A-Z Reviews: W

Bob Wickman
-Thickman, or Fatty McFatty, or Blob, or whatever you called him went from a guy I didn't like as a player to a guy I didn't like as a player and a person in one short week. Wickman, who has had a few good runs, but struggled at times to get outs in 2007, was pissed in August when used in a non-save chance. Truth was, the guy didn't deserve to close anymore than Oscar Villarreal, but hey, that's why I don't manage, right? The decision made him blow a fuse, or at least get pretty angry, and he spoke up. Soon after, he was gone and the Braves saved a lot on fuel from lugging his big ass to places. He finished up with Arizona and had a barely noticable eight games in middle relief. Whispers are that he may have played his last game.

2008 Outlook: See 2007 write-up. If he returns, he will have to work his way onto some team and hope to prolong his career with middle inning work, something that bothered him so much in Atlanta. Otherwise, he's headed to the retirement line.

Craig Wilson
-Sometimes, things just don't work out. Craig Wilson's signing last offseason was a great move at the time for the Braves. Wilson was a strikeout machine, sure, but he had solid numbers across the board as a Pirate. However, the platoon with Scott Thorman worked against him and he never got started. In 24 games, he hit .172 with just one homer. His struggles eventually ended with a release from the Braves system. He hooked up with Charlotte, the White Sox AAA team, and was horrible for them in 15 games.

2008 Outlook: Wilson can still hit, I feel. Things snowballed on him. He may have to take an independent league contract, but I would be surprised if he never got another major league chance. But stranger things have happened, I guess.

Chris Woodward
-Woody somehow parlayed his lack of skills into a full season in which he played in over half of the Braves games. In 92 insertions to the lineup, he hit .199/.252/.279 with a homer. His best offensive production was four sacbunts, but he was horrible at bunting too. Yet, he stuck around. Like a bad visitor.

2008 Outlook: On the positive side, Cox stopped even playing Woody in September, showing that yes, Woody has no place in the plans for this team. With Brent Lillibridge, Martin Prado, Willy Aybar, and a possible veteran middle infielder for some backup in the mix, Woody can ruin another team's bench next year.