The Atlanta Braves Are Starting to Get it Together

Whether you have noticed it or not, the Atlanta Braves have been climbing back into the top of the division.

After a run that consisted of 14-consecutive division titles, the Braves were not in the postseason for back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007. This year, with all of the Spring Training focus placed on the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves have been able to play pressure-free baseball.

The result: they are now just 1.5 games behind the division-leading Florida Marlins.

It is not just that they are so close to the division lead that they can taste it, but the Braves are riding a small hot-streak, having won four straight and seven of their last ten. The truly remarkable thing is that Mark Teixeira has not found that production that we saw last season just yet.

The Braves, to this point, have been carried by a healthy Chipper Jones and franchise catcher Brian McCann.

The world of baseball knows all about what Chipper has done already this season. All he is doing is hitting .410, with 12 HR and 34 RBI, and not to mention a .687 slugging percentage. The talk is that he could contend for the triple crown with Lance Berkman and Albert Pujols. The way Jones is playing, he could very well do that, provided he remains healthy.

But overshadowed by the play of Chipper Jones is the play of catcher Brian McCann. McCann has quietly put together a noteworthy stat line of .331 AVG/ 8 HR/ 31 RBI, along with a .606 slugging percentage.

Mark Teixeira has gotten off to somewhat of a slow start, but has put up decent numbers so far through 44 games. He is hitting .274 with five HR, 26 RBI, and a respectable .365 OBP.

The Braves are hoping to get the production they received from him in just 54 games last year. Last season, with the Braves, he hit .317, with 17 HR and 56 RBI, with a .404 OBP and .615 slugging percentage. If the Braves can get him going, they could have the division firmly under their control by the end of August.

Along with the play of these three sluggers, the Braves have been helped out by their young middle-infield duo of Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson.

When the Braves traded away Edgar Renteria, I was truly curious as to whom they would put at shortstop. Having seen the play of Escobar this season, I am now truly impressed with what the Braves have done by trading Renteria. Escobar has produced pretty well thus far, hitting .315 with four HR and 20 RBI, along with playing quite well defensively.

But it is not just the play of Escobar that has been noted. The play of Kelly Johnson also has caught people's attention. 

Kelly Johnson was wowing people with his ability to get on base at a prolific rate last season with a .276 AVG and a .375 OBP. This season, he is hitting .287 with a .352 OBP. Not to mention the fact that he has five HR and 20 RBI.

Basically, the Braves are set offensively, provided that they can stay healthy. The only part of this Braves team that looks like it could be slightly problematic is the pitching.

Now, before I say anything else, the Braves do have Tim Hudson, Tom Glavine, and Jair Jurrjens in their rotation, and John Smoltz slated to become a reliever when he comes back from his shoulder inflammation.

All of that being said, the Braves still have some weak points.

They do not have a definite closer. They have survived on a closer-by-committee basis with Manny Acosta capturing three saves of their seven. When John Smoltz recovers, he will most likely be slated as their closer, so that need will be taken care of.

The rotation beyond Hudson, Glavine, and Jurrjens also could be better, and it most likely will. With Chuck James and Jo-Jo Reyes occupying the last two spots, there is room for improvement. James has an ERA of 8.22, which will most likely come down as the season goes on. As for Reyes, he has pitched decently thus far with a 4.12 ERA.

As for the bullpen, the Braves also could use a slight improvement, with the exceptions being guys like Jorge Campillo, Peter Moylan, Will Ohman, and Manny Acosta.

Offensively speaking, the Braves will probably remain around their level of production so far this year, as Mark Teixeira will heat up and Chipper Jones might just cool down.

Nevertheless, the Braves look very strong in a division full of surprises, with the Mets and Phillies yet to get all of their components together, and the Marlins currently leading the division.

Come September, I believe the Braves will have another pennant to hang in Turner Field.