Braves are back!

Five reasons the Braves are contenders again by David O'brien, AJC

"1. Kelly Johnson has been terrific
The Braves were confident the converted outfielder could prosper batting leadoff and playing second base, but no one expected this much. Johnson is hitting .323 with five homers, 26 runs, 15 RBIs and a whopping .466 on-base percentage in 26 games. He has the sixth-highest OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) in the National League and highest leadoff on-base percentage (.474) in the majors. And he's made just one error.

2. Chipper Jones is healthy and raking
After playing only 219 of 324 games the past two seasons because of injuries, the 35-year-old hasn't been out of the lineup once this season and is putting up numbers that should earn his sixth All-Star berth and first since 2001. The third baseman has hit .318 with a league-high 10 homers and 22 RBIs, and his 1.112 OPS ranked second in the league behind Barry Bonds (1.302) before Thursday. He's played solid defense, too.

3. The bullpen is much improved
After enduring a league-high 29 blown saves in 2006, the Braves made rebuilding the bullpen a winter priority. The relievers have blown only three saves so far. The Braves have limited opponents to a .195 average (third-best in the NL) and one homer in the late innings (seventh inning or later of close games), after allowing a .277 average and 26 homers in those situations last season.

4. The resurgent Tim Hudson
He was 27-21 in his first two seasons with Atlanta, including a career-worst 13-12 with a 4.86 ERA in 2006. He vowed to restore his ace status in 2007, and that's precisely what he's doing. Hudson is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA and .186 opponents' average. After allowing 235 hits and a career-high 25 homers in '06, he's given up 29 hits and one homer in 45 innings.

5. Best clutch hitting team in the NL
The Braves' .268 team average was merely tied for fifth in the NL before Thursday, but their .292 average with runners in scoring position and two outs was 23 points above the league's next-best mark, and Atlanta's seven homers and .531 slugging percentage in those spots were far and away the NL's best. In the late innings of close games, the Braves have hit .312 (second in the NL) with league bests of eight homers and a .565 slugging percentage."