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by JB in ATL
KENNESAW, GA– I’m a little new here at Braves and Stuff and this will mark my first lead post here. But I already feel I’ve carved out a little place for myself in this serendipitous sanctuary tucked away in a lovely little corner of the Braves blogosphere.
With that said, let’s get real honest with one another, shall we?
Who of us true baseball fans can admit to never, ever, not even once, trying with some sort of desperation to effect the outcome of a Braves game? I think you’ll be hard pressed to find many of us that have become involved in this sport and this team that we adore and have not at one time or another done anything we could think of at any moment to give our team a little edge in times of need.
I myself have been known to cast magic spells, pray without ceasing, sit motionless on the couch until an inning has come to an end, tap two fingers on my forearm repeatedly during a 2-2 count with 2 outs, or even flip my cap inside out and upside down when we really need a rally.
Why do I do these things? Why do I shout until I’m hoarse with men on base and our hopes on the line? Why do I rise to my feet with 2 outs in the ninth and a thin one-run lead clapping until my hands are lobster red hoping to inspire a strikeout, a save, and a win? Either I’m hoping to invoke change in the outcome of the game or I’ve become so involved with my team and each game my team plays in that I believe I’m somehow on the field.
Maybe it’s faith. Maybe my belief, rituals, and invocations have some impact on the game or maybe they don’t. I’m not entirely sure. Maybe the moves Schuerholz used to make and now Wren makes are some sort of predestination that will inevitably run its course and we the onlookers will revel in success or mourn in defeat. Or maybe it’s just baseball and we’re just fans.
However, when I wake up the next morning after a playoff loss I feel like I’ve let the Braves and the city of Atlanta down somehow. It’s not just a game. Maybe I didn’t support them enough. Maybe I should’ve gone to the game. Maybe I should NOT have gone to the game because they seem to lose each time I show up. Maybe I didn’t say the right prayer at the right time. Maybe God’s not a Braves fan this year or maybe God doesn’t even care about baseball and my prayers are in vain.
Point is, I often somehow feel responsible for not doing the right things to make the Braves win and I’ve got to do better next time.
Yet I’ve realized one thing in my nearly 25 years of following baseball. I will love the Braves whether they win or lose. Whether I’ve been able to “change” the outcome of the game or whether the Braves and I have failed together.
Now I’ll get personal on you.
I’ve spent years trying to change my family without really knowing it. I would refuse to accept the differences between us. Differences in our beliefs, viewpoints, attitudes were insurmountable. I also wanted to change all the many imperfections of my family members. I hoped I could inspire them to be better people. I hoped I could influence or even lead them onward to change. Yet when I realized I could not change them, I decided to love my family not in spite of their shortcomings (or ask that they love me in spite of mine) but simply for who they are. I then understood a little more about what it really means to love someone.
Now back to the Braves. You see, I’m a lot like Mr. Raisins, I don’t love them because they win. I love them because I always have. Since 1982 when I was a toddler attending my first game at the Launching Pad, I began to my love the Braves. I will continue to love them whether they are in first place en route to a World Series title or in last place wondering how to rebuild for next year.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate when the Braves lose and I love when the win. But I will not hate my team just like I will never hate my family. And whether my in-game séances and superstitions make any kind of change on the games and the players or not, I have learned to love them even if I can’t change them.
The Braves have been a part of my family for as long as I can remember.
…and you just can’t change who your family is.
~JB in ATL~
Braves & Stuff 
Welcome, JB! Thanks for a great post! It’s nice to have you here. 🙂
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Well, at least we know who’s fault it is every time the Bravos lose! I’ve been trying to figure that out for years! 😀
Nicely done JB. We love our family, warts and all. The “true” fans love their team the same way. I’ve no use for those fans that jump from bandwagon to bandwagon each year.
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Well done JB, well done indeed! We have all at one time or another convinced ourselves that we are helping a team win, or “helping” them lose.
I remember last year when I was having trouble sleeping(Hard to believe, eh?) I was falling asleep during games, only to wake up with the braves winning! Someone else was doing something similar….WW or SG perhaps??? Wasn’t going to keep sleeping thru games, but if they won with my help, I was at least doing my part! 😉 And if people think we are sick, twisted individuals, that’s their problem, right????
JB, you also said… I hoped I could inspire them to be better people. I hoped I could influence or even lead them onward to change.
They may not show the outward signs of listening to you, but I bet they have….friends as well….
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JB…very well done! Kennesaw, huh? You’re a neighbor…I’m in Woodstock…son goes to KSU.
Klobber…the Stark column you posted on the prior blog about Yates. I appreciate the scout’s comments on the Braves bullpen…he may well be right; however, did he not notice Yates did the same thing…walk, walk, walk? Maybe it’s the pressure of the jersey, for him as it was with Davies.
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Chris, your Andruw’s B.A. approaching his I.Q. line…. 😆
Gil and Chris….I never liked Sports Illustrated. Never enough baseball in it. And always looking to stir up…stuff. Loved the Sporting News back in the day. A writer for each and every baseball team. All the stats…looked more like a newspaper than a mag as well….anyone else read it when they were young(er)???
Plenty of baseball left, just the bottom of the 4th Yankees vs. Red Sox at 10:10 😯 Not crazy about this style of baseball, but they only way to win it all these days, IMHO….
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Salty, you may be right about the pressure. There were plenty of times that Yates was very good. Plenty of other times when he couldn’t be trusted.
Yates has started off strong. That may be only because he feels like he has to prove something since he was traded away.
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Yates being traded, that was one move I understood completely. No way could we just toss away Resop, with him throwing harder than anyone in camp, or Boyer.
But, from Yates standpoint, he was probably thinking he couldn’t lose his job in ST. Chris, you might be right about Yates now having a chip on his shoulder.
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Who’s up next?
Salty
Chrisklob
Grinch
williamwallace
Paladin
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Bravo JB, and hello everyone else…
I can’t tell you how many times I have been standing in front of my chair hollerin’ and clappin’ like I’m at the game, with Mrs. Raisins asking me why I don’t sit down. She doesn’t understand that I can’t! I’m a part of what’s happenin’! And it absolutely affects the outcome! 😀
A short drive-by blog as I go to bed. I’ve been sick this weekend – congestion, cough, very sore throat, etc. And on top of that, I had to do my taxes. Just got done… 😡 Tomorrow will surely be better.
G’night everyone!
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Did y’all hear that someone with the Braves(I don’t think Roger McDowell) wanted Resop to pitch inside more with that 98 MPH heater??? Something about guys could catch up with the heat if they could get their arms extended, but no way in the world if he threw inside. Then Joe Simpson mentioned how McCann liked to set up away, and sure enough, a 95-96 MPH pitch for a double. Then, to McCann’s credit, he started moving the target closer to the hitter….what’s funny, is I always thought the toughest fastball to hit was low and outside!
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Sorry to hear you’ve been sick PVORR!! I guess no concert in Jonesboro then???
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Get better quick, Raisins!
Chris, I’ll get that photo posted soon as I can.
The new fridge is larger than the old one, so I had to modify some cabinets this afternoon so that space will accommodate it. Me and a Sawzall. And a step ladder. I can hardly move my arms tonight! 2 aspirin and a hot shower have not helped. ohhhhhhhh 😦
Gil, I figured the leak had to do with the ice maker, but this poor old thing has served admirably for many years. Need new seals, new body, new what-ever-is leaking. Compressor and motor still working like a champ! But it’s time. Hate to spend the money which could certainly be used elsewhere (groceries, electricity, gas 🙄 ) but it’s just the right thing to do at this point. Gonna miss the old one.
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CL, we need pictures of the
butcheringwoodworking! And I know that feeling in the arms when it feels like you have tried to pick up a car! 😦Does your new fridge have a DVD player?? 😆 (Really have seen them at Best Buy!)
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CL, I had hoped that you would like that one!
Raisins, hope you feel better!
Berigan, every hitter has different parts of the zone that they find easier to hit in than others. That’s why you’ll see the 9 sections of the strike zone (looks like a tic-tac-toe board) on tv sometimes that shows what a particular playing is producing when the pitch is in each section. Some guys love it inside, others have a huge hole there.
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Oh, had a very fun weekend. Last night I saw the Rome Braves play and this afternoon I saw the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Got autographs from Jason Heyward, Cody Johnson, Freddie Freeman, Thomas Hanson, Gorkys Hernandez and many others, including Matt Wieters, who is from Charleston, went to Ga. Tech, and was the #6 overall pick in last year’s draft by the Orioles.
Also, I got pictures of Hernandez, Flowers, Wieters, Johnson, Heyward which I will share with you all when my next post is due.
Apparently, chrisklob is “in the hole” so I better get crackin’!
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Chris, sounds like a dynamite weekend! Can’t wait to read about it and see the pics!
Berigan, “CL, we need pictures of the
butcheringwoodworking!” I’ll have you know, sir, that when the new fridge is installed, it will look perfectly finished and will look as if it was designed that way! Hmph! 😆Actually, it works out better than I first thought! I’m right proud of it! 😀 Now if I could just move……. Tomorrow is going to be wonderful…..I can tell…..
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“I always thought the toughest fastball to hit was low and outside!”
Just for Andruw.
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http://www.whirlpool.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=REFRIGERATORS&cat=96&prod=1026
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Nice, CL. I might get the French door type too when we refresh the kitchen in Rabun. The range & dishwasher seem pretty new but the fridge is looking a little rough. Sorry you’re sore from making room for it.
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Excellent lead, JB! I think we all have our game-watching quirks & superstitions. I can usually ask for one double play per game but only one so I try to save it for when we really need it. And no, I’m not telling you the magic words.
VOR, I’m so sorry you’re sick. Lots of rest, fluids & chicken soup.
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Thanks, FBG! The old unit is still in place so I was working around it and over it! 😆 The overhead cabinet was the tough one. Removed the bottom shelf, shortened the facing trim and shortened the 2 cabinet doors. I never use that particular cabinet anyway. Being somewhat vertically challenged, I could never reach it! 😀 Anyway, the new one should slide right in. If more height is needed, I still have some “trim room” on the upper cabinets. It’ll still look right even if I have to cut some more.
Sore is sure right! Shoulders, neck and upper back are immobile!!! 😆
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Sounds like fun, Chris. The Red Sox had their single A team in Sarasota for several years & I always enjoyed going to games (saw Nomar down there).
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CL, as your medical advisor, I prescribe two ibuprofen and a Diet Coke. Call me in the morning!
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I know what you mean about those high cabinets. The ones we have here go all the way to the ceiling. I have to get a stepladder to reach the upper shelves (I’m 5’5″).
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Thanks, Chris! Now, where could I find an ice-cold Diet Coke!! 🙂
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Hmmm. Chris’s new job is doctor ?!?
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Honorary.
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JB… Absolutely a great post…. Another 3 run homer for the B & S blog…
CL.. Your old fridge sounds like the perfect storage unit for the beer….. 🙂
Now folks, I am pasting a copy of an article which appeared in today’s Times Dispatch. Folks, if I didn’t know better, I would swear that Woody read the notes from my interview with Carroll Rodgers. I had JoAnn read it too as she was sitting with me when Carroll talked to me last week. Sure did sound familiar.
By PAUL WOODY
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Let’s save ourselves a lot of trouble and a great deal of angst and remove minor-league baseball from our worry list.
Let’s get used to the idea that when the Richmond Braves make their last out this summer, minor-league baseball will forever be gone from the region.
The process to replace the R-Braves is daunting, especially in an area where regional cooperation is more a theory than an actual practice.
The estimated cost for local owners to purchase an existing minor-league team will be between $5 and $9 million for Class A or between $9 and $15 million for Class AA. No Triple A teams appear to be for sale.
But discussions on bringing another team to Richmond can’t even start as the city is being held hostage by Randy Mobley, president of the International League.
He is empowered to keep any team from talking to anyone about moving to Richmond until the R-Braves are certain they will have a new home in Gwinnett, Ga.
In what other business is there an imperial potentate who decrees that one business can’t build a widget factory in a locality until the existing widget manufacturer has its new factory built elsewhere?
There is no other such business.
Once an owner is identiFied, local or otherwise, and Mobley releases the IL’s hold on the area, the real elephant in the room must be addressed – the need for a new stadium.
The people in Greenville, S.C. know exactly how the baseball fans in Richmond feel.
The Atlanta Braves, unhappy with an out-of-date stadium, wanted a new facility for its Class AA team in Greenville.
When Greenville could not produce one, Atlanta moved its team to Pearl, Miss.
Greenville now has a new stadium, built at a cost of almost $19 million by the owners of the Greenville Drive, a Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Drive plays one level below the team the Braves pulled out of Greenville.
This region could not get a stadium deal done for a team one level below the major leagues.
Now we’re going to build a sparkling new stadium for a Class A or Class AA team?
“High” Class A teams, such as those in the Carolina League, are on par with very good college teams.
The only saving grace of a Class AA team is that major-league organizations now use AA clubs the way they once used the Triple A clubs – as the place they groom prospects before promoting them to the big leagues.
But any organization is going to look at The Diamond and think, “Even Single A teams have better facilities than this.”
Then, the talk could begin again of building a stadium in Shockoe Bottom.
That sounded nice several years ago. But Shockoe Bottom still is a flood plane. It still has historic buildings that will have to be razed, and when was the last time anything historic was struck down without a monumental battle?
There are places where a stadium can be constructed – on land at the I295-I95 interchange that would have been the site of the NASCAR Hall of Fame; at the city’s garage and maintenance facility next to The Diamond; even on land where The Diamond now sits.
But it is difficult to imagine a 5,000-to-7,500 seat baseball stadium being built anywhere for less than $25 million.
It is unconscionable to expect local governments to finance a multi-million dollar, single use stadium when the economy is stagnating, school enrollments are growing and families are losing homes to foreclosures.
If one of these amorphous local ownership groups is interested in building a stadium as was done in Greenville – privately financed with no public monies used in the construction or for debt service – then, ladies and gentlemen, go to it.
If not, let’s save everyone time, energy and another round of finger-pointing and let go of minor-league baseball.
Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or pwoody@timesdispatch.com.
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And now it is time to watch John Adams… catch ya’ll in the morning…
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It’s the same situation we’re running into down here with Spring Training parks. The Reds wanted a new park in Sarasota, the city officials fiddled around, now the Reds are moving to Arizona. I think the Indians are going too.
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Gil, that’s really something! I remember you saying some of those exact things! That guy had to be eavesdropping! Fridge: I don’t drink beer. Decaf coffee, Diet Coke, sweet tea, water.
The one and only time I drank beer made me sicker than a dog. I swore that if I survived it, I’d never do that to myself again. Stuck to my word. Nooooo, thanks! 😆
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Nice Fridge CL…No TV though. 😕
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FBG, yes, I am now a doctor. Now sit still, this won’t hurt a bit! 🙂
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Now I have to figure out how to get my clothes changed and put myself to bed without using my arms. hmmmm….. See y’all tomorrow – if I can reach over to turn the computer on. 😆
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That’s one more time than me, CL. Don’t know how anyone can get past the smell to drink it.
Berigan, how was your head today?
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CL, when I read your line about drinking beer and I swear it looked like you said it made you snicker like a dog! 😆
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Now that would a guy’s dream refrigerator, wouldn’t it?? Fridge/freezer/HiDefTV. 🙄 😆
Chris, that title is honorary!! 😆
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FLB, ok till I saw my tax bill! Thanks for asking. Actually, if I felt like I did yesterday, I’d be doing them on the 14th or 15th….
FLB, the Dodgers left Vero beach after a million years…did they go to AZ as well???
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Yay! JB debuts!
Thanks for all the positive feedback around here. What a great little group of new friends I’ve found.
I’m really looking forward to following the season with this assortment of Braves babblers. I have to say every post I’ve read here has been exceptional.
It’s not all stats and predictions and pontifications but a place I feel I’ve met other fans who seem to really just “get” baseball and the beauty of it.
CL, I really truly appreciate the opportunity to contribute. And maybe some of you have downplayed the lead (ie. “Your turn to do the dishes”) feeling like a part of Braves and Stuff has really been treat for me.
Thanks, y’all.
Time for bed. All the best my friends.
JB in ATL
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Umm, Chris, what… never mind. I probably don’t want to know.
Good night, CL!
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Red sox/Yankees game just ended….I thought it might last til 1 AM!
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Yeah, B, they did. I never made it to Dodgertown (way over on the other side of the state) but I know everyone who’s been there is just heartbroken.
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Berigan – 😆 😆 😆 (It may have!!)
FBG, I was 19 years old, had spent the day (July 4) in Washington DC, temp 105, going through the Smithsonian. Left about 5:00, had nothing to eat since 0-dark:30. The people I was with said “Let’s stop and get a cold beer.” Went in with them and these tall mugs were placed in front of them, ice sliding down the sides. One said, “Taste this.” Well, it was so icy, there was no taste – just icy cold. Well, that wasn’t bad in the intense heat.
The next block down, we all pulled into the next place – and had an icy beer.
And so on down all the many blocks to our hotel. Except by the time we got there, I couldn’t feel my face.
Went to my room. Felt nauseous. I’ll skip a lot of detail – but was about as sick as anyone could possibly be and live to tell about it. Couldn’t lay down, couldn’t close my eyes. The next morning, I felt indescribably horrible. That was an important lesson to me! Never again! 🙂
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Glad you found us JB!
FLB, I mentioned this before I think, but only spring training game I ever went to was in 1981, Cards vs Phils, the day Reagan was shot! I recall a later spring trip to Florida near Vero beach wishing I could see a game there….
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Good night, all!
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Good night to all and to all a good night.
Peace in the Southeast. I need some sleep!
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Man, CL…sounds terrible! Berigan<—-never drunk!!! I have shocked some folks when I say this! 2 beers max for me….never really buzzed, just feel full after a couple and wonder how much I would have to drink to get one…plus drinkin’ expensive if you ain’t doin’ it at home. Berigan<—-way cheaper than BAS! And I like to be in control…so not likely to happen anytime soon.
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Goodnight CL! Goodnight JB! Goodnight John Boy!
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I’ve been to a bunch but all on this side of the state. McKechnie Field here (my dad grew up in the old park, watching the Braves), of course. One of the most fun was several years back at the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Dad & I went up there to catch the Braves. Got great seats right behind the Braves dugout, close enough to hear Chipper laughing at the very amusing heckling of a guy decked out in Mets gear. Then after the game as we were leaving the Braves were all getting on the bus right next to us. Closest I’ve ever been to them. Chipper is so much bigger than he looks on TV. And Furcal & Giles were no taller than me.
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CL, just kidding!
FBG, just kidding!
Also, yes, the Reds are going west also. Leaves an interesting predicament for both spring leagues as there will be fifteen teams in AZ and FL. That means that every day either someone will not be playing or they will be playing two “split squad” teams. That’s fine in the early spring but as March moves on, NO ONE will want to have only half of their regulars playing in a spring game.
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I know, Chris. Now some of our other bloggers… I’d be worried if they tried to “play doctor” with me.
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No, no doctor role playing with me! I suspect that I’m old enough to be your father!
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I’m not that young. My dad just turned 55 actually.
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Well, maybe not your father, but certainly your much older brother.
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Did we scare everyone off?
Can y’all believe they are actually talking about pressing criminal charges against the construction worker who buried a Red Sox jersey in concrete at the Yankees’ new ballpark? I thought it was kinda funny myself. It’s not like he committed some heinous act.
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Ok, time to shut down.
Good night, big brother. 😉
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Good morning…
Thanks for the overnight well wishes. I think I might feel a little better this morning. Head still hurts, throat still hurts, still congested, and still a little achy… but aside from that, I feel OK. 🙂
B∞: Actually, the show Saturday night went on as scheduled. Too many people counting on the show to cancel. I drank alot of hot tea, loaded up on the meds and gave it my best. The voice held out OK for the most part, but the meds messed with my head a little. I did accidently sing the 1st verse of one song twice, and didn’t realize it until it was too late. Of course, most everyone else hadn’t noticed. 🙂
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‘Morning, Raisins! Glad you’re feeling a little better! Salute for making the show!! When you don’t tell them you made a mistake, no body (‘cept your band mates) know the difference! Proud of you!
Maddux tosses five shutout innings for win No. 349
http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20080413_SD@LA/rss
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for guys who just say, ‘Here it is, and if you beat me, you beat me.’ That’s the way he’s always gone about his business,” Torre said. “You don’t have to throw the ball 95 miles an hour to be a successful pitcher. I mean, I grew up in the big leagues with Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette, and those guys who relied more on command than on blowing people away.
“A lot of times Maddux will beat you with his reputation,” Torre added. “Sometimes, hitters go up there trying to look for too many things. But he’s always going to give you a pitch to hit. The thing is, he has the knack of reading hitters’ body language. It seems every time you take a pitch it’s a strike, and every time you swing, it’s not. He just doesn’t throw the ball straight — and he’s got the guts of a burglar.”
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Notes from Greg Maddux’s 349th career victory:
• Ranks second among living pitchers with 349 career wins, five behind Roger Clemens.
• Sunday marked the 90th time he’s won a start in which he allowed no runs. That’s the same total that Clemens has had in his career. That’s tied for second most in the last 50 years behind Nolan Ryan’s 97.
• It was the 24th time he’s won a start in which he pitched exactly five innings. In the last 50 years, no pitcher has more “bare minimum” wins than Maddux, and the next-best active pitcher is Jamie Moyer, with 17.
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Thanks, CL. Ironically, my band mates didn’t know of the mistake ’til I told them. Mrs. Raisins, who has seen more of our concerts than anyone alive, is the only one I know of that caught it.
Last week, in the midst of alot of stressful activities at home, I managed to hurriedly leave for a concert with 2 different shoes on. They were both the same color, black, just one Adidas and one New Balance. Nobody noticed that, either, until I mentioned it. (I really need to keep my mouth shut! 😀 ) My friend quickly quipped that I had a matching pair at home. 😆
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Morning, all. I urge all of you to read Keown’s article on Maddux on ESPN.com (they won’t let you link it, of course). Go to their homepage and click on the MLB tab. It’s well worth it; you’ll hear some priceless stories (and also why he wouldn’t let Javy catch him).
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15th @FLA 7:10 PM Jurgens/Olsen
16th @FLA 7:10 PM Hudson/Hendrickson
17th @FLA 7:10 PM Smoltz/Nolasco
18th LAD 7:35 PM Glavine/Lowe
19th LAD 3:55 PM Jurgens/Billingsley ***on FOX***
20th LAD 1:35 PM Hudson/Kuroda
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Raisins, love the new avatar!!!! You’ll get a lot of empathy/agreement, no doubt!!! 😆
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CL, that’s very interesting….Torre’s take on Maddux. I’m used to the short answer Torre, he really went into detail here. Amazing 2 pitchers in this day and age getting to 350 wins in back to back seasons.
I remember baseball “experts” saying after folks like Sutton and Nolan Ryan got to 300 wins, that no one would do it again with 5 man rotations, people not finishing games anymore, etc, etc there would be no more 300 game winners.
Well, we’ve had 3 since then….the experts are saying the same thing again, no more 300 winners. They will once again be proven wrong. It’s going to take awhile for the next one though…..
Oh, just looked at Spahn’s numbers, he’s right! Never was a big strike out guy…didn’t know that. 13 seasons of 20 wins or more!!!! If he didn’t serve in WWll, he’d have gotten 400 wins!!!
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FBG; My oldest son is almost as old as your Father. But, I wasn’t planning on asking you to play Doctor, anyway. 😛
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Y’all aren’t going to believe this (he said sarcastically), but Terrence Moore has an article up this morning that is even more racist than usual. Immelman winning the masters was “a fluke” just like last year’s champion, because neither one of them were Tiger. The article is so grossly over the top and misplaced in a major newspaper I started to rip him a new one in the comments section, but it seems about everyone in the city beat me to it. Only in Atlanta could this bitter, foolish little man continue to have a job that allowed him a keyboard.
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Grinch, great story on Maddux, thanks for mentioning it! I love the fact he helps pitchers all the time that are teammates. I kind of wonder how much of the braves pitching success can be atributed to him being the other pitching coach???
You said something about not being able to link it….did you mean ESPN is a real horse’s ___ about that sort of thing??? I can post the link here if I wanted to, but don’t want to get CL in trouble….
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Speaking of Doctors, taxes, etc. How’s that for a transition? I’m in my 70s. I take a ton of meds each day. I’m under the regular care of 2 Doctors including a neurosurgeon. I have the normal amount of Dental care. Yet when I go to file my taxes all of this does not “add up” to what I need to deduct any of it. Do you see something wrong with this? I do!
Note: Yes, a lot of that(excluding the dental)is partially paid for by medicaid. But, a significant amount still comes out of my fixed income.
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Fixed – adj. – neutered
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Up yours – slang – “invitation”
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Raisins; That was supposed to have a 😛 on it. Sorry.
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Yep P-Din, it doesn’t add up, does it??? My late Mother had tons of medical expenses, and it seemed like it didn’t really help come tax time.
When I was selling a lot more online(cds, dvds, VHS) I would sometimes use my credit cards if, like when Tower got out of VHS, I spent over $1000 on their tapes(Many out of print Musicals worth big $$) Well, can’t write off the interest of CC like you could at one time….
Being self employed, I pay (Thru the nose) for health insurance. I remembered this year that you can write that off…wait, not so fast skippy. (Well, can’t get to the IRS site, perhaps folks are slowing it down???) Said something several paragraphs down how your insurance has to be through your business….wha???? crap…need to call my agent to figure out how this is to be done…they just want to ____ with honest folks like us, make sure we pay to offset those who get paid under the table(millions of illegals)
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JB; Good lead! Also, I enjoy blogging with you…here on B & S blog. Hope you stick around.
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Yeah, Bearman, but they are going to give us a whole $600 next month. Yippe! I’m going to use it to pay some of my last dental bill. Oh, and some of those illegals are going to get $300. :X
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😡
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What’s “funny” about Old Terrence talking up Tiger, is that Tiger doesn’t consider himself black. He calls himself, “Cablinasian”
From Wikipedia….
Earl, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran, was of mixed African American (50 percent), Chinese (25 percent) and Native American (25 percent) ancestry. Kultida (nee Punsawad), originally from Thailand, is of mixed Thai (50 percent), Chinese (25 percent), and Dutch (25 percent) ancestry. This makes Woods himself one-quarter Chinese, one quarter Thai, one quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch.
In other words, if he was a baseball player, he ain’t black enough to play for the Braves, according to TM! 😆
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$600 won’t even cover root canal nowadays….
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I knew a guy that served with Earl and he said he was a great guy and good officer. He did a good job with Tiger, too. He supported him 100% but didn’t “push” him. I think he was smart enough to see that Tiger will always push himself; he doesn’t need any “help” in that area.
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I think he was smart enough to see that Tiger will always push himself; he doesn’t need any “help” in that area.
Tremendous observation, palomino. Spot on.
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On the IRS….. You Know!!!! Now, that said, I learned the hard way that you had to “render unto ceasar what is ceasar’s”… My taxes are now complete by the 2nd week in February. I think Turbo Tax is worth every penny and it is also tax deductible…. Throw in Quicken and you taxes are just about done for you.
Berigan, if you are self employed, you medical is through your business…. Plus a gazillion other things you probably don’t know about.
On Greg Maddux… Yes, one of the greatest pitchers any of us will have the pleasure of watching. A true craftsman…. He makes every pitching staff he has ever been on better just by his presence.
On race…. What a joke…. We are all related… Some of us know it, some of us don’t…. Momma’s baby, daddy’s maybe….. 🙂 There is a reason the Germans always trace lineage through the mother.
And oh by the way… Good morning everyone…
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Because y’all mentioned it, I went and read TMs “account” of the Masters. As usual, he is way off the mark. He wrote as though Tiger gave the thing away. That is not what I saw. I saw a young man with a lot of talent, win it. Certainly Immelman had his troubles in the last round, but anyone who played after the wind came up, did too. When you see former champions and perennial contenders shooting in the 80s, you know how tough it was. Immelman will be heard from again, me knows. And the “cancer” that TM mentioned: The people who did the broadcast, including Nick Faldo–one of the best–said the growth was benign. Do your homework, TM…for a change.
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Mr P… I have learned to ignore the hate merchants like Terrence Moore. The trouble is, there is a segment of the population that “can be fooled all of the time”.
I am not a big fan of Tiger because so much was made of his ancestry. That is a shame because he is a really good golfer, perhaps the best I will ever see but he is human and can be beaten. I thought the back story on Immelman was very touching. He just did not fold, much to the chagrin of CBS.
Face facts, Tiger Woods is to golf as the Yankees and Red Soxs are to baseball. It’s all about the TV ratings now….
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Good morning y’all! VOR, you sound miserable, poor baby. 😦
Now I know nothing about golf but my dad likes it. He was happy this guy won. Not that he has anything against Tiger, he just doesn’t want him to win everything.
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Hey there FLB,
So a day off of baseball huh?
I always hate waiting for baseball to come back but rest is good too.
I’m glad to see the newcomer Immelman get the win. He was a rookie last year and I think it’s cool to see the field spread out. Tiger made a run for it but Immelman’s lead going into the final round was a little too tough to beat.
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Where’d everybody go?
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I’m still here, FLB
Just at work but poppin in momentarily.
What’re you up to today?
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Laundry & mopping the kitchen floor. Very exciting stuff. 🙄
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I don’t mind the Braves being off tonight. Got Dancing with the Stars & the season finale of New Amsterdam at the same time. Thank goodness for DVRs. Soon other stuff will wind down & it will be all Braves, all the time.
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Yeah I love New Amsterdam. I like having a night off. Just as long as it’s not too many in a row.
So do you stay at home all day to work or is this an off day?
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I’m the “house-daughter”. Like a housewife, but I take care of my parents & sister. I have a small baking business that I do part-time from home. That’s where all the cake references come in. Sorry, I forget that you are new here & don’t know everybody’s background.
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yeah I’m still trying to learn about everyone. I’ve been looking at the pics and reading up on the posts but these are my new friends around here.
I’m 27 (almost 28) and live in Kennesaw, GA work in Atlanta. Lifelong braves fan. I work for a door and window company. In addition to the Braves, I also like to watch Lost and New Amsterdam, Family Guy, Monk, on TV.
That’s it in a nutshell.
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I think you must be the baby here then (& no, I’m not saying how much older I am.) Obviously I live in Florida. Southern end of Tampa Bay. We are moving to Tiger, Georgia (Rabun County, NE corner) in the near future. Working on the house & property up there, trying to get it ready for us to move in & working on this house to get it ready to sell is keeping us busy. Looks like now the earliest we could move is the end of the year.
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Just let me know if you need new windows or doors!! (wink wink)
just kidding.
Yeah I’m ok with being the baby. I like to think I’m young.
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Howdy FLB, JB… I’m back. Had to run a time sensitive errand and time snuck up on me. 😯
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Oh, yeah… I like to think I’m young, too. 😀
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Don’t laugh. We might need a couple of doors.
And I’m only a little older than you, as is Grinch & (I think) WW.
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Feeling any better at all, VOR?
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I don’t really care about how old I/people are any more. We’re all peoples
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I am feeling better, FLB, thanks for asking. Head’s better, congestion’s better, throat’s still a little sore and raspy, as I’m sure you can tell. 😀
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Yeah I can hear that wheeze in your voice
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Now, if I can only get my Windstream DSL connection to quit dropping out… 😡 It’s really difficult to get any work done this way. I feel like a one handed juggler. 😐
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Hmmm, I thought your typing still looked a little scratchy. 😉
JB, age is irrelevant as long as we all refuse to grow up. 😀
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Sweet! I’m listening to the new “oldies” station, and they’re playing some great Temptations right now… 🙂
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So is that a comment on your age, VOR, or is your lawn drying out?
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Funny stuff:
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FBG: The Temps are a little before my time, but their appeal is ageless. Truly great stuff from the motown era…
(And I’m actually tired of all the rain we’ve been having… and as I look out the window, that we are having…) 😦
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Just wandered in. I love listening to you youngsters playin’ grownup. 😛
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Raisins; I went to your “funny stuff” site and some of the others are even funnier. 😆
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Hi, Paladin!
VOR, don’t gripe about the rain. Think about the lakes & reservoirs slowly re-filling.
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I’m gone. Talk among yourselves.
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And that was funny, except I think a few of those people got hurt.
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Just leaving when I saw a nice greeting from my grandest-daughter. Hi sweetheart.
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Awww! Thanks, Paladin.
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More errands to run… I’ll be back later!
Adieu!
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C y’all later.
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Everyone leaves just as I show up! 😡
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because you’re cheap
I wonder if Ted Simmons is cheap.
IWITSIC
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iwitsic.com
😀
(My errands got put off…)
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Jersey Gil and I are getting hosed by Comcast, as they are only showing the first 10 channels of the Extra Innings package until the NBA season is over. ‘Tis not a huge problem, as it’s a short time, and they are crediting back some cash. But this coming week, nearly all the games are on channels higher than Game 10….so I STILL can’t watch the games.
One more week, and I may (probably unlikely) have something Braves to contribute, rather than stuff.
I know Lew’s getting the full package up at the North Pole, but was curious if Miss Velvet, who I believe has Extra Innings, or any of you other fine folks are paying for Comcast’s Extra Innings package, and if you have the same issue.
It seems to be a bandwidth thing, but as there must be 400 channels, it’s hard to believe they can’t cram a few more in there.
anywho, just a little whining while not under the influence…just like my whining while bui…but different
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For the record, Mr. Wikipedia, I am an expert errand-putter-offer, as well as an expert people-putter-offer.
I think this means that I’m lazy, and an
ass.And cheap. Don’t forget cheap.
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“Tiger made a run for it but Immelman’s lead going into the final round was a little too tough to beat” … wish I had seen it … I did watch the Masters but saw no run by Tiger … Trevor is evidently a nice young man.
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Woo weee, tough day for me. It did not take long for the trash to show up thinking they have a grievance against the county over this cemetery thing. Like the wife said, it’s a lot like the bus accident that occurs with 15 occupants on board but 150 show up at the hospital complaining of neck pain…
I did get all the grass cut today and another tree hauled off to my compost pile. Now my back is screaming at me but at least it hurts from honest labor….
Now baseball…. well, almost… I think the Yankees have lost their mind over the Red Sox jersey. Good luck on collecting on that… After all, it’s not like someone let a goat graze in the outfield or anything. 🙂
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It wasn’t like that curse that got put on old Fulton County Stadium. You couldn’t dig that one out.
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I think if there is ANY question at all, Glavine should go on the DL. Yes, it would ruin his “iron man” image and require bringing someone up from Richmond, but that would be much better than making this a season-long injury that would not be good for either he or the team.
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Sorry, CL. Thank you for the correction. Feel free to delete, so that it cannot be read.
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Also, I think with proper preparation, Bennett can do a much better job if they want to use him in Glavine’s place for a couple of starts.
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Nice talking with me. Later.
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I thought Bennett looked tired Sunday. He is still a good pitcher, you just can’t keep running a guy out there every night an not expect his arm to fall off…
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Reasonable One, these ain’t the Temptations but still mighty tempting and good to hear after all these years, methinks! How was the weekend?!
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I see where Jimma want to be the Hamas ambassador to the sane world. He is such a headline grabber and a monumental jerk!
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Given the opportunity…wants to be…
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I can see where I am going to have to give some thought to joining a blog sponsored and regulated by the AARP. One that functions during “normal hours”. This one is apparently sponsored by the VVA(Vapid Vampires of America).
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G’night. Don’t let the bats bite.
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Evenin’, All…from the ‘Left Coast’…home of BAS! Sheesh…I’m upside down on time…sun’s up, but body says bedtime! 😦 I’ll get acclimated just in time to un-acclimate!
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Steve, 🙂
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Hey, Salty! Weird feeling, isn’t it?? 😆
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Salty, business or pleasure trip????
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Salty <——– zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 😀
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yawn……. CL <——— zzzzzzzzzz 😆
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Good evening y’all! Dancing with the Stars was interesting. Latin Night, which means the costumes were even tinier than usual. We thought Karina was in danger of losing part of hers.
Steve, to answer your 4:29, I have Brighthouse cable. They show all the ExtraInnings channels.
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As does DirecTv…. No shortage of channels, just the signals during thunder storms..
I read where Delta and Northwest are merging… Look out, here goes another couple of thousand jobs down the dumper.
Sorry FBG… I am just not the dancing with the stars type. I used to be a real dancer myself however, before the quack took my knees out from under me… New Amsterdam was good though.
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From the Richmond Braves site…..
CANIZARES NAMED BATTER OF THE WEEK
04/14/2008 11:53 AM
The International League announced today that Richmond first baseman Barbaro Canizares has been named the League’s first Batter -of-the-Week for 2008. The period covers the first eleven days of the season, from April 3-13.
Barbaro Canizares established himself as one of the International League’s top hitters to begin the 2008 season, posting a .400 average (14-35) with two homers and 10 RBI to lead the defending Governors’ Cup champions to the best record in the League so far (8-2). Canizares started things off the right way on Opening Day against Rochester, going 3-5 with 3 RBI. It was one of five multi-hit efforts for Canizares in his first eight starts, placing him among the IL leaders in several categories. He is in the top ten in RBI (T-2nd), hits (T-3rd), average (6th), and home runs (T-6th). Canizares went deep in each of Richmond’s games over the weekend at Lehigh Valley, and yesterday added a RBI single in the 7th that put the Braves in front for good. It was his third 3-RBI game already this season. Canizares, who has been used as both a first baseman and designated hitter for Richmond, has failed to get a hit in only one game so far – Friday, April 11 when he was used as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning.
28-year-old Barbaro Canizares is in his third season in U.S. professional baseball. The 6’3”, 210- pound player defected from his native Cuba before the 2005 season. Last year he hit .344 with 34 RBI in 49 games with Richmond, but he missed three months of the season while experiencing immigration paperwork issues. He played in six playoff games for the Braves as Richmond stormed to the 2007 Governors’ Cup championship. Canizares is a native of Havana.
What the above does not note is that Canizares played for 10 years as a catcher for the Industrials in his native Cuba. I think that is is the same team that Pena and Escobar played on.
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Oops,
CL, did not mean to include all the links… could you please clean that up for me?
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Well, it’s kind of “fluff” TV. But it’s fun to watch. Now Fox’s show “So You Think You Can Dance” is a lot more serious. The people on there are young dancers who have been training most of their lives.
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Y’all, I tried to post a couple of hours ago and my service went out again. To heck with it. I’ve got too much work to do anyway. Despite losing my phone four days ago; it hasn’t helped.
Gil, when did you trip over a duck?
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I’ll read the answer Thursday night, next time I get a break.
Hi, FBG! 🙂
Bye, FBG! 😦
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That would explain why you’ve been impossible to get a hold of. Poor Grinch. 😦
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Reasonable One, please forgive the “weekend” question in my earlier email … had just returned from Vandy and hadn’t read all your earlier posts … hope you’re FEELING BETTER and that you LIKE THE MUSIC!
Gil, as you have Direct TV, I assume that it’s better than it was a few years back … moderately bad weather equated to no TV, at least not worth watching.
Upon reflection, now there’s even less worth watching on Comcast, even in good weather.
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Bob!! How are you feeling?
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Bob… that was my conclusion as I had both for a while. I canceled Comcast because it did not offer the same programming. And I should not be watching TV during a storm anyhow…
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And theDirectv reception has not changed Bob, it is still a fair weather friend.
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Top of the evening, denizens. Gotta make this quick; early to bed, as they say (and 11 p.m. IS early for me now that I have Extra Innings) …
Speaking of which, THIS JUST IN: Andruw has drove in his second run of the season, on a ground out to short in the Dodgers’ game with Pittsburgh. AJ now is 4-for-41 on the season. Only reason he drove in the run is Russell Martin reached on an infield hit (when Batista didn’t throw to first, for some reason), went to second on a balk and third on a passed ball (Duke crossed up his catcher) …
Furcal, meanwhile, made a really nice play just now to throw Duke out trying to go from second to third on a ball in the hole. Kuroda is scufflin’ along. Tell y’all what, the Dodgers need to start winning, or else Arizona is gonna run away and hide from everybody out there in the West …
Gotta jet. Busy week at work, but a very good week, and it could be quite grand in a day or two if everything falls right. Prayers to above that everything keeps moving the way it started to move today. If it’s the way it is meant to go, we may be buying some good steaks for the grill here pretty soon!
Wishing all well.
The Scribe abides.
–30–
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Off to watch the recording of New Amsterdam. I’ll be back in a bit.
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Hope all goes well, Scribe.
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Sweetheart, I feeling fine … Tylenol 3 curable headache and soreness … and a troublesome thumb to remind me of my fall.
Gil, I thought that was what the weather channel was for … actually, storm watching is the best programming the local channels have to offer, methinks!
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Berigan…pleasurable business, I hope! So far, so good. There are worse places than San Diego…quite a long list of places, in fact! 😆
Yes, CL…time changes always wreck me! 😐
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By the way, don’t know if anyone saw, but Tommy Holmes, of Boston Braves fame, died today…91 years young! He had the modern day hitting streak that Pete Rose broke 33 years later. However, in my view, his most impressive streak was the one he shared with his bride who survives him…married for 67 years! Now…that’s a lasting streak and a heck of partnership! Rest in peace, Tommy!
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Glad you’re better, Bob!
Have fun out there, Salty. And I was impressed by that also. My grandparents were married for 66 years ’til my grandfather’s passing. I don’t know how Nany put up with him sometimes (he was very Ted Williams-esque, both in appearance & temperment). It sounds like a miracle in this age of quickie divorces, doesn’t it? Growing up, I was the only one amongst my friends whose parents were still married.
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None better than The Del in San Diego … Food’s great … an understatement of the first order! Carol always loved the Spa and I can attest to a first rate salon … style, beard trim and manicure for under $100, sans gratuity … the entire Coronado area is delightful … good food just about everywhere … but if you haven’t been, The Del is an experience you don’t want to miss … won’t forget, and gets better each time, or at least it did for us.
It helped when the Company was paying for the transportation, suite and food … they first thought me a scientist, a longstanding misconception that I’ll try and correct should our fortunes change and we ever return.
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Good morning everyone…. Happy IRS day… 🙂 Yes, time to fork over what little dignity you have left and turn it over to Uncle Sam whom we have been told, knows how to spend your money better than you do….
Well, the R Brave winning streak ends at 6 as Chuck James gave up three runs, one earned, in 5 1/3 innings last night to the Iron Pigs.. (Phillies)
Buddy Carlyle has been called up to Atlanta so don’t be surprised to see him pitch Friday or Saturday. I guess somebody on the staff is still feeling the effects of being in their 40’s.
It is a beautiful day here but chilly, I think we had a bit of frost but now I can officially de-winterize my boat. Fishing is in my near term future I think.
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Very early morning everyone! 2 good night sleeps, couldn’t expect 3 now, could I??? 😕
I wanted to mention I have DISH network. We got it about 5 years ago, since we were just sick of cable, and the poor reception on several channels…always the one’s we Watched. Turner Classic Movies, History channel, etc. Home Shopping channels always were clear as a bell! 😡
Anywho, went to DISH, and GREAT picture, but….any wind, or heavy rain…and off the picture went! We considered getting rid of it, but after a decade of issues with cable….
So, one day, I went out back to look at where the DISH was pointed, and was convinced the reason the wind messed with the picture so much was because of a very tall pine tree that was swaying in the way!!! Oh man, how to convince them they’d have to move it???
So, guy comes out, agrees with me at first…then when he goes up to the Dish on the edge of the roof….he finds it’s loose as a tooth!
The durn fool iggit that “installed” the Dish, didn’t even attempt to do it right!!! 😡 😡 😡 (When the installer hooked everything up, he acted like you couldn’t have satellite hooked up to a VCR either, had it thru TV, so I had to figure out how to do it!!!)
So, we put up with poor or no reception for about 5 years every time the wind got above 15 MPH , and for no reason at all!!!! 😯 As my Mom used to say, hope that guy gets 2 flat tires…let me ad, every day for a year!!!! 😈
Now, unless it’s REALLY nasty outside, no problem at all!!!
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Man, took me so long to write that, Gil posted first daylight post!!!
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Paladin Says:
April 14, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I can see where I am going to have to give some thought to joining a blog sponsored and regulated by the AARP. One that functions during “normal hours”. This one is apparently sponsored by the VVA(Vapid Vampires of America).
This from a guy who goes to bed when the suns still out! 😛
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G’morning all…
B∞: Congrats on successful sleep! My coughing had kept me up 3 nights in a row, but last night I went the Nyquil route. Dunno what’s in it that works, but it always does. Trouble is, it leaves me feeling kida rung out in the morning, this one being no exception.
Gil: I’ve been searching since I read your report on Buddy. Wonder what the roster move is… 🙄 Can’t find any info yet.
Bob, I had to make a hasty exit just as you inquired about my weekend yesterday. Thanks for asking… It was OK except for this nasty crud, whatever it is. I’m feeling better, but the cough and chest congestion is hangin’ on. Throuat’s still sore, too…. My have to break down and visit the doc. I do hope you are feeling better, though.
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Wow… I really need to proofread a bit better. Must be the Nyquil effect… 😀
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Raspy, I HATE when the stuff hangs in your lungs like it does in the commercials!!! You feel better everywhere but the girly lungs….
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Girly lungs 🙂 No comment…
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Been playin’ Megadeth on youtube…who needs coffee???? 😯 😯 8o 😯
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Ha! Made you laugh…which probably hurt those suckers…sorry! 😦
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Coffee… I lost my coffee! 😯
Man, my head isn’t firing on all cylinders…
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Well, I found my coffee… and so did my dog.
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RVOW, your dog likes coffee???? 😯
Do you really want your brain firing on all cylinders this early???? Explosions in the brain this early…sounds like a bad thing….
Gil, get back here!
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My dog loves coffee… crazy, huh?
My brain needs to be firing on all cylinders since I’m supposedly working… and doing certifiable research at that. 😯
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Makes sense you are doing certifiable research, since you are clearly…..certifiable!!!!! 😛
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Point well made, my friend, point well made…
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And so’s your dog!
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You have seen him, right?
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RVOW, no I hadn’t!!! Cute! Thought the tag said mighty dog at first…like the dog food….sigh….I blame anything I say this am on forgetting my diabetes meds!! Didn’t want to take them too early….then forgot all about taking it when I drank a glass of OJ…. 😳
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Andruw Jones….got a hit!!! Average jumps 14 points to…. .114!
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This’ll wake you up:
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Now, Braves…
Any news on the roster move to accomodate Buddy? It kinda doesn’t make sense if he’s being recalled to make a start later in the week. Seems like the move wouldn’t be made until then. 😕
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Wheezins, your first post reminded me of a line from “40 Year Old Virgin” regarding Nyquil. You’ll either catch it or you won’t; I’ll be nice and not repeat it here. Cute dog.
Bob, what do you normally pay for a haircut and shave, my man?
HAIRCUT: Norelco beard trimmer (Christmas present), guard set on 3 all around…02 cents (electricity)
BEARD: same trimmer, guard removed (.003 cents electricity)
MANICURE: .99 cents (sans tax) nail clippers at Wal-Mart every 25 years, or $1.98 if you’re absent minded and need a backup.
WATCHING “Senior day at Kroger” Bob get a “good deal” on these things for $100 (sans gratuity)…PRICELESS.
🙂
Off to school.
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Raspy!!!! Man, I haven’t heard that song in years!!! I have that buried on a cassette somewheres….when I say cassette, I mean I didn’t buy the tape, I taped it off the radio….Jacksonville…they were lousy about saying who a band was, so didn’t even know who recorded it!
Thanks! 🙂
No Pallyboy!!! Off the board for 14+ hours!!! Well, time to crawl back into my coffin….
“Sleep, come on and take me” *
.
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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* Old song, no one would know, BB, BP, BE
Before Bob, Before Paladin, Before everyone here!!! 😆
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Wheezins, good song but needs more harmonica and cowbell.
Berigan, pretty sure Bob and Paladin were around in the early-nineties and may have even possessed ancient cassette recording technology.
Now I’m really leaving.
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Yeah, more cowbell. 😀
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Good morning y’all! Still coughing, VOR? Poor baby.
Happy Birthday, Gil!!!! 😀
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Gil? Birthday? Man, I missed it… 😡
Happy Birthday Gil!!! Woo-hoo!!! 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
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Gil:
Happy birthday!
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“what do you normally pay for a haircut and shave?” … about the same thing everyone else does, I guess … doubt they charge any extra just because it’s me, though I’m not sure. Grinch, you know it all depends on when and where it’s done and who does the work … I wasn’t trying to suggest that The Del was cheap but neither was it the most expensive … that was five, maybe six years ago … Carol says seven … as Bob Wills was wont to say, time changes everything.
WATCHING “Senior day at Kroger” Bob get a “good deal” on these things for $100 (sans gratuity)…PRICELESS … how true, how true! Actually, it was $90 … but, these days it’s always sans manicure and I usually pay $17.50, never with a tip, but sometimes with some homemade candy … for what my stylist typically charges $25.00 … though it’s free for my birthday and Christmas … we’ve been friends for 50 years.
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I set up the transition and then forgot … Happy birthday union man!!
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Now, Braves… According to the Atlanta Urinal-Constipation, yes, they have made the call to Buddy to join the team, but no official roster move has been made. As I said earlier, if they are gonna start him Friday or Saturday, they shouldn’t make a roster move before then. He was scheduled to start yesterday, but did not because of the call. Had he started yesterday, he would have stayed on regular rest for a start Saturday. So, the question is, are they calling him for a start, or for relief help?
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Thankyew, thankyewverymuch… 8)
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Folks, regardless if it’s to start or relieve, none of the Richmond players have been stretched out very much… I would not be surprised to learn that Jeff Bennett isn’t the one who has a problem. I have never known him to be that wild when healthy. The more I think about it, the more logical it seems….
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Having too much pitching is like being too rich…. Those guys are always on the edge these days. It is the nature of the game.
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NEW YORK (AP) – Divorce and out-of-wedlock childbearing cost U.S. taxpayers more than $112 billion a year, according to a study commissioned by four groups advocating more government action to bolster marriages
You “last minuters” think of this when you write your check to the Govt. Those of you who have already done so, think of it, as well.
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Vermont Gov. James Douglas signed into law a special moose permit lottery for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, five of Vermont’s 1,260 moose-hunting permits will be set aside for returning veterans and they will be allowed to apply for the regular, statewide lottery, as well as the special one for them. If you’re a Veteran and possess, or are eligible to receive, a campaign ribbon for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, and a Vermont resident, check box 4 on the 2008 Vermont Moose Permit Application to be included in a special priority drawing
Wow! What a deal! Specially when one remembers that when we came home the bounty was on us. ‘Course I guess the Meese would still prefer it that way.
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That’s sad, Paladin. Not sure what to do about the unwed mothers (& why doesn’t anyone ever talk about unwed fathers? Those women & girls didn’t get that way alone!). Offer free birth control to everyone? How do you make them use it?
I think before anyone is given a marriage license they should have to go through 6 months of pre-marital counseling to make sure they’re not making a mistake. And anyone wanting a divorce should also go through 6 months counseling to see if the marriage can be saved ( exceptions for cases of abuse or rampant infidelity, of course).
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Sweetheart: I think that you remember that I certainly hold the “men” accountable, and they should be. I also think uni-sex castration might be an option. 😦
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😯
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I know, Paladin, I meant other people that you hear ranting about the girls with 3 kids & no husband. And I think you alarmed VOR with that last line.
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I wasn’t including you, Raisins. You are raising yours. So, go back to sleep.
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And besides, it can’t be that bad. Look at Berigan. 😆
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I’ve got work to do. See you kids later.
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???
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Irrational post of the day:
Braves start a 3-game series with the Fish…if los Bravos get swept…5 games out! Oh, the end could be near, then will be time to focus on next year, start playing the youngsters for the experience. (Experience of losing? 😕 ) 😆
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OH…Happy Birthday, GIL!!! You’re so 😎
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Salty, think positive! The Braves are going to sweep the Marlins! Doesn’t that sound better?
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Salty: Where’d you find that post, on the dark side?
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Goodness, “Beat The Drum” is on the Movie Channel … imagine that!
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Amazing Grace in Cherokee. Beautiful!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GIL!!!
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flbravesgirl Says:
April 15, 2008 at 12:28 pm
That’s sad, Paladin. Not sure what to do about the unwed mothers (& why doesn’t anyone ever talk about unwed fathers? Those women & girls didn’t get that way alone!). Offer free birth control to everyone? How do you make them use it?
I think before anyone is given a marriage license they should have to go through 6 months of pre-marital counseling to make sure they’re not making a mistake. And anyone wanting a divorce should also go through 6 months counseling to see if the marriage can be saved ( exceptions for cases of abuse or rampant infidelity, of course).
Here, here FLB! FLB for President!!….oh, wait…too young…FLB in 2012!!! or will we have to wait til 2016??
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Jimmy Carter Embraces Hamas Official
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D902C69O0&show_article=1
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Jimmy Carter is a !@#$%^&*. He was the worst president in history, and is the worst ex-president in history. He isn’t worth any more of my keystrokes…
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Gil, I hope you appreciate the effort I went to find out the group who did this old(1981) song! 😉
Anyway, Happy Birthday!!!!!
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Somebody forgot to tell Jimmy that he isn’t President anymore. Or, maybe they did and he forgot. Gonna do what he wants to do, gonna say what he wants to say, come hell or high water. Somebody needs to rein him in. Over-inflated sense of self-importance.
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Raspy, Ahem to that! I USED to say a lousy president, and a great ex-president….Habitat for Humanity is the only good thing he ever did…and he didn’t even start it, it was some couple that you don’t ever hear about….he, being a former prez was able to promote it….
But, this crap….legitimatizing a group who’s charter calls for the destruction of Israel….words can’t describe how much this POS, PO’s me….
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Berigan, it’s 2020!
Reasonable Voice, do I note a hint of dissatisfaction with President Carter? He always says such nice things about you, … likes your singing too, even when you make mistakes.
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Oh well Bob, if Dhimmi Carter like’s VOR’s singing, that more than makes up for placing a wreath at the grave of noted murderer Yasser Arafat! 😉
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NOW, all of you chime in on Jimma; but when I brought it up last night…nada????
Salty earlier said he was out on the left coast so that is presumably where he is reading that the Braves will be swept. The Braves WILL NOT be swept! The Braves WILL win the series! I don’t know if it will be a sweep because my muse(I borrowed “it” from JB)will not tell me. “It” is probably waiting to see who takes Glavine’s place.
I use to live in Coronado, 2 blocks from the Del. I never slept there(well, maybe a nap or two)but we went there for drinks and dinner every weekend. It is one of the true landmarks of the country and I consider myself lucky to have had that opportunity.
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Paladin, you just called him Jimma, and no link! Plus, this is crapola he did today…and 7pm is when you brought it up, dinner time…not last night! 😛
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Bore-agin, with your schedule how would you know what time dinner is? Besides, I was raised in an old Southern family. Breakfast is at 7. Lunch is at noon. And dinner is at 6(promptly). And, if you followed that schedule you might not have as many stomach problems. 😛
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And Grinch, I was using a line from an old 20’s tune, Sleep come on, and take me….way before cassettes! Man, I sound grumpy, just like…umm, someone, VOR, perhaps???
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one minute sample of Boswell sisters singing Sleep, come on and Take me…since so many are curious now! 😛
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And “Rosalynn” has called him Jimma on the blog since Hector was a puppy. But, for your benefit I will refer to him, in the future, as James Earle Carter, 39th President of the United States of America. Will that help you?
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Just call him Earle, that I am sure would cheese him off! 😈
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Like in My Name is Earle? 😛
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ONE more thing. I’ve only voted for democrats(for President) twice in my life. Kennedy and Carter. I made a mistake, both times.
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Hey there bug eyes, I hear ya name is Earle, that tv show with the dim witted guy, is it based on you??? 😛
You are going to get me in trouble P-Din! Someone here may be related to him or somethin’
in baseball news….Um…err…Paladin, what’s new in the world of baseball????
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The Braves are playing later, Bearman. What else matters?
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Looks as if we ran everyone else off, Bearman. Good time to go run some errands. Later.
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Berigan, certainly I have oft been bemused by President Carter’s posture, increasingly so … but, as with the Braves, we are on the outside looking in … while I fall far short of the objective, criticizing them what age so quickly isn’t seemly … especially if they are doing what they believe to be just and honorable, even when they’re out of office.
I share the view that he was basically ineffective … but still, a very smart and likable man … couldn’t delegate for nothing … and I certainly find his recent and current behavior suspect, if not sorely misguided or delusional, remindful perhaps of Chamberlain … there are many perspectives and it’s rather complex, too much so for me, methinks … without getting too serious … let’s remember what Mama said, “If you can’t think of something nice to say about somebody, lie!”
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How young do y’all think I am? I’m not a baby. -P
Amazing thing just happened. The Asplundh tree guys were just on the property behind mine trimming my oak tree out of the power lines (we have a fence). So I’m keeping an eye on them from the kitchen, when suddenly there’s a CRASH !!! Somehow they managed to drop a branch on my gazing globe, which wasn’t anywhere near the fence. Completely shattered it. So now I’m glaring at them from the French doors, hoping the tree ants are eating them alive. One of them comes over in the cherry-picker to pick up all the branches, sees the broken globe, looks at the house, I know he can see me glaring holes in him. He quickly cleans up the branches & they get in their truck & leave. I’m wondering who I can call to yell at. Now, the astounding part… they drove around the block to my house, he came up to the door, apologized politely, asked how much it had cost ( about $60) & said he would be back tomorrow with a check from his boss. We’ll see if he actually shows up but I thought they were just going to high-tail it out of here as quick as they could. At least he said he was sorry, which is a near-miracle in this era of bad manners & nonexistant customer service.
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What happened to 😛 ?
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Hey everyone,
Y’all ready for some baseball tonight?
Unfortunately I’ll be sneaking looks at the game on my Blackberry throughout the night as I watch the Lion King in Atlanta. It should be good. I’m excited.
How’s everyone doing?
JB
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Moylan to the DL. Elbow. Who’s next?
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080415&content_id=2530285&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
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I just heard that, Hillbilly. I’m assuming it’s the 15 day?
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Hi, JB.
Haven’t seen Lion King yet but I’ve heard very good things about it. It always seems to come to the Tampa Bay Perf. Arts Center when I’m away or busy.
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I think this is Atlanta Civic rather than my favorite Fox Theater
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😯 Our pitchers are dropping like flies!!! (Sorry, Mr. Fly, just a figure of speech.)
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Thanks for the link, Hillbilly. Wow. Who’s got the voodoo dolls dressed like Braves & how do we get them to stop?
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THAT’S why my muse wouldn’t guarantee a sweep!
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Moylan!?! Elbow!?! What the… 🙄
Oh, man! (I hope I have not now jinxed Ohman.)
Well, who’s the closer now, Acosta? Resop? Committee?
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Holy injury-bug-batman!!!!!!!! 😯 He was throwing as hard as I have ever seen the other night…Radar said 101, which I knew wasn’t right, but hit 96 a few times, and the announcers sure thought that one was legit….wonder if he overdid it since he was closing????
Manny has looked scared to me this year. Last year, he had the look of someone saying, damn right I belong, here…took them long enough to call me up…He needs that look back.
Can we get Yates back from Pittsburg??? 😕 (I know, I agreed it was the best thing to do at the time)
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Remember in Spring Training everybody talking about all the pitching we had? It’s never enough pitching.
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Acosta is, apparently, the man now. Will I be comfortable with him in that role. No. But, I wouldn’t have been comfortable with Yates, either.
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Time to
raperaid Richmond for some arms. Buddy is a body.LikeLike
Same here, Paladin. I sure hope the bats are warmer than the weather today. They’re going to have to pound the Fish into submission. And I’ll be stuck with the Marlins’ broadcast. Bleh! Y’all please let me know what info Joe & Boog pass along.
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Want to re-phrase the 4:26? 😯
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FLB, you are so right! We always think that there is plenty, then proven wrong.
Paladin, I just checked Acosta’s stats. After that terrible first game, he has made 4 appearances and hasn’t given up a run in any of them…I think I still saw the scared look a bit though….
Last year, he pitched in 23 2/3s innings, and gave up only 13 hits(Did walk 14 though) 22 strikeouts, and had a 2.23 ERA. My thought seeing him pitch last year is why in the world was he in the minors for so long!!! We shall see how he handles closing….
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Time to go start prepping dinner. I’ll see y’all tonight.
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Totally irrelevant, but a beautiful story:
Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.
It wasn’t long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and
tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.
He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of
injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this
animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.
But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.
With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields
before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly
and infirm. They weren’t playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass,
forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.
One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn’t understand what he had just
witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to
explain it to him.
You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as
you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge.
The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, “So what
will happen now?” As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.
“Watch, and see” said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.
“What happened?”
“That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn’t place on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge.”
“I think I like rescuers,” said the first animal.
“So does God,” was the reply.
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Sorry Sweetheart. I forget how “sensitive” you are to my “colorful” language. Let’s try this. It is time to bring up Charlie Morton(?) or that Cuban who played on the same team with Yunel. I liked Charlie during ST and I think he has the potential to replace(temporarily)Moylan.
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I didn’t mean replace Moylan as a closer. I just meant to give you an inning, or part of.
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What about me?
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CL, very nice! 🙂
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CL; Will you be my rescuer? 😀
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Bearman, you are out of luck. The story is about grass eaters, not grass smokers. 😛
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P-Din, you are confusing me with some older, short haired guy!
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Ow!!! 😡
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He’s cranky like you as well! 😛
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WASHINGTON (AP) – The world’s beaches and shores are anything but pristine. Volunteers scoured 33,000 miles of shoreline worldwide and found 6 million pounds of debris from cigarette butts and food wrappers to abandoned fishing lines and plastic bags that threaten seabirds and marine mammals.
A report by the Ocean Conservancy, to be released Wednesday, catalogues nearly 7.2 million items that were collected by volunteers on a single day last September as they combed beaches and rocky shorelines in 76 countries from Bahrain to Bangladesh and in 45 states from southern California to the rocky coast of Maine.
“This is a snapshot of one day, one moment in time, but it serves as a powerful reminder of our carelessness and how our disparate and random actions actually have a collective and global impact,” Vikki Spruill, president of the Ocean Conservancy said in an interview.
The 378,000 volunteers on average collected 182 pounds of trash for every mile of shoreline, both ocean coastlines and beaches on inland lakes and streams, providing a “global snapshot of the ocean trash problem.”
Forget, for a minute, Global warming. This is more indicative of what we are doing to our planet.
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Ow, Bloke!
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And forget about snail darters, 3-toed frogs, blind crayfish and the other things that environmentalists have been telling us that we are endangering. Think instead about the numbers of chinook salmon down to 1/10th of what it was 20 years ago. This is not only an industry that might go under, it is a custom and a birthright that may disappear while the blackberry and ipod generation eat their burgers and drink their Starbucks and couldn’t care less!
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Thank you all for all the well wishes today…. I had a very nice lunch with my oldest daughter and youngest son. The other kids have all called to congratulate me on getting another year older… 🙂
Berigan… I can truthfully say I had never heard that version of Happy Birthday… 🙂 It felt just like being at a Red Lobster…. but different. 🙂
Okay, I picked the wrong reliever to be placed on the DL. Look, I was just guessing…
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Gil one of my best … favorite as well as most embarrassing, birthday moments came at The Drive In in Matamoros, Mexico … good food, good service, good entertainment … Carol’s father took us there, thirty years ago methinks … and though I knew it not, I was the birthday guest of honor … here’s las Mananitas, well played that day and here too … happy birthday again! http://youtube.com/watch?v=_CIjHLZk27U&feature=related
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Just heard an annointed “music & blogging expert” on 680 the Fan say that Moylan is heading to see Dr. Andrews. Apparently they saw something on the MRI that wasn’t pretty. 😐
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Gil; I’ll make you a deal. I won’t help remind you that you are another year older if you won’t remind me later this month. OK? 😛
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So, do you call Pittsburgh and say, “Mulligan?”
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Raisins; We had that discussion earlier. You are in a minority that want Yates back. We have just as good as him, here.
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Uh, palomino, there was a hint of sarcasm there… perhaps I should have attached a 😀 or a 😉 or a 😕
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That would help, young’un. You are dealing with a senior citizen that can use all the visual help I can get. 😛
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And I’m not “in” to mulligans. I guess it comes from being in a “business” for so long where mulligans were not available. 🙄
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I will say that since Moylan is having to visit Dr. Andrews, it’s not something as simple as tendonitis. We’re not talking days; we’re talking weeks, maybe months. With the uncertainty surrounding Soriano, it’s no longer a matter of “Who’s gonna fill the gap?” The gap is fast becoming a gorge.
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Well, I’m out of here. I know by experience that otherwise I’ll be talking to myself. I’ll lurk around when the game starts to see if anyone shows up. Bye.
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I see that my Invisible Man impersonation is quite effective… 😐
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Oh, one other thing I wanted to leave on here for nobody to read. We had some pretty serious storms here last Friday. In one, a family that moved to this area from Coral Gables, Fl to escape the danger of hurricanes, lost their home in a tornado. It’s not funny, but goes to show…
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OK… the early unofficial word is that Moylan’s elbow ligament is OK, but it may be something of the bone spur/calcium deposit variety. That is potentially bad, but not as bad as TJ surgery.
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elbow man, thanks for the update!!! “Just” bone spurs sounds good to me right now!!!
And Pallyboy, we do read your posts, honest! If I were to get sensitive about every time I posted something I thought was interesting and no one commented on it…..well, I’d get sensitive a lot!
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B∞: You say somethin’?
😀
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“If I were to get sensitive about every time I posted something I thought was interesting and no one commented on it…..well … sounds like a good book title … or lead post. Of course there are some of us who get sensitive about the comments our posts receive.
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Crickets during game time is not acceptable.
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I just arrived back to see that Berigan reads my posts. That gives me a warm feeling…down my left leg. 👿
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Ah asked Chop Seal if Ah could use his Avatah. Ah lahk that little red beana he is wahin’.
The Pillsburrah Bake-Off has been won bah a ladah bakin’ peanut-stuffed cookas. That wahms mah haht and makes me happah.
And now, Ah am growin’ sad . . . and it is not because of the little zebrah that fell off the truck. That little zebrah fell off the truck and nobodah has filed a missing zebrah repoht. Imagine losin’ a zebrah and not even missin’ that boah in time to file a repoht. Think of how many zebrahs will be lost on the Intastate that wah. Well, if ya think that little missin’ zebrah has it rough . . .
Mah, mah, mah, fuhst Ah write a nice blog lead about Jerra and Pepa and Lewa and Raffa and on that vera same blog mah good friend from uganda, juhnalist jimma smith, is literalla run from the blog. Too much preachin’ at jimma smith from what Ah understand so jimma smith took a sabbatical. Next, Ah look at todah’s blog and everabodah is talkin bad about mah Jimma. Cussin’ mah Jimma, callin’ mah Jimma names. Well, sticks and stones mah break Jimma’s bones but wuhds will nevah huht the fohmah leadah of the free wuhld. And now, Jimma is ovahseas and jimma smith is out of the blog rotation. Cut. Unconditional wahvahs. Nothin’s soah that Ah know of. Not a soah elbah lahk Peta Mohlan. Not a soah shouldah lahk John Smoltz. Not a soah hammah lahk Tomma Glavine. Not a soah oblique lahk Mahk Hampton. Not a soah ahm lahk Soriannah. Not a soah quad lahk Chippah. Nothin’ soah at all about jimma smith – just dropped without fanfah. Ah think jimma smith wanted to blog some moah but jimma smith was waitin’ foah the raht tahm. Yestadah and todah have seemed raht foah some reason.
It is sad about that boah Thohman. Theah used to be a senator from South Carolina named Thohman and he couldn’t hit eitha. Of coahse he was vera, vera old. And can China Cadahia not work with Tusha and help Tusha luhn to scoop the ball? That Tusha needs to drop his tusha down a bit and pick up the ball. Catch the ball if yoah not goin’ to hit the ball. Well. Ah must go now. Ah am saddened bah mah friends reaction to Jimma’s diplomacah. Heah’s hopin’ moah diplomacah is shown by everabodah.
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Paladin, change your diaper! 🙂
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Welcome home Rosalynn. I’ve missed you. And if you see Jimma Smith, tell him likewise.
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I’ve tried, Klobber. I asked for Depends at Wal-mart and they gave me a french drain. Damn!
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1 – 0 Marlins. But, you can’t blame that on the bullpen.
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By RACHEL D’ORO
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A radio station suspended two disc jockeys Tuesday over a derogatory remark about Alaska Native women made on their show, a comment that has Alaskans comparing the shock-jock duo to Don Imus.
The Anchorage DJs, known as Woody and Wilcox, were joking about what makes someone a real Alaskan, when one of them said it’s somebody who makes love to the Yukon River and urinates in a Native woman. It’s a twist on an old saying – also offensive to many – that real Alaskans have urinated in the Yukon River and made love to an Alaska Native woman.
Comments??
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Another “chatty” night on the B & S blog. I’m going and watch it on the big screen. Nite.
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Well Hello Miss Rosalynn … I’m soah but you have been soahly missed!
Polonius said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but it’s good to have the reel deel … welcome back! Tell Mr. Smith to forget about going to Washington … it’s lonely here without him, even if we’re not in the lineup!
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Points are well taken about not being on the Line Up Card. When people say they are leaving, I take them at their word. Silly of me. Bob J was reinstated at his request – before his 9:33 post. I have to assume, from an earlier comment, that jimmy smith wishes to be added again also. Will be done immediately. It is terribly difficult to read minds.
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I decided to love my family not in spite of their shortcomings (or ask that they love me in spite of mine) but simply for who they are.
These words from JB are from this very blog. We here (hear?) in this small slice of blog heaven known as Braves & Stuff are a family of sorts. We all bring our unique qualities, good and bad, to the family table. But in the end, that’s what makes it interesting. I must say that when one of the places at the family table is unoccupied, that person is missed. I think it’s neither appropriate nor necessary to ask anyone to return to the table, but I think it’s perfectly fitting to let family members know they are missed. So, that being said, you who are currently not in your seat(s), you are missed. Lots of Braves to be hashed, lots of Stuff to be spread. Plenty to go around. (And plenty of beets to be written…)
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Blech!!! The offense went missing & Ohman was offensive. Not fun.
I hope it is only a bone spur for Moylan.
Miss Rosalynn, nice to see you. Please give my best to journalist jimmy smith.
I’ll be back in a bit.
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Disappointing … well, at least it wasn’t another one run loss … and we’re still ahead of the Nats … but one run would have been enough.
Let’s see … we replaced Scott with Tex, Andruw with Mark, and Edgar with Yunel … improved our bench … added Tommy and Jair … I just don’t understand.
Could it be the physics … 15 fly ball outs … 5 strike outs? Fly balls are only good if they’re long … reel long.
Maybe it’s the chemistry … Bobby’s been his ever optimistic self … but, methinks the players seem lost and, at least on occasion, some have expressed inner doubts, through words and/or body language.
Maybe the key is Frank after all … it’s his job to see that Bobby does his … I’ve yet to see much evidence of a proactive game plan.
Frankly my dear, I do … and tomorrow is another day … Go Braves!
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Guess there’s not much point in taking a break from work to check on the Braves, huh?
Now sit back y’all, and ponder this one before answering. This is what’s bothering me a lot more than the mounting losses, and it is hearing for the 5 billionth time in the last three seasons that some scrub pitcher who can’t get anyone out anywhere miraculously pitches a shutout against the Braves. There are too many hitters with proven talent on this team (and last year’s, and the one before that) for this to be a coincidence every dang time. There is only one “coincidence,” and that is that Terry Pendleton’s been instructing almost exactly as long as I’ve been reading those headlines.
Now, I’m not trying to say he doesn’t know how to hit; I’m just saying whatever he’s telling them is consistently not working. A typical week on offense since he’s been here are a game or two we score 12 runs and the rest we get inexplicably blanked by whoever the heck is pitching, regardless of talent. The only exceptions are the players who have too much talent to get screwed up (Chipper, Tex, Frenchy), McCann(who has his own pitching coach he admits to going to when he gets screwed up) and Escobar, who either belongs to the first group or hasn’t been up long enough to get screwed up yet. Not sure which ’till I see him some more.
I could be wrong; feel free to offer up other plausible explanations. I just don’t happen to see any.
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Grinch: Your hypothesis is sound and your points are valid. I have no rebuttal.
Oh, yeah, and I agree with what you’re sayin’, too.
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Hi, Grinch. I can’t argue with that. Much as I like Pendleton, I’m not sure he’s any good as a hitting coach.
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I think they need to hire Matt Foley as motivational coach. 😀
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Can’t you hear Matt Foley talking to Mark Teixeira? “So, you’re looking for that fat contract, huh? Well, la-de-freakin’-da! What are you hittin’ right now? .196? Well, that and 5 cents will get you a hot, steaming cup of jack squat! If you don’t start hitting, next year you’ll be livin’ in a van down by the river!”
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Or maybe Mick Foley to hit off the bench. Actually, he’s dead. Never mind. Although he’s dead and didn’t play baseball when he was alive, he’s still probably a better option than Thorman.
Back to work.
Hi, FBG!
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Yeah, man; though if Tex is living in a van next year something tells me it’ll be a pretty nice one. 🙂
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Maybe once Andruw Jones eats his way out of baseball, he can become a similar motivational speaker!
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… or Jennie Craig spokesmodel… 😆
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Medifast, VOR.
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Hay to be hit… I must hit it…
G’night!
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“So, you’re looking for that fat contract, huh? Well, la-de-freakin’-da! What are you hittin’ right now? .196? Well, that and 5 cents will get you a hot, steaming cup of jack squat! If you don’t start hitting, next year you’ll be livin’ in a van down by the river!” … too reasonable but my kind of guy!
Crazy old Charley Finley had the right idea … at least directionally.
Christmas Stealer, you’ve averred that bobby has earned the right to decide when he leaves … well, at least so posited. I can’t agree for you can’t earn the right to destroy the empire, though you be Caesar … but pragmatically, I imagine that will be the case.
Regardless, it’s Terry’s job to coach the hitters … I personally think it should be Greg Maddux with a hitting instructor to assist … but the point is that the job isn’t getting done and, while we’re on the outside looking in, there’s rather strong evidence it’s of some duration.
If that’s true, then he should have been reassigned or replaced, depending on agenda … some time in the past. He wasn’t … that much we know. that means the manager has failed in his responsibilities. Since he is seemingly untouchable, his manager is responsible for arriving at an innovative solution … which he did … got himself promoted he did so as to avoid having direct responsibility … which leaves David’s best friend … poor Frank … what’s he going to do?
John and Frank could solve the problem if they so chose … it’s more about chemistry and confidence more than talent, methinks. I imagine you already know what I’d do … hire a full time psychologist that reports to Frank; together with Greg Maddux and a good hitting instructor … sign all to long term contracts … Let Terry be the pitching coach, at least until you can get a good catcher for the job; with Roger as the pitching instructor.
It simply doesn’t matter what I would do … but the key is in successfully circumventing Bobby’s refusal to do anything about the problem; if indeed that is the problem … I think they could do it if they so wanted … but the won’t … maybe because it would require acumen and aplomb they don’t possess.
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I’ve always gotten the impression that Pendleton was being groomed as Bobby’s replacement (whenever Bobby decides to retire). I think he might be better as a manager than hitting coach. He was a good leader as a player.
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Time for bed. Good night y’all.
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I just reread what I wrote … “I can’t agree for you can’t earn the right to destroy the empire, though you be Caesar … but pragmatically, I imagine that will be the case ” … and while that says what I intended, I can see where my intent might be unclear or misunderstood.
I really directionally agree with the Grinch and I wasn’t intending to suggest that Bobby shouldn’t be allowed to retire on his own terms, at least according to his own schedule … only that I believe his continued employment as Field Manager isn’t a right established by his past performance … it’s a privilege, contingent upon ownership conviction that it both feasible and prudent … unless, of course, they have granted him an unconditional, lifetime contract, annually renewable at his option.
In my view, he’s been a fantastic manager … the best.
The notion of “outside looking in” is more than simple rhetoric … there’s no good way to effectively Terry’s performance without knowing the constraints that have been imposed upon him. Methinks we can however assume that either he has satisfied management’s expectations or that he too enjoys a protected status.
I was just trying to express my belief that most every problem has its solution(s) … proper identification of the problem most always being the key … and perhaps some ingenuity may be in order.
As a parting aside, it would be refreshing to sense some sort of dynamic offensive game plan in effect that was pitcher and situation specific … and fewer walks by our pitchers, especially banana walks … them what come in bunches.
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Apologies for the two missing “‘s” … goodnight
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Good morning everyone, I was especially glad to see one of our old (and I mean that in a nice way) friend Mz Rosaynn make an appearance. I have missed her and Jimmy Smith greatly.
And CL… My wife expects me to read her mind all the time… 🙂 Sometimes I even can…
Now baseball….. bah… Two things in particular irked me last night. The first being the lack of offense by a supposedly good offensive team. The second was the inability to throw strikes by a major league pitcher. There is absolutely no excuse for that. I would rather the man give up a home run than walk people. Even the wife was disgusted. I told her that if she was mad, think how the team felt, standing out there on the playing field while the other team walks to victory.
Yes, it is still early but like the wife said, this makes the third year that we have watched the bullpen blow up.
And like I told 008 during the last week of spring training when the Braves’ bats were going cold, he can now officially worry…
The only real bright spot was Jair… The kid has a bright future if he can get some run support.
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must… find… coffee…
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I found mine, thankfully! 😯
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jimmy smith thanks the bloggers for the kind words and thanks the several bloggers who forwarded e-mail messages to this journalist over the past few weeks. jimmy smith has missed blogging hear.
so much has been said about jimmy smith and so much has been said for jimmy smith (that this journalist had nothing to do with) that it has caused memories to fade. in fact, hear are the last jimmy smith posts:
“”polite journalist jimmy smith Says:
March 22, 2008 at 9:43 pm
yes, the plug can be pulled very easily but jimmy smith will be no part of it. jimmy smith will remain polite and respectful. carolina lady is steamed and that is not a good thing. steamed carrots, maybe. steamed carolina lady, no way.
and any blogger that might care to read jimmy smith’s post of march 17 at 5:25 pm can judge what jimmy smith has said or not said. lots of spinning goin’ on. feel like obama right now.
and journalist bob has confused even jimmy smith but journalist bob is crafty. much like buffalo bob, journalist bob is pulling some strings right now. oh, the humanity!
and now, baseball . . . Odalis Perez has been named the opening day starter for the Nationals on March 30 against the Atlanta Braves.””
“”polite journalist jimmy smith Says:
March 22, 2008 at 9:51 pm
jimmy smith will go on sabbatical. not guilty of all being said. not going to end up like sja. happy easter to all. back in a few weeks, maybe.””
well, journalist was trying not to be controversial and trying not to make an angry post that would cause jimmy smith to end up like sja with no place to blog . . . so jimmy smith went on 3 weeks sabbatical. cooling off for everybody-coincided with 2 trips out of town and some time for reflection.
if jimmy smith’s intentions were not understood jimmy smith apologizes. better to leave for a time than respond angrily to untruths. thought that was clear.
it is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder but that may not be the case for jimmy smith and the carolina lady braves and stuff blog colossus. if jimmy smith is the bad guy in all this controversy (much like sja was painted the bad guy for reacting to hurtful comments) then jimmy smith regrets journalist’s actions to allow a cooling off period and then return.
maybe thomas wolfe had the right of it – journalist can’t go home again. if the climate is not good for a jimmy smith return journalist will understand. journalist does not wish to force journalist’s self on others. have seen what that is like.
but first, baseball . . . these braves seem conditioned for golf but not baseball. why is there no stretching and running going on prior to the games? and riding the same relief pitcher each night does not seem to work well for these braves. moylan was the nastiest thing going and now moylan is hurt. can never have too much pitching. can never have too much pitching. can never have too much pitching.
and whither the excitement? a bunch of old-men players comprised of young men. not much energy. not much enthusiasm. not very good results. corporate baseball.
and belated birthday greetings to gil. tax day had to make it special! 😆
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jjs: It is indeed like a breath of fresh air. I feel as though I am having a hot slice of apple pie after weeks of dieting. 😀
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JJS…. Yes, the wife has said the same thing about too much golf, not enough baseball…. It is difficult to serve two masters…. And even Tiger Woods is on the DL for a torn meniscus… perhaps he should not have tried to hit Smoltz’s breaking ball…
And how do you fall off an escalator? A Mets fan fell to his death yesterday at Shea Stadium after attending the game with his family. Very strange, only in New York.
Richmond returned to their winning ways again last night. Zach (the right handed Mike Stanton) Schreiber recorded his third save. Lillibridge continues his struggles and Canizares continues his hot hitting….
And yes, the Braves need a Marcus Giles type on the club… Sometimes you really need that sparkplug to get the emotions flowing to make something happen.
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Rasins… At the least some peanut brittle…
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Josh Anderson also had an inside the park home run last night…. Might be just the kind of energy the Braves need in Atlanta.
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What the Braves need is a Billy Martin type manager is the dugout. I love Bobby. The players love Bobby. Hell, everybody but Robert loves Bobby. But, there are times when love don’t get it done. A boot in the collective butt is called for.
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For you folks who like college basketball, and even some of you folks that don’t should read this piece on Dave Robbins, the long time coach at Virginia Union University who retired yesterday. To me, he is one of the best coaches to ever grace the sidelines.
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-04-16-0143.html
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oo8…. I hear Larry Bowa is available… 🙂
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Good morning y’all! Gil, they need something . A kick in the butt maybe.
jimmy, it’s so good to see you. I don’t think anyone tried to make you the “bad guy”, everyone likes & respects you too much for that. We just didn’t want a personal argument taking over the blog. CL is trying to establish ground rules that any personal disputes be taken up via email. We want the blog to be strong & attract new good bloggers. Your presence will help that, IMO, because you are one of those who provides the spark to the blog, much like the Braves need someone to provide.
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Quite a bit of lallygagging going on eh?
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My old DI is, too. And he probably knows as much about baseball as Bowa. 😛
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Ugandan sparkplug? 😀
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No Bowa. He’s not “tough” or “fiery” or any of those other terms used for managers. He’s just a jerk.
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Ugandan sparks? 😛
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That’s “strong” language coming from you, Sweetheart. And right on!!
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Y’all know what I mean. Besides, Chop Seal is buddies with Moylan, right? We need him to get on the story & tell what’s happening with that elbow.
VOR, who’s the fellow in your avatar? Can’t really tell what he’s doing.
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Players responded to Martin because he was not only tough, he was knowledgeable. And he not only knew how to give a boot when it was needed, he also knew how to give a pat on the back. That’s important.
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Good morning! Sorry I wasn’t around last night….dinner, then errands, then gym, then marathon phone call with best friend….I can busy, yet very dull all at once, a true gift.
Heard enough of the game….I somehow knew when the score was 2-0 late, that we had no chance….amazing, isn’t it????? I knew without seeing a second of the game….Gil, I am glad Blanco is with the big club, but he ain’t playing, so even if Josh Anderson replaced him, he wouldn’t play, would he???
Some guy that writes baseball stuff for the AJC showed that Diaz hits something like .243 in April. That’s one time when I am glad to have a very patient manager like Bobby dealing with him….but, one game a week, it wouldn’t hurt to play Blanco, would it???? So far, he has 5 whole AB’s….Diaz 52 AB’s.
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What’s Bobby Knight’s phone number? 👿
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I think Bobby can be stern when somebody screws up. We just don’t see it because it’s behind closed doors (as it should be). I just wish he would use some of that when the team is playing poorly. Jair deserves some run support. He’s been solid.
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Knight’s #? (666)666-6666
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Bearman; I agree with you on your Blanco/Anderson assessment…to a point. If Anderson was put in to run, he might light a spark without an AB. Just a thought.
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Hello, Mr. Knight? This is who?! Bearman, I don’t want to talk to YOU! 😛
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Raisins has had more avatars than Paris Hilton has been had.
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Paladin, I am confused by a lot of things right now…(Shuddup! 🙂 )
3 catchers, but Pena has only 6 AB’s
I know we have had a few off days because of the month, and the weather, but….McCann has been in every game this year(Not started all, but in all)
People say he does fine against lefties, but he sure looks uncomfortable against them….Pena is a switch hitter, right????
And Kotsay has played in every game as well, I thought the game plan was 135-140 games???
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Bearman; I agree! Some shakeup might help. And for Kotsay: I have been a big supporter of him, and still am. But, Andruw would have caught that ball that got over his head, last night.
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It’s still early, B. Things will change.
Paladin, isn’t she just about the biggest waste of oxygen you’ve ever seen? All that money & advantage & not one speck of brains. I can’t understand what she’s “famous” for ( being a stupid rich bimbo is not a talent, IMO).
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FBG: As to my avatar, go back to my 11:01pm from last night… It’s Matt Foley…
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Sweetheart; I totally agree. But, I was just using one of her obvious “talents” to pull Raisin’s leg(pardon the pun). 😛
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… or just click here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7509647494238830780
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Matt Foley for bench coach!!! 😀
(No offense, Chino.)
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Same pants size.
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That’s funny, Raisins. 😆
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FBG: 😆
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Well, I’m off to do something. I’m not sure what, but hopefully I’ll think of it before I get lost. Giddiup!
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Do y’all remember how terrible the Cubs were last season before Lou blew a gasket on the field in a game vs. the Braves? The Cubs were 22-31 in their 53 games prior to the hissy fit. Not only that, remember the day before when Zambrano and Michael Barrett got in a fist fight in the dugout? That series vs. the Braves is when the Cubs hit rock bottom. They went 35-18 over the subsequent 53 games, and went on from there to capture the National League Central Division title. I’m not saying Bobby should go out on the field and walk the tightrope of a coronary episode, but somehow, we’ve got to bounce off the bottom and stir up a little mud. What’s it going to take? Something’s got to give.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an auspicious day ahead of us indeed. The morning already has had a Ugandan Journalist sighting and the first “Andruw would’ve caught that one” of the season! Good deal.
Yes, most managers would be experimenting with lineup changes right now; that (and occasional rest for your superstars) is what having a 25 man roster is for. Must not be in the righty/lefty book.
Back to work; I’ll drop in this evening.
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Hi, Hillbilly, Grinch.
We all know that something needs to be done. Who on the Braves has the guts to do a little verbal butt-kicking?
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FBG,
Smoltz has been known to dish out a jab through the media every now and then.
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Yeah, I know. Smoltzie’s not scared to speak his mind. I feel like in this case it should be a position player challenging the rest of the hitters to do better. Chipper’s not really a vocal guy (though I think he’s more of a leader than some give him credit for).
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Through the years (not the song…yet), I’ve paid little attention to what the Braves do until May. On the injury front, what do you do? They made it through ST without getting hurt, now they do? That doesn’t suggest ‘out of shape’ to me…but the luck certainly stinks!
Yeah, let’s kick some butt…chew those batters out. Hey, you…yeah, you! Get up there and hit the da$# ball…and don’t strike out! 😡 Oh, and relax, you can do it! 😯
Run the marathon…players and fans…but do keep the leaders in sight! When you can’t see them, then you have a problem!
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😀 Salty. Nothing at all we can do about the injuries. Just bad luck. I just feel that the hitters are kind of flat right now. I know they’re better than this, maybe a little push would get ’em going.
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Like it or not, Bobby Cox exhibits a tremendous amount of patience, and that patience is reflected in his players. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it does not. All I keep hearing is that “Tex is always a slow starter… Diaz traditionally has a slow April, etc…” OK, I get it, but it doesn’t always sit well when the manager and his players have more patience than the fans.
A track record of success helps soothe things, but the recent past doesn’t necessarily suggest that patience always pays off. In many of the “golden years”, the Braves would start slowly, then reel off about a 10 game winning streak, reassert their position and play like expected for the rest of the season. The last couple of seasons, though, that streak and reassertion haven’t materialized. I will say this – they have more talent this year than they’ve had in several years, if they can get and stay healthy. They are more than capable of going on a run.
So what will ignite it? That appears to be the big question… Is it a players-only closed door meeting? A manager chewing out? I’m not so sure that this collection of “professionals” would respond to that kind of motivation. Perhaps if Tex has a monster night, or if KJ and Yunel get red-hot at the same time, who knows?
What do I think? I’m glad you asked. I think to a certain degree, they appear to be waiting for the April duldrums to disappear. I think Tex is a big key to this team, and if he breaks out of his early funk, the team will respond in kind. I also agree that we could use a spark of some sort, possibly on the form of Josh Anderson. Blanco isn’t contributing much, and would benefit from more playing time in AAA. I also think that they really, and I mean really need a power threat off the bench. There isn’t one player lat ein the games that opposing managers fear coming off the pine. For example, last night, the Fish bring Luis Gonzalez out and Bobby immediately goes to an already depleted ‘pen. We have… who? Need somebody.
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I am not going to get embroiled in a protracted argument over how to lead men. It’s like faith. You either have it, or you don’t. OF COURSE, you can’t say go up there and get a hit, or else. Nor, can you say, “If you strike out again, I’m going to…!” You concentrate on attitude and whether they are giving you their best effort. These are talented people or they wouldn’t be here. It is up to the leader to get the very best effort out of them and eventually the talent will show through. Has Bobby done this in the past? Certainly he has! And if you think the team is giving their best effort in every game now, then you are satisfied with the job Bobby is doing. I don’t think that is the case and I am dissatisfied with the job Bobby is doing now. That’s my opinion. You are certainly entitled to yours.
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“and whither the excitement?” … the excitement is hear mon ami!!
“a bunch of old-men players comprised of young men. not much energy. not much enthusiasm. not very good results” … it is but mid April … early in the season to be concerned, but methinks it’s the continuation, rather than the start, that is the concern … corporate baseball.
Welcome back!
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still a colossus, right? okay, hear goes . . . if tex is a slow starter work with him differently in spring training. if diaz has had a slow april before it may be beacuse he was never sure of his roll. take a pole. if the pitchers are pulling muscles then maybe the pitchers need some stretching and running exercises. if chipper gets hurt running the bases then maybe chipper needs to soak something in pickle juice and toughen it up. if frenchy is making poorly advised throws allowing the extra base it is hard to explain that away anymore. showcasing the arm? showcasing the gray matter instead? and if the results of the past two seasons are not what is wanted maybe the approach should change. fundamental baseball is beautiful. the pirates exhibited some of the very best fundamentals and stayed with the braves in a game when clearly overmatched by talent. that the braves could not advance a runner or manage a hit with runners in scoring position allowed the team with lesser talent to remain competitive in the game. and matt chico may win the cy young if allowed to face these braves again and again. something is missing and it is not, “c’mon kid”. that part is covered.
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“c’mon kid”
😆
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Now, stuff…
As I was doing my normal work today, I ran across the following name of a local law firm: Payne & Boyle
How appropriate! 😀
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😆 I’ve seen a sign for a law firm here where one of them is named Bobo. Clown lawyer?
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if chipper gets hurt running the bases then maybe chipper needs to soak something in pickle juice
Sweet, dill, kosher, sour…’bread and butter’? 😕 Does it matter? 😆 I’ll go with ‘bread and butter’…he’s that kind of player, right?
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He’ll need the pickle barrel if he’s soaking his quads. 😀
One of the cutest things I have ever seen:
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Crud, it’s not working. Must have done something wrong.
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What I like about today’s “debate”(and it may not be over)is that people have given their opinions and let them stand or fall on merit, and have not felt compelled to tear down the opinion of others. BTW, how do you tear down an opinion? Unless it is founded on something that is stated, and in error, it–like copyrighted material–is the property of the owner. While this is immaterial in “you are and idiot” land, thankfully CL land is different. What we have seen today is how civil and mostly intelligent 😛 people have blog discourse. I’ve enjoyed it. Haven’t you?
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Much better than being nasty & insulting.
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One thing to note, hitting-wise…the Braves have the fewest strikeouts in the NL…tied with the Reds (I learned this ‘across the street’). That’s a very promising # for a team that’s not hitting well. Putting the ball in play gives a chance for good things to happen. So…I guess we shall see, huh?
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Dancing munchkins! 😀
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Well, at least that’s something positive. Thanks, Salty.
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Aren’t they cute, VOR? And they’re so good!
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Let’s be clear…this is “and idiot” zone. No doubt about that at all. What’s different is we’re free to be “and idiot” any time we want, without consequence! ‘Cept when you’re around Paladin…then it’s still the ‘Wild West’! 😛
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FBG…my glass is always half-full! I do want to know who’s drinking from it, though! 🙂
By the way, ‘dancin’ munchkins’ were on SportsCenter.
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Way to prove your point, Salty. 😛
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ABC/ESPN. Same company. But I bet they were excited to make Sportscenter.
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“fundamental baseball is beautiful … Polonius said that, and it’s still true after all these years … I’ll drink to that. However, beauty is as beauty does … and our team seems highly skilled in the fundamentals of hitting fly balls … 17 last night … 15 outs and Chipper’s two “skillfully placed drives” … such beauty belongs in the Louvre, methinks.
No question about the talent … need to change something though … seems to be plenty of contagion too … most of it negative. Let’s hope that we see a pitcher besting plan tonight, a good win and that the contagion permeates and is long lasting.
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Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since its bloody takeover last June, opposes peace negotiations with Israel and is committed to the Jewish state’s destruction. The Islamic militant group has killed some 250 Israelis in suicide bombings and is branded a terror organization by the U.S. and Israel.
This is the outfit that Jimma(James Earle Carter 39th, etc. for Berigan)thinks needs his representation. Who next? Bin Laden?
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“fundamental baseball is beautiful … Polonius said that,
😯
The ‘stuff’ I learn here! 😆
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Neville Chamberlain…uncle, once removed, of Jimmy Carter? Some folks just don’t get, “Evil…is”.
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Good afternoon BSers… Whew, what a work out. A mulched about 250 pounds of pine branches and other various species of trees for my azalea beds. Plus service the various pieces of lawn equipment and loaded up the trailer for a trip to the dump. I am beat…. Now it will be another three days before I can do anything useful. I have to get myself back into shape somehow and I figured I would feel just as bad going to the gym as I would doing yard work but at least here I can see immediate results.
Now baseball… At least with baseball, you can get over the previous night’s doldrums pretty quickly. Now, what can be done to get this group motivated before they dig themselves into a hole from which they cannot ascend? I think Bob is right when he says the current level of play is a continuation of what we have seen the last two years.
At least the Nationals have an excuse, no real pitching. At least we cannot blame it on Andruw….
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Polonius, I remember him well. 3rd sacker for the Stratford Avons. Boy, could he exercise the suicide squeeze.
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I remember one time when I went in to see my CO to discuss some problems I was having in my department. I had barely begun when he said, “Major, your job is not to bring me problems; your job is to bring me solutions.” Maybe Bobby’s staff needs to bring him some solutions.
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That was Laertes’ older brother Polonius, the Younger, … nicknamed Peggy ’cause he was a Hoss that could really fly … Polonius the Elder actually didn’t play, but advised and coached the team … I sang bass.
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Bob; 😆
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Paladin, if Carter could hug Osama, he’d do it….
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I agree that a man’s success is usually defined by those with whom he chooses to surround himself … a woman’s too … but, just as beet righters, sans Chopper, seem to be reluctant to ask Bobby the hard questions … it’s just possible that Colonel Cox might take the position with his staff “your job is not to bring me problems or solutions; your job is to say Yes Sir!”
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He’d kiss him on both cheeks too. Wish it would happen. Those buck-teeth could be lethal.
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However, the problem with micro-management is when the train runs off the track, for who to blame, they need look no farther than the guy who rings the bell and blows the horn.
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it’s just possible that Colonel Cox might take the position with his staff “your job is not to bring me problems or solutions; your job is to say Yes Sir!”
Good point sir Bob!
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And if I were one of the bean-counters at Liberty and found that the staff’s only function was to say “Yes sir”, I’ll bet I could come up with a way to cut costs.
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True dat, P-Din! Do it already!
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Amazing, just amazing….Bardot is on trail in France for what she said….was it any worse than what Bil Maher said????
French film star and one-time sex symbol Brigitte Bardot is on trial in Paris for insulting Muslims — the fifth time she has faced charges of inciting racial hatred. Bardot — who previously lamented what she calls the “Islamisation of France” — is now under fire this time for saying, “The Muslim community is destroying our country and imposing its acts.”
Meanwhile, here at home, HBO’s Bill Maher and host of the political talk show “Real Time,” called Catholicism a “child-abusing religious cult,” adding that the pope “also has a compound and this guy not only operates outside the bounds of the law — but he used to be a Nazi and he wears funny hats.” He also said the Catholic Church’s attitude is, “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it.”
Catholics are incensed and president of the Catholic Media Coalition, Mary Ann Kreitzer, called Maher’s words “horrifying.” She said, “Poor Bill Maher. We’ll pray for him.”
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351395,00.html
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Bearman; Bardot’s comments are perfectly accurate but what she is trying to prevent has already happened. Therefore, what she said is now politically incorrect.
As for Maher: He is doing what he has done for a long time. Being a smart-ass “and idiot”. I use to find him funny, but he went off the deep end, drowned and now functions, although brain-dead. I would have loved to see the late Bill Buckley get him on “Firing Line” and gore his vidal.
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And let me say hello again to JJS and Mz Rosaynn!
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Gore his vidal!
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Why don’t y’all get together and take up a collection(.17 ?) and I won’t watch the game. Then they’ll win. Note: I’ll have to catalogue all contributions over .02, so let’s make it a real team effort. Keep it small, but give ’til it hurts.
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Georgia accuses Russia of trying to ‘annex’ separatist areas.
First it was TN over water rights, now Russia? You guys are broke down there, aren’t you?
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I’m gone until, at least, after dinner. I could stay and establish a record for blog domination, but it’s too easy. Chow mein.
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mien, mein, mane, ming, dynasty.
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008… I like your CO’s attitude… I always felt the same way. I hated to hear someone tell my why the couldn’t do something, I wanted to hear how they could…. My experience has been the impossible just takes a bit longer to figure out than the possible. Sometimes it’s budget constraints that make things difficult but it’s all possible… May not probable or practical but it is always possible.
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**Bill Maher** is and idiot…. I can normally tolerate opinions different than mine but I have little use for those who spew hate and falsehoods for the sake of pandering to an audience of left wing prigs….
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I saw this story , and thought of Paladin, for some reason! 😛
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aVUcop17mg7s
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As I watched Tex try to pull an outside pitch, with two on and one out … i know Cy Young is on the mound it but it is a team game.
Campillo throws strikes … not a bad idea, hopefully it catches on!
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Berigan, Paladin is not a Dane.
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hellO everbudy! i tried to get roger mCdowell to go out and talk with BenneTT before Gonzales batted and noT afteR. You sea what happenEd. Those 2 runs cost us the gaMe. SomethinG seemS wrong with the StrateGy employed by these BrAves. eVEN A seal knows not to pitch up in the zone to Gonzales in that situation. Yet anotheR one run loss to a lesSer team that played beTTer basebaLL.
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Hi Chopper!
That would have helped though we shouldn’t blame Hudson or Bennett. It’s all Campillo’s fault … if he weren’t such a wimp, he could have gone four innings … 15 up and 15 down in two games.
Fundamental Baseball is indeed beautiful, but it would be nice if it were the us so doing, at least once in a while … 0-7 in one run games.
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Enjoy
Good Night and God Bless!
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Something is wrong with Bennett…. He is not pitching the same as he did last year at the end of the season or his first few appearances this season. I don’t know if his elbow is bothering him or he is just tired but he is not the same pitcher. Maybe he has the flu… I don’t know, I don’t have video tapes to review but my memory is pretty good when it comes to things like that. His pitches were up because he can’t locate his pitches which are normally down in the strike zone. Maybe he is afraid to tell somebody his arm is tired but he is hurting the team right now with his loss of control.
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Chop Seal!!! How nice to see you! We’ve missed your beet reports.
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damageD oleander limbs mighT sprout again and sO might mike hampton. a mAnager seated in tHe far reaches of the dugout during a crUcial at-bat does not signal “cool professional” to me. that behavior sigNals indiFFerence and does noT send a message of urgency or of encouragement. “c’mon kid” cannot even be heard from back there. what is up with bobby cox?
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He definitely looks like something is wrong, Gil. He’s probably next on the revolving door to the DL.
Now, I was stuck with the Marlins’ feed. What did our guys say about Hudson leaving so early?
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Canizares DH 4 1 3 1 2 1 1 0 .438
Barbaro’s line tonight. RBI single in the first, another single and a walk and a game winning homerun in the ninth. Chris Chambliss has said he has been impressed with Canizares since spring training. Maybe Atlanta needs to call both of them up…
Big mistake sending Blanco up to pinch hit in the ninth. 7 AB in two weeks… Duh… even I can see the likely chance of failure in that scenario.
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FBG, they commented on Hudson’s lack of command tonight. Making it tough on the bullpen etc. He was a different pitcher from his first three games.
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Okay folks, I am going to pack it in for the night. Catch up with you all tomorrow.
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hmmm . . . another injured pitcher? and a starter with no velocity? top of the rotation starter at that. starters and relievers hurt. not likely to overcome with pitching this year so the baseball better get better soon. don’t gibe up so many on defense and try to score a few more on offense. sounds like football, only different. and renteria had a slam tonight. good for edgar but escobar is a keeper. is escobar the best player on the team at this time? soon, somebody will be revealed to have an ingrown toenail and will be released only to turn up again and win a game against these braves. happened before?
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Of course. He clearly wasn’t on tonight. I was just concerned that there might be a physical problem. Honestly one of the Braves could snap their leg in half on the field & those 2 bozos would just keep on talking about the Fish.
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jimmy, it seems as if our pitching staff is in one long conga line to the trainers’ room.
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OK, I’ll go watch my recording since everyone left. Be back shortly.
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Funny to see no one, NO ONE, post during the game! Especially, such a great game for the braves! 😉
Baseball tonight is one….I will watch the reborn Tigers and hope the Braves will be inspired by them somehow..
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Well, the first fourteen games of the 2008 season have been uninspiring for the most part. Thankfully, there are 148 to go. While they don’t look good now, there have been many seasons in recent years when they’ve played poorly in April and May, only to heat up in the summer and cruise to an NL East title.
However, three things that are troubling to me. First, and foremost are the injuries the pitching corps has experienced. Once again they showed up in February looking like there would be an abundance of pitching and by April we find that there are potentially several critical holes in both the rotation and the pen. It is troubling, to say the least.
The second thing that bothers me is the consistent inconsistency in scoring runs. One night they score ten. The next night they can’t score one. Frankly, it reminds me way to much of the past two seasons.
Lastly, and this has been brought up earlier today, is the fact that this team does not seem to be playing with any fire. Someone needs to light a fire under their collective arses or they’ll dig themselves a hole that they’ll never get out of. I don’t think BC is going to do it. He’s not much a “meetings” manager. Someone on the team is going to have to step up and call some people out for their lackadaisical approach.
I’ll be honest. I couldn’t watch tonight’s game. When I got home from Matt’s ball game I flipped it on and they were trailing. After last night’s disappointing performance I decided not to give myself another case of indigestion.
After the game I had a little time to reflect on the “big picture”. Folks, let’s not forget that the baseball season is not a sprint but a marathon. All you have to do is ask the 2007 Philadelphia Phillies who trailed in the division standings all year long, except for the one day that truly mattered. Hang in there people. Have faith in your Braves. This is an immensely talented team, much more talented than we’ve enjoyed in some time. I am confident that they will be able to turn things around.
Oh, and in other news, here’s a big “Welcome Back!” to Bob, Journalist, journalist jimmy smith and ChoP SEal! Nice to see you fellows back in the fold.
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Thank goodness there’s 148 to go. Right now I think we’re all a little frustrated.
Just watched the recording of Idol. I never knew ’til the last 2 weeks that Mariah Carey can’t actually sing. She sounds terrible live. They must tweak a lot in the recording studio.
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Guess no one wants to chat tonight. Good night y’all.
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Thanks Chris … with my poor memory, I hardly remember leaving … but it’s nice to be mentioned and grouped with such elite and distinguished company.
“One night they score ten; the next night they can’t score one. Frankly, it reminds me way to much of the past two seasons” … sums it up well for lots of folks, methinks.
If you foolishly ask why, the answer you’ll most likely get is … “That’s just Baseball” … translation … “I don’t know”. Truth is, that’s what they were told when they played and foolishly asked … they believe it to be true, and as a bonus, it allows them to better cope and accept defeat.
From where I sit, that’s the unacceptable posture of losers … it’s like the poker player who thinks his fortunes are based on the cards he’s dealt … or Andruw trying to hit the ball 500 feet … and just missing … when there’s two out in the ninth and down by two with nobody on base.
Bobby Cox doesn’t want them to lose … nor does Terry, Roger or any of the 25 … that’s what I’d call a strong posit … almost bet the ranch; certainly a few heifers. If you ask them, they’ll tell you … most of them … “we’re doing the best we know how”.
I’ll bet a few more heifers and throw in a box of hot KKs that each of us could, if we really put our minds to it, could give better answers to that foolish question than “that just baseball” … and offer solutions rather than preaching acceptance … well, most of us, anyway.
Were it me, methinks I’d try to better anticipate the pitcher and focus on taking advantage, rather than trying to prove that I could do my thing regardless of what he did … Polonius again.
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One problem is when your clean up hitter is sporting a batting average below .200. Gee, that’s no different from the recently departed fellow who once occupied centerfield. Even the rally killing double play was predictable.
I think I’m with the sage journalist who stated that maybe some of these late bloomers needed to start sooner. After all, Texas hasn’t been to the show in quite a long time either.
Bob. J…. That is too easy a bet on your side.
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GOOOOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM! WAKIE, WAKIE; EGGS AND BAKIE!
This, too, must happen to the Braves. Time for someone to completely flip the $%# out on a called strike three (even or especially a good one) next nationally televised home game, get Bobby waddling out there to either die or resurrect himself doing what he used to do best. Then continue the flip out all the way back to the dugout (hopefully being “restrained” by other players), grab a gatorade cooler and throw it against the dugout wall to make sure a camera can read his lips and yell “Let’s play some G&^-%$#%@ baseball!” before throwing his hat out onto the field and hitting the showers.
The managers aren’t going to manage better; I’m convinced the aforementioned scenario is the only way to go at this point (even if it meant a 5-10 game suspension for a starter). Best accomplished by someone who isn’t hitting anyway (take your pick). Or for that matter, someone who is. Might shame others into waking up.
FBG, she doesn’t sound good in the studio either, IMO. Being able to shatter glass and make neighborhood dogs for miles around howl like a ambulance is passing through does not a good singer necc. make.
Now, breakfast number 1…
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None of Y’all up yet? Where are all the old people?
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According to MLB.com, the Yankees’ Wang was hit hard last night. I hate it when that happens.
WAKE UP!
Raisins?
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WASHINGTON (AP) – Edward Lorenz, the father of chaos theory, died at his home in Cambridge, Mass., Wednesday. He was 90.
He was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology when he came up with the scientific concept that small effects lead to big changes, something that was explained in a simple example known as the “butterfly effect.”
He explained how something as minuscule as a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil changes the constantly moving atmosphere in ways that could later trigger tornadoes in Texas.
His discovery of “deterministic chaos” brought about “one of the most dramatic changes in mankind’s view of nature since Sir Isaac Newton,” said the committee that awarded Lorenz the 1991 Kyoto Prize for basic sciences.
Meteorologists today base their forecasts on his techniques. Lorenz’s 1967 book “The Nature and Theory of the General Circulation of the Atmosphere” is considered a classic textbook in meteorology.
If the movement of butterfly wings can cause a tornado, think what a large expulsion of flatulence can do. Speaking of which, did anyone catch the game last night?
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journalist forgot how hard journalism is – but hear is some journalism about last night’s game. pitchers struggle and no one goes to the mound until the damage is done. fans are watching the worst management of the bullpen since there was no buillpen. tired, sore arms in april? cannot forgive bobby cox and roger mcdowell for failing to walk out and talk to bennett last night when gonzales was announced. what did fans think would happen? what did the opposing manager think would happen? didn’t bobby and roger have a clue what might happen? casual indifference portrayed as savvy veteran fileld manager shrewdness. will any beet writers ask bobby tough questions? c’mon kid.
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Meteorologists still aren’t any good at predicting the weather; I might have left that part off my resume if I was him.
Only in Atlanta would Bobby be getting a free pass from both ownership and the media. Can’t think of another town where SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE in the local media wouldn’t be roasting a fire under his kiester at the moment. Or, for that matter, even just raising an eyebrow. He’s got a lifetime get out of jail free card here, and it gets more embarrassing every season. Not saying he should be fired; just confused as to how an entire organization and the largest “newspaper” in the southeast could be in such abject denial as to not even dignify your concern with a response if you question someone imminently and obviously questionable.
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question someone imminently and obviously questionable.
Grinch ran out of ripple so he’s been into the Thesaurus again. 😛
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After watching the Braves, with a couple of exceptions, flail away at those offerings in the 80s, I think Chino needs to slow down on this BP pitches.
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“his”
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excLusive inTerview for BrAves & STuff by beet RepoRter Chop seal:
cs: BobbY cox, thank you foR being hear.
bc: Thanks, kid.
cs: boBBY, what about Hudson losINg velOcity laSt niGht?
bc: I thouGHt Huddy pitched greAt and aboUt as gooD as I’ve ever seen him Throw. I didn’t see aNything wrong. He just lOSt a little giddy-Up on his HeateR but he’ll be fine.
cs: BobbY, someThing is wrOng with Hudson, Smoltz, HampTon, GlaVine, soRiano, and MoyLan and It’s onLy April? Are The pitcHers being haNdled effecTively?
bs: Well, kid, thEy aLL arE aboUt the Best I’Ve eveR seen and alL of Them arE pitChing greAt. JusT a liTTle bump In the roaD buT they wilL alL be fine.
cs: Can you tell mE why You aRe lOsing all ThesE one run gaMes?
bc: ChiPPer is hittinG the ball grEat and so Is Tex. EscObar had that biG homeRun laSt nigHt. I can’T saY enouGh abouT Kotsay.
cs: What about alL thosE one run loSses?
bc: WhaT papEr are yoU with, kiD?
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G’morning all…
Disappointing game past night. Huddy lost 5 mph, Bennett lost the strike zone (again) and we lost the game. 😡
I said this yesterday, I will say this again. The prescription for getting on track is a 3 part recipe:
1) Tex has got to start hitting.
2) They must find a power threat for the bench (ala Luis Gonzalez). Gregor Blanco at the plate in the 9th doesn’t make the opposing pitcher sweat.
3) They must find some fire somewhere. As I previously said, this is not a team that is going to hold a meeting and turn it up a notch. It’s got to happen on the field. I thought they had the perfect opportunity last night with that horrific strike call on Kotsay late. Kotsay gave very brief resistance and quickly let it go. As Grinch so eloquently said, both Kotsay and Bobby should have gone ape-$#!+ . Give this team something to rally behind.
Now, that being said, it’s time to promote Anderson and get this kid in the lineup. He needs to give Kotsay and Diaz both at least one day off a week. Blanco’s a nice kid and all, but he needs more time in AAA. He isn’t contributing jack squat to this team.
So… where do we find a power threat for the bench? I will leave this open for discussion…
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Chop seal, you can’t ask tough questions like that to the mighty, exalted Bobby Cox!!! Kid, what were you thinkin’???
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VOR, JJS, Grinch, Paladin, excellent observations all. I find the last several days I have been in the same camp as Chris…you just don’t want to watch since once the team gets down, it stays down! I was surprised to see we even made it close last night!
All I know is that every lefty that faces the braves looks like Lefty Grove, or Lefty Carlton, or better…why is this???
Why does it seem just about every team we play is playing better fundamental baseball than us??? To they keep practicing little ball, while we think we did plenty of that in March, and don’t need to work on that now that the season has started???
The Tigers are 5-10, we are 5-9. Any guesses as to which team will have the best record for the month????
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Folks, I gave Bobby a free pass the last couple of years because quite frankly, he did not have the horses to play with the big boys. That is no longer true, this Braves team is under achieving in epic proportion. Lost his fire??? It’s happened….
I think Blanco can contribute but not the way he is being used right now. 7 ABs in 14 games incurs the worst kind of rust. As for a player not being ready to play by opening day…. what, 6 weeks isn’t long enough to get ready?
Yeah, I have to agree that something needs to happen to get this club moving in the right direction.
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VOR, Maybe Mark Kotsay needs an ultimatum:
0 for 4 = No Jamie
If that ain’t enough motivation for the man, then I just don’t know what to think about him. 😛
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Or maybe he need’s the Nuke Laloosh treatment:
No Jamie on gameday.
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Gil, right you are about Blanco. That translates into 80 AB’s over a full season. No one plays that little these days. Woodcrap got around 200 AB’s last year. I think this is Bobby’s fear of playing the 4th outfielder early…I guess.
Gotay has impressed when batting. Seems fairly patient, which must be hard when you only pinch hit…or watch everyone else on this team…
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Hillbilly, that should do the trick! Bet he’d become the best bunter in the world with that threat…..
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And did someone tell Kelly Johnson he was being too patient at the plate, that walks don’t count, or something????
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Here’s another thing to chew on… Everyone from Frank Wren to Boog Sciambi says “Mark Teixeira is traditionally a slow starter.” Then they throw up a bunch of numbers, show how he is always crappy in April, and pass that off as if it is OK since he’ll be better in May. Well, if he is always crappy in April, do something about it! Start his ass off a month earlier than the rest… anything! Why is it acceptable that his April is gonna suck? He gets paid to play baseball for 6 months, 7 including playoffs (which he has never experienced). Uh, can’t we get 6 instead of 5? I, for one, am sick of hearing that he is “traditionally a slow starter”. Sounds like a crappy tradition to me… 😐
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Good morning y’all! I think we’re all in agreement here. Now to get the team on board…
Grinch, I am certainly not a fan of Mariah. Not my kind of music at all. I just didn’t know she was that lousy live. (And what got into you this morning? That was a lot pep early for a night owl like yourself.)
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Hey!!! Where’d everyone go??? It’s no fun B***hin’ alone! 😛
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Jamie Kotsay… 🙂 … hmmmm… 🙂
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What am I, B? Chopped liver?
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And now, my public service for the morning:
Jamie Kotsay
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Gotta step out for a while… Shopping day for Mom. I don’t feel as sore this morning as I thought I might so maybe I can get back to the yard work a day earlier this week. Still a bit too soon to open the pool but I have plans to screen in the back porch next week.
Catch ya’ll this afternoon…
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No, no, no FLB!!! Funny how everyone posted just as I griped…MMM, Jamie….
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This is what Jamie does every time Kotsay goes 0 for 4…
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B∞: Then she must be drained worse than Lake Lanier about now…
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I think I agree with the guy who said, this makes me want to drink anti-freeze! 😉
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VOR, 😆
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Should I come back after y’all are done daydreaming about Mrs. Kotsay?
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With “lungs” like that, Jamie could swim the English Channel, underwater.
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So, B∞, you’d be disappointed if I said I kinda enjoyed that? 🙄
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How would she be be able to stay underwater????
Sorry FLB! 😳 And that’s not a good photo of her even!!!
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VOR, the bluegrass part is fine…it’s the singing that seems weak…
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No daydream, FBG, just merely observation.
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Nurse Ratched said to behave myself or they would schedule me for surgery…again.
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That wasn’t a good photo? Looked pretty good to me! 😀
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VOR, there is a bluegrass band that I put out a cd of AC/DC covers! I heard it in a Barnes and Noble a year or so ago…can’t seem to find it on youtube
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My daydream is to be a midget–no, height-impaired–and slow-dancing with Jamie.
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Yeah, VOR, that’s actually the worst photo of her that I’ve seen.
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Perhaps Jamie could help Mark work on his swing….she looks better at the plate than he does…in so many ways!
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Best photo of her I have seen…that smile…sigh…thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife…But, come on, look at her! Plus, Mark isn’t in my neighborhood! 😛
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B∞: There are more than one “cover” band that does bluegrass remakes of rock bands. Hayseed Dixie and Iron Horse are a couple. Among the albums are Back In Bluegrass (AC/DC), Fade To Bluegrass (Metallica), Kiss My Grass (Kiss), Strummin’ With The Devil (Van Halen), Whole Lotta Bluegrass (Led Zeppelin), and Black & Bluegrass (Ozzy). Hayseed Dixie was the first… They have an album called Hot Piece Of Grass. 😆
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VOR, that must be the group! I saw just a couple of Hayseed clips with AC/DC in the title
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Check it:
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Boooring!! See y’all later.
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Is the new avatar a masterpiece from one of the Raisinets or did you just find it somewhere?
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Nah… I just found it somewhere. It’s an angry stick figure with a baseball bat and mitt. (The mitt got cropped off.) It seemed somewhat appropriate this morning. 😐
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I’ve got to skeedaddle outta here and go work. I’ve got to cover 3 locations this afternoon. Unfortunately, each is about 1 hour’s drive. 1 due north, 1 due south, 1 due east. Dang… 😦
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Bleh. Hope you get mileage.
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Yeah, I do, but I’d rather remain in the friendly confines of the ol’ home/office. Oh, well… at least it’s not raining.
C-y’all later!
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“How do you explain your getting off to such a fast start? I really don’t know ’cause I usually get off to such a slow start … ‘cept when I don’t”
If “he always starts slow” … how did he ever make the team as a rookie?
Maybe “traditionally a slow starter” … is Spanish for “thats just baseball”.
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Maybe “traditionally a slow starter” … is Spanish for “thats just baseball”.
Thought I’d look it up…Spanish is ‘tradicionalmente un principio lento’
Eso es justo béisbol
😆
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Maybe Jamie didn’t make the road trip? 😕
Still, Kotsay best be glad her name isn’t Janie! 😯
http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/Aerosmith/Janies-Got-A-Gun–2156853
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NaCly, Carol is fluid in Spanish … or once was … but that’s all Greek to me … either way, it’s just rationalization for poor performance and excuses for not doing something about it, methinks! And something can … they really could, if only they would.
They need a dynamic plan … and not one of their own design … one that they can understand … like if Tex was told to hit the ball into short right field with two one and one out … my guess is that he’d hit fewer ground balls to the shortstop.
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with two on … not “one”
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Bob,J…I was just clownin’ around…and used a translator, to boot. I’m not fluent…maybe a tad competent reading it. If folks spoke as slowly as I read and comprehend Spanish, I’d have a chance…but that’s not happenin’!
Time to board the plane. Ciao, folks!
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Ciao Salty! Man, will he be able to relate to us, after being with them fancy west coasters? 😉
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If folks ate as slowly as I read and comprehend Spanish, they’d die of starvation while sitting at the dinner table … have a safe trip amigo!
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Si! Bob, si! (Si means yes, Bob! 😉 )
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Anyone check out Chipper’s latest failure of leadership today? He calls out players in the media but then says: “I don’t think there’s anything we can really say until everybody gets healthy and everybody gets in there.”
Chipper is just not a leader. Calling players out in the media but then saying that there is nothing he can say in private to the players about it is pathetic. Passive-aggressive sniping in the media is cool but saying something privately isn’t possible at this point? Gimme a break.
This is the same guy who was quoted this spring saying that he was too intimidated by all the stars on the Braves for about a decade to speak up and become the heart and soul leader of the team a player of his caliber should be.
This team needs a leader. Cox ain’t the guy anymore. Smoltz is too off in his own little world. So is Chipper and Tex and Hudson and Soriano. Glavine is too old and was away for 5 years.
Someone needs to step up. The best player on the team still ain’t ready after 16 years in the majors.
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ww; I agree. But, who does that leave? You give me your possibilites and I’ll give you mine.
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WW, that sounds like Cox talk via Chipper…What can you expect from him after 16 years under Cox???
I bet Bobby was never more mad , than last year when Smoltz and Chipper were fighting…
Walks drive Bobby nuts. A guy missing by 2 inches on a ball thrown 60 feet, that’s inexcusable. Guys swinging at pitches 3 feet outside, well, he’s just anxious. Guys playing with no fire…well, they want to win….Honestly, I keep waiting for someone to take Yunel aside and say, don’t flip the bat after you hit the ball, you might upset someone on the other team. 🙄
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The only “possibility”, as I see it, is Frenchy. He was a quarterback so he has leadership skills. But, he is in awe of Chipper, Smoltz, Huddy et al. Also, he needs some “leadership” himself. That’s why it would pay to have Julio on the bench. Even if he didn’t get any ABs. Hell, no one else is, either. And, bench players are not usually your “leaders”, but Julio could do it…particularly with the Latinos. If Kotsay had another year or two with the Braves under his belt, he would be a possibility assuming he gets himself straightened out at the plate.
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I think Mac & Frenchy both have a lot of leadership potential. But right now they’re still the young guys so they probably feel hesitant about stepping into that role.
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This is another reason why we should NEVER have let Andruw walk! Think what a motivational leader he was, and could be. 👿
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I am back at my desk temporarily…
While I was out, I happened to hear HOF Gammons talking about Jorge Posada like he might not be able to catch again. He said that he can’t play any other positions, so that would leave only DH. Also, Molina is banged up, and they are hurting at catcher. Perhaps Wren should dangle BPena for say, Morgan Ensberg? Plays 1B, 3B and has a some pop in his bat… Huh? Waddaya think?
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Paladin, I think there are only two players who can grab the team by the balls: Frenchy and Yunel
Pitchers can’t be leaders. Tex is a selfish bastard who hasn’t been here long enough and won’t be here very long. Kotsay hasn’t be here long enough and Diaz is too nice of a guy and both are too desperate to prove they belong. Kj is too quiet and unsure of himself. McCann is too laidback and aw shucks but he’ll be a quiet leader later.
Frenchy needs to stop talking about his football mentality and start showing it. He stopped pressing the pedal to the metal sometime early in 2006. We need Frenchy to go back to being the Wild Stallion he used to be.
Yunel is too much of a loner it seems to me. Loners can’t be leaders. Leaders don’t act like followers either, however. Despite not being leaders, loners like Yunel can be inspirational catalysts with their inspired, passionate play. As Jimmy said last night, Chipper is the best hitter on this team but Yunel is now the best player on the Braves.
Without anyone manning up and accepting the leadership role of the team, we are gonna have to rely on an inspirational catalyst like Yunel for the time being. I hope he keeps flipping bats and doing showboat things and becomes a hated and marked man in baseball. There would be nothing better than that for me. IT would at least raise the intensity level of games and hopefully make his teammates realize that run of 14 titles is over and that most of them had nothing to do with that run and that they are gonna need to fight and claw instead of this oh, well, we’ll get ’em next time because we always have. This group of players hasn’t always done anything besides finish third. They need to start fighting.
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Paladin, Frenchy was actually not a quarterback in high school. He was a wide receiver and cornerback. Very strange. You would think that with his athletic talent and his arm, he would have been a great QB.
Clint Sammons, the minor league catcher for the Braves, was actually Frenchy’s QB at Parkview High.
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My only other suggestion would be this. To my knowledge, the Atlanta Braves have never had a Captain. Now is the time. If he was elected then MAYBE he would feel that he had a mandate to kick some ass and take some names. ‘Course it would almost certainly be Chipper. But, given the job and “authority”, he might react well. Other than that, bring up Anderson and Tyler Yates and let’s try to build a fire.
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I think Yunel might develop into more of a leader eventually, WW. Especially if he keeps getting tutored by Renteria in the off-season. He’s still learning the language, culture & American-style baseball.
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Umm… Yates was traded.
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You are right, my dear. I was thinking about the Abner Yokum type that was hitting those prodigious home runs in ST. I think he is at Miss.
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Greetings citizens…. If Chipper was going to be the leader of this club, he would have done so 3 years ago. Great hitter, great player, yes… great leader? Not so much…
Sammons is doing well by the way… I’m still promoting Barbaro, how can the Braves not be aware of this guy? Defense be damned…. This dude can hit…
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Flowers???
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Thank you, Gil. That’s the guy.
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journalist worries that this team is not constructed right. already holes. already making excuses. already seeking a leader. doesn’t have to be a player – could be a manager or a coach. none found, though. bobby’s cronies are now younger but lack fire. pat corrales had the most fire of any and pat corrales is gone. chino lacks fire even with all the hot sauce. we read from grinch of the amazing feats of spring training and none of the names grinch mentioned are on the team. tex came in ready to go last year but now tex is assimilated into the culture of the braves.
practice dull. play dull.
still time to make things happen but can lose a pennant in april as easy as august.
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Who was it that got mad at the team when they were playing music on the bus after a loss? Was that Ozzie of the White Soxs?
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I agree 100% with what Braveheart said about Yunel’s swagger. I hope he gets drilled in his first at bat tonight for lastnight’s bat flip. Then I hope he gets up again in the 3rd inning, smacks one into the left field seats, and flips the SOB again. I hope he grows into one of those guys that gets booed relentlessly in Philly and New York, because if you think about it, people who suck generally don’t get booed on the road. You get booed when you OWN somebody. You get booed in New York when you name your kid Shea (although I don’t think Citibank Escobar would be a good thing to name your kid.) As long as he’s not showing up his teammates, I think the swagger is healthy for this particular clubhouse.
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We seem to have a consensus opinion here on the B&S blog that there is no fight in these dogs…. Need to hire Michael Vick? Oops, sorry, that was a cheap shot wasn’t it…
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“This group of players hasn’t always done anything besides finish third. They need to start fighting.” -ww
very astute comment. but that is not what they say, right? not used to losing? three years of losing is a habit. three years on top of how many years with no pennant? lots of losing. losing pretty with a division sign – but not a pennant. how many divisions in the league? how many first round exits to a wild card? and cannot even be the wildcard team now? oh, the humanity! need a beet writer to delve into this for us. where is chop seal?
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But I hear is will be available soon… 🙂 Could actually fit in the budget I think…
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Agreed, JJS. Corrales was a very important piece of the puzzle. And he could position fielders with the best of them.
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“The best player on the team still ain’t ready after 16 years in the majors” … has it really been that long? And I thought he was just in his second year … started when he was nine, did he?
There’s a lot of truth in what you say, ww, but leaders and alpha males are hatched, methinks … skills can be learned and many try … but, the leadership is measured in terms of the performance of the followers … if you ain’t got no followers, you best try selling insurance.
That the team has no leadership may be a bit harsh in the mind’s eye of some but were it to exist, it would have already impacted the entire team … there would be confidence and enthusiasm, regardless of circumstances … like an aura, we would know that it was there and sense that everything would be okay, as we watched them ride into the valley of death.
Chipper’s “heart and soul” has always seemed to be a function of his perception of the team’s chances … that is, his confidence in his mates … a talented, HOF quality player for sure … but, I’m not sure that he should be expected to be a leader because he is such a high caliber player. I too wish he were … but the evidence would seem to otherwise so dictate.
Maybe it’s just hard to get leadership from from overpaid folks whose futures are assured, regardless of team performance.
Who wants the Job? Anybody? Leaders have it … can’t get rid of it … it’s a curse … it’s theirs, whether they want it or not. If we can’t see it, it’s unlikely that it’s there … so, were I Bobby … some call me that … I wouldn’t have a team meeting … I’d call them in, or invite them to lunch, in small groups of one and tell them that we were masters of our own fate and that I expected them to lead.
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I agree with Grinch that we need someone to come in to the dugout and wipe out a water cooler/bat rack. Demonstrate to the others that at least HE is p-off with his performance, or lack of it. I don’t mean to infer that it should be an “act”. It would be someone in this group of chardonnay sipping country clubbers showing that HE wants to play some ball and win!
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“Yunel is too much of a loner it seems to me” … I thought so too but, now I’m not so sure … I’m beginning to get a different impression … and I liked last night’s performance.
“Loners can’t be leaders … I hear you and maybe not, but I hope you’re wrong … seems almost a requirement to me … it’s lonely at the top … of course, there are all kinds of leaders … maybe the trick is to be a loner without folks realizing it.
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I also want to weigh in in support of Yunel. It’s not something Dale Murphy would do, but Yunel ain’t Dale Murphy. He can “flip” more than his bat, as far as I’m concerned. And with what he had to o through in life to get here, I don’t think some baseball “fans” and opposing players are going to scare him much.
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“go”. What you pass without collecting $200.
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Confirmed suspicions. It don’t look good for Moylan in ’08.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080417&content_id=2541773&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
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G’Day Mate.
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I’m going to try and beat the 4:30 crowd out of here, today. See you later.
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You’re right Bob. Now that I think about it, alot of loners are leaders as strange as that may sound. I guess I was thinking that it is more common for someone to emerge from the group to become a leader rather than a loner from the outside. The problem with that thinking is that they are not really leaders because they just sing the same tune everyone else sings. They are “popular” but not necessarily “leaders.”
Yunel, to me, seems to be a guy who marches to the beat of a different drummer. And that is really what this team needs. It needs change. The old way isn’t working anymore – and, as Jimmy pointed out, it never really worked at the ultimate level anyway.
Something needs to change. Since Frenchy wants to play golf with the old men and Tiger, maybe Yunel can emerge as the leader or at least the inspirational catalyst. I don’t see anyone else on the coaching staff or the roster with the potential
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Moylan… not good…
What next?
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Asteamed Arkansas, … agreed, but what pray tell does “there have been some instances similar to this where a pitcher’s elbow has improved after a few weeks of rest” mean?
Bob Wills said that time changes every thing … and it does … but even if it improves, scotching the snake rather than killing it usually only delays that which will ultimately be … and is oft fraught with peril.
Sure seem like there are a lot of Tommy J surgeries … better to figure out to avoid the problem than figuring out how to repair the damage.
Too bad there isn’t some laser treatment or a pill you could take that could dissolve the bone spur that’s causing problem … but then again, what caused that problem, may be what gave him that which transformed his pitching … no matter what, it’s a bummer.
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scotching the snake 😯
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WW, it’s like what Polonius told Conan Doyle, once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.
It’s not always easy to tell the difference between the real thing and a cheap imitation … like Coke and Pepsi. It may well be true that where there’s smoke there’s usually fire … but while some folks are just smoke blowers … others have the fire … methinks Yunel is the real thing … not a Pepsi … full of fire, methinks.
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Rehearsal night… I’ll miss the game. What team will I miss? I’ll try to check in around midnight to catch the B&S wrap-up.
Ciao!
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Most Reasonable Voice, you can smile, … I know that Polonius didn’t tell Laertes about snake scotching … ’twas MacBeth … “We have scotch’d the snake, not killed it!” … and while it may be an oblique stretch, I thought it sounded pretty good.
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Bob, I love the way you trash Pepsi all the time. It’s hilarious. I think Ty Cobb smiles every time he hears you tout Coke over Pepsi 🙂
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ww … if you grew up with Castor Oil and Dr. Caldwell’s Syrup of Pepsin … you’d probably hate both orange juice and Pepsi too … I consider myself well adjusted … though it took many years of therapy, I now really do like oranges.
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Man, hope Moylan can get the bone spur out without having TJ surgery…but there was no mention of that,was there???? Just that some folks can heal up enough to pitch again…And we haven’t heard a thing about Soriano, have we????
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Bob, when I was a kid, I used to alternate between Pepsi and Coke. But I am strictly a Coke man now myself.
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I hope Moylan is alright as well but it don’t sound good. Think about how blessed Maddux and Glavine were to never have a serious arm injury during their careers.
What do you guys think was said in Bobby’s closed door meeting with his boys today?
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Perhaps folks thought what is the need of assigning a player team captain, we win every year!!! Or fear of P.O’ing someone off. I bet, if Chipper had been named Captain after one of our many 3 and out playoff runs, he would have run with it….JMO (Just my opinion-if this one doesn’t exist, it should! )
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come’on kids
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something looks poorly written to me in that first line of the 6:01 PM post…must be a font issue! 😉
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You said it <Berigan!!
Thanks for the help with the Spanish too … my online Spanish Dictionary is limited and assumes facts not in evidence … I’m much obliged.
As an aside, the quality of some of the later Toler Chans is exceptional … exceptionally poor, that is. The very best of any of these can’t compare with the worst of the remastered sets of four but, the offer still stands … as the ones in series four are okay and we have seen the special features.
However, methinks the Winters’ are in many ways better than thee later Tolers’ … a singular opine in this house.
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First time I’ve ever seen this happen:
“Illegal immigrant sentenced
A 44-year-old unauthorized Guatemalan immigrant who ended up in Brunswick County, NC, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for illegally re-entering the United States after he’d been deported.
A federal judge sentenced Marvin Maroquin-Bran on Tuesday in New Bern, NC, according to a news release.
Maroquin-Bran was first deported on June 19, 1991, after he was convicted of marijuana trafficking in California, according to federal court documents.
Then, on Sept. 9, 2005, he was arrested in Brunswick County for cocaine possession. At the time, Maroquin-Bran gave authorities the fake name of Antonio Rica Sanchez, according to federal court documents. Maroquin-Bran later pleaded guilty to cocaine possession in Brunswick County Superior Court under the false name, according to the news release.
On Aug. 9, 2007, Maroquin-Bran admitted his real identity to immigration agents and, on Nov. 14, he pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the U.S. as an aggravated felon.”
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Wha??? 😯 He had one??? Wow. Let’s see…“We can trade everyone on this team!!! Tex, if you don’t shape up soon, we WILL trade you to…San Diego. Try and put up good power numbers there chump! KJ, make a sound once in awhile! Walk like you did last year, will ya?? Yunel. Next homer you hit, stand and admire it. Yeah, you will get hit the next time up, but we need to start a fight right now! Chipper….you are the captain, now…act like one!
Diaz, stop swinging at pitches 3 feet outside, or you will never see another right hander, ever! Kotsay, go 2 for 4 tonight, or I’m gonna take Jamie home with me! Frenchy….take a first pitch, every other at bat for the rest of the season, and I’ll let you kiss my new girl Jamie! 😉 Mac, lose a few pounds, and take up Yoga. I could beat you to first, and I’ve got two fake knees! Smoltz, don’t blow your arm up! 6 innings is all you are going this year, period. Glavine, you are going on the DL, TS, about the never going on the DL streak! One quick hop off the mound for a bunt, and you won’t play again til the all star break. Hampton, get back on the juice! Huddy, find that 5 mph, or admit something’s hurting! Jair….good work kid, pay no attention to anyone but Smoltzie!!!”
A guy can dream, can’t he???? 🙂 off to dinner….
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I’m going to take a break from the blog for a while and Gil will be filling in for me. Don’t give him any grief! Send the leads as usual or send them to Gil, he’ll take care of it. See y’all later. CL
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“I bet, if Chipper had been named Captain after one of our many 3 and out playoff runs, he would have run with it” … to where would he have run? Wouldn’t it have better to name him Captain before rather than after the playoffs?
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CL, that’s a great news story! Bob, Winters….really??? 😯 to each his own! 😉 still gotta eat!
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We’ll be good CL!
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Berigan, don’t get me wrong … Winters was no Toler, and they were bad … but it seemed that the later Tolers … the last 3-4 … just went through the motions … Carol still liked them better than the Winters.
Not giving Gil grief may be difficult … old habits are hard to break!
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Hot Tub time … then a JS victory!!
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A judge has dismissed felony charges against two men accused of attacking Yale University singers in a New Year’s Eve brawl.
Judge Kathleen Kelly dropped the felony charges against 20-year-olds Brian Dwyer and Richard Aicardi (EYE-cahr-dee) on Wednesday, saying prosecutors lacked evidence.
Kelly Dwyer and reduced the case against Aicardi to a single count of misdemeanor assault.
Witnesses said that after the all-male a cappella group sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” the attackers hurled anti-gay epithets and then beat and kicked some of the singers.
Any doubts about why they call it the “left coast”?
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Lack of credible evidence often means witnesses won’t show up and testify or are not reliable even if they do. Also usually means the “victims” are not really victims and may have actually initiated their own beating. They played innocent at first but upon further investigation and inconsistent stories being told by the alleged “victims” the charges got dropped or reduced because the trial of the defendants had a good chance of being returned with a not guilty and the “victims” themselves being prosecuted for perjury and/or assault because once the story got fully fleshed out in a trial it became clear there were no victims – just two groups of idiots beating on each other.
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/04/17/tejada.age.ap/index.html?cnn=yes
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Words from the past … I remember them well!
There’s a dollar in my purse … get 5 gallons of gas when you go to town.
No! I don’t have 10 cents for you to go to the show. Do you think money grows on trees?
Here, take this old magazine to the toilet with you when you go, we are almost out of paper out there.
Don’t turn the radio on now, I want the battery to be up when the Grand Ole Opry comes on.
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Here’s a funny little article from smithsonian.com about argumentsL
I like to collect gratuitous opinions served up as laws of social behavior. Murphy’s Law (“If anything can go wrong, it will”) is the most famous, but the obscure ones are more fun. Say, for instance, that someone in an argument starts to foam at the mouth. You mildly remark, “What you’re saying is a perfect instance of Benford’s Law of Controversy,” and it will take a Google search for the poor sap to figure out that you have insulted him: Benford’s Law states that passion in any argument is inversely proportional to the amount of real information advanced.
Godwin’s Law is also handy. It holds that the longer an argument drags on, the likelier someone will stoop to a Hitler or Nazi analogy. And in common practice (other than in appropriate contexts, such as discussions of genocide), when an adversary tries it, you have only to say “Godwin’s Law” and a trapdoor falls open, plunging your rival into a pool of hungry crocodiles. Sweet, no?
Sweeter still, these little laws allow us to sound intellectual without having to do any homework. That’s why people are always citing the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. That’s also why they almost always get it wrong. The Uncertainty Principle actually has to do with physics, and let’s just say that if you read it, your head will explode. So what’s that nice idea about how observation inevitably alters the thing being observed? That’s “the observer effect.” But nobody calls it that because it lacks smarty-pants heft. What we really need is the Heisenberg Probability Principle, which states that anybody mentioning Heisenberg is likely a pompous twit. (And may I be the first to plead guilty as charged?)
Some of these rules actually hold precious wisdom. Hegel’s Paradox, for instance, says, “Man learns from history that man learns nothing from history.” And Clarke’s First Law, coined by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, nails the nature of wisdom: “When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible he is almost certainly wrong.”
Once, in Ireland, I ran across a statement by a 19th-century cleric that struck me as profound: “It is almost impossible to exaggerate the complete unimportance of almost everything.” I’ve never been able to track down the source. (But that’s unimportant.) In any case, Sturgeon’s Revelation, named after science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon, gives the same idea a nice American spin: “Ninety percent of everything is crud.”
The workplace has spawned more than its share of such obiter dicta. Thus the Dilbert Principle says, “The most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management.” But Joy’s Law, coined by Sun Microsystems co-founder Bill Joy, captures every manager’s sinking sense of despair: “No matter who you are, most of the smartest people work for someone else.” Harried tech workers like to cite Brooks’ Law, from software engineer Frederick P. Brooks: “Adding manpower to a late software project makes it later.” Or as Brooks also put it, “The bearing of a child takes nine months, no matter how many women are assigned.”
Impatient bosses often strike back with Parkinson’s Law: “Work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.” In fact, my editor just showed up at the door to remind me that time’s up.
“Don’t be such a deadline Nazi,” I snapped.
“Godwin’s Law,” he replied.
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Zebra found on I-75 healing but still ‘traumatized’
By SANDRA ECKSTEIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/17/08 (apologies for the alterations)
The baby zebra found injured along I-75 near Locust Grove last week is healing, but he has a long way to go to fully recover, his new keepers say.
He’s doing well physically, but he’s very frightened and traumatized,” said Diane Smith, assistant to the director at Noah’s Ark, the rescue and rehabilitation center in Locust Grove that retrieved the zebra April 8.
Smith said they now believe the zebra, estimated to be only two to three months old, was probably being transported with his mother and a small gray squirrel when he fell from a truck or trailer. When found, he had a severe injury in his pelvic area, leading veterinarians to believe he also may have then been hit by another vehicle maybe a Nova or a Malibu.
It’s still a mystery who owned him or where he was going, said Robin Hill of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. He was not believed to be driving.
“We still have no idea where he came from,” she said Thursday.
Perhaps hiS mother cOuld answer these questions. sEEms like there is A lot of speculation At work hEre. maYbe the writer could spEculate oN what Bobby said tO the teAm tonight to LIGht the fire. paRt of the fire cAMe from the remarkable game pitched by joHn smoLtz.
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Hey my friends. Just dropping in to send out my love.
How y’all doing?
I played some softball tonight so I’m about to hit the hey.
Peace!
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and it’s a good night to have Chipper Jones on your Fantasy Team!
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Umm, we are up 8-0…folks know that, right???? Or was everyone afraid to watch tonight???? 😉
Guess what??? I heard the 3 homers driving home from the store, and this was some womans home run/lotto inning! She got $3000 because of it…I never hear anyone win when it’s a stolen base inning, home run, etc inning…
They also said Bobby needs to have a meeting every day now!!!
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JB, I imagine so!(Chipper that is) Now you need to play softball every day till the braves lose again! 😛
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“He’s doing well physically, but he’s very frightened and traumatized” … what did she expect? Is Diane one of Jimmy’s kin? The kid misses his mama and I’ll bet Diane doesn’t even speak Zebra!
Sixteen strikeouts, four walks, three hits … tain’t bad McGee!
Now, if the offense can just get going … eight men left on base … goodness!
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from the ajc: Third baseman Chipper Jones was asked how big a blow it was to lose Moylan, one of the most durable and effective relievers in baseball in 2007.
“Big,” Jones said. “Huge.”
and asked about his ranch in texas . . .
“Big,” Jones said. “Huge.”
and asked about leading the league in hitting . . .
“Big,” Jones said. “Huge.”
and asked about the size of chino cadahia’s pants . . .
“Big,” Jones said. “Huge.”
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Now that was more like it!!! Closed-door meetings every day!
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Hello?
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Many thanks to Gil for pinch-hitting for CL.
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Any further proof needed to verify that the Braves do indeed read the blogs? We all said something need to be done…. Looks like something was done…
Braveheart, reading your bits wisdom from lawyerdom cause me to think of some of the bits of wisdom I imparted to my EMT students over the years. One of my favorites comes from Riely’s Rules of EMS from which he states ” Obese people tend to migrate to the domicile furthest away from mean sea level. Thus the likelihood of the elevator being out of order is directly proportional to the need to use said elevator to move a 400 pound patient from their fourth floor apartment to your double parked ambulance.”
Now, having said all that, I believe Chino lives in the Penthouse….
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Thou shalt not dwell on any negatives following an 8-0 blowout of a team in your devision. However, now that we all know that they know how to win games. More of the same is the expectation henceforth.
And on Evidence…. A gray squirrel? How did they figure that one out? You know folks, I have lost quite a few things in my life, some big, some small but I am pretty sure I would know whether or not I was missing a zebra… Being short a squirrel, maybe not, but a zebra… well, I am pretty sure I would notice that.
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Tonight’s win was huge too, Jimmy … wouldn’t you just know it … next game is with the Dodgers and Andruw has his average up to .157 and has 2 rbi to boot!
Little reason to believe that Moylan’s problem will resolve itself … but we can always hope that such will be the case … didn’t see the game but it sounded like John was experiencing the same problems he’s had … maybe since before Spring Training. He was obviously focused … my guess is that dominant was the operative word … sounded like it … but it also sounded like he went directly to the locker room at the end of the fifth.
Kelly’s plate appearances sounded better than in recent times … the starting eight all got hits … and Brayan got one too … shows what a little leadership can do. Kudos to Chipper for leading the way with four hits and a walk … and for following Bobby’s leadership.
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Yeah,Gil, I wondered how they knew he was on the truck with his mother & a squirrel but had no idea who owned him or where they were going.
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Wait a minute. Salty was in San Diego. Do y’all think he was at the zoo doing research on more wild & woolly animal facts?
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Sentencing an immigrant to time behind bars for repeatedly ‘sneaking’ into the country. BRILLIANT!!! Ever consider ‘free room and board’ was his objective? 😕 Round about or not…now I know where some of my April 15 contribution went! One man’s punishment is another’s…uhm…kingdom…for a day, week, month…or four years!
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Et tu, FBG? 😦
I am pained…mortally so! Where’s Polonius…old, young, I don’t care…need advice!
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I wish my yard was missing a few squirrels. I’ve given up feeding the birds as the squirrels wind up eating most of the seed. I wish I had the heart to “thin the herd” but I just don’t. They are only doing what they are programmed to do.
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You are correct, they are programmed to produce more squirrels…
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But don’t worry Chris, God will send you a hawk or two to thin out the rodent population at some point. I have discovered that red tail hawks like squirrel almost as much as they like chicken….
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Gil, we have plenty of hawks around here. Unfortunately, the squirrels make themselves very scarce when they are around. Also, the hawks seem to enjoy song birds equally well. I’ve seen them take birds out of the trees and the feeders several times and found piles of feathers several others.
BTW, you have mail.
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Okay folks, time for me to hit the rack…. Catch up with you fine people in the morning…
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And right on cue, there he is. Salty, what makes you think we don’t enjoy all the wild kingdom fun facts?
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“Thou shalt not dwell on any negatives following an 8-0 blowout of a team in your devision” dwelling on the negatives is probably ill advised at any time … but what better time than following a blowout victory over the division leaders when you can keep it in perspective … to so do following a loss is apt to cause some to go over the edge … following such a win, we can take most anything … maybe it wasn’t a gray squirrel … but a giant mutant gator and they just didn’t want to alarm folks … thank goodness we won!
Unfortunately, Washington just lost in 14 … make that a small pet gator.
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Good night, Gil!
Chris, if you ever figure out how to keep the fuzzy-tailed rats out of the feeder you’ll make millions. My dad is threatening to get a BB gun to use on the ones in Rabun.
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As long as the gator’s not loose, Bob. I’ve seen plenty of them up close in the wild & to be honest they scare me.
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Salty, that wasn’t a dig at you, amigo. Your animal facts have led to some highly entertaining conversations here.
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FBG, there are “squirrel proof” feeders. Unfortunately, they are very expensive and as I already have a back yard full of feeders, I am not inclined to buy any more. Then again, most days I can look outside and see that they are all full of squirrels with the birds sitting in the trees waiting for an opportunity to get in to feed. As I said before, I wish I had the heart to shoot those stupid little bass turds, but I don’t.
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Yeah, I’ve looked at them. Do they work? We need new feeders in Rabun. The ones the previous owners left aren’t in good shape. We did put up a new bluebird house.
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Et tu? … that’s your problem … you shouldn’t have eaten on the plane dummy. Take 2 Alka Seltzer and check back in the morning … Pop has gone to bed … Laertes.
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“I’ve seen plenty of them up close in the wild & to be honest they scare me” … they do make nice shoes though … we used to see them in South Georgia in the woods near the swamps … and outside New Orleans too … to be honest, just thinking about it scares me.
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The squirrel videos 😆 That was great, Chris.
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Guess I’ll have to look for the Twirl-a-squirrel & the Yankee Flipper. Aside from keeping the seed for the birds, there’s entertainment to be had there too.
Good night y’all!
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Chris, sounds like you need to get busy doing what you’re supposed to be programmed to do:
http://www.backwoodsbound.com/zsquir19.html
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If you need any, and I mean ANY pointers on fuzzy-tailed-rat A to Z just let me know. I’m currently defending 9 acres (including several feeders) with a good old fashioned Crossman 766 American classic. Had it since I was 10; still gets the job done when the cops are around. Otherwise, I use a Remington .22 short I inherited from my Grandfather…27 grain HV hollowpoints make little noise and a big mess when properly applied. Eat ’em up or train the dawgs with ’em; whatever floats your boat. I assure you, those little %$#@-ers aren’t on the endangered species list.
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OK, nobody’s up in the morning, and nobody’s up at night. What a bunch of girly-men (excepting CL and FBG); I don’t want to hear any excuses from anyone. Pathetic.
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What are you talking about now stranger?
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Wow, Bob; what a bizarre occurrence. I post that and slip over to watch Rob Zombie’s “Phantom Stranger” on youtube and come back to hear you addressing me (I assume) as “stranger.” Infinitely cool.
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I don’t think I’d watch that, not this late at night … per chance to dream, a major rub, methinks
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Bob, I’m as happy as anyone we had a great win, but if you would please explain to me how a team gets nearly double-digit-doubles, a couple of triples, FIVE home runs and only scores 8? I wouldn’t think that was possible if I didn’t listen to and watch most of it. Don’t get me wrong; I LOVE winning by 8. It’s just a tad disturbing to me though to think that the mediocre team we played would’ve scored 14 with the same hit total.
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How about the triple we got to lead of an inning, that didn’t score…Kotsay, right???? And Smoltz struck out bunting???? How bad is that shoulder???? 😯
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Yes, I live in a 160-year old house by myself and watch all sorts of things nobody in their right mind would watch in the cozy bosom of friendly confines (much less this hollow old manse). Though I doubt many of us are right in the head ultimately.
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Grinch….try clicking on that video again, why dontya????
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I have to run … or walk … but I too had a Crossman … long ago.
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YOU especially, Berigan. Though you are in good stead tonight. 🙂
Smoltz is in pain in April (and a good bit), and Hudson is either fixing to come up with an excuse nobody before him ever has or have major surgery. I still think we’ll be competetive if Glavine and Hampton return to form, but it’s gonna be tooth and nail from here.
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Stranger, you must remember that only 11 or 12 of those hits were for extra bases … hopefully they’ll figure it out … some of them have while others are still playing “me” ball … Berigan, what you say is true but he swung hard the next time up … go figure.
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Bob, you’d like my little Remington; it holds 14 .22 shorts in a tube magazine and loads through the butt-stock. It has a 1916 patent on it and the “Remington” is stamped upside-down on the barrel.
B-gen, just tried it and it works fine on my PC.
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“Hudson is either fixing to come up with an excuse nobody before him ever has or have major surgery” … better said than what I wrote and didn’t post last night … shades of Gonzo a year ago.
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Bob, I didn’t know he swung hard the next time! Weird…Pete and the Lemmer thought it very strange to keep bunting, when only a fly ball was needed.
Like Grinch, I am very worried about Smoltz….he always pitches in pain, but all I saw were sliders tonight…and only 5 innings…
Grinch, I clicked on the link here, and it said the video was no longer available!
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What’s also weird about Hudson and Moylan, is each looked great within the last week….I mean, Hudson looked better than he has since he joined the team the other day….and Moylan looked like he could replace Soriano, permanently
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Absolute nonsense, my man; I just closed everything out and tried it again. Are you using firefox? Please don’t tell me you’re using IE. If so, I assume that’s the problem.
Bob, it don’t look good, do it? Yikes.
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PC? Berigan, is your Commodore 64 acting up again? Nothing wrong with that video … reminds me of some Bill Boyd films.
The Remington sounds like a keeper … modified or original?
I do have to go .. duty, that is Carol, calls … ‘night … sweet dreams stranger … you too Mr. Lincoln.
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Goodnight Bob!!! Hopalong Cassidy reference???
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No Grinch, it was with Mozilla….very weird…now it shows up again! You know how you can hover the mouse over a clip, and the image shows up??? You can also play it via that…and that was were it said this video was no longer available!!! But, as you can tell, it’s from Universal, why would they ban their own clip????
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Well Grinch, you will win tonight… I shouldn’t be up even this late….trying to find just the right Megadeth clip to get Paladin cussin’ in the early AM! 😉
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Bob, there’s a crack in the stock that has a screw in it to keep it steady. Otherwise it’s fresh as a virgin borne. Checkering’s even in good shape. I’ve probably put 2500 rounds or so myself through it; counting my Dad, his little brother (now deceased) and my Granddad too there’s no telling. It’ll still kill a fuzzy-tail-rat dead as quick as you want to pull the trigger. Yeah, I wonder how many are stamped upside down? Never seen another even stamped properly.
B-gen, Smoltz is comfy throwing sliders; the action is more in the wrist. Not a good sign for shoulder or elbow.
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Well, I wasn’t talking about Polonius … Yes … though the mind triggered route taken to get to Hoppy is admittedly oblique … good night and God Bless us all, every one.
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Grinch, you do have to wonder about that…10 strikeouts??? Seemed like every one of them was a slider…at least on the highlights ESPN showed(I was in car for his 5 innings) John Tudor threw much slower, but he was getting people to swing and miss a lot just before his career ended. I heard he even came more 3/4 armed later…if the 5th is later in the game to you…
He and Grinch need to skip a start, not be heros…or we will have no starting pitching!!! Jurrjens, and pray for rain….for a hurricane.
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God bless you as well, tiny Bob! 😉
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Doesn’t the Triggered route lead to Roy Rogers? 🙂
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Polonius Monk???? I guess I need to brush up my Shakespeare!!! Really, I had to google Polonius…
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USS Simpson departed Mayport on Oct. 5, 2007 en route to the Eastern Pacific with a brief port visit to Montego Bay, Jamaica, before transiting through the Panama Canal. The primary mission throughout the deployment was drug interdiction in the Eastern Pacific. Simpson succeeded in stopping an estimated 16 metric tons of cocaine from making it to the streets of America
Berigan … “He and Grinch need to skip a start, not be heros” … don’t say that … grinch is a super hero … but it’s hard sometimes to get him to put the suit on, don’t encourage him to take it off.
Just waiting for the Tylenol PM to kick in … bye.
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It’s too late/early for puns! 😛
Tim Kurwhatshisname on ESPN said since the “modern” era started in 1900, no starting pitcher had ever pitched 5 shutout innings in a game, struck out 10, and the game ended in a shutout…
On that note…Hi Di Ho Silver, away to dreamland…
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Something’s kicked in if I am saying Smoltie and Grinch…No tylenol PM for me…2 pieces of bread, and a slice of cheese in the last hour….Still haven’t called Grinch Grich, but it will someday….Bobby Grich was a pretty good player, a rarity back then…a power hitting 2ndbaseman….later gators!!! Bet you last money, it’s all going to be a stone gas, honey!
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Thou shalt not Google Polonius; I think it’s one of the commandments.
Tim Kahzahkastan hasn’t dealt much with Smoltzie, who defies all logic.
Please don’t encourage the Grinch…he disrobes all to easily. Hence the standout legal team in his employ.
G’night.
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Ha, faked him out, I win, I WIN!!! Loooser! 😈
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Give me a break … “Since 1900, no starting pitcher had ever pitched 5 shutout innings in a game, struck out 10, and the game ended in a shutout” … there’s been quite a few, methinks … I’m yawning, the capsule is doing its think … and I’m gone … shades of Pat Paulsen.
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shades of Pat Paulsen…I hope not!!! And Tim K can’t be wrong! 😉
and in other news…it’s good to be king!!!!
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23559118-401,00.html
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Yeah, you wonder how his ex-wife doesn’t take him for all he’s worth…but that’s one area Russia isn’t nearly as stupid/backward in as we are and he’s a KGB assassin to boot. Easy to convince her to only take half, no?
G’night.
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Oh my… a gymnast… This is the same guy Bush said he looked into his eyes a felt he could trust…. Turns out he just another dirty old man….
And baseball, what a game between the Rockies and the Padres. 22 innings in a 2-1 win for the Rocs. Talk about screwing up your pitching staff for a month… And at Coores field yet, that humidor is doing the trick I would say.
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President Vladimir Putin is reportedly planning to leave his wife of 25 years for a former Olympic gymnast and once-time nude model half his age.
Hmmm… and there and I was thinking that KGB Vlad liked young boys. Remember the little “incident” when he singled out a little boy from the crowd of spectators in Moscow, where he stooped down, raised the boys shirt and proceeded to kiss the kids tummy, over and over, right in front of world news cameras during a PR event or campaign a few years ago? The “affection” went on and on and on… very odd and disturbing. Some in the media even commented on how, uh… unusual that was. This was not shaking hands and kissing babies.
Now this article comes along and blows that theory. Or does it? Lessee, we have Putin and how corrupt he is… Russian athletics… Olympic gymnast… a girl… a young girl… you’ve got a country that has engaged in widespread, sanctioned (supplied) steroid usage for Olympic athletes… cheating… maybe his new girlfriend is a boy? Hmmm…
Here’s pictures of her. You decide.
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Grinch… Sounds like a model 16C.. Is this it?
http://www.remington.com/library/history/firearm_models/rimfire/model_16.asp
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Since CL announced her “sabbatical” yesterday, it is a golden opportunity for me to do likewise. I don’t want Gil to take this personally, because it is something that I have been “trying to get around to” for a while. Call it the “cowboy” in me. I just don’t “homestead” well, for long. And I do have tons of real work to do and, unlike Raisins, I am not a good multi-tasker.
Any way, when this cattle drive is over, around Jun 1, the Braves should be into their run, or convincing us that there will be no run . I’ll see y’all then and for now, as Edward R. Murrow would say, Goodbye and good luck,
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SG…. I wonder what color dress his wife was wearing at the press conference?
Of course I could just call Putin’s new flame Gwinnett….
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008… Feel free to stop by anytime, the door is always open and we’ll keep the light on for you….
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G’morning…
I am not on sabbatical, but I am on the road again today. I’m getting tired of things like responsibility getting in the way of things I really prefer to be doing! 😀
Back later…
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I would agree Raisins… Work Suxs….
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Paladin, what? Don’t we require a quorum before being allowed to go on sabbatical? My vote is nay. So get’cherazz back here real soon or else. Hey, work and travel has been cutting into my playtime too, but when you sign onto the Braves and Stuff roster, you sign on to be tough. Once in, there’s no out. Like the Marines. Not like the mafia, but similar. Like a nice hotel…
You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
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JB, I’ve been away since your lead was posted… yours was sincere, heartfelt and nicely written… the ingredients of a very good post. You’re right about family. Many or most of us have been through the “want to change them” experience in our youth. It’s a universal passage. I’m sure you’ve found or continue to find balance and understanding there. Nice at bat, kid.
As for our Braves, we may moan and groan, yell at the TV at times and try to somehow “will” our players (or our manager) to do something at a critical moment in the game, but it never quite works out that way… although there was that one time back in ’95 when David Justice was coming up to bat and I stood in front of the TV and… uh, never mind… it was probably just a coincidence. Maybe.
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Dubya Dubya, you mean run like Paladin Gump?
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He even named his plane The Carolina Lady
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You guys do make it rough. SG offering one of my favorites, The Eagles, and ww’s “kind” words. But, I have my own collection of Eagles music and, nephew, if your surmise was correct it would still show that I have much better taste in derrieres than you. Yours, for instance, smell like a sweaty Harley seat. I won’t be far. You can reach me via e-mail. Later.
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Everybody needs a break sometime for a myriad of reasons… and raisins. Carolina Lady will be back very very soon I hope. So will Pal. Much like the Hotel California and all.
Then, when that happens, the birds will chirp, butterflies will flitter, love songs will fill the air, Braves will go on a winning streak…
Oh, and then Paladin will stumble back in…
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Alright, later, Paladin.
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I just saw a funny clip on how Forrest Gump should have ended:
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Now I’m feeling fahklempt and all… so I’m leaving too.
But I’ll be back by game time or thereabouts.
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Yeah, I gotta get going myself.
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There’s no need to erase my posts. Paladin and I are mature enough and good enough of friends to bust each other’s chops. He always busts mine and has been calling me a DOB booty kisser for almost a year now so I was just repaying the favor in the same joking manner. Since we are both in on the joke, we’re not gonna be crybabies about it. So there was no need to erase anything.
[If it’s all the same to you, I did not care for the references to me and found them demeaning and insulting. Not appreciated! CL out and gone. Have fun.]
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onE quesTion comes to Mind. HaS the CRossMan eveR been fireD at a seal? I hoPe noT. anD jusT as Carulina Lady takEs a reSt froM the bloG a neW busInesS oppOrtuniTy aRises:
flbravesgirl Says:
April 18, 2008 at 12:16 am
Yeah, I’ve looked at them. Do they work? We need new feeders in Rabun. The ones the previous owners left aren’t in good shape. We did put up a new bluebird house.
aND JoHn SmoLtz tHrows beTTer huRt thaN moSt piTchers do weLL. And PeTer MoYlan is not tAking this weLL. A cOuple bloKes weNt ouT togEther laSt NigHt and wE cloSed dowN a cheeze bAr. I aLso gOt a taTTOo.
GiL wiLL do a fIne joB on the blOg and tHanks foR doIng so. May be tIMe to maKe Gil a JOurnalist – must tAlk witH jimmy smith.
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One last comment: Gil has agreed to run this thing for a while, but I’d like for someone to step forward as the new permanent owner when Gil gets tired of it.
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Naw chopper… I have low ambitions… just being a hack is okay with me. Allows for more mistakes if expectations are not too high. I gave about 70% effort everyday so when I got old and tired, no one noticed any difference… 🙂 I played hurt a long time but nobody knew… Kind of like John Smoltz, but different…
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No posts for 2 hours??? WE NEED PALLY BOY!!!
Of course, I have a feeling just the right youtube clips could bring him back…time will tell…
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Wow, that was some game Gil! Wouldn’t it have been something if Maddux had won 350 in front of hundreds of folks in the stands in the early am??? 😯
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280417125
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Dale Murphy’s son might be drafted in the NFL draft! http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/04/17/murphy_0418.html
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I’m not so sure about this working in the yard thingee… After taking the fourth fall in three days, I am beginning to wonder if someone is trying to tell me something? Oh well, as long as I can still get up a walk, I guess that means it’s okay.
The Braves will be facing a tough trio of pitchers in the up coming series with the Dodgers. Winning two of three would be huge at this point. I am surprised that Bennett is getting the start tonight, I would think Buddy would be ready to toe the rubber tonight.
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Gil, it’s the next one down on the rimfire list; the model 24. The ejection port is on the bottom right in front of the trigger and you load ’em through the little slot on the stock. That’s the one; surprised it was released in 1922 when it has the patent date stamped 1916. Guess it just took ’em awhile to get it tooled up. Thanks for that; I’d been curious forever. Great little rifle; perfect next step up from a single-shot for a little kid (I inherited it when I was about 10).
I probably won’t be back ’till tomorrow; y’all be good.
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Grinch, I love those old rifles, they were so well made and they don’t get hot like the newer rifles do. I still rue the day I passed up a chance to buy a little Winchester pump that just felt perfect in your hands, wonderful balance. I have several Remingtons in my collection but nothing new. I try to stay pre 1960s with most of my rifles.
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Gil, I’m trying not to be too negative (really I am!) especially after a great win last night….but….Buddy pitched last night, for no good reason. Now, since Bennett has been off his game, what are the odds he lasts beyond the 4th??? Then what, Buddy, who pitched last night??? What if Bennett gives up 6 runs in the 1st? I know…worrying over problems that haven’t yet happened…I’m really good at that! 😆
I guess our saving grace is the Dodgers don’t have a whole lot of offense…and we get to pitch to Andruw! 😉
I do hope all things considered, Andruw hears more cheers than boos….
Need to do stuff, back later…
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I said thou shalt not be negative about a 8-0 win… Tonight is a whole new ballgame (was that a shameless clique or what?) That is why I think the Braves will be fortunate to pull off two wins in this series.
A telling sign should have been in the last couple of weeks of spring training when other clubs had their starters going 7 innings and the Braves were still pitching 5 and done.
The Dodgers have some holes in their line up too… None bigger than Andruw, let’s hope he doesn’t pull a Betermit and snap out of his cold spell against Atlanta.
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And I cannot see why the fans in Atlanta would have reason to boo Andruw. It was the Braves who made no counter offer. They used his request as an excuse. Bad faith bargaining if you ask me.
Hummmm….I think I see a pattern developing here… Make people think you are interested to keep them on the hook and then poof… make up some excuse as to why things didn’t work out and make a deal somewhere else… Yep, looks like the Braves’ business model to me…
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Berigan, which months have 28 days? Which have 30?
Gil, “They used his request as an excuse” … serious question … what was his request?
As a aside, how does not making a counter offer constitute bad faith bargaining? … I do however place the blame for Andruw’s plight on the Braves rather than on Andruw … abusing one of my favorites; they had the opportunity to mold him and make him after their will … and failed to so do … and good clay he was, methinks.
Perhaps that says a lot about the problems besetting the Braves … Leo was a “formula” coach … did wonders with those made of a particular clay … but those requiring a different mold … well. Maybe Bobby and Terry are too … might explain why they score ten one night against a good pitcher and get blanked by mediocrity the next.
Formulae are good … some better than others, but you have to know when to use which … that’s why there’s more than one.
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Will Rogers never met a man he didn’t like … Will was unique … we all are … but, Will was just a bit more unique, methinks.
As I sit and ponder the last comment of the Blog’s First Lady, I’m reminded of that uniqueness … and that she too is a bit more. No one, other than family, has meant more over these last two years … I placed her on a pedestal long ago and she’s never fallen therefrom … no, not once … ’tis there she belongs and there she will forever remain, along with her trusted Daisy.
No Blog First Lady at the helm? … why you might as well not believe in Mudville’s Mighty Casey. A thousand games from now, … nay, ten times ten thousand games from now, she will continue to make glad the hearts of us all.
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A telling sign should have been in the last couple of weeks of spring training when other clubs had their starters going 7 innings and the Braves were still pitching 5 and done.
Shoot Gil, it’s still happening! I see teams with pitchers going, 8-9 innings…and we still have guys going 5!
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Ha! No posts for an hour and 24 minutes, then 2 the same minute! And I am always involved is this! 😯
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Well, Mister B, as the old New Yorker joke, later in Playboy, said … everybody has to be somewhere!
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Truer words have been said…but not often!
Oh, and before I got run some errands…
Berigan, which months have 28 days? Which have 30?
Umm, a trick question??? did I say somethin’ silly, and don’t recall???
Lets see…If I put my knuckles, knucke to knuckle….feb has 28, April, June, Sept and November???? Just double checked, am I right??? What do I win??? One of those $1 braves tickets in the nose bleed section???
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I got run some errands!!!!
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All months have 28 days; 11 months have 30! Sneaky one, you are, BobJ! 😉
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Parting is such sweet sorrow … hot tub, install a new microwave, a light supper and then a rare treat, Braves on TV, methinks … I’ll take the over.
TV indicated that a local teacher caught a kid in school yesterday … supposedly selling drugs. He told the two investigating officers that he also had a gun … gave it them … unloaded … however, the one they found in his backpack was and there were two clips in there too … “there must be some mistake, he’s really a good boy” … there was a mistake, but that ain’t it, methinks.
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That’s not being sneaky NaCly … just something mind triggered by “Since 1900, no starting pitcher had ever pitched 5 shutout innings in a game, struck out 10, and the game ended in a shutout” … but, perhaps I’m wrong and there have never been any such games in the past.
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Paradigms, Bob, paradigms…or is two nickels? 😕 🙄 I confound myself…and yes, to your reply earlier today…’et tu’ when I should’ve stuck to one! 😆
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Sheesh! 😳 Uh…four nickels, maybe?
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Well Chris, I’m not sure about the appropriateness of the Lee article content or it’s worthiness of Blog consumption … neither do I know which is worse … Dovi, Sears or Lee.
I don’t believe in windfall awards under any circumstances … well, unless they’re going to me, but methinks that Sears does indeed have a responsibility to its customers … it’s okay to keep piranha, I suppose, but allowing them in the public swimming pool without proper supervision and control is foolish and fraught with peril … and with the forewarning of two priors, Sears appears to have been asleep at the switch.
Methinks there should also be a class action suit brought against Dovi … my dislike for the style and acumen is subjective but there can be no excuse for attempting to drag the good General Lee into that quagmire … much less blame our defeat on him … the audacity!!
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Sorry to offend Bob.
Gil, kindly remove my 5.22 pm post please. Thank you.
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Wow… What awesome power Carolina Lady has bestowed upon me….
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Chris, I wasn’t offended … thought I made that clear … just being me … already shared it with others … that Lee deserves more than he’ll get is my guess … wasn’t intending it be taken literally or seriously serious.
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Bob, Because others will be confused if I comment too much further, I will keep it short. Virgina is notoriously stingy when it come to awards via lawsuits. They will likely settle out of court for a very diminished sum. Lawyers like to bandy about big numbers but this will never see the inside of a courtroom.
Chris, It is a shame that people do not respect their namesakes but then again, if his name had been Joe Smoow, likely this story would not have been printed.
Pretty evident the guy was smuck…
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Duh… Bob, I don’t I can put them back….
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Uh… should read, I don’t think I can put them back…
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“It is a shame that people do not respect their namesakes” … realizing my failure in that regard, I passed the name to my son … and he to his … maybe one day we’ll get it right Daddy.
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I had an opportunity to see this kid play last year while he was with Durham. One thing for sure, he can flat out hit AAA pitching. Great power to the opposite field. Looks like Tampa has a plan, they are pretty well set with good position players. I think their weakness is the same as everyone else’s and lack pitching.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080418&content_id=2546402&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
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That’s quite a story Gil and I strongly agree with the concept … but … it’s fraught with peril … best of luck to him and the Rays!
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I think that in the long term, it allows for an organization to project a fairly stable operations cost and would allow them to sign a high dollar pitcher without fear of being trapped into a contract which can damage a club’s chance of success for years. Texas is a good example.
Most people will trade long term security for short term gain. Does anyone really think Atlanta could afford Chipper Jones if he went on the open market?
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“It allows for an organization to project a fairly stable operations cost and would allow them to sign a high dollar pitcher without fear of being trapped into a contract which can damage a club’s chance of success for years” … agreed and I took it even further … suggesting signing several young pitchers of high potential to long term contracts, knowing that some will fail … perhaps foolish but I like the idea.
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Nice catch by Blanco…Diaz doesn’t make that one. Still, sacks full and only one out. Walk, error on a sure DP, then a HBP. Come on, Bennett…stand tall…or it’ll be a long evening! Actually…a short evening…I won’t watch!
OK…K…2 outs…93 mph fastball. Nice!
Play by play is not my schtick! 😦
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Is it a Nashville problem? … no audio
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A rarity, Andruw strikes out! But, as Joe and Chip said, at least he wasn’t swinging!
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Chip is cruel! He just pointed out Derek Lowe has more RBI’s than Andruw!
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Bob, no audio issues here….might try WGST.com
Gil, I have heard the Rays have some great arms, from Gammons and Buster Olney. Only “Name” I know of is David Price, who they signed just last year out of college…I forget the names Gammons rattled off of course, but he mentioned 2-3 guys before Price…
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Blanco singles off Lowe…McCann scores from third. Nice break…2-0 Braves! 🙂
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Blanco singles off Lowe, literally…McCann scores from third. Nice break…2-0 Braves! 🙂
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What do you say we beat the stinkin’ Dodgers?
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JB, let’s do it!
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Bennett looks like the guy I saw last year after he got out of the first inning. Throw the stinking fastball and dare them to hit it. I am glad Blanco is getting a chance to play tonight, he already saved a run on that shoestring catch.
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Welcome home Andruw… 🙂
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Theres the Andruw we know and….now love to see! Start hitting the second you leave town son!
Gil, I am very glad to see Bennett do so well! I was thinking, like others, that he was hurting since he sure didn’t seem wild at all last year….
4th game in 7 days or games, how much longer should he go???
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Man… it’s bloody dangerous being a pitcher tonight…
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Good for Gregor… nice level line drive swing… solid baseball…
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oh, the humanity! joe torre in a dodgers uniform does not look right. somehow, andruw in a dodgers uniform is now okay with jimmy smith. journalist grew apart from andruw during the batting-stubbornness – and with the explanation that andruw would view film after the season and make adjustments. and now, andruw is at bat . . . hitting .154. strikes out again. sad. c’mon kid.
and strife. uncomfortable, huh? jimmy smith does not like strife. hello to sg. hello to all. baseball is bigger than any strife on a blog. and there are rumors that tim hudson’s velocity fell off a truck and has not yet been found and nurtured back to health. much like the little lost zebra, tim hudson’s velocity will be found.
and how many good zebras are lost this way every day? and with whom is a missing zebra report filed? and what if someone claims the zebra? how can that person be certain this is the right missing zebra? and why did the mama or the little gray squirrel not sound an alert?
and is matt diaz becoming a platoon outfielder once again?
and this from the ajc – used to cover dixie like the dew, now covers the zoo.
By LEON STAFFORD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/19/08
The stork landed at Zoo Atlanta this week, not once, not twice, but three times.
Motherhood came to the attraction’s warthogs, Malayan great argus and black and white ruffed lemurs, Zoo Atlanta officials said.
happy birthday to all and to gil – same burthday?
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Gil, bet it does your heart good to see Blanco 2 for 2!!! I can see it now, Bobby will want to keep a hot bat in, and rest Kotsay, who was only supposed to play 135-140 games this year, and if he hits tomorrow, he can spell Frenchy on Sunday…And if still hitting, Tex can rest Monday….Ok, I’ll stop! 😛
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I don’t know how Kemp laid off that pitch… Too bad for Bennett, he earned the win tonight. Now all I can say is Oh Man….
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Well, Bennett out after 84 pitches, and 4 and 2/3rds….did a great job! Especially against this team. Chip and Joe mentioned that the Dodgers see more pitches per AB than any other team in the NL, or perhaps it was all of baseball??? Whatever, it’s the Joe Torre effect, for sure. And that’s with the Mule headed one on that team as well.
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Sometimes I feel like it is a bit of zoo atmosphere around the old blog… 🙂
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Give Ohman a save for that out…
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I don’t think anyone on the blog has lost a zebra. Now, if they had ask if anyone had lost their a**… That might have gotten a few bites. 🙂
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Bunt? 😕 Station to station? Fundamentals?
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Glavine to the DL! Chucky to start!!!!! 😯
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caps on backwards like the fan seated behind the plate . . . says “dummy” to this journalist. but of course, the dummy has better seats than jimmy smith, so, maybe not so dumb after all. still, cap on backwards says, dummy. and what of chin hair? does chin hair value or devalue? say, chipper chin hair . . . or perhaps, maynard krebs chin hair. can’t say what it’s called. banned on most blogs.
and oh, the humanity! cold ringfinger on the d.l.! verified. on the d.l.
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Glavine DL…Chuckie starting? 😯 Yikes!
Meanwhile, back to the game…nice H&R!
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One last comment: Gil has agreed to run this thing for a while, but I’d like for someone to step forward as the new permanent owner when Gil gets tired of it.
Gil, you are a good man to take the baton and you’ll do a fine job managing the blog, yet I for one am dismayed by today’s turn of events. The good and gracious Carolina Lady has left the blog. That’s the worst thing that could ever happen here.
As we all know but seem to forget at times, she’s the one who has spent so many hours of her days for months on end creating, designing, posting leads and pictures, adding helpful links, retouching photos, putting up with our shenanigans and tirelessly managing a nice forum for those of us that care for her and enjoy blogging with her, our friends and blogmates.
And now The Lady has gone. I hope that those of us who have come to love and care about her have let her know how we feel about that and I hope that whatever has caused her enjoyment here to diminish, be rectified at the soonest opportunity. I know that all here share my desire to have her return soon and return in the best of spirits. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s not a time for appointing new ‘journalists’, waxing poetic, creating unnecessary intrigue or simply ignoring the elephant in the room.
The heart and soul of Braves and Stuff goes with Carolina Lady. As much as I’ve enjoyed and been entertained by the good folks here, my interest in blogging here goes with her departure.
No matter who is managing Braves and Stuff, I’ll be gone until the Lady returns as a host or a denizen… and that’s just the way it is my friends.
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Blog, seems a bit…blogged down, so to speak! post 701 at least! 😉
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Chipper! Chipper! Chipper!
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one last sermon. fitting.
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SG… Please don’t be too hasty in your departure. The Lady of Carolina simply has a full plate right now and needed to let some things go for a while. It is my sincerest hope she will make a speedy return when time permits but it would be a shame for her to come home to an empty house…
I will post a new lead later tonight…
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SG….I hope you are still reading….don’t have your email….
I DON’T speak for CL in any way, shape or form….but, as Gil and I can attest to, if you have to spend much, (Or in CL’s case) all your time taking care of a sick family member…..It wears you down, just terribly. Little things become big things, very quickly. I don’t know a whole lot about your wife’s health, but I know she has some issues, which means what I am saying is likely something you know all too well…but, I think CL has been dealing with her ill Mom for quite some time….that, on top of silly fighting that has gone on here…I think we can all understand not wanting to be the “man” so to speak, at least for a little while.
If you leave SG, you will be stressing CL out, really!!! Don’t do it, pretty please???
I bet ya dollars to donuts, she will still pop her head in a fair bit….no need to through the baby away with the bathwater….I am sure I could think of some more trite stuff,if given time! 😛
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Now… That’s Braves baseball… 3 run homer
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ahh, nothing like a commercial break after a commercial break! 😕
Gil, 3 run homers are fun, aren’t they? 🙂
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Gil, Berigan… thanks. Trust me when I say that I am completely aware of CL’s personal situation, I know her very well and if I had even an inkling that my departure would cause her stress I’d certainly avoid that. But thanks.
Jimmy, that sermon comment was uncalled for but not unexpected. I’ll let it go.
Peace out.
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That was an interesting story about Chipper, they mentioned on TV. The late, great Willie Stargell while a roving hitting instructor, saw him hit, handed him a 34-35 oz bat(apparently, most others swing girlie man 32 oz’ers) and said, this is what you hit with. Chipper hit a monster home run, and has been in love with a heavy bat, ever since! Thanks Willie! That somewhat makes up for all the tears I cried when you beat the Cards over and over late in games in 1979 as a old man….
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Well, Joe Simpson doesn’t get it…He wonders why in the world fans would have even thought of booing him, why would they be mad at him??? Well, I wouldn’t boo him, but if Joe doesn’t understand why fans were frustrated with Andruw not working hard to find his stroke…waiting til the off season…
Mark Sweeney has 164 Pinch hits??? You know, some west coast players, just don’t register with me, especially bench players…Like they were saying, the kind of player championship desiring teams dream of having….
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Braves win, Braves win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
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“As much as I’ve enjoyed and been entertained by the good folks here, my interest in blogging here goes with her departure. No matter who is managing Braves and Stuff, I’ll be gone until the Lady returns as a host or a denizen… and that’s just the way it is my friends” is most interesting … and I’m sure we all share your concern over her departure.
However, I do doubt that it be her wish that any of us take flight as a result. I too have enjoyed and been entertained by the good folks here … indeed, that’s why I’m here … by her, perhaps more than any other, for it is she who has worked so hard to make it all possible. We all want our First Lady back …. at the helm, guiding this ship.
Her qualities bespeak themselves, including her wisdom … showcased most recently in her most wise and wonderful choice to lead us in her absence.
I agree with Gil and would think rather than leaving or polarizing, that she would prefer we all join together and make her proud … proud that she created B&S; proud that she nurtured and made it what it is … proud to return; and proud to reassume active leadership and control … a singular opine, I hope not.
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Gil, the closing italics was obviously faulty … after friends and before the closing quote (“) … if you can, at your convenience please correct it and delete this post. I’d be truly obliged but if it is not, worry not!
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No need to change a thing Bob…
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NEW BLOG UP!!!!!!
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