The CheckerBoard

Honestly, no. Right now there are too many big holes in a lineup that's missing the 2 most consistent hitters from a season ago. With the additions of the Uptons, the Braves are no doubt a powerhouse but if our Starting rotation under achieves like last year I got a feeling it could be a long June and July. I love my Bravos, but with question marks on Simmons, both Uptons, Uggla, and McCann I can't justify putting them at 2nd behind a heavy Dodgers or Angels.

I tend to agree. Simmons is the key in my opinion, as I think he's our leadoff guy. My hope is the Uptons motivate each other and Heyward benefits from his outfield mates. Pitching should he great, so no trouble there.

When our offense is clicking, we're a pretty unbeatable team. When that happened last year we would go on streaks where it seemed like we were putting 7-8 runs up a night. So if uggla and j-hey can be more consistent we should have a great year. You could probably add McCann to that group after last year, too

Trust me, the Braves will be there in the end. Yes, they will strike out a lot, but it will be like the good old days with 3-run homers flying out. Look at all the guys with power-- Uggla, McCann, both Uptons, Heyward, Freeman and Juan Francisco. He will play a lot at third and he has been smokin' in winter league. Simmons is an emerging star at short.

Braves will have the best outfield in baseball and the best bullpen. Put that together with an excellent rotation and you've got a bigtime contender.

Uggla sucks so bad! I'm sorry but I broke 3 TV remotes last season because of him. I say trade him or something.

Justin has hit more than 25 homers twice in his career. B.J. hit 28 last year.

That's good enough for me to call them power hitters, though obviously the long ball isn't their whole game.

My point was the Braves will have a lot of guys who can go deep, as opposed to the last few years when their power was lacking.

No, they're power hitters. These days, unlike the steroid-tainted '90s and early 2000s, anyone who consistently hits more than 20 homers in a season probably should be considered a power hitter. Justin Upton always has been a 20-plus-homer guy, and B.J. Upton recently has become one.

I think you make a really good point here in regard to the pitching staff. They were really two different staffs last year. The first half they were not very good at all outside of Beachy. The second half they were a whole lot better when Medlen and Maholm joined the rotation and Minor pitches good as well. I don't expect Medlen to be as good as he was at the end of last year, but I think he will still have a good year. With Medlen, Hudson, Minor, Maholm, and Teheran, this should be a decent staff -- probably top ten in baseball.

The lineup has boom or bust potential. Can Heyward continue to progress? Can Uggla and McCann bounce back? Can Simmons handle the leadoff spot? And what do we get with the Upton brothers? A lot of potential in this lineup, but a lot of questions also.

The one that is not a question is the bullpen. Well I guess there is one question. Do we get the first half or second half Venters? I'm going to say the good Venters. If they can get to the 7th with the lead then they will be in very good shape.

All in all I would put the Braves around 7th or 8th overall at this point. I would put the Giants and Cardinals 1 and 2. Not due to superior talent, but because these two teams know how to win and the get more out of their clubs than anybody. Then I would go: Washington, Detroit, The Dodgers, Angels, Reds, and then the Braves. The Braves could easily move up, but at this point in time I think this is where they fall. Sorry for the long post!

I just want to watch the braves in the post season this year.

Braves fan but I got more respect for AL baseball, why do NL pitchers need a free out every ninth batter?

I think with a solid rotation and bullpen yes it close. I hope the Upton twins improve the offense. I think the lost of Jason B is going to be big. Would love to see a key infielder added or at least a star #1 pitcher emerge in the rotation.

Some NL pitchers actually can hit. And it's a more satisfying game with more strategy involved - pinch-hitting, double switches, bunting - with the pitcher in the lineup, in my opinion.