The Braves

Well three weeks and what can I say about the Braves that Braves Journal hasn’t said?

Not much, but I will rehash.

The hitting is atrocious. A Jones has looked lost at the plate and is in one of his patented month long slumps. Giles has looked O.K. when he has played, is there an unluckier guy in the majors? Estrada is batting around .200. Furcal has turned it on in the last few but is still batting a paltry .235. The corner outfielders are just plain terrible and don’t look to improve much. LaRoche is hitting .214 but at least is driving in some runs. The only bright spot is the Dawg’s favorite Chipper who has an unbelievable 1.211 OPS and is essentially the only reason the Braves have won many games.

The SP has been fabulous, even when you include Smoltz’s opening day debacle. The RP has been adequate, but Kolb is not long for the closers role and Colon or Sosa should have the spot by the end of the year.

Overall I give the Braves a C+. The pitching has kept the Braves from being complete laughing –stocks of the NL, but 1-0 extra inning games are not going to win the pennant.

On the bright side, at least we are not the Royals, no scratch that, we are KC with a moderately better bullpen and starting rotation.