Atlanta Braves preview When the Braves broke camp last spring, they appeared primed to make a run at returning to the postseason. There won't be the same expectations this year after Atlanta followed a 90-loss season with a disappointing offseason. The Braves lost John Smoltz to the Red Sox, couldn't complete a trade for Jake Peavy, and were spurned by free agents Rafael Furcal, Ken Griffey Jr. and A.J. Burnett. Atlanta's playoff drought is headed for a fourth year. THREE QUESTIONS 1. Who's in the outfield? Only right field, with Jeff Francoeur, appears settled. But he was so bad (.239 batting average) in 2008 that he has to re-prove himself. Francoeur spent the offseason improving his conditioning and tweaking his batting stance. Garret Anderson, 36, is expected to play left after signing a one-year deal, but how much action he sees will depend on his health. He started only 80 games in the field last season and could platoon with Matt Diaz, who is coming back from a season-ending knee injury. Speedster Josh Anderson has the inside track on center field, but he faces competition from two other lefthanded hitters -- Jordan Schafer and Gregor Blanco. 2. Where's the power coming from? Not from the outfield, if this season is like last season. Braves outfielders hit 27 home runs in 2008. Total. Thirty major league players hit more. Francoeur managed only 11 homers in 2008 after hitting 19 in 2007, and Anderson hasn't reached the 20-homer mark since 2003. Last season, catcher Brian McCann and third baseman Chipper Jones led the Braves with 23 and 22 homers, respectively. McCann spent his offseason working out with Francoeur and reported to spring training 20 pounds lighter. He doesn't think the weight loss will hurt his power as much as help him weather the long season. With another year's experience, second baseman Kelly Johnson (12 homers) and shortstop Yunel Escobar (10) both hope to improve their power numbers. 3. What will Kenshin Kawakami bring? Of three newcomers to Atlanta's rotation, the biggest unknown is the righthander from Japan. The Braves know that their top two starters, offseason acquisitions Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez, can eat innings and keep them in games. The club believes Jair Jurrjens can improve on an excellent rookie season, and it can take comfort in having 305-game winner Tom Glavine at the back of the rotation. No one knows how Kawakami will adjust to the majors, though the Braves are paying big ($23 million over three years) to find out. Kawakami isn't considered a power pitcher, instead relying on off-speed stuff and an ability to induce ground balls. PROJECTED LINEUP 1. 2B Kelly Johnson. Average at best in the field but productive with the bat. 2. SS Yunel Escobar. When healthy, which wasn't often, was strong in the field and at the plate. 3. 3B Chipper Jones. Led N.L. in average (.364) and OBP (.470) for first time. 4. C Brian McCann. One of the game's best-hitting catchers is in better shape. 5. LF Garret Anderson. A good Plan B after Ken Griffey Jr. chose the Mariners. 6. RF Jeff Francoeur. If he doesn't bounce back, Braves could be in for long season. 7. 1B Casey Kotchman. Only two homers in 152 at-bats after trade from Angels. 8. CF Josh Anderson. Stole a combined 52 bases at Class AAA and majors. PROJECTED ROTATION 1. RHP Derek Lowe. Sinkerball specialist has made 30-plus starts in seven consecutive seasons. 2. RHP Javier Vazquez. Another workhorse: at least 198 IP for nine consecutive seasons. 3. RHP Kenshin Kawakami. The 33-year-old wasn't dominant in Japan. 4. RHP Jair Jurrjens. Led Braves' starters with 3.68 ERA, 13 wins as rookie. 5. LHP Tom Glavine. Last year's elbow/shoulder surgeries delay first start till mid-April. PROJECTED CLOSER LHP Mike Gonzalez. Dominant when healthy, but has missed time because of injuries each of past four seasons. GRADES Offense: B. The Braves finished 14th in homers in the N.L. last season but third in average and on-base percentage. The lineup should be better with the addition of the experienced Anderson and because Francoeur can't be as bad as he was last season. Pitching: B. The rotation has potential to be the division's deepest, but that depends on Glavine's health and Kawakami's transition to the majors. The bullpen has questions, too, with setup men Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan returning from elbow surgeries. The bullpen was overworked last year but should benefit from Lowe and Vazquez's durability. Bench: B. The outfield is deep, the backup catcher's spot is in good hands with veteran David Ross, and Omar Infante and Martin Prado provide versatility. Prado, 25, played five positions and hit .307 with a .363 on-base percentage in 228 at-bats last season. As is the case with the starting lineup, Atlanta's bench lacks a power bat. Manager: A. Bobby Cox might be the game's most respected manager, in terms of his peers (he's an eight-time Sporting News Manager of the Year winner, as voted by fellow managers) and players. Cox, 67, has hinted that this could be his last season. His current contract runs through this season. Sporting News prediction: Because they lack the offensive power of the Phillies and Mets, the Braves have about as much chance of beating them out as Cox has of going an entire season without being ejected. But a reloaded rotation and Gonzalez being healthy will make a difference. The Braves will cut their losses from 90 to about 80 and beat out the Marlins for third place in N.L. East. --

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