SportsFullCircle

Garret Anderson has been “The Angel” in Anaheim for his entire 15 year career.

Now he’s simply one of the Atlanta Braves.

The veteran left fielder signed an incentive-based one-year deal with a guaranteed $2 million.  Ken Griffey, Jr., the Braves’ aforementioned target, was supposed to be suited for a platoon role in left with Matt Diaz; however, the left-handed hitting Garret Anderson might surpass that role in Atlanta.  He was a crucial part of last year’s potent Los Angeles Angels offense - in more ways than one.  Firstly, last season, he hit .293 with 15 home runs, 84 RBI, and a .758 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage).  Secondly, he hits as well against right-handers as he does against southpaws which is an anomaly for left-handed hitters; last year, he hit .293 against righties and .290 versus left-handed pitchers.  For his career, those numbers are frighteningly similar: .299 against righties and .291 facing lefties.

Thirdly, and probably most importantly, Anderson is undeniably clutch.  Last season for the Angels, he hit .338 and had a .415 slugging percentage with runners in scoring position.  His hitting ability will most likely allow third baseman Chipper Jones to stay third in the batting order, a place which Chipper said he would like to keep.

So the Braves did achieve one objective as the 2009 off-season comes to a close: securing a good bat in left field.  With the restructuring of the starting rotation, expect the Braves to make some noise in 2009.