Braves Make an Opening Statement

PHILADELPHIA -- Before Sunday night's major league opener, Chipper Jones was asked if it bothers him that the Braves are "overlooked" in a division where the Mets and the defending World Series champion Phillies are favored.

"Until we play better baseball," he said, "it really doesn't bother me."

Then, in the privacy of a team meeting, he spoke his true feelings.

"We're sick of kind of being a laughingstock," Jones said, according to teammate Jeff Francoeur. "No one fears the Braves any more."

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It doesn't seem like "laughingstock" and "Braves" belong in the same sentence, but it has been three years since they made the playoffs, and they lost 90 games in 2008.

As Atlanta put a damper on Philadelphia's celebration of its title with Sunday's 4-1 victory, the Braves showed why they might be ready to climb back into the race: an improved rotation, headed by free-agent signee Derek Lowe, a revamped Francoeur and rookie center fielder Jordan Schafer.

"We're definitely going to be better," proclaimed catcher Brian McCann, who walloped a 460-foot, two-run homer in the first.

Said Francoeur, "Come September, we feel we can be in the race with these guys."

Lowe -- one of three new starters, along with Kenshin Kawakami and Javier Vazquez -- was simply brilliant. In five previous seasons of Citizens Bank Ballpark, only one other pitcher held the Phillies scoreless for eight or more innings on two or fewer hits (Tim Wakefield in 2005).

"I can't remember the last time we had someone just go out there for eight innings," Francoeur said.

Lowe retired 24 of 26, with six perfect innings.

"It went about as good as possible," he said.

Last year, the Braves got 27 homers total from outfielders. They already have two this season, one each from Francoeur and the 22-year-old Schafer.

" 'Frenchy's' swing is so much better," Cox said, "and Schafer is going to hit some homers. So is Garret (Anderson)."

Francoeur dedicated himself to reconstructing his swing over the winter, with a calmer and more open stance that allows him to see the ball better, helping his pitch recognition and thus his plate discipline. He was as proud of his fourth-inning lineout, when he worked the count full, as his line-drive homer in the second.

"He's a huge key for us," Cox said. "We're predominantly left-handed, and we need him in the middle of the order."

Francoeur knows it. He spent two three-day sessions with Texas Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, in November and February, and seven swings into the first day, Jaramillo told him, "We've got to get rid of your high-school, metal-bat swing."

It wasn't hard to convince Francoeur he needed to change something; from June 13 on he hit .225 with three homers 33 RBI in 89 games.

"I'm trying to become a totally different player," he said.

Schafer, the first Braves rookie to make his debut as a starter on Opening Day since Rufino Linares in 1981, went opposite field to left-center for a homer in his first plate appearance.

"That was far beyond my dreams," he said.

(One FanHouse writer is looking pretty good right now for picking Schafer as Rookie of the Year.)

Atlanta's biggest concern coming out of spring training was its bullpen, and closer Mike Gonzalez nearly let a 4-0 lead get away. A double, a single and a walk meant Ryan Howard came up as the tying run, but Gonzalez caught Howard off guard with a fastball for a called third strike after throwing all sliders. A strikeout of Raul Ibañez ended the game.

The Braves lost 14 of 18 to the Phillies last year, so in a small way Sunday they served notice they can be in the race.

"It's nice to win a game against them," Francoeur said.

It's just one game, of course.

"Until we prove we can play with these guys [the Phillies and Mets] over a full season," Jones said, "we're going to be chasing them like they were chasing us for a long time."

But for now, Cox can enjoy Monday's off day in Philly.

A steak dinner, perhaps?

"Maybe," Cox said. "Maybe I'll buy Lowe one."