Jair Jurrjens and Yunel Escobar Key to Atlanta Braves' Resurgence

If you think the Atlanta Braves are going to be carried by their franchise players like Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, and Andruw Jones in their quest to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005, you're dead wrong.  Every baseball fan who hasn't had their head in the sand since September knows that the Braves cut ties with Andruw Jones after the 2007 season.  His dismal performance coupled with a ridiculous asking price brought an end to a decade-long relationship.  Chipper and Smoltz, while shoe-ins for the Hall of Fame, can't be relied upon day in and day out, simply because of their age and the inevitable physical ailments that go along with it.  With that in mind, over the last couple of years the Braves President, John Schuerholz, and new General Manager, Frank Wren, sought out some of the most exciting, young, disciplined talent discovered in many years.  Jair Jurrjens and Yunel Escobar will prove to ... [link]