Troy Glaus and Atlanta Braves Poised for a Comeback Year

When I personally saw that the Braves had acquired Troy Glaus, I didn't really know what to expect or even how I felt about it.

Honestly, I was wondering why they turned down the opportunity to re-sign Adam LaRoche for a past his prime Glaus.

But I did start to see how confident Braves GM Frank Wren and other members of the organization were about Glaus, so I started to follow him closely.

It's nearly a week from Opening Day, a day in which the Atlanta Braves play host to the Chicago Cubs, and all I have seen Troy Glaus do is just plain hit!

I don't worry about his defense because you're talking about a guy who spent his whole career playing the hot corner for the Angels, D-Backs, Jays, and Cards, so first base has to be a piece of cake for a guy like him.

All I keep hearing is about how the Phillies are not only the favorites in the East but again the favorites in the National League—but how is that the case with a bullpen that has been approached with the "don't ask, don't tell" mentality?

Another thing about the Phillies is their lineup is getting older and streakier. Remember how Raul Ibanez started off like a house on fire and then defused like someone turned the propane off? Keep in mind, Ryan Howard is streaky and highly prone to strikeouts like a fat kid is prone to Twinkies, and Jimmy Rollins is extremely streaky, along with Chase Utley.

Don't get me wrong; the Phillies are the most experienced team when it comes to playing on the big stage, but there are some major holes throughout this team!

Everyone talks about issues with the Phillies, but all I keep hearing from the "experts" about the Braves is that they have the best pitching staff in the majors, the best all-around lineup, and the most depth with players like Eric Hinske, Matt Diaz, Melky Cabrera, Omar Infante, and David Ross. So what's the problem?!

In my opinion I think everyone is scared to pick against Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies, because what I am hearing is that the Braves have a perfect all-around 25-man roster, not including guys in the minors, but you're saying that they aren't in the playoff hunt?

I'm going to go around the horn here and start with the second best catcher in all of baseball, Brian McCann. This guy had eye surgery last year, yet he still managed to hit .281, his worst batting average since 2007, hit 21 home runs, drove in 94 runs, and even found a way to show his blazing speed and stole four bases.

First base has already been addressed with Troy Glaus and his reemergence with the way he has been tearing up pitchers throughout spring training.

Martin Prado is going to soon be a household name. In his first season as the starting second baseman, he hit .307, and this guy isn't a one-hit wonder—in 78 games in 2008 he hit .320. Prado also does a good job flashing the leather and has made quite a few Web Gem appearances.

Let's take a break from the position players for a moment and touch base with the pitching staff: Derek Lowe, Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, and Kenshin Kawakami.

If you have never heard of Hanson or Jurrjens, I will state the numbers and have you watch these phenoms' careers develop. Jurrjens had 14 wins, a 2.60 ERA, and an opposing batting average of .237 in 34 starts last year.

Hanson, who is becoming bigger than the pet rock in just half a season, was robbed of a Rookie of the Year award, but in the pursuit Hanson won 11 games, had a 2.89 ERA, an opposing BA of .225, and had 116 Ks to coincide with his 46 walks.

Lowe struggled to find his sinker at the tail end of the season but at the beginning was nothing short of Cy Young-caliber. If he can maintain that sinker over a full season, we'll see Lowe return to his ace form, and the same is said with Tim Hudson. Still, without a dominating sinker, both are still among the toughest pitchers to hit in the majors.

Kawakami had an average first half of the season, much due to the lack of run support he received, but in the second half of the season he looked like he could hold down any team's three spot in the rotation.

Keep in mind that the Atlanta Braves were so confident with this starting rotation they dealt away Javier Vazquez for nearly nothing, and with Billy Wagner at the back end of the 'pen, the Braves have one of the strongest units since the John Smoltz-Tom Glavine-Greg Maddux days.

To continue on with the position players, you have Yunel Escobar, who is seen as one of the bright three shortstops in the National League: Yunel, Hanley Ramirez, and Jose Reyes. If you don't know about this guy's cannon, let's just say it could be compared to something out of Star Wars. The guy can flat-out hit too, leading the majors in batting average with runners in scoring position.

Chipper Jones— what else needs to be said? The guy is often mentioned with guys like Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle. The only question with Chipper is if he can stay healthy, and with the depth the Braves have, there is no need for Larry Wayne Jones to be Superman.

If you have followed the Atlanta Braves throughout spring training, you would have noticed Nate McLouth has been struggling, but the questionable yet now rather smart move to add Melky Cabrera has paid huge dividends for the Braves.

Melky has been a hitting machine, and if McLouth cannot turn it around, then there are no worries for the Braves, with promising prospect Jordan Schafer waiting in the wings and Cabrera backing up CF and platooning with hit machine Matt Diaz in LF.

Then there was the Great One. Now I don't want to blow up Jason Heyward like everyone around sports blew up fellow hometown hero Jeff Francoeur, but have you seen the guy play? Matter of a fact, have you just seen the guy? He is a linebacker, sporting the same body frame of former Crimson Tide LB Rolando McClain.

The instant thing you notice with him isn't that he has a rocket laser arm, Usain Bolt speed, or aluminum bat power; what stands out to any true admirer of baseball is this young prospect's knowledge of the strike zone. He never leaves it and has a plan every time he goes to the plate: Look for a good pitch, make him throw to your zone, and run out every single ball.

A guy like that is infectious not just because it's the Joe DiMaggio way of how to play baseball, but simply due to the fact that no one wants to get cut or demoted because a rookie is working harder than them, and a rookie who is really having everything given to him yet still insists on earning every inch of it.

The Braves are my favorites to finish first in the National League East, and remember, there is an X-factor in Atlanta this year a little more important than years past: Bobby Cox.

Arguably the greatest manager baseball has ever seen will call it quits after this season, and if you believe in destiny and fate, like most believe are what drove the New Orleans Saints, then you believe the Braves are playing for more than just a pennant, more than just a contract, more than just a few statistics, and more than just pride; they are playing for a man who has always put his players and his coaching staff far ahead of himself.

I may be wrong, but it's a year of fate. Ask Drew Brees and Sean Payton—it sure didn't hurt their odds.