Yeah, baseball season! You've probably been reading all sort of previews from the experts, but they are not half as entertaining as the kool-aid induced thoughts from the fans who love their teams the most. Over the next month you'll be previewing the MLB, so let CF know if you'd like to contribute. Up next, the Atlanta Braves.

Expectations  Since it looks like the new owners of the Braves are opening up their wallets a little more now, it seems that the Braves are heading back in the right direction.  With some key additions and a few departures, the Braves should be right in the middle of a tough battle for the NL East this season.  Most people expect the Braves to fall in line and finish third behind the Phillies and Mets.  But optimistic fans feel that this team could make a run at the NL East title and make some noise in the post season.  Depending on who you are, the glass is half full or half empty for the Braves.  For me, it is definitely half full.

What's new in 2008?  Additions:  Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton (sort of), Jair Jurrens, Will Ohman, Javy Lopez, Omar Infante, Mark Kotsay.

Departures:  Andruw Jones, Edgar Renteria.

Reasons to be optimistic  If the Metamucil crew can stay healthy, there isn't a reason to believe that the Braves can't compete this year.  With Andruw Jones and Edgar Renteria gone, the Braves have plugged those holes with the likes of Mark Kotsay and Yunel Escobar.  This team was third in the NL last season in runs scored, and that was with Andruw having a down year.  Escobar will bring a young, energetic attitude to the SS position and showed last season that he has every bit of the potential to be a great player in the majors.  With Esobar and Johnson setting the table for Chipper, Teixeira, McCann, and Francoeur, this offense should once again be one of the best in the NL.  The main difference between last season and this season is, we get Teixeira for a whole season.

  The pitching staff won't be made up of a bunch of all-stars, but it will be made up of a bunch of former all-stars.  Being led by Smoltz and Hudson, this should be a very dependable staff this season.  The starting rotation should eat a lot of innings and will be anchored by a very underrated bullpen.  A couple of new faces in Tom Glavine and Jair Jurrjens should solidify this group of starters.  And if Hampton can somehow, God forbid, find a way to say healthy, it will improve the starting rotation that much more.  10 wins out of Hampton would be great, but the Braves are expecting more out of him this season.  Even without Hampton, it will be a solid rotation.  But his success would make it so much better.

Reasons that I will be banging my head on the wall  Injuries!!!  Nothing less, nothing more.  "If they stay healthy" has been the song and dance for the Braves this entire off-season.  Here is a list of guys that could give me multiple concussions this season:

Chipper Jones - Has a goal to play at least 150 games this season.  Not exactly the goal that you want one of your star players to have.

Brian McCann - Just because our backup catcher is Javy Lopez.

John Smoltz - Has a history of elbow problems and is getting up there in age......Meh, he'll just throw left handed if something happens.

Mark Kotsay - Our temporary center fielder needs to just .......get........through.......this.........season.  Young stud Jordan Schafer should be ready by next season, if not sooner.   Kotsay may be no Andruw Jones (hasn't won 10 consecutive gold gloves), but he has led the ML in outfield assists since 1998.  So, he's not a pushover (if he stays healthy....THOSE WORDS AGAIN!)

We need most of these guys to stay healthy if the Braves are going to make any noise this year.  If a couple of these guys have a significant amount of time on the DL (and it is very likely), it's going to be a long season.

Key questions for success  Can Matt Diaz be an everyday left fielder?  Yes.  The guy is a hitting machine.  He's going to make someone a very happy fantasy league manager this year.  How many teams have a #7 or #8 hitter that hits over .300?

Can Yunel Escobar replace Edger Renteria?  No.  And he won't be asked to.  This guy is a great player in his own way, and he will be remembered as the guy that Renteria mentored.

Can Tom Glavine come back to Atlanta and be effective?  Yes.  And he will be.  Why?  Because he is not being asked to be the ace of the staff.   The Braves just want him to be the #3 starter and eat innings.  There will be a lot less pressure on him this year, which I think will equate to a few more wins.

Likely lineup and rotation

Kelly Johnson - 2B

Yunel Escobar - SS

Chipper Jones  - 3B

Mark Teixeira - 1B

Jeff Francoeur - RF

Brian McCann - C

Mark Kotsay - CF

Matt Diaz  - LF

Josh Anderson and Brandon Jones will get some playing time in LF this season, but Cox really wants Diaz to develop his defense so he can play everyday.

Starting rotation

Tim Hudson - RHP

John Smoltz - RHP

Tom Glavine - LHP

Mike Hampton - LHP

Jair Jarrjens - LHP

Chuck James - LHP

Jo-Jo Reyes - LHP

Buddy Carlyle - RHP           If Hampton stays healthy, 3 of these 4 will probably start the season at AAA.  But they are all

                                         battling for the #4 and/or #5 spots in spring training.

Bullpen

Will Ohman - LHP

Royce Ring - LHP

Manny Acosta - RHP

Blaine Boyer - RHP

Mike Gonzalez - LHP (after June)

Peter Moylan - RHP (setup)

Rafael Soriano - RHP (closer)

5 bold predictions

1. Smoltz, Hudson, and Glavine will each have at least 15 wins.

2. Chipper Jones will hit over 30 HR, be in the top 3 in batting average in the NL, and play at least 150 games.

3. Mike Hampton stays healthy enough to get 10 wins.

4. The Braves win at least 90 games this season.

5. After seeing a number of his pitchers go down with injury, Roger McDowell comes out of retirement and leads the Braves in appearances and pranks.

Seriously, Bobby Cox wins Manager of the Year award.

Official Kool-Aid prediction

With healthy pitching and a solid offense, the Braves win the NL East with 95 wins and go on to have a re-match of the 1995 world series against the Indians.

Yea, you heard it here first.  (Now, how do I get this red, fruit punch flavored stain off of my upper lip?)