2008 Atlanta Braves Outlook
2007: (84-78) 3rd place
Manager: Bobby Cox (23rd season w/ Braves)
Key Additions -
P Tom Glavine
P Mike Hampton
OF Mark Kotsay
P Jair Jurrjens
P Will Ohman
OF Josh Anderson
INF Omar Infante
Key Losses -
CF Andruw Jones (to LA)
SS Edgar Renteria (to DET)
OF Willie Harris (to WAS)
P Jose Ascanio (to CHC)
P Oscar Villareal (to HOU)
Projected Starting Lineup -
C - Brian McCann
1B - Mark Texeira
2B - Kelly Johnson
SS - Yunel Escobar
3B - Chipper Jones
LF - Matt Diaz
CF - Mark Kotsay
RF - Jeff Francoeur
Projected Rotation -
1 - John Smoltz
2 - Tim Hudson
3 - Tom Glavine
4 - Mike Hampton
5 - Jair Jurrjens
CL - Rafael Soriano
SU - Peter Moylan
Outlook:
The Atlanta Braves have not made the playoffs in two years, and the team is possibly entering its last season with manager Bobby Cox at the helm. Players like Chipper Jones and John Smoltz are itching to taste October again, and the above mentioned facts should put a little extra emphasis on this particular 2008 season.
As anyone who watched the Braves play last year could tell you, their starting pitching was horrific. The Atlanta rotation consisted of Smoltz, Tim Hudson, and three losses. Bobby Cox tried everyone from Mark Redman to Jo Jo Reyes (possibly a future Atlanta staple), but no one could consistently get opposing hitters out making this offseason vital for Atlanta.
New general manager Frank Wren did fairly well - a B+ overall. Tom Glavine will throw 200 innings and win 12-15 games for the Braves, but most importantly Glavine will constantly give the team quality starts. (He finished third in the NL in quality starts last year.)
Despite what angry fans may think, the Braves will sorely miss Andruw Jones roaming center field and in the middle of the lineup; he struggled immensely last year, and while Kotsay will fill in admirably, Braves fans will soon realize just how good #25 was.
The best move the Braves made this offseason was trading Renteria to Detroit for Gorkys Hernandez and the centerpiece of the deal, Jair Jurrjens. Jurrjens has been more than stellar during spring training and has an excellent chance to wind up in the rotation with Chuck James currently injured, and it never hurts that Cox is really high on the 21 year old.
The additions of Ohman and Infante greatly strengthens the bullpen with an experienced lefty to replace Ron Mahay in an already very solid bullpen, and for the first time in a while, the Braves will have a true utility man with a little pop in his bat in Omar Infante (.271, 2HR, 17RBI in 166AB); Braves’ fans are rejoicing at no longer having to watch the lowly Chris Woodward demonstrate how not to play baseball.
The key to the entire season could end up being Mike Hampton. If he can make 20-25 starts, the Braves will not only have one of the best rotations in the National League, but could also win the East. Thus far in spring training, everything has been great for the veteran lefty, but with him anything could happen. Jo Jo Reyes, Jeff Bennet, and Buddy Carlyle provide Cox with some wiggle room in the rotation, but Hampton needs to find a way to stay healthy (for the first time in three years).
The Braves’ everyday lineup will be very good, and with Chipper and Teixeira in the middle of the lineup, the line up could become potent. One reason: Yunel Escobar is the real deal ladies and gentlemen. He has great range and a gun from the shortstop position, and while he may not hit .330 like he did last season, his numbers should still be impressive.
A much improved rotation, and a full year of Mark Teixeira, should provide fans with a fun summer at the ballpark because the Braves have the potential to contend for a return of the National League East division crown to Atlanta.
Fantasy Impact:
Everyone in the starting lineup could potentially be drafted with Diaz and Kotsay being the only two that might not. Highlighting the offense is Texeira. A full season in Atlanta in a stacked lineup and Texeira could move to the top of the upper echelon of 1B especially since Albert Pujols is delaying elbow surgery.
If healthy, Jones will again produce 25-30 homers and 100 RBIs, but no one remembers the last time he stayed healthy for a full season, so caution is best. If you are lucky, you can steal Escobar in a later round, but with him eligible at multiple positions, you might not want to wait.
McCann is a top 5 catcher. Only Russel Martin and Victor Martinez are distinctly ahead of him. His good friend, Francoeur, will look to have a season with a solid batting average and increased power numbers — something that should interest fantasy owners.
As far as pitching, Smoltz and Hudson are solid, but don’t expect Smoltz to put up the gaudy numbers he’s accustomed to as he is slowly becoming an elder and his strikeout rates are slowing as well. Glavine is average at this stage in his career. Hampton, Jurrjens, and Chuck James are wild cards. Soriano will get his first full season closing with Manny Acosta, Peter Moylan, and Mike Gonzalez (when he returns in July) as backup options if he struggles.
2008 projection: (89-73), 2nd place
Team MVP: Mark Texiera
Junior Valentine
Shotgun Spratling
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