes

Yeah Delgado was so good we went out and got Maholm last year.What makes people think he will be that much improved this year?

bp4de wrote: Yeah Delgado was so good we went out and got Maholm last year.What makes people think he will be that much improved this year?

Delgado was solid last year. 4.07 FIP, only concern is walk numbers. No he wasn't amazing but at least he should be able to do for us what Hanson did last year. And if he improves he can be amazing.

Not really concerned, no.  Rotation should be good, though not dominant. 

One overlooked point - a very deep, strong bullpen helps the rotation, especially the young guys who might be inconsistent, or the older guy Hudson if they need to pare back his innings.  Kimbrel, EOF, Venters, Walden, Avilan, C. Martinez and Gearrin or someone else.  Might be the best in baseball, certainly one of the most intimidating.

Why did Wren trade Hanson? Why? why?...lol
we're doomed..............

Sometimes a strong offense helps the pitching. I'm expecting big things from Heyward/Freeman/Simmons.

Hell, I even expect Uggla to have a better year.

I've been tossing the idea of Loshe around. Im just not jumping for joy with any of the lf options. I'd rather sign a solid pitcher like him. It gives ya an option of trading One of Mahlom Delgado or Teheran for a revere type outfielder before season or stick w and can trade at deadline when Beachy back. I'm fine if w a platoon of Francisco/reed. Prado has proved it doesn't affect his batting rotating position. Uggla Mac Free Hey Upton plenty of pop in lineup. Hudson Medlin Loshe Minor a solid starting pitching. Beachy at all star gives them a sick 5. Pitching wins championships.

90s braves disagree.

It worries me that only 2 or the 5 in our rotation have had Tommy John. I'd feel better if all of them had it behind them. At least Beachy is done too.

Every team needs a #5 starter.   Say what you will but Hanson in the 5 spot would have been pretty good.  

That leaves WHY.  Obviously money and the position that Delgado or Teheran is ready.

Any other reasons one of them hasnt been traded?

Kinda. We need a true young Ace, if we are gonna stay in house with our LF situation why not go after Greinke?! He'd give us more depth to make deals this winter or at the deadline and more importantly we'd have that true Ace. Greinke, Hudson, Medlen, Minor, Maholm looks much better IMHO.

Who's Jewish mother are you?

weso1 wrote: Maybe I'm alone here, but I'm a bit concerned about our rotation.  I just think there are a lot of question marks:

Medlen - Should be good, but has an injury history.
Hudson - Has had a great career but he's 37 now.
Maholm - Decent #3 
Minor - I still don't trust him.
Delgado - Still pretty young.

If we don't allow our young pitchers to struggle at the big league level we aren't going to be developing many pitchers in the future. Case in point:Minor.

Staff by committee vs having a true ace. And wren is not willing to trade an arm for a rental with huddy and Malholm both on their last year of their contracts. Here is how I see the rotation constructed:

Medlen - the "ace" by default. I like him at 2, but he gets the ball opening day based on stats (winner)

Minor - time to step it up! Splits up the righties and time to go with the young guns early...see how they do

Huddy - veteran that stabilizes the rotation and mentors the top two with valuable leadership

Malholm - again, splits up the righties and provides balance and leadership

Delgado/JT - best man wins the young gun spot as the 5th. I put the other in the pen(we have 6 studs there, use like SF did as long man...no AAA). Injuries always occur

Beachy - ready by trade deadline as 4th/5th guy (due to limiting innings) ....giving us a trade piece in Malholm



2014 - medlen, minor, Beachy, Delgado and JT. Could sign Huddy as 5th starter if needed. Lots of controllable arms allows us to sign long term guys like Prado, Heyward and FF

Only if Hudson retires between now and Opening Day, Minor decides to go back and pursue his Masters at Vandy, Medlen decides his calling is to retire and become Hanson's personal trainer, Maholm accepts a job offer to become the Pirates' roving minor league Pitching Instructor, Teheran and Delgado decide they really miss the camaraderie of "the gang" down south and decide not to come back from winter ball, and Beachy decides his calling is to accept a job in Dr. Andrews' office counseling other Pitchers who've had TJ surgery.