I'm not sure what the odds were in Las Vegas of the Braves going 162-0. But that bet just died.
The offense: also in need of resuscitating.
With most of the concern about this team centered on starting pitcher, it figured that the biggest problem in Monday's season opener was the lack of offense. The Braves were held to five hits, struck out seven times and lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0.
My full column off the game will be posted on MyAJC.com. Until then, here are my three "short takes."
UPDATE: Here's a link to the full column (subscription).
1. JULIO TEHERAN DOES HIS JOB: Against the backdrop of losing starting pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy to "Tommy John" surgery in spring training, the Braves needed a sign from Teheran that things would be OK for, well, at least one day. They were. Sort of. The 23-year-old wasn't dominant but he showed poise by working out of jams and held the Brewers to two runs in his six innings. In other words, he gave his team a chance to win, assuming his team wasn't going to be shut out ... which they were.
2. UPTON-UGGLA WATCH: (Part 1 of 162) OK. So maybe this is a little bit unfair since it's one game into the season and it's not like anybody in the Braves' lineup went on an offensive tear Monday. But two of the guys who get paid to drive in runs, are coming off miserable seasons and get paid the most got off to bad starts. Upton went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and stranded three runners, fanning with two on in the fifth. Uggla went 0-for-4 (reached on a fielder's choice) and also stranded three. (He did seem to have better quality at-bats than Upton.) Not a good start.
3. ON FURTHER REVIEW: MLB 1, NFL 0: Baseball's expansion of the replay rule was long overdue. Before this season, the only thing that could be reviewed was whether a home run was fair or foul, and even then it was at the umpire's discretion. But it has been widely expanded this season, with each manager getting one challenge in the first six innings (a second one if they win the challenge). After the sixth, replays are at the discretion of the crew chief. But give baseball this: It blows away the NFL in how long a ruling takes. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez challenged when Milwaukee's Ryan Braun was ruled safe on an infield play in the sixth. Replays showed he was out; the call was reversed. But the most impressive aspect of the decision: It took only 58 seconds.
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A few recent ramblings, on replay . . .
-- Blog: LIVE: 5 questions going into Braves' season
-- MyAJC ($): Strong opener by Teheran would ease some Braves' concerns
-- MyAJC ($): Injuries means Braves have little margin for error
-- MyAJC ($): NCAA needs to take the hint, start paying players
-- Blog: Mike Mills' song pushes Dale Murphy for Hall of Fame
-- MyAJC ($): Did Dimitroff lose benefit of doubt after bad season?
-- Blog: Dimitroff on Falcons, failure, his draft board and Umenyiora
-- Blog: Mercer (Georgia's shining light) stuns Duke
-- MyAJC ($): SEC needs to go to nine-game schedule, eliminate cupcakes
-- Blog: SEC needs to expand conference schedule (column preview)
-- MyAJC ($): Richt has been tough, even if some haven't noticed
-- Blog: More arrests at UGA, and Herbstreit jumps Richt
-- Blog: NFL must deal with Irsay (and Roddy White has his say)
-- MyAJC ($):Georgia loses but Fox goes down swinging at NCAA
-- MyAJC ($): Florida proving football school can win at hoops
-- Blog: Bad sign? Florida struggles in win over Tennessee
-- MyAJC ($): Georgia is given its chance to shine
-- MyAJC ($): Page 2 special: College playoff arguments don't make it wrong
-- MyAJC ($): Falcons' makeover has nice start but there's more to do
-- Blog: Braves make move for Santana, credit to Wren
-- Blog: Falcons' moves should improve both lines
-- Blog: Braves now being bit by offseason decisions
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