Catcher’s Blog

This is basically a catch-up post for me to post all of the recent news/tidbits of this week. While it’s not much, it is something as the month of January is coming to a close and February is on its way with only 20 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. Lately, I know I have not been really great at updating, but I hope to get better and back to like I was to some extent. We’ll see how this goes as I can’t promise anything.

- Firstly, not only did Soriano and the Braves reach a deal on his salary for the ‘08 season, they’ve come to an agreement for the ‘09 season as well. So, we’ll have Soriano as our closer at least until the ‘09 season when he reaches free agency. This is a really good thing considering our past troubles with closers, aka Bob Wickman, who is probably going to retire should no one want him, which is the case so far. But Soriano should dominate in the closer’s role and we’ve seen what he’s capable of doing in this role, even if it was only a short glimpse last season.

- The Braves have changed times for the home games, trying to accommodate fans’ wishes. Monday-Thursday games will all start at 7:10 pm, while Friday games will start at 7:35 pm due to Atlanta traffic. Saturday games will begin at 7:10 pm unless the Braves are a part of FOX’s game of the week, then games will start at 3:55 pm. Sunday games will start later at 1:35 pm instead of the usual 1:05 pm as in recent years. The Braves are also testing a 4:35 pm game on August 18th to see how many families would come, directly following school in the afternoon, making it so the kids will be home at a decent hour on those days. Also, games that ESPN cover will continue at 8:05 pm, but they have not picked any games up as of yet.

- There was a Braves Notes update today and they included some answers to many people’s questions.

Chuck James didn’t take on his usual off season job at Lowe’s, wanting to rehab his injured left shoulder. Chuck says he’s ready for Spring Training and doesn’t think he’s got a rotation spot either, that he’ll have to work to get one.

Mike Hampton appears to be doing well after recovering from a pulled hamstring earlier this winter. Frank Wren says Hampton’s throwing and running while trying to get ready for Spring Training.

A contract extension for Jeff Francoeur is hopefully going to be in the works soon. Jeff switched agents this off season, to Lonnie Cooper, who is agent to John Smoltz and Bobby Cox, in hope of attaining a long-term contract similar to McCann’s last season. Jeff is eligible for arbitration after this season and the Braves would like to avoid that if at all possible.

Mike Gonzalez is well ahead of his rehab schedule the Braves have set for him and might even be back before the June date that was originally thought. Gonzo has been throwing bullpen sessions for over a month and feels great. This is really good news, but we shouldn’t expect too much from him to start with, though.

“I wanted to break [camp] with the team,” Gonzalez said. “Obviously, that’s not going to happen. So I’m pretty much going on what they have to say. I feel ready and I feel good. The timetable that they’ve given to me, I’m on course.”