Not Enough ... Yet

Cudos to Frank Wren. The Braves' new GM immediately went to work after taking over for long-tenured, highly-respected and Atlanta demi-god John Schuerholz.

Remember the pressure Ron Zook had after taking over for Spurrier at Florida? That's what Wren will face if the Braves don't return to the playoffs after a two-year layoff. The Braves finished third (5 games back) in an average division last season, and fourth (5.5 back) in the NL Wild-Card race. Wren's Braves have some ground to make up.

But the Braves' first new GM since 1990 has quickly made trades (getting promising rookie speedster Josh Anderson from Houston) and signed blast-from-the-past free agent Tom Glavine for a measley five million less than he would have made with the division rival Mets. Anytime you take a starter from another team within your division, you've made a good deal. When it's a player like Glav who can contribute and help mentor your younger pitchers, you've made a great one.

But as of today, November 21, the Braves are still a wild-card team at best, and probably not even that. This team hasn't done enough yet to get over the hump.

But they will.

I write this a couple weeks before the December GM meetings and months before pitchers and catchers report, Frank Wren's got plenty of time. And he'll make the necessary moves to put the peices together for a legitimate World Series run. We're not talking Wild Card. We're not talking division. And we're definitely talking more than a first-round exit from the playoffs.

Most of the puzzle pieces are there. Chipper Jones (if healthy), Mark Texiera, Jeff Francouer (MVP year in 2008?), Brain McCann and the continued rise of Yunel Escobar compose a promising lineup. Hudson, Smoltz, and Glavine are the beginnings of a good rotation.

But there are still too many "if's" to rest where we are.

We've got to face the facts with Glavine. The man will be 42 when the season starts. He completely tanked in his last three outings. We can't expect more than 12 or 13 wins and a near-4.00 ERA from the 303 game winner. And we can't be surprised if he drops off the planet come September, right in the thick of what should be a tight divsion race.

Smoltz is probably the toughest pitcher in the League today, but even he's beginning to break down. Could we see one trip to the DL for John in 2008? Probably. Two? Not out of the question.

And if Frank Wren is counting on a healthy Mike Hampton to fill out the fourth spot, then he's already behind the eight ball. What's the phrase that George W. jacked up a few years ago? "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Well, we've already been fooled twice. Shame on us. But if it happens again? We'll deserve the third place finish we land in.

Deals still need to be made. The Braves must get a proven starter of at least number three quality. The lineup looks great, but the team still needs a proven center fielder. Jordan Schafer most likely won't be ready, Josh Anderson should be a fourth fielder at most for now, and an outfield of Francouer at center, Willie Harris at right and Matt Diaz at left would playout about as bad as it sounds.

Do I expect it to happen? Certainly. Mark it down. Frank Wren's going to get it done. The Braves are two players away from a World Series team. And zero players away from another third place finish.