Growing up in the 1980’s and being a Braves fan were some pretty tough times. While the Braves weren’t doing so hot, one National League team was having a great decade: The St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals were winning “National League style” — i.e. speed and pitching.

Over this offseason, the Braves had addressed their pitching needs –signing or trading for pitchers who have a history of pitching 200+ innings a piece every season. The more innings a starter pitches, the fresher the bullpen is. Ok, so the pitching is there for 2009.

On MLB Network’s preview of the Braves, one of the things that the analysts keep stressing was that the Braves had no power in the outfield last year. The three OFs who started there the most for the Braves last year (Kotsay, Francoeur and Blanco) only hit 19 homeruns. The Braves need more power in the outfield, cried MLB Network’s Joe Magrane.

Really? Why?

Matt Diaz can hit for average and get on base where he can get knocked in by McCann or Chipper; Josh Anderson and/or Greg Blanco can use their speed to get on base and create opportunities; and Garrett Anderson and Francoeur can provide a little pop as a little extra insurance.

Now, Josh Anderson and Blanco probably combined are not going to steal as many bases as Houston’s speedy outfielder Michael Bourn, but at least they’re a threat. Blanco stole 13 bases in 144 games last year and in 121 games at Triple-A last year, Anderson stole 42 bases. Even Brandon Jones stole 17 bases in the 2007 minor league season.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the signing of Garrett Anderson and I think he’ll do a great job as an Atlanta Brave. But I would also like to see what these young outfielders can do.

If you turn them loose, they might steal a base or two and then the Braves would be playing ball “National League style.”