From 1991 to 2005, three things in life were absolute in Atlanta:
Death, taxes, and baseball in October.
For the past two years, Turner Field has remained silent after the regular season has concluded. Their 14 straight division titles has been unmatched in the world of sports and anchoring that run was a prolific pitching staff.
Led by pitching coach Leo Mazzoni, the rotation dubbed the strike force, tore through their opponents. With the likes of Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Steve Avery, and John Smoltz, the Braves were untouchable. Glavine and Maddux quite possibly could be the last 300 game winners in baseball and they should be first ballot Hall of Famers along with John Smoltz.
Those were the good ole' days in Atlanta.
Leo Mazzone is no longer rockin' next to Bobby Cox, Maddux is bouncing across the league like Kenny Lofton, while Tom Glavine has been pitching for the division rival Mets.
To top it all off, the Braves haven't won the N.L. East in two years or even made the playoffs.
Most blame the lack of pitching support, whether its starting pitching or the unstable bullpen.
While the bullpen could be the downfall of the Braves again this year, the starting rotation is on the verge of being simply astonishing.
John Smoltz and Tim Hudson were two of the best among N.L. pitchers last year and Tom Glavine is returning to Atlanta to begin what is likely his farewell tour in baseball. The baseball world is holding its breath to see if the highest paid player on the Braves roster, Mike Hampton, will actually start this season and how well he can do after all the time off from injuries.
The main question is: who will anchor this rotation?
Will it be Buddy Carlyle, the surprise pitcher of last year, or the talented Chucky James? Or will the fifth spot go to one of the numerous prospects in the Braves farm system?
A safe bet would be to see Chucky James take on the fifth spot due to previous results and experience. Jo-Jo Reyes could compete for this spot as well as pitching stud prospect Jair Jurrjens.
The Braves seemed poised to start a new division streak this year with a starting rotation featuring four of the game's best and two future Hall of Famers.
Despite the loss of center fielder Andruw Jones, Atlanta's offense is fully loaded with Chipper Jones, Mark Teixeira, and Jeff Francouer.
Will the Braves be able to climb back to the supremacy they are known for?
Only the bullpen will tell.
Eric Brenner takes a look at today's starting lineup for the New York Mets. (Read More)
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5 months ago
I don't see how you can place the Braves ahead of the Mets and it is not far fetched to place them behind the Phillies as well. As far as rotation goes, Santana, Pedro, Maine, O Perez, and O Hernandez is extremely favorable compared to the Brave's Glavine and Smoltz, who are undoubtably on the down sides of their careers, Hudson, who is a solid ace but doesnt match up to Johan, and the back ends of the rotations absolutely favor the Mets. Oliver Perez and Orland Hernandez top the ever questionable Hampton and the all or nothing Chuck James. The Mets are the best in the East 1-8 and they hold the best rotation.
from 4 months ago
Santana's numbers have started to drop and how will he adjust to the pressures of New York. I think it is agreed as well that Orlando Hernandez is on the downslide of his career too. If John Smoltz is on the downslide why has he been a bullpen short of leading the league in wins the last two years?
5 months ago
Is it not pretty obvious to you josh that pedro is on his decline? Has he pitched a full season in New York yet? I will give it to you that 1-8 the mets are probably better but the top 4 for each team is pretty neck and neck. As far as i am concerned the Braves offense is better than the Mets too. Alou, Delgado, and Beltran all have had injuries this spring. The Braves lineup is very young, but very good. I would not be surprised to see Yunel Escobar develop into a Jose Reyes type shortstop. The race will be close.
4 months ago
The Mets definitely look better on paper. Yes, Glavine and Smoltz are on the tail end of their Hall of Fame careers. I think Hudson pitched better last year because he did not put so much pressure on himself as he did when he first arrived. Santana, Pedro and the rest of the Mets pitching staff look better as the season starts, but it's a long season and anything can happen. I think the key to the Braves' pitching success in '08 will be their back end of the rotation taking the pressure off Smoltzie, Huddy and Glav to win every time out. While I do not count on Hampton contributing anything, I think that this kid Jair Jurgen can be the key to the Braves making a successful run. I think Soriano can maintain the closer's job if he has some decent set-up guys in front of him. His arm is too young and erratic to be counted on too much.
Also, for Glavine to pitch well, he has to have confidence in the bats' ability to come back should he make a mistake. His problems seem to happen when he feels he has to pitch perfectly; but then again, any pitcher tends to be more effective when they have a lead. Chipper, Texiera, Francouer, McCann and Escobar have to have solid offensive years in '08.
4 months ago
good piece, but i was really looking forward to reading about jair jurjens this year. he he's got STUD written all over him! fun to watch them this year.
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