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| (From Left) Craig Kimbrel, Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty comprise the best bullpen trio in baseball. Call them "The Untouchables." |
The Florida State Seminoles Atlanta Braves come into this season trying to come back from their major letdown last season that left them out of the playoffs on the final day of the season. The problem for the Atlanta Braves is that their division just became significantly more difficult.
I had mentioned that Washington is better and we all know that Miami improved. The NL East is now the best division in baseball. What the Braves have that will keep them in the race is pitching. They have two established starters under the age of 27 in Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens. They also boast the best bishop/setup/closer combo in baseball in Eric O'Flaherty, Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel. The key to their rotation is that at the start of the season it will consist of five pitchers younger than 27. Their bullpen will be greatly aided if Kris Medlen can transition from Tommy John surgery to be an effective Mopup Man for the Braves. Medlen can take a lot of the stress off of the back of the bullpen, an element that the Braves sorely missed last season. Speaking of injuries, the Braves hope to have Tim Hudson back by May 1st.
Chipper Jones has been a lot of the focus at Braves camp so far. If he made it this far, it is highly unlikely he will be retiring during the season. Jones is still capable of putting up the proper offensive numbers for an offensive third basemen and is invaluable as a clubhouse leader.
The rest of the Braves lineup is full of players that won't be fun to face. Seven spots in the lineup will be filled with guys that can hit. Prado, Jones, Heyward, Bourn, Uggla, McCann and Freeman will give pitchers fits this season. This will be even more so if Heyward can adjust to how he was being pitched to in 2011. He clearly had a sophomore slump and this season will go a long way in determining whether or not this kid will attain his lofty expectations.
Tyler Pastornicky is the favorite to get the starting nod at Shortstop. If he starts at Shortstop on Opening Day, he will take over for Alex Gonzalez who the Braves declined arbitration for last fall. Pastornicky is struggling at the plate in Spring Training, but expect that to change. Last season, he hit .314 between AA and AAA. He should serve as a speed threat who can hit for contact well enough to possibly become the #2 hitter sometime in the next few seasons.
The Atlanta Braves are a complete team. The issue for them is that there are three other complete teams in their division. Look for them to be in the race til' the bitter end.
X-FACTORS:
Lineup: RF Jason Heyward. Heyward has the tools and supporting cast to go off this year. However, if .227 and 14 Homers happens again, the Braves lineup will be hurt substantially.
Rotation: Mike Minor. The Braves need a clear cut stud to pitch after Jurrjens, Hanson and eventually Hudson. Minor has the best shot at being just that this season. That is of course, if Julio Teheran doesn't come up and do it first.
Bullpen: Kris Medlen. Coming off of Tommy John surgery, he'll need to spell the starters and the back of the bullpen. He is expected to spot start and pitch in a mopup role to help preserve the arms of their Bishop, Setup Man and Closer. That's a lot of pressure given his situation.
The Kids: Tyler Pastornicky. If he is the #2 hitter in September, then the Braves were either really bad or really good in the first five months of the season
ROYAL LIST:
#5 RHP Julio Teheran: Should come up in June and round out the Braves' rotation.
#40 RHP Arodys Vizcaino: Also expected to come up in 2012. Just another demonstration of the magic of youth in the Braves' pitching staff.
#46 RHP Randall Delgado: Really now? Another one?
#92 SS Andrelton Simmons: Could start the season at shortstop if Pastornicky still has issues at the plate.
PROJECTION: 3rd Place NL East
-This should be good enough to net the Braves a Wild Card game appearance. But don't count out Miami, St. Louis, Cincy or Miami.
I had mentioned that Washington is better and we all know that Miami improved. The NL East is now the best division in baseball. What the Braves have that will keep them in the race is pitching. They have two established starters under the age of 27 in Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens. They also boast the best bishop/setup/closer combo in baseball in Eric O'Flaherty, Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel. The key to their rotation is that at the start of the season it will consist of five pitchers younger than 27. Their bullpen will be greatly aided if Kris Medlen can transition from Tommy John surgery to be an effective Mopup Man for the Braves. Medlen can take a lot of the stress off of the back of the bullpen, an element that the Braves sorely missed last season. Speaking of injuries, the Braves hope to have Tim Hudson back by May 1st.
Chipper Jones has been a lot of the focus at Braves camp so far. If he made it this far, it is highly unlikely he will be retiring during the season. Jones is still capable of putting up the proper offensive numbers for an offensive third basemen and is invaluable as a clubhouse leader.
The rest of the Braves lineup is full of players that won't be fun to face. Seven spots in the lineup will be filled with guys that can hit. Prado, Jones, Heyward, Bourn, Uggla, McCann and Freeman will give pitchers fits this season. This will be even more so if Heyward can adjust to how he was being pitched to in 2011. He clearly had a sophomore slump and this season will go a long way in determining whether or not this kid will attain his lofty expectations.
Tyler Pastornicky is the favorite to get the starting nod at Shortstop. If he starts at Shortstop on Opening Day, he will take over for Alex Gonzalez who the Braves declined arbitration for last fall. Pastornicky is struggling at the plate in Spring Training, but expect that to change. Last season, he hit .314 between AA and AAA. He should serve as a speed threat who can hit for contact well enough to possibly become the #2 hitter sometime in the next few seasons.
The Atlanta Braves are a complete team. The issue for them is that there are three other complete teams in their division. Look for them to be in the race til' the bitter end.
X-FACTORS:
Lineup: RF Jason Heyward. Heyward has the tools and supporting cast to go off this year. However, if .227 and 14 Homers happens again, the Braves lineup will be hurt substantially.
Rotation: Mike Minor. The Braves need a clear cut stud to pitch after Jurrjens, Hanson and eventually Hudson. Minor has the best shot at being just that this season. That is of course, if Julio Teheran doesn't come up and do it first.
Bullpen: Kris Medlen. Coming off of Tommy John surgery, he'll need to spell the starters and the back of the bullpen. He is expected to spot start and pitch in a mopup role to help preserve the arms of their Bishop, Setup Man and Closer. That's a lot of pressure given his situation.
The Kids: Tyler Pastornicky. If he is the #2 hitter in September, then the Braves were either really bad or really good in the first five months of the season
ROYAL LIST:
#5 RHP Julio Teheran: Should come up in June and round out the Braves' rotation.
#40 RHP Arodys Vizcaino: Also expected to come up in 2012. Just another demonstration of the magic of youth in the Braves' pitching staff.
#46 RHP Randall Delgado: Really now? Another one?
#92 SS Andrelton Simmons: Could start the season at shortstop if Pastornicky still has issues at the plate.
PROJECTION: 3rd Place NL East
-This should be good enough to net the Braves a Wild Card game appearance. But don't count out Miami, St. Louis, Cincy or Miami.
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