The Atlanta Braves offensive struggles resurfaced in Miami Tuesday night. Third baseman Chipper Jones hit a single in the top of the fifth, and it was the only hit Atlanta would get. Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homerun off Braves starter Charlie Morton in the bottom of the fourth inning and it would ultimately be Florida’s knockout blow, along with a superb (if wild) start for Marlins starter Rick VandenHurk. VandenHurks line was very Luke Laloosh, if you will- 5 innings, 7 strikeouts, 5 walks. Was he wearing a garter belt? Not sure, but it seems more likely that he reaped the benefits of pitching to a lineup that has a number of holes.
Two through five, Atlanta has as good a lineup as any team in the National League. But the rest?
Outfielder Gregor Blanco is a nice story. A guy that, after years in the minors, just didn’t seem to get it as recently as last year. Fast forward to this spring; he’s cut down his swing and he’s bunting and taking advantage of his best asset- his speed. Blanco won the competition for the final outfield slot and it wasn’t even close. Who could have known he’d get so many ab’s? Blanco just isn’t ready to be the leadoff hitter that he’s had to be for the last month. 
In 1991, Otis Nixon hit .297 and stole 72 bases for the “worst to first” Atlanta Braves. In 401 abs, Nixon only struck out 40 times. In 277 abs this year, Blanco has already struck out 68 times. Admittedly, it’s not fair to compare anyone in his rookie year to a veteran in his prime that had a gold standard year for a leadoff hitter. But it is fair to say that Blanco is striking out far too often, and that his .260 average could be raised considerably if he had half as many strikeouts.
The bottom third of the batting order has been atrocious. So atrocious that tonight Vandenhurk issued three consecutive walks to Jones, first baseman Mark Teixeira, and catcher Brian McCann-and with no outs, he was able to escape the inning unscored upon.
Rightfielder Jeff Francoeur is hitting .234 with only 9 homeruns. His struggles have been well documented. He has become, in essence, this year’s Andruw Jones. Nowhere to hide him in the lineup.
Centerfielder Mark Kotsay has struggled for the most part since returning from the DL.
Second baseman Kelly Johnson has been in a funk for a couple of weeks. Even with his strikeouts (66) he’s a decent option to hit seventh; but Johnson’s recent struggles have been magnified hitting behind Francoeur.
With Philadelphia’s Tuesday night walk-off win over New York, Atlanta falls to 7 games back of first place in the N.L. East. Tomorrow Brave’s ace Tim Hudson (10-7, 3.31) will take a thin margin for error to the hill against Florida righthander Ricky Nolasco (10-5, 3.78).
