Manager: Bobby Cox
Arrivals: OF Josh Anderson, SP Tom Glavine, IF Omar Infante, SP Jair Jurrjens, OF Mark Kotsay, C Javy Lopez, RP Will Ohman
Departures: SP Lance Cormier, P Joey Devine, RP Octavio Dotel, 1B Julio Franco*, OF Willie Harris, OF Andruw Jones, RP Ron Mahay, IF Pete Orr, RP Chad Paronto, SS Edgar Renteria, RP Oscar Villareal
Offseason grade: B
Starting rotation
With the [re]addition of Tom Glavine, Atlanta's rotation will be formidable in 2008. Tim Hudson and John Smoltz both were excellent in 2007 and there's no reason to think they can't repeat that performance in 2008.
The last two spots in the rotation will go to either Mike Hampton, Chuck James, Jair Jurrjens, Jo-Jo Reyes, Jeff Bennett, or Buddy Carlyle depending on who performs well in Spring Training.
If Hampton is healthy, look for him to take the fourth spot in the rotation. However, Hampton has proved to be about as durable as a piece of cheese cloth in the last five years, which means James, Jurrjens, Reyes, Bennet, and Carlyle all have good chances to crack the rotation.
James is probably the best bet of the group to make Atlanta's starting five after pitching well in both 2006 and 2007, going a combined 22-14 with an ERA hovering around 4. However, Jurrjens comes over from Detroit as the key component in the Edgar Renteria trade and will have every chance to prove he deserves a rotation spot in Spring Training. Both Reyes and Carlyle saw time in Atlanta's rotation in 2007 and also could win the spot out of Spring Training as could Bennett.
No matter what happens, there will be great competition for the final two spots in the Braves' rotation during Spring Training. That can only be a good thing for Atlanta, as they will be able to select the two best starters out of a group of six when they break camp in late March.
Starting rotation grade: A (for those that have been reading my previous previews, I definitely underestimated the Braves' rotation when glancing at the pitching in the NL East.)
Bullpen
After six years in the league, Rafael Soriano finally will get the opportunity to be a team's everyday closer this year with Atlanta. Soriano has a great fastball/slider combination that is perfectly suited for a closer's role, where he should have success this year.
Behind Soriano, the Braves have a few good right-handed arms in Manny Acosta and Peter Moylan, but will have to rely on Will Ohman and/or Royce Ring as a left-handed setup man until Mike Gonzalez returns in June or July.
Watch out for Ring, though. He's bounced around a number of teams since being drafted in the first round by the White Sox in 2002, but has good stuff and could be an effective lefty setup man in lieu of Gonzalez in the first half.
After Moylan, the Braves won't have many proven, good arms in their bullpen. Jurrjens, Reyes, and Bennett would be best suited to start in AAA than relieve at the MLB level if they don't make the rotation, but the Braves may be forced to bring one of them up with their lack of bullpen depth.
Bullpen grade: B
Lineup
Atlanta returns three players from 2007 who had over 100 RBI in Chipper Jones, Mark Teixeira, and Jeff Francouer, giving Bobby Cox a powerful 3-4-5 trio in the order. Brian McCann hit well below his career averages last year, and if he can return to the .296 batting average that he sports for his career, the Braves lineup will be that much better.
The much-hyped Yunel Escobar, the reason why Edgar Renteria is no longer in Atlanta, could be in for a big season in 2008. Escobar played about half a season with the Braves last year, hitting .326 over 319 at-bats. If Escobar keeps those stats up, the Braves easily could have five hitters in their lineup hitting at or above .300 at season's end.
An interesting player in the Braves' outfield mix is Josh Anderson, acquired from Houston for Oscar Villareal. Anderson hit .290 over five seasons in the minors--but hitting isn't the best part of his game. Over those five seasons, Anderson stole 238 bases, suggesting that he's the only legitimate stolen-base threat the Braves have. If Mark Kotsay struggles out of the gates, Anderson could take over and be an able leadoff hitter for the Braves.
I think Atlanta's lineup hinges on two things: 1) Chipper Jones staying healthy and 2) Yunel Escobar hitting the way he did in 2007. If both those things happen, the Braves will have a lot of offensive success in 2008.
Lineup grade: A-
Bench
Out of principle, the Braves should get an F here for expecting Javy Lopez to be their backup catcher when they break camp. Seriously? Javy Lopez? This isn't 1999, Atlanta.
But I digress. Omar Infante is a very good reserve infielder who can play all four positions in a pinch. Anderson could be a very good pinch-runner in a late-inning situation and Scott Thorman provides some pop off the bench.
Bench grade: B+
To be honest, I never considered the Braves anything more than a third-place team before really looking at them for this preview. Now, I definitely see that this team will compete with the Mets and Phillies for a chance to play into October.
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7 months ago
I told you *grin*.
You kinda tick me off with your team by team preview, lol. No, not really, but I had a similar idea, I was just working on getting more information and research done before doing mine. However, you've done a pretty good job, so I don't think there's much use in me doing a reciprocal approach to your articles in doing something very similar. Maybe I'll try and find a new way to spin my preview, or what I might do, if it's okay with you, is include my own personal team previews for each team in the comment section under each of your teams. Now of course this means you better do all 30 teams, lol.
7 months ago
I like what you've got here. I think you under-estimate Javy Lopez though. He's had down years, yes, but he had his best years in Atlanta, and could serve as a valuable asset to the club as a veteran presense off the bench, and if he can hit above the "Mendoza line" then you got what you've asked for out of a back-up catcher. He can still call a game and knows a few of the pitchers well and will work well with them and the younger staff. Speaking of the younger hurlers, you have to mention matt DeSalvo in the mix for possible starting rotation/relief roles. Bobby Cox has noted that he likes what he sees out of DeSalvo, who had so-so numbers with the Yankees. This being said, I'm a die-hard Braves fan and might possibly be biased towards their successes.
7 months ago
I'm not banking on anything from Javy. I think you have to look at the fact that his production began to seriously decline at about the time steroid testing and steroid talk became all the rage. He also was never known for his ability to call a game, handle a staff, or play defense. He says he's worked ultra hard on that this offseason, but just because he's a veteran doesn't mean he offers a lot in terms of calling games and handling staffs.
6 months ago
Great article. I appreciate your knowledge and understanding of how good this team really is. I am a die-heart Atlanta Braves fan, but I try to be as unbiased as possible. The Braves are one of the most underrated teams in the MLB and are flying under the radar (especially now that everyone saw them lost yesterday and think they are terrible). If they make the playoffs, this team is built for October glory. They have the veteran pitchers with playoff experience (John Smoltz being the most successful pitcher in the playoffs in the MLB), an underrated line-up that can rack up the runs especially with two switch hitting players, and a savvy genius in Bobby Cox.
Some underrated stats I would like to share from last year....
the Braves bullpen was ranked 4th in the MLB (2nd in NL) in ERA. The Mets bullpen was 15th and the Phillies 24th. Just imagine when Mike Gonzalez comes back.
the Braves starting rotation ERA was 13th in the MLB and the Phillies 23rd.
the Braves team batting average was tied with the Mets (.275) and was better than the Phillies (.274)
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