Atlanta Braves confident of an improved showing next season – MLB Update
The Atlanta Braves barely missed a playoff berth this past season, but their performance was commendable and it was Philadelphia Phillies’ brilliance more than their failure that proved to be the final hindrance. The Braves finished second in the National
League East division, but their win-loss record was much better than many winners of other divisions.
Right after the season, the management announced that there is no panic in the ballclub and the team is confident of coming back strongly in the next season, which begins in the first week of April, 2012. The management is not actively participating in the
free agent market and it seems likely that the roster will not experience drastic changes.
Before the season begins, the Braves are scheduled to play 34 games during spring training, which will be an attempt to test the fitness of existing players and abilities of new recruits. Traditionally, the Braves play a couple of exhibition games against
an American League team before the regular season began and right after the final of the Grapefruit League in Florida. However, to spice things up, the Braves have now decided to play an exhibition game against a team including their top prospects on April
3, a day before the regular season embarks.
The Braves, nevertheless, will play the New York Yankees twice during spring training, on March 10 and 28 respectively. In between, they will take on World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, hosting them on March 19.
Full team training will begin on February 25, before which only pitchers and catchers will report for training. The pitchers and catchers will report on February 19 and have their first workout scheduled for February 20. With not enough changes expected
in the roster, good spring training will ensure that the Braves have a more composed team and thus an improved showing in the next season.
Braves’ Chipper Jones is likely to represent the team for one last time in 2012, after which he plans to retire from the sport. It will be interesting to see how things unfold as the season draws near.
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