2008 Atlanta Braves Predictions & Season Preview

The Braves are a few years past their run at 14 consecutive division titles during their hay day. The folks in Atlanta haven't seen October for the past two seasons, but things are looking up for the Braves in 2008. Tom Glavine is back. John Schuerholz is no longer making the deals. Mark Teixeira has added power to this lineup and Andruw Jones no longer wears a tomahawk sewn across his chest. New GM Frank Wren says "From my perspective, we will be a very exciting club. I think our pitching will be much better and our position players will be coming of age as run producers." These claims may be so, but the Braves now have to make that run at a division title and keep their elderly starting rotation healthy to have a shot. Below are Larry's 2008 Atlanta Braves predictions along with an overall season preview of the faces you can expect to see wearing tomahawks across their chests.

Starting Rotation:

The Braves did win 84 games last season, but their rotation was a mess for most of the season. The team hopes the addition of Glavine gives new life to this staff despite his age. John Smoltz and Tim Hudson will man the 1 and 2 spots in the rotation to lead the way. Glavine will be the No. 3 guy and then it gets a bit dicey form there. Mike Hampton never made it out of spring training last year. He hasn't thrown a meaningful pitch since August, 2005. If the Braves can get some starts out of Hampton and 200-plus innings from Glavine, they will be competing for that division title once again. Chuck James and Jair Jurrjens, acquired from the Tigers, will battle for the fifth spot in the rotation. There is some depth with Jo-Jo Reyes and Jeff Bennett. Meanwhile, one has to wonder just how much more the 40-year-old Smoltz has in that right arm after pitching 702 games and 3,367 innings of ware and tear. Hudson went 16-10 with a 3.33 ERA, cutting more than a run-an-a-half off his ERA from 2006.

Bullpen:

This always seems to be a troubled spot since John Rocker's blowup in the postseason a few year back for the Braves. It was supposed to be a strong point in the team last year with Bob Wickman, Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano. Wickman proceeded to blow a gasket and Gonzalez blew out his arm, leaving Soriano to hold down the fort. With Wickman gone, Soriano is left with the closer's role again. The Braves will have to wait until June to see if Gonzalez can return from his arm surgery. Behind setup man Peter Moylan, the rest of the spots are up for grabs, leaving many questions with the Braves' bullpen in 2008. Rookie righthander Manny Acosta came up late last year and had a 2.28 ERA in 23.2 innings for the Braves. Atlanta management has high hopes for this young gun.

Line-Up:

SS Yunel Escobar will be filling big shoes left by Edgar Renteria. Escobar may be the game's next big-time shortstop and Bobby Cox has nothing but praise for this leadoff hitter that finished with a .326 BA last season. 2B Kelly Johnson proved last season he could play second and hit 1 or 2 in this line-up. 3B Chipper Jones is the main veteran left from the Braves' amazing run at 14 straight division titles. His leadership role will be huge in turning this young players with great potential into proven winners. Jones has some protection with 1B Mark Teixiera batting cleanup. He can be as good or better than Fred McGriff was back in the mid-1990's. RF Jeff Francoeur has many people believing he can explode for 40 homers and 135 RBIs in any given year. Braves' fans must hope it will be this year as he hits 5th behind Jones and Teixeira. C Brian McCann is big and strong and proved that his numbers were no fluke from the brilliant 2006 season. LF Matt Diaz and CF Mark Kotsay round out the 7 and 8 spots in this potent lineup. Both are looking to get their careers going as Diaz has struggled while Kotsay underwent back surgery last year. The pop off the bench will come from Scott Thorman, who started last season at first base. Newly acquired Omar Infante will see plenty of work as he can play second, short and third. Touted prospect Martin Prado, a 2B, will also have a chance to make the team. Former catcher Javy Lopez is back and will be given a chance to make the team as a bat off the bench. Rookie Clint Sammons will likely be the backup catcher.

Braves 2008 Predictions:

The Mets are still the team to beat in this division with the acquisition of Johan Santana to the rotation. The Braves will give the Phillies a run for their money for 2nd in the NL East and we think their experience will prevail as they try and snag a Wild Card berth. Atlanta was just one winning streak away from being right there at the end. This year's team has a chance to win 90 games with several highly touted prospects chomping at the bit to get playing time. But as usual, the key will be the starting pitching, and the team is hoping that Glavine has one great season left in what will likely be the last campaign of his Hall of Fame career. Look for the Braves to add a big outfield bat to fill the shoes that Andruw Jones left behind once they are in playoff contention come July. In all, the Braves' efforts will be good enough for a 2nd place finish in the toughest division in the National League.

Larry Cook finished with the #5 World Ranking with his baseball picks in 2007 last year. Hard work with research, analysis and starting pitcher breakdowns gives Larry the edge over your sportsbook and bookies. You won't believe the kind of profits you can make by signing up for any of Larry's long-term packages. By doing so, you will get in on all of his winning MLB action this season. Larry will guide you to profits you have never seen before once he makes his move up to the #1 spot in 2008.

2008 Atlanta Braves Odds:

Odds to win NL East: 5/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant: 11/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series: 30/1