The Atlanta Braves have struggled to find the chemistry they once possessed during the early Nineties and into the new millennium when the team prevailed year after year in the National League with the dominant starting pitching staff of John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddox alongside power hitters like Chipper and Andruw Jones. After a 2007 season of mediocrity that ended too soon; the Braves finally had pulled their act together and found their flow. The disappointing end, however, leads to much optimism for the coming 2008 season, which is already evident in the Spring Training play with the Braves two games back and holding an 11-8 record thus far. Star center fielder, Andruw Jones maybe gone and Edgar Renteria may have had a short-lived stay, but the team has managed to return a star pitching staff (Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton, and John Smoltz), and add a favored veteran, Tom Glavine, back to the starting rotation as well as the newest names of the franchise: Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann. So with the return of the veteran Glavine in addition to retaining the new generation of star players, the Braves may be coming full circle to reestablish themselves as the dynamic team that was rarely questioned to survive to post-season play. Is the dynamo chemistry back for the 2008 season? Well, that looks to be determined as the Braves continue Spring Training play tomorrow in Detroit against the Tigers and more news will come your way as recent developments will be updated.
March 19th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Hi Jessica,
I’m not sure that the Braves will regain those dominant times in 2008, but they are on their way back
up the ladder. Glavine isn’t what he once was, but is a heck of a # 4 pitcher even at his age! They
have a good core in McCann, Teixiera & Francoeur, but you need Escobar to fill in for the departed Renteria and
a decent replacement for Andru Jones, but at least you still have Chipper! But Chipper, Smoltz,
Glavine aren’t getting any younger and how much can you depend on Hampton. What you need is Leo Mazzone
back and some good, younger pitchers that he can mold!
BTW, the font (and font size) is a little tough on the eyes and I’m only in my mid-30’s(20/20 vision).