Atlanta Braves Skipper Pulling Right Strings

The Atlanta Braves Are Clicking On All Cylinders, Including Coaches

Last night was the Atlanta Braves home opener. When I saw Fredi Gonzalez‘s starting lineup earlier in the day, I admittedly second-guessed it. Not that they couldn’t win or not that they wouldn’t compete. I was apprehensive for two reasons. One, the Mets had Jon Niese on the mound and he absolutely killed the Braves last year. He always rises up against Atlanta for some weird reason, regardless of the lineup.

Fredi Gonzalez has the flexibility, options, and freedom to always have a competitive group of able-bodied players to choose from at any point. This Atlanta Braves team will continue to shock people.

My second reason for apprehension was Philip Gosselin. He was inked in at second base. I can’t say that I disagreed with it, but I can’t say that I was ecstatic with it either, but Jace Peterson is a lefty and Eric Young, Jr. struggles from the right side of the plate. Niese is a southpaw, so I understood the decision.

Seeing Cameron Maybin in the lineup got me excited. A right-handed hitter that can hit lefties decent enough. That excitement turned to jubilation as Maybin sent the second pitch of the game over the center field wall. I’d say 50% of that was Maybin and 50% were the socks. Actually, it was probably closer to a 70-30 ratio … Regardless, Maybin didn’t hold back in the foot wear fashion game last night, as illustrated by the Atlanta Braves official Twitter page, it was on POINT!

I also was glad to see Jonny Gomes slotted in the five-spot. In the first two games we saw Christian Bethancourt in that spot. I like Gomes there better personally. He gives Freddie Freeman some added protection at cleanup. Bookend Freeman on the top side with Nick Markakis and you have, I think, a recipe for success.

Gonzalez not only made the right moves in the lineup, but on the field too. He pinch ran Jace Peterson in the eighth inning after a Chris Johnson double. That would turn out to be a genius move as well. With Peterson standing on second, in a game tied at 3, Andrelton Simmons would hit a semi-soft dribbler to David Wright at third.

Wright’s momentum was bringing him towards home plate. As Wright fielded the ball, he pivoted to try to tag Peterson sprinting for the third base bag. With no one covering second, Simmons walked to second. The Braves were doing everything right, and the Mets were trying to wrap their heads around what just happened.

As Gosselin strolled to the plate, I was hoping for at least one of those runners to score. However, and I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but I was preparing myself for disappointment. Runners in scoring position, two out, we’ve seen this before. After a tremendous at-bat, he roped a solid base hit back through the box that plated both Peterson and Simmons! Apprehension gone.

Apr 10, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher

(39) celebrates after a strikeout to end the game against the New York Mets in the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Mets 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

In the top half of the ninth, it was #GrilledCheese time. Jason Grilli (quickly becoming a fan favorite) came in and slammed the door on the Metropolitans, earning his 3rd save in as many chances. Luis Avilan held the Mets scoreless in his inning of work, as did Brandon Cunniff and Cody Martin. Jim Johnson was the pitcher of record and he had a scoreless top half of the 8th as well, striking out the side. The Braves bullpen has yet to surrender a run.

Fredi Gonzalez has pulled all the right strings and all at the right times. With the roster constructed as it is, he has plenty of options to choose from when putting a lineup together, night in and night out. I guess you might say that it’s a good problem to have.

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