Los Gallos Tapaos: Bravos de Atlanta (The Underdogs: Atlanta Braves)

Durante los entrenamientos primaverales Bobby Cox tenía grandes esperanzas en las adiciones de Derek Lowe y Javier Vazquez a la rotación de abridores. Decía que si los relevistas Peter Moylan y Rafael Soriano se recuperaban bien de las operaciones en sus codos y si Mike González cumplía su cometido, entonces los Bravos tendrían buenas noticias.

Pues, Lowe y Vazquez estan teniendo actuaciones aceptables con efectividades de 3.40 y 3.54 respectivamente. Y al menos Soriano y González han respondido con 4 y 7 salvados y efectividades de 1.09 y 3.00 respectivamente. Además han aparecido Jair Jurrjens con 5 ganados y 3 perdidos y 2.84 de efectividad, y Jeff Bennett, 2-3 y 2.92.

También hablaba Cox del respaldo ofensivo que tendría de tipos como Chipper Jones y Brian McCann. Jones batea para .311 con 23 empujadas, 5 jonrones, 24 anotadas. McCann tiene .301, 19, 5, 15. Además han destacado Yunel Escobar: .286, 27, 5, 27. Casey Kotchman; .277, 24, 2, 15. Jeff Francoeur: .249, 25, 4, 26.

Por otro lado Cox abundó en elogios para los prospectos Tommy Hanson (pitcher), Freddie Freeman (1b) y Jason Heyward (rf).. Hanson tiene marca de 3-3 con 1.49 de efectividad en 66.1 innings para los Braves de Gwynnett. Heyward batea para .295, con 22 empujadas, 9 jonrones, 26 anotadas en 37 juegos para los Braves de Danville en la Rookie Appalachian League. Freeman batea .289, con 26 empujadas, 4 jonrones, 27 anotadas en 48 juegos con los Pelicans de Myrtle Beach de la Class A Advanced Carolina League.

Hasta comienzos de junio Atlanta ha mantenido un buen paso en la División Este de la Liga Nacional. Ocupan el tercer lugar detrás de los Filis y los Mets. En estos dos meses al menos se han fajado con esos rivales inmediatos. Será muy interesante observar la batalla entre esos equipos. Entonces sabremos si las esperanzas de Bobby Cox eran sueño o realidad.

English Translation

During the spring training the manager Bobby Cox had great expectations on the adding of Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez to his pitching staff. He said that if the relievers Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano recovered successfully from their elbow surgeries and if Mike González accomplished his goals, then the Atlanta Braves would have good news.

Well, Lowe and Vazquez are experiencing good performances with ERAs of 3.40 and 3.54 respectively. And at least Soriano and González have 4 and 7 saves plus 1.09 and 3.00 ERAs. Besides that Jair Jurrjens has a 5-3 record with 2.84 ERA. Jeff Bennett 2-3 and 2.92.

Cox also talked about the offensive support they would have from guys like Chipper Jones and Brian McCann. Jones hits for .311 with 23 RBIs, 5 home runs and 24 runs. McCann is .301, 19,5, 15. Besides that Yunel Escobar is .286, 27, 5, 27. Casey Kotchman; .277, 24, 2, 15. Jeff Francoeur: .249, 25, 4, 26.

In the other hand, Cox spoke very well about prospects Tommy Hanson (pitcher), Freddie Freeman (1b) and Jason Heyward (rf). Hanson had a rceord of 3-3 with a 1.49 ERA in 66.1 innings for the Gwinnett Braves when he was called to the Big Show on June 3rd 2009. Heyward is batting for .295 with 22 RBIs, 9 home runs, 26 runs in 37 games with the Danville Braves in the Rookie Appalachian League. Freeman hits for .289, 26 RBIs, 4 home runs, 27 runs, in 48 games with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the Class A Advanced Carolina League.

So long at the beginning of June the Atlanta Braves have kept battling for the first places in the East Division of the National League. They are in third place behind Philadelphia and the Mets. In these two months they have hustled against those immediate rivals. It will be very intersting to observe the fight among those teams. The we’ll see if the Bobby Cox expectations were dream or reality.