Bullpen Looks to Be a Strength for the Atlanta Braves

Bob Lemon once said, “The two most important things in life are good friends and a strong bullpen.”

The Atlanta Braves certainly hope their relief corps will be strong enough to make them good friends with the top of the NL East standings.

With their three top relievers dealing with injury concerns last season, health will be paramount to the Atlanta bullpen.

Mike Gonzalez, expected to be the opening day closer, returned from Tommy John surgery late last season and looks forward to a fresh start after an offseason of rest. “I feel Atlanta hasn’t really had a chance to see me at 100 percent. [My elbow] bothered me in Pittsburgh toward the end, and coming [to Atlanta], I didn’t really get much of an opportunity to throw through the pain,” Gonzalez told Mlb.com’s Mark Bowman.

Peter Moylan, Atlanta’s top reliever in 2007, underwent Tommy John surgery early last season and could certainly regain his status as one of the top setup men in the game. The other end of Atlanta’s potential two-pronged setup man attack is Rafael Soriano, who has been nothing short of dominant when healthy. Soriano is returning from shoulder surgery after spending a large part of last season on the disabled list.

Middle-relief also looks to be a potential strength for the Braves heading into 2009. Key to the Atlanta middle-relief effort will be the Braves’ ability to resign free agent reliever, Will Ohman. In 2008, Ohman established himself as a top-flight southpaw middle-reliever, posting a 3.68 ERA in 83 appearances.

The progression of youngsters Blaine Boyer and Manny Acosta will also be paramount to the Braves middle-relief success. After a great first half last year, Boyer tailed off dramatically due to self-admitted second-half fatigue. Boyer will come to camp in 2009 in better shape, after spending the offseason working out with John Smoltz. Armed with an electric right arm, Acosta posted a solid 2008 campaign, finishing with a 3.57 ERA in 46 appearances, but was susceptible to giving up the long ball. If he demonstrates a little more consistency, Acosta could be a huge asset to the Braves.

If Gonzalez, Moylan and Soriano return to form, and the middle-relief continues to build upon last year’s progress, Atlanta’s bullpen certainly has the potential to be one of the best in the league.

That may be enough to return the Braves to the postseason for the first time since 2005. I think Bob Lemon would agree.