Which team has the worst rotation early on?

"It's not a throwing contest. You've got to pitch. ... Every one of them was right down the middle. Belt high."
--Frustrated Braves manager Bobby Cox (on Kyle Davies' three-homer, five-run first inning)

We've seen some strange results the first couple of weeks. Up is down, left is right, and Atlanta is the team that can only throw down the middle. Miguel Batista has as many Ks as Randy Johnson (16), while having one fewer start than the Big Unit. Oscar Villarreal leads the league in wins (4). Pedro Martinez has given up as many homers as Eric Milton (2). I could go on forever, but let's dive right in and see if it's time to pull the rip cord or if we should stay the course (anyone else picturing Dana Carvey pushing his palms down and saying, "...a thousand points of light..."?).

Note: Stats through Thursday

Braves New World (Order)

OK, Leo Mazzone is looking pretty darn smart right now. Through 10 starts, the Braves' rotation has yet to record a win (the Royals are the only other team without a win from their starters), has averaged just over four innings a start, and has pitched worse than Atlanta's much-maligned bullpen.

Considering that all six Braves pitchers that have made starts this year are returning from last year's squad, it's hard to not point a finger at new pitching coach Roger McDowell (or at least to John Schuerholz for letting Mazzone leave).

However, as we mentioned last week, it's all about the sample size, and two weeks of the season aren't enough to claim the Braves' rotation has lost its way. Obviously these guys aren't going to unlearn in two months the total workout and pitching program that Mazzone created for them over the last decade or so, and I doubt (but cannot prove otherwise) that McDowell came in and said, "OK guys, it's going to be about first-pitch balls and putting guys on base."

The K/BB ratio is a good place to start when looking for some encouraging news from the rotation, and remember this is the same team that phones it in during April and then rules mid-May through August. John Smoltz and Tim Hudson are still reasonable bets to dominate, and John Thomson should be good but not great. But I've never been on the Davies bandwagon, I don't expect Jorge Sosa to rise above that awful WHIP, and I don't see Horacio Ramirez ever giving us the results his talent hints at.

But the biggest problem with an underachieving starting rotation is that short starts translate into long relief, and bullpens can only pitch so many innings. Right now the starters are staying in for only half the game, and the relievers will soon start to show the strain. Add to that a shaky closer (anyone else think it's time for Kenny Ray to be given a shot at the ninth?) and this staff could get out of hand. However, I expect the front end of the rotation to take control and if you start to see six innings or more out of them, they've probably turned the corner. If not, how much do you think Peter Angelos would demand to give Leo Mazzone back? Now batting for your Baltimore Orioles, number 25, Andruw Jones...

OK, Genius, work your magic

So, now that Mazzone is in Baltimore, it's time for them to lead the pack, right? Well, it's going to take time, as evidenced by Daniel Cabrera's first two starts:

Hmm, now what was it I said about Cabrera. We all know he can make a radar gun jump, and that he has mean stuff, but right now it isn't working. He'll have some great starts this year, but be ready to ride the roller coaster. And yes, that 45-run difference in ERA over the two starts is encouraging.

And in the interest of full disclosure, even though I've been right so far about Cabrera, I also pegged Rodrigo Lopez as the ace of this staff. In the first two weeks Kris Benson and Erik Bedard have been the aces, and Bruce Chen has given us what we expected. However, just remember the name Hayden Penn when he appears on your waiver wire.