Dismal Start for Braves

Originally being from at Atlanta I have to show my bias every once in a while, I'm just hoping I won't be embarrassed to do so this year.

After ending last season in a terrible collapse, the Atlanta Braves have started the 2012 season 0-3 against there division rivals the New York Mets. Today was the final game of the three game series and the Bravos got no-hit by Jonathon Niese into the 7th inning were they were promptly gifted a base runner by an error and went on to earn 4 runs in the 7th and another in the 8th. They ended up losing the game 5-7. Currently the winless braves have scored a combined 7 runs and allowed 12 runs this season. A dismal senario considering their pitching should be their strength. This is all against the Mets who were projected by most analysts to finish last in the division and yet are now first after this series versus the braves.

Things are looking up for the braves as their offensive production in this last game was more than their average over the past year and their next series is against the Houston Astros who, if last season is any indication, are one of the worst teams in baseball.

Rome Braves Manager Rant

This is the Rome Braves (a minor league baseball team of the Atlanta Braves) Manager, Randy Ingle, arguing a call made against his team. Now it may seem a bit extravagant but he did have good reason.

It was the top of the tenth inning and the Braves catcher, Matt Kennelly, had just hit the baseball out of the park for a three-run home run which would have given the braves the lead. The Braves dugout was cleared and they were all already celebrating as Kennelly was rounding first when the home plate umpire called foul ball. This threw Randy Ingle over the edge, and he let the umpire know what he thought of the call, even going as far as to move third base to about where the shortstop would stand and mockingly motion for a foul ball.

This is not something new within the braves organization as you may remember the legendary tirade by Phillip Wellman, manager of the the Mississippi Braves, which became a viral hit. But it can be said that it all comes from the top at the major league baseball level, where Bobby Cox has the all time record for ejections with over 140. It seems to me that the Braves organization is alright with its managers being ejected because they see it has a purpose whether it's influencing the umpires, pumping up the players, or becoming a viral hit. I guess it's like they say there's no such thing as bad publicity.

Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones is at it again. After flirting with a .400 batting average last year Chipper is finding his stroke during the braves current homestead. He is hitting .379 since the brave have started the homestead and his hitting .471 since leaving the game early on Sunday. This performance like last years is proof of two things. It shows that even at the age of 37 Chipper can still be one of the most dominant hitters in the league. It also shows that switch hitters have a natural advantage over other hitters this is further proved by Mark Teixeira switch hitting dominance in the powerful Yankee lineup.

Congratulations Bobby Cox

I know its a little late but I have to say congratulations to Bobby Cox the manager of the Braves on win number 2000. Really though at the time of me writing this post he already has his 2001st win. I believe that Bobby Cox has to be one of the best managers of all time and should be an automatic for the hall of fame.