Braves should start Simmons over Pastornicky at shortstop

The battle for the next Atlanta Braves starting shortstop is currently being waged in spring training by two 22-year-old rookies, projected starter Tyler Pastornicky and the oncoming Andrelton Simmons.

At the beginning of spring training, it looked as if the starting job at shortstop, recently vacated by Alex Gonzalez, who signed a free-agent deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, belonged to heralded minor leaguer Tyler Pastornicky. However, the recent emergence of fellow rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons has shaken up the outlook for the 2012 Braves starting lineup.

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Braves Should Start Simmons Over Pastornicky at Shortstop

Braves hand shortstop over to Tyler Pastornicky

Baseball season is right around the corner, and no major leaguer will face any more pressure in spring training than Tyler Pastornicky. The Atlanta Braves are handing the untested rookie the starting job at shortstop on a team that missed the playoffs by only one game last year.

Patornicky's sole experience in the major leagues was a call-up in a game he didn't play-last season's final game versus the Phillies in which the Braves were eliminated from the postseason by the margin of one inning after the team had an epic September collapse. One of the Braves biggest problems was a lack of offense, and weak hitting free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez was not resigned.

Since the Braves made no significant moves to bring anyone else in that means the starting shortstop job for the big league club falls squarely on the shoulders of the talented but untested Pastornicky, a pesky hitter with great speed and a good glove whom scouts seem divided on as to his major league potential.

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Braves Gamble Handing Starting Job to Tyler Pastornicky