Braves vs. Mets Spring Training Game 1

Finally we have baseball, for the first time in 2010 pitchers, catchers, hitters and fielders were together in the same place at the same time. Whilst the Braves dropped the first game of spring ball it proved to be a successful first outing on the most part. Tommy Hanson who, in my view, should be on the hills on Opening Day was there today and did exactly what everyone wanted and needed. Tommy produced two innings with only one hit and no runs including 3 strike outs, if the rest of the year goes this way he will be even better than last year. Kris Medlen, who will get a start of his own on Saturday, produced the same numbers as Hanson and provided encouragement that he could be a fifth starter or at least a shut down reliever in the mould of Phil Hughes or even Jonathan Papelbon. Unfortunately Jesse Chavez was awful in his first appearance as a Brave, at a stage when pitchers are supposed to be ahead of hitters giving up three runs in one inning looks about as bad as it can get. Braves hitters however impressed first time, especially those hitters that needed to impress. Jason Heyward was outstanding in the first stage of his major league audition going 1-1 with 2 walks, it could barely have been a better day for the young Georgian in his quest for the right field job. A player I feel incredibly sorry for is Melky Cabrera who has taken a bad rap simply because it was he that arrived in place of Javy Vazquez. If Melky can compete the way he did today, and we will see as the season goes on, then he can keep the beard and his place in left field. Wins and losses aren’t important in March in Florida performances are, the Braves didn’t get the win but they got the performances. Roll on tomorrow.