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Two pitches after Jason Heyward's second spring training HR, Justin Upton hit one conservatively estimated to have gone 500 feet. BJ had an "off" day by going 2 for 3 with an RBI double and a SB.

Gonna be a fun year!

cant play the marlins every game!!!

I hear that Andy. It's no Darren Ruf, Delmon Young, Dominic Brown!!! :-):-)

Lol dont forget ben revere.

Braves strength is their young outfield no doubt, but i question the infield big time other than freeman. Also is medlen a true ace? Guess we find out this year

Phils have warts too...especially the of, but they will trade for a
bat if the young guys dont work. Dont count them out like all the preseason prognosticatoes are

Sorry partner, I know you love your Phils but third place is their ceiling. No way they best the Nationals or Braves, in my humble opinion.

I think nats are best team in nl but phils played .600 ball last year once howard and utley came back. Dont,count them out is all i am saying. not gonna argue your opinion, its yours to have

Thats beauty of this game, who saw orioles or athletics making playoffs last year and no angels. Its not just played on paper. I hope to say i told ya so in october

Went the pirates home opener against the Braves at McKechnie Field and the starting outfield was justin, jason and yes reed johnson. .

Duda, Cowgill, Nieuwenhuis....now that's an outfield!!

lol Alan

Hey Jeff..with the latest grandy injury....interested to see where you think the yankees will end up in standings this year. even the phillies bench guys like John Mayberry could help your outfield right now:)

Games aren't played on paper. You still have to beat Hamels, Halladay, and Lee. It's all about the health of Halladay, Chase, and Howard. Nats and Braves are definitely favorites, but it's crazy to say that 3rd place is the Phils ceiling. You can say 3rd is likely, but ceiling? This game is littered with teams not living up to potential, especially after a bunch of moves...how'd the Marlins do last year?

Cobb wrote:Games aren't played on paper. You still have to beat Hamels, Halladay, and Lee. It's all about the health of Halladay, Chase, and Howard. Nats and Braves are definitely favorites, but it's crazy to say that 3rd place is the Phils ceiling. You can say 3rd is likely, but ceiling? This game is littered with teams not living up to potential, especially after a bunch of moves...how'd the Marlins do last year?

Agree...my biggest beef is people that write the phillies off after one bad year after dominating....yes dominating the division for 5 straight years. I do not know if they will make playoffs this year but their health is good as of Feb 26 and they improved this offseason although it wasnt the usual big splash..it was solid mid card type signings.

who knows what will happen. I do think the braves not having vet leadership of chipper, bourn and prado is a bigger deal than people are making it out to be. I have a man crush on their OF..but i think they have question marks too.

Alan,

We also might look to the Mets for a spare outfielder!!

As for the outlook this year for the Bombers (and I will root like heck for them to win it all) I am a realist (unlike some "fantasy land" Met fans (I don't mean you of course)) I think it could be a long year and as we sit here today I would say that they COULD win the division but the more likely scenario is Rays, Jays, Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox. Of course it is the Yankees so it is certainly possible they prove me wrong but a lot of things need to go right, in my humble opinion of course

76erfan wrote:who knows what will happen. I do think the braves not having vet leadership of chipper, bourn and prado is a bigger deal than people are making it out to be. I have a man crush on their OF..but i think they have question marks too.

Yup...questions, like will it be worth it to get tickets to any of the last four games of the season at The Ted, because if the Phils are in it (and yes the Phils may certainly be in the hunt) that is going to be four tough road games for them.

Don't think there are many questions on offense other than can Simmons handle lead-off. When you look at the projected Braves line-up two through eight however (Heyward, J. Upton, F. Freeman, BJ Upton, McCann when he is back, Uggla, Johnson/Francisco), you can be sure of three things...each spot has at least 20 HR ability, if you are sitting in the outfield you will feel a breeze, and the Braves will score runs in bunches.

Not many questions on leadership as McCann and Hudson have both been there, done that and are good clubhouse guys.

Not many questions in the bullpen. Kimbrel, Venters, Walden, O'Flaherty. Seventh inning on...lock it down.

Questions are in the rotation, mainly with regards to Hudson and can he do it one more time and does Teheran have his head screwed on right. Other than that? Pretty solid. Not Hamels, Lee, and Halladay, but more than enough to keep the Braves in their games. And I do not think of Medlen as the ace. Watch Minor. He is gonna be the man.