Atlanta Braves Fifth Starter: Top Contenders
Feb 23, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Brave manager Fredi Gonzalez (left) sits in a golf cart with former manager
Bobby Coxduring spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Parting Thoughts
There are of course a number of other pitchers competing for the fifth spot, and some think highly of Chien-Ming Wang. Chien is an 8 year veteran, and won 19 games two years in a row for the New York Yankees in 2006-07, and was a runner up in the Cy Young race to Johan Santana in that 2006 season.
A myriad of injuries though, some that seem to have altered his pitching motions, have been huge setbacks for Chien-Ming, and I see him as an outside chance at best for the fifth spot. That said, he could surprise everyone.
It will be exciting to see who grabs that last spot in the starting rotation. I still like Mike Foltynewicz, but however the race turns out, it will be interesting to see how all these young players (and possibly some not-so-young) will perform for the Atlanta Braves from the bump this season.
Most are not projecting the Atlanta Braves to win more than around 70-73 games, and I tend to think along that scale myself. I don’t care though. I’m excitied for the re-tooling and rebuilding the Braves are doing, I like what John Hart has done in the past, and part of my love for baseball are all the finer nuances – not just whether you win or lose.
Who do you think will win that 5th spot?