Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves fans watch the game from the hill in left field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

January 22 – February 2

Atlanta Braves Caravan rolls through five states (Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee)

February 4-20

Salary arbitration hearings held (if necessary)

February 11

Voluntary Spring Training report date for pitchers, catchers and injured players

February 12

Atlanta Braves pitchers and catchers reports

February 15

Atlanta Braves full squad reports

February 20

Mandatory date that all non-World Baseball Classic players must report

February 22

First Grapefruit and Cactus League games

February 22

Detroit Tigers at Atlanta Braves, 1:05pm ET, ESPN Wild World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida

March 2

World Baseball Classic first round games begin

March 8-12

World Baseball Classic second round games in Tokyo, Japan

March 12-16

World Baseball Classic second round games in Miami, Florida

March 17-19

World Baseball Classic Championship round in San Francisco, California

March 30

Final Grapefruit and Cactus League games

March 31

Opening Night: Texas Rangers at Houston Astros, 8pm ET, ESPN

March 31

Active rosters have to be trimmed to 25

April 1

Opening Night for Atlanta: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves, 7:10pm ET, ESPN

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Earlier today, our editor wrote how this was the best part of Spring Training. I have to respectfully disagree. This part of Spring Training is great for the position battles and the roster moves that ensue, yes. But the games are boring. The excitement of baseball being back is gone, replaced by the monotonous meaningless games. You just want the games to start. Luckily, there is a bit of a break because of the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics starting the regular season today.

But for the other 28 teams, it’s hard. You saw it in yesterday’s game against the Mets. Both teams are opening the season against each other and we are in the final turn of the rotation before Opening Day. So you saw two pitchers start the game that will likely not be on the Opening Day roster. That’s fine, I suppose. In the big picture it means meaningful baseball is so close. In the small picture, you can pretty much glance over most of the statistics and results in the next week.

In the Braves perspective, you do have some questions although the answers do seem a little bit more clear. Andrelton Simmons has taken the expected step back and will likely start the season in the minors. The rotation seems set, although Julio Teheran will get a final look, and a final shot, to make his case (at least to start the season.) Jair Jurrjens stopped worrying about his knee and pitched his best game of the spring. Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward are getting their hitting sticks into mid-season form. Things that had people worrying since last September have slowly been disappearing. The optimism surrounding Opening Day seems to be increasing for the Braves (despite the Chipper Jones injury) just as it is fading for their biggest division rival in Philadelphia. It should be a very interesting season. If only there wasn’t this last week to have to sit through.

Mar. 23, 2012; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; New York Mets left fielder Lucas May (62) stands with Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla (26) on second base during the fifth inning at Champion Stadium. Braves won 9-4. Braves won 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Right now is the best part of Spring Training guys. The position battles are starting to wind down and we are getting a good feel for who will be where come Open… wait? What’s that? We don’t know much more than we did before pitchers and catchers report? There is still an outfield position battle and a starting shortstop battle? Oh, my bad guys.

But seriously I love this part of Spring Training because the rumor mill heats back up and people (including me) can speculate all kinds of ridiculous trades. Plus, the team has put it together the past few days. The team is 7-3 with two ties the past 13 days and a solid group of hitters are looking good.

Martin Prado has been hot the entire Spring and is batting .362/.431/.483 with more walks than strikeouts. Dan Uggla can still hit homeruns. He has 6 and is batting .313/.404/.750. Brian McCann (not the best offensive catcher in the game by the way) is hitting .293/.400/.463 with a couple bombs. Michael Bourn and Freddie Freeman have picked it up lately as well.

There are still some questions with the team though mainly including:

• The team hasn’t decided on a shortstop yet
• Matt Diaz is on the team
• We don’t know who is going to win the outfield bench battle
• and Matt Diaz is on the team

Like many Braves writers (including me) have said already, Matt Diaz is the main problem with the bench right now. If he was gone we would have a much better bunch that would look something like this. Ross/Hinske/Wilson/Sutton/either Parraz or Durango. Unfortunately I don’t think that is going to happen; somehow Matt Diaz will be wasting a spot on the pine.

Hopefully people have realized why a two week sample size is pretty rough as Tyler Pastornicky has bumped his average up above Andrelton Simmons. He should be a lock to start the season in the 6 hole in my opinion but apparently the people in the dugout like defense a whole lot. The point is, Simmons needs to work on his hitting more than Tyler Pastornicky does.

Chipper Jones’ injury is definitely a bad thing but it could actually have a positive impact on the team. According to MLBTR Frank Wren inquired about Will Venable and Marlon Byrd. Neither of these players seem like ideal fits to me but it is good to see that our GM is looking for outfield help. Hopefully we get someone good enough to play everyday in the outfield instead of some fourth outfield type guy.

Sorry about the infrequent posting guys. School sucks. Follow me on Twitter @CarlosCollazoTT and check out the Tomahawk Take Facebook Page. Stay classy boys.