saturday night braves

Tonight the Braves are winning 9-1 behind Medlen. Last night Paul threw a 3 hit complete game shut out; things seem to be going well. Still, I can't help but remember last year's second half. Last year we were trying to run down the Phillies or hold on to the wild card spot for the N. But after a disastrous September we fell short in game 162 on September 28.

It's early yet, but it's with some hope I'm anxious to say to say this is an entirely different team that fell apart last year.  In the 2011 season we were going with guys like Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjiens, that didn't have anything to give in the second half. We had used O'Flaherty, Venters, and Kimbrell way too often and they were gassed down the stretch. This year we seem to have a solid six guys to take us to October; Hudson, Sheets, Maholm, Medlen, and  Minor have been throwing the ball really well, and Hanson might be coming off the disabled soon. Our rotation looks very good right now. AND I can say enough about the way the bull pen has been throwing, especially Chad Durdin.The guy has been lights out, and in April we thought we was going to be a wasted roster spot.

As for the line up; life's good. Enough said.

Right now we are 41/2 behind the upstart Nationals, but they are a young untested team. I have to think that the heat the Braves are putting on them now will catch up with them in September. Let's all wait and see if they take Stasburg down, lets see if there pen can hold up to all the close games they have been playing, let's see if the Braves can take care of them in the six games left with them.

Just a quick side note: Tonight we knocked Santana out after a inning and a 1/3. I really hate watching something like that. It hasn't been to long ago that that guy was one of the best pitchers in the game. I realy hate watching a guy like that struggle.

This is why we chop!!!

the deadline

So... here we are a few days before the non wavier deadline, one of my favorite times of the year. It seems no matter how good our team is that every year we need a piece or two for the August and September stretch run. It would appear that the 2012 Braves need about three pieces to make a deep run into October, and with Greinke gone and Dempster unlikely; it looks like the front office will have to make do with two of the three. The starting pitcher will have to come from the current forty man roster

Many of us Braves fans have been wanting Kris Medlen in the starting rotation all year and it would seem that will be the case on Tuesday. Through out his career with the Braves we are 14-4 behind him when he starts, which is a whole lot better than we can say for some of the guys that have pitched for us this year (Jurrjens). Chris has one of the best change ups in the game today and has been a solid bullpen guy all year. With his return to the rotation we are able to keep all of our young arms with in the system and not spend twenty million per year on a guy like Greinke. All in all a good move for the 2013 through 2018 clubs.

The hangup with 54 moving to the starting five is we have to find a lock down bull pen arm. This year we have not enjoyed the same seventh, eighth, and ninth as we did last year. Kimbrell has been all but untouchable, and O'flaherty has been pretty solid, but we can't count on Venters like we did last year. So we  find the largest whole of the Brave's ball club in the bull pen.  If we are not able to make some sort of move before Tuesday to fill the hole in the bullpen I believe we are going to have a tough time down the stretch.

We also have to replace Matt Diaz, who is sidelined for the second time in his career with with splinters from a palm tree. Yea, you read right, splinters from a palm tree. the top of our line up is strong: Bourn, Prado, Heyward, Jones, Freeman, and McCann, but they can be a little suspect when facing a top lefty. The obvious answer is a right handed bat that can come off of the bench. I don't know who that might be, but the less obvious answer... wait for it...  TRADE UGGLA. If we could get a contact type of left fielder for old Dan and move Prado back to his natural position if think that would extend the line up enough to make a run into the post season.

Please understand that I don't have Frank Wren's job for a reason, but I'm trying to think out of the box a little. The Braves might be able to fill two needs by moving Uggla. He should be worth a bull pen arm and a left fielder. All I know is we have to do something before Tuesday.  

GO BRAVES!!!

200 meters

Wrecked is the best word I have to portray how I am feeling tonight.  My shoulders, back, and quads are all shot to hell. Some of that is from today’s “Dirty Thirty”, but I really broke them down on Monday; all in the span of two hundred meters.

For a moment allow your mind’s eye conjure a football field. The distance from goal post to goal post is about 100 meters, a seemingly innocent length. Most anyone can sprint the span of goal post and back with no problem, but try covering 200 meters with a walking lunge followed by a 200 meter sprint.  At this point in the program your legs really aren’t working well which really makes a sprint a little changing.  Following a two meter sprint, two hundred meter walking lunges, and a second two hundred meter sprint; comes a two hundred meter bear crawl (if you aren’t familiar with this use Google).  Remember two hundred meters is goal post to goal post and back, and by now two hundred is not looking so innocent.  So let’s do another 200 meter sprint with no legs or shoulders now, and then proceed to broad jump burpees (Google here if needed).  By now the football field might as well be two miles, and these are excruciating when your body is fresh. Try them after all  this and they are damn near impossible.  Finish up with one more sprint.  43 minutes 13 seconds from start to finish and you are left with a depleted shell of a body, and that is before the soreness sets in the next day.

Don’t get me wrong I’m really not complaining.  I was out there doing this with a bunch of crazy ass crossfitters that really made it an enjoyable afternoon workout.  And after all, we do stupid stuff like this daily.  Tomorrow it’s one rep max clean and jerks, a 3 round “wod”, and rowing for extra conditioning. I don't think the wrecked muscles have any relief in sight. ...sucks for them

strength and doubt

Sometimes I crave quiet; there are nights when I couldn't buy five minutes of quite with a hundred dollar bill. Tonight though, with only the sounds of a summer storm for company this old house seems like it needs a few kids and a wife running around making noise and playing with the damn dog. But they aren't here, and I guess this is what it’s like to miss some one, but that's really not what I'm wanting to elaborate on tonight.

Webster’s Dictionary defines strength as follows: " the quality or state of being strong : capacity for exertion or endurance." I'm not sure that old Webster gives the word's meaning justice. Strength is a rare gift that is not given, it is earned. It's not something people need every day, but when hard times come there is nothing more valuable. In the last few weeks I have leaned heavy on not my physical strength, but the kind that is built into a person's insides. The kind of strength some folks call grit. Without it I would not have been able to look my wife in her eyes and say "We are OK." I would not have been able to say good bye to old friends and walk away with the relationships and dignity in tack.

I have learned from countless hours at the gym that the problem with strength is that there is only so much of it. There comes a point when there is no more to call on. So what then? When all of it is gone will there be enough grit to push through? This inevitably leads me to doubt.

Doubt (noun):  uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes with decision-making (Websters Dictionary). HOLY COW THAT SOUNDS BAD!!! If there ever was an emotion that a person in my kind of situation can't afford, it has to be doubt. Walking into an unknown future alone is tough enough, but I'm walking into it with a wife a two kids. This is no time for anything that interferes with decision-making. I have never been short on confidence nor I have ever been one for wondering what might have been, but things are a bit different these days. Even before any decisions have to be made, I am forced to wonder if the one I make will be the right one. I know that my little family will go wherever I ask them to go. I know that they will support me no matter what, but knowing that does not lessen the pressure to make the right decision.

Apparently, for now anyway, doubt will be part of my life. But I haven't run out of strength yet either. I'm hopeful that I will be able to find a place inside where strength and doubt intersect. That should be a healthy place to move forward from. Ya'll wish me luck.


Tonight's post is inspired by a song call "Strength and Doubt" by Son Volt. (its a good song)

the ted

If you have never been; the trip to Turner Field is well worth your drive, ticket price, and seven dollar beer. Within the walls of the Ted there is some kind of unexplained magic that is felt by young and old  alike. I can tell you that there are about 110,000 square feet of Tifton 419 Hybrib Bermuda covering the playing field. I can tell you that from home to straight away center is 401 feet. I can even tell you that that fans are encouraged to do the "tomahawk chop" by 40 foot tall, 15,000 pound Chick-Fil-A chopping cow. But what I can't describe is feeling of awe that overcomes a person as they pass from the concourse to inside of the stadium and majesty of the diamond is unveiled before before your eyes.

If you will, allow me to take you on the trip to The Ted, and I will do my best to channel my inner Hemingway.

For me the experience begins on 75 south. With the passing miles more and more vehicles pass that you know are going to the game.They all converge south of the down town canyon at exit 246, Fulton Street (which becomes Hank Aaron Drive). Once you park you find your self moving around a mass of beer drinkers and corn hole players immersed fine spring after noon. Moving through the gates in Monument Grove, fathers pose with their children in front bronze statues of Aaron, Niekro, and Spahn. All this leads way to the concourses filled with thousands of people wearing jerseys and t shirts bearing the numbers 10, 16, 22, and 26. Along with the red, white, cream, and blue jerseys the smell of beer, hot dogs, and pizza combine to fill your sense of smell with smell that can only come from a ball park. As you walk concourse posters of past teams and heros line the walls. One in particular stands out to me; a team picture of the 1988 squad that went 54-106. All this is before the  first pitch.

There is no other sound like the pop of leather from the catchers mit and the umpire's call of a first pitch strike. As the game settles in the crowd begins to get a feel for how the game will go and can begin to sense or maybe even feel the big plays that haven't happened yet. But it's the case with baseball that we don't get the chance to read tonight's script before the game. So the RBI double to center or the 5 - 3 double play inspire a level of excitement that can't be experienced at home on the couch.

At Turner Field the home team's fans have a tradition that dates back to Deon Sanders called the Tomahawk Chop.  Once the chop gets going through the crowd it seems all bets are off. We believe that there is no opposing pitcher in MLB that can stand the pressure of 50,000 strong chanting together and waving foam tomahawks.

On Saturday Mike Minor pitched a beauty and Kimbrel picked up a save in a 2 -1 win over the Brewers. But in the end; baseball is really not about winning and loosing. Baseball is about hope. It's about the hope that tomorrow your team will be better than they were today. It's about the dream of being the best against all odds. It's about the idea of our home town hero being just a little better than their hero. Baseball is hope and faith, and belief. That's why it will always be America's past time.

THIS IS WHY WE CHOP!!!

quality

It occurs to me that no matter how hard a person perseveres in life that without someone there to provide some  "know how" tons of hard work can be fruitless. For a second, reflect on the successes of your life, and then think of all the great teachers it took to make those successes a reality. My guess is that if you answer honestly your name comes up near the bottom of the list. True, you are responsible for the application of knowledge passed to you by great teachers, but its my argument that with out the knowledge supplied great teachers we would never get the chance to excel at our chosen vocation.

It is with some amount of pride that I'm able to say that there are not many people that have been as fortunate as my self to have been around as many great teachers as I have. As I reflect back through the last fifteen or twenty year a distinct since of pride permeates my memory. So many high quality many people have been very gracious sharing their life's experiences with me in hopes of making my life better... How can I ever say THANK YOU enough. I guess the only true way is to be the absolute best,,, at life. Sad to say I'm coming up a little short, but I'm trying.

I'm trying... Sigh... The question of the night: is trying enough to honor those who have tried to make you better?  Truth? I don't know, but it is my most sincere hope that the honor is in the trial.

thanks to all that have tried to make me a better man

walk 'em off

I clearly recall opening day of the 2010 season; "Jason Heyward with Bomb into the Braves bull pen!!!" was the call. The air was electric around the Ted that afternoon, I felt it through the radio in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It seemed that team was destine for a great season .We knew that Heyward was going to have a record breaking rookie season. We knew Billy Wagner was going to be a shut down closer. And,we knew going into spring training that it was the last season Bobby would manage our club.

That season was indeed magic, even in defeat we went out with class and dignity. Along the way there was the Conrad walk off grand slam against the Reds. There was Derick Lowe's slider that carried us through September. There was game 162 win over the Phillies that put us in the post season. Then the Giants stopped their celebration to give Bobby Cox a standing ovation after his last game.

Turn the page to today. We know a good deal less about the 2012 team than we knew about the 2010 team. However, now we can say for sure that it will be the final campaign for Old Number 10. All day I have been searching for some perspective on Chipper's retirement, and I all hope for is a repeat of 2010. After putting hall of fame numbers and becoming one of the best switch hitters in the history of the sport he is entitled to a season filled with magic.

In my mind's eye I see a Kurt Gibson type of moment. Imagine a cool October night at Turner Field. Bottom 9 of game 7;  2 out and 2 on; and crowd erupts when "Crazy Train" blares. Chipper Jones, age 40, injured and beat to hell, is on to pinch hit. The count is 3-2 against a pin striped clad pitcher wearing the number 42. Chipper turns the cutter, around scoring 3 and walks them off. That's how he should go out. I know its a but romantic, but we are talking about Old Number 10.

This is why we chop

chipper jones: we love you

Chipper along with Glavin and Smoltz are the guys that helped me develop my love for the game of baseball. I vividly recall taking my daughter to watch Tommy Glavin pitch what turned out to be his last professional start at single A Rome. He got lit up that night and the Braves released the next day to make room in the rotation for Tommy Hanson. After reading Chipper comments (http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog) tonight I hope he is able to go out on his terms with the dignity that a Hall of Fall player deserves.

I have watched a ton of the power hitters in today’s game like Fielder, Stanton, and Howard but none of them have a swing like Old Number 10. His swing is like none other that I have ever seen; form either side of the plate he is just, sweet...REAL SWEET.  Last year, after coming back at age 39, from a devastating knee injury hit .275 with 18 and 70 and made the NL All Star Team. As Jim Powell would say "solid." But beyond the stats Chipper has always conducted himself with the kind of class that makes us proud too be fans of the Atlanta Braves. Last August my wife and I went to the Ted to celebrate my birthday and a few rows over a soldier that was leaving for Iraq was spending his last night state side watching the ball game. I don't recall which inning, but it was late in the game when an usher hand delivered Chipper's signed game worn batting gloves. Then as he walked on to the field Chipper turned to face the stands where the solder was sitting stood at attention and gave the solider a salute and mouthed the words "thank you." I and the crowd around us that understood the situation were genuinely touched. This is the kind of stuff that makes baseball special, and Chipper is the kind of man that understands the heritage and stewardship of the game. I don't remember who won that game but I will always remember that moment.

Chipper is going to the hall five years after he retires, but let us all hope that he is able to take the field in April, July, September, and cross your fingers October. Tonight though, I would have to say that's doughtful at best. So for all you guys that don't follow the Bravos I would like to encourage you strongly to see Number 10 play a few games before he hangs up his spikes. Even if he goes 0 for 4 with an error 5 you will get a chance to witness that once in a life time swing. Cherish it: it won't be around much longer.

Thank you, Chipper Jones. I truly wish you the very best.

Here are some Old Number 10's Stats according to http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesch06.shtml
Career Batting Average .304
Home Runs 454
1999 MVP

7 time All Star

1999, 2000 Silver Slugger

2008 Batting Average .364
Played in 11 nlds, 6 nlcs, 3 ws
WS Champ

ok: lets breath a little

I find as I get older things that used to thrill me now weight heavy on my shoulders. Tonight I'm speaking of the extradanary weather event that is sweeping through my territory. I recall clearly many of the weather events in the past when I would stand in my yard with some sort of fascination directed at a force that's power was as of yet undefined for me. Unfortunately that all changed in late April of 2011.

The events of that day are etched within my mind's eye much like a picture hanging on my living room wall. I recall clearly the meeting that Steve, Peggy, and myself had in Carrolton that morning, and then watching Cullman trend on Twitter by 3:00PM. Even more, I recall the terror I felt when the Atlanta news named Taylorsville-Macidonia Road as direct target for the storm. As it were, the news channel was about a half a mile in error, and we were not affected. But still after seeing destruction across my territory and living through that night I'm not sure that I will ever fully recover from the events of that day.

Tonight is evidence of that. Unusually warm temperatures combined with an impending cold front has made the North West Georgia atmosphere unstable once again, and the storm siren in my FRONT YARD is blaring like the world's end is one its way. All I can think is "please don't fuck this up." With a nervous wife, a scared 7 year old girl, and a 6 week old son I feel a strong sense of responsibility to instill caution with out fear. Which becomes a little tricky when fear has hold of my gut. So I have decided the best answer it to pour a glass of bourbon send them down stairs and go outside and have a good smoke. Makes good sense right? Well let’s hope it doesn't get bad.

I wish all of you the best that are in the path of tonight's storms, and that you are able to read my drunken rambling safe over your morning coffee.

the three most beautiful words

PITCHERS AND CATCHERS!!!

Tonight let us put the events of September 28, 2011, the night that completed the collapse of the Atlanta Braves, behind us. Tonight let us reflect on hope for a new season. Tonight let us begin anew.

The Atlanta sqaud is the only team in the NL East that is returning most of the same team. The Marlins have a new town, stadium, shortstop, closer, uniform, number two starter, and logo. The fight’en Phill's signed Pap, and Big Jim Thome. Washington added Geo, they are getting Strasburg back and Harper is on the way. The Mets, well, one of their pitchers climbed Kilimanjaro during the off season. But I don't want to dwell on the wild card teams let's focus on the 2012 Eastern Champs.

At first glance its easy to say that the Braves didn't make any moves this winter, but if you look at the team with a critical eye you might come to a different conclusion. Derek Lowe is gone after posting a 9 and 17 record with a 5 plus earned run average (ERA) last year. By moving him to the Indians Frank Wren made spot in the rotation one of the young stud prospects. They also fired hitting coach, Larry Parrish, and hired one with a stellar reputation. Then the hired him an assistant. Addition by subtraction?

The official date for position players to report is not for a few days yet, but with the exception Bourn and Pastornicky all of the projected regulars have already reported and the news coming out of Orlando is outstanding. The most encouraging of all reports have been on Jason Heyward. They say he is swinging the bat as well as he did his rookie year. That's the year every one was comparing him to Hammer’en Hank. I don't believe Heward will have a Hank Aaron type of year but I'm confident that he can have a 20 and  90 type of year. More good news, Uggla reported to camp with bigger arms and more confidence than he did last year. If he doesn’t slump in the first half this year like 2011 he could be a beast (40 plus bombs).  When we add a resurgent Heward and a confident Uggla with a full season of Bourn and health Prado the offense is looking solid. Real solid! And I still haven't mentioned old number 10

The solid offence that Atlanta is going to send to the plate is going save O'venbrell, the big three in the bullpen. It was pretty obvious in the late season last year the Venters and Kimbrel were gassed as a result of all the close games we played last year. If we can get to the 7th with a three run lead more often those guys will be there past game 130. Combine that with a few young starters going deeper in the game and the pen looks to be well rested in September. I am concerned with the lose of Linebrink and Sherill. Those guys ate alot of innings for us, and I'm not sure who we have that can fill that roll. Martinez and Vizcaino will eat those innings without giving up the big hits???

All that leaves it the Rotation. Hudson, Hanson, Jurjjens, Beachy, and Minor sounds really good right? Problem is Hudson won't be ready until May at best, and Tommy Hanson had a blowout and hit a tree or something two days ago. I think he will be ready for opening day but who knows. So that leaves us with Jurrjens, Beachy, Minor, Delgodo, and Terhan as our opening day five. Still not bad, just very young. Facts are we will do as well as or starting rotation does. With out 30 starts each from Jurrjens and Hanson we are putting a huge load on the rookies Terhan and Delgado despite the talent the question remains, are they ready to face the big bats of the east? Of course the wild card and true sense of hope wears 54, Kris Medlen who is coming back off of Tommy John's. As best I recall, the braves did not loose but one or two games behind him 2010. If he is able to earn a spot in the starting five this spring that should allow Wren some flexibility come the trading deadline in July.

It's been a long winter, but the calendar has turned to a new season.  Let's turn the lights on at the Ted, and crank up the tomahawk chop because, THIS IS BRAVES COUNTRY!!!!  

what did the boy scouts say???

It would be wrong to say that we had a full nine months to plan for the events of this week, but we had at least a full seven and a half months. You would think that would be plenty of time to prepare for any thing, I am afraid though that is not the case. I had time to paint over a pink room. I had time to make sure that two of the south's great hero's (Chipper and General Lee) found places on the wall in the nursery. I even had time to come up with a name. But to say that I or we were prepared for January 17th 2012 would be a lie. But hey, its all good one best  assets is that ability to roll with the punches.

For the last week or so I knew it would be best to work close to home say no more than two hours away. My wife had been getting pretty restless around the house, and you know what they say about the old restless mare. So it was no great surprise when she call me on Tuesday to let me know that the time was now. I was about an hour away; a drive that I'm sure I made in about forty-five minutes. That, my friends, was the easy part because home is still an hour away from Kennestone Hospital. I am absolutely amazed by the fact that no matter how fast a man drives with a woman and labor, he still could be driving about ten miles per hour faster. I'm also still pondering why a red light has zero meaning to a woman in labor, but these might not be things that men are supposed to understand.

Another thing I don't quite comprehend; the health care crisis. It seems to me that modern medicine is right on track. As soon as we arrived at the emergency room the wheels turned in hurry. In a little less than ninety minutes I had a new son born by c-section. My wife and I were covered up by nurses and doctors of the highest quality. The term well oiled machine comes to mind. It is certainly safe to say that the medical staff was much more prepared to deal with the situation more than I was. But again, roll with it.

Tonight, I have the whole family home, and everyone is sleeping soundly. Which is quite an accomplishment. And while I got that job done, I am in no way prepared to deal with trials of the upcoming days, months, or years. But I am undoubtedly looking forward to facing them head on. Who knows what going to happen. I hope that in about 19 years I watch Charlie Pat strike out the side at the Ted, but if not thats all good. I guess in the end I wish a full and happy life for him; not matter what path he might decide to take.       

uva uvam vivendo varia fit

I told you, Woodrow, a long time ago... it aint Greek its Latin. It's a motto it just says it's self... uvarum, uvarum fit uvarum... double fit... " If you are lost already you might want to stop reading here and go buy a Brad Paisley album then run in front of the next greyhound bus, or go to your library and checkout  Lonesome Dove and come back when you've read it. It's a beautifully written saga that deals with life's intricacies with a host of characters and events that lead the reader down a loose and  interpretative  version of the Goodnight-Loving Trail. 

"Uva uvam vivendo varia fit" is a Latin phrase that loosely translated means "A grape is changed by living with other grapes." With the help of Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonesome_Dove) and one of my more physiological friends, I believe its safe to further break down the motto to: "We are changed by the lives around us." By being able to reduce the phase to the latter I think we have stumbled on to a provocative statement made by a character that, while probably didn't understand it's written meaning, embodied its true meaning. Which is good new for us because it would be hard as hell write about grapes.  

If you take a little time to consider Gus's Latin motto "We are changed by lives around us" you will surely  have to realize that when you look in the mirror it's not only you that that you see. So many people are looking back into your eyes, old friends, ex-lovers,  great teachers, and of course family. After all none of us got to where we are with out help. To help further my point, a good exercises might be to envision what your life might be like if you had never met your best friend. A bleak thought, right? 

Upon reflection, I can pin point a handful of people and maybe four or five days that had defining importance on the man I am today.  I can also point to hundreds of smaller events, or conversations, or even jokes (looks like you blew a seal), that helped develop my taste in art, music, sports, food, and a thousand other things. I am also forced to consider all of the dumb people that I have been around that influenced me. I won't call names but I have done my best to try to learn what not to do from people that made poor decisions in life. And though I would like to claim a 100% track record in the "didn't do dumb things department", that is simply not the case. In fact, at one time I allowed my self to be lead down a road of self destruction by people that I considered good friends. Years after I look back on that time and wonder how tough would I be today if at one time I had not had the experience of hitting bottom. The only real answer I have for myself is a big question mark.  

"Uva uvam vivendo varia fit" or "We are changed by the lives around us" I hope each of you takes a second to consider the people that brought you to where you are today, and be thankful for them. 

while i was considering this post i had an idea about a future post, but i will need your help. if you know the characters in the novel or movie Lonesome Dove please let me know which character you feel you best relate to and why. you can leave your answers in the comment section of this blog or on facebook. If you relate to one of the whores in Ogallala please leave your contact info as well.

I will leave you with a few more great quotes from McMurty's novel that further illustrate the point he was making with the phrase "uva uvam vivendo varia fit" 

•  A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough
•  Here's to the sunny slopes of long ago
•  I could kick you for givin' him all them ideas about Montana. Now we're gonna suffer for the rest of our damn lives     
•  I know I did, son. And I'm sure you wished you had. But yesterday's gone, we can't get it back. Now you go on with your digging. 
•  I loved Augustus McRae, but I wasn't willing to share him with you every time you decided to ride off on some adventure. I despised you for what you were then, Captain Call; and I despise you for what you're doing!  
•  expected you to own a bank or at least a whorehouse by now Jake. It seems life has been a disappointment to both of us 
•  I never noticed you having accidents with ugly girls
• Jake liked to joke. He didn't like to work. I have exactly those same failings myself