10 Keys for the Braves This Season

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10. Mark Kotsay needs to stay healthy!!!

The Braves aren’t expecting Kotsay to have a big season this year. They just want him to play quality defense in center, Stay healthy, and do the little things at the plate. Kotsay is a very good professional hitter so you can expect him to have a better OBP (on base percentages) and average than Andruw Jones did last year. He needs to have a good season unless he will lose his job to Jordan Schafer. Schafer is one call away to being called up to Atlanta, said Braves new GM Frank Wren.

9. Frank Wren needs to stay on his game!!!

Frank Wren this off-season has done pretty well. He has added Omar Infante, Will Ohman, Tom Glavine, Gorkys Hernandez, Jair Jurrjens, Mark Kotsay, Jeff Ridgeway, Josh Anderson, and Chris Resop this off-season. In all likelihood the Braves are going to be in contention for the playoffs this season. Wren is almost certainly needs to make a deal or two before the trading deadline. Since the braves have one of the best farm systems in baseball, is he going to be willing to trade some of our top prospects or not. He shouldn’t consider trading Jordan Schafer, Jason Heyward, Cole Rohrbough, Tommy Hanson, Julio Teheran, nor Jeff Locke. Everybody else should be up for grabs. The Braves are probably going to need another reliever and or young starting pitcher before the July 31st deadline. So the question is will Frank Wren pull off a quality trade to help out the Braves?

8. The top of the order needs to get on base!!!

Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar had really good seasons last year. Johnson was one of the most underrated second baseman in all of baseball last year. He showed great patience with 79 walks, great power for a second baseman with 26 doubles, 16 homers, and 3rd in the NL last year with 10 triples. Escobar has done nothing but hit since being called up to play for Atlanta. His biggest weakness coming into the 2008 season was his power. He is trying to solve that problem by bulking up this off-season and looks similar to Miguel Tejeda. If Johnson and Escobar continue their success from last year, expect the Braves to have one of the best offenses in baseball this year.

7. Mike Gonzalez needs to return to form!!!

The former Pittsburgh Pirates closer is expected to make a comeback in earlier June. Adding Gonzo to the pen in June is equivalent to making a trade for an all-star closer. His ability to strikeout right and left handed batters will be huge for the Braves. If Rafael Soriano Struggles or gets injured, Mike Gonzalez will be a perfect replacement for him.
6. Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur need to step up their game!!!

McCann and Francoeur have both shown glimpses of what they can do in the majors in the past. Since both guys have 2 full seasons under their belts expect a breakout season from both. McCann is as healthy he has been in a while, plus having Lacisk eye surgery is going to help him see the ball better. Francoeur has added 17 pounds of muscle this off-season so he can be able to hit 30 homers this season. Expect a better season from the Baby Braves this year.

5. Rafael Soriano needs to stay healthy!!!

Soriano in spring has been pitching very well. He looks like he is going to be ready for opening day against the Nationals. We’re going to need Soriano to pitch the same way like he did when he took over the closers role late last season. Since he is a power pitcher that has a great fastball and good slider, he is going to be tough to hit later in the season when hitters’ bats become a little bit heavier.

4. Consistency from our 4th and 5th starters!!!

Last season our 4th and 5th starters were just horrible last season. That was the main reason why the Braves didn’t make the playoffs last year. With Hampton healthy so far, adding Jair Jurrjens, plus young lefty Chuck James, we have a pretty good back end of the rotation. Hampton brings experience and a bulldog mentality as our 4th starter. Jair Jurrjens is a young enthusiastic righty that knows how to pitch. James is probably not going to be in Atlanta coming out of spring, because he needs to build up his arm strength and work on his slider. If Hampton and Jurrjens can pitch up to their abilities, the Braves should have the best four and five starters in the NL.

3. Mike Hampton needs to stay healthy!!!

Hampton is the biggest “IF” coming into the 2008 season. It’s hard to be positive about him making the rotation, because he always gets injured some kind of way. If he is healthy there is no doubt in my mind that he will have a huge impact. Hampton has very good stuff and is a ground ball pitcher. He has also been in playoff races before so confidence isn’t going to be a problem with him. If he stays healthy the Braves should win at least the Wild Card.

2. Chipper needs to play at least 150 games!!!

Chipper Jones is the Atlanta Braves. So goes Chipper, so goes the Braves. His goal coming into this season is to play at least 150 games. If he can do that he has a terrific chance at wining the NL MVP award this year. With Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson hitting in front of him, and Mark Teixeira hitting behind him for a full season, he could have a better season than what he did last year.

1. Our experienced three has to stay healthy!!!

John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, and Tom Glavine have to pitch up to their expectations and stay on the field. Hudson and Glavine have usually been durable pitchers throughout their careers. Smoltz on the other hand has had some arm troubles in the past. Bobby Cox and Roger McDowell should take it easy with Smoltz for the first couple of months or so with Smoltz. If they do that he will be more valuable and more effective down the stretch run. The big three are going to be essential to the Braves success this year.