Smoltz applauds sterling starters

PITTSBURGH - As a former starter, John Smoltz appreciates the demands on a starting rotation. He understands the rigors of taking a turn every five days and the expectations of a six-state fan base that is accustomed to seeing Cy Young winners march to the mound.

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The Atlanta Braves' rotation is missing the marquee names of old, but Smoltz says the starters have begun producing similar results.

"It's really been their month," he said. "I think what's gone unnoticed is what the starters have done. They've been kind of under the radar. They may not have eye-popping starts like 12 strikeouts or a shutout, but they're dealing."

The five current starters, 7-10 with a 4.74 ERA in June, are a 14-3 with a 2.88 ERA this month.

"They've really come on," manager Bobby Cox said. "I think you kind of feed off winning games, plus those guys have talent. Also, our defense has been real good and pitching always goes with defense."

Three starters are perfect this month. Russ Ortiz is 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA; Mike Hampton is 4-0 with a 2.96 ERA; and Jaret Wright is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA. Paul Byrd and John Thomson, are 3-3 with a 4.36 ERA in July.

The result is that the staff's ERA has dropped to 3.75, just behind the Chicago Cubs' 3.72 for best in the majors. Atlanta's pitchers do lead all major league staffs this month with a 2.59 ERA, compared with a 4.94 in June.

"They've been consistent," catcher Johnny Estrada said. "They've pretty much kept us in every game. I think they compete against each other. I know they want to go out there and put up quality starts."

Ortiz (1-2, 4.18 ERA), Hampton (1-3, 6.41), and Thomson (2-4, 6.07) were the weak links in June. But their turnaround has propelled the team from 6 games out on June 23 to the top of the division, entering Tuesday's game.

"Paul will watch Jaret throw and want to do as well, and then I'll want to emulate what Paul has done," Ortiz said. "When we see a solid start every day, we push one another to be just as solid. It carries over big-time."

FORGOTTEN THIEF: Remember the days when Rafael Furcal stole bases?

The leadoff man, who swiped 40 bases in his rookie year in 2000, and averaged 25 steals over the past three seasons, has only nine stolen bases in 12 tries this year. His .346 on-base percentage partly explains his lack of attempts, though he suggested Tuesday another reason.

"There's nothing I can do if I don't have a green light," he said. "I want to steal. It's part of my game. Everybody asks me the same thing. Why don't you steal more?"

Cox said that 90 percent of the time Furcal reaches base he has the green light, but he won't run him if the score is lopsided in either direction, fearing injury. He also said pitchers have been limiting Furcal by using slide-steps making it almost impossible for him to steal.

MAKE WAY FOR JOSE: The Braves are clearing the way for 23-year-old Jose Capellan to pitch in September.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-hander was promoted to Class AAA Richmond on Sunday and made his first start Monday against Columbus, pitching six innings and allowing one run on eight hits. Capellan, whose fastball occasionally touched 100 mph on spring radar guns, has mirrored center fielder Andruw Jones' meteoric rise through the minors in 1996, starting at Class A Myrtle Beach, before being promoted to Class AA Greenville, and then on to Richmond.

"He's got major leagues written all over him," Cox said.