ATLANTA -- With his usual overabundance of optimism on display at Turner Field on Monday morning, Braves manager Bobby Cox provided even more reason that he plans to treat the final year of his storied managerial career in the same manner that he has most of the previous ones.
As Tim Hudson, Peter Moylan, Kris Medlen, Eric O'Flaherty and a handful of other hurlers were participating in the first voluntary workout of the season, Cox sat in his office and fielded questions from a small group of reporters.
"We'll be in it," Cox said when one reporter asked if his club had enough to prevent the Phillies from winning a fourth consecutive National League East crown.
"I'll take 15 [wins] again," Cox responded when a reporter asked if he was confident that he would see a bounce-back season from Derek Lowe, who tied Javier Vazquez with a club-best 15 victories last year.
"Let's watch them," served as Cox's response when a reporter began asking about whether he would bat Nate McLouth leadoff and newcomer Troy Glaus in the cleanup spot.
When the Braves begin their Spring Training workouts in a couple of weeks, much of the focus will be placed upon Jason Heyward, the 20-year-old phenom who will come to camp with the opportunity to head back to Atlanta as the starting right fielder.
One of the primary concerns will be the rotation, which was altered in December when the club opted to sell high on Vazquez by trading him to the Yankees in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera and two highly regarded Minor League pitchers -- left-handed reliever Mike Dunn and right-hander Arodys Vizcaino.
Given that it will be a few years before the 19-year-old Vizcaino can prove that he seemingly provides the most significant potential return in this trade, it has been difficult for some fans to support Braves general manager Frank Wren's decision to trade Vazquez, who enjoyed a career-best year during his lone season in Atlanta last summer.
But as Cox looks at his projected rotation, he grows excited about the fact that a healthy Hudson will be around to serve as the anchor. Hudson underwent Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery during the 2008 season and then convinced the club that he was healthy with seven strong starts this past September.
"He's an ace," Cox said. "We forget that. Huddy, before he went down was an ace and still is in my mind. Nobody wanted to lose Vazquez, but our rotation will be good."
Last year, Atlanta's rotation posted a Major League-best 3.52 ERA. Leading the way in the consistently impressive department were Vazquez and Jurrjens, the 23-year-old right-hander who ignored a potential sophomore slump by allowing two earned runs or less in 26 of his 34 starts.
"He was phenomenal," Cox said. "I think we've grown to expect that he is an ace and we don't talk about him a lot."
As the 69-year-old Cox chose to refer to at least two of his starters as aces, it was obvious that he still possesses that youthful excitement that has allowed his clubhouses to be filled with optimism over the years.
Cox didn't specifically refer to Lowe as an ace. But it was quite obvious that he and pitching coach Roger McDowell are still optimistic about what they will see from the veteran sinkerballer, whose early-season promise was erased with the struggles he experienced throughout the final months of his first season in Atlanta.
During the latter portion of that stage, during which Lowe posted a 6.65 ERA over his final nine starts, McDowell and the veteran pitcher found some mechanical flaws that they hope were adjusted during this past offseason.
"Hopefully we've put last year behind us and we move on," McDowell said. "I would expect he could have a fantastic year."
During the first day of this voluntary throwing program, McDowell welcomed Hudson, Medlen, Moylan, O'Flaherty, Chris Resop, Todd Redmond, Lee Hyde and Ryne Reynoso.
Jurrjens and Kenshin Kawakami, who is in Japan, are also expected to make an appearance during this two-week program, which essentially allows the pitchers to simply have their arms ready for the start of Spring Training.
Braves pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex Feb. 20.
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