Braves fans may remember Carlyle from his stint with the team in 2007 through 2009. He pitched 191 innings over the three seasons. He worked mostly out of the bullpen, but did make 20 starts in 2007 for the club. Overall he went 10-8 with a 5.09 ERA, a 1.435 WHIP and a ERA+ of 85.

Honestly, he was a serviceable pitcher for a good amount of time for the Braves.

Here is my problem with Carlyle:
When I was still living in Atlanta, I had tickets to the Braves and Boston Red Sox. He was starting that game for the Braves. I was running late to the game and was caught in horrendous Atlanta traffic to boot. The fact that the Braves were playing the Red Sox meant that the game was a sellout. This added to the parking problems. I was listening to the game on the radio. The Red Sox tagged Carlyle for 6 runs by the time that I got to my seat. The Braves were down 6-0 after 2. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. I don’t think I have ever forgiven Carlyle for this.

Hopefully, I won’t have to watch him pitch on the big league team again. It will be hard to root for him.

The Braves signed Kawakami to a 3 year $23 million contract before the 2009 season. He really didn’t pitch poorly for the Braves. He was plagued by poor run support in his first season. His second year, he struggled mightily and finally was sent to AAA.

The biggest issue for Kawakami was that he did not perform at the level that the Braves were paying him. He and Derek Lowe combined tied the organization’s hands and underperformed. The lack of financial flexibility that the Braves had because of those contracts led the Braves to dump Lowe this offseason as well.

The Braves wanted to trade Kawakami before last season, but could not get a MLB team to take his contract. They were low-balled by some teams and the Braves refused to give Kawakami away. There were reports that a Japanese team would have given half of his contract. However, Kawakami wanted to play in the US and the Braves sent him to their AA farm team. I don’t think the Braves handled this situation well. This concludes the Kawakami saga. It will be interesting if the Braves can attract another Japanese player in the future due to the way Kawakami was treated.

When you look at the Braves’ statistical production from their catchers in 2011 you can see how valuable Ross and McCann truly are. The Braves’ catchers hit .276 (5th), with a .354 OBP (2nd), .462 slugging (3rd), .816 OPS (4th), with 92 RBIs (3rd), 29 HR (1st), and 167 hits (3rd) last season. The rankings in parenthisis was the MLB rankings as a whole, not considering the NL rankings.

Advanced stats were equally kind for the Braves. Their production saw a wRC+ of 118 (4th), wOBA of .344 (4th) and an overall WAR of 5.0 (4th). The most surprising thing to me, was that the Arizona Diamondbacks had a better year than the Braves in the advanced stats. This was no doubt due to the struggles of Brian McCann after coming back from a strained oblique.

Overall McCann had a very productive 2011 season.

466 AB, 51 R, 126 H, 19 2B, 24 HR, 71 RBI, 57 BB, 89 K, .270/.351/.466/.817, and an OPS+ of 124.

What is remarkable is the fact that McCann ended up with only his 2nd lowest batting average of his career last season. From a statistical standpoint, he had a solid overall 2011. What is crazy is the pace that he was on before his injury. He was being talked about in some circles as a serious MVP candidate. This was rightly so. Look at his pre and post-All Star stats:

One other chart for you to look at is his monthly production. McCann hurt his oblique in an extra innings game at the end of July. Notice the drastic dropoff in August through the end of the season in October:

There is no wonder that the Braves struggled so mightily down the stretch. McCann is their most consistent hitter. He was not the same hitter at all. What is fascinating is the fact that his numbers resembled his career numbers overall, even though he was on such a torrid pace.

As for Ross, he had a solid year as well. Statistically, it was his worst season since signing with the Braves before the 2009 season. Look at his 3 year stats for the Braves:

2009 – 128 AB, 18 R, 35 H, 9 2B, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 21 BB, 39 K, .273/.380/.508/.888 and an OPS+ of 133.
2010 – 121 AB, 15 R, 35 H, 13 2B, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 20 BB, 28 K, .289/.392/.479/.871 and an OPS+ of 136.
2011 – 152 AB, 14 R, 40 H, 7 2B, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 16 BB, 51 K, .263/.333/.428/.761 and an OPS+ of 109.

Ross had a WAR of 1.3 in 52 games. His wRC+ was at 110 and he had a wOBA of .332. Overall, his career statistics are off the charts in Atlanta. In his 9 year MLB career (dating to 2002), Ross had never hit higher than .258 until he came to Atlanta. He posted the highest OBP of his career in 2009 and beat that in 2010. He has had consistent power, but has posted his 3rd and 4th best slugging % of his career in 2009 and 2010.

The picture of the Braves’ catching situation is very bright. They have the one of the game’s best catchers in Brian McCann. They have one of the game’s best backups in David Ross. These two form a formidable punch from behind the plate. Ross has the better arm and defense. McCann has the better bat.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, I would expect McCann to rebound from a poor end to his 2011. Bill James has projected McCann to put up the following next season: .276/.360/.484 with 24 HR and 88 RBIs. If he stays healthy, there is no reason to think he cannot meet this projection, if not beat it.

James’ projection of Ross, on the other hand, is not as optimistic. He has Ross slated to hit .232/.321/.405 with 11 HR, 30 R and 40 RBIs. What is baffling to me is that he has Ross appearing in 91 games in 2012. Ross has appeared in no more than 54 games since arriving in Atlanta. Further his projections of 30 runs scored is more than double what he has scored the past two season combined. The average, OBP and slugging % is much closer to his career marks than what we have been accustomed to in Atlanta, though. I still don’t think he will drop off that much. I would expect a season close to what he put up in 2011.

The Braves should still have one of the most productive catching team in the MLB this season. They will be relied upon to help mentor the young and talented rotation. They will also be one of the main offensive catalysts for the team.

Note: There were some technical issues with the baseball reference tables for McCann’s and Ross’ previous year’s statistics.

The good thing to hear is that the Braves will have a payroll of $94 million for the upcoming season. When you take $10 million off the top to pay Derek Lowe to pitch in Cleveland, that leaves the Braves with $84 million for the upcoming year. Current expenses puts the Braves $4 million away from reaching that $94 million overall payroll.

The Braves have been inactive on the free agent market this year because they haven’t had extremely large holes to fill, unless you consider the hole at shortstop. Pastornicky’s development has given the Braves an opportunity to avoid overpaying on the free agent market. They also have a different approach to free agency:

“In a way, I almost relish when one of our competitors goes in the free-agent market because it’s so inefficient and such a bad use of dollars,” he added. “You almost never get the value out of a free-agent market expense. We all have limited dollars to spend, so if someone in wasting those dollars in a competitive situation, it helps us.”

“I think that is part of what the quiet this winter reflects — a real confidence in our minor-league system,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade our young people for any team’s youth corps. I think the state of the franchise is extremely positive.”

This is not a bad philosophy. It doesn’t lead to an exciting offseason, but it does provide sound team management. The Braves’ signing of Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami hurt this team significantly. The effects are still lingering with the $10 million that the team will pay Lowe this year.

The Braves have stuck with the formula of success that built the dynasty that Bobby Cox led throughout the 1990s and much of the 2000s. They have been the best team in baseball to draft and develop pitching over the past 20 years. This success has been realized over the past three seasons with Tommy Hanson, Jonny Venters, Craig Kimbrel, Brandon Beachy, Mike Minor, Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado.

Their scouts have done a fantastic job in directing the Braves pitchers to acquire through trades and minor league signings as well. Jair Jurrjens, Eric O’Flaherty, Rafael Soriano and Arodys Vizcaino headline that group.

From a positional standpoint, the Braves have developed Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Martin Prado, Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman.

The Braves are good at working with their strengths to put a competitive team on the field. That will not change. The payroll is stuck at $94 million for the forseeable future according to McGuirk.

One thing that the Braves will not be able to count on anytime soon is a lucrative TV deal. The previous owner, Turner Broadcasting/Time Warner, signed a 25 year television broadcasting deal before the sell of the team.

“I think we have an undervalued local rights [deal]. That being said, we inherited a deal that was done under a little over four years ago, before the sale, that lasts out through 25 years. So there is no opportunity for a different deal than the one we have. Every single set of games on the different networks that we are seen on [Fox Sports South, SportSouth and Peachtree TV] are all 25-year deals or thereabouts.”

McGuirk said the deals call for “cost-of-living type increases” each year, but contain no options for renegotiation.

“They were at-market deals when they were done, but the market has changed. We will have to look elsewhere for the increases that we will need in revenue to continue to build this franchise. It’s what the owners at the time decided to do, so we have to live with it. … It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but it’s not going to be these newer deals where there is cash up front.”

McGuirk said: “Let’s just say it won’t be an advantage.”

The Anaheim Angels, the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees have recently signed lucrative deals. The Angels and Rangers specifically have made huge splashes on the free agent market due to the TV deals. The Braves are essentially stuck for the foreseeable future. Get used to being a middle of the road team when it comes to payroll. As long as the Braves continue to draft well and develop players, they should remain competitive.

Unfortunately the ceiling on the payroll may make this team always be a player or two away from taking the next step. What are your thoughts?

This is officially a deal solidifying the fact that the Rockies and Braves will NOT be swapping Martin Prado. The Rockies traded Seth Smith a couple weeks ago to the Oakland A’s, which was the first signal that the deal would not happen. The acquisition of Scutaro is definitively a sign that Prado will not be playing in Colorado this upcoming year.

The rumored trade was supposedly Prado for Smith and at a minimum a center field prospect, though there were other reports that the Braves were asking for a pitching prospect. I am uncertain if they were asking for a pitching prospect, CF prospect and Smith, or just one prospect along with Smith.

The Braves, at this point, are much better off with Prado roaming left field. They have no better option and Prado makes the team better. The only way that I could see the team being better without Prado is for them to get a better player in left field. The trade market is not flushed with those players. From what I have seen, the price for players would be much more than the Braves are willing to pay.

As for Prado, I expect him to have a better year this season. If the Braves want to trade him, I think his value will be better after the first couple months of the season.

MLB.com ranked the top 10 shortstop prospects in the MLB earlier. The Braves’ Andrelton Simmons was ranked 9th on that list. Pastornicky did not make the list. Here is what they said about Simmons:

Andrelton Simmons, Braves: Simmons had about as solid a first full season as you could ask for in 2011, playing at two levels while hitting for average, stealing bases and playing outstanding defense at short. The Curacao native is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, with a plus arm and range. He has offensive skills as well, with good bat speed and ability to make consistent contact. While Simmons doesn’t strike out, he is a bit of a free swinger and he could tone that down some, along with his basestealing approach. Once that all comes together, starting this season at Double-A Mississippi, he could be a high-level everyday shortstop.

This is a good problem for the Braves to have. I am excited to see Simmons develop more. He already has the defense to play shortstop in Atlanta.

He was recovering from shoulder surgery that sidelined him late last year. This came on the heals of a back injury that he battled early on.

The deal is a minor league deal worth $1 million on a prorated basis based on time served on the major league roster in 2012. It also has incentives built into the contract.

They signed Eric O’Flaherty on Monday night to a one year deal worth $2.49 million. The deal was almost triple what his salary was last year. He earned this increase by being one of the most used relievers and most successful relievers in the majors.

Michael Bourn followed O’Flaherty and agreed to a deal worth $6.845 million, which was an increase of $2.45 million.

Jair Jurrjens was the final player to agree on a contract. He signed a deal worth $5.5 million deal for this season. His deal also includes potential incentives of $25,000 each for 175 innings, 180, 190, 200, 210, and 215. He made $3.25 million in 2011.

The Braves kept up their success with their players before having to go to arbitration hearings.

They have already settled with Martin Prado on arbitration. They signed him to a one year deal between $4.5 and $5 million. Peter Moylan was eligible for arbitration, but the Braves non-tendered him a few weeks ago.

These two moves leave the Braves with 3 other players who are eligible for arbitration.

Jair Jurrjens made $3.25 million in 2011. He was an All Star this past season in a stellar first half of the MLB season. Injuries plagued him after the All Star break. He figures to get a good sized raise to the neighbor between $5-6 million.

Michael Bourn is entering his final arbitration year. He made $4.4 million in 2011 and had one of his better offensive years statistically. His salary should jump to the $7-8 million range for the upcoming year.

Eric O’Flaherty will be in his second arbitration year. Last season he made $895K. He was one of the most valuable relievers in the Braves’ bullpen last season and in the MLB. He should she his salary jump to the $1.5 million range.

Kris Medlen and Tommy Hanson are close to being eligible for arbitration based on service time. I have seen that they are eligible on some sites and others say their not. Either way, they wouldn’t add a huge increase in salary in their first year of arbitration.

The Braves have a good history of avoiding arbitration with their players. More than likely, they will succeed in avoiding arbitration with these players this year too.

Rumors had swirled around Prado all off-season, but the Braves’ asking price was very high for his services. No one had increased their offer, thus Prado remains with the team. He is hoping to rebound off of a subpar 2011 season. The Braves feel confident in Prado as their left-fielder, but they were trying to use him to upgrade their power and depth of their farm system.