2011 Atlanta Braves Predictions
The Atlanta Braves are all set to begin a new chapter under manager Fredi Gonzalez, who will try to fill the big shoes of the great Bobby Cox. The Braves have enough pieces in place to make Gonzalez’s first season as skip one to remember. It may be asking too much for Atlanta to dethrone Philadelphia, but the Braves should be in serious contention for another postseason trip via the NL Wild Card. Baseball odds makers have listed the Atlanta Braves at +2000 to win the 2011 World Series.
Pitching: Great starting pitching was the foundation of Atlanta’s success during its run of 14 straight division titles, and it is the reason why the Braves surged to second in the NL East with 91 wins a year ago. While the Braves’ fantastic four doesn’t quite stack up to the Phillies’, you can certainly put the likes of Tim Hudson Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens up against any other top four in the league.
Hudson was in the Cy Young conversation after being named NL Pitcher of the Month in August. He took home the NL Comeback Player of the Year award on the strength of 17 wins and a 2.83 ERA. Lowe was terrific down the stretch, going 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA in five September starts. He won 16 games in 2010.
Hanson pitched well enough to win 16 games also but only got to 10 as a victim of poor run support. His 3.33 ERA tells the real story. Jurrjens is finally healthy, and that means be could be poised for a highly productive campaign.
Right now, southpaw Mike Minor appears to be the favorite to land the fifth starting spot.
In the pen, the Braves will be relying on rookie Craig Kimbrel. He just might be ready to take the ball in the ninth after going 4-0 with a 0.44 ERA in limited work last season.
Lineup: The Braves are expecting big things from right fielder Jason Heyward and second baseman Dan Uggla. Heyward finished as the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, hitting .277 with 18 home runs and 72 RBIs. Right now, the sky is the limit for this kid. Uggla comes over from division rival Florida to give the Braves some added pop. He has averaged 31 home runs and 93 RBIs through his first five seasons.
Third baseman Chipper Jones, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and first baseman Freddie Freeman are projected to join Uggla on the infield. If Jones’ knee responds well, we should see him back at the hot corner. Otherwise, we could see Martin Prado there. Jones hit .307 in his last 44 games prior to his injury, proving he still has one of the sweetest swings in baseball. Gonzalez finished third among shortstops with 23 round trippers last season. The rookie Freeman should get a chance to play every day.
Martin Prado and Nate McLouth are expected to join Heyward in the outfield. Prado is coming off a season in which he earned his first All-Star nod. His .307 average was good for seventh in the NL. McLouth hit .273 in September/October, which is hopefully a sign of things to come. He was awful at the plate prior.
Brian McCann, who took home All-Star game MVP honors, is perhaps the best hitting catcher in the majors. He led all NL catchers with 21 jacks and 77 RBIs last season.
Prediction – 2nd Place NL East: After a four-year drought, the Braves made it back to the postseason in 2010. This team doesn’t appear quite ready to end the Phillies’ run of four straight division titles, but grabbing the NL Wild Card again is definitely in the cards. The Braves are listed at +450 to win the NL East.
