I can think of at least three reasons why you shouldn't worry about the fourth-place Atlanta Braves.
Fourth-Place Braves Still Looking Good
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1. They’ve got a solid run differential.
They’re 11-12, but have outscored their opponents by 11 runs. Granted, run differential might seem like a ridiculously irrelevant metric so early in the season, but it’s funny how most of the good teams have good run differentials and most of the bad teams don’t.
2. Dan Uggla isn't going to do this all season.
Okay, so Uggla's no kid. At 31, his best numbers are probably behind him. Still, .182/.234/.398? The power's been there for Uggla but the average hasn't, and at this point you'd rather have that combination, because batting average is highly subject to luck in April. He might not be great, but he'll be good.
3. The Braves have six good starting pitchers.
Here’s a slightly amazing fact that we’ll enjoy today because it won’t last for long ... All five of Atlanta’s starting pitchers have struck out at least three times as many hitters as they’ve walked.
But all five of the Braves' starters -- Brandon Beachy, Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Derek Lowe, and Tommy Hanson -- are currently 3-to-1 or better. They won't all stay there, of course; the point is that the Braves have five solid starters in their rotation.
Yeah, but you said six.
Well, Mike Minor couldn't crack the Braves' rotation, but he could pitch for almost any other team in the majors. The No. 7 pick in the draft just two years ago, Minor blew through the minors in about two seconds, and he's got a 1.73 ERA in nine career Triple-A starts.
At some point over the course of 162 games, nearly every contender needs some depth in their pitching rotation. And when that point comes for the Braves, they’ll be ready.
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