Since pitchers and catchers report today, perhaps the time has come for some serious rosterbation. Here are two questions for possible discussion:

Taking into account the team and the financial constraints that we have now, and assuming the primary goal is to maximize the Braves' chance of legitimately being competitive for the world championship in the upcoming 2012 season:

(1) What 25 specific man roster moves should be made, either before opening day or before the mid-season trade deadline?

and

(2) What, if any, 25 man roster moves do you think will actually be made?

I decided to post this thread based on a discussion on another thread as to whether Kris Medlen may have greater value to the Braves as member of the pitching staff or as a trade piece. The general thoughts I had on that specific question were:

The way I see the big picture situation right now, as spring camp opens, is as follows: The Braves’ braintrust obviously has short, mid and long term objectives, but the single most important objective is to position the team to strongly compete each and every season (insofar as realistically feasible) for a world championship. So, the number 1 priority is to field a superb 25 man roster with depth and versatility and capacity to withstand the rigors of the upcoming 162 game season. I believe that management obviously views the team, as constructed, as legitimately being in the 2012 mix for post-season play and thus a potential championship; and views the pitching staff is the single most vitally critical element of a deep championship run.

Go Braves!

I started thinking about baseball jinxes earlier tonight when I received an "\antijinx" reply to a random trivia-type comment on our losing Open Thread.

Now, personally, I want to go on record as not believing so much in supernatural happenings, including specifically baseball jinxes and certainly not in the context of blogging, even at this illustrious Braves Blog of Record.

I mean, by way of example, when this Jair Jurrjens Is On Quite The Streak post when up on the front page earlier this week, did the end of JJ's run somehow become pre-destined such that he would have to yield more than 2 runs in tonight's game? Or was the post even a minor unlucky  factor that could have maybe sorta spit into the wind or otherwise messed with the Baseball Gods' plan?

C'mon, does anyboby semi-sane around here think this is even a vague possibility? 

I'm thinking the answer is yes, of course.  

So anyways, I had happened to come across a trivia item that a certain team's PR department had included in its game notes (published at MLB.com), did a bit of research and posted a comment about a certain lefthanded relief pitcher being absolutely amazing, which drew the "\antijinx" reply. 

Because I do not want to be wrongly accused of any jinxing of anyone or anything, the only other thing is I did find an obscure website that said Brad Ziegler of the Oakland As in 2008 ran up a streak of 39 innings to tie Indians pitcher Al Benton’s 1949 record for consecutive scoreless relief innings, which is a pretty random record, if it is even correct.

The big news already posted on the TC front page is, of course, that elite prospect Julio Teheran will be in the AAA Gwinnett Braves' starting rotation. 

The Press Release announcing the full G-Braves' opening day roster is here.  The list is:

PITCHERS (12): Juan Abreu (RHP), Jairo Asencio (RHP), Yohan Flande (LHP), Cory Gearrin (RHP), Rodrigo Lopez (RHP), Stephen Marek (RHP), Mike Minor (LHP), Scott Proctor (RHP), Todd Redmond (RHP), Julio Teheran (RHP), Jacob Thompson (RHP), Anthony Varvaro (LHP)

CATCHERS (2): J.C. Boscan, Wilkin Castillo (S)

INFIELDERS (6): Shawn Bowman, Mauro Gomez, Diory Hernandez, Ed Lucas, Joe Mather, Daniel Nelson (S)

OUTFIELDERS (4): Willie Cabrera, Jose Constanza (L), Wilkin Ramirez,

Jordan Schafer (L)

DISABLED LIST (3): Erik Cordier (RHP), Jay Sborz (RHP), Shawn McGill (C)

The Press Release says one player is on the temporary inactive list, but does not tell us who that player is.

The Press Release announcing the full M-Braves' opening day roster is here.  The list is:

Pitchers: Randall Delgado, Kenshin Kawakami, Brett Oberholtzer,  J.J. Hoover, Michael Broadway, Bill Bullock, Jaye Chapman, Paul Clemens, Benino Pruneda, Luis Avilan, Rowdy Hardy, and Richard Sullivan.  Catchers: Matt Kennelly and Jesus Sucre.  Infielders: Donell Linares, Tyler Pastornicky, Ernesto Mejia, Jordan Kreke, C.J. Retherford, and Geraldo Rodriguez.  Outfielders: Antoan Richardson, Gavin Dickey, Cory Harrilchak, and Marcus Lemon.

Also, pitcher Brett Butts and outfielder Mycal Jones will begin the season on the M-Braves' disabled list.

The A+ Lynchburg Hillcats' announcement is here.  The list is:

Pitchers: Arodys Vizcaino, David Hale, Dimasther Delgado, Eliecer Cardenas, Yeliar Castro, Willie Kempf, Jason Lowey, Cory Rasmus, Chad Rodgers, Zeke Spruill, Andrew Wilson, Matt Crim, Chris Masters, and Chad Rodgers.  Catchers: Cory Brownsten and Braeden Schlehuber. Infielders: Phil Gosselin, Joe Leonard, Andrelton Simmons, Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg, Joe Terdoslavich, and Matt Weaver. Outfielders: Todd Cunningham, Robby Hefflinger, Adam Milligan, and L.V. Ware.

Pitchers Thomas Berryhill and Angelo Paulino will begin the season on the Hillcats' disabled list.

Finally, the newspaper article publishing the Rome Braves' announcement is here and the list is:

Pitchers: Wesley Alsup, Danilo Alvarez, Caleb Brewer, David Filak, Tyler Hess, Steven Kent, Kyle Mertins, Ronan Pacheco, Carlos Perez, Chasen Shreve, Blaine Sims, Tyler Stovall and Ryan Weber.  Catchers: Christian Bethancourt and Jace Whitmer.  Infielders:  Chris Ahearn, Jakob Dalfonso, Barrett Kleinknecht, Matt Lipka, Elmer Reyes, Edward Salcedo, Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg*, and Matthew Weaver.  Outfielders: Ramon Flores, David Rohm, Kyle Rose, and Keenan Wiley.

    * RSF will presumptively start the season in Lynchburg or Rome, but not both at the same time. 

I guess after only a couple of days of ST full-squad workouts, its more than a little early to get too excited, but it appears our once and future CFer, 24 year young Jordan Schafer is once again turning heads.

In dueling articles, Bowman and O'Brien each discuss how impressive he has looked and each posit the (more or less identical) question:  Could Schafer make the team or even steal the starting role from McLouth?

To me, this is a fantastic development for the Braves and young Jordan's obviously confident statements are just hugely encouraging.

“How do I feel? Like [bleeping] success. Unbelievably good."

“I felt good coming in, but this is way beyond anything I could have expected. I couldn’t ask for anything more. This is the best that I’ve felt coming into any spring training, as far as being prepared, as far as strength-wise, just everything.”

"I feel comfortable with everything,” he said. “I don’t have any [pain].”

“The first day I was out here, Chip [Chipper Jones] was like, your swing is so much better now,” Schafer said, “because my hands are going down to the ball. I’ve tried to limit everything – no fly balls, just line drives. Try not to hit any home runs in [batting practice]. Just try to be more of a productive leadoff-type hitter that will get on base.” 

So, I'm thinking this will be something to really watch over the next four or five weeks.  Please check out the articles and comment away, if so inclined.