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ESPN.com:Braves Notes.
Topic Started: Feb 15 2008, 11:07 PM (323 Views)
ttiger2004
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When Mike Hampton -- remember him? -- threw a live batting-practice session Friday, it was a sight the Braves haven't seen a lot of the last couple of years. Hampton, you'll recall, tried to pitch winter ball in Mexico, but popped a hamstring in November, while trying to field a comebacker, in the first inning of his first start. It also turned out to be his last inning as a Mexican Leaguer.



Hampton is doing his best to take it slow, which isn't easy for him, after all the maladies and surgeries that have turned him into a missing person these last two seasons. But he said he thinks he could be ready to take his regular turn when the exhibition season starts in two weeks.



"I think there's a good chance," Hampton said. "I say that cautiously, because I'm going to take it day-by-day. I'm doing all the stuff I need to to get ready. But I'm going to be smart about it. April is the most important month for me, not February."



"There's clearly nothing wrong with his arm that would keep him from being a real quality major-league starting pitcher," said Braves GM Frank Wren. "That was obvious from watching him today. All that movement is still there."



Hampton had a great quip on wearing those uniforms in Mexico with ads from head to toe: "I looked like a NASCAR hood."



The Braves had to ask permission from Major League Baseball to have their new centerfielder, Mark Kotsay, report Friday along with the pitchers and catchers. But that permission was granted, because Kotsay is recovering from a back injury. So Kotsay went through a full day of workouts. And the Braves, who put him through a rigorous physical exam before finalizing their trade with Oakland, are very excited with his progress.



"We had to get permission from Major League Baseball, but he was very interested in doing that," Wren said. "It's a new team for him. Getting used to people. Getting to know people. Plus, seeing him out here makes you feel good about his health and well-being. Those are all positive signs."



Two Braves who opened some eyes Friday: former Tigers prospect Jair Jurrjens and a nonroster catcher named Javy Lopez. (Yes, that Javy Lopez.)



Lopez worked feverishly on his defense over the winter in an attempt to convince the Braves to bring him back as a No. 2 catcher behind Brian McCann. Asked if he could see evidence that all that work was translating into a new, improved Javy, Wren said: "I clearly do, even at this stage. I've watched him in drills. He's been at the stadium all January and February. Out on the field throwing, doing long-toss, throwing drills. He's made an effort, and you can see the results."



Jurrjens, meanwhile, was the main piece of the deal that sent Edgar Renteria to Detroit. In theory, the 22-year-old righthander merely adds to the Braves' massive starting pitching inventory. But in reality, he's so intriguing, the club will take a long look at him this spring to see if he can fit in some kind of bullpen role, assuming there are no rotation vacancies.



"Today was the first day we've seen him in a Braves uniform, and he obviously has pretty electric stuff, even in the first batting-practice session," Wren said. "He had good life, and a real quality quick arm. That's probably the guy who stood out the most."

-- Jayson Stark

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3247039&name=spring_training
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Braves N 10
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Still nothing new on James's condition and how the shoulder feels. I really like Chuck and hope he does fill the 5th spot,but if he does not I really want to see Jurjjens pitch in the 5th spot.

Kotsay better be as good as he is suppse to be and not come up lame during the year. Again if he does and can not continue to produce i would like to see Anderson out there.
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whensidslid92
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i like chuck james a lot too but dont know if he is suited for a role in the starting rotation unless he improves his stamina. according to his stats on espn.com, pitches 46-60 james allowed just a .193 average but for pitches 61-75 that number ballons to a .316 average.

james' 170 lb frame doesnt seem to be able to hold up well. also, seeing as how he is recover from shoulder surgery, i dont have any reason to believe these numbers will change.

another factor worth considering is that with glavine and (hopefully) a healthy hampton we will already have two lefties in the rotation so an average left-hander isnt needed to balance out righty/lefty slots in the rotation. maybe we could use james as a middle reliever if one of our starters should encounter early troubles and eventually move him back into a starters role if one of our other five should go down with an injury.

our rotation has depth this year-which is a good problem. i dont think james is suited to be a starter who can go 6+ innings. i think he has the potential to excel in a 3-4 inning role.
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ttiger2004
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When did CJ have shoulder surgery? There is nothing to support that I have read on braves.scout.com, the braves website or ajc.com. Unless you have a site that supports that claim of Chuck James having shoulder surgery, it would be best not to make a statement like that.

Last I read was he was being held out two weeks to rest the should due to slight rotator cuff tear in his left shoulder, they thought about surgery but they thought rest would be the better option.
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whensidslid92
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i misunderstood sorry. but either way, my point was his shoulder isnt a 100% and leads me to believe he wont improve upon his stamina from least year and the fact that he didnt have surgery doesnt negate the point
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ttiger2004
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No Problem. We all make mistakes. Easy to correct. Even if he doesn't have a 4th pitch, CJ watch, learn and asking questions of Tommy Glavine will be a bigger help to him in the longer run and just maybe Reyes and Jurrjens will learn alot too.
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Alot of guys did not like JoJo last year but I saw some good potential in JoJo. I would rather see Jurrjens but I like both pitchers and woud not mind any of them getting a shot at the 5th spot.
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