The 2008 MLB season has begun as a somewhat interesting season for Bobby Cox and his Atlanta Braves. The optimism of spring is behind them; a spring in which new faces and familiar smiles joined together at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando to begin what many hoped would be a championship season. Those hopes are not nearly dashed this young into the season, but with every hamstring sprain, and every cold bat, that hope seems more distant each day.
What is causing such a rough start to the season you may ask? Right now the Braves are hanging their hopes on the arms of two veterans in their 40's. Regardless of the names on the jersey or the status of the pitcher, they are arms that have seen 5,407 strikeouts between them in 20 and 21 years respectively in the league. John Smoltz and Tom Glavine are two of the greatest braves' pitchers to wear the tomahawk but an entire season can not rest on their arms alone. They have pitched well so far only to be betrayed by a bullpen that was supposed to be improved from the last years.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Braves bats have been mediocre at best, with few exceptions. They have scored 11 runs in one night with the same ease that they are shut out the next night. The one bright spot in the lineup has come from Chipper Jones who has a tendency to be injury prone and hot and cold at the plate himself.
The bottom line at this point is that the Braves who are in 4th place must regroup and get healthy fast. If they can not get it together then the promise of a bright season which many including Peter Gammons, thought could end in a championship, might end in disappointment for the 3rd straight year.
The Atlanta Braves always said that the streak of 14 straight divisions would end sometime and that a new streak would begin with the baby Braves, unfortunately they have begun a streak of a different kind.
What is causing such a rough start to the season you may ask? Right now the Braves are hanging their hopes on the arms of two veterans in their 40's. Regardless of the names on the jersey or the status of the pitcher, they are arms that have seen 5,407 strikeouts between them in 20 and 21 years respectively in the league. John Smoltz and Tom Glavine are two of the greatest braves' pitchers to wear the tomahawk but an entire season can not rest on their arms alone. They have pitched well so far only to be betrayed by a bullpen that was supposed to be improved from the last years.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Braves bats have been mediocre at best, with few exceptions. They have scored 11 runs in one night with the same ease that they are shut out the next night. The one bright spot in the lineup has come from Chipper Jones who has a tendency to be injury prone and hot and cold at the plate himself.
The bottom line at this point is that the Braves who are in 4th place must regroup and get healthy fast. If they can not get it together then the promise of a bright season which many including Peter Gammons, thought could end in a championship, might end in disappointment for the 3rd straight year.
The Atlanta Braves always said that the streak of 14 straight divisions would end sometime and that a new streak would begin with the baby Braves, unfortunately they have begun a streak of a different kind.
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