Atlanta Braves 2012: 6 Things the Braves Can Be 'Chipper' About

Chipper Jones has been the face of the Atlanta Braves for a decade and a half now.  Before that it was Dale Murphy and before that, Hank Aaron.  With the start of the 2012 season right around the corner, it's time to look at six things the Braves can be excited about.

1. Derek Lowe being in Cleveland is addition by subtraction.
2. Chipper Jones is another year removed from his 2010 knee injury.
3. Atlanta's team on-base percentage has to improve.
4. Jason Heyward should have a strong bounce back season.
5. Freddie Freeman should build on the solid numbers he put up last year.
6. Eventually, the TH's will be healthy.

The first point is pretty self explanatory, so let's start with the second one first.

No one expects Chipper to be Chipper in his prime anymore—Father Time won't allow that—but hopefully he can contribute solid numbers like he did last year and maybe hit for a little more average  while he's at it.

The Braves' team OBP was .308, not very good.  Brian McCann led the team with a .351 OBP, which didn't even rank in the top 40 in the majors leagues.  This means he stepped into the batter's box many times with no one on base.

This also means there weren't as many chances to bat with men in scoring position for the Braves, and when there were, they didn't capitalize.  It was just one vicious, continuous, frustrating circle.  These numbers are bound to rise.

Jason Heyward is due also.  He had disappointing, nagging, injury-riddled season last year.  He hit .227 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI.  He's entering this year mentally focused and he's in great shape physically and should be more like the productive talent he was in 2010.

Freddie Freeman can learn a lot from Heyward.  All he had to do last year was watch and observe to see that sophomore slumps were real.  He should bounce back from his knee injury he suffered this spring and build on the .282 average, 21 home runs and 76 RBI he put up last season.

Ah yes, the TH's, Tim Hudson and Tommy Hanson.  These guys have had a rough go of it of late.  Hudson had back surgery and will be sidelined until May, while Hanson had an automobile accident on his way to the facility and could have really been hurt a lot worse than he was.

It will be good the see both of them near full strength when May arrives.  If the Braves are going to have the type of year a lot people think they are capable of having, the health and effectiveness of the TH's will play a huge role in that.