The Braves' First Quarter: The debut of a fancy (for me, at least) new graphic

Yeah, as I've said probably something like a million times before, I've been meaning to change up how I do these little quarterly thoughts on my Four Bs and I know I've also confessed something like a million times plus one about how the basketball and hockey playoffs typically delay my immersion into the baseball season.

Still, when you consider both how this first 41 games to the season began and ended, the Braves are kind of an ideal squad to try something different other than my usual meandering faux essay. Let us not forget that when it comes to expectations for the year, mine for the 2010 Braves were set quite high.

So far, here's how I'm feeling:

RECORD FOR THE QUARTER: 21-20 (21-20 OVERALL) — There's nothing really all that alarming here for me. Philadelphia was widely expected to be the division winner and the only way Roy Halladay doesn't end up with a Cy Young this year is if they discontinue it. The Marlins will probably continue be the typical pests that they always are and it's good to see the Nats and the Mets are already jockeying for the basement. So far, this seems pretty familiar and relatively unspectacular when considering that only six games separate first from last at this point.

BEST WIN: May 20 (Braves 10, Reds 9) — As I said in the intro, it's going to be hard to top the way this particular quarter of the season was bookended. I even had a graphic prepared with one of my favorite shots from that opener (and I had that record in there when they were still 19-20, so haters can feel free to, you know, suck it), and assumed throughout most of this first stretch that the 16-5 should-be-criminal beatdown of my hometown Little Bears on April 5 would be the high point. But lo and behold, yesterday unfolded in such spectacular fashion, it almost feels as though all my hopes were revitalized in a single game. Yesterday's win was the most dramatic so far this year, for sure, but it should also be noted that it was the third consecutive game the Braves have won on their final at-bat.


WORST LOSS: April 29 (Cardinals 10, Braves 4) — In the midst of an eight-game losing streak, we had been trying to find comfort the day before in the fact that the same St. Louis Cardinals team that won the World Series in 2006 had also lost eight in a row that season—TWICE. But unable to save any face in a series with about as surefire of a contender in the National League as any, the Braves pushed the losing steak to nine and were easily swept out of Missouri. The Braves April 20 win in 10 innings over the Phillies also could have been a contender for best win this quarter had what followed not been such an abysmal descent from three games over .500 to the 8-14 record they found themselves with after leaving St. Louis. Additionally disturbing at this point, both Double-J and Double-K were still searching for their first victories.

MVP: Jason Heyward — It's almost too obvious and being the Contrarian that I am, there's the temptation to make a case for Martin Prado (hitting team-high batting average of .322) or Tim Hudson (4-1 with a 2.41 ERA), you're just plain ol' ignant not to acknowledge J-Hey's awesomeness. The rookie's .392 OBP ties him with Brian McCann for the team lead, but he's alon in the leads with both his .945 OPS and .553 SLG. There was what I could only believe would be understandable concern about whether Heyward could live up to the rather large expectations so many of us had for him—this, for instance, is pretty subtle—but so far, the kid's darn near exceeding them. At this point in my life, it feels like I'm accustomed to having prospects show their potential in only brief (occasionally memorable) glimpses, so Heyward alone contributes not just to this team, but to the greater reduction of my otherwise eternal cynicism. (Oh, and the fact that the guy this cover's joke is based on is still a joke himself helps.)

LVP: Matt Diaz — And in all fairness to Mr. Diaz, there's competition from Nate McClouth (who says he was "swinging like a girl"), Melky Cabrera (team-low WAR of -0.9), or just about every other outfielder not named "Heyward." There's slow starts and there's whatever Diaz has been going through, which has him batting an anemic .178 and already having struck out 20 times to a mere five walks. Of course, all of this might have something to do with "a bleeding and puss-filled thumb" that Diaz failed to notify trainers about and is now going to sideline him for a few weeks. I know I'm probably ignoring a particularly sub-par pitcher or two that's every bit as deserving for this designation, but on a personal level, I have yet to see the version of Diaz I was far more enthusiastic about last August.


THREE THINGS I'VE LIKED SO FAR:

1.  J-HEY — 'Nuff said. Really.
2. THANK YOU, NEW YORK — OK, so I'm not a total Melky fan yet, but man, am I missing Javy? No. Am I excited about what is sounds like Atlanta's really going to get out of that deal (not to mention the other pitching prospects)? Hell yes.
3. ONE GAME ABOVE .500 IS BETTER THAN A GAME BELOW — And considering the team lost nine in a row at one point, you have to be grateful.

THREE THINGS I HAVEN'T:

1. THE OUTFIELD — It's still sorting itself out, but as I've already alluded to, there's three guys out there and only one is coming close to maintaining the consistency we need. 
2. JURRJENS AND KAWAKAMI STILL WINLESS — This needs to change immediately.
3. IT'S NOT ALL GOOD NEWS IN THE MINORS — See this.

25 WORDS OR LESS:

Plenty of traditional early-season moments of whining, but the mood remains pleasantly optimistic.