Rotation : The Braves are always resourceful, and after losing Russ Ortiz and Jaret Wright to free agency in December, within days they brought John Smoltz back to the rotation and traded for Tim Hudson. Smoltz has longed to return to the rotation for years, and he has not started consistently since 1999, the year before Tommy John elbow surgery wiped out a year and a half and turned him into a closer. Smoltz now has his wish, but it is worth noting that he has not thrown 200 innings in eight years. The notoriously streaky Mike Hampton started 1-7 last year before turning his season around. Hampton's intense competitiveness makes him stubborn and prolongs his ruts. He has settled into a 13- to 15-win pitcher, and he should never be expected to duplicate his 22-4 season in 1999. John Thomson is a capable fourth starter, another pitcher who thrived under Mazzone. Thomson left his playoff start after one-third of an inning with a side muscle injury, but he should be fine for spring training. Horacio Ramirez made eight-of-nine quality starts to open last season, but shoulder trouble limited him to one game after May 25. He is 14-8, 2.60 in 38 career starts, and if healthy is a deceptive lefthander who makes the Braves five-deep in their rotation.
Bullpen : Danny Kolb turned from a journeyman to an All-Star with Milwaukee, but he has a big job to fill as Smoltz's replacement. He does not strike people out, rare for a closer, but has been effective for two years. He had a 2.55 ERA with 60 saves during his two-year run with the Brewers. Kevin Gryboski and Chris Reitsma are durable and dependable. Tom Martin is a solid lefthander but did not pitch more than two innings in any game for Braves. Veteran Gabe White, who spent time on the Yankees and Reds in each of the past two seasons, will provide another left-handed arm out of the pen.
Middle Infield : Second baseman Marcus Giles broke his collarbone last May after a collision with Andruw Jones, and he missed two months. He could not duplicate his production from 2003, when he had 72 extra-base hits and a .526 slugging percentage, phenomenal for his position. But Giles did run more, and he continues to be solid in the field. His double-play partner, Rafael Furcal, enters his free agent season hoping to make people forget his two DUI arrests in the last five years. Furcal's career has not taken off as it seemed destined to in his 2000 Rookie of the Year campaign. His stolen base totals and on-base percentage that season remain his career bests. Still, with Furcal's speed and strong arm, he can beat teams in several ways and remains a valuable player.
Corners : Third baseman Chipper Jones had the lowest average of his career last year and snapped his streak of eight seasons in a row with 100 RBIs. A strained ham-string bothered him the whole '. first half, during which he batted just .214 and spent time on the disabled list. Jones will be 33 in April and should have plenty of good years left, given his history of consistency before last season. Adam LaRoche was batting just .242 when he separated his shoulder last May. He missed a month, held his own in July and took off over the last two months, solidifying his spot in the lineup. Slick in the field, LaRoche could be a Gold Glove winner someday.
Outfield : After letting J.D. Drew leave as a free agent and trading Charles Thomas to Oakland, it seemed as if the Braves would simply ask Andruw Jones to cover the entire outfield. Jones might be up for it; veteran managers and coaches say they have never seen a more talented center fielder than the seven-time Gold Glove winner. Jones is never hurt, and he puts up roughly the same numbers every year, though he set a new career high in strikeouts last season. But the Braves filled the corner outfield spots they hope by signing the talented but troubled Raul Mondesi, and former Brave Brian Jordan, to one-year deals. Mondesi hit at least 24 home runs every year from 1995-2003, but he was plagued by off-the-field problems a year ago and played in just 34 games with Pittsburgh and Anaheim. If either Mondesi or Jordan does not work out, Ryan Langerhans is out of options and should get a chance. The Braves may turn to talented prospect Jeff Francoeur, who could arrive quicker than expected in the Braves' lineup.
Catching : Two years ago, the Braves had to settle for lohnny Estrada when they traded Kevin Millwood to the Phillies. Now, Estrada is an All-Star and Millwood is gone from the Phils. Estrada is a .300 hitter with doubles power who handles the pitching staff well and thrives away from Turner Field. Eddie Perez has carved out a 10-year career as a dependable backup.
DH/Bench : Julio Franco will be 47 years old in August and is the oldest player in the majors. Manager Bobby Cox uses him brilliantly, and Franco held up well last year, hitting .349 after the All-Star break. He was the second-leading pinch-hitter in the National League and made 71 starts at first base. In four seasons in Atlanta, Franco has a .296 average. Langerhans fields well and hustles but does not have the power to be a everyday corner out-fielder. Former top prospect Wilson Betemit may actually get another opportunity to contribute. Nick Green filled in for Giles at second base and held his own; he clobbered lefties for a .354 average.
Mangement : John Schuerholz is the longest-tenured GM in baseball and Cox is the longest-tenured manager. Ownership is increasingly budget-conscious, forcing the Braves to lose veteran talent every year. But the farm system still produces, and Schuerholz is savvy and creative at finding ways to stay competitive. Cox runs a professional clubhouse, though bored Braves fans wouldn't mind more fire from the players when October rolls around.
Final Analysis : The Braves are going on a decade without a World Series title and have not won the pennant since 1999. Their postseason flops make them easy to dismiss, but their regular-season dominance is staggering and proof that Schuerholz and Cox know how to build a team that will win over the grueling season. Still, diis is the year the Braves' reign could end. The Marlins are just two years removed from a World Series title, and both the Phils and Mets have rosters loaded with talent. Come October, Turner Field will have far more than 10,000 empty seats.breakthrough. And given the team's track record, fans have been left wondering if tomorrow will ever come.
