Braves' Future Reflecting Their Past

Offseason Profile
Atlanta Braves

You know the names: Maddux, Glavine, Avery, Smoltz. The fearsome foursome, and for many years, the best rotation in baseball. Using that quality quad of hurlers and timely power bats, Atlanta dominated the NL East division for well over a decade. Recent seasons have seen the club fall on harder times, with the Phillies taking advantage. The folks down south have had to bear with the idea of another division rival making a run to the World Series, and winning the same number in two years (one) as Bobby Cox managed in those fabulous 14 seasons that the blue and red sat atop the standings.

After a few seasons spent (somehow) under the radar, it looks like the Tomahawk Chop could be back, with a vengence, in 2010. And it starts with a new set of quality arms.

If there is one thing that an NL East team can take for granted, it's that the title will go through Philadelphia. And with that charge comes the task of neutralizing the power bats in the red pinstripes. In Derek Lowe and Tim Hudson, the Braves have a pair of sinkerball pitchers who may be able to do just that, especially in a smaller ballpark like Citizen's Bank. Lowe has proved especially effective as a veteran of the late-season pressure cooker, and Hudson is a veteran arm that will look to provide one of the league's more capable 1-2 punches.

But if there is one guy that will make the Braves push to the front, it's the best pitcher you've never heard of: Jair Jurjjens. Jurrjens can be a dominant player, and proved it a season ago. Sure, the 14-10 record may not look very impressive, but the corresponding 2.60 ERA. That mark was third best in the league, and fifth best in all of baseball. The other guys in that top 5? Zack Greinke (Cy Young winner), Chris Carpenter (Cy Young winner), Time Lincecum (Cy Young winner), and Felix Hernandez. Could Jurrjens be next? The point is, if this guy is your third starter, you have a pretty formidable rotation. Not only that, but he stikes out enough (152 last season) without walking many (75). Oh, and by the way, he's just 23.

But youth with star power is nothing unusual for this organization. The team that brought you young sensations (at the time) Chipper and Andruw Jones has developed its share of promising youngsters in recent seasons as well. Tommy Hanson, who will fill the fourth spot, was outstanding as a rookie in 2009. If he can avoid any sort of sophomore slump, or even come close to replicating (much less improving) last year's stellar numbers--11 wins, 2.89 ERA, .225 bating average against in just 21 starts--the Braves may have one of the best rotations in the game.

If the Braves' lineup (including Chipper, McCann, and phenom Jason Heyward) can provide the necessary pop to keep pace with the Phillies, Atlanta could surprise in the last season on manager Bobby Cox's illustrious (and possibly Hall of Fame caliber) career.