Atlanta Braves 2010 Primer

The Atlanta Braves were in the thick of the playoff hunt last year until the final week and a half of the season. They sputtered at the end, losing their final six games, and missed the wild card by six games. They had their highest win total (86) since their most recent playoff run in 2005, but no one in the clubhouse was happy with the results and they won't be until postseason play is realized again.

Another reason for the Braves to be unhappy is that Bobby Cox has announced that he will retire after the 2010 season. The Braves were known, and will likely always be remembered, for winning their division 14 straight times from 1991 to 2005. Cox, the manager for each of those seasons, has said that he'll hang up his spikes -- the ones he wears at all times -- after his 25th with the Braves. Some of the faces that have been around the Braves for years are quiet naysayers, believing Cox may not be through just yet. Whether he actually leaves or not, the team has been instilled with a win-it-for-Bobby mentality, and that can't be an entirely bad motivator.

To get things done for Cox this season, the Braves have added a powerful cleanup hitter in Troy Glaus and have given the top prospect in baseball, Jason Heyward, an opportunity to break camp with the team. They added some outfield depth with a controversial trade that sent Javier Vazquez -- the team's most successful pitcher last year -- to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera and a top pitching prospect, and the rotation will welcome the fact that Tim Hudson is healthy and ready to regain old form.

The team probably didn't do enough in the offseason to overtake the division champion Phillies, but the Braves may be front-runners in the wild-card race.

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Coming and Going

In: Billy Wagner, LHP (free agency); Takashi Saito, RHP (free agency); Melky Cabrera, OF (trade); Mike Dunn, LHP (trade); Troy Glaus, 1B (free agency); Eric Hinske, UTIL (free agency); Jesse Chavez, RHP (trade) and Scott Proctor, RHP (free agency).

Out: Javier Vazquez, RHP (trade); Boone Logan, LHP (trade); Mike Gonzalez, LHP (free agency); Rafael Soriano, RHP (trade); Adam LaRoche, 1B (free agency); Kelly Johnson, 2B (non-tendered); Ryan Church, RF (non-tendered); Brandon Jones, OF (waivers); Jorge Campillo, RHP (released); Buddy Carlyle, RHP (released); Garret Andeson, LF (free agency); Greg Norton, UTIL (free agency) and Vladimir Nunez, RHP (free agency).

Around the Horn

Greatest thing since sliced bread? ...
What started as an idea to invite a top prospect to major league camp quickly evolved, to the point that 20-year-old Jason Heyward is now firmly entrenched as the starting right fielder. Not only has Heyward been near the top of every published prospect report this season, he's showing poise and confidence this spring and has almost made him a household name before he sees his first regular-season fastball. Considered a five-tool athlete, Heyward has been most impressive with his plate discipline this spring, leading the team in walks through the first two weeks of games. His power will come, his speed is already present and the start Heyward has had thus far may be the reason the Braves didn't spend a lot of money on the free-agent market signing a guy like Jason Bay or Matt Holliday.

Staying healthy at the corners ...
The last time both Troy Glaus and Chipper Jones played 130 games in the same season was 2002. Since then, each corner infielder has had injuries of various sorts dominate large chunks of this season or that. Glaus turns 34 this season and Jones 38. We know that both players are past their prime and aging quicker than they'd like. But the Braves need both of them to stay healthy this season and anchor the infield and the middle of the lineup. If that happens, the Braves will be in great shape.

Huddy's return ...
Tim Hudson was having a decent 2008 season until his elbow gave out. He returned for seven starts in 2009 after Tommy John surgery and pitched admirably. He entered camp this year in full health and has pitched extremely well this spring. The Braves need Hudson to step up in 2010 and pitch like it was 2007. Not only will that cover the loss of Javier Vazquez, but it will give the pitching staff much-needed veteran leadership as it leads the Braves on a playoff hunt.

Leading off tonight will be ...
The Braves flirted with the idea of bringing in a leadoff hitter this past offseason. I use the term "flirted" because the team wasn't willing to spend a lot of money or get into a long-term contract situation, which is why Johnny Damon -- the name mentioned most often -- chose another team. The Braves do have a small problem in that no player on their current roster is a legitimate leadoff option. They used Nate McLouth the most as a leadoff hitter last year, but a plethora of hitters auditioned for the role at some point in the season. McLouth has only one hit in 31 spring at-bats and has struck out 12 times this spring. This leaves a lot of doubt in the minds of the Braves as to just who can bat at the top of the batting order.

Projected Opening Day Roster



2010 Outlook

If the Braves can stay healthy -- and that's a big if -- Atlanta had a good chance of reaching the postseason again. The pitching staff, from top to bottom, rivals any in baseball, and this team can hit the ball when it needs to. The additions of Glaus and Heyward could provide the needed pop in the middle of the lineup that was missing last season. There are enough tools here to make a run at the title and send Bobby Cox off into the sunset as a winner one last time.