This is my favorite time of year.  The new year rush and subsequent lull is gone, the taxes are filed (and refund on the way), and baseball is back!  It's been a long and dark offseason for Major League Baseball (see the Mitchell Report), but the 2008 season is finally here.  The MLB season kicks off tomorrow night in D.C. as my Atlanta Braves hope to spoil the Washington National's home opener in their new ballpark aptly named, Nationals Park.

As I did last year, I'm going to attempt to predict the fortunes (or misfortunes) of my 2008 Atlanta Braves.  First, let's start with the offseason transactions.

The most important offseason acquisition for the Braves was the return of Tom Glavine.  While an emotional reconnection for fans, the Braves actually needed Glavine's services on the mound.  Braves' General Manager Frank Wren made it pretty clear that he intends to go back to basics.  And for the Braves, the basics means pitching.  Last year Glavine gave the Mets 34 starts and 13 wins with a 4.45 ERA.

Andruw Jones' departure left a gaping hole in center field that is impossible to fill.  Andruw Jones is the best center fielder in the game, so all we can hope is that the offseason acquisition of grisly veteran Mark Kotsay can fill two-thirds of that hole.  Kotsay, whose 2007 season was shortened because of back troubles, is kind of a wildcard.  He certainly has potential, but the big question is can he stay healthy?

Jair Jurrjens, who was acquired from Detroit via a trade for shortstop Edgar Rentaria, may turn out to be the Braves' best offseason move.  Jurrjens went 2-3 in spring training with a 5.03 ERA.  Those stats, however, are a bit misleading as he started sharp but ended dull, giving up 10 runs in his last three spring training starts.  Bobby Cox saw enough good stuff to give the 22-year old a shot at the bigs and the start for the third game of the season.

Perhaps the most important additions to the team are not actually new.  First baseman, Mark Teixeira, who came to Atlanta in a mid-season trade, should give the Braves solid play at first base from the start of the season for the first time in a long, long time.

Also "returning" to the Braves is pitcher Mike Hampton.  Hampton hasn't pitched for the Braves in two years, but he had a very strong spring training with 1 win and a 2.16 ERA, proving some of his skeptics wrong.

Here's what I think it will take for the Braves to return to the post-season:

• Braves Must Stay Healthy.  John Smoltz starting the season on the DL is not a good way to start the season.  And with a center fielder who missed most of last year with back issues, a pitcher who hasn't pitched in two years and the veteran leader Chipper Jones health record over the last two years, the Braves do not stand a chance if these guys can't get on the field.
• Chipper Jones had one of his best offensive seasons last year and he tore it up spring training.  He'll need to hit for .320, 30 homers and 100 RBIs this season.
• Tim Hudson is officially the Braves' Ace and he'll prove it by flirting with a 20-win season.
• Smoltz, Glavine and Hampton will all spend time on the DL this year.  Chuck James, Jair Jurrjens and Jeff Bennett will need to keep the Braves on track by providing quality starts.  If they can't get the job done, I don't think Wren will hesitate to make a big mid-season trade to sure up his pitching staff.
• The closer role now belongs to Rafael Soriano.  Soriano has the talent, a wild arm and a steely confidence, but will all three come together at the same time to provide Smolts-like consistency out of the pen?  The Braves need 40 saves.
• Teixeira, who had a bad spring will continue slow and heat up when the Braves need him.  I think he'll give us 35-40 HRs and ample support for Chipper Jones batting clean up.
• The Baby Braves are the glue that holds it all together.  Johnson, McCann, Francoeur and Escobar will continue to improve and see the team through tough injury times.  Kelly Johnson must provide consistency in the lead-off slot.  He had a .375 OBP and .275 AVG last year.  He'll need to replicate that performance and hit 15 points higher.   Escobar needs a .300 year, setting the table for Jones and Teixeira.

It's going to be an exciting baseball year.  There's going to be plenty of competition in the East this year as both the Mets and Phillies are formidable teams.  Here's to hoping the Braves will return to former glory!