I think the Braves can win the NL East, even with the strength of the Nationals and the Phillies. Similar to the way everybody jumped on the Phillies band wagon the last couple seasons, the same has been said about the Nationals this season. As stacked as the Nationals are, the same was said about the Phillies last season. The Braves added OFs Justin Upton, BJ Upton and RHP Jordan Walden to their team as well as 3B Chris Johnson. Minor acquisitions include SS Ramiro Pena and catcher Gerald Laird. While the Uptons make their OF significantly better, they have to get over the loss of future HOF 3B Chipper Jones to retirement and OF Michael Bourn to free agency and INF/ OF Martin Prado to the Justin Upton trade. They essentially traded Jones, Bourn and Prado for Upton, Upton and Johnson.
Jones in his last season hit .287, 14, 62, while Bourn hit .274, 9, 57 with 42 SB and 10 3Bs. Prado hit .301, 10, 70 and led the team with 186 hits and 42 2Bs. BJ hit .246, 28, 78 last season while Justin had a down season, hitting .267, 17, 67 for the Diamondbacks. Johnson hit .281, 15, 76 for the Astros and Diamondbacks last season. He will split time with Juan Francisco (.234, 9, 32 in 92 games), who played a utility role last season. Francisco may even start opening day. The Braves have Jason Heyward (.269, 27, 82), Freddy Freeman (.259, 23, 94) and Dan Uggla (.220, 19, 78). As Uggla needs to bounce back from a rough season, so does catcher Brian McCann (.230, 20, 67). Andrelton Simmons (.289, 3, 19 in 49 games) is expected to become an offensive force at SS. I'd line the Braves up like this: B Upton CF, Heyward RF, J Upton LF, Freeman 1B, Uggla 2B, McCann C, Johnson/ Francisco 3B, Simmons SS. Reed Johnson, Laird, Pena and Jordan Shafer lead a decent Atlanta bench.
The starting pitching may or may not be deep, depending on how its looked at. Tim Hudson, Paul Maholm, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor and Julio Teheran will be the starting rotation with Brandon Beachy joining the team perhaps in the second half of the season. Medlen (10-1, 1.57 in 50 games, 12 starts with 120 Ks in 138 IP) was the biggest story of the Atlanta rotation last season. Hudson (16-7, 3.62) is the ace, with Maholm (13-11, 3.57) and Medlen probably two and three in the circle. Minor (11-10, 4.12) could very well break out this season as can Teheran (4 runs in 6 1/3 IP) giving the rotation a huge upside. If Medlen, Minor and Teheran struggle, and Beachy does not come back healthy, they will miss Tommy Hanson dearly.
The bullpen is the strength of the team with the game's best closer at the moment Craig Kimbrel (3-1, 1.01, 42 saves with 116 Ks in 62 1/3 IP) and two solid set up men in Jonny Venters (5-4, 3.22) and Eric O'Flaherty (3-0, 1.73). Walden (3-2, 3.46) had 32 saves in 2011 for the Angels and can throw nearly 100 MPH. LHP Luis Avilan (1-0, 2.00 in 31 games) is just 23 and will make an impact this season.
I think the Braves will go well this season. They won 94 games last year, but I see them winning 90 in a very competitive NL. Vegas has their over/ under at 86, so it is an easy over. 90-72 is good enough for 3rd place in the NL East and a place in the Wild Card play in game this season.
Jones in his last season hit .287, 14, 62, while Bourn hit .274, 9, 57 with 42 SB and 10 3Bs. Prado hit .301, 10, 70 and led the team with 186 hits and 42 2Bs. BJ hit .246, 28, 78 last season while Justin had a down season, hitting .267, 17, 67 for the Diamondbacks. Johnson hit .281, 15, 76 for the Astros and Diamondbacks last season. He will split time with Juan Francisco (.234, 9, 32 in 92 games), who played a utility role last season. Francisco may even start opening day. The Braves have Jason Heyward (.269, 27, 82), Freddy Freeman (.259, 23, 94) and Dan Uggla (.220, 19, 78). As Uggla needs to bounce back from a rough season, so does catcher Brian McCann (.230, 20, 67). Andrelton Simmons (.289, 3, 19 in 49 games) is expected to become an offensive force at SS. I'd line the Braves up like this: B Upton CF, Heyward RF, J Upton LF, Freeman 1B, Uggla 2B, McCann C, Johnson/ Francisco 3B, Simmons SS. Reed Johnson, Laird, Pena and Jordan Shafer lead a decent Atlanta bench.
The starting pitching may or may not be deep, depending on how its looked at. Tim Hudson, Paul Maholm, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor and Julio Teheran will be the starting rotation with Brandon Beachy joining the team perhaps in the second half of the season. Medlen (10-1, 1.57 in 50 games, 12 starts with 120 Ks in 138 IP) was the biggest story of the Atlanta rotation last season. Hudson (16-7, 3.62) is the ace, with Maholm (13-11, 3.57) and Medlen probably two and three in the circle. Minor (11-10, 4.12) could very well break out this season as can Teheran (4 runs in 6 1/3 IP) giving the rotation a huge upside. If Medlen, Minor and Teheran struggle, and Beachy does not come back healthy, they will miss Tommy Hanson dearly.
The bullpen is the strength of the team with the game's best closer at the moment Craig Kimbrel (3-1, 1.01, 42 saves with 116 Ks in 62 1/3 IP) and two solid set up men in Jonny Venters (5-4, 3.22) and Eric O'Flaherty (3-0, 1.73). Walden (3-2, 3.46) had 32 saves in 2011 for the Angels and can throw nearly 100 MPH. LHP Luis Avilan (1-0, 2.00 in 31 games) is just 23 and will make an impact this season.
I think the Braves will go well this season. They won 94 games last year, but I see them winning 90 in a very competitive NL. Vegas has their over/ under at 86, so it is an easy over. 90-72 is good enough for 3rd place in the NL East and a place in the Wild Card play in game this season.
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