--SS Yunel Escobar gained 25 pounds of muscle by working out in the off-season, going from 190 to 215. Whether that will add power to his swing over the entire season remains to be seen, but for one night it was good for a three-run home run.
--LHP Jo-Jo Reyes was part of last season's rotation because of injuries but had trouble with his control as the season wore on. In the offseason, he slimmed down considerably. If he pitches consistently well in his starts for Class AAA Gwinnett, he could get another shot at the Braves' rotation. --2B Kelly Johnson's goal for his approach on offense is to be able to move up on the plate without thinking about it. If manager Bobby Cox keeps moving him around in the batting order, that may help. Johnson might be too busy thinking about the situation than his stance.
--1B Casey Kotchman still needs to gain five of the 10 pounds he lost when he missed nearly two weeks of spring training because of the flu and food poisoning. That weakness has affected his offense but not his defense.
BY THE NUMBERS: 80 -- Pitches RHP Derek Lowe wanted to throw consistently in his spring training starts, to ensure that when manager Bobby Cox decides to take him out it will be at an appropriate time in the game and not because he has reached a pitch limit.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "One guy's coming off the National League batting title. The other guy's coming off the operating table." -- GM Frank Wren on the difference between signing 3B Chipper Jones to a contract extension and re-signing RHP John Smoltz.
