The Rest of the Pack Rides into Spring Training

The remaining Braves roster is expected to return to training camp today with a full team work out scheduled for Wednesday. For the first time in ten years, Andruw Jones will not be patrolling the outfield for the Braves. His replacement is the oft-injured A’s centerfielder Mark Kotsay who is really just keeping the spot warm for super prospect Jordan Schaefer. The 21 year old could have easily been fighting for a roster spot if not for the last second trade made by the Braves. Instead, the 21 year old will have a few more months to hone his skills in the Minor Leagues. Flanked on either side of Kotsay will be recent gold-glover Jeff Francoeur in right and quite possibly a combination of Matt Diaz and prospects Brandon Jones or Josh Anderson. Diaz is coming off of consecutive .300 seasons and has become more comfortable playing in the left corner.

Around the horn for the Braves, they’ll have Mark Teixeira, the Braves second half MVP, at first and Kelly Johnson who proved to be a good fit for the Braves bettering Marcus Giles who had been there for the six years prior, at second base. On the other side, the Braves will have Yunel Escobar, their supersub in 2007, getting a regular spot at short-stop following the trade of Edgar Renteria to the Tigers during the off-season, and Chipper Jones who's goal is to stay healthy taking on the hot corner. I’ve heard that healthy remark before, but to his credit, his only major trip to the DL was early in 2007 for his hands. He had only played in 110 and 109 games the two seasons prior. If Chipper only misses five weeks, I’d be happy with that.

Do the Braves have a shot to compete in the NL East? I think so. Call me crazy, but the batting order proved it could sustain itself without Andruw Jones in 2007 (he batted in the .220 range last season) and with a consistent lead-off hitter and the heart of the order featuring Jones, Teixeira, Francoeur and Brian McCann, the team is looking to be an offensive juggernaut in the NL for sure.

It’s been fun blogging with you,
Kate