The Atlanta Braves will take the fun out of Jonny Gomes
By Jon Flint
For fans of the beard-tugging, star-spangled-banner-bearing Jonny Gomes, news of his deal with the Atlanta Braves is some of the offseason’s worst. Occasionally referred to as the “party police,” the Braves will undoubtedly stand in the way of “Jonny being Jonny” for at least one season.
By his family’s account, Jonny Gomes grew up wanting to be a Jackass cast member as much as a ball player. This includes racing around the back roads of Petaluma, California, jumping off 40-foot bridges, and occasionally running through the streets naked. The man dubbed “MR. MISCHIEF” by his brother never did see the same glory of Johnny Knoxville, but he’s done his part to keep the game of baseball entertaining.
There’s been the extreme hairstyles, the beard, visiting the White House in an American flag tailored suit, and who could forget the 7th inning rally sprinkler? The man has literally cheated death on two occasions and in the process, lived on to produce some of the most bizarre moments in the past decade of MLB.
Sadly, the Mr. Mischief era is put on hold thanks to John Hart.
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The Atlanta Braves are essentially the New York Yankees of the National League, but without the budget and media hype. They don’t embrace personalities and don’t you dare get caught watching a homer. So where does Jonny Gomes’ personality fit into the dry humor of the Peach State? We are talking about a club so chapped about Chipper Jones‘ 2013 NLDS prediction that players reportedly refused to catch his ceremonial first pitch.
It’s going to be interesting to watch the Braves try and tame Jonny Gomes this season but then again, perhaps Mr. Mischief can do something about all the tight strings in Atlanta. Fredi Gonzalez‘s boys may be a dark horse this year if they start treating baseball more like a game and less like business.
And while he may be zero fun in Atlanta, Gomes does have a great opportunity to bounce back from an underwhelming 2014. Brought in as part of a revamped outfield, Jonny figures to platoon with former Yankees prospect Zoilo Almonte in left field. Few expect the 34-year-old Gomes to win a starting role with the Braves, but he remains a grinding veteran whose best work comes when he leaves the bench to start against left-handed pitching.