Well, we’re a week in, and while it’s too early to draw definitive conclusions about this Braves team, we’re starting to see what we’ve got.

Jordan Schafer (Logan Schafer to Jon Miller) is handling his transition from AA ball about as well as could be hoped. Good defense, speed to burn, good instincts, and how about the bat? As I write this, he’s hitting .421 with a .500 OBP, an .842 SLG, 2 dingers, 3 walks and 4 Ks in 19 ABs. Small sample size, to be sure, other teams haven’t built a book on him, but…wow.

At some point, of course, Bobby will move him up in the order. Hitting him eighth is kind of wasteful, letting him stand on first or second while the pitcher hits. I know Chipper has a strong preference for hitting third, but the way this club is configured, I think the lineup ought to be something like this:

CF – Schafer

SS – Escobar

2B – KJohnson

3B – CJones

C  – McCann

LF – Anderson/Diaz

RF – Francoeur

1B – Kotchman

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I understand where Bobby’s coming from – a lot of pressure on a 22-year-old who was playing in Pearl last year, don’t want to put too much on him (nor make him the linchpin of the team) so early in his career. And, of course, Bobby’s right. But if June rolls around and Schafer’s hitting .300/.400/.500, how do you continue to hit him eighth? I might even consider him in the 3-hole, though I think I prefer Kelly there.

In any event, Chipper said in spring training that he was working on his power stroke “because that’s what this team needs from me”. He’s right. Better this should be one of his .310/38/110 seasons than a .364/22/75 year. Also, Chipper’s suggested lineup in spring training had Anderson hitting third and himself fourth. If he’s thinking that way, it seems the time is almost ripe for the grizzled veteran to move down and put another high OBP guy above him in the order (not Anderson, who has never walked and now hits .280 instead of .310).

Now, Schafer could go dry and hit .240 the rest of the way, in which case you leave it the way it is. But having watched all the games – including taking the family to the opening-night monsoon at Turner (where I purchased four seats in Section 206 from a Young Urban Entrepreneur) – I don’t think so. I think he has sufficient confidence, plate discipline and a complete approach to hitting that will serve him well over the long run. My only concern, in fact, is that he might hurt himself in the field or on the basepaths with his full-throttle style.

There have been a lot of things to like about this Braves team in this first week – McCann looks like he’s ready to be the next Johnny Bench (those Mauer/McCann comparisons look kind of silly to me), KJ is just raking, the infield defense is tight, Francoeur’s new approach shows promise (.200 average notwithstanding), Moylan got his sink back, Kawakawi had a nice debut (his fastball’s fine – that belt-high stuff is what he needs to eliminate), Lowe is money, Jurrjens continues to look like an excellent young pitcher, Escobar has been fantastic in the field and with the bat – but to me, Jordan Schafer is the biggest thing that’s happening with this club.

How long before the national media talking heads, almost none of whom seem to do their homework, climb on the bandwagon? How do you look at the health of Hamels and Santana, the infield defense of the Marlins, the acquisitions the Braves have made, and pick the Braves fourth in the division? My theory is that they put great weight on last year’s results and don’t think nearly enough about the changes made. Lowe, Vazquez, Kawakami, Jurrjens, Glavine versus (last September) Jurrjens, Reyes, Morton, Campillo, Parr? Schafer versus Blanco? Growth of emerging stars (Escobar, McCann, KJ)? The Braves should have at least been in the conversation in the NL East.

Not impressed with the Phillies rotation past Hamels, who is hurt. Mets are deeper and a better overall club than the Phillies (even allowing for the 5-7 game discount for the NY/ESPN hype factor), but not invincible. Marlins have lots of good young pitching – JJohnson, Nolasco, ASanchez, Volstad – but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a worse infield defense. Cantu is a butcher, Uggla is a LF playing 2B, Ramirez is a 3B playing SS, Bonifacio is a 2B playing 3B. Ye cats. Defense matters – a lot.

Braves infield: Kotchman has saved several runs already at 1B, Johnson continues to develop – turns a very nice pivot – at 2B, Escobar is a Gold Glove SS and CJones is a tick below Gold Glove at 3B. THAT’s a defense.

Well, we’re 4-1 coming out of the chute, and I’m not surprised. Mildly pleased that things are working out well, but I certainly thought we’d be in the hunt. The hitting will cool a bit, the bullpen will stabilize. I think, on balance, that this is a 90+ win club.

At the risk of getting too giddy watching the Bravos lay the wood on the Phillies, it was good to thump them – on opening night, in their park, with a packed house, when they hoist their banner and get their rings, on national television. It was almost as good as shutting up the ESPN announcers.

Joe Morgan: “The fact that Brian McCann has to bat cleanup for this club tells you just how little pow-” BAM! 460 feet into the second deck in right field.

Steve Phillips: “Francoeur had a poor season last year. The Braves are hoping-” Smoked 10 rows deep in the left field bleachers in about three seconds flat.

Jon Miller: “I don’t know why Myers is being careful with Schafer. He’s a rookie with little power. He ought to just throw strikes-” KAPOW! 430 feet into the deepest section behind the center field notch.

I thought Escobar’s shot – almost the exact same spot as Schafer’s – was gone, too, though my DVR was inconclusive.

Meanwhile, what about the sublime performance from Derek Lowe? Beating balls into the ground all night. I had my little guy watching the first few innings with me (he’s six) and I was pointing out how the sinker works, how it made the other team hit it on the ground, and we went through at bats where the highest pitch was at the knees. $15m and worth every penny, at least Sunday night. Seems like the kind of guy who should age well, too, in great shape at 36. Moyer still gets ‘em out (hopefully not tonight) at 46 and never had anything like that heavy, heavy sinker Lowe throws.

I called my Yankee buddy today. Said, “hey, I didn’t see how the Yanks did…Sabathia look good?” Couldn’t resist. Now, it’s funny, but when Burnett goes on the DL with shoulder stiffness in about June, and Sabathia is showing the wear of the 72 starts he made for the Brewers last September to will them to the playoffs, Yankee Bill is not going to be amused.

Back to the game. Escobar’s smoothness can’t be overlooked, either. He made all the plays he should and a couple he shouldn’t – great range, Furcal-like arm. Kotchman ranged to his right for a nice get and handled Chipper’s one-hopper, no problem. That was a very good infield defense.

I thought I saw Chipper ouching (oblique?) after he came out of his shoes on a lefthanded swing – second at bat, I believe – but he hung in. I hope his body doesn’t betray him. Just 140 games, Chip, that’s all I’m asking.

Looking forward to seeing Jurrjens tonight. Seems to me if I’m a gambler (I’m not) and I’m looking at the pitching matchups this series, I’m liking the Braves. What does it tell you that once Hamels is out of the mix, Brett Myers is your opening day starter? I did like the Myers quote I saw the other day. I guess he came into camp lighter, like 20 pounds, a writer noticed, asked him about it. Myers says, “I ate salad with my beer. You know, play for the tie.”

Beautiful. How’d we lose 14 of 18 to them last year? We’re better than these guys. Maybe our new rotation has something to do with it.