It's official: The 23 wins by Braves rookie pitchers are the most of any team in the majors. That's 10 by right-hander Jair Jurrjens, seven by right-hander Jorge Campillo, three by right-hander Manny Acosta and three by right-hander Charlie Morton. The last time the Braves had that many wins out of their rookie pitchers was 1968.
For that they can thank -- unfortunately -- the injuries that have felled four of the five original arms in the rotation. As second baseman Kelly Johnson said of those injuries, "It's ridiculous. I don't know what to say." But then he notes, "It's an awesome opportunity for guys to get chances. To grow and learn. If you're not winning, it's the next best thing."
Third baseman Chipper Jones is not quite so sanguine. "Can't sustain the injuries that we've sustained," he says, "and expect to stay competitive at or near the top of the division. It's impossible. Especially when we're replacing guys like myself, (right-hander John) Smoltz and (left-hander Tom) Glavine and (right-hander Rafael) Soriano and (right-hander Peter) Moylan with minor-league guys. You're just not going to get the same results."
Right fielder Jeff Francoeur, already shell-shocked from having been sent to Class AA Mississippi early in July to get his swing back, says, "Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined we'd be where we are now, with all the injuries and (first baseman Mark Teixeira) gone. I thought we'd be in first place, if not, (then) right there in the hunt. I know we've got the talent. It just hasn't worked out."
BRAVES 11, DIAMONDBACKS 6: RHP Jorge Campillo was untouchable until the sixth inning, after which things got a little too close for comfort. 3B Chipper Jones, just off the disabled list, hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that allowed the Braves to exhale.
