I think this lineup will be fine offensively, even without LaRoche and Giles.  Although I am very skeptical whether Kelly Johnson can shake off a surgical rehab and a season of rust to solve both the leadoff and 2b voids, I suspect the middle of the lineup is potent enough to carry the offense.  Andruw is in a walk season, so he will probably exceed last year's numbers.  Francouer is due for a significant improvement, and IMO Thorman is better than people think.  If Chipper avoids a physical meltdown, and if McCann is anywhere near his 2006 performance, I think this team scores plenty of runs.  Someone will step up and do a satisfactory job in the leadoff role, whether it is Johnson, Prado, Blanco, Aybar, or somebody out of the blue.  The Braves don't necessarily need the league's best leadoff hitter.  They just need someone who won't strike out much.  It won't be the NL's best offense, but it will be good enough.

The two questions yet to be answered are the defense on the right side of the infield and the effectiveness of the pitching staff.   If Thorman and Prado play, I think the infield defense will be adequate.  But if Kelly Johnson wins the 2b job, he has something to prove defensively.  Maybe Glenn Hubbard can get him through this transition, but it's a new position.  He hasn't played organized baseball in a year, so this is asking a lot.  We will see.  But I think Prado or Aybar will be ready if Johnson isn't.

Regarding the pitching staff, I am completely sold on two positive conclusions.  First, the signing of Wickman and the trades for Gonzalez and Soriano have fixed the Braves' bullpen problems.  Period.  I like Wickman's command and location a lot.  I think the set-up heat from Soriano and Gonzalez will only make Wickman's ability to change speeds even more effective.  With those three guys in the pen, Villareal and Yates will be more effective in reduced roles.  This is a tremendous pen.  My second conclusion is that a strong bullpen will greatly increase the effectiveness of the Braves' starting rotation, because Cox won't necessarily have to push his starters into the seventh and eighth innings anymore.  This pen would have given John Smoltz at least five more victories (and possibly a Cy Young) in 2006.  

One thing still bothers me, though.  And this is where I believe the Braves are still one key player short of challenging for the division pennant.  Even with an improved bullpen, I think the club still needs to bring in one more starter.  I believe John Smoltz and Chuck James will be fine.  While this bullpen will do wonders for Smoltz and James, and may also make Mike Hampton's comeback easier, OTOH I am still concerned about Tim Hudson and the fifth starter.  Plus, Hampton will need at least 5-6 starts to get back his command and his "feel".  Since Hudson's problems often occur in the first inning, I'm not sure this pen will help him as much as it will help Smoltz and Hampton.   Hudson's career is in big trouble unless he can find his formerly outstanding location and command again.  I'm not sure he can.  Kyle Davies threw a great game in Boston in 2005, but he seriously regressed in 2006.  yes, it was due to injury.  But baseball history is replete with stories of young pitches like Herb Score, Kerry Wood, and Len Barker who pitched well briefly.  When a promising career gets sidetracked, injury is a common theme.   Maybe Davies will fare better than that.  But he pitched terribly in September, and that had to hurt his confidence.  So I am not at all convinced the Braves' 2007 starting rotation will be sound with the current personnel.  It seems to me that the addition of one solid veteran starter would make a huge difference for this baseball team since it would allow Cox to send Davies and Cormier back to Richmond for further development, while bringing Hampton along slowly as the fifth starter for now.  I think this is the key missing piece.  I don't know who that would be, or how JS would acquire him, but veterans sometimes become available at the last minute when final cuts come in March.  I would be surprised if JS isn't looking for that type of move in March.