The Atlanta Braves have generated as much buzz as the franchise has seen in years, leading into opening day today against the Chicago Cubs. Notably, Atlanta is led by a strong pitching staff and rookie Jason Heyward, who will make his Major League debut in right field.
Today, Derek Lowe will take the mound for the Braves. He finished Grapefruit League play with a 3-0 mark during spring training and a 4.50 ERA. Lowe spent the offseason working on the mechanics in his delivery after posting a 6.65 ERA in his final nine outings of the 2009 season.
The Braves’ pitching staff is bolstered this season with a healthy Tim Hudson, to go along with Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens and Kenshin Kawakami. Atlanta’s bullpen looks solid with the addition of Billy Wagner and Takashi Sahito, along with young right hander Kris Medlen manning the role of middle reliever.
Along with Heyward, Melky Cabrera and Troy Glaus are the biggest additions to the batting order.
GWINNETT BRAVES: Atlanta’s Triple-A minor league affiliate Gwinnett Braves open the season with a four-game series against the Charlotte Knights on Thursday at CoolRay Field in Lawrenceville.
This season, the pitching staff is led by the return of Todd Redmond (9-6, 4.41 ERA last season) and James Parr, who was sidelined with various injuries last season.
The remainder of the G-Braves’ pitching staff looks to include Scott Diamond, Kyle Cofield and Ryne Reynoso.
Cofield and Diamond are listed by Baseball America as two of Atlanta’s Top 30 prospects.
In the bullpen, the G-Braves are led by Craig Kimbrel, who is listed by Baseball America as the team’s No. 5 overall prospect. In spring training, he didn’t allow a run during seven outings with the Atlanta Braves and the opposition only hit .125 against him in 13 2/3 innings.
Last season, he made two appearances for the G-Braves at the end of the season during its run to the International League postseason.
On offense, Gwinnett is led by Freddie Freeman, the organization’s No. 1 prospect, now that Heyward is in the majors. He joins infielders Barbaro Canizares, Wes Timmons, J.C. Holt and Van Pope.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS: The University of Georgia’s spring G-Day football game is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs’s split-squad scrimmage will give fans the first look at the quarterback battle between junior Logan Gray, and redshirt freshmen Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray.
Georgia will also give the first glimpse of its new 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The Bulldogs open the 2010 season against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 4 in Athens.
Today, Derek Lowe will take the mound for the Braves. He finished Grapefruit League play with a 3-0 mark during spring training and a 4.50 ERA. Lowe spent the offseason working on the mechanics in his delivery after posting a 6.65 ERA in his final nine outings of the 2009 season.
The Braves’ pitching staff is bolstered this season with a healthy Tim Hudson, to go along with Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens and Kenshin Kawakami. Atlanta’s bullpen looks solid with the addition of Billy Wagner and Takashi Sahito, along with young right hander Kris Medlen manning the role of middle reliever.
Along with Heyward, Melky Cabrera and Troy Glaus are the biggest additions to the batting order.
GWINNETT BRAVES: Atlanta’s Triple-A minor league affiliate Gwinnett Braves open the season with a four-game series against the Charlotte Knights on Thursday at CoolRay Field in Lawrenceville.
This season, the pitching staff is led by the return of Todd Redmond (9-6, 4.41 ERA last season) and James Parr, who was sidelined with various injuries last season.
The remainder of the G-Braves’ pitching staff looks to include Scott Diamond, Kyle Cofield and Ryne Reynoso.
Cofield and Diamond are listed by Baseball America as two of Atlanta’s Top 30 prospects.
In the bullpen, the G-Braves are led by Craig Kimbrel, who is listed by Baseball America as the team’s No. 5 overall prospect. In spring training, he didn’t allow a run during seven outings with the Atlanta Braves and the opposition only hit .125 against him in 13 2/3 innings.
Last season, he made two appearances for the G-Braves at the end of the season during its run to the International League postseason.
On offense, Gwinnett is led by Freddie Freeman, the organization’s No. 1 prospect, now that Heyward is in the majors. He joins infielders Barbaro Canizares, Wes Timmons, J.C. Holt and Van Pope.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS: The University of Georgia’s spring G-Day football game is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs’s split-squad scrimmage will give fans the first look at the quarterback battle between junior Logan Gray, and redshirt freshmen Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray.
Georgia will also give the first glimpse of its new 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The Bulldogs open the 2010 season against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 4 in Athens.