Atlanta Braves: What have we learned? Week Nine

It certainly has been an interesting couple of weeks for the Atlanta Braves. They come off an emotionally charged win over the St. Louis Cardinals, take three of four from the Milwaukee Brewers, two out of three from the hot-hitting Colorado Rockies, and then, the infamous Red Sox series, which left us feeling like the Braves will never win again. Well, have no fear, because on Sunday, they completed a sweep over one of the best home teams in all of baseball, and are now in a new month that features a much easier schedule. Let’s take a look at what we have learned over the past two weeks.

Tommy La Stella is ready to play Major League Baseball. This actually caught me by surprise a little bit. I saw him play in one of his final Coolray Field games, and while he didn’t disappoint me, he didn’t seem like he was ready to play under the bright lights. Well, the Braves certainly made me look silly, when they announced that they were bringing good ol’ TLS up (and it just so happened that the G-Braves were in Pawtucket) so he can make is debut in none other than Fenway Park. It’s a storybook beginning to what has been a near storybook week for the second baseman. La Stella has yet to strike out through five games played, and is hitting .400…what, .400?!…and already has an RBI to his major league record. Oh, and his defense is pretty good too, aside from a freak bloop that landed right between him and B.J. Upton in his first game. But never again! The one thing that would make TLS that much better is to see him knock an extra base hit – all six of his hits so far have been for singles. But, from what we are used to from the second base position, I’ll take it all day. (Oh, and I somewhat get it, but seeing him not finish a game defensively is getting old. Let him stay!)

Shae Simmons is a bullpen miracle. For full disclosure, I’ll say this – I honestly had no idea who Shae Simmons was when he was called up, nor did I understand why the Braves were swapping a double-A arm for a AAA one in Ian Thomas. But, just two appearances in, I get it. And I’m glad they did it. We all know the numbers by now – 101.1 minor league innings pitched, 1.43 ERA, never given up a home run – but watching him do what he did the past two days made me instantly forget all my doubts and welcome him to the ‘pen with open arms. Hopefully he can solidify himself as a 7th or 8th inning guy, something the Braves desperately need. But, lets not dwell too much on that right now. Simmons has two career appearances and a career save. Congrats to the young man. And I stand by my claim that Andrelton is “Simba,” while Shae is “Shimba.” Make it happen, internet.

The worst has past. Hopefully. I said before May started that the Braves better watch out, because it could be a rough month, and it was. 13-16 during the second month of the season, and looking at the record splits, it’s a bit odd – they took care of division leaders Colorado and Milwaukee, got away revenge on the best home team in baseball in Miami, but couldn’t figure out the Cardinals (twice) nor the San Francisco Giants (again, twice). I understand there were some holes, and guys like TLS and Shae Simmons weren’t around, but still. These are teams the Braves will most likely see in October (if they don’t have any major slipups until then), and hopefully it won’t be more of the same as it was in May. But, there is a lot of baseball to play, and hopefully by the end of this month, we will have long forgotten about the May misery.

So, here’s to June! An off day followed by a two game series against the Seattle Mariners, another day off then to the desert to face the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks, a rematch with the Rockies and back home to square off with the Anaheim Angels. But we will cross that bridge when we get to it.