Atlanta Braves 2012: 4 Things the Braves Need to Improve on from 2011

Spring is in the air, in a lot of places in the South there wasn't even much winter this year.  Pitchers and catchers are reporting and hope springs eternal.

Baseball season is approaching.  Time to start fresh and put last season in the past.  Sometimes that may be easier said than done.  Atlanta squandered a 10 1/2 game lead in the final month and change of the 2011 season.  The St. Louis Cardinals took advantage and rode their wild-card momentum all the way to a World Series title.

As much as the Braves want to separate themselves from this, collapses can have lingering affects on teams.  It can be hard to recover from an off season long hangover as monumental as this one was.  Here's a few things that may help them finish 2012 on a stronger note than 2011.

The time to respond is almost near. 

Dan Being Dan

On the surface Dan Uggla's 36 home runs and 82 RBI appear pretty solid, and they are.  But if you look back on how he started the season, the fact that he ended with those numbers is almost miraculous.  He couldn't buy a hit in April or May. 

He hit .233 on the season, 25 points below his .258 career average.  He had to scrape, scratch, bite, and claw his way there as he dug out of the huge hole he was in at the start of the season.  He should be solid again in the middle of the lineup this year.

As for starting 2012 with a strong April and May, let's just say he's due.

Closure

Craig Kimbrel's season and the Braves' season were mirror images of one another.  Both were strong for the bulk of the season.  The Braves stumbling to a 9-18 record in September put things in a bad light for both.

He set a MLB rookie record when he recorded save 41, he would go on to finish the season with 46.

Every closer gives up some games here and there.  They are paid to be "lights out." More often than not, the great ones are.  Kimbrel's blown saves were big ones, and they were magnified with the way the final month played out.

He is a year older and wiser.  All of last year's experiences, good and bad, are now filed into his memory bank.  He and Johnny Venters should once again be strong anchors for the bullpen in 2012.

Medlen Back in the Mix

The Braves projected starting rotation again looks to be strong.  Kris Medlen coming back healthy from Tommy John surgery can only bolster the Braves pitching.  His versatility is what sets him apart.

He can be a spot starter or a middle reliever.  No doubt he'll be asked to do both this season.  He can cover a lot of weaknesses, which is a manager's dream.

Having him back can be the difference in close one-run games over the course of a long season.  He can relieve pressure by coming in an inning or two earlier if a starter is on the ropes and make that transition to the setup men and closers a much smoother one.

Settling in

A play here a play there.  Little things make the difference during a 162 game season.  Every contending team outside the St. Louis Cardinals have a variety of things they could kick themselves about.

Did I pull the starter to soon?  Did I leave him in too long?  Do I pinch hit here? Should I hit and run in this at bat?

These are the questions a manager must ask himself.  He is responsible for every result, no matter how gratifying or agonizing.

Fredi Gonzalez was 89-73 in his first season as Braves manager.  Again, that's a solid record.  Unfortunately, the way the season ended causes it to go by the boards a little bit.  Gonzalez inherited a good team that's ready to compete both offensively and defensively.

He was obviously familiar with the Braves organization having managed the farm team in Richmond. He also coached third base for Bobby Cox, and sat in the visitors dugout as the Marlin's manager.  Still, managing the Braves himself had to be different.

Gonzalez is 306-305 as a big league skipper.  Year two should be a little more comfortable for him.  He knows his personnel better, has a feel of what guys can and can't do.  Last year was as much about filling Bobby Cox's shoes as it was feeling his way through the season.  This year, he won't have to worry about that.