Atlanta Braves 2008 Midseason Update

After a tough start to the 2008 season the Atlanta Braves will take no prisoners as they make their second-half surge.

Atlanta Braves: Season Overview
The Atlanta Braves entered 2008 hoping to return to the postseason for the first time since 2005. The National League East division was wide open due to the streaky play of the teams at the top. Entering the All-Star break 6.5 games behind the division leaders, the Atlanta Braves still have a slim shot at getting hot and making a late-season push if they don’t buckle under the burden and severity of the injuries to key players. It seems unlikely that the Atlanta Braves have a chance at moving up in the standings with the New York Mets on an incredible win streak but hot and cold streaks have been the story in the NL East this season. Teams in the National League East will be locked in division series throughout July, giving any team a chance to break through the rankings.

Atlanta Braves: Offense
After going through the first half of the season with a blazing bat, Chipper Jones has slowed down at the plate. Chipper Jones was batting well over .400 through June but has cooled off somewhat through entering the All-Star break due to a terrible hitting slump. Unfortunately for the Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones’ 2-for-37 hitting slump coincided with center-fielder Mark Kotsay’s 1-for-20 hitting slump. Before the All-Star break Mark Kotsay appeared to have batted his way out of his slump with a three-hit game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mark Kotsay had spent time on the disabled list due to a bad back that was affecting his swing. The injury has affected Mark Kotsay such that his offensive production is down from his career numbers, but the Atlanta Braves hope that Mark Kotsay can remain healthy and produce big numbers on offense through the second half of the season.

Atlanta Braves: Defense
The offense has not been the only facet of the Atlanta Braves game affected by injuries. LHP Mike Hampton was out with a strained left pectoral muscle. After injuring himself in early April, Mike Hampton made his first rehab start for AA Mississippi before the All-Star break and is expected to make at least one more rehab start during the All-Star break before returning to the Atlanta Braves. In June, LHP Tom Glavine went onto the disabled list and has been doing strengthening exercises since then. There is no time table for Tom Glavine’s return. RHP Rafael Soriano has seen two stints on the DL this season.

Atlanta Braves: Season Standings
The Atlanta Braves currently sit in fourth place in the National League East rankings behind the division leading Philadelphia Phillies, the surging New York Mets and the fading Florida Marlins. Coming out of the All-Star break in late July the Atlanta Braves will face NL East Division opponents the Washington Nationals, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Florida Marlins. This stint will be the perfect time for the Atlanta Braves to make a push and close some ground in the NL East because if the Atlanta Braves are winning then their opponents are losing. During this stretch, the Atlanta Braves will need some help from their rivals but nothing is impossible.  

Atlanta Braves: Standout Players
Chipper Jones is widely considered the best third baseman in the National League. Having played the entirety of his career with the Atlanta Braves, it comes as no surprise that Chipper Jones is the heart of the Atlanta Braves team, but Chipper Jones will need help from his teammates at the plate if the Atlanta Braves expect to make any moves in the second half of the season. With the injuries piling up on the pitching staff, many are ready to write off the Atlanta Braves but all is not lost in the Atlanta Braves rotation. Rookie pitcher Jair Jurrjens wrapped up the first half of the season with a resounding victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the win, Jair Jurrjens entered the All-Star break with nine wins, a 3.00 ERA, and tons confidence. RHP Tim Hudson pitched through the first half of the season and also finished with nine wins and a 3.13 ERA.

Atlanta Braves: Second-Half Outlook
Fans at Turner Field are behind their Atlanta Braves all the way. Entering the second half of the 2008 season will be a challenge for the injury-ridden Atlanta Braves but first place in the National League East is not out of their reach. A 6.5 game gap at the All-Star break is all the Atlanta Braves could have asked for given the obstacles they have faced this season. The Atlanta Braves hope that their final game before the All-Star break was a turning point in their season. After regrouping over the All-Star break the Atlanta Braves will have to count on strong pitching and the bat of Chipper Jones to take the Atlanta Braves to the top of the NL East.