The Braves open their spring training this afternoon with our Georgia Bulldogs. The Dawgs dropped their series with Arizona last weekend, two games to one. Despite the losses, the team played well.Arizona was ranked #1 and started their ace pitcher, All-American Preston Guilmet Friday night. Georgia continued their tradition of battering the opposing ace and jumped on Guilmet with four runs in the first. They held on to win 9-7. The other games were losses, but encouraging.
Our starting pitching held up well, but the bullpen faltered down the stretch. Sunday's game was going well until Arizona had two big innings and got just enough out of their bullpen to win by a run. Although they are 1-2, the team has nothing to be down about. Gordon Beckham and Ryan Peisel both had impressive performances at the plate this weekend. New second baseman Michael Demperio didn't have a great offensive series, but on the first out of the season had a sizzling put out, ranging for a ground ball that looked like a sure hit and throwing the batter out. Our middle infield is solid.
The team has all the ingredient to be good: sound hitting, good front line pitching, speed, and an elite closer. The schedule may not let that mix translate into wins in the short term. The first two series are killer.
In keeping with tradition, the Braves have invited the Dawgs down for a game in Florida. I wonder what Josh Fields will feel like if he faces the Braves. Fields turned down a contract from the club last year and opted to return to Athens for his senior year. I'm sure the club harbors no ill will, but Fields will no doubt be eager to show the Braves why they should still want him. Fields, by the way, hit a home run and recorded a save Friday night. The Braves will start Charlie Morton and former UGA catcher Clint Sammons is likely to play.
After the game with the Braves, the team heads to two-time defending national champion Oregon State for a weekend series. A win out west would be good, two would be fantastic.
Quinton
1 comments:
I agree with you...even though we lost the series we played very good baseball. I am pleased the boys had close games in all three games. The second game was closer than the score showed. Remember, it was only 2-1 until the 8th when Arizona broke it open with a three man round tripper and a few other mistakes. I think we can take two out of three from those boys out west.
GO DAWGS
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