Score Atlanta's Braves 2009 preview

Note: This is the official Atlanta Braves preview done by Score Atlanta's Braves beat writer Fletcher Proctor

It has been three years since the Atlanta Braves reached the playoffs. Each of the last two years Braves fans figured that the team was a lock for postseason play, only to come to the cold-hard realization that the team was ultimately flawed. This offseason fans may have jumped off of the bandwagon, thinking the team was a year or two away, but the 2009 edition of the Braves may surprise a lot of people.
The Braves General Manager Frank Wren faced a major crossroads after last season. He had decisions to make on John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, leftfield and the bullpen. Wren’s decision to overhaul the starting rotation with the idea of acquiring innings-eaters to aid the wear on the bullpen has proved to be a wise one thus far this spring. New staff ace Derek Lowe has looked sharp and will likely be the opening day starter. Lowe has mixed a nice sinker in with a sneaky fastball to justify the contract the Braves gave to the new ace. The righthander will be the pitcher that manager Bobby Cox trots out against the opposition’s No.1 pitcher and Lowe has proved in the past that he can be a big game pitcher. In 2004, Lowe started each of the series-clinching games for the Red Sox as Boston won its first world title in 86 years.
The trade for Javier Vazquez may have raised a few eyebrows at the time, but Vazquez has impressed this spring. Vazquez pitched well in the World Baseball Classic and upon returning to the team has continued his hot spring. The big right-hander is also an innings-eater and will let the bullpen have light day on his turn on the bump.
The rotation was filled out by 2008 breakout star Jair Jurrjens (his 13 wins last year led the team), Japanese-import Kenshin Kawakami and Tom Glavine. Some Braves fans were irked with super-prospect Tommy Hanson’s recent demotion to the minor league camp but Braves management felt that the future ace needed regular work instead of spot work, which is what he would have received had he stayed with the big club. Hanson has been quite impressive this spring, tallying up 14 strikeouts in 14+ innings of work and consistently hitting 94+ on the radar gun. He has also shown a nice curveball and slider. Hanson’s promotion this summer could be what David Price’s was last season for the Tampa Bay Rays and Joba Chamberlain’s was the season before for the Yankees.
One of the team’s biggest weaknesses last season though was lack of pop in the outfield. Part of that had to do with Jeff Francoeur’s season-long slump. The one-time “future of the franchise” hit just .239 with 11 home runs and .359 slugging. The organization even briefly sent him to AA-Mississippi to clear his head. Frenchy was expected to provide the pop that Andruw Jones had for years but his struggles were just a microcosm of the 2008 outfield. Centerfield was a rotating door between Mark Kotsay Gregor Blanco, and Josh Anderson. Leftfield was also an area of concern with Matt Diaz, Brandon Jones, midseason pickup Greg Norton and Omar Infante. The power was never there and Wren wanted to correct that this season so he signed Garrett Anderson. The former Angel has hit close to .300 for his career and can provide some pop from the left side of the plate. Anderson might also be plugged into the cleanup spot in the batting order. The centerfield spot might also find rookie Jordan Schafer manning the position on opening day as Schafer has flashed impressive leather and has posted a .360+ average this spring. Francoeur still remains the X-factor that could make this outfield a potent one if he can live up to his .290/25 home run potential.
The strength of this team remains it two all-stars: Chipper Jones and Brian McCann. Jones won the batting title last season and can still rake even in his mid-30s while McCann has quietly become the best hitting catcher in the game. If both can get some help from Anderson, first baseman Casey Kotchman and shortstop Yunel Escobar, this team could be in the running for the NL Wild Card all season long.