Tomahawk Tuesday: Atlanta Braves Reactions
Photo: delawarenorth.com
Thoughts and reactions to the Atlanta Braves from the past week
In this new series I will be providing different types of analysis and reactions to the Atlanta Braves from a fan’s perspective every Tuesday. Tomahawk Tuesday will hopefully generate discussion amongst all Braves fans about the good and bad things happening with the team. If nothing else it will provide a nice recap of the previous week. Let’s get started!
Don’t Panic Braves Fans: The Braves finally got a win last night, and in convincing fashion over the Chicago Cubs, but prior to last night’s game many Braves fans were already hitting the panic button. Yes, they began the year losing three straight and getting swept. And that’s definitely not the ideal way to begin the year. However, it was just three games. It was also to a very good team in the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen’s Bank. The Phillies lineup is stacked and the Braves had to face good pitching in Aaron Nola, Nick Pivetta, and Jake Arrieta. The Braves themselves rolled out a couple of young guys with hardly any MLB experience in Kyle Wright (23 yrs) and Bryse Wilson (21 yrs) to pitch against that powerful lineup. Their performances were fine, but that’s a big learning curve for those guys to face that lineup on opening weekend. Mike Foltynewicz and Kevin Gausman should be back from injury soon, and provide reinforcement to the pitching staff.
Additionally, like Jeff Francoeur mentioned yesterday, other good teams have gotten off to rough starts as well. After opening weekend, the Red Sox were 1-3 (now 1-4), the Astros were 1-3, and the Yankees were 1-2. And they all played teams who aren’t as good as the Phillies. The Yankees losses were to the Baltimore Orioles, who are predicted to be the worst team in baseball this year. Fans tend to overreact and they often forget the season is a LONG one with 162 games.
What Needs to Change: Without a doubt, the bullpen needs to perform better. This was a point of concern throughout last year, and as a Braves fan, I was never confident with a small lead when the bullpen took over. There’s no other way around it, they looked rough in Philadelphia. Now, A.J. Minter is close to returning and that should help. Darren O’Day is working towards returning, although a timetable for his return is still unknown. Those two guys will help, but the Braves still need more. Craig Kimbrel is still a free agent and I would love to see the team go out and reunite with him. I would also like to see more young arms like Max Fried help out in the pen. Continuing to roll out Luke Jackson, Shane Carle, and Wes Parsons and crossing fingers for success just won’t cut it.
What’s Ahead: The series with the Chicago Cubs, another good team off to a bad start at 1-3, will resume tomorrow and wrap up Thursday night. The Braves need to be the team to take advantage of the Cubs’ struggles instead of the other way around. Last night was a good start with an 8-0 win in the season home opener. Friday night the Braves will begin a weekend series at home against the Miami Marlins, another team they need to take advantage of. Like last season, the Marlins should be pretty weak this year. From there things get a little tougher against a dangerous Rockies team and division-rival Mets, who are off to a good start.
Photo: Brett Davis/USA Today Sports
Weekly Awards:
Hey Batter, Batter
Freddie Freeman, who continues to be one of the best first basemen in the game. Through the first four games, he’s hit 7 for 14 with three doubles and four walks.
We Want a Pitcher
Max Fried for a strong showing out of the pen in 1.2 innings, not giving up a hit.
Steal of a Deal
The Atlanta Braves franchise for extending young phenom Ronal Acuna Jr. on an 8-year, $100 million deal. Given Acuna’s talent and potential, this is a great deal for the Braves to lock him in for eight years. I’m very happy about this.
Garett