Atlanta Braves

COACHES
Dave Bristol          Manager    512-566  .475
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Vern Benson           Coach
Chris Cannizaro       Coach
Eddie Haas            Coach
Johnny Sain           Pitching

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (52,000, grass)
Distances: LFL-330, LF-372, LC-395, CF-402, RC-395, RF-372, RFL-330
Walls: 10 feet
1976 All- Stars: SP Andy Messersmith, SP Dick Ruthven

• Strengths: Very good closer and underrated catcher
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• Weaknesses: Offense
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• Offseason Moves: Acquired RF Jeff Burroughs from Texas for RF Ken Anderson, OF Dave May, P Carl Morton, P Roger Moret, P Adrian Devine and $250,000. Sold LF Jim Wynn to the New York Yankees. Acquired LF Gary Matthews through free agency. Bought SP Eddie Solomon. Signed MR Bob Johnson as a free agent.
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• Starting Pitching: C
  Phil Niekro (17-11, 3.29 ERA), rookie Preston Hanna, Andy Messersmith (11-11, 3.04 ERA), Dick Ruthven (14-17, 4.19 ERA), Solomon (1-1, 4.86 ERA).
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• Bullpen: C+
  No current player in the Braves bullpen had more than 100 IP last year. Rick Camp (11.1 IP, 0-1, 6.35 ERA), Jamie Easterly (22 IP, 1-1, 4.91 ERA), Max Leon (36 IP, 2-4, 3 Sv, 2.75 ERA) and rookies Dave Campbell, Mike Davey and Bob Johnson.
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• Closer: A-
  Mike Marshall (6-4, 14 Sv, 3.99 ERA) takes over the closer role for the departed Adrian Devine.
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• Catcher: A-
  Underrated Biff Pocaroba (.241, 14 RBI, 1 SB) beat out Vic Correll.
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• Infield: D
  Converted catcher Dale Murphy (.262, 9 RBI in 19 games) showed promise at 1B this spring, but 2B Rod Gilreath (.251, 1 HR, 32 RBI), rookie 3B Barry Bonnell and free agent SS Jerry Royster (.248, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 24 SB) are adequate at defense but provide little else.
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• Outfield: C
  The acquisition of Burroughs (.237, 18 HR, 86 RBI) to play RF to compliment Gary Matthews (.279, 20 HR, 84 RBI, 12 SB) in LF was a key move for the Braves. Problem is, Rowland Office (.281, 4 HR, 34 RBI) is not the answer in CF.
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• Bench: D-
  Last year's starting 1B Willie Montanez (.317, 11 RBI, 84 RBI) is the best of the lot, with Junior Moore (.269) and Pat Rockett (.200) shoring up the infield. Cito Gaston (.291, 4 HR, 25 RBI) and Brian Asselstine (.212, 1 HR, 3 RBI) will be spelling the outfielders.
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• Outlook: 66-96. Last in the NL West. While the addition of Burroughs will certainly help this club offensively, there are just too many holes on the pitching staff to make a good season a reality.