Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers Game 1 Recap

Well, the Braves lost and are now on pace for an 0-162 season.  Freddie Freeman, Evan  Gattis, “Dang” Uggla, B.J. Upton, and Jordan Schafer are all on pace to have the worst seasons in baseball history and Andrelton Simmons is only .333 points behind the league lead for the batting average, of which is shared by a plethora of undeserved and deserved candidates.  What can really be positive about being shutout on Opening Day?  Not much, but here’s my spin…

1. Jason Heyward– With a single and a walk, Jason looks like he’s started 2014 off right where he was prior to breaking his face. While the .500 on-base percentage is obviously not sustainable, I expect Jason to be in the upper-.300s and hold down the leadoff role for the foreseeable future.
2. Chris Johnson– While he only went 1-4 with a double, Chris Johnson missed a HR by mere inches (another one by feet), hit the ball hard in the 1^st inning, and seems likely to continue a path of offensive excellence.  Maybe not as good as last year, but I expect Chris to continue hitting the ball with enough authority to keep his BABIP well above the average Major Leaguer.
3. Freddie Freeman– Freddie also missed a HR by inches (had the distance but sailed foul). He was also victim of the shift and will have to prove, once again, that teams will pay for using the shift against him.
4. Justin Upton– Hit a few balls hard and showed great patience.
5. Andrelton Simmons– Andrelton was the victim of a very low BABIP last year and the baseball gods shined down upon him twice yesterday as he recorded 2 hits that were not necessarily hit well.  Then a ball he hit well, Aramis Ramirez channeled his inner-Andrelton, dove to his right to snag a liner on a hop and threw Andrelton out by a step.
6. Gus Schlosser and Ian Thomas– Both looked good, came in throwing strikes and got through 2 innings unscathed.
7. Dan Uggla– Didn’t strike out and hit the ball hard a few times.  He was a bit unlucky.

The not-so good.

1. Julio Teheran–  He didn’t seem to have his normal good stuff until well into the game.   Like many of the Braves’ players, the Brew-crew were unlucky yesterday, hitting the ball hard, but only finding the plate twice.
2. B. J. Upton– looked bad at the plate. Nothing much else can be said.
3. Evan Gattis–  looked worse than B.J. and  continued to flail at balls well outside the zone.  It’s only a matter of time before pitchers realize this about Evan and either Evan adjusts or he becomes Francoeur 2.0.

The great thing about baseball is there’s always tomorrow.  I expect the Braves to rebound today against Lohse, whom has had a bit of trouble against the Braves in the past.  In 11 games, the Braves have hit 9 HR and compiled a .802 OPS against the righty.  By the end of the day, I predict the Braves to be back to a .500 mark!  Go Braves!