5 Things That Need To Happen For The Atlanta Braves In 2011

Last season was a great season for the Braves, considering that it was Bobby Cox's last season and they had not made the playoffs in 5 years. But they did not make it past the first round in the playoffs. 2011 is a year to change that.

The Braves have new players, new coaches, and 162 games to play. The roster did lose a few players such as Billy Wagner and Omar Infante, but it gained Dan Uggla, Scott Linebrink, and George Sherrill. On paper this looks like a playoff team with players like Jason Heyward, Tim Hudson, Brian McCann, Chipper Jones, Martin Prado, Derek Lowe, and others.

But in order to achieve their goal of making it to the World Series, these five things must happen:

5. Derek Lowe must pitch like he did his last five starts of the 2010 season. 

We all know the Braves' pitching staff is loaded with talent. But their number one starter for the past two years has pitched below expectations. He has had a 4+ ERA in those two years with Atlanta and has pitched inconsistently. His lifetime ERA is 3.85, which is what Atlanta has been wanting. But he just has not performed up to standards.

Sure he has won at least 15 wins during his time in Atlanta, but how long can that last? His luck may run out this year, and it could end up really hurting the Braves. To ensure a winning season for him and the team this season, he must pitch as he did for the month of September. Just as the season was coming to an end, he was returning to his former form. He threw an effective slider and sinker, which in turn allowed only 4 runs in 30 innings. If he could replicate those performances in 2011, the Braves would greatly benefit.

4. Freddie Freeman must live up to expectations.

We can ignore his somewhat poor stats last year because he was a rookie who was only 21 and not given enough time to start adapting to the Majors. But he cannot play like he did last year. A .167 batting average from a first baseman?! It was acceptable last year because he was starting only occasionally, but a Major League first baseman must be the team's strong point offensively and defensively.

The Braves have not had a powerful or consistent first baseman since Mark Teixeira, who only lasted in Atlanta for a short while. Freeman may not turn out to be a Teixeira, but at least should hit 15+ homers this season and have at least a .270 batting average. Anything under either of those two stats would be detrimental to the lineup. I am not expecting him to hit over 30 home runs but to at least hit for moderate power. The Braves do not need another hole to fill.

3. Dan Uggla must earn his pay.

The Braves for so long have lacked a right handed power hitter. But with the huge signing of Dan Uggla, they believe they have fixed that problem. However, he has yet to actually play in a Braves uniform. In order to put my and many others skepticism to rest, he must do what he has done his entire career: hit 30 home runs.

In each of his seasons with the Marlins he did not dip below the 30 home run line. But if he has a season in which he hits below .250 and has fewer than 30 home runs, he will do more harm than good to the Braves. His defense has been spotty at best, even though Fredi Gonzalez believes he is not as bad as he is made out to be. Atlanta's defense last year was their biggest downfall, especially in the playoffs. Who knows what would have happened if that ball did not go through Conrad's legs?

Hopefully this season mistakes of that magnitude will be avoided, with the help of Dan Uggla. But if his defense does not improve, that same mistake might happen because of him at a key time. Dan Uggla is a key player for the Braves this year, and he can have either a positive or negative influence on their entire season.

2. The bullpen must not significantly worsen.

Last season both the starting rotation and the bullpen were near the top in most pitching categories. In fact, the bullpen had the third best ERA in the entire league. Most of the relief pitchers could be trusted to hold and save important or close games. They had a future Hall Of Famer Billy Wagner as their closer. They had a set up man in Jonny Venters who had a sub 2.00 ERA, and many other specialists who had ERAs under 3.00.

But the Braves have lost Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito in the off season. They did sign relievers George Sherrill and Scott Linebrink. Both did have bad years last year, but both pitched in the hitter friendly American League. For their entire careers, however, they have an ERA under 4.00. If the rest of the bullpen pitches consistently, then the Braves have nothing to worry about. But if the bullpen starts pitching like Sherrill and Linebrink did last year, then the team is in big trouble.

1. Nate McLouth MUST, I repeat, MUST improve.

This problem is nothing new, but it has reached a new desperate level. A player who is paid seven million dollars should not have a .190 batting average and a .322 slugging percentage. That is just too horrible.

McLouth for the past two years was expected to hit at least 20 home runs, play good defense, steal bases, and hit doubles. None of these things have happened since he has joined the Braves. He has hit only a total of 17 home runs, 32 doubles, steal 19 bases, had a .229 batting average, and inexplicably not thrown in (to the infield) what has seemed like half of the balls that he has caught on the fly with men on base. That to me does not seem to be a sound investment. He is a starter for goodness sake! He should play like one! I remember not too long ago he hit over 30 home runs! Where did that player go?

I can't imagine what position the Braves will be in if he decides to be complacent. I have not heard of a good team missing the playoffs all because of one player, but we may see one if McLouth plays like McOut.