I spent a lot of time talking about the pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but for the 2008 Atlanta Braves, it’ll be the other side of the ball that you’ll find the biggest difference makers.

Is there a better place to start than veteran 3rd baseman Chipper Jones?  Jones is going into his 15th season as an Atlanta Brave, the teams 1st overall pick in the 1990 Amateur Draft.  Jones, though he had turned 35 years of age, showed no signs of his age in 2007, finishing the season hitting .337 with 29 HR’s and 102 RBI’s.  Although he turns 36 on April 24th of this year, the Braves will need Jones to be a big factor if they hope to stay with the Phillies and Mets in the NL East.

Brian McCann is another name, though not a household name, made sure everyone knew his name when he became the full time starter behind the plate for the Atlanta Braves.  His first full season in 2006 showed just how good this young catcher was, hitting .333 with 24 HR’s and 93 RBI’s.  He continued to impress last season, hitting .270 with 18 HR’s and 92 RBI’s, showing why he’s one of the best offensive catchers in the game.  Look for McCann to be an offensive force in 2008.

The one player, that the Atlanta Braves will need another big season from, is 2007 mid-season acquisition Mark Teixeira.  Teixeira was traded from the Texas Rangers to the Atlanta Braves prior to the trading deadline last season and didn’t miss a beat.  In his Braves debut on August 1st, Teixeira hit a 3-run HR and drove in 4 runs in a 12-3 win over the Houston Astros.  He would hit 17 HR’s and drive in 56 in just 2 months with the Braves.  There’s no doubt, if there’s one guy that’s going to make the biggest impact for the Braves in 2008, it’s going to be Mark Teixeira.

A few other names to keep your eye on are returning Atlanta Brave Tom Glavine and closer Rafael Soriano. 

Glavine spent the last 3 years with the NY Mets and has to be excited about returning
to the Braves rotation along side John Smoltz and Tim Hudson. 

Rafael Soriano is expected to be the Braves closer in 2008, but it’s a spot on the depth chart the Braves have been struggling with since John Smoltz made his return to the rotation from the bullpen a few years ago.  Bob Wickman had held the spot and done quite well, but his struggles in 2007 led to his release from the team.  Soriano has to be able to nail down games in the 9th, otherwise, the Braves may be looking for yet another closer.

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