Braves' Offseason No Longer a Wash

Isn't it funny, or perhaps a bit humbling, how two signings in three days can have such a profound effect, as if to lift the layer of discontent hovering over this once-proud Braves franchise?

Less than a week after iconic (and rehabbing) pitcher John Smoltz signed a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the Red Sox, the Braves on Tuesday reached agreement with right-hander Derek Lowe, widely considered the best-available starter on the free-agent market, on a four-year, $60 million deal. And in less than an hour, the Braves will introduce Japanese All-Star Kenshin Kawakami, who will be under contract until at least 2011.

So maybe maligned Braves general manager Frank Wren knew what he was doing all along, though it was sometimes hard to tell during one of the most inglorious offseason stretches in the past three decades.

What's worth noting is this: When pressed, Wren got the deal done. The Braves significantly outbid the rival Mets, who offered Lowe an unsatisfying three-year, $36 million deal in December, reluctant to offer the aging starter more than a short-term deal.

At 35, you'd be hard-pressed to tab Lowe as an ace. But he's what the Braves need. He'll at least keep them in contention in the competitive NL East until Tim Hudson, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, returns in late summer.

Lowe has averaged 208 innings over the past eight seasons, and should prove to be a good mentor to young hurlers Jair Jurrjens, Charlie Morton and Jo-Jo Reyes.

The current rotation of Lowe-Jurrjens-Kawakami-Vazquez-Reyes/Morton/Hanson is solid, not spectacular. And there still are glaring weaknesses, of course. The Braves still need a power-hitting outfielder, a resurgent Jeff Francoeur to produce in the middle of the lineup and Gregor Blanco to be more consistent in the leadoff spot. Reyes, extremely talented when he decides to throw anywhere near the strike zone, is the only left-handed starter, and a poor showing during spring training could bump him from the back-end of the rotation.

The wild card, it seems, will be Kawakami.

Here's what we know: He's one of the top-3 Japanese players available for free agency this offseason; he won the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award in 2004; and, alas, he's no Daisulci Teralcalmi.

Kawakami, 33, was 9-5 during an injury-plagued 2008 season (recurring back strain, but he passed his physical Monday). He has a good strikeout-to-walk ratio -- 1,328 strikeouts and just 351 walks in 1,642 innings in Japan -- and he's won 10 or more games six times in his career. His most successful season came in 2004, when he was 17-7 with a 3.32 ERA, which garned him league MVP honors and the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award.

So, loyal and perhaps imaginary readers, we pose this question today: Given their notable whiffs this offseason -- Jake Peavy, A.J Burnett, Mike Hampton, Rafael Furcal and John Smoltz -- are the Braves now better off after signing Kawakami and Lowe? Do you have any more confidence in Wren? Still picking the Braves to finish third, at best, in the NL East this season?


Buckiiiits Headed in New Direction?

Joshua Stein has emerged as the leading candidate to fill Team Buckiiiits' head coaching vacancy, multiple sources told OTR Sports late Monday night.

Stein has limited basketball experience, but he played linebacker, fullback and kicker for his woeful high school football team in suburban Atlanta, and he currently has a hobby -- working out. An official announcement is expected later this week.

Current captain/player/coach Jeff Mayonnaise has drawn criticism in recent weeks for his mishandling of substitutions and nonchalant attitude on defense. Mayonnaise, who currently "coaches" the freshmen at Oconee County High School, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Stein was on the sideline for Team Buckiiiits' 49-46 victory over the Hawks on Sunday, which, despite the growing resentment in the locker room, moved the team's record to 2-0 with two regular-season games to play. Buckiiiits has a week off before resuming play next Sunday against TKE, which last week won 20-9, and the following Wednesday against Ain't Got a Clue, which truly did not during its last encounter.

Kiel Voight and former colleague Jordan Backs scored a game-high 15 points, and Mayonnaise added 13 points and seven rebounds for Buckiiiits, which inexplicably used the same defensive lineup for the last 10 minutes of the game, despite having two timeouts at its disposal.

Forced to play cautiously in the second half after picking up three quick fouls, Backs shot a very un-JJ-like 7-for-19 from the field, despite several strong drives into the paint. He did, however, finish with four rebounds and six steals, all of which came in the first half.

Only four of seven players scored for Buckiiiits, including your trusty correspondent, who finished with 0 points, one rebound and two steals, in addition to suffocating defense and innumerable high-fives in an attempt to boost team morale.

<3>