Defense was paramount as general manager Frank Wren weighed whom to add as he shopped for a power-hitting outfielder in the offseason, eventually signing Garret Anderson. Wren took his time looking because he did not want to add a player who was a defensive liability.

The Braves will be relying on defense because they will not be routing opponents with a big-bomb offense. It is imperative that the first two batters get on base somehow. Third baseman Chipper Jones, batting third, walked 90 times last season; there were seldom any runners on base for him to drive home.

That gives speedy Jordan Schafer the edge for the center field job. The rookie has yet to play in Class AAA, but his strong work this spring made him the front-runner for the starting role. Gregor Blanco was also in the mix.

Right fielder Jeff Francoeur has done everything possible to ensure his miserable 2008 season will not be repeated. He has reworked his batting stance to give himself a few more seconds to see and recognize pitches. In one stretch this spring, he had 43 plate appearances between strikeouts, a feat heretofore unheard of in his young career.

Matt Diaz dropped 30 pounds and has been on every pitch in his at-bats. He isn't afraid of competing with Garret Anderson for the left field position, and he doesn't gripe about platooning.

The strength of the Braves bench is its versatility. Infielder Martin Prado can play anywhere, even shining at first base in his first shot at it in an emergency at the end of last season. Omar Infante and Greg Norton can shuttle from the infield to the outfield, which increases manager Bobby Cox's late-inning options.

As always, the team's fortunes will rise and fall on its starting pitching. Lowe is the known quantity. Right-hander Jair Jurrjens had a great rookie season but took that as a reason to work harder on his pitches and his long-term conditioning in the offseason. The Braves aren't entirely sure what they have in right-handers Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami, and left-hander Tom Glavine is still rehabbing from last season's shoulder and elbow surgeries.

If any of the starters falter, the Braves can call upon a stock of young arms who pitched for them last season but who will start this season for the Gwinnett Braves, the organization's new Class AAA team in suburban Atlanta. Right-hander Tommy Hanson, the hotter than hot pitching prospect, will get his first taste of Class AAA in Gwinnett, but he won't be there for long.

THE BRAVES WILL CONTEND IF ...: 3B Chipper Jones plays 150 games. If they can manufacture runs with speed and consistent hitting throughout the lineup. If the starting pitchers each work 200 innings. If closer Mike Gonzalez doesn't have to finish consecutive games on a regular basis and doesn't have to make four-out appearances.

PRIMED FOR A BIG SEASON: RHP Jair Jurrjens, entering his second major league season, is good enough to be upset when his control is slightly off and take steps to correct that. All he has to do most of the time is remind himself not to throw across his body. Late last season, aware that he was wearing down and recognizing the fact that he had become the de facto staff ace, thanks to numerous injuries, Jurrjens revamped his conditioning and between-start routines. He isn't expected to carry that responsibility this season, but he has prepared himself to do so. Just in case.

ON THE DECLINE: LHP Tom Glavine declined a $13 million option with the Mets in the 2007 offseason in part, he said then, because, "I did not think I was worth $13 million. I'm not that kind of pitcher anymore." He signed a one-year deal with incentives and bonuses during the offseason because he is rehabbing from last season's shoulder and elbow surgeries. Glavine has accepted the role of fifth starter, knowing that the Braves don't need one until April 19. Far from clinging to the remnants of a storied major league career, Glavine retains his determination, his will to work and his canny abilities; it's velocity and arm strength he's still searching for.