ATLANTA BRAVES

[Base Ballpickers]

Will they score enough runs to carry their pitching?

[BigMusky]

totally different team this year....will be nice to see someone else win the NL East.

[Krunk City King$]

they can score runs by manufacturing them unlike seasons past. but the bigger question is can their starting pitchers like hampton and ortiz (not counting wright and ramirez) last longer than two innings on the mound before giving up 10 runs.

and the pen has to hold and save games. they are hitting decently, but their pitching is not looking good right now.

[Chip]

Yes, they can.

In the first series of the year, the Braves scored 30+ runs and hit just one homerun. This team is about youth and speed, but it still has the sluggers like Chipper, Andruw, and hopefully JD Drew.

I really see our pitchers settling down. Horacio Ramirez pitched marvelously in a game he deserved to win against the Cubs. Jarret Wright pitched well also, and Russ Ortiz looks to be settling down. He didn't give up any runs after the 3rd inning in his last start against the Cubs.

Smoltz needs to stop throwing so many strikes, as they're getting hit out of the ball park with regularity.

I like what I've seen out of Cruz; he pitched beautifully in the 15 inning Cubs game.

[Swinger]

I like their hitting better than their pitching. Their big 4: Giles, Chipper, Drew, and Jones- can be formidable. But Hampton and Ortiz are trash.