Atlanta Braves: Review of Fantastic Bomb-tastic Opening Day
By W. M. Lawson
The Atlanta Braves opened the 2018 season with a win for the first time in years. It was how they won, though, that was the story.
As I write this, the Atlanta Braves are at the park getting ready for the 2nd game of the three game opening set against the hated Phillies. Folty faces Nick Pivetta tonight, both young, RH Pitchers with promise. But yesterday’s dramatic and bombastic win still resounds, and it was one the better Opening Days for the Braves in years.
Think about it. The game had everything. Julio Teheran was good, but not great or awful. The Bullpen was terrible at first, but then was OK. Defense was pretty good, with the middle infield flashing double play potential.
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The lineup struggled at first, but then awoke and started bombing. Old guys produced. Young guys produced. Snitker got tossed. A bottom of the 9th walk-off home-run from a clean-up hitter with no power. A win.
Is it a little late to be reflecting on yesterday’s game, with today’s game mere hours away? Possibly. But words had to be written from these fickle fingers about how just absolutely freaking incredible yesterday was.
The thing is that, when trying to change the arch, direction, and fortune of a franchise, inertia and momentum can be the most difficult things to change. That’s what folks mean when they reference “changing the culture” and “winning is contagious”.
You can change the culture. You can change the personnel. The Braves have done that. But, eventually, the results have to be there. This was the year where that glimmer of hope, and those rays of promised sunshine, are supposed to break through. Maybe not every day. Maybe not every series. But more than just once in a while.
Opening Day 2018 was that for the Atlanta Braves and Braves Country. A fierce storm, with dark clouds, was held off just long enough for the good guys to come back and win in dramatic fashion.
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Tonight, they can win the series and build on that momentum. One game at a time.