Braves.Today.Com

Braves Spring Preview is an 11-part series looking at the Atlanta Braves as we approach the opening of spring training in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Feb. 14. Today: starting pitching.

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA — Injured and overwhelmed starting pitching doomed the 2008 Braves more than any other factor. The projected front four of John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Tom Glavine and Mike Hampton all missed significant time with injuries, and a bevy of young fill-ins wasn’t enough to give the Braves the pitching consistency the franchise has become known for the past 15 years.

Who’s in: Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Javier Vazquez, Kenshin Kawakami

Who could be in: Glavine, Jorge Campillo, Charlie Morton, James Parr, Jo-Jo Reyes, Tommy Hanson

Positives: In Lowe and Vazquez, the Braves get durable, inning-eating starters. Kawakami is an intriguing acquisition, the organization’s first Japanese player. Jurrjens finished third in NL rookie-of-the-year voting and impressed with his mental makeup and potential.

Negatives: Can Kawakami make the transition to the majors? If Glavine isn’t healthy enough to come back, can one of the youngsters step up and lock down the fifth spot?

Keep an eye on: Hanson. The sky’s the limit with the 22-year-old right-hander. If Glavine can’t go, a stellar spring could vault Hanson into the fifth spot.

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