Professional baseball season is right around the corner, and for many, if not most of us, that means there's another chance for us to follow the Braves to the postseason, only to see them collapse.
At least, that's what has happened (or similar to it) the last three years.
Well I think this year is going to be different. Of course, I think every year is going to be different, but I truly believe this Atlanta Braves team is better than last year's.
Yes, Chipper is gone, so is Martin Prado, but there are some key additions that spell success for the Braves.
In case you've been living under an anti-Braves rock for the past few months, Frank Wren, who is the general manager, acquired B.J. and Justin Upton in the offseason to play center and right field, respectively.
Both of the Uptons could definitely hit 30 home runs and have 20 steals next season. Couple that with Jason Heyward, who is capable of similar production, and you have the fastest, most powerful outfield in the majors.
Now let's have a look at the infield.
We'll start with catcher Brian McCann.
He had probably his worst season ever last year, but had offseason shoulder surgery, which could get him back to prime form.
When McCann returns, presumably around mid-April, he should return to being one of the more clutch catchers in baseball, but only time will tell if he'll be healthy enough to produce big numbers.
First baseman Freddie Freeman put on some serious bulk last offseason, and could be set for a breakout year. It was looking like last year would be his season, but he hurt his eye, which sent his production plummeting.
A healthy Freeman in the heart of the Braves order would just add another huge bat to an already powerful team.
At second base is Dan--waste of space--Uggla.
He's got power, there's no doubt about that, but he hasn't been worth the more than $10 million a year that the Braves have been paying him. On top of that, he's always good for a rally- killing double play around the bottom of the seventh inning.
On the optimistic side, if Uggla comes to play like he did for the Marlins, the Braves could be in some serious business, but I've thought that for the last two seasons.
Andrelton Simmons will start at shortstop, and though he was only a rookie last year, many experts believe he's the best defender at his position in the majors.
Though I'm biased, I tend to agree with them after watching him play last year.
The young man is a baseball vacuum on the left side of the field.
He's also not a bad hitter, so his offensive production is just a bonus to his superb defensive play.
At third base is newcomer Chris Johnson. I really don't know much about the guy, and he could never replace Chipper, but he is a career .276 batter, which isn't bad in my book.
OK, now on to starting pitchers.
The ace is Kris Medlen, no doubt about it.
When he became a starter last season Medlen posted a 0.97 ERA in 12 starts, which is just filthy good.
Auburn grad Tim Hudson will be a workhorse as always. My only concern is that Hudson is getting on up there in age, 37, so here's hoping he has a few quality seasons left in the tank.
Southpaws Mike Minor and Paul Maholm showed flashes of brilliance last season, and if they can both be a bit more consistent the top four on the Braves rotation will be solid.
While the team waits for top pitcher Brandon Beachy to return from surgery, the Braves will have to rely on Julio Teheran.
He's a fairly good fifth choice, but will probably be sent down to the minors when Beachy returns.
Finally, here's the bullpen.
It's been tagged as the best bullpen in the Majors, and rightly so with the arms of Craig Kimbrel, Johnny Venters, Eric O'Flaherty, Jordan Walden and Christian Martinez.
Kimbrel is all but unhittable with a 98 MPH fastball that moves a lot, and the dirtiest slider in the game, while Venters and O'Flaherty could be closing for most teams in baseball. What more do I have to say?
On paper this team looks unbeatable, so now the Braves just have to get the ball rolling to a World Series. OK, that's looking way too far ahead, but this season it really isn't out of the realm of possibility.
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