2008 Atlanta Braves Picks & Predictions
May 22, 2008
The Braves have missed out on the postseason each of the past two seasons, but can they get back to playing October baseball this year. Find out in Dave Price’s 2008 Atlanta Braves predictions.
Pitching
Strong starting pitching was a big reason why the Braves were able to dominate the NL East for nearly two decades. Tom Glavine returns to Atlanta to combine with John Smoltz to give Braves faithful a familiar look from the past. Glavine went 13-8 in 2007 and could be missed more than the Mets realize. Smoltz is working off a 14-8 year in which his ERA was only 3.11. Tim Hudson is the workhorse and ace of this staff. He won 16 games in 2007 and is always a threat to win 20. It looks like starting pitching could be a strength in Atlanta again.
The emergence of Rafael Soriano will make the Braves not even miss Bob Wickman. Peter Moylan is as good as they get in the seventh and eight innings. These two are the most critical pieces of this pen. The Braves hope the rest of the guys will pleasantly surprise.
Offense
Yunel Escobar has been hyped by baseball scouts as the game’s next mega star at the shortstop position, however, Edgar Renteria leaves his some pretty big shoes to fill. Chipper Jones can still get it done and will go down in history as one of the game’s best switch hitters. He belted 29 homeruns and drove it 102 runs last season. If Mark Teixeira continues to produce the way he did late last season, Atlanta won’t even miss Andruw Jones at the plate. Teixeira hit 17 bombs and added 56 RBIs in only 54 games with Atlanta last season. Right fielder Jeff Francoeur is another 100-RBI guy, but the Braves organization still thinks he is underachieving. Brian McCann posted a 24-homerun, 93-RBI season in 2007.
Defense
The middle infield is still very much unproven although the hype is there for Escobar at short. Manager Bobby Cox moved the athletic Kelly Johnson to second last season from the outfield and the move has panned out for now. Chipper Jones has lost a step defensively, but he is still plenty good enough and Mark Teixeira will fill in nicely at the other corner. There’s no doubt that there will be some struggles in the outfield without perennial Gold Glover Andruw Jones roaming it. Brian McCann has already elevated himself to one of the best catchers in the game at just 24 years of age. So far his durability has been outstanding at one of baseball’s toughest spots.
The Braves appear to have done enough to improve on last year’s 84-win season, but I’m not sure they will improve more than a Mets team which acquired Johan Santana and a Phillies team which had three MVP candidates. The Braves will hang around all season, but will probably end up third in the East.
Play with anyone other than Dave Price this season and risk losing. Let Dave’s award winning MLB expertise guide you to the most profitable sports betting season you’ve ever had.
Odds to win NL East: 5/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant: 11/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series: 30/1
NL East
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