The foundation of a playoff season

Today's win was unmerited, but impressive nonetheless, allowing the Braves to end the homestand likely tied in the standings with Philly (trailing Arizona 8-3 in the 6th) and a half-game ahead of the Mets.

Without three of their best pitchers, and with little production from the $200 Million Dollar Man, the Braves are staying comfortably afloat, posting their first six-game winning streak since July 2006. Chipper, the Kid and Huddy are due the primary credit, but they've had plenty of help, much of it unexpected.

*We expected much of Yesco, and he's failed to disappoint. The steady sophomore checks in at .333, and his lead-off bunt single to start the ninth was something no one else on this team, save for Kotsay and maybe Blanco, is likely to pull off, or even try. He's been above average in every aspect of the game, making only three errors, running the bases effectively and hitting the ball to all fields. He rarely makes mistakes.

Fitting that Yesco replaced Edgar, because he plays the game like a young Renteria. CD makes a good observation: If forced to choose, the Braves would probably lock-up Yesco long-term over Francoeur. Easy call, at this point. Not that we've soured on the Parkview grad, but he's yet to make the strides most predicted.

*Kotsay is playing just as he did before his back injury, and he's a notorious slow starter. With Jordan Schafer's troubles, the Braves might want to try to lock him up for a couple of years. He's hitting .137 points higher than Andruw after today's win.

*Despite little experience, the bullpen has been stout, as has Bobby's management of it. Where would the Yanks be minus Rivera and Chamberlain? Or the Red Sox without Okijama and Papelbon? BMF and Moylan aren't that good, but their roles are the same.

Bobby's had no choice but to overwork the 'pen, as the starters outside of Huddy and JJ haven't pitched enough innings. One reliever whose contributions have been overlooked: Royce Ring, who has yet to allow an inherited runner to score. Never mind his 6.75 ERA; Ring is doing his job, and doing it well.

*Suddenly, the bench looks pretty decent. Greg Norton has 20 homers and a .246 lifetime average as a pinch hitter, and he's already paid dividends. Every team needs an Omar Infante, a veteran who knows his role and performs it ably. And don't forget Blanco/Diaz.

*One thing this team will never develop: speed. That Matty D. leads the team in steals with four says it all.

*Good thing the Braves are winning now. After they leave Pittsburgh on Sunday, the local nine travels to Philly for three games, then back home for three against the overachieving A's (3.13 team ERA) and four each vs. the Mets and D'backs. The good news: Smoltzie says his shoulder is feeling better and he's anticipating a return to the team by month's end, perhaps in time for the Mets series, though that seems unlikely.

--CB

*Unrelated, but has anyone else noticed how impossible they've made it to win those jackpot innings on the radio? If the Braves had scored seven in the 7th, so and so would've won $1,000, but what are the odds of that? At least you've got a fighting chance with the Delta Double Play Inning. Hope I didn't steal any of Doyle's thunder with that last musing.

Comments

[Jack Straw]

I have been very pleased with Kotsay. It was vital that he play reasonably well. Given Andruw's performance thus far, the front office looks brilliant. JJ and Escobar are simply fun to watch.

A real key so far is the lineup's low strikeoput totals. Chipper, Texiera, McCann, Kotsay all walk as much as they srikeout. Even Francouer continues to reduce his Ks. When that many hitters force a pitcher to throw strikes, they all get better pitches to hit and run up the other teams' pitch counts.

[clete boyer fan]

Yesterday was a great day to do a half day at work and to come out to the ballpark. Didn't start off well, with Reyes going out and Carlyle gettng run over. But excepting Campillo, the rest of the pen held up very well. When Van Wieren was giving stats on the bullpen yesterday, I had no idea they'd been doing so well. I've been giving Ohman grief all year but he's been effective of late. When Ring came into the game, I groaned when I saw that 7.20 ERA, but then I noticed that opponents were hitting .229 off of him and then Pete mentioned that he hadn't allowed any inherited runners to score.

Yunel as a budding Jeter? Well he's certainly exhibited hustle, ability, and a good baseball IQ like Jeter. Now, if he can bag 6 of the MAXIM top 100 girls like Derek, I'll be even more impressed.

The Seven in the Seventh Jackpot is a ripoff, although the announcers got excited when the Braves scored 6 in the seventh against Cincy last Saturday. Kotsay was on third with run number 7 when Pena grounded out.

[JGraham]

Despite all of the pitching injuries (and two more today), can you believe the Braves have allowed the fewest runs in the National League, by about a half a run a game?

[CB]

I'm part of that minority, too (re: Jeter). He's underrated, in my book.

[Willie Montanez]

Good observations CB. Yesco reminds me more of a Cuban Derek Jeter (yes, I am one of minority that thinks Jeter is not overrated). I think Chipper's "lose and Andruw, gain an Andruw" joke about Frenchy in spring training may be a bit too true. I would much rather see Ring coming into the game than Will Oh-man.