Third baseman Chipper Jones and catcher Brian McCann will be expected to anchor the club again in 2009, and they can only hope that the corps of young infielders and outfielders will mature in a hurry to help them out.
The Braves are lucky that infielders Martin Prado and Omar Infante are versatile enough play both shortstop and second base, and that they continue to hit even as they shuttle between positions. But to get the full benefit of either player, each needs steady at-bats at least, if not a single position. Second baseman Kelly Johnson, relaxed at last, has found his hitting stride and is working on improving his moves to balls hit to his right. And shortstop Yunel Escobar can use this offseason to heal his sore left shoulder and sore right hamstring.
The Braves' biggest hole is the place they least expected it a year ago: pitching. Manager Bobby Cox thought he had depth galore last October. Instead, injuries struck four veteran starters -- Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Mike Hampton and Tim Hudson -- and knocked the bullpen for a loop: Peter Moylan needed ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery, and Rafael Soriano eventually had to undergo ulnar nerve transposition surgery, but not until he had been on and off the disabled list all season between listless appearances.
D-Day for Smoltz and Glavine is roughly Feb. 1, when the pitchers gather for their early throwing program at Turner Field. Both think they will know only then whether they are capable of returning to the mound for a major league season.
D-Day for Hampton will come sooner, because he is a free agent. His late-season performance should give him some options for 2009. And surely he didn't persevere all this time to walk away from the game now.
The Braves did not get the help they needed from Class AAA call-ups Jo-Jo Reyes and Charlie Morton. Manager Bobby Cox is known for his patience, but those two tested it sorely and will be on a short leash next spring. Late-season call-up James Parr, on the other hand, interests Cox a lot, so he'll get an extended look, as will Thomas Hanson, who rose from Class A to Class AA this season.
The Braves also need a catcher to spell McCann. Corky Miller is an offensive liability; Clint Sammons needs more seasoning on defense, but he appears to be intuitive when it comes to pitch selection.
