Have the Atlanta Braves Realized the Need To Kiss and Make Up?

Can a franchise really make up for disrespecting its most recognizable star and allowing him to walk away over $3 million?

Can a general manager really make up for one of the worst offseasons in a teams history?

Much more, can the powers that be expect to do all of that in less than a week?

I don't know the answer to those questions but I firmly believe that the Atlanta Braves are trying their darnedest to do so.

Last week was the ultimate low in all my years of being an Atlanta Braves fan, especially when compounded by all the whiffs that took place during the first three months of the offseason.

It appears as though GM Frank Wren got the message loud and clear. The Braves moved quickly to sign Kenshin Kawakami and Derek Lowe 120 hours after allowing "The Bearded Wonder" John Smoltz to leave for Boston.

So the question is: Does signing the best remaining free agent pitcher, and a former Japanese MVP come anywhere close to appeasing an increasingly disappointed and upset fan-base?

Speaking as a 20+ year fan of the Atlanta Braves, it's definitely a great start.

Keeping Lowe away from the Mets and Phillies is worth 5 to 10 wins in itself. The Braves will use Lowe differently than either the Mets or Phillies.

In New York or Philly Lowe would have been the No. 2 guy behind a solid ace at each. In Atlanta Lowe is the ace.

Say what you want about whether or not Derek Lowe is ace material. The guy hasn't missed a start in seven seasons and is as dependable for a quality start as anyone.

When you follow him with 'ace in the making' Jair Jurrjens, proven innings-eater Javier Vazquez, a former Japanese MVP in Kawakami, and top prospect Tommy Hanson you have one of the more formidable rotations, from top-to-bottom, in the NL East.

I understand the Mets drastically improved their bullpen. Good for them.

I understand they have Johan Santana at the top of that rotation. But I also understand that they're trying their hardest to sign Oliver Perez to be there No. 2 guy behind him. Perez has surely done some damage against the Braves the last couple of seasons. But against everyone else he's terribly inconsistent.

The Mets will follow those two with John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, and Tim Redding. Maine has been quite inconsistent and Pelfrey finally started realizing his potential in 2008. Redding is terrible even by the Mets standards.

The Phillies won it all with a less than stellar starting rotation. They hope to catch lightning in a bottle twice. Can the Phils' count on that?

We all know Cole Hammels is a stud, but can the Phillies really count on 46-year-old Jaime Moyer? Can they count on perennial disappointment Brett Myers? Or a career-underachiever in Joe Blanton?

One thing is for sure. All three teams are stacked in the starting pitching department, but the Mets and Phils will out-hit the Braves every time out.

So Braves fans have to hope for two things. One being that this new rotation can hold the Phillies and Mets powerful lineups at bay. Secondly, the Braves absolutely have to get a power-hitting OF. Preferably a right-handed hitter to go along with what has been an overly left-handed lineup the last few seasons.

There are still some attractive power-hitting options on the market. Adam Dunn, who bats left-handed and strikes out too much, Bobby Abreu, who may be past his prime, and also bats lefty, and Manny Ramirez; LOL, can you really imagine him and that hefty contract in Atlanta?

With the previously mentioned players as the only available free-agent options look for Atlanta to fill this spot via trade. Rumors have persisted for much of this offseason that Atlanta may go after Yankees Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher.

But Nady is a free agent after '09 and is a Scott Boras client (Yes, I know Lowe is with Scott Boras as well). Swisher is under contract through 2011, but would the Yankees trade him after receiving him via trade from the White Sox in November?

Another rumored possibility is Jermaine Dye. Dye began his career in Atlanta and was dealt by then-GM John Schuerholz in one of the more lopsided deals of his tenure.

While Dye for Keith Lockhart and Michael Tucker never really worked out for Atlanta, Dye went on to become a solid power hitter for Kansas City and Oakland. He then became an All-Star and World Champion with the White Sox.

Personally I'd like to stoke the hot stove fire by hoping out loud for Atlanta to trade second-baseman/outfielder Kelly Johnson and a couple of prospects for Dye.

Then my hope is that Atlanta would sign Orlando Hudson at second. Hudson is a consistent .280+ hitter and a tremendous fielder. He would be a definite upgrade from Kelly Johnson defensively and would prove even more valuable with the ground-ball inducing Derek Lowe on the mound for the Braves.

I really like a lineup that looks like this:

2B - Orlando Hudson

SS - Yunel Escobar

3B - Chipper Jones

LF - Jermaine Dye

C - Brian McCann

RF - Jeff Francoeur

1B - Casey Kotchman

CF - Blanco/Anderson

I like that lineup a lot. Of course I have heard no rumors about whether the Braves have any interest whatsoever in Orlando Hudson, but I like him anyway.

The Braves are definitely doing what they have to do now. They had to get the bad taste out of everyone's mouth from the disastrous first three-quarters of the offseason, and they did it.

Now can Wren and the rest of the front office crew finish the winter with a bang by landing a power-hitter? Can they complete this offseason turnaround by making themselves a viable NL East contender?

While it remains to be seen if Atlanta will get back to the postseason, Braves fans have to like the direction things are going now.Thankfully someone in the executive offices heard the outcry and finally decided to act!

All I can say is pucker up!