I'm chiming in here really late on this one, but here's my take:

 

The lineup makes the rotation better because Beckett and Burnett will be able to get more run support, and Valdez and Willis will just have to hope that the games they pitch Delgado and Cabrera go nuts so those "shaky" starts still end in W's.

 

Beinfest also countered the short start problem with Leiter by bolstering the pen with three new arms to go with Mota and Spooneybarger. Riedling and Jones will be more valuable as bridges to Alfonseca/Spooney/Mota during games Leiter starts...Burnett and Beckett should be able to get to there on their own.

 

The only thing that is left to be said is that there wasn't any pitching out there available that was worth the money being thrown at it. Leiter's one year deal was an absolute steal, and I do know that we at least have enough pitching 1st pitch through last out to give us the best chance we can have right now.

 

Besides, it's not like anyone has a 1-2 punch in the division that's better than Beckett/Burnett...if Smoltz proves he can be a starter again, then the Braves are on the same level, but we have the best everyday lineup, the best infield defense, and very good pitching in a pitchers park...that's huge; I mean, it's better than average pitching in a hitters' park...

good post as usual Swede.

 

I think we're all crossing our fingers on Beckett & AJ. That's really what it all comes down to.

 

It's sort of assumed that Dontrelle will have a "decent" season. Not great... And Leiter can manage a decent ERA but he's going to need some help from the pen. And who knows what happens when Valdez is up there. It all rests on the two flamethrowers.

 

We rank the rotation so high because those 2 have such talent. But if they're starting only 20 games a year, we take a huge hit.

 

That said, I don't think there was much out there...

with pavs gone, it has crinched a bit. but we still have good guys. i hope it can improve tho. its far from perfect

Great post Swede.

 

I appreciate how you differentiate between the middle relief corps (where we haven't improved much and is the most difficult role in bullpen because of the varying situations faced daily) which will be carrying the brunt of the work, and the late-inning relief corps with two former closers and two stud set-up men.

how bout' the fact that stud pitching and poor hitting get you know where, Its called balance. Pitch decent and score enough runs= wins

...one more thing to think about (looking at the Cardinals of 2004 as a prime example): pitching is only an absolute must in the post-season, for the most part, a team built around offense will make the playoffs, teams built solely on pitching can struggle as a weak offense goes through funks (see the 2004 Marlins and A's).

 

Our everyday lineup is as strong as any in the National Leage, and our top 3 starters are the perfect three to go into a post-season series with. If we're in it (as we all expect to be) I'd be shocked if we didn't use Stokes and probably Willingham (considering Delgado, Cabrera and Hermida block them) to upgrade the pitching, and, if necessary, get that one impact starter we'd need...

 

 

I couldn't be happier with our team knowing that all teams in the division are flawed, and now, we're less flawed than any other.