Q and A: TalkingChop’s Martin Gandy
We’ve got a real treat for you today, Braves fans.
Tomahawk Talk was able to score an early-season interview recently with one of the world’ s best baseball bloggers – Martin Gandy of SB Nation’s TalkingChop.com (a GREAT Braves blog) – and as busy as he is running and writing Talking Chop, Martin was kind enough to take the time to answer a few Braves and MLB-related questions for us.
Here’s a look at what Martin had to say in response to our questions:
Tomahawk Talk: Thanks for doing the Q and A with us, Martin. Let’s get right to some Braves questions. The Braves certainly got their season off to a good start last week against the Cubs, but have struggled since then. Just how good do you think this year’s Braves team is going to be?
Martin Gandy: The team is starting to look a little like last year’s team, in terms of their habits. We know they can score some runs, but just not when they need to. I was worried in the Cubs series because their lefty relievers shut us down. What really might be going on now is just some collective slow starting. We have about five hitters who aren’t hitting, but once those guys come around, things should look better. The pitching will be fine. Tim Hudson looks like he’s going to replace Javier Vazquez as the ace of the staff.
Tomahawk Talk: What do you like best about the 2010 edition of the Braves?
Martin Gandy: I might like the bench the best. Eric Hinske, Matt Diaz or Melky Cabrera, Omar Infante, David Ross – those guys are more than solid. I’d like to see the team carry one less reliever and add Clint Sammons to the bench so David Ross could pinch-hit more. I just feel that the seventh man in the pen hardly ever gets used, and in the National League game you could always use another pinch hitter.
Tomahawk Talk: What are your primary concerns sbout this year’s team?
Martin Gandy: I’ll be concerned about everything until they start winning consistently. If I had to choose one thing, it’s that some of our guys are over-matched. Nate McLouth really looks over-matched right now, and so does Melky Cabrera. I’m worried about them being viable major leaguers. I know that’s weird to say about McLouth, but I’ve never really seen him as anything more than a bottom-tier player, who has occasionally played over his head.
Tomahawk Talk: Jason Heyward has really looked good this Spring. What do you expect from Jason as a rookie?
Martin Gandy: I just want him to adjust to the league. The first time through is always the hardest, so I really look for him to come on in the second half, provided he makes all the adjustments he needs to make. It certainly looks like he’s adjusting well so far, I just hope he keeps it up.
Tomahawk Talk: In contrast to Jason, Nate McLouth had an absolutely horrific Spring. Does Nate’s poor Spring play concern you at all?
Martin Gandy: As I said above, I’ve just never viewed Nate that positively, so yes his Spring does concern me, much like I’ve been concerned about him since we got him. I hope he puts it together and proves me wrong, but he’s not that great of a hitter, and I don’t expect too much out of him.
Tomahawk Talk: Some Braves fans like the Troy Glaus acquisition and some don’t. How do you feel about it?
Martin Gandy: I love it. Even with his early troubles, I think he’ll do well over the course of the season. He’s probably pressing a bit trying to make an impression, but I like his acquisition on many levels. He seems to be a great teammate, he’s a hard worker, he’s adjusted to first base just fine, and the hitting will come around and so will the power.
Tomahawk Talk: Were you surprised the Braves traded Javier Vazquez as opposed to trading Derek Lowe or Kenshin Kawakami instead?
Martin Gandy: No. I was saying all off-season that Vazquez would be the guy to go. When you sat down and looked at Lowe and his contract, there was just no team who would take that and give you anything in return. We got a good year of Vazquez and arguably got a better return on him in terms of players than we gave up. I just wish the Vazquez for Ryan Braun rumors from last year had come true, but that was probably just a pipe dream.
Tomahawk Talk: Where would you rank the Braves’ starting rotation? Any MLB team(s) have a better one in your opinion?
Martin Gandy: Top-5, possibly top-3. It might be the deepest when one considers 1 through 5, but Boston has a pretty deep rotation too. We can’t yet match up against good 1 and 2 starters, but we can throw quality starts out there every day, just like last year, and that will go a long way toward keeping us in games and giving us a chance to win.
Tomahawk Talk: How do you see the NL East race playing out? What’s your projected order-of-finish for the division?
Martin Gandy: I won’t stop picking the Phillies to win it until someone can knock them off, they’ve earned that. I really think the Braves will give them a run for their money and finish just behind them. The rest of the teams all have their problems, and I could see each of them finishing third and each finishing last. I think the Marlins will be right there, though. They’ve done better than us the last few years.
Tomahawk Talk: And what about the rest of MLB? Who do you see winning their divisions and the wild-card races this year?
Martin Gandy: San Fran seems to have a lot of swagger this year, they’ve added some decent bats, and with their pitching, they can go far. Everyone is picking Colorado, but I don’t see it. I like the Cardinals in the Central, they own that division. Over in the AL, I think Boston will nip the Yankees, and Minnesota will eek out a lead over Detroit and Chicago. In the West, I want to believe it’s the Rangers’ year, and that the Angels will finish pretty low.
Tomahawk Talk: Great stuff, Martin. Thanks for doing the Q and A!
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Nice post, Scott. I really like your blog!
Thanks, Nanci. Glad you like the site!