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Atlanta Braves First Spring Training Game – The Good, Bad and Ugly

By Jeff Schafer

Mar 1, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a double during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a double during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Braves Take On The Orioles In First Spring Training Game

The Atlanta Braves took on the Baltimore Orioles in their first Spring Training game of 2016.  The Braves have many story lines heading into ST as well as the regular season, but we’ll go over the storylines that happened on Tuesday afternoon.

The Good

  • The Braves didn’t lose!  The game ended in a 4-4 tie as the Braves battled back from a 4-0 deficit.
  • After just a few days ago, reports that Freddie Freeman would take it easy and slow, he’s in the lineup for the Opening Day Spring Training game.
    • Freeman went 1-2 at the plate with a 1st inning ground rule double on his second swing of the season.
  • Atlanta totaled 11 hits including two hits from third base prospect Rio Ruiz.
  • Matt Marksberry pitched a very good 5th inning as he had two strikeouts and got the other batter to slowly pop out to first base in foul territory.
  • Mauricio Cabrera also had a great outing as he struck out two batters and got a quick ground out to short in his one inning pitched.  He also hit triple-digits on the radar gun.  Expect huge things from this 22-year-old flamethrower.
  • Hector Olivera had an RBI single to put the Braves on the board in the 6th inning.
  • Mallex Smith was able to get a single in his first at-bat of 2016 and later scored when Daniel Castro hit a double to left field…yes the same Castro that struggled throughout the winter season.  Though it did look like he lunged at the off-speed pitch and got his bat around.
  • After Burawa’s melt down in the 3rd inning, the bullpen threw seven scoreless innings, allowing on one hit, zero walks and seven strikeouts.

The Bad

  • Dansby Swanson left the field before the game because of a stomach bug.  If he’s healthy tomorrow, he’s scheduled to get the start.  Maybe he was just really nervous?
  • Adonis Garcia left Tuesday’s game after he turned his ankle.  Doesn’t sound serious, but something to keep an eye on.
  • Braves starter Williams Perez only threw one inning (scheduled to pitch two innings) after giving up two hits and a run.
  • Top prospect Ozzie Albies was inserted into the game late as a pinch runner and was able to score a run.  He tried to steal second in the 10th inning, but was thrown out.

The Ugly

  • Danny Burawa had an awful outing on Tuesday.  He pitched the 3rd inning and allowed three runs off three hits and two home runs.
  • Olivera out in left field.  In both the 1st and 2nd innings, Olivera misplayed balls that led to runs.  He’s still learning the position and it’s his first game in the outfield so I won’t put too much on this.  If this continues throughout, then we may have an issue.  A little help from Mark Bowman and David O’Brien who were both at the game…

Not a too shabby opening day for the Braves…more good then bad here.  We’re back at it again tomorrow as the Braves take on the Orioles again on Wednesday.

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