The Braves are off to a 5-1 start, and after an off day they will put their skills to the test starting tonight against the Florida Marlins, who also are 5-1. Here are six things we've learned about the Braves in their first six games:
1. They have some pop after all. For a lineup projected to be a little short on power, the Braves have hit 10 home runs, tied for sixth-most in the major leagues. Seven Braves have homered: Kelly Johnson (2), Brian McCann (2), Jordan Schafer (2), Chipper Jones (1), Yunel Escobar (1), Jeff Francoeur (1) and Matt Diaz (1).
2. The rotation is shored up.
Their efforts to bring in starting pitchers --- Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami --- are paying off so far. Braves starters are 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA, which ranks fourth in the majors behind the Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis and Chicago White Sox. The Braves have three quality starts and would have had three more if Jair Jurrjens had gotten three more outs in his two starts (5 2/3 innings, 5 1/3 innings) and Lowe had not faced a rain delay Friday.
3. The bullpen might have some issues.
The Braves relievers' ERA of 6.75 ranks 26th out of 30 teams. The eight-run disaster inning in Philadelphia might prove to be an aberration, but there still could be weaknesses there. Left-hander Eric O'Flaherty has an 11.57 ERA in four outings with an opponents' batting average of .364.
4. Jeff Francoeur is showing signs of a comeback.
He homered on the first pitch he saw this season in Philadelphia, but more important, he's going a little deeper into counts (3.62 pitches per plate appearance, up from 3.49 last year) and he's not trying to pull everything. Francoeur hit two triples Sunday to right field.
5. Jordan Schafer can hang with the big boys.
The rookie center fielder is hitting .348 and showing no fear in making the jump from Class AA Mississippi. He became the first Brave to make his major league debut as an opening day starter since left fielder Rufino Linares in 1981. Not only did he homer in his first major league at-bat, he homered two games later and scored the winning run in extra innings Friday.
6. Brian McCann could be in for a monster year.
Teammates such as Chipper Jones have hinted at it this spring --- that even bigger things could be in store for one of the top-hitting catchers in Baseball. A slim and trim McCann has answered by opening the season hitting .318 with two homers and three doubles, and he's leading the team with seven RBIs. He also has stolen a base.
