MLB 2012: Why the Atlanta Braves Are the National League's Team to Beat

Against the backdrop of the loud and surprising spending spree of the newly minted Miami Marlins, the continued presence of the Phillies' three aces and the Nationals' newly dangerous pitching staff, the Atlanta Braves have experienced a quiet and nearly inactive offseason.

While the historic collapse the team experienced last September could have caused reason to panic and revamp the roster, general manager Frank Wren knew that he had constructed a capable baseball team that enjoyed the fourth-best record in baseball going into the final month of the season.

Despite the headline-grabbing offseasons of other teams, particularly in their own division, the Braves have a legitimate chance to end up on top when all is said and done. Here are some reasons why:

Depth

Essential to every baseball team is depth, especially in the pitching department. Fragile shoulders, delicate elbows and wobbly knees have decimated plenty of pitching staffs in the past, including the 2011 Braves. Despite some key pitchers going through some nasty injuries, the pitching staff was still able to post the fourth-best ERA in baseball.

The good news is that despite Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens' ineffectiveness in the second half of the past season, the minor league system has plenty of available starters waiting for an opportunity. Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado are the two top ranked arms in the system, and number three prospect Arodys Vizcaino may still make the rotation yet.

Also waiting in the wings are Kris Medlen and lefty Mike Minor, assuming there will be vacant spots to fill in the coming months. Including the current staff, that makes at least eight capable starting pitchers, creating plenty of room for potential injuries.

Offensive Bouncebacks

In 2011, several key pieces of the lineup went through career-worst slumps, including Dan Uggla, Martin Prado, and Jason Heyward. They were fortunate enough that brunt of these offensive droughts came at relatively different times throughout the season, allowing for the team to experience its success throughout the majority of the season.

Bounceback seasons are to be expected for each of these players, as Uggla had a spectacular second half, Prado is healthy and enjoying a positive spring training, and Heyward is just too talented to go through another torturous season.

The biggest reason to be optimistic is the presence of Michael Bourn for an entire season. After finally finding an elite leadoff man for the top of the order, his presence added a welcome change to the lineup's construction. Wreaking havoc on the basepaths for an added three months could potentially add an extra few wins to the team's total.

Improved Bullpen

In addition to a stellar pitching staff, the Braves' bullpen is among the top in baseball, if not the very best. Last year, the three-headed monster of Eric O'Flaherty, Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel essentially turned games into six-inning affairs. 

With Vizcaino available for an entire season, Medlen returning from Tommy John surgery and another year of experience under the belts for Venters and Kimbrel, there is every reason to expect this group will be even better than the pen that pitched to the tune of a 3.03 ERA and 536 strikeouts.

Young Core

The Atlanta front office has a stellar history of drafting and developing talent throug the minors, and the current young core is well above-average. Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor are all age 26 or younger, and are expected to make significant contributions to the club this year.

The list goes on, with prospects Teheran, Delgado and Vizcaino. Even rookie Pastornicky is slated to open the season as the starting shortstop.

These young, talented players are ready to make an impact this year, and combined with the veteran leadership of Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Tim Hudson, they have valuable mentors to help them along in their careers.

Even though the NL East is wide open, there is every reason to believe that the Braves have the potential to win the division, and even the pennant. They do have issues, such as the lack of a true ace at the front of the rotation and a maddeningly inconsistent offense, but the strengths of this club easily outweigh the weaknesses. At the end of the season, don't be surprised if the team who spent the least this offseason comes out on top.