1) Will Nate McLouth return to All-Star form?
Putting it nicely, McLouth had a dismal 2010 season.
In 85 games, he hit six home runs and had 24 RBI. He spent much of 2010 at AAA-Gwinnett before being called up late in the second half of the season when rosters expanded.
The Braves are hoping that McLouth has turned it around this offseason and will be ready to contribute in 2011.
McLouth, who participated in this year’s Braves Country Caravan, meeting fans from across the south, reportedly spend the offseason at his home in Michigan. There, McLouth attempted to distance himself from his 2010 season and regain his mental and physical strength.
“It was a rough season, there’s no other way to put it,” McLouth told Braves Beat Reporter Mark Bowman.
“It was nice to go into the offseason, take a step back and get my confidence back, which I did. You can say whatever you want, but when you struggle as bad as I did, your confidence is going to take a hit. But I am confident, and I’m definitely excited about this season.”
The Braves are hoping McLouth can rebound from a tough season and find the power and consistency that made him an All-Star during his time in Pittsburgh and will likely need him to to compete in the tough NL East.
2) Can Tommy Hanson learn to limit early damage?
Hanson allowed five or more runs six times last season, including eight runs in less than two innings pitched against the Cincinnati Reds and nine runs in less than four innings pitched against the Chicago White Sox.
Despite those statistics, Hanson ended 2010 with a 10-11 record and a 3.33 ERA in 202.2 innings pitched.
His win total could have been much higher, but late-game blunders often cost Hanson a win during much of the season, especially the second half.
Hanson’s second half was considerably better than his first, in which he posted a 2.51 ERA, as compared to his 4.13 ERA in the first half.
The Braves will need a strong full-season from Hanson if they expect to win the East.
3) Can the defense cut down the errors?
The Braves had quite a few costly errors late last season. Despite popular belief, Brooks Conrad was not the only one to falter with the leather; as many Braves infielders—and even Melky Cabrera with his sideways throw late last season—misplayed the ball.
And while the addition of Dan Uggla may prove to be a good one from the offensive side of things, his defense is not something to boast about. In the last three seasons, Uggla committed 47 errors.
In comparison, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips committed 19 over that time.
Questions surround the rest of the team’s ability to field as well. If Martin Prado does begin the season in left field, he will do so with only three games of experience under his belt in that position.
4) Will the fifth starter, when named, be effective?
Three pitchers are vying for the fifth and final spot in the Braves starting rotation this spring, all of which spent at least some time in the majors last season.
The first two, Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy, were mid-to-late season call-ups for the Braves while the third, newcomer Rodrigo Lopez, spent the season starting for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The southpaw Minor, the early favorite for the spot, went 3-0 in his first 4 starts with a 3.91 ERA. However, in his next four starts, Minor went 0-2 and posted a 9.37 ERA. In those last four starts, Minor’s fastball did lose some velocity, but experts around the league credited his curveball’s tendency to sail on him as the key to his ineffectiveness.
Beachy, who has never attended Braves Spring Training, was called up in September when Jair Jurrjens was scratched from his expected start against the Phillies. In his three starts last season, Beachy went 0-2 with 3.00 ERA.
Lopez appeared in 33 games with the Diamondbacks, posting a 7-16 recording alongside a 5.00 ERA. Although Lopez did pitch 200 innings last season, he allowed a career high 37 home runs.
In all likelihood, Lopez will need to have a humongous spring to make the squad.
5) Can Chipper return to form?
Before succumbing to injury last season, Jones hit 10 home runs, had 46 RBI and batted .265 in 95 games with the Braves.
Jones, who has been a staple in the Braves lineup since 1995, said he was optimistic about his injured left knee and will report to Spring Training along with the pitchers and catchers on Feb. 14th.
“I’ve felt good since I began the treatments and I’ve had no limitations since,” Jones told reporters in January.
At this stage in his career, if Jones thinks he’s ready, he’s ready.
He hinted at retirement last season, but if Jones still thinks he can play and be effective on the field, he’ll be back at third base for Opening Day.
6) Can Uggla repeat what he did in Florida?
Since he began his career with the Florida Marlins in 2006, Uggla has hit no fewer than 27 home runs and batted in no few than 88 runs.
Last season, Uggla had career highs with his 105 RBI and 33 home runs and, now that he is reunited with his former manager Fredi Gonzalez, Braves fans expect big things out of Uggla, the power bat that the Braves have been looking for for quite some time.
If Uggla can post numbers similar to the last five years, look for the Braves to win the NL East.
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