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 it was.
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 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. 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 (and a second one if he wins the challenge). After the sixth, replays are at the discretion of the crew chief. But give baseball this: It blows away the NFL for 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. The most impressive aspect of the decision: It took only 58 seconds.
About the Author
