AJC > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 01
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Are these Braves destined to be a hard-luck team?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Show of hands: Who stayed up to watch until the bitter end? I have to admit that I couldn’t. I have to be at work at 7 a.m., and I nodded off after that three-run homer in the 12th. The bedroom TV was still on, though, and I woke just enough to hear the final of 12-11 — wow.
I would love for the Braves to be 2-0, and against the Nats and Pirates, they had a great shot at it. They’re not. But they’re not as bad as their 0-2 record might imply, either.
The bullpen suddenly looks like a concern and the defense has been shaky, but I love the fact that there’s absolutely no quit in this team. In the big picture, though, the most important moment of this year’s home opener occurred before the first pitch was thrown, when Tom Glavine walked to the mound in an Atlanta Braves uniform.
I know there are some fans who won’t ever get past the fact that he left for the Mets, and I understand that. I was devastated and tried my best to pretend he didn’t exist for five years.
But the guy was my favorite player for much longer than he was gone, and I’m more than willing to let bygones be bygones and am thrilled that he’s back where he belongs. Judging by the reaction of the crowd during the player introductions, the majority of Braves fans feel the same way.
Now I guess we have to talk a bit about the game, ugly as it was. On the bright side, the Braves again showed serious heart in battling back, Glavine gave up only one earned run in five innings while scattering seven hits, Yunel Escobar went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and Mark Kotsay went 2-for-4 and gunned down Jack Wilson at the plate.
For those who see the glasses as half empty, there are the aforementioned issues surrounding the bullpen and defense, along with Mark Texiera’s .100 average (although, you don’t really think he’ll stay there, do you?) and the fact that Kelly Johnson was lifted for Martin Prado in the top of the fourth, because of a strained knee — maybe that explains some of the sloppy defense?
With Opening Night and the home opener now under our belts, what do you think? Is it time to push the panic button about the ‘pen and the hard luck that seems to have surrounded the team, which is already 0-2 in one-run games, or is it too early — and too cold — to draw any real conclusions? Can we push the reset button during the off-day and start over on Wednesday?
Brian McCann, for one, thinks the Braves will have to if they’re going to get anywhere near the postseason: “One-run games, that’s how you get to the postseason,” McCann said. “You’ve got to win them. Hopefully, we can get on the right track.”
By the way, did you notice Chipper’s hustle on that game-tying play in the ninth? Now that’s great baserunning. It looked like a routine final out, but he never gave up on it and was running hard the whole way.
Permalink | Comments (118) | Categories: Chop Chick
Services »
