Tuesday, January 20, 2009

As mentioned before, Frank Wren went out and got three solid starting pitchers. Derek Lowe, Javier Vasquez, and Kenshin Kawakami. Lowe and Vasquez are proven veterans who can give Bobby Cox 200 plus innings. Lowe also brings a fiery competitiveness and grit thats stuck with him since his Red Sox days. His moxie and leadership hopefully will rub off on other Braves in the clubhouse. Vasquez has always had electric stuff and has been a 15 game winner in multiple seasons, but he fell out of favor in Chicago with manager Ozzie Guillen. Guillen later jarred that Javy "Wasn't a big game pitcher." Hopefully Vasquez can deliver. Kenshin Kawakami. a Japanese League veteran of 11 years, is the wild card. The right hander compiled over a hundred wins and and era close to 3.20. But like Japanese imports before him, Kenshin will have to prove that his game is good enough for the major leagues.The Braves may have gotten a steal in Kawakami. With Lowe, Vasquez, and Kawakami heading the rotation, Jair Jurrgens has the fourth slot all but locked up. Longtime Mexican Winter League hurler and rookie surprise last season, Jorge Campillo seems to be the front runner for the fith spot but could be challenged by the Braves best pitching prospect Tommy Hanson. The San Diego Padres wanted Hanson in the Jake Peavy deal but Wren didn't want to part with him. Tom Glavine could also make a splash somewhere down the line and Tim Hudson is expected to be back from Tommy John surgery around August. Regardless of who ends up in the rotation, come opening day, the Braves have the potential to boast a surprisingly formidable rotation.

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