Da Braves!

The Atlanta Braves have just defeated the San Diego Padres this afternoon 5-3 to win three out of four in the series and improve to 21-12 (I think) on the season.

The more I watch the club this year, the more impressed I am, especially with a couple key components the club lacked a year ago. First off, the lead-off man, Kelly Johnson has played brilliantly thus far. The guy is hitting well over .300, doesn't strike out much, isn't bashful about taking a walk, has good speed, and has been a huge upgrade thus far from a year ago. Secondly, the bullpen has been anything but the bullpen of last year. Remember the likes of Dan Kolb and Chris Reitsma, amongst others? Whew. It was tough sitting through the final three innings of games last year. But, now with Bob Wickman, Mike Gonzales, and Rafael Soriano, amongst others, the Atlanta Braves' bullpen has actually outpitched the starters.

The Braves may still rely on the home run ball some, but are much more efficient at manufacturing runs this year. With Johnson, Edgar Renteria, and Chipper Jones at the top of the lineup, along with Brian McCann and Matt Diaz/Willie Harris toward the second half of the lineup, the Bravos have some very solid contact hitters. Clean-up man Andruw Jones, right fielder Jeff Francouer, and first baseman Scott Thorman/Craig Wilson strike out some, but compared to previous clubs, that isn't too shabby.

The defense has been solid (for the most part). The biggest worry I have is in the starting pitching. While Tim Hudson and John Smoltz have been superb, the rest of the staff has been iffy. Chris James has felt like a hybrid of Tom Glavine and Russ Ortiz. The guy is stubborn with painting the corners, much like Glavine, but can be a little too stubborn and wild sometimes, like Ortiz. Kyle Davies has not fully rebounded from his devastating injury a year ago. Mark Redman has been dreadful in all but one start thus far. Lance Cormier is getting some work in the minors and hopefully will be ready to go in the near future, because I can't stand to see Redman pitch anymore. But, for a team that has been solid in so many areas, it's difficult for me to complain much about their 3-5 starters.

There's a long ways to go, but the Braves are off to a much better start this year and have the make-up of a team that can contend for a division crown. The Mets, with their loaded lineup, will be difficult to dethrone, but it is indeed possible.