Baseball is back for the 2020 season for this 60-game season and I am very happy that it is. This season is going to have its ups and downs due to the pandemic, but also on the diamond. The down started on the first game on this past Friday at the New York Mets as it looked like the Braves hitting was still in quarantine mode as the Braves could only muster three hits on Friday as New York’s ace Jake DeGrom eased through the Braves lineup with ease. Braves starter and apparent ace of the club Mike Soroka matched DeGrom pitch for pitch throwing six scoreless innings. But the seventh inning was the deciding factor as reliever Chris Martin gave up a long ball to Yoenis Cespedes to deep left field for the only score and the win for the Mets. This had me worried, but I had to stop, collect myself and say this is only game one. Pitching was great and the hitting will pick up.
Game two had me nervous as well. Braves were down to their last pitch of the game. With remote in hand I was ready to turn the TV off. Marcell Ozuna was at the plate and the count was 3-2. Braves were down 1-2, but not for long. With the last pitch of the game, or so I thought, Ozuna placed the ball over the right-center field wall. Game went to extra innings and that’s where the new rule of adding a player to second base for every extra inning. Since OF Adam Duvall made the last out of the top of the ninth, he was awarded the free base to second. As the new rule states the last out of the previous inning is the player that takes the free base. In the top of the tenth inning, SS Dansby Swanson singles up the middle to score Duvall. The route was on as the Braves scored two more time to go up 5-2. Mets added one in the bottom of the tenth but the Braves held on 5-3. Relief set in, but it still seemed to be a nail bitter of a game.
The last game of the Mets series Sunday night was a national televised game, and I was glad it was because the nation just got to see what type of team the Braves team is. Four different Braves went yard including Swanson, Ozuna, 3B Austin Riley, and 2B Ozzie Albies. The Braves placed 14 on the board as they won the game 14-1 and opening up the season with a series win 2 games to 1 game.
My take on this team after the first series, the starting rotation is fine with Mike Soroka and Max Fried, but after that the third through fifth starter is up in the air. I think the offense will be fine, everyone just has to get their timing right. The bullpen has depth, and hope they can prove how good they can be. I think the pitchers have the edge over the hitters right now. At least for the next couple weeks. Hitters have not seen live pitching, and I’m not counting the practice inter squad games. And the defense will be just fine.
Photo Courtesy of USA Today Sports
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