Atlanta Braves Game, What Made Me Throw My Remote & What Made Me Chop

As Chris mentioned in his recap of the Braves first win of the season, Tomahawk Take will try to give you a different perspective of a game recap instead of the normal, boring, redundant recap you get elsewhere.

In the first of 19 games against the Washington Nationals in 2014, the Atlanta Braves were victorious.  The Braves have now won three straight games and have improved their record to 3-1 in this young season.

To use the words of Peter Griffin, things on Friday that “grinds my gears”

The Uptons, the Uptons, the Uptons and oh, the Uptons.

Mar 31, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder

(2) reacts after striking out in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers of an opening day baseball game at Miller Park. The Brewers beat the Braves 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

If you’ve watched any game, or pretty much any inning of 2014, you’ve probably noticed either Justin Upton or B.J. Upton strolling slowly back to the dugout after another strikeout.  They both seem to have that deer in the headlight look on their faces and they both look up at the screens like did that just happen?!?

How would I know the #UptonLook?  Well because I’ve watched it 16 times!!

Yes, you read that correctly, the Upton’s have a combined total of 16 strikeouts in four games!!  The brothers have more K’s than the entire Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals entire TEAMS!

Today they totaled six strikeouts, three between the both of them, and a combined 0-8 with six runners left on base (three each).  Justin’s batting average after today’s game is sitting at .067 while B.J.’s has a .063 batting average.

The play that made my remote going flying – this play came in the top of the 8th inning right after Jason Heyward drew a walk to start off the inning.  Next up, the famous B.J. Upton.  On four pitches, Upton walks back to the dugout.

I’ll remind you if you didn’t get the chance to watch or listen to the game.  The matchup was tied 1-1 in the 8th inning when this happened.

With a runner on first base and B.J. struggling for over a year now can we please either bunt him or can he move the runner to second somehow!!!

Letting the frustrations get the best of me and for that I apologize because Freddie Freeman was up next and singled to move Heyward to third (would of scored if B.J. moved him over).  And Chris Johnson came through with a sacrifice fly to right field.  Braves up 2-1.

The times I did the Tomahawk Chop today – Evan Gattis with the leadoff homer off Nationals Jordan Zimmermann in the top of the 5th inning.  On a 0-1 pitch, Gattis crushes one to put the Braves up 1-0.

Apr 4, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis (24) hits a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Great to see Evan get a hold of a ball since his other at bats he’s been taking swings that were very questionable.  Only his second hit of the season but Gattis is playing great behind the plate.

Another time I chopped was in the 8th inning (we kinda covered this already) when the Nationals put in Tyler Clippard.

Once I saw him on the field, I first chuckled a little and then chopped on!  The Braves destroyed this guy last year, pretty much ever time we saw him and once again we were able to get another run off of him.

Clippard took the loss for the Nationals while Luis Avilan got the win for the Braves.

Craig Kimbrel came in for the 9th inning and got the first two batters on K’s and then a pop out to finish the game.

Small note, David Hale pitched extremely well for his first start of the season.  He went five innings giving up only five hits, two walks and didn’t give up a run.