Posted on Mon, Mar. 31, 2008

2008 ATLANTA BRAVES

Braves have that playoff look again

Good seasons from Escobar, Hampton critical in tough NL East

STAN OLSON

Is the Atlanta Braves' divisional dynasty done, once and for all?

It appeared that way last year, as the Braves stepped aside for the NL East champion Phillies and the runner-up Mets.

While Atlanta slipped to third, Philadelphia and New York seemed to improve by leaps and bounds. And during the offseason, the Mets added Johan Santana, arguably the best pitcher in baseball, to their rotation.

So after an incredible run of 14 straight division titles (1991-2005), it's "see ya later Bravos," right?

It's a question that resonates in the Charlotte area, where many consider the Braves their "home" team. And it's a question that might not have to be answered in the negative.

Two players are keys to whether Atlanta contends this season.

One you might never have heard of -- Yunel Escobar, the heir apparent at shortstop to the departed Edgar Renteria. The Braves were so confident in Escobar, who is 25 and hit .326 in 94 games with an excellent .385 on-base percentage as a rookie, they felt they could afford to deal the talented Renteria to Detroit.

Escobar has better range than his predecessor and could also steal 20 bases if manager Bobby Cox gives him the green light. He and second baseman Kelly Johnson make up an inexperienced but talented double-play combination.

Right now, Cox has Escobar penciled in to the bottom of the lineup to keep the pressure off of him, but he could eventually move to the top to take advantage of that on-base percentage and speed.

You might vaguely remember the other crucial player for Atlanta. Once upon a time, left-hander Mike Hampton signed the richest contract ever for a pitcher, with Colorado, then spent much of its length first getting hit and then getting hurt.

He's been with Atlanta for three seasons, and never been healthy enough to pitch 200 innings. Last season, Hampton worked just 691/3 innings, and now he's 35.

He's also finally healthy again, and coming off a good spring. If he can find a good portion of the stuff that once allowed him to win 22 games for Houston, the Braves' rotation will be better than the Phillies' and competitive with the Mets'.

Remember, it's a group that starts with John Smoltz and Tim Hudson, both of whom have ace capabilities. Then there's the experienced Tom Glavine. The rotation is likely to be completed by youngster Jair Jurrjens, who had a solid spring.

The bullpen, with Rafael Soriano as closer, should be capable if Mike Gonzalez can stay healthy when he returns from elbow surgery in June. And the lineup is of playoff-caliber, led by veteran third baseman Chipper Jones and slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Fill in around them with catcher Brian McCann, a quality bat and glove who gets better every year, and center fielder Mark Kotsay, a contact hitter who replaces the inconsistent Andruw Jones. And finally, let's see if Cox lets Matt Diaz play every day in left. When he did play last season, Diaz hit .338.

The divisional title streak might have been stopped, but there's no reason the Braves can't start another one -- if Escobar can be what they hope he will be and Hampton can be what he used to be. IN MY OPINION Stan

Olson