Braves notebook

ATLANTA - There's still a long way to go before he joins the ranks of the game's superstars.

And as long as Chipper Jones is around, Andruw Jones will be always be the other Jones, though maybe the balance of power is shifting.

Which Jones leads the Braves in runs, total bases, home runs, RBI, walks, strikeouts, and slugging percentage? Here's a hint. It's not Chipper.

Though Andruw's .272 batting average is 58 points below Chipper's, he has displayed increasing patience at the plate. He is hitting .375 in the first two games in June, and though his 50 strikeouts leads the club, he hasn't whiffed in eight at-bats this month.

"I'm being patient and I'm maturing," he said. "Right now, I'm trusting my hands and my instincts. You might see two or three pitches each at-bat to hit, and it's up to you to hit them. I'm looking for my pitch and if it's not there, I let it go."

It's taken Jones five years to learn the truth behind the Little League adage of "a walk's as good as a hit." He has never accepted more than 76 walks in a season, and in four of his first five years he's failed to top 60 walks.

At his current pace, he'll draw about 100 walks.

"I'm more selective and I'm more comfortable at the plate," Jones said. "I've got an idea of what pitchers are doing against me. I'm not getting frustrated if they walk me."

GOOD REASONS: More than two months into the season, manager Bobby Cox is still carrying 12 pitchers, including seven relievers, and says he's content to keep the extra pitcher.

"I like them," he said. "We're doing even better with 12."

The bullpen has produced a 2.68 ERA, and the staff has compiled a major league-best 3.07 ERA. But doesn't Cox miss an extra hitter on the bench?

"If we were pinch hitting for our regulars all the time, it would be different, but we don't," he said. "The problem is, we wouldn't know who to send out."

Cox makes a good point. Which reliever would go if the team decided to add a hitter? Kevin Gryboski, who has a 0.87 ERA? Kerry Ligtenberg and his 2.08 ERA? The only reliever with an ERA over 2.25 is closer John Smoltz (5.93), who's still feeling the effects of an eight-run outing against the New York Mets April 6.

FRANCO CONTINUES TO START: Julio Franco has started seven-straight games at first base, and Cox plans to keep writing his name into the lineup.

"He's hot right now, so we'll stay with him," Cox said.

Franco is 11 for 26 in his last six games, raising his average from .192 to .250.

SLIGHT CHANGE: Cox started Keith Lockhart at second base Monday night, but plans to give Jesse Garcia the start tonight in the second game against the Mets.

INJURY UPDATE: Second baseman Marcus Giles, on the disabled list with a sprained right ankle, hopes to begin a rehab assignment at Class AA Greenville while the team is on a two-city interleague swing through Texas and Minnesota next week. Giles is expected to be ready when he's eligible to activated June 13.

"It's getting better by the hour," said Giles, who shed his protective boot Sunday. "I'm right on schedule."

Giles, who was bating .237 when he was hurt, can't run yet, but he worked out for the first time Monday.

Shortstop Mark DeRosa, who isn't expected back until after the All-Star break following right ankle surgery, will start hitting today.

DRAFT STATUS: Holding two extra selections for losing Type A free agent Steve Karsay, the Braves will pick 23rd in today's amateur draft, and have a pair of supplemental picks, No. 34 in the first round and No. 65 in the second round. They also have their own second-round pick (No. 64).

The Braves have made a pitcher their No. 1 pick the last four years. They chose Screven County's Macay McBride last year, and Adam Wainwright in 2000. The last position player chosen No. 1 by the Braves was shortstop Troy Cameron in 1997.

The draft runs through Wednesday and will last up to 50 rounds.

RIGHT AT HOME: Mark Lemke, broadcaster. The former Braves second baseman took over for Don Sutton on 750 WSB radio Monday night, and felt right at home behind a microphone.

"It's something I enjoy doing," said Lemke, who will fill in indefinitely while Sutton undergoes kidney surgery. "I get to be around the game again, that's probably the most enjoyable part."

Lemke has worked several games with FOX, and worked with Braves broadcaster Pete Van Wieren last winter, so this isn't entirely new to him.

"My best goes out to Don and his family," Lemke said. "It's not the way you want this to come about. I'm trying to fill some big shoes."

Reach Bill Zack at bzack30143@aol.com.