Who will provide right-handed power in the batting order?
Last season, even with Mark Teixeira in the lineup, the Braves were near the bottom in slugging, total bases, and RBI. With Casey Kotchman taking over for Tex, the dearth of power is even more severe. Four of the Braves’ eight positions will be manned by left-handed batters. The team needs to plug left-field with a solid right-handed bat. A trade for Xavier Nady would be a great short-term solution. Jermaine Dye has also been discussed. In any case, the Braves need an upgrade over Matt Diaz, and need Jeff Francoeur to remember how to hit. Who will fill in for Chipper? It is a foregone conclusion that Chipper Jones will have at least one stint on the DL. He will also have another ten or so games in which he is too hurt to play, but not hurt enough to go on the DL. Throw in another dozen or so in which he is limited to pinch-hitting, and the Braves are faced with the prospect of doing without their best hitter in one-fourth of their games. Martin Prado and Omar Infante combined for 5 hom
