Atlanta Braves 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Atlanta Braves 2009 MLB Record: 86-76
Atlanta Braves 2009 MLB Home Record: 40-41
Atlanta Braves 2009 MLB Away Record: 46-35

Atlanta Braves 2010 Betting

Atlanta Braves Odds to Win the National League: 11/2
Atlanta Braves Odds to Win the World Series: 12/1

Atlanta Braves 2010 Preview & Prediction

The one fixture in the Braves’ organization since their run of the 1990s has been manager Bobby Cox. That changes after this season, when Cox will retire and move into an advisory role with the organization. If winning for their manager doesn’t create a sense of urgency for the Braves, nothing will. They have what they believe it takes to make it to the postseason and snap a four-year drought – a loaded rotation. It’s what helped them win 15 of 17 games last September to close the Rockies’ lead in the wild card hunt to two games in the final week. As long as the Braves didn’t get too old in their bullpen with the additions of Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito and risk too much on surgically repaired arms, Cox could get that ride into the postseason sunset.

The Braves believe they are on the brink of a playoff breakthrough. They have the starting pitching to stay in games and the bullpen to close them out, if age and elbow surgeries don’t catch up. What will make or break the Braves’ season is whether they come up with enough offense to complement their pitching and whether Jones can get back on track at the No.3 spot in the order. The Phillies are still the team to beat in the NL East, but there is no reason to believe the Braves will not be in the hunt for the wild card spot.

Atlanta Braves Manager: Bobby Cox (28 Seasons) Record: 2413 – 1930

Atlanta Braves 2010 Projected Batting Order: CF Nate McLouth (L), 2B Marlin Prado (R), 3B Chipper Jones (S), C Brian McCann (L), SS Yunel Escobar (R), 1B Troy Glaus (R), LF Melky Cabrera (S), RF Jason Heyward (L),

Atlanta Braves 2010 Projected Rotation: RH Jair Jurrjens, RH Tim Hudson, RH Tommy Hanson, RH Derek Lowe, RH Kenshin Kawakami,

Atlanta Braves 2010 Projected Closer: LH Billy Wagner

2010 Atlanta Braves Rotation:

The Braves return four starters from a rotation that led the majors with a 3.52 ERA last season, but they lost Javier Vazquez, who was last year’s ace with his 15 wins and 2.87 ERA. The Braves had an extra starter to trade and didn’t get any takers on Derek Lowe and the $45 million left on his contract. So Lowe will have to get over the angst of knowing the Braves wanted to deal him and work through the mechanical issues that had him over the heart of the plate for a handful of disastrous starts last season. If Tommy Hanson had moved into the spot the Braves were holding for Tom Glavine earlier than June, he might have won the NL Rookie of the Year award and the Braves might have made the playoffs. As it is, Hanson and Jair Jurrjens give the Braves two of the top young arms in the game. Tim Hudson showed the team enough in seven starts back from Tommy John surgery to get a three year, $28 million extension. Rounding out the rotation, the Braves have Kenshin Kawakami, who had a solid ERA of 3.86 in his first season over from Japan.

2009-2010 Atlanta Braves Bullpen:

Wagner, only 17 appearances into his comeback from Tommy John surgery, is somewhat of a wild card at age 38. He is sixth all-time with 385 saves but doesn’t throw in the upper 90s as he did in his prime. Still, the Braves’ bullpen should be a strength, despite the loss of interchangeable closers Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano. They return workhorses Peter Moylan and Eric O’Flaherty as setup men and a talented youngster in Kris Medlen. They also added the 40-year-old Saito, who brings the experience of 83 career saves. Moylan, the Australian side armer, was second in the majors with 87 appearances last season, this while coming off 2008 Tommy John surgery. He did not allow a home run all season. The Braves acquired three right handers – Jesse Chavez (Soriano trade), Scott Proctor and Juan Abreu – for contributions in middle relief. They could also turn to Craig Kimbrel, their ’09 Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

2010 Atlanta Braves Middle Infield:

Shortstop Yunel Escobar has repeatedly tested Cox’s patience with base-running blunders and mental mistakes in the field to the point where Cox pulled him mid-game in Baltimore. But Escobar has such undeniable skill on defense and was so clutch at the plate that all was forgotten as the Braves came down the stretch. Escobar might have been the Braves’ most valuable bat. His .373 with RISP was third-best in the majors (min. 100 at-bats). Speaking of valuable, the Braves have finally found their answer at second base in Martin Prado, who beat out the streaky Kelly Johnson just before the All-Star break. Prado has hit .300 at every level and continued that in an everyday role. The only thing that slowed him down was stress-related headaches that forced him out of action in August.

2010 Atlanta Braves Corners:

After winning a batting title in 2008, and hitting .324 or better for three straight seasons, Chipper Jones saw his average plummet to .264 with a career-low 18 homers. He hit only .229 after June 9. In recent years, what he’s lost in power, he’s made up for in average, but he didn’t have much of either last year. His defense suffered along with it; his 22 errors were his most since 2000. The Braves hope Troy Glaus can take over at first. A former All-Star third baseman, Glaus has played only Jour games at first base in his entire career. And he’s coming off shoulder surgery that kept him out of all but 14 games last season with the Cardinals.

2010 Atlanta Braves Outfield:

The Braves have some interchangeable parts with the addition of Melky Cabrera, who can play all three outfield spots. The primary area of need is left field, so he should get the bulk of his time there, replacing Garret Anderson, who was mostly a singles hitter with no speed last year. It could be time for Jason Heyward to take over face-of-the-franchise status from Jeff Francoeur (now with the Mets). Heyward is widely believed to be the No.1 position player in the minors. He has that rare combination of plate discipline and power, hitting.323 with a .408 on-base percentage and 17 homers at three minor league levels last season, ending in AAA Gwinnett. Matt Diaz, who can play both corners, gives the Braves insurance if they do go with Heyward. The fallback corner outfielder hit .313 and played in a career- high 109 games in the field last year. Jordan Schafer’s struggles in center last year forced the Braves to trade for Nate McLouth. McLouth’s speed on the base paths and defense were a plus, but the Braves would like to see more run production in 2010.

2010 Atlanta Braves Catching:

Brian McCann has made the All-Star team each of his four full seasons in the majors, the first Brave to do that. What made his 2009 season impressive was that he got off to a .195 start in April before going on the disabled list with blurred vision. A second round of LASIK surgery in the off season has McCann optimistic about 2010, especially knowing he won’t have to wear glasses. He’d never worn them in games before and found them uncomfortable. His throwing has become a liability, but otherwise pitchers love his easygoing attitude, and the way he calls games. David Ross was a great pickup last off season, when he signed a two-year deal to serve as McCann’s backup. He’s proven he can hit, and hit for power, even when going long stretches without action.

2010 Atlanta Braves Bench:

With the addition of Cabrera and the possibility that Heyward opens the season in right field, Diaz is available off the bench to play both left and right field. Omar Infante has been a gem on the Braves’ bench for the past two seasons, something reinforced by his absence in the two-plus months he missed last season with a broken hand. His .356 average with runners in scoring position over the last three years (min. 150 at-bats) leads the majors. The Braves lose a little off the bench with Prado now an every day player at second base. Greg Norton was a flop last season – hitting .145 (11-for-76) with no home runs as the primary pinch hitter. The Braves may turn to 32-year-old minor league journeyman Mitch Jones for some punch off the bench. He’s hit 20 or more homers in each of his seven full minor league seasons.

Atlanta Braves 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Atlanta Braves will finish 2nd in the NL East Division .

Atlanta Braves 5-Year Win Trend

2009: 3rd NL East 86
2008: 4th NL East 72
2007: 3rd NL East 84
2006: 3rd NL East 79
2005: 1st NL East 90

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