Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — It's not just quantity and quality of arms that have the Braves excited about their bullpen potential. It's the diversity of styles the pitchers bring to the mound.

From sidearmer Peter Moylan's sinker to closer Rafael Soriano's 96-97 mph fastballs and sliders, from rubber-armed lefty Will Ohman's nasty slider to lanky rookie Manny Acosta's electric fastball.

Others including incumbent Tyler Yates and out-of-options job candidates Chris Resop, Blaine Boyer and lefty Royce Ring could add spice to an eclectic mix.

"That just adds to why we're so good, why we're going to be so good," Moylan said with his Aussie accent. "Every guy that's coming out of the 'pen is going to throw something new and exciting."

There is, though, a potential problem few have been willing to acknowledge as such, at least yet: Soriano's status.

The Braves would feel better about their potentially formidable bullpen if Soriano, who was a sore-elbowed observer for much of camp, turns in a few good appearances in the next nine days before camp breaks.

He didn't make his first Grapefruit League appearance until Saturday, giving up two hits before retiring the next three on a couple of flyouts and a pop-up.

He wasn't on the overnight trip to Jupiter, Fla., for two games against St. Louis Sunday and Monday, and the Braves were off Tuesday.

If Soriano's not ready, Moylan said the Braves have closer options including himself. But take Soriano out of the mix and it would be a major loss to the Braves, who don't have any others with significant closer experience.

As of Monday, the Braves still hadn't rated Soriano's status a concern.

Ohman, 30, pitched in recent Chicago Cubs bullpens that had as many, or more, hard throwers, but never with such a mix of repertoires and arm angles.

"The variety and the amount of different styles each guy brings is a really strong point to this bullpen," he said. "It gives [manager] Bobby [Cox] a lot of versatility. No two guys have the same stuff. It's a cornucopia of styles."

The Braves have to make decisions on Ring, who's had command issues but is nearly unhittable against lefties; Resop, whose fastball has been clocked at 99 mph this spring; and homegrown right-hander Blaine Boyer, whose hard stuff and curveball make him a potential contributor in the bullpen or someone's rotation.

If the Braves can't keep any one of those three, other teams will want them.

There's also the sizable X-factor the Braves have tried to downplay: Mike Gonzalez, the hard-throwing lefty expected back from the disabled list in June.

Since he's coming back from May 31 "Tommy John" ligament-transplant surgery, the Braves aren't counting on him to be at full strength. But they know it's possible he could be back to form, or close to it, in the second half.

Cox agreed it could be like getting a big-time reliever in a midseason trade.

Gonzalez had a 1.59 ERA in 18 appearances for the Braves before his injury last season, and in 2006 he was perfect in 24 save opportunities for Pittsburgh while posting a 2.17 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 54 innings.

In the meantime, Cox and Braves officials face some difficult roster decisions.

In addition to Boyer, Resop and Ring, the Braves have Jeff Bennett and out-of-options Buddy Carlyle, each capable of serving as a reliever/spot-starter — a role that John Smoltz hopes the team can accommodate because it would allow a veteran to skip an occasional start.

"It's really going to be hard," Cox said of the final decisions. "Harder than normal. These decisions are going to be extremely difficult. They're all throwing so good. That's the only reason it's hard."