The Braves Have a Shot

This spring was miserable. Mid-February pitchers and catchers arrived at camp. The WBC was played and left the Braves without Chipper, B-Mac, Vasquez, and others. Ken Griffey said he liked Atlanta...then went to Seattle. We got Garret Anderson instead (younger, higher career avg). Glavine's fastball topped out at 80mph while a guy named Hanson topped out a 99 mph (he was sent to AAA Gwinett). Two 19 year olds carried the Braves while the vets were playing for their WBC teams (they're in A ball as well). A 22 year old named Schafer essentially locked up the center field job with a .350 avg and 5 stolen bases. This spring training has felt like a season in itself. On the immediate horizon, however, is the first meaningful game of 2009 against the Phillies.

I like this Braves team - a lot. Sure, I am biased, but I operate on facts.

Fact 1- The Rotation is solid. These guys should "eat innings" and if you are able to "eat innings" then that means first of all that you are pitching well enough to be left in the game. This will also benefit our bullpen.

Fact 2 - The bullpen may be one of the best in the majors. The huge factor here is health. If Soriano can show up and Moylan's arm be totally healed, then Gonzalez can be money in that closer role - he converted 33 straight saves over two years before his surgery.

Fact 3 - Franceour will rebound. This guy is talented, too talented to be a .230 hitter with 0 power. He has worked on his swing and will be much improved in 09.

Fact 4 - Brian McCann is the best catcher in baseball.

Fact 5 - Home runs aren't everything. We did not add a legitimate 30 homer guy in the offseason, but we don't need it. Home runs are not the only way to score in this game. This is why on base percentage is important when paired with runs and rbi. The team OBP will be up this year with Anderson and Kotchman proving reliable and the returning batting champ, Mr. Jones bringing his .300 to the plate. Franceour will be better and Johnson and Escobar will be consistent.

Fact 6 - Our bench is very deep. We've got Norton, Infante, Prado, and the newly acquired Ross, who will spell B-mac from time to time. All of these guys are potential starters on other teams - with the exception of Norton - and all will provide sound D and O off the bench.

Fact 7 - We improved the most in our division this offseason. One analyst called the Braves rotation reconstruction the best job this side of the Yankees (Sabathia and Burnett). The Mets did drastically improve their bullpen, which probably is the best in baseball on paper, but their rotation is not pretty, lacking depth and certainty after their ace, Santana. The Phillies are looking at the same issues, with Hamels coming off his heaviest workload of his career last year and experiencing elbow discomfort this spring. Their bullpen will be hard pressed to be as efficienct this year as it was last year. The Marlins are very talented, but very young, and the Nats still have several holes.

All of this leads to one conclusion: The Braves may be the team to beat in the East again. Certainly they should be wild-card contenders.