Braves have a chance in the East?

[terrierbob]

Not asking for a smack discussion. With Hampton back (I hope healthy) and Glavine's contribution, I'm crossing my fingers we'll have a more solid roation. Oue batting seems to be solid, with Chipper, Texiera, McAnn, Francouer, etc.

Any comments?

[UNHWildCats]

I think its a three team race with the Braves, Mets and Phillies.

[blueballs]

I think its a three team race with the Braves, Mets and Phillies.

What he said...

...the Braves chances rest in large part on the health of Chipper, Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton, and to a lesser degree James and Gonzalez. If all those players stay healthy- partcularly the first three listed- the Braves will be a solid team and should be in the thick of things in the NL. Their lineup should score big even after losing Renteria (a pro's pro) and Andruw Jones.

One other "if..." If JoJo Reyes continues maturing like he did his last few starts in '07 and Jair Jurjjens comes along like is expected the Braves could possibly find themselves in a position to deal from strength.

[mcveyrl]

What he said...

...the Braves chances rest in large part on the health of Chipper (36 and injury prone), Smoltz (41), Glavine (42), Hampton (36 with his picutre beside "injury prone" in the dictionary), and to a lesser degree James and Gonzalez. If all those players stay healthy- partcularly the first three listed- the Braves will be a solid team and should be in the thick of things in the NL. Their lineup should score big even after losing Renteria (a pro's pro) and Andruw Jones.

One other "if..." If JoJo Reyes continues maturing like he did his last few starts in '07 and Jair Jurjjens comes along like is expected the Braves could possibly find themselves in a position to deal from strength.

I think this is accurate, but see my revisions above.

I'm a Braves fan, and I'm worried.

[terrierbob]

Moylan, moriano and Hudson seem solid. I wonder if Moylan could start.

[brownbear]

The Braves needed to get a solid rotation. That really was their main weakness, having only 2 or 3 reliable pitchers. The hitting was pretty good last year, so I'm not worried about that.

[gmoney55]

I think it's a three-team race. I know you brought up injuries, but the Braves are best-equipped to get through a stretch of injuries because they have by far the best farm system out of the three teams. Mets and Phils have little depth, especially in the rotation.

[Ivytalk]

I agree that it will be a wide-open race in the NL East, provided that the Braves starters don't run out of Geritol!:p

[Go...gate]

Braves will be in it, as always, and may very well take it. (would that be 14 out of 16?)

[Marcus Garvey]

The Phillies are hampered by a very questionable rotation and a manager who makes Danny Ozark/Grady Little/John McNamara look like Sparky Anderson.

[brownbear]

Braves will be in it, as always, and may very well take it. (would that be 14 out of 16?)

if they win, it's 15 of 17

[bulldog10jw]

The Mets SHOULD win it going away. BUT they should have won it going away last year so they just may not have what it takes after last year AND 2006 when they folded agaist St Louis.

[Eyes of Old Main]

On paper, the Braves can compete. But, when injuries come, it could get tough. I'm a lifelong Braves fan (pre-1991) so I have hope, but I give the Mets and Phillies and edge right now assuming the injuries and slumps are distributed evenly.

[seantaylor]

Don't be sleeping on those Nats.