ATL22
01-01-2002, 02:33 AM
My Braves Christmas List:
1) A return to full health in 2007 of all of our banged up guys (Hampton, Ramirez, Boyer, Chipper, Reitsma [maybe])
2) A return to his dominant Oakland form for Tim Hudson if he's not traded.
3) A full year of dominance like we saw in 2006 from Bob Wickman
4) A couple of veterans to help set up for Wickman
5) A young starter to groom to take over at the top of the rotation when Smoltz and Hampton are gone
6) A leadoff hitter
7) Re-sign Daryle Ward
I don't think that's too much to ask for. Like most Christmas lists, I'm sure I won't get it all but I'd be happy just to get some of it. I think at some point somehow JS is going to get at least one and probably two veteran relievers to help set up for Wickman. We know he wants to trade Giles for one of those guys, perhaps for Linebrink since San Diego still lacks a 2B and still has interest in Giles. We still have 6 starting pitchers including Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Ramirez, James, and Davies, so there remains the possibility that Ramirez could be traded for another reliever or in a bigger deal for a leadoff hitter. We could actually venture into free agency for non-spectacular but still valuable relievers like Russ Springer also. Not the spectacular moves we might have hoped for but we dont have huge needs either if our guys can get healthy.
1) A return to full health in 2007 of all of our banged up guys (Hampton, Ramirez, Boyer, Chipper, Reitsma [maybe])
2) A return to his dominant Oakland form for Tim Hudson if he's not traded.
3) A full year of dominance like we saw in 2006 from Bob Wickman
4) A couple of veterans to help set up for Wickman
5) A young starter to groom to take over at the top of the rotation when Smoltz and Hampton are gone
6) A leadoff hitter
7) Re-sign Daryle Ward
I don't think that's too much to ask for. Like most Christmas lists, I'm sure I won't get it all but I'd be happy just to get some of it. I think at some point somehow JS is going to get at least one and probably two veteran relievers to help set up for Wickman. We know he wants to trade Giles for one of those guys, perhaps for Linebrink since San Diego still lacks a 2B and still has interest in Giles. We still have 6 starting pitchers including Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Ramirez, James, and Davies, so there remains the possibility that Ramirez could be traded for another reliever or in a bigger deal for a leadoff hitter. We could actually venture into free agency for non-spectacular but still valuable relievers like Russ Springer also. Not the spectacular moves we might have hoped for but we dont have huge needs either if our guys can get healthy.