Braves Embarrassed by Mets on a Dark Day for the Franchise

There have certainly been some low points for this Atlanta Braves team in 2021, but I’m not sure anything will beat what happened on Saturday. 

Not only did the Atlanta Braves get beaten down by their NL East rival New York Mets 13-2, but their number three-hitter and big offseason free-agent acquisition who is currently on the IL got arrested.

Alan gives you more on the Ozuna situation here.

All I will say about the matter, for now, is that we have to allow the evidence to speak and try to hold judgment until then.

However, if it’s true, I really hope the Braves cut all ties with him even if they have to eat the money left on his contract.

Braves Embarrassed on the Field As Well

While the news of Ozuna’s arrest was breaking on Saturday off the field, the Mets were also doing a number to the Braves on the field.

Ian Anderson, who had been good all year, gave up 4 earned runs on 7 hits and 1 walk over 4 innings with 6 strikeouts on 87 pitches.

That wouldn’t be disastrous had the offense done anything while he was in the game. They managed to scratch across single runs in the sixth and eighth when the game was pretty much over.

And the game really was over when the Braves bullpen went to work.

Sean Newcomb was good in his one inning — that’s the one positive from this game.

But then Brian Snitker went to the last two guys in the pen with Edgar Santana and Jay Flaa. They combined to give up 9 runs (7 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks over 1.2 innings.

I understand that every team can’t have eight shutdown guys in their bullpen, but it’d be really nice if the Braves at least had some players in those roles that were somewhat dependable.

It was a 4-1 game when Santana came in — that’s not insurmountable. But then they give up 7 runs in the bottom of the sixth and the game is officially over.

That can’t happen. And that’s what is so frustrating about this team — among other things.

In the past, you could count on this offense having a puncher’s chance late in games when they’re behind by two or three runs. But this bullpen always seems to inflate that deficit and doesn’t even give the offense a chance.

The Braves are now 1-3 against a banged-up New York Mets team this year and they’ll face Jacob deGrom on Sunday Night Baseball. Can it get much worse?