In fairness to Alan, he sent this e-mail a couple hours before the Braves were swept by the Cubs a couple of weeks ago. But I opted to use it with its original wording because it's too early to even attempt to answer this question. On a daily basis, my answer would change.

Heading into the ninth inning of Saturday's game, I was thinking about questions that I might need to start asking general manager Frank Wren. Then by the time that comeback victory was over and the Braves had won again on Sunday, my thoughts and outlook of the season were completely different.

With this being said, the season is still very much alive and thus I'm going to answer this question as if the Braves are going to be buyers. Wren has said pitching hasn't been his team's problem and he's obviously correct. But at the same time, you can never have too many arms and if you truly want to make a run in the postseason, you'd probably like to add another veteran starter.

Or you could just look at what the Rockies did last year and realize they didn't even have anything close to a Tim Hudson in their starting rotation.

More important than adding a starter would be adding a reliever or two. As good as this bullpen has been in many statistical categories, there are few times Bobby Cox calls to the bullpen in a crucial situation and is able to feel completely confident about the ensuing outcome.

Manny Acosta and Blaine Boyer are still learning and that's why they're taking their occasional lumps in some pressure situations.

If some of you aren't reading this until Thursday and the Braves have already dropped a few games and once again have been deemed sellers, then of course I believe they'll be selling Mark Teixeira to the highest bidder. If Sunday was the start of one his hot streaks, Wren might be able to make a deal that allows him to replace much of the talent that was lost last year with Teixeira's acquisition.

How are some of the Braves best prospects, such as Jason Heyward and Cody Johnson, progressing in the Minors?
-- Zach P., Beaufort, N.C.

The Braves took Heyward with their top Draft pick exactly one year after doing the same with Johnson. Right now, it's obvious that Heyward is light years ahead of Johnson, who has hit .215 with 10 homers, 34 RBIs and 105 strikeouts in 251 at-bats with Class A Rome this year.

Meanwhile, Heyward, who has served as Rome's other corner outfielder, has hit .332 with seven homers and 47 strikeouts in 259 at-bats. In last week's South Atlantic League All-Star Game, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound teenager had two hits, including a solo homer.

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When the Braves took Johnson, they pointed out he was 17 years old and that they might need to show some patience with him. Heyward was virtually the same exact age and hasn't followed the same learning curve.

Nobody is giving up on Johnson. He's had two-hit performances in two of his past three games and homered again on Sunday. But right now, it's safe to say he's much further away from Atlanta than Heyward or even Freddie Freeman, a strong first baseman who has hit .288 with 10 homers for Rome.

What's the deal with Phil Stockman? In 7 1/3 innings, he has struck out nine batters, given up only two hits, and not allowed an earned run. Yet he is always the odd man out and the guy sent back to Richmond when a pitcher comes off the DL. Why?
-- Fred F., Sparks, Nev.

When they decided to keep Jeff Ridgway last week instead of Stockman, it was a definite shock. Ridgway hadn't gotten righties or lefties out with consistency in Richmond and Stockman hadn't really allowed anything when he'd actually gotten the chance to pitch at the Major League level.

The only thing that I can gather is that the Braves feel like Stockman is a liability whenever guys get on base. By walking four in his 7 1/3 innings, he hasn't given them the comfort that he will be able to provide clean innings consistently.

Because his long, lanky stride toward the plate is slow, the Braves feel like he's just welcoming opponents to steal second base and move into scoring position late in the game. This is likely one of the reasons he primarily pitched in a secondary relief role.

Is Jorge Campillo in the Braves' plans for next year's rotation? He deserves a spot there.
-- No name given

The way Campillo is pitching, he'd be in the plans for any team's starting rotation next year. While it's easy to still wonder when the clock is going to strike midnight and end this Cinderella story, it might not be prudent to do so. This guy has four legitimate pitches that he can locate with great consistency.

When you can do that, you can pitch around scouting reports and the tendencies that other teams might be expecting. It just amazes me that a team like the Mariners couldn't find room for him on their 40-man roster this past offseason.

What were the Braves thinking when they demoted Josh Anderson in order to bring up Brandon Jones?
-- Scott A., Athens, Ga.

It was nice that they made this move two or three days after I had written that Anderson deserved a shot at being the team's leadoff hitter. It made me look real smart.

But the important thing is that Jones at least initially made the Braves look smart and that's obviously all that matters. They felt his power potential would be more beneficial while playing in American League parks than the speed element that Anderson provides.

With just one hit in his past 12 at-bats, Jones now still has to prove that he can be a consistent contributor at the Major League level. His stay could be a short one because there are many in the Braves camp, who really do like what Anderson offers.

Anderson's current splits for Triple-A Richmond are odd and somewhat alarming. The left-handed-hitting outfielder has hit .258 (46-178) with .357 on-base percentage against right-handed pitchers. But against left-handers he has hit .348 (23-for-66) with a .371 on-base percentage.