Opening Weekend Overview: What Went Right/Wrong
The Braves got the 2022 season off to a stronger footing than in years past. They split the four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds, instead of the usual “Swept at the hands of _____” to start the season.
The Reds probably surprised quite a few folks with how well their bullpen pitched & how solid their fundamental defense was; namely getting the ball in from deep in the outfield.
But what specifically went right for the Braves & what went wrong for the Braves?
Collin McHugh Debut
I am a Collin McHugh advocate. He’s going to play a consistent role in the Braves bullpen; I’d even venture to say he’ll turn out to be one of the most dependable pieces in this bullpen.
But Opening Night did not support my claim. McHugh entered the 3-1 Reds ballgame with two outs in the 6th inning and runners on 1st & 2nd. With a 2-2 count, he tried to sneak a slider into the top of the zone to Brandon Drury & end the Cincinnati threat.
Except Drury jumped all over it. Shades of Ham Porter knocking one over the fence in the Sandlot & rounding the bases as his teammates threw their gloves at him for losing their only ball “Low and outside, just like I like it”.
The 3-run Drury home run effectively ended the game. The score was now 6-1 in a game where it was obviously just not Atlanta’s night. Max Fried gave up more hits to the Reds with exit velocities below 70 mph than the Braves had hits TOTAL. Even scoring runs came at a cost. It took an errant throw to 1st base that bounced off of Austin Riley’s hind end to score Rosario for the first run of the game.
Austin would add two more runs in the bottom half of the 8th with a home run. But the score would hold there for a final of 6-3 Cincinnati.
Kenley Jansen
Pictured Above: Jansen embraces d’Arnaud “I’m so glad that’s over (probably)”
My man Kenley Jansen came in for his Braves debut in the 9th inning of Game 2. If you developed heart problems last season watching Will Smith close ballgames, Kenley Jansen showed no mercy on you either.
The Braves raced out to a 7-1 lead with Charlie Morton on the mound. AJ Minter came in in the 6th. Before he left, the score was brought to 7-3. Will Smith & Tyler Matzek held serve during each of their innings. Then onto the 9th…
Our shiny new toy for the back end of the bullpen trots to the mound. Joey Votto & Mike Moustakas reach base.
Kyle Farmer singles to Right, Votto scores; 7-4.
Jake Fraley singles to Heredia in Left, Moustakas & Farmer score; 7-6.
Oh geez.
Mound visit.
Last year’s National League Rookie of the year Jonathan India comes up to bat…flies out to Center.
Crisis averted. Braves win 7-6.
Kyle Wright, 1st-Round Draft Pick
Kyle Wright came out in Game 3 for his first start and it was clear that he woke up that day & chose violence. There wasn’t any point in that ballgame where Kyle Wright was not in complete control. Through six innings of work: he issued 6 strikeouts, 1 base on balls, & 1 can of the Stone Cold Steve Austin variety.
Only three Reds reached base.
He threw 76 pitches; 56 were strikes. My man Kyle was COMING AT YOU. He was attacking the lineup. Senzel, Pham, & Naquin were the only starters to NOT strikeout.
This offseason it’s been reported that Kyle regained his confidence pitching in Gwinnett during the second half of last season, and that his World Series performance was no fluke. He’s also been tabbed as a breakout candidate by Dansby Swanson & other teammates. Boy did he make all those guys look smart.
He was by far the best starting pitcher Atlanta had this weekend. Not even close.
Matt Olson
Matt Olson started off his 9-year Braves tenure by going 8-for-14 over the weekend. Good enough for a .571 batting average.
He ended his first home series with an OPS of 1.576, even sending a baseball into the tunnel beyond center field & into oncoming staff traffic for the first ding dong of his Braves career. He also walked three times.
What he didn’t do is instill an image of speed on the basepaths into the minds of Braves Country. Not only did he get gunned down at home plate, he got gunned TWICE at home plate during Saturday night’s game.
But Matt Olson wasted no time showing Braves Country what Alex Anthopoulos saw in him enough to be comfortable employing him for years to come in Freddie Freeman’s fresh vacancy.