Atlanta Braves: Three Weeks into the New Season

So far this the season, the Braves are doing mediocre at best. However, they have shown that they know how to win in the last couple of weeks, and that despite some problems, they can be a playoff team.

After not even twenty games, loyal fans have already gone through a laundry list of emotions as the team has had both amazing wins and heartbreaking losses. At this point in the season, it is time to start making notes about what is going well and what needs to be improved.

It is time to start making changes, should they need to be made. Unfortunately, as much as I respect Bobby Cox, I feel that he could make better decisions sometimes. All of that aside, lets start off with why the Braves have a chance to be a contending team this season. What is going well so far and some nice surprises...

1. Jair Jurrjens

So far this 22-year old native of Curacao has been amazing. He is currently leading the Braves with a 3.20 ERA and a record of 2-2. Those two losses can mostly be attributed to the lack of run support he has had in those games. In addition to Smoltz and Hudson, the Braves have a solid core of starting pitchers.

2. Chipper Jones

The Braves' offense has done a phenomenal job this season, so far. Although the team was struggling to score runs earlier on, the bats have come alive.

Chipper Jones is leading the team in every major hitting category, and leads the National League in batting average. His ability to make contact, and the power in his swing, will make him a frontrunner for the MVP award, as well as be the backbone of the Braves' offense.

3. The Bullpen

Acosta, Moylan, Campillo, Ohman, Soriano. The Braves bullpen thus far has been nothing short of amazing. Yes, they have slipped once or twice. However, for the most part, the bullpen has been very reliable. Once Soriano and Moylan are back off the DL, it is fair to say that we have the most potent bullpen in the National League. Keeping the bullpen healthy will likely be the largest hurdle in Atlanta making a playoff run.

Issues that need resolved...

1. Who is our left fielder?

Bobby Cox needs to make a decision about who he wants starting in left field. Diaz's bat has been lackluster. Yes, he does hit well against left-handed pitching. Unfortunately, I don't believe the Braves will see nearly as many lefties on the hill as they did last year.

Platooning him with Blanco is an option, but we still need an every-day left fielder who will not have to struggle with only playing one day, and then having to sit on the bench the next week. A decision needs to be made between Diaz and Blanco so that one of their bats can be developed into a solid seventh or eighth position hitter.

2. Fielding Woes

The Braves haven't been horrible in their fielding, but they haven't been spectacular either. Ranking eighth in the National League with a .985 fielding percentage isn't too shabby, especially considering how well our pitchers have performed.

Kelly Johnson needs to work on some of his fielding mechanics. Four errors may not sound that serious, but for a middle infielder who is critical in making double plays, he needs to put in more wrench time practicing defensive tactics. In close games, an error where a double play opportunity is missed can be the difference between a win and a loss.

3. One-run Games

Seven of the Braves nine losses on the season have been by a mere one run. On top of that, the Braves have yet to win a game by one run. This problem is difficult to resolve because in most cases, when a game is lost by a single run, it is difficult to say exactly what caused the loss.

In the case of the Braves, their MO has largely been win by a lot or lose a nail-biter. My best guess is that their hitting needs to improve in innings seven through nine. Late-inning runs are extremely valuable, as they can either pad a lead or make up for lost ground. They also serve to make the opponent's bullpen nervous about finishing the game.

Final Thoughts

Three weeks into the season and the Braves are showing that they have what it takes to be World Series champions. They have exhibited great pitching, and they have shown they can be dangerous at the plate.

They can beat teams like the Mets who are very strong. It will be interesting to see if they can improve on their four-game winning streak. So long as the Braves can keep players healthy and play solid fundamental baseball, they have a very good chance at winning the division.