Are Atlanta Braves on the way to follow last season September collapse? - MLB Feature
Similar to the way the Atlanta Braves kicked off 2011 regular season, they are off to a blistering start in 2012 as well. Whether it can last longer than it did last year or a replica of the fate awaits them as they progress ahead in the season which requires
an understanding of the kind of side the Braves have become.
Just as they held National League Wild card spot for most part of the 2011 season, their current standing of 10-6 can easily leave one into believing in the happening of the same this year.
The only question fans are asking whether or not the Braves will be able to unlearn the blunders they committed last year. After all they capitulated at a time when they had everything in their ranks to give them one of the most celebrated seasons in the
history of the club.
Even when Brian McCann finds strong connections on the plate Michael Bourn steals singles and Heyward hits mammoth homers, only fear haunting the fans is a nightmarish one month decline witnessed last season.
However with players like Jason Heyward and Bourn becoming top hitters and ace Tim Hudson likely returning within next week, it seems nature has given a gift to the Braves this year. Considering the way fortune has sided with them following terrible first
four games, it seems a supernatural force has buckled up for their support.
Poor in Spring Training and then immediate run of defeats with hitters struggling helplessly on the plate, an uncanny force all of a sudden came and caught them from the brink, only to take them to an impressive position that they hold on the table at the
moment.
If anyone has doubts, look at a rejuvenated Freddie Freeman to tell us the place from where debutant Juan Francisco has found a magic stick to hit homers in back-to-back outings. How come Randall Delgado can supersede last year All-Star Jair Jurrjens in
terms of ERA and hits given up?
How on earth Tim Hudson can resume his control on the mound in his Minor League outings when just few weeks ago he was no way near to make season comeback? So much so even McCann languished at the start with no hits coming to his stick but following four
defeats he also took an altogether new shape.
Only thing they can feel as having gone wrong for them is their third baseman Chipper Jones’ re-aggravating his injury. As he entered the season in terrific fashion with two homers in the first game, he was unable to sustain any longer. While one may call
this an un-fortunate event who knows however this is going to be a blessing in disguise for the side.
The fact Jones will retire after this season, someone who can replace him at third base does actually need Major League experience to keep benefiting the side in his absence. After all an unbridgeable vacuum being left with the retirement of one of the All-time
best third basemen brings this as an automatic need for the side.
The fact Jones is always vulnerable to injury his intermittent inroads in the side will only disrupt the combination of the line-up manager Fredi Gonzalez will plan.
With everything going their way, the Braves will never aim to part ways with their current momentum. They are leading the National League East Division in terms of the scores added so far in the games.
Regardless of what panned out last year, they are a transformed side, overlooking them in the calculations based on their last year performance will only be naive and sheer ignorance as there is still plenty time left in the regular season.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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