Braves look south for southpaw starter

Scott Miller says the Braves are pursuing Florida lefty Scott Olsen, who's arbitration eligible and thus unattractive to the Fish.

It's tough to get a read on Olsen, who, as I recall, has had a few run-ins with teammates and management. His rookie year was dazzling: 180 IP, 160 hits and 166 K's. He was awful in '07, finishing with a 5.81 ERA. Last year was a mixed bag. His strikeouts dipped for the second straight year, down to 111. But he topped 200 innings while improving his control.

Other pluses: he's a lefty, he's young (25 in January) and his upside is considerable.

--CB

Comments

[PepeFreeUs]

Yeah, Kenny Rogers. Nice call. I can't count how many times I've thought to myself, "Man, if we could just have a starter who attacked elderly war hero photographers! That would be so kick ass!"

[Willie Montanez]

Pepe - Maybe we can add Kenny Rogers to your dream rotation.

[atlpaddy]

Can anybody teach Milton Bradley how to pitch?

[wuky]

I'd take Olsen, but definitely not as an ace. As long as the only news he makes is on the diamond, I wouldn't mind him pitching for the Braves.

[PepeFreeUs]

Oh, awesome. If we play our cards right, maybe we can land Brett Meyers and Carlos Zambrano, too. I would just love to have a starting rotation made up of erratic, violent headcases.