Braves Rotation: Back to the Future?

Smoltz, Maddux, Glavine if those names don't make you think of the tomahawk chop, october nights, and the Leo Rock; then my friend this blog is not for you. Man those were the days, basically everynight the Braves played you had a CY Young winner on the mound. If the braves scored 2 runs we would probably still win if the offense gave us 3 or more than game over. Now I am not saying the Braves are their yet or they will ever have a rotation that includes 3 of the best pitchers ever to pitch, but I am saying that it is possible that the Braves rotation in a year or two will draw comparisons to that 90's rotation. Let's take a look at the braves rotati0n right now:

D. Lowe (2-1) 3.10
J. Jurrjens (2-2) 1.72
J. Vazquez (2-2) 3.38
K. Kawakami (1-3) 7.06
Jo Jo Reyes (01) 4.26

The Braves rotation is a very very good rotation right now. Lowe, Jurrjens, and Vazquez are all pitching great. Lowe is pitching great getting ground ball out after ground ball out. He has a great infield backing him up which is huge for a sinkerball pitcher. Jurrjens, dude J.J. is amazing. He should be 4-0. He is 4th in NL in ERA. This guy is going to be good for many MANY years to come. Vazquez is third in the N.L with 42 K's (only two behind leader Santana). When he is on he reminds me of Glavine, not overwhelming stuff but alot of movement and just painting the corners. He hasn't been hit hard at all this year, and has caught a few bad breaks. When he is on his game he is fun to watch. Kenshin Kawakami, yeah the ERA looks bad, but the guy has been pitching in the majors for less than a month. He is having to adjust not only to MLB but his whole life. He is used to a 6 man rotation anyway so his conditioning right now might not be that great. Give him till end of June, then start to worry. Jo Jo, I don't like Jo Jo and I don't know many braves fans that do. But his last outing was his best outing probably in his career (7.0IP, 1ER, 7K, 3H). I just don't see him duplicating that ever again.

Let's look at the probable rotation in a couple of months:

D. Lowe
J. Jurrjens
J. Vazquez
T. Hanson
K. Kawakami

I am all about letting Hanson get work in Gwinnett (1.69 ERA right now), but once Jo Jo loses a few more games they have to call him up. Hanson is basically a young Smoltz. Bold statement? yes. Ridiculous statement? no. They say his slider is as good as Smoltzies and his fastball reaches 99 mph. During the trading season; no team went after Hanson because they knew he was "untouchable". If all goes according to plan, Hanson will be our ace for along time.

A look at the Braves rotation opening day 2010:

T. Hudson
D. Lowe
T. Hanson
J. Jurrjens
J. Vazquez

My Lord that is nasty. I mean look at it. Look at it again. Any single one of those guys could/would be the ace on most other teams. The problem and it is a good problem is where is Kawakami. I really believe that Kenshin is going to be a solid starter in the majors. He is like 33 so he probably only has like 5-7 years left. I don't think the Braves would trade him just because we would want to keep a good relationship up with the Japanese. It would not look good for the first Japanese player in the Braves organization to be traded after his first year. Bullpen maybe? I don't know but it will be a good problem.

A year ago if you were to tell me that the braves staff in 2010 would be as good as the roatation in the 90's I would have laughed in your face. Now, it at least makes you stop and think.