Uggla, Upton major story lines this Spring Training

-In signing Freddie Freeman to the largest contract in Braves history last week, general manager Frank Wren effectively threw a bone of optimism to the fan base, many of whom waited for one all winter. It was also a palate cleanser of sorts after an otherwise encouraging 2013 season ended on a down note in a division series defeat against the Dodgers.

Freemans $135 million contract, coupled with Wrens stated plan to keep the Braves young core together, came at an opportune time just before the annual rite or renewal that is spring training. Braves pitchers and catchers report Thursday to camp at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and the first full-squad workout is Feb. 19.

There will be plenty of storylines to follow this spring, and more issues that folks seem concerned about than might be expected for a young team with so many returners from a 96-win unit that captured its first division title since 2005.

But thats what can happen when your team loses some leaders Brian McCann, Tim Hudson, Eric OFlaherty to free agency and it doesnt make major additions comparable to those made by the main division rival, the Nationals.

Also, things seem magnified because a lasting Braves image of 2013 was Juan Uribes eighth-inning, two-run homer into the Los Angeles night off David Carpenter in Game 4 of the division series. A shot that lifted the Dodgers past the Braves while closer Craig Kimbrel stood in the bullpen, warmed and upset that he hadnt been brought in to squelch the rally.

So, the Braves head back to their spring home at ESPNs Wide World of Sports cloaked in the usual anticipation and high hopes of Braves Country, but also with many followers concerned about one or more matters that must be resolved, preferably before things get real March 31 in the regular-season opener at Milwaukee.

They Braves will play nearly 200 games 34 at spring training, 162 during the season before they could get a chance to put their playoff loss to the Dodgers behind them and end an alarming streak of eight consecutive postseason series losses. But for now, the focus is not on making the playoffs, but on getting things going in the right direction in Central Florida.

What follows are some key situations well watch to see how they begin to shake out amid the sun and palm trees. There are other questions, such as whether Jason Heyward will bat leadoff (which appears most likely). But these are the biggest.

Uggla and Upton: Its not exaggerating to suggest that Dan Uggla and B.J. Upton were among the handful of worst hitters in all of baseball last season. Especially troubling considering they were the Braves two highest-paid players, both with multiple years remaining on their contracts, meaning it was going to take more than a garden-variety extended slump to bench them.

They had slumps of epic proportion, coupled with health issues a midseason groin injury for Upton, late-season laser eye surgery for Uggla and both eventually were benched for varying periods. Uggla was left off the postseason roster, an awkward situation for him and manager Fredi Gonzalez, a relationship that dates to their years together with the Marlins.

Original post:
Uggla, Upton major story lines this Spring Training