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Atlanta Braves Shane Greene Off To A Rocky Start

By Deke Lloyd

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 08: Manager Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves looks on as the Braves take batting practice prior to the start of Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 08: Manager Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves looks on as the Braves take batting practice prior to the start of Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Shane Greene, the Braves new closer, has gotten off to a rocky start. Is there cause for concern or is this just an anomaly for the Braves closer.

Before the trade to Atlanta, Shane Greene had posted very good numbers with his former team, the Detroit Tigers. In 38 innings, Greene had a 1.18 ERA, giving up 5 earned runs in those appearances. Greene had recorded 22 saves while recording 3 blown saves. Regarding the blown saves, a troubling trend had started before the trade with Greene recording two blown saves in his last seven appearances with the Tigers while recording no saves.

Even with the rough week before the trade, the Braves still felt confident enough to pull the trigger on Shane Greene. Three blown saves are still less than what the Braves have had as a collective unit this entire season. No matter how Greene looked coming into the trade deadline, he was still a better option than anything Atlanta had on their roster. With that said, Greene’s Braves career has gotten off to a rocky start.

In his first-ever appearance in a Braves uniform, Greene comes in for the save in a one-run game with the Cincinnati Reds. Greene would go on to give up three hits and one run, blowing the save for the Braves in the 9th inning. Greene would be bailed out by Ronald Acuna Jr. later when Acuna hit his first-ever walk-off hit to secure the win for the Braves. All was forgotten and forgiven.

Greene would have little time to focus on his first appearance before he got his next opportunity in the next game with the Reds. This time Greene was not coming into the game for a save chance, rather a hold after the Braves were able to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th with a furious charge. Greene ran into more trouble after securing two outs with a double play. After giving up back-to-back singles, Greene would surrender a three-run home run, the dagger that put the game away for the Reds.

It’s been a rough start for Shane Greene, to say the least. After being touted as a hero just by being traded to the Braves, the newest acquisition has immediately been met with adversity. It’s not how Greene, or Braves fans for that matter, wanted to start the new era of Shane Greene, but even with the rough start, there should be no cause for concern. At least, not yet.

Shane Greene is a proven closer who has hit bumps in the road before. Him trending downward is troubling, but it shouldn’t be cause for panic. Greene has the stuff to be a good closer for this team. It’s just taking a little longer for him to find his footing with his new team and new surroundings. Coming into a new situation is never an easy thing, and that is being proven on the field right now. Luckily for Greene and the Braves, there will be no time to focus on the losses and blown saves. Greene will likely see multiple save chances in Minnesota this week. I fully expect the new closer to show us why the Braves believed in him enough to make this move.

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