Eric O’Flaherty is likely headed for Tommy John Surgery. He’ll meet with Dr. James Andrews early next week. (Image Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Eric O’Flaherty has a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and is scheduled to meet with Dr. James Andrews early next week, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. O’Flaherty began to experience a spasm in his left-elbow following his departure from Friday night’s game, which led to an MRI exam on Saturday which revealed the tear. In all likelihood he will need to undergo Tommy John Surgery and he’ll miss the remainder of the 2013 season.

Atlanta placed O’Flaherty on the disabled list Saturday afternoon, making him the fifth Braves reliever on the shelf due to injury.

Originally a member of the Seattle Mariners, O’Flaherty has emerged as one of the better left-handed relievers in baseball since joining the Braves via a waiver claim following the 2008 season. He’s made 295 appearances over the past five seasons, posting a 1.99 ERA and 1.155 WHIP over 249.1 IP. He’d already made 19 appearances this season, going 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA and 0.944 WHIP over 18.0 IP. The Braves have come to rely heavily on O’Flaherty (he’s twice appeared in 78 games in one season) and Jonny Venters in the setup role ahead of closer Craig Kimbrel. Suddenly both options are not available with O’Flaherty likely facing surgery.

Venters has been on the sidelines since late in Spring Training, when it was first diagnosed that he’d need to under surgery on his elbow. He finally went through the procedure on Thursday, the second time in his career that he’s needed to undergo Tommy John Surgery.

Jordan Walden (shoulder inflammation), Luis Ayala (anxiety disorder), and Christian Martinez (shoulder inflammation) all also find themselves on the DL for Atlanta. Walden and Ayala are both anticipated back before the end of May, but the Braves still find themselves in a precarious position having so many of their bullpen pieces injured or otherwise unable to contribute.

Cory Rasmus was called up from Triple-A to replace O’Flaherty on the active roster. The right-hander has pitched to a 0.93 ERA and 0.879 WHIP over 19.1 IP on the year for Gwinnet, after posting strong numbers at Double-A the year before. He’s yet to make his MLB Debut. There are currently few veteran options within the organization that could offer some depth, prompting Bowman to ask Braves GM Frank Wren about the team’s plans moving forward, including an inquiry about prospect Alex Wood (a 2012 2nd Round Draft pick who’s posted a 0.82 ERA and 0.955 WHIP through 44.0 IP at Double-A this year):

I don’t think we need to disrupt the development of players at this point. We’ve got to let them continue to develop and grow. He’s doing really well, but we’re not at the point where we think that would be advantageous to him or us.

Expect the Braves to continue entertaining lower tier free agent options who’d be willing to join the organization on minor league deals. They’ve signed Kameron Loe (who’s already been let go by both the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs this season) and Juan Cedeno (who was cut from the New York Yankees Triple-A affiliate just two weeks into the season) in the past week. Joe Beimel also agreed to a deal with the team Saturday afternoon, but he hasn’t thrown a pitch in the Major Leagues since 2011 after missing all of last season to TJ Surgery himself.

McCann will be one of the highest paid players on the market this offseason (Image: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)

While McCann is primarily a catcher, Gattis has the ability to play two other positions (left field and first base). It’s that flexibility and his hot hand to start the year, that has some believing that Gattis will overtake McCann’s spot, while the latter looks for work elsewhere. It’s an interesting proposition to say the least because McCann is entering his prime years, and is two years removed from a .270/.351/.466 (121 wRC+) campaign in which he hit 24 home runs and knocked in 71 runs. Needless to say, offensive catchers are difficult to come by, so McCann will command a ton of money on the open market.

So who are among the teams that would presumably make a run at acquiring/trade for the 29-year-old catcher? The big fish in the sea (Dodgers, Rangers, Yankees) have to be high on the list.

• Dodgers

Although their catcher, A.J. Ellis, is perfectly capable of holding down the position from both an offensive and defensive standpoint, it’s hard to argue McCann wouldn’t make that lineup even more dangerous. The flip side to that is the club has Tim Federowicz stashed in AAA who is ripe for a call-up, obtaining McCann would almost make either Ellis or Federowicz available to the highest bidder.

• Yankees

The Yanks found themselves in a peculiar position this past offseason when they decided to go cheap and stick to a budget. That seemingly backfired when they lost their starting catcher Russell Martin via free agency. While they’ve gotten good production from Francisco Cervelli, some argue he’s just a very good backup, not a starter. The club also has youngsters Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez waiting in the wings, so a long-term deal for McCann could stunt their ascension to the majors.

• Rangers

The Rangers are seemingly in on every free agent or trade rumor and McCann is no exception. Their starter, A.J. Pierzynski, and backup, Geovany Soto are gone after 2013. That leaves a huge hole to fill on a championship-caliber club. The team will likely sign one them this offseason and go hard after McCann. Or they might decide to go cheap and go all-in on McCann and call-up Robinson Chirinos who is hitting .295/.404/.487 in 94 ABs in AAA this year.

McCann will undoubtedly be a hot commodity this offseason or even at the trade deadline. The Braves are in a great position with their catching depth with Gattis, Gerald Laird, and up-and-comer Christian Bethancourt. When a team such as Atlanta is in the driver’s seat, they can demand a king’s ransom for their player’s services. Two questions remain, do the Braves let him walk or get something for him while they still have him? And how long will McCann stay behind the plate?

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs

Atlanta Braves hurler Tim Hudson posted his 200th career win Tuesday night over the Washington Nationals, making him the third active pitcher to reach the milestone. Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

About five minutes after Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson‘s 200th victory was in the books Tuesday night discussion turned to the topic of whether or not winning 200 big-league games now automatically qualifies a pitcher for inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

The argument advanced is that baseball is in a different era and 200 wins now may be equal to 300 wins of the past and up until Roger Clemens got the cold shoulder for reasons other than his statistics in this year’s vote 300 wins made you a lock for the Hall.

Hudson, an 8-1 victor over the Washington Nationals, also hit a home run in the game, not something he is prone to do. Up until the first comment uttered aloud about Hudson, his name and the words Hall of Fame had never occurred in the same thought for me. And right now I’m thinking he still has a way to go to impress me sufficiently to believe he belongs.

I do not believe 200 is the new 300. No way. Talk to me about this again in several years and by then maybe I’ll grudgingly go along with 250 or 270. While compiling wins is paramount for a starter numerous other things must be taken into account, from earned run average to strikeouts, complete games and the like. Hudson’s ERA is 3.42.

There are several pitchers in the Hall of Fame that won fewer than 215 games, including Chief Bender, 212, Don Drysdale, 209, Ed Walsh, 195, Lefty Gomez, 189, Sandy Koufax, 165, and Dizzy Dean, 150. This tells us that not reaching 200 wins doesn’t automatically keep a guy out of the Hall.

Hudson became the 110th pitcher in baseball history with 200 wins and something I read said that represents barely more than 1 one percent of all pitchers who have thrown in the big leagues. That’s an impressive stat. Another impressive stat that I really had no idea about is Hudson’s winning percentage of .656.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound, 37-year-old right-hander has a career record of 200-105 in parts of 15 Major League seasons. He has won 20 games only once, but has reached at least 15 wins seven other times. Then throw in five more seasons with at least 11 wins and there is a better case for Hudson than I thought, though it wouldn’t hurt him to rack up another 30 wins before he wraps things up.

However, although we can name great pitchers with fewer wins that are in the Hall, there are also some pretty darned good pitchers who won a lot of games that are not in the Hall. Most notable among them are Tommy John with 288 wins and Jim Kaat with 283. Let’s not forget soon-to-be-eligible Mike Mussina with 270 and Jamie Moyer with 269. And Jack Morris is facing his last year of eligibility on the ballot with 254 wins.

The leading active winner is Andy Pettitte with 248 wins. Roy Halladay has 201. No one else besides Hudson has 200.

If the mindset is going to change about what it takes for a starting pitcher to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, I think it’s more important that voters give more value to what some relief pitchers have accomplished in compiling hundreds of saves. Lee Smith (478 saves) shrieks for inclusion, ranking ahead of many starting pitchers in terms of achievement and longevity.

Really, though, what the inclusion of Sandy Koufax and Dizzy Dean in the Hall of Fame, coupled with the thus-far exclusion of Tommy John and Jim Kaat, shows is that there is no automatic number of wins to gain entrance, but as it should be, each case is considered on the singular merits of the individual.

Jason Heyward landed on the DL this morning thanks to an emergency appendectomy. (Image Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)

Jason Heyward has been placed on the DL by the Atlanta Braves following an emergency appendectomy late Monday evening. The right fielder will likely miss at least the next two weeks while he recovers from surgery. Tyler Pastornicky has been called up from Triple-A to take his place on the active roster.

Heyward had apparently been coping with what the team believed was just a simple stomach virus over the weekend in Pittsburgh. Upon arriving in Denver for a series against the Colorado Rockies, Heyward’s condition worsened and the team had him checked out by a local doctor. Surgery was recommended and Heyward underwent the procedure right away. Heyward is reportedly resting comfortably, though he’s “a bit beat up” from the procedure according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

With a .121/.261/.259 line through 69 PA, to say that Heyward has struggled at the plate thus far on the year would be an understatement. He’s managed just four extra base hits (two doubles, two homers).

Reed Johnson and Jordan Schafer are expected to see most of the playing time in right field over the next two weeks. Justin Upton, who’s spent most of his career in right and is off to one of the best starts in all of baseball, will likely remain in left field from what O’Brien has been told by team management. The team doesn’t want to alter his routine given how well he’s been swinging the bat thus far.

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

McCann, a .279/.351/.475 hitter in eight seasons with the Braves, has proven himself a valuable commodity in Atlanta by contributing 26.6 career WAR per FanGraphs, but his time with the club may be limited nonetheless after struggling with injuries of late and slumping to a .698 OPS last season. Considering the emergence of the surprising Evan Gattis and the fact that McCann (who is earning $12 million in 2013) is in the final year of his contract, it’s very possible he and the organization could be parting ways either via trade this summer or through the free agency process at season’s end.

In any case, both sides benefit from the player at full health, so getting him back on the field should be a definite lift, and even a team that starts off 12-1 needs all the good fortune it can get.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

After being sidetracked by personal problems for several years, Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis is making a name for himself with his hot start this season. Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

I just scorched my fingers by typing the words “Atlanta Braves.” That’s how hot they are two weeks into the baseball season. If I smoked, I could light a cigarette by standing near their dugout. To cook my steaks well done all I would have to do is perform a tomahawk chop near the grill.

The Braves can’t keep this up without setting records and the six months of the regular season is the great equalizer, but for the time being “Wow” should suffice. The Braves just toyed with the Washington Nationals. The Reds are struggling. The Dodgers are hurting. Yeah, it’s early, but it’s not difficult to see how we might have to rewrite prognostications for the 2013 National League season.

And all this without Greg Maddux in the lineup. Maybe Chipper Jones will second-guess himself for not staying around one more year. He’s probably in a school-yard cage trying to get his stroke sharp so he can jump on this bandwagon.

Atlanta has Monday off and the rest of the league is thankful for the break. Let the Braves go watch the new Jackie Robinson movie “42″ and leave everyone else in the league alone for a day.

The Braves are 11-1. They have a nine-game winning streak. The pitching staff’s earned run average is 1.81. Atlanta crushed pre-season league favorite Washington 9-0 Sunday, capping a three-game series sweep. I don’t know what to predict for Atlanta come October, but I like the Braves more every day in my NCAA bracket.

Atlanta is doing this with some major flailing–thus far–in the batting order. B.J. Upton is hitting .163. Jason Heyward is hitting .103. Dan Uggla is hitting .171. On the flip side, Justin Upton is batting .348. Catcher Evan Gattis is batting .324. And first baseman Chris Johnson is batting .405. I don’t even know those last two guys’ first names without checking the roster. But as the song says, enough of them are hot blooded, with a fever of 103 right now. (Go figure on the good brother versus the bad brother hitting with the Uptons. Could change tomorrow).

Meanwhile, Gattis, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound catcher could be the second coming of Josh Hamilton. When he was younger, Gattis, 26, was a renowned amateur player who was ticketed to Texas A&M on scholarship. However, anxiety-ridden, he felt so much pressure to perform that he began taking drugs and drinking alcohol that for a while he spent more time in a drug rehab facility than on the diamond.

Gattis got injured, quit baseball, spent some time hanging out at Yellowstone National Park, and in New Mexico, Texas and California, too. In 2010 he began his battle back in the sport and is now showing the form that scouts loved as a teenager. Braves’ gain.

Atlanta has been winning games by a margin of about 6-2 and that’s because the pitching has been astonishing. Paul Maholm is 3-0 with a 0.00 earned run average. That used to be a good season for him. Tim Hudson is 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA. Kris Medlen has a 1.50 ERA. Then there is closer Craig Kimbrel who has six saves in six tries with a 0.00 ERA.

The team run differential is 62-23. If you don’t allow any runs, you don’t have to score very many to win. Wait. This report just in. The reflected heat from Turner Field ignited a lava flow on Stone Mountain. Now that’s hot, particularly since Stone Mountain is a quartz dome, not a volcano.

Jonny Venters will be shut down for at least four weeks following a PRP injection from Dr. James Andrews. (Image Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)

Just over a week ago, the Atlanta Braves pulled Jonny Venters from a Spring Training game due to some concerns over the reliever’s arm. The left-hander was diagnosed with a sprain, but the discomfort and inflammation has persisted since, resulting in a visit to famed orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. Venters received a plasma-rich platelet injection from Dr. Andrews and will be shut down for at least the next four weeks, according to details passed along by David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Anytime a pitcher is experiencing elbow pain and winds up in Dr. Andrews’ offices, the thought process always turns to Tommy John Surgery. Venters has previously undergone the procedure, following the 2005 minor league season, but results of an MRI performed this week appear to have been inconclusive. Andrews recommended the PRP injection as a possible form of treatment, as others have done in the past. This injection was done with the hope that in conjunction with some rest Venters might be able to return to the Braves bullpen sooner rather than later. PRP is an emerging form of treatment, believed to stimulate growth in healing tissue without the need to perform surgery. The team will monitor his progress once he resumes a throwing program in a few weeks.

If things progress as hoped, Venters could potentially make his way back to the Braves bullpen as early as mid-May. If his elbow doesn’t respond positively to the injection and he ends up needing to undergo Tommy John Surgery once again, his recovery could cut into the 2014 season (depending on how long the team waits before he actually undergoes the procedure).

Venters has been a workhorse for the Braves over the past three seasons, serving as possibly one of the most underrated bullpen pieces in the Major Leagues. He’s made 230 appearances since making his debut during the 2010 season, posting a 2.23 ERA and 1.241 WHIP over that stretch, adding 10.1 K/9 in 229.2 IP. If he is going to miss an extended period of time – which appears to be a real possibility – the Braves will need to overcome that loss. Eric O’Flaherty and Luis Avilan will be asked to take on significant roles out of the bullpen as the team’s chief left-handed options. Right-hander Jordan Walden, acquired over the winter, will also be expected to help out in a setup role ahead of Craig Kimbrel in Venters’ absence.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg should not be held back by inning counts this year as he was in 2012 when the team felt he was not far enough removed from surgery to go full blast all year. Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Now that we have put the Stephen Strasburg fiasco behind us and he most likely will be treated like a real live pitcher rather than a porcelain doll, the Washington Nationals seem as solid top-to-bottom as any team in baseball. They should capture the National League East Division title and then fight it out in the playoffs with a strong chance of advancing to the World Series.

The last time the city of Washington, D.C. had a World Series winner (including a couple of versions of the Senators) Walter Johnson was on the team in 1924. To hear people talk Strasburg is the second coming of Walter Johnson, but after the team’s mollycoddling last season, shutting him down before the regular season ended, an act that help nip the Nationals’ own playoff run, I expect him to be superb.

Washington has the pitching (Gio Gonzalez won 21 games, though his name did come up in the paperwork of the Biogenesis Clinic files) and has rookie of the year Bryce Harper in the outfield, among other weapons. At this time last year many thought the Nationals might have a breakout year to push them above .500. Well, the Nationals zoomed all of the way to the top of the standings with 98 wins. Health permitting, the Nationals should be better this year.

The Nationals do not seem to have any holes in their lineup and are so wealthy in talent that they have two closers in Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen. Many of the players are young, too, and may be primed to post their best seasons. Washington definitely looks as good or better than any  team in either league.

Still, it’s the Atlanta Braves’ job to chase down the Nationals. They won’t do it in the regular season. Atlanta is not nearly as well-equipped to win as many regular-season games as Washington. The Braves are good, but not as good as the Nationals in most categories. The biggest void will be replacing future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones in the field and in the clubhouse. There’s no easy fix for that.

Two Braves players who will be intriguing to watch are starting pitcher Kris Medlen and closer Craig Kimbrel. At times they were each the hottest thrower in the National League in 2012, which for different reasons had them bordering on the unbelievable.

After scuffling for a few years Medlen began the season in the bullpen. But when he was shifted into the starting rotation in the latter stages of the season, all of a sudden he was Greg Maddux II. Medlen finished 10-1 with a 1.57 earned run average. The way he is talked about going into this season the Braves make it sound as if they expect 20-2 this time around.

Meanwhile, out in the bullpen Kimbrel was doing the same thing that Aroldis Chapman was doing in Cincinnati, though seemingly with less fanfare. In 2011, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound righty was the NL rookie of the year when he set a rookie record of saving 46 games. Last year, on his way to a second straight All-Star selection, Kimbrel saved 42 games. He also became the first pitcher in history to strike out more than 50 percent of the batters he faced. You used to hear the phrase about a handcuffed team at the plate that it couldn’t hit the ball out of the infield. Against Kimbrel teams can’t even get their bats on the ball.

It was not so long ago that the team of consequence in this division was the Philadelphia Phillies. Riding high one minute, falling apart the next, though, pretty well defined the Phils. They reached the playoffs four straight years, were a World Series favorite in 2012 after winning 102 games in 2011, but won just 81 games in 2013. Ryan Howard‘s Achilles heel was definitely the Phillies’ Achilles heel as well.

The disastrous year provoked the Phils into making some personnel changes, but no one is talking about Philadelphia possessing the greatest pitching rotation of all time the way they were two years ago. The Phillies are solid, though, and very dangerous in a short series as long as Roy Halladay stays well. He had some worrisome outings in spring training.

New York’s Metropolitans are also in this division and it figures to be a long summer at CitiField. There should be a few bright spots, starting with David Wright, once he glues his body back together after the World Baseball Classic.  Which should be enough to put the Mets ahead of the Marlins, who will have a shortage of pitching, a shortage of hitting, a shortage of wins, and a shortage of bright spots.

This is how the NL East Division should look in 2013: 1) Washington Nationals; 2) Philadelphia Phillies; 3) Atlanta Braves; 4) New York Mets; 5) Miami Marlins.

March 3, 2013; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Justin Upton (8), right fielder Jason Heyward (22) and center fielder B.J. Upton (2) talk prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers at ESPN Disney Wide World of Sports complex, Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves enter 2013 seeking a return trip to the postseason minus the face of the franchise. After 19 years with the Braves, Chipper Jones took his 468 career HR and 1623 RBI and will wait on his Florida porch for a Cooperstown call in five years. To help replace Chipper’s bat in the lineup the Braves signed free agent B.J. Upton and traded for his brother Justin.

Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren wasted little time locking up B.J. Upton to a $75 million 5 year deal in November. Though he does not hit for a high average, he almost joined the 30-30 club in 2012. B.J. Upton will give the Braves a plus defender in center field and can be counted on to approach his career batting line of .255/.336/.422.

In January Wren pulled off a trade that added B.J.’s little brother to the Braves lineup. A package highlighted by Martin Prado was sent to Arizona in exchange for Justin Upton and Chris Johnson. Justin Upton had a relatively down year in 2012, but he seems to bounce back in odd numbered years. In 2009 and 2011, he averaged 28 HR and 87 RBI.

Johnson had a decent 2012, hitting 15 HR and driving in 76 between Houston and Arizona. He will battle Juan Francisco for the departed Chipper Jones third base spot.

With a number of young starting pitchers ready to contribute, the Braves were able to send Tommy Hanson to the Angels in exchange for reliever Jordan Walden. In three years with the Angels, Walden has a 3.06 ERA and a .225 BAA in 114.2 IP.

The Braves primary challenger in the NL East will be the Washington Nationals while the aging Phillies remain dangerous. The Braves have a deep and consistent lineup. The Uptons along with Jason Heyward give manager Fredi Gonzalez a trio of athletic outfielders outfielders with 20-20 potential. The Braves also have a strong infield consisting of home grown youngsters Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons along with veteran 2B Dan Uggla. While C Brian McCann has been slowed by injuries, he has hit 20 HR in five consecutive seasons.

The Braves pitching is also deep. The rotation is fronted by Tim Hudson and Kris Medlen. Medlen went 9-0 in his final twelve starts and may have been baseball’s best pitcher after the All-Star break. Paul Maholm, Julio Teheran and Mike Minor will fill out the rotation while Brandon Beachy looks to return mid-season.  At the back end of the bullpen, the Braves can count on baseball’s best closer Craig Kimbrel to nail down 40 plus saves. Setting up Kimbrel are proven setup men Eric O’Flaherty and Jonny Venters.

The Washington Nationals have been coronated  favorites this preseason, but their divisional rival Atlanta will be a worthy challenger all year. The Atlanta Braves have the lineup and pitching depth to be considered a serious postseason threat themselves. There is a strong possibility that these two teams will slug it out for the NL East crown, with the loser securing a wild card berth.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kris Medlen grabbed headlines last summer when he went 10-1 with a 1.57 earned run average and his team is hoping for more of the same in 2013. Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

I remember reading the box scores over the last couple of months of the 2012 season and wondering about a name that kept popping up in the Atlanta Braves’ results. Kris Medlen‘s name did not mean a thing to me. Never heard of him. But after a little while it was hard to ignore him. Game after game the guy kept racking up Ws.

Dribs and drabs of information seeped out about him. Initially I figured he was some young rookie, a 21-year-old hotshot that was unexpectedly zooming to the forefront of the Braves’ rotation. Well, he is 27, and has been around a little longer than I thought. How Medlen performed over the last stretch of last season, though, was unforgettable. He went 10-1 with a 1.57 earned run average. That boing noise you heard was the collective sound of eyes being opened so wide they created a whiplash effect on the lids.

Man, that’s some pitching. Now, of course, as for all athletes in all sports, the question occurs, Can he do it again? Was Medlen a fluke or is he the second coming of Warren Spahn and Greg Maddux combined?

Medlen is from Santa Ana, California and he was a Braves 10th-round pick in the 2006 amateur draft. He hung around in the minors, hoping for a break, for a while and then made the Atlanta roster in 2009. He appeared in 37 games and went 3-5. Nothing to get excited about. Things were a little more promising in 2010 when Medlen finished 6-2, until his arm went kaput and he underwent Tommy John surgery. The next season, 2011, was pretty much a washout with Medlen appearing in just two games for the Braves while recovering from his operation. Then in 2012 he was Superman.

A right-hander who depends more on location than blowing hitters away with his heat, Medlen can still touch 93 mph on the speed gun. He is 5-foot-10, more physically resembling Maddux than some hulking power thrower like CC Sabathia. When he is on the mound, staring in for the sign, or thinking about what he is going to throw to the next hitter, Medlen is one of those pitchers the camera likes to watch. That’s because he is constantly twitchy, as if he is trying to shrug off a group mosquito attack. It turns out that’s how he is in real life, too, a can’t-sit-still guy.

Apparently Medlen’s secret recipe for success is eating peanut butter and honey sandwiches before his starts. Another run like last year and Skippy will be checking its advertising budget to determine whether to sign this guy up for an endorsement deal.

Lots of eyes are going to be on Kedlen when the season kicks off. Some will be wondering if last season was an accident and he is going to revert to being a utilityman pitcher for the Braves, handling some starts and some long relief. Others will be rooting for him to keep up the pace he set last year, piling up the wins, baffling batters.

If the guy doubles what he did in a half a season over a full season, then he is the National League Cy Young winner. If Medlen pitches within the realm of top-notch starter, then he might be an 18-game winner. The Braves would be happy with that. They just don’t want people to show up at the diamond with kryptonite when Medlen’s pitching and see him go 6-12 or something.

The game of Baseball has always been a great equalizer over time. Those who like Icarus fly too close to the sun inevitably fall to earth. But hopefully Medlen will squeeze every ounce of fun out of his ride before that happens.