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You have to love the consistency that was in place for the Atlanta Braves starting rotation during their famous run of division titles some time ago. It has already started to flood new members into the MLB Hall of Fame as of this year as we all know. What Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz were able to do is not something that seems all that possible anymore however. Just imagine the Braves rotation from last season and then look at how it will be Opening Day 2014.
Tim Hudson is gone to San Francisco and Paul Maholm will sign somewhere else before the start of the season as well. In to fill the five roles of starters we have Mike Minor, Julio Teheran, Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy, Alex Wood, David Hale and newly signed Gavin Floyd. In case you aren’t counting those names, there are seven of them there to fill five spots. I am a big believer in competition for roster spots though so that is a good thing.
Here is the problem with that situation. Inevitably some of the names that start the season as Braves starting pitchers will have to move elsewhere very soon. There are many prospects beating down the door for their big shot as well. As the Braves search for just the right combination of pitchers to try and take them to a steady division title reign once again, which of these pitchers will say goodbye as Hudson, Maholm and even Tommy Hanson have done?
I think we will see a feverish competition for the rotation’s spots among six of the seven men here because Floyd is hurt. What happens when he is ready will depend on how the chosen are faring as well of course. By the end of the season I think Minor, Teheran and Medlen are pretty safe. Beachy depends on his staying healthy over the long season. The younger Wood and Hale are completely up in the air as well. It is going to be a fun season to be a fan of young Braves pitching. I can’t wait to see how it all shakes down.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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