The Braves used 107 different lineups last season, but Manager Fredi Gonzalez will likely go with one that looks similar to the following when everyone is healthy:
SS -- Simmons
RF -- Heyward
LF -- J. Upton
CF -- B.J. Upton
C -- McCann
1B -- Freeman
2B -- Uggla
3B -- Johnson / Francisco
SP: Hudson, Medlin, Minor, Maholm, Teheran, Beachy
RP/CL: Venters and Kimbrel
Key Departures: For me, losing C David Ross to Boston and OF/INF Martin Prado to Arizona are a big deal. Ross was consistent, handled pitchers well, and seemingly came up with timely work at the plate. Ross was able to perform at a high level even if his playing time was sporadic. As for Prado, he may have been our best baseball player. There wasn't much the guy couldn't do. I firmly believe he could have filled in at catcher or thrown a few innings of relief if asked. His bat was one of our most consistent and his work ethic was apparent. OF Michael Bourne's speed in the outfield and at the top of the order are gone along with SP Tommy Hanson, but I like our ingredients to replace them -- at least on paper. Some of the other losses, OF Eric Hinske, RHP Randall Delgado, RHP Chad Durbin, and OF Matt Diaz should be less impactful.
New Arrivals: Outfielder brothers, B.J. and Justin Upton (along with returning Gold Glover Jason Heyward) give the Braves an excellent trio defensively and potentially the best group in baseball with relative youth as a bonus. 3B Chris Johnson could prove to be a key ingredient of the trade with Arizona and C Gerald Laird (acquired from Detroit) will need to perform well early while Brian McCann continues to recover from labrum surgery.
With the roster changes in place, here are my looming questions.
1. Can Brian McCann return from labrum surgery well enough to match his six-time all star status? Before last year's injury plagued season, McCann averaged 22HR, 86RBI, and a .269BA. Laird, who will fill in, has only hit .244 and only has 37HR in over 700 major league games.
2. Who's in the Hot Corner?
Atlanta not only lost a retiring Hall of Famer in Chipper Jones, but traded away his most obvious replacement in Prado. Now don't get me wrong, overall I like the trade, but it does beg the question of replacement. Chris Johnson has been a starter for the Diamondbacks, but he committed the third most errors in the NL last year in only 129 games. The Braves also have Juan Francisco who spotted in at third base in 2012, but he was also error prone in his 49 games. Neither Johnson nor Francisco have hit lefties well, so who knows how that void will be filled? While offensive production may have to shift to other positions, the defensive questions are a concern.
3. Who assumes to leadoff spot?
Gonzalez has said he envisions Simmons, Heyward, and Justin Upton at the top of his order, but when Andrelton Simmons arrived in Atlanta there were concerns if he would hit at all! Suddenly, he is a major league leadoff hitter? Simmons batted in the sixth and seventh spot most of 2012 and hit for a surprising .289BA with a .335OBP. If he can bring those numbers with even more at-bats in the leadoff spot in 2013, he will be a great answer to the departure of Bourne.
4. Can Kris Medlen's arm share the increased innings burden?
Medlin has had great numbers as a reliever, but it appears he will be asked to assume a different role with the 2013 roster. Gonzalez is going to need Medlin to start and go six or more innings on a consistent basis. Brandon Beachy will not be ready to return until mid-June, so Medlin's effectiveness in this new role will be a huge factor for the Braves and will continue to impact the club into the late summer months.
5. Can Dan Uggla be more consistent?
Dan Uggla had a tough year in 2012, but the second baseman made some changes to his swing over the final month that Wren and Gonzalez called fruitful. Uggla hit .301 over the final 22 games and additional winter diagnostics with some weight loss mark his plan for an improved 2013. Although he is still sporting some of the best biceps in baseball, Uggla has dropped 20 pounds since the winter of 2012. Let's hope he can shed the inconsistency rap as well.
