Comments and articles herein are the intellectual property and opinions of the writers and may not be copied without permission of the writers.
By ssiscribe
ATLANTA – Windows down. Sunshine gleaming. Radio cranked.
Two heads bob in unison to the music coming from the speakers, the melody and rhythm fighting for attention with the whirl of Interstate 75 on a perfect late morning in late spring.
In the back seat, a 5-year-old – dressed head-to-toe in Braves gear – enjoys the prospects of being out of pre-K for the day. Behind the wheel, his dad – sporting that pristine white Braves home jersey and Las Vegas-style Braves’ lid – sings at the top of his lungs, drawing both praise and laughter from the audience in the backseat.
“Life is a highway … I wanna ride it all night long!”
Rascal Flatts might not be my favorite musical group. Country music certainly isn’t my favorite genre, strange when one considers I’m from the South and listened to the rhythm of the steel guitar throughout my childhood.
But there’s something about that particular song that strikes me. Maybe it’s because that tune is on the soundtrack of the movie “Cars,” the wildly popular animated hit from a few years back that is a favorite of all four of us who reside in our humble abode. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s because there is a message in the lyrics, one that applies in this case.
The highway zooms along under our tires as we navigate toward Turner Field. On this day, heading north for the opening game of a day-night doubleheader, traffic is moving along, the weather is perfect, and the setting is one that every father who so cherishes this game we adore hopes to have with his first-born at some point in time.
So, too, does it describe the baseball team who resides at 755 Hank Aaron Boulevard. Through the stop-and-go frustration of a lost April, May has brought spring flowers and sparkling baseball to the Atlanta Braves. The pitching staff, as stable as a pack of NASCAR wannabees racing down the back straightaway on a Saturday night at the local dirt track, has settled into a nice rhythm. The manager, asleep at the wheel for far too many nights the first month of the season, suddenly has realized the lineup can be adjusted and the bullpen can be used wisely (there still are moves like last night, when Jeff Bennett pitched in a nine-run game, but I digress).
And the offense, stuck in the far right lane fighting merging traffic in second gear, has wandered into the fast lane and put the hammer down.
All offseason, Braves fans salivated at the prospects of the best hitting team this franchise has fielded in years. All April, the good denizens of Braves Nation gnashed their teeth and chewed their fingernails as those not named Chipper Jones or Yunel Escobar sputtered like my old ’79 Silverado used to on the Downtown Connector.
But now, the Braves are hitting. Top to bottom, Atlanta hitters are producing, even when they don’t seem to produce. Several times during Tuesday’s opener, a father talked to his attentive son about the fundamental aspects of the game. The team wearing white provided plenty of good examples on this day, working deep into the count, hitting the ball to the right side to move runners along, getting the fly ball needed with a runner on third, and hitting in the clutch to turn an early deficit into a comfortable lead.
Baseball is a hard, hard game. I’ll never forget walking back into the newsroom one night as a young sports writer, ready to pound out my game story. Satisfied with my work, I shipped it to my sports editor, a fine man whose short lists of priorities include baseball … and perspective.
“Remember how hard this game is,” he asked after recrafting part of my story.
The game we watch seems so easy from the Terrace Level, the Sports Garage, the local watering hole. But on the field, it’s far from a stroll in the park. Still, when the talent is there, it’s frustrating to see your team muddle along like a used jalopy when you know down to the core of your being that team should be lapping the field, racing toward the postseason.
We’re seeing that now out of the Braves. Mark Teixeira is heating up. Brian McCann is having the best month nobody is talking about. Kelly Johnson is flourishing in the seventh spot. Gregor Blanco continues to impress. And, Jeff Francoeur got the day off he needed, then returned to wreck the Mets last night.
Life is a highway. So, too, is a baseball season. There will be traffic jams and construction ahead, for sure. But when you have a sports car, it’s a shame when you can’t get over to the left and roar past the potholes.
Hopefully, the Braves now have settled into the fast lane. And if they have, there’s nothing but open road between now and the checkered flag.
–30–
~Scribe~
Another home run, scribe! Total enjoyment! Many thanks!! 🙂
LikeLike
This is a public service announcement: CL, the following post is ‘trapped’. Thank you! We now resume our regularly schedule blog-gramming!
LikeLike
Bravo…ssiscribe! Nice memories came rushing back!
Two heads bob in unison to the music… Instant vision of Wayne’s World…Bohemian Rhapsody! 😆
(Thanks, CL…we both knew where this was headed!)
Memories of taking my son to his first game…lived in Texas…he was about four. He loved being with Dad…and enjoyed chatting with all the lovely young ladies who sat around us. At one game, he’s talking away, sitting amongst four or five teens a row in front of us. He’s asking them their names, gets his info, and proudly announces, “My name is Chris! (Turning and pointing my way) Oh, and that’s my dad! What do you think of my dad?” I lost it….:mrgreen: Right then, I knew he could have been the best ‘pick-up’ artist a single guy could ever have! 😆
LikeLike
Holy Cow…it didn’t stick! 😯 It didn’t stick! I’m free! I’m free! 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations, Salty!!!! 😆 😆 😆 (Loved your story, too!)
LikeLike
Thanks, Scribe. Funny how going to the game is so unique. My 12 year old son, my first born, doesn’t care a whole lot about watching the Braves on TV. ( Yes, it is a bit distressing to Dad, but I can handle it. ) But talk about going to the Ted and he’s all over it. Hmmm… we might just go tonight… Huddy-Johan, possible 4 game sweep against the hated Mutts… who knows?
LikeLike
JB: What’s the new avatar? My blind self can’t make it out. 😀
LikeLike
Great lead, Scribe
LikeLike
Is Jeff Bagwell joining us today?
LikeLike
Joining briefly
LikeLike
Maybe Jim Bunning later
LikeLike
It’s Jaq, Buddy! 😆
Three funny scenes in baseball so far this week:
1. Kelly and Reyes diving head first into second last night on the liner KJ caught…thought they were going to bang heads!
2. Edmunds laughing and dodging Carlos Lee’s ‘tackle’ after Edmunds catch in center field. Tuesday night’s game, I believe! Did you see it?
3. Kotsay hamming it up with the 3rd base umps strike call in the first inning of last night’s game…classic!
LikeLike
Another hit Scribe! You might want to look into writing about sports! Must be great to have built in braves fans to see games with! 🙂
I asked on the other blog, if you mentioned it before a few dozen times, I missed it….what does the -30- mean???
LikeLike
Johnny Bench??(Bet he was mentioned last night…)
LikeLike
I think I’ve figured out why Paladin’s been missing. Since the link didn’t work, I’ll post the article:
HARRISBURG, Pa. – An airline pilot was found hiding behind a shed wearing only flip-flops and a wristwatch as a nighttime romp in the woods with a flight attendant ended with both under arrest, police said…..
….”They told the officer they wanted to go do it in the woods, essentially,” said Lower Swatara Township police Sgt. Richard Brandt. “That’s the best answer they had.”
The two somehow became separated, and people who live in the neighborhood summoned police around 9:30 p.m., saying they had seen a naked man and an intoxicated woman.
A helicopter with heat-seeking equipment was called in, and Bradford was discovered hiding behind a shed shortly before midnight.
Bradford, of Pittsburgh, was charged with indecent exposure, public drunkenness and other offenses. Connor, of Belleville, Mich., was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, public drunkenness and other offenses; police said she took a flashlight from a neighbor’s vehicle.
A spokesman for the Memphis, Tenn., airline said the two were suspended while the company investigates.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080520/ap_on_fe_st/odd_naked_pilot;_ylt=AtYqdBblcTqQi6f9di64y.8DW7oF
LikeLike
Last Try….I think I’ve figured out why Paladin’s been missing:
HARRISBURG, Pa. – An airline pilot was found hiding behind a shed wearing only flip-flops and a wristwatch as a nighttime romp in the woods with a flight attendant ended with both under arrest, police said…..
“They told the officer they wanted to go do it in the woods, essentially,” said Lower Swatara Township police Sgt. Richard Brandt. “That’s the best answer they had.”
The two somehow became separated, and people who live in the neighborhood summoned police around 9:30 p.m., saying they had seen a naked man and an intoxicated woman.
A helicopter with heat-seeking equipment was called in, and Bradford was discovered hiding behind a shed shortly before midnight.
Bradford, of Pittsburgh, was charged with indecent exposure, public drunkenness and other offenses. Connor, of Belleville, Mich., was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, public drunkenness and other offenses; police said she took a flashlight from a neighbor’s vehicle.
A spokesman for the Memphis, Tenn., airline said the two were suspended while the company investigates.
LikeLike
Of course the filter clears after I’ve re-posted.
LikeLike
Hey, Hillbilly!!! How’s all the family? New pics??
LikeLike
Hillbilly: You have hit it! 😆
LikeLike
Sounds more like the pilot hit it to me… 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, I know where the key is.
LikeLike
Thanks, Salty. I’m glad someone’s sticking up for my name whilst my initials get shamelessly barraged with a series of hardly-worth-submitting guffaws.
I don’t know if you saw my last post on the previous thread but I think this gag has become a dead horse that’s been thoroughly bludgeoned.
Sorry for sounding defensive but….
Raisins, my avatar was selected to avoid confusion w/ William Wallace, check it out here and I think you’ll get the idea.
LikeLike
All right, we’ve had our fun with JB’s initials…mess with mine! CH
LikeLike
All right, we’ve had our fun with JB’s initials…mess with mine! CH
Thank you for all you did for the NRA, Mr. Heston.
LikeLike
Not a prob, Hillbilly! 😉
LikeLike
Hillbilly, that’s pretty good.
Don’t get me wrong guys. I’m not offended. I thought it was hilarious.
I just thought it was time to move on.
LikeLike
Man, it’s harder than JB!
Charlie Hayes….
ummm…..
Clint Hurdle…
Carl Hubbell….
LikeLike
Chipper Homers! I love when that happens! 😆
jb…not a prob! 😉
LikeLike
Salty, I was thinkin’ sort of on those lines as well! I too got a kick out of your son helping the old man meet some ladies! 😆
LikeLike
IF the braves win tonight, it would be huge, IMHO. The best lefty in the game, and we tank usually against them…so, go Braves!
LikeLike
Riding
an
insanely
silly
incident
near
submission
LikeLike
Choking hazard?
LikeLike
Someone’s having an incredibly slow day…or falling very far behind in other duties! 😛
LikeLike
Cole Hamels wants to know why the Braves wear a Beach patch
LikeLike
Coughing hysterically?
LikeLike
Who… me? 😀
LikeLike
Hey, PalaSky008Hawkdin…git yer
fanny‘well-padded rump’ out here and quit lurking in the ‘shadows’! I know that’s you runnin’ up the ‘view-meter’ on this blog! 😆Ding…ding…ding!!!! 😛
LikeLike
Cole Hamels wants to know why the Braves wear a Beach patch
Global warming: planning ahead….the ol’ ATL will be the place to surf before long!!!
“Coughing hysterically”…hmmm….emulating B3? 😕
LikeLike
Being
evaluated
almost
constantly
here
LikeLike
Coughing hysterically, should that become my new handle??? I kinda like the one I have now….Pallyboy can’t play right now, waitin’ for bail….dang stewardesses get him in more trouble!
LikeLike
Gotta
oversee
necessary
employment
LikeLike
These people are wearing me out accepting all these winnings:
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT:
POWERBALL E-MAIL LOTTERY AWARD
INTERNATIONALPROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT NOTICE…
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
BATCH NO: PBL/67189098011/245679/1109REF. NO: PBL/11278998789/908796//
1109 43 North End Road,West Kensington,London W14 8SZ
You have been approved to claim of total sum of 1,000,000.00 euros(one million euro). Which your email address won in the 2008 Euro ballot held in london,All participants were selected through a computer ballot system draw from Microsoft users from over 20,000.00 companies and 3,000,000.00 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.You have just won yourself the sum of ONE MILLION EURO in thesatellite software email lottery.
Anybody need some money?
LikeLike
Tax free? 😆
LikeLike
Nah… I’m set… 😯
LikeLike
Money is highly overrated anyway… 😉
LikeLike
Look at me for instance. Barely makin’ it month to month… ekeing out a meeger living… keeping shoes on the kids, at least… 😐
How much $$$ we talkin’?!?
LikeLike
Scribe, great lead. Nothing like taking your kid to a ball game, is there?
LikeLike
I just want to point out to Hillbilly that they caught me but they had to use a heat seeker to do it and it’s hard(we are NOT going there)to run nakid and even harder in flip-flops. Come to think of it, we are NOT going there, either. 😛
LikeLike
Pally: I, for once, am speechless… 😀
LikeLike
Welcome back Paladin!
LikeLike
Back to work. You kids have fun!
LikeLike
Seems Pally was right all along.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/22/flds.ruling/index.html
LikeLike
The heat seeker caught the hot air, no doubt…no mention of the plane being turned off. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks guys. I couldn’t stay away with the Bravos on a tear and going tonight against the greatest pitcher since slice bread. That, of course, is a mixed metaphor, but so are the Muts.
LikeLike
Speaking of hot air, I forgot to mention your lead, Grincho. 😛
LikeLike
Actually, a heat-seeker is designed to pick up emissions from the tailpipe, but we ain’t goin’ there, either. Are we? 👿
LikeLike
Got to go spend my food stamps, on Chianti. Later.
LikeLike
Memorial Day’s coming up: here’s some gift ideas for Skyhawk.
http://www.redwagons.com/tricycle.html
If it were anyone else I’d go with the Huffy “Little Princess” or something, but Pallyman deserves the original.
LikeLike
Stuck in the filter! NO!!!
RETRIEVE THAT POST!
LikeLike
Actually, a heat-seeker is designed to pick up emissions from the tailpipe, but we ain’t goin’ there, either. Are we?
Ba-Da-Bing!!! He’s definitely back.
LikeLike
You mean you’re gonna sell your food stamps for .75c on the dollar to some Aunt Jemima with 30 kids so you can buy chianti…can’t use them stamps on alcohol.
LikeLike
I DEMAND to be retrieved from the filter; it’s cramped in here and Salty smells funny.
LikeLike
The heat seeker caught the hot air, no doubt…
It was the …beans! 😐
Grinch…welcome to my world! 🙄
LikeLike
Have you ever wondered:
If something smells ‘funny’, why no one laughs? 😕
LikeLike
This message brought to you by Van Camps…
LikeLike
BTW, Paladin, if there’s one thing you never have to worry about it’s me going anywhere near your tailpipe…of that you may rest assured.
LikeLike
Aw Grinch, I bet you tell all the boys that.
Meanwhile, I went over to the Afro-American Senior Center(By their choice)and got in the food stamp crap game. I had a good run. Got enough for Chianti and beer. If I have a can or two of dog food left, I’m set.
LikeLike
SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) – A Texas appeals court said Thursday that the state had no right to take more than 400 children from a polygamist sect’s ranch, a ruling that could unravel one of the biggest child-custody cases in U.S. history.
The Third Court of Appeals in Austin ruled that the state offered “legally and factually insufficient” grounds for the “extreme” measure of removing all children from the ranch, from babies to teenagers.
The state never provided evidence that the children were in any immediate danger, the only grounds in Texas law for taking children from their parents without court approval, the appeals court said.
If y’all remember I have said this since the git go. And this is not one of those Fruits and Nuts Calif. Courts that made this decision. And I’ll bet that if it is appealed the Court’s ruling will be upheld. Any takers?
LikeLike
If CL EVER PULLS MY POST OUT OF THE FILTER, you may wind up with more than that. I hear ya on the A.M.E. stuff, P; they sing better and actually know how to play chess.
LikeLike
Chess and checkers, Grinch. But, the Latinos are kings(pun)when it comes to dominoes. I myself, am a master at Go Fish.
LikeLike
I omitted checkers ’cause I get my hiney beat at that every time. My best game is “pass the bottle.” Not to be confused with spinning…though that often happens later.
LikeLike
That’s why I drink my Chianti in a prone position.
LikeLike
Seriously, I don’t go to either Senior Center much, but when I do I prefer the AA. What ever they do, they have fun.
LikeLike
AA is the last place I would’ve expected to find you. Bada-BING! Gotta go hit the store myself; behave, kiddies.
LikeLike
Okay, freed you two guys up….
LikeLike
Absolutely a dynamite lead sscribe… I had a free day so many tasks were completed today. Installed a new fountain for the wife in the front yard, rebuilt the carb on a 4 wheeler I bought from my son in law. Opened the pool, well almost, not yet warm enough to actually go swimming but it is ready… My only disappointment was that I thought the Braves played at 1 PM today…
Now, it is time to get cleaned up and rest for the duration of the evening.
Now baseball…. This is more like it. The team we expected to show up at the end of spring training. Tonight’s game can go either way, it all depend on which Hudson shows up for the game. I suspect Yunel will be out one more game at least but no more. I have not heard how Chipper is doing but I would suspect he will be held out too.
LikeLike
Gil, do you look in the mirror and say, “It’s good to be King!” ? 😉
LikeLike
Gil, glad you had a productive weekend, and don’t sound to be in agony or anything!
Didn’t even know Gotay was in last night(I was watching a movie with my Pa once the game was well at hand) did he make any defensive plays at 3rd???
LikeLike
B3… I just feel so much better since I stopped taking the pain medicine I was on… The pain can be pretty intense but it is still better than not being able to walk. After I fell down 4 times in two days I said enough of this and just stopped taking it. That was after being on Vicodine for 4 years. Like I said, the pain can be pretty intense now but at least I feel I am coming by it honestly.
I am sitting here now thinking I need to get up and do something… I know I won’t be able to for the next several days as I will need to be with my Mom but that is another story…
LikeLike
Berigan… I think he had one bounce off his glove but the game was essentially over by then.
LikeLike
Baseball will experiment with Instant replay in the Arizona fall league.
I’m against the idea, except in the case of Homers, which is what they are talking about….how can anyone tell with the naked eye, anywho???
Delgado was ripped off of a 3 run homer, and and A-Rod clearly hit a homer last night(Via replay) that was called a double….I bet I will be the only one here for it though, correct????
LikeLike
LONDON (AP) – Two men attacked the ancient monument of Stonehenge with a hammer and chipped off a piece of stone the size of a large coin, a conservation group said Thursday.
You have REALLY got to be drunk to take on Stonehenge with a hammer. What’s next for them, going in the polar bear pen with a hickory switch?
LikeLike
Hey Grinch… don’t laugh, my wife told me all she wanted for Mother’s Day was a new wagon…. I have it on my to do list to get by Tractor Supply to pick one up for her. Maybe tomorrow….
LikeLike
What’s next for them, going in the polar bear pen with a hickory switch?
I think that would be a fine invite…and well deserved! 😈
LikeLike
Salty; But their parents would probably sue the zoo(nice sound, huh?). In the meantime, we would have some well-fed bears. 👿
LikeLike
Hey 008… At least that is not a dumb as taunting the tigers at the zoo….
Berigan, as long as it is restricted in it’s use, I don’t have a problem with it. Brian Jordan got robbed a couple of years ago too in Washington.
I think it is amazing the number of time the umps are right verses the number of blown calls when you consider how many times we get to watch instant replay in super slo mo and see the call was made properly. Too much instant replay use and these games are really going to slow down, I can’t stand to watch American League games now… They are just too long…
LikeLike
Gil, wow!!! That’s great news! 🙂 Funny how sometimes the stuff that is supposed to help us, makes us even worse!!!
I’ve mentioned it before, but if things get bad again, consider that traction, or whatever they call it now(Dad’s out, otherwise I’d ask him what they call it, they don’t use that word) My Dad went from being unable to sleep without pain meds and not being able to walk without a walker, to after a month plus of 3 times a week of physical therapy being able to do most everything he could before his arthritis (and discs) really started to act up. He used the cart at the supermarket for months, now he leans on a basket to go around the store . He can’t stand in place for more than 5 minutes, but other than that, he’s doing pretty darn well!
In fact, with me so sick of late, he’s managed to mow our fairly steep back yard, that I stopped him from mowing last year! 😯 He ain’t doing it no matter what when it warms up. The front if he HAS to mow something, it’s flat….
LikeLike
And don’t you laugh, Gil. I once gave my wife a gift certificate from Tractor Supply for an occasion. I still miss her.
LikeLike
Sounds like you had a very good woman Paladin!
LikeLike
Reading back through, as I am known to do, I see a lot of lovely talk about taking your sons to ballgames. Well, for you empty-nesters who feel the need, why not take an old fart instead. When shall I be there? 😛
LikeLike
008… I would be glad to treat you to a game… When will you be in Richmond? Don’t wait to long as the RBrave turn into a pumpkin this September.. 😦
LikeLike
“Nanna said she got a copy of the Coast Guard report on May 16 and was told by prosecutors that Silver would not face criminal charges. “They said he was negligent but not negligent enough. I don’t even know what that means,” she said Wednesday.”
That is a comment of one of the victim’s relatives in the crash of an airboat. The “Captain” attempted a high-speed 180 degree turn, flipped the boat and killed 2 people and injured 11. His license is being taken away from him for 2 years, but there will be no criminal prosecution. The soman says, “…he was negligent, but not negligent enough.” She doesn’t know what that means. What it means, dear Lady, is that stooopid ain’t a crime, although it should be.
LikeLike
Berigan… Sounds like your dad has learned of my tricks… Yep, the old lean on the shopping cart scam… 🙂 I hate the grocery store because I know the hard concrete floors are going to do me in.
Aspirin, Advil and tylanol are my treatment of choice right now. Heating pads and hot showers are a blessing too. Like my dad use to tell me, “son, you have to be tough to get old”.
LikeLike
Thanks, Gil. I would love to see them–and get your commentary–while they are still the RBraves. Does the offer include hot dogs, etc.? 😀
LikeLike
008… Sounds like a civil suit to me… negligence verse gross negligence… They won’t put him in jail for manslaughter but she can sue the dog poop out of him… Of course, that might be all he has….
LikeLike
Heck 008… I even buy you one of those $8 beers they sell… 🙂
LikeLike
Gil; Yes, you understand the difference between civil and criminal. He is extremely liable in a civil suit and the fact that his license was taken from him and that he was found negligent, will make that case a cake walk. Hopefully, his company has lots of insurance. They will need it!
LikeLike
008, if you are paying for the tickets,(And the bottled water) I’ll take you there! Of course, they do have $1 tickets in the nosebleed section, why do I think they are the one’s you will buy??? 😛
LikeLike
I should have added: If there is a trial. I’m sure the insurance company will settle since they have no defense.
LikeLike
Berigan; Put on your readers and go back and read WHO is buying.
LikeLike
Man, after going to the doctor 3 times in a month, I have tons of samples! A bunch of cough syrup in tiny bottles, Prevacid (After I told my Doctor the prescription was $179, he gives me samples every time-as does my stomach specialist-it pays to tell doctors this, they often have no idea how extremely expensive drugs are, even if you have insurance-my company won’t cover it! 😡 ) lots of cough pills(well, one was a prescription pill that didn’t work, but can’t throw it away, right?) 2 different sinus sprays….in other words,no room in the cabinets, kitchen counter is a mess!!!
LikeLike
Help! Berigan and I need an interpreter. I am fairly fluent in English but I’m not sure what B-man’s 1st and 2nd languages are. 😀
LikeLike
Gil, sometimes you are a smart man and sometimes I dunno about you. From everything you’ve said about your mother, it sounds like now ain’t the best time to be quitting the pain meds. I think the pain meds were invented to help people cope with pains in the asses like your mother. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m going in for dinner. Hope to see you two at game time. And B-man, I was just funnin’ with you, ok?
LikeLike
The interesting thing with Smoltz will be what happens if they make the postseason or are in a late season pennant race?
I could see him relieve the rest of the season and then once late September or October comes around, thinking it is maybe his last chance because of how much pain he is in, jumping back into the rotation without even working his way up to that many innings and without a care in the world how much pain he is in, pretending he can grit his teeth and tolerate it enough for a month or so (especially if the Braves don’t trade for a big time front of the rotation guy later on).
Sounds crazy and illogical but we’re talking about Smoltz. Dude is a straight up psycho. I wouldn’t put it past Smoltz to do that. He’s just about the only pitcher these days that I could ever say that about.
I’ve never been a big Smoltz fan for whatever reason but I think that guy would not give a second thought to blowing his arm apart to the point of amputation if it meant winning one more world series. Smoltz is nuts in a Koufax kind of way.
LikeLike
WW, agreed about Smoltz. If he wasn’t a pitcher he’d probably be a serial killer.
God must be trying to tell me to get back on the wagon; I go pour a beer and Tim gives up a 2 run homer.
LikeLike
Coach mark Richt visiting the troops in Iraq: Wrote “Go Dawgs, finish the drill. Hunker down” on a 2,000 pound bomb. Gotta love it. Now, if that d-bag o-lineman with a fresh DUI gets his act together and doesn’t torpedo our NC run this year, I’ll be happy.
LikeLike
Good evening y’all. Great lead, Scribe. Wish I was going to a game with my dad but the ticket/gas/concession money is going into the new roof fund instead.
Welcome back, uncle.
LikeLike
Delgado and Beltran couldn’t hit home runs off of Helen Keller. Com’on Huddy, get you head out of your nether regions.
LikeLike
Thank you, niece. I missed you.
LikeLike
God is talking to Grinch?!? 😯
LikeLike
You go Kelly!!
LikeLike
Missed you too, uncle.
Pete is talking like he expects a fight to break out in the Mets’ dugout at any time.
LikeLike
Yes Niece, Heaven has slow nights too. 😀
LikeLike
I never specified WHICH god. 🙂 Based on the quality of this brew I’d say it was the god of hops. Of course, some might bestow that title on Kobe Bryant.
LikeLike
The Bravos know it is alright to hit a long ball, every now and then. Don’t they?
LikeLike
Religious visitations just seemed out of character for you, Grinchy.
LikeLike
Beginning of conversation between Ginch and God:
God: Do I know you?
Grinch: No sir.
God: I didn’t think so.
LikeLike
Skyhawk, its weird, yesterday Frenchy and McCann seemingly crushed balls that didn’t leave …Frenchy hit a ball hard tonight that was caught at the wall….I think that sore ankle is an issue….I noticed last night on a replay that he really rolls his right( I think) ankle…perhaps it’s his left??? Whichever, he finishes on the side of his foot…not good for a sore ankle!
LikeLike
I’m going to bed. I would like to thank all of you who, through calls and e-mails, indicated that you wanted me back. I will also take into account the number of you that said you would prefer a kinder and gentler, Paladin. I’ll try. G’night.
LikeLike
FLB, can’t help you with the gas or concession prices, but there are truly cheap seats way in the upper right field stands…1 buck! I know I will go there once or twice this year…there are no bad seats at a ballpark! You might be able to stick a few bottles of water in the old purse….BAS thinks he’s cheap, I am the king of Cheap when I want to be!!!
LikeLike
Good night, uncle. Sleep well.
LikeLike
I think in my semi drugged situation, I forgot to say good to see ya back Skylark! A kinder Skylark??? Hey, why not??? Attila the Hun was kind to puppies in his later years I hear…of course, those voices in my head told me to hold on to all that ENRON stock as well! 😕
LikeLike
Don’t let the door hit you in the @%$ on the way out. 🙂
LikeLike
I briefly checked out the Ex, and saw Jersey Gil over there! Anyone have his email??? Tell him to get back over here! And where is the the BAS (Braves and Stuff) man anyway?:??
LikeLike
I’m not the one who decides what we do, Berigan. Especially now, Mom & sis will be here in the next 1-2 hours. (Also, I don’t carry a big purse. A lot of women carry “purses” that would be a tote bag for me.)
LikeLike
Man, I thought Santana got one there!!!! 😯
LikeLike
You cook don’t ya??? Washes everyone clothes, right?? Trust me, you could be the one who is the decider! 😛
LikeLike
Yeah, I do but that’s not how the chain of command works ’round here.
LikeLike
Someday, I’ll have to tell you the super secret tricks to manipulating your parents into thinking they are still the ones with power, when it is you that really has the power! 😆
LikeLike
Uh-oh!!
LikeLike
HELP!!! I JUST GOT HOME AND CAN’T FIND THE GAME!!! IT WASN’T EVEN ON THE RADIO!!! GOT PRE-EMPTED BY A COLLEGE BASEBALL GAME!!
HELP!!! HELP!!!
LikeLike
Berigan, I don’t think I’d be any good at that. I doubt I could successfully lie to anyone.
LikeLike
Well, Huddy was just up there bunting & Santana put one right under his chin.
Tied 2-2.
LikeLike
Good time to get your first hit against Santana!!!!
LikeLike
CHris, it’s on Peachtree right now..
LikeLike
WE don’t get Peachtree here. They’ve been broadcasting peachtree on one of our cable stations but they’re showing highlights from some race. GRRRRRRR.
LikeLike
Don’t think we will being seeing Willie in the Mets dugout for much longer! Santana is a fool throwing Tex nothing but fastballs, but thanks for being a fool! 😆
LikeLike
Anybody else read the article on the Braves site about Frenchy’s night off? Apparently he spent the whole game pestering McCann.
LikeLike
Church is pinch-hitting & being greeted with boos.
LikeLike
Chris, if you just want to listen to it, try
http://wgst.com/main.html audio in left hand corner….
LikeLike
Yeah, Kelly!!!
LikeLike
Must have been a heck of a DP by Kelly, Pete was really excited.
LikeLike
BErigan, thanks. I couldn’t get it to work so I just looked at GameDay.
LikeLike
Woooohoooo!!!! Way to go boys!!!!
LikeLike
WOW!!!!!
What a GREAT game! Been meaning to log on but there I sat mesmerized by this matchup. Huddy really manned up after giving up the 2 run dinger… put on a clinic and his sac bunt was pivotal. Infante’s turn on the double play and his hit, Kelly’s stab and toss to first to double off Wright (is that the only mistake Wright has ever made? 😉 Then Kotsay’s last out catch… Incredible. Chock full o’ good plays tonight.
We got more hits off Santana than any other team in a game in his career. Welcome to Atlanta Johan. Come back any old time.
Sweep of the Mutts in a 4 game series. Love the sound of that. How sweet it is.
LikeLike
Wow, that was fun.
LikeLike
Sorry you couldn’t get the game Klobber. I almost gave up looking for it… wasn’t on any normal channel. I finally found it on a channel that I’ve never even known about (402 here), Peachtree. It’s usually a blank screen.
LikeLike
Wish I could have seen it instead of just listening.
I’m stepping away for a bit. Mom & Melissa will be here any minute. I’ll check back later tonight.
LikeLike
That game wore me out.
Braves are coming around. Tex is hitting, Kelly’s hitting, ditto Yunel and tonight Infante, Chipper is still being Chipper (.411 BA now), BMac is hot, Frenchy is putting good wood on the ball, Kotsay is a sure bet. Left field is underperforming but Diaz and company will come around. Pen is stellar and SP, even with all the injuries is looking great.
That’s a team folks.
LikeLike
Well, I guess either my timing is off or I’ve run everybody off. It was fun reading the blog just now. Great lead as always Scribe. I’m sure you had a great time at the game tonight.
Good to see ‘Pappy’ Paladin back in full form here today. Wish I could’a tossed around a few but wasn’t in the cards.
Mr. Fly thanks those giving compliments on the vampire post. The little bugger just gets carried away at times. He got scared just writing it. 3 chillbumps.
LikeLike
Crickets can be deafening.
LikeLike
Quite possibly the best rock song of all time.
LikeLike
That, was a fun game to watch. The Braves were hitting the ball hard, early, and often, but couldn’t seem to buy a break, until late. Huddy really stood tall after those back to back jacks. What a difference a year makes with the bench and the pitching staff. Lots of productive options! Too cool! 😎
LikeLike
Best rock song of all time? 😕 Seriously? 😯 Different strokes for differin’ folks, I ‘spose! 😆
LikeLike
G’night, All! 🙂
LikeLike
Now Salty… that is one classic that is very hard to top. Whatcha got?
LikeLike
Well… missed Salty I guess. Think I’ll quit while I’m behind and hit the hay myownself. ‘Nuther early one tomorrow.
Night. Braves sweep.
LikeLike
Hey Raisins,
Can you figure out THIS avatar?
What a nice sweep!
LikeLike
Hey, it’s Mr. Met. And from the look on his face it looks like he’s Just Bawlin’!!!
Sorry dude. I know you said it was tired but I just couldn’t resist!
LikeLike
Was it something I said?
LikeLike
The Durham Bulls thumped the Richmond Braves 17-3 at The Diamond Thursday. The Bulls scored eight runs in the second inning and pounded 22 hits to move to within a game of the first place Braves in the IL South Division.
This is what happens when you start getting near the bottom of the pitching barrel… Jeff Nelson took the loss for Richmond…
LikeLike
Great game by the big club tonight. This is the team I was expecting all along. They are not picking up any ground on Phillie and Florida but not losing ground either. This Marlin’s team must be for real, they don’t appear to be fading anytime soon….
And if Bobby is not going to use Stockman, he can send him back to Richmond.. Man, we need a little help. Damian Moss is not a stopper…
And Rysop must really be in Bobby’s doghouse… Are they still waiting for a trade to go through for him or something?
LikeLike
MILTON, Vt. (AP) – For fighter pilots, the difficulty in answering nature’s call is as old as flying itself. After all, there are no rest areas when you’re zooming through the sky at 500 mph.
Over the decades, pilots have used bottles and bags – or just held it. Many avoid liquids, or make sure their last stop before climbing into the cockpit is a bathroom.
Now a Vermont company has come up with a 21st-century solution that pilots can use without unstrapping themselves from their seats.
The system uses special underwear equipped with a hose linked to a pump the size of a paperback book that drains urine into a collection bag. The men’s model uses a pouch; the women’s has something that resembles a sanitary napkin
Back in the “old” days we just peed our pants. That way the ground crew didn’t know whether you did it out of fear, or necessity.
LikeLike
Whoopsie daisy… somehow attached the wrong link on my 10:09. How did that happen? Gremlins? Ghost in the machine? I want my juke box quarter back. It just ain’t right. I’m so embarrassed. What will my rock music friends think? Mercy…
So there I was, thinkin’ Salty liked good music and all… but this morning when I dragged my cursor over the link of ‘quite poss best rock song ever’… there it was… not there. Somehow the same song from my previous link (not a bad one mind you, but certainly not ‘best’) repeated itself. For shame for shame. Can’t have that… nosirree bob. Must make amends. Must redeem my rock cred if possible. Another quarter goes in… record search… record grab… flops down… needle drops… and… one of the best rock songs on the one of the best rock albums… ever. Period.
LikeLike
Paladin, I was never a fighter pilot but I was a ride operator on a roller coaster at an amusement park when I was in college. Had the same problem with relief. Used to try to hold it in but one day I just had to use the Pepsi Big Gulp. You’d think a liter would be enough. It wasn’t. Spilleth over and I had to sit in that booth in the baking 100 degree sun smelling it the rest of the day. A horrible day.
Amusement parks can be scary places when you think about them. You get on a roller coaster thinking it is safe, never thinking about the fact that you are trusting teens with your safety. I can’t tell you how many go off and get high during their breaks or how many are making out with girls in the booth while your roller coaster is making its dangerous loops. Even worse, late in the summers, they get dangerously short on staff because kids go off to college. Quite often, you are left with one person like me on a roller coaster to manage and operate the ride. Kind of scary. When the park was fully staffed during the middle of the summer, that was a ride that had to be manned by a minimum of 5 people. I complained about it one time and they sent me over a mental retard and another guy whose brain had been fried from crack. I told the higher ups to get them the hell off my ride. I was better off operating it by myself. I did screw up bad though during one makeout session in the booth. We ended up bumping into the emergency stop button and these people got stuck suspended in the air for about a half hour until the maintenance crew could get them down.
LikeLike
SG…much, much better…you had me (more than) a bit worried there! 😆
LikeLike
I was better off operating it by myself. I did screw up bad though during one makeout session in the booth.
Clearly, the riders were better off if you were alone! 😛
So…inquirin’ minds wanta know: how did you ‘splain what happened, ‘Ricky’? 😕
LikeLike
WW, a liter bottle wasn’t large enough???? 😯 What, do you pee every other day or something??? 😯 😯
LikeLike
008…lest I forget this Memorial Day Weekend’s true meaning: Semper Fi! Thanks for your service!
PS: You still have to behave, but in your honor, you get one ‘dart’ (single warhead) of your choosing to fire my way! 😆 Make it a good ‘un!
LikeLike
B3…coffee, coke…they’re all the same. What comes out is greater than what goes in! Never understood that…must be an unspoken diuretic! Cow…meet flat rock! 😆
LikeLike
Anyone going to see the new Indiana Jones film???? Man, how my late Mother loved those films, would watch them anytime they were on, had the DVD’s….I love them too, wish she could see this one….well, hopefully she has already seen it in a special screening! 🙂
LikeLike
That just may get me in the theater…I haven’t been since Sixth Sense…may be time to break down and go. That’ll shock the wife…and the wallet! 😐
LikeLike
This is a nice story on a young pitcher in the Navy…..
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3406790
LikeLike
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!
Good thing this isn’t audio … my voice is shot after screaming like a fool last night at Turner Field. WOW! WHAT a game. As most of you know, I’m a traditionalist and I love a good pitchers’ duel, and that’s exactly what we got from Huddy and Santana. TWO pitches that missed location aside, Huddy was dominant, pitching like a true ace.
The bats worked Santana all night long, getting chances and then finally cashing in during that stellar, season-defining seventh inning. Great at-bats. Hustle double by KJ. Great bunt by Huddy with two strikes, and I loved the barking he did at Santana after that first pitch was up and in. Really got the denizens at Turner Field worked into a frothy lather.
Then, we saw Infante, Kotsay, Chipper and Tex merely stay within themselves, not try to overswing or hit it a mile, but just work the count and hit it where it’s pitched. I’m telling you, that inning right there is a microcosm of what this team is starting to do. And if they keep it up, it’s not going to matter about home or road because this team is going to win anywhere.
An October feel at the yard last night for the biggest victory of the season, as I wrote on http://braves.today.com this morning. Sat about 30 rows behind home plate (and for free, too! Love that ticket voucher package I bought back in March, and my bride loved the seats, too!). Great spot to watch Huddy and Santana do their thing. Huddy was the better pitcher on this night; all those folks who engraved Johan’s name on the Cy Young trophy in January might want to rethink that move, because I’ve watched five or six guys this season who are better than him. Huddy was better last night.
The Mets are real close to coming apart at the seams. As for the Braves, it’s full speed ahead. Bring on ‘Zona! And the coffee (and my new laptop, which arrives today, just in time for work to begin anew on Tuesday, yippee!!).
The Scribe abides.
–30–
LikeLike
Pal, I was a jet pilot once. Yep, as a small child. Flew it myself too. Made big circles over and over. Around and around I went. It wasn’t that hard really…just followed the guys in front of me… and there were some also flying behind me. We were going the same exact speed.
My jet was green. The one in front of me was red and the one in front of that was blue I think… with polka dots. There were a few brightly colored horses, a teacup, giraffe and zebra too. Not sure how we were all going along at the same altitude in circles like that.
I think some fella named Willy Wally was in the control tower. But he got tied up doing something so we had a nice long ride. Had to jump off after two hours… had to pee. Willy was nice to let us fly so long like that. Never knew what happened to Mr. Wally. He probably just stayed in his little control booth with the air conditioner on since it was so hot outside, ’cause his windows were always steamed up for some reason.
So, flying jets is no biggie. Nobody peed their pants either.
LikeLike
Berigan, trust me, I was in complete shock that a liter wasn’t enough. Don’t know how to explain that one
Salty, clearly they were safer when I was alone. 🙂 Of course, that girl scampered back to her ride and I just said that I mistakenly bumped into it. Couldn’t blame her big ole ghetto booty
Here’s the ride:
LikeLike
That 9:37 was very funny, SG
Berigan, I wish I knew how to explain how a liter wasn’t enough. Trust me, I thought it was gonna be more than enough. Imagine my shock.
Salty, I certainly wasn’t gonna blame her big ole ghetto booty although if she didn’t have an ice skater’s behind, it wouldn’t have happened. Alot of junk in that trunk. She scampered back to her ride and I took the blame for being a doofus.
LikeLike
PalaSkyHawkadin
I’m sure you enjoyed SG’s flight memories! He didn’t tell you about his first solo…a dizzying effort, to say the least. Here’s the video…at Mach .005!
LikeLike
Gil…CL…Uh…ransom, please! Very important. It’s must see TV for 008…and SG, too, for that matter! Please, please, pretty please….ransom ASAP! Thankyaverymuch!!!! 🙂
LikeLike
WW
Somethin’ like this?
Bring back m’mries? 😆
LikeLike
Make that a ‘double ransom’, please! Should I create an alter ID…will that help?
LikeLike
Chrisklob,
“Just Bawlin'” works fine for me when it refers to Mr Met after the hometown throwdown we gave him.
Anyone gonna be in attendance tonight or this weekend for the D-Backs?
I went two nights ago to the blowout but I would say last night would’ve been a bettr game to go to.
Life is good after a four game sweep. It makes me very happy. I think I’m gonna cry.
LikeLike
Salt has a corrosive effect on metal parts and wordpress too. Maybe need to change handle to zinc… or saline. Could be ph is off.
LikeLike
Good morning!
Woooooo what a great win last night. I was at a friends watching; I get a little excited at times when great things happen, and went a little ookey-balookey with the final out. Dude’s wife was kinda giving me the wierd-eye… SHe’ll get over it.
JB: I love the new avatar. Classic! It has inspired me. I know, you’ll all be surprised that I put up a new avatar, right? 😉
Not sure when it’ll load, though…
LikeLike
Ah… yessssssss…
LikeLike
I’m gonna try to work today… I shoulda been caught up on Wednesday, but got so distracted by a certain Colossus over the last 2 days, that I’m scramblin’ again. 😦 Gotta maintain focus…
LikeLike
Salty, have you ever thought of changing your handle??? Perhaps to ….nacly???
LikeLike
Good mornin’ JB. So happy you’re faklempt? Go ahead… it’s ok. You have to admit the ‘JB’ exploration was pretty cool. Much easier initials to work with than SG, CL, WW, SSI, VOR, etc. Most denizens have one name, so one initial won’t work very well. Anyhoo, after so much wordplay, with JB this, JB that and such, I just can’t believe nobody remembered… THE BIG, BAD JB.
LikeLike
Still looks like the black Cartman, with a moustache to me VOR!
LikeLike
B3…just refresh your screen, and the latest alter ego will pop for Raisins. It’s a good one…perhaps the best? Great inspiration by ‘Just Bawlin’…the Mets’ mantra for the day…or season! 😆
LikeLike
When I was 8 years old and saw James Brown in Rocky IV, I thought he was a woman
LikeLike
Uh, Salty?
LikeLike
Salty, I was hangin’ around to see your lost sea scroll, but now must go. I’ll find it later when it’s retrieved by CL, Gil or Indiana Jones.
’nuff silliness out’a me for now… gotta go play bizball. It’s not as fun as baseball or Braves and Stuff but does resemble hardball at times. Gotta watch the curveballs and such. Right now I’d rather be bloggin’ but alas… gotta make hay and feed the chillin’s. Y’all have y’allselves a good’un now, heah?
Wait… what’s this? Oh, just happen to have one more juke box quarter right here in my pocket. What’ll it be… hmmm. Oh, got it… B12-side two… plunk:
Traveling music.
LikeLike
WW, 😆
VOR, I like! It sure wasn’t showing up the first few times I hit refresh!
LikeLike
SG: So long, farewell.
LikeLike
Good morning Bravesandstuffians! How sweet is it to sweep the New York Mess? I didn’t get to see the game last night because it was moved to some weird channel because of all of the college conference tournaments but I saw some highlights. Gotta love it. This team is “hitting on all eight” right now. Frankly, it’s what we all expected over the winter but didn’t get until the last week or so.
The D’backs come to town looking a little more human. It will be interesting to see what happens this weekend. The Fish dispatched them with ease. What does this mean? Are the D’backs not as good as their record has indicated? Are the Fish actually as good as their record indicates? Who knows! I do know this. If the Bravos can carry this momentum into the series with the Snakes, they’ll be tough to beat.
Back to the grindstone. You folks have a good day!
LikeLike
Raisins…Uh… No!
LikeLike
It was very cool.
I was just ready to read something else after a while. I thought it was hilarious and it had me laughing quite a bit.
LikeLike
klobber: I couldn’t agree with you more. This is what we expected in March. It just took a while to come together. Thank goodness Bobby has publically acknowledged that Kelly fits much better in the 7 hole.
Also, if my calculations are correct, Los Bravos won’t face Webb, right?
LikeLike
Raisins! Now they’re gonna confuse us like they used to with WW and me.
LikeLike
SG, glad you found another quarter! Man, George Harrison has been dead for 7 years, Roy Orbison for 20 years!!!
LikeLike
Also, I had this discussion with my buddy last night. We’ve got a pretty solid starting 8 AND bench right now. Whither Prado and BPena? Prado is still a way off, but BPena was hitting against Smoltz in his sim game yesterday. The way I see it, I wouldn’t mess with this bench at all. There’s speed, versatility, power… BPena and Prado ought to be thinking change of venue.
Same with the pen. It’s been the NL’s best, what do you do when Soriano, Gonzalez and Smoltz are ready to return? Soriano in, Stockman down. That one’s easy. But what happens when the other 2 are ready (which could be very soon)? With Gonzo, you have another lefty returning. Is that an omen for Ohman? Or Ring? I suppose Ring may have an option left, not sure. Also, you gotta figure Resop is probably the odd man out when Smoltz is ready. Maybe Frank’s on the phone? Much speculation… much fodder for the Colossus.
LikeLike
JB: You had Mr. Shmet first. I’ll locate another… 😀
LikeLike
Good points Raisins.
You know what really won this series for us?
Youth and depth.
Our bullpen is solid but look around at the Mets.
On the Metros’ team you have Delgado, Castillo, Alou (who took himself out), and Beltran just plays CF like a girl. Their rotation is nothing w/o Santana and we beat him.
LikeLike
I believe Alou is back on the DL. Marlon Anderson couldn’t catch a cold, and Castillo… well, his play simply speaks for itself. Their clubhouse chemistry is well documented.
I peeked at Mets blog this morning, just to see the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Somebody has called for the “Willie Watch” to officially begin. It isn’t pretty. I even saw criticism directed at David “The Christ Child” Wright. Amazin’… 😀
LikeLike
Guess who’s going to be starting third baseman in NY at the Summer Classic?
NOT David Wright.
LikeLike
This is something I posted over yonder:
I don’t get how Willie gets all of the blame. The blame mostly lies with Omar. He has put together a poorly constructed team the last two years. They are a top heavy team made up of 8 players: Wagner, Santana, Maine, Perez, Reyes, Wright, Church, Beltran
Omar deserves alot of credit for Church, Maine and Perez. Omar deserves no credit for Reyes and Wright. He lucked into inheriting them. The pocketbooks of the Wilpons deserve most of the credit for Beltran, Santana and Wagner. Whatever credit Omar gets for Beltran, Wagner and Santana is negated by the consequences of Pedro, Alou, Castillo and Delgado.
He has put together a team that has an offensive black hole at the back end of the rotation, at catcher, first, left and second base. The bullpen is nothing special
They have no farm system right now…. Ed Coleman of WFAN said today that the Mets called up a catcher they don’t need today because Casanova was the only minor leaguer capable of making a contribution at the major league level
He has scapegoated his manager and has somehow gotten away with that. The problem with that is that he never let Willie surround himself with coaches of Willie’s own choosing. He let Willie have one coach of his own choosing (Rick Down) when Willie was hired. Omar then foolishly fired Down last summer, thereby leaving Willie with no coaches of his own choosing.
A manager is often only as good as the players and coaches he is surrounded by. Since Omar is the one choosing the players and the coaches, why the hell is Willie getting the blame?
Omar made all the right moves in 2006. He provided the team good depth in the pen, rotation and bench. He seemed to have the magic touch. He’s lost that. There’s only so long you can overpay for guys, have no farm system, and hope for the best with broken down has beens like Easley, Valentin, Castillo, Alou, Pedro, Delgado, Loduca, Schneider. El Duque.
Wren though has made the right moves ….. moves that JS had not been making to strengthen the bench ….. I like the way Wren has emphasized youth and depth …… that was the biggest problem I had with JS ……. JS always overlooked the importance of the bench and pen …… when the Yankees were pinch hitting Wade Boggs against Avery in the tenth inning of the Wohlers/Leyritz game, the Braves were pinch hitting Luis Polonia ….. Polonia was the kind of bench player the Yankees had before they got good ….. not when they were trying to win the world series……. it didn’t help Polonia’s cause while with the Yankees that he went R. Kelly and had sex with a 15 year old in Milwaukee
LikeLike
Raisins,
Don’t change the AVATAR!!!
i like it i was just making a joke. I’ll change mine next week I’m just still enjoying the sweep a little bit.
LikeLike
On his radio show on ESPN, Colin Cowherd just referred to Chipper Jones as the Derek Jeter of the south. Hmmm… people are starting to notice…
LikeLike
Ha! Raisins! You didn’t have to change but that’s a great choice!
Bravo!
LikeLike
OK… I was wrong. We play 4 against Zona and will catch Webb on Monday. The Snakes/Braves pitching matchups are as follows:
Tonight – Doug Davis vs. Jo-Jo Reyes, 7:30 pm on Peachtree TV
Tomorrow – Randy Johnson vs, Jorge Campillo, 3:55pm on FOX
Sunday – Micah Owings vs. Tom Glavine, 1:30pm on FOX SportsSouth
Monday – Brandon Webb vs. Jair Jurjjens, 1:00pm on FOX SportsSouth
LikeLike
Chipper is on Cowherd’s show right now. Saying all the right cliches…
LikeLike
He just planted his big ol’ lips squarely on O’Brien’s and Bowman’s hinies.
LikeLike
Interview is over, and Cowherd is fawning all over Chipper… and Bobby… and the organization. 😎
LikeLike
Salty; Thanks for the MD wish. However, let’s wrap them all together for those who are not here to eat ribs, drink beer, and cheer for the Braves.
And, I also appreciate your “invitation” to give you a shot. But, this is the kinder and gentler Paladin who only returns fire; and then only on those that have beaten the rap for picking on a defenseless old man.
LikeLike
… and now an homage to stability.
Chipper made it very clear that he wants to finish his career here and nowhere else. He mentioned that he has talked to alot of guys who left and wish they had stayed.
LikeLike
Pappy! Howdy… 😀
LikeLike
kinder and gentler Paladin 😯
Come on, give me somethin’ I can swallow! 🙄 😛
LikeLike
Salty: He said kinder and gentler, not kind and gentle.
Just kidding Pappy!!! 😀
LikeLike
However, let’s wrap them all together for those who are not here to eat ribs, drink beer, and cheer for the Braves.
Well said…but I believe they are! 🙂 That’s what spirit and memories…and that part of others who precede us that we carry with us always. It’s not enough to live for ourselves; we owe it to them who committed then for what we have today!
LikeLike
I want to say a serious word about Confederate Memorial Day. It used to be a big occasion in the South(bigger than what we are about to celebrate)but then the politicians got the celebration of it dumped in with this Memorial Day, soon to be forgotten. Yes, the original Memorial Day was to celebrate and commemorate union dead and now celebrates all wars. But, I think that Confederate dead deserve their due. Including my great-grandfather Brig. Gen. Thomas R. R. Cobb killed in the battle of Fredericksburg. Sir, I salute you along with all, regardless of the color of their uniforms, who have fallen in the battles of this country.
LikeLike
Good point, Raisins! I gave benefit when none was due! 😆 I guess I’m being overly generous today! 😛
LikeLike
Cowherd… yawn…
Moving on.
LikeLike
I salute you along with all, regardless of the color of their uniforms, who have fallen in the battles of this country.
Pappy: I am right there with ya. Salute!
LikeLike
Cowherd… yawn…
Moving on.
Raisins; Care to explain?
LikeLike
Raisins; Our posts crossed in the mail. Please ignore, and good morning to you, friend.
LikeLike
Colin Cowherd on ESPN radio. His shtick is old. Why is he talking Vegas numbers on the NFL on May 22? As I said, yawn…
LikeLike
New and most appropriate avatar should be in place soon…
LikeLike
I was guilty of what I have accused others of. Not reading back and seeing the earlier references to “Cowherd”, which was too close to “coward”, for me–in my particular frame of mind. My apologies to Raisins, in particular, and all of you for my “thread” ignorance.
LikeLike
Or, I coulda been referencing a bunch of bovine… who knows? 😀
LikeLike
008…I second that SALUTE!!! I remember my great-grandmother talking about my great-great grandfather’s Civil War experiences.
LikeLike
I’m off to take my dog to the country for his bi-weekly romp. I’ll try not to step in any remnants of the cowherd, while I’m gone. Otherwise, I’m liable to end up in the filter with Salty and Grinch. 😀
LikeLike
I have ancestors that fought in the War of Northern Aggression as well. My family ancestry is firmly rooted in South Georgia from their initial arrival on this side of the big pond. There is even a little podunk town in S. GA with my family name. Maybe I’ll go there some day… 🙄
LikeLike
Raisins; You’re from Podunk? I’ve met a lot of your townspeople over the years. Small world, huh? 😛
LikeLike
OK, OK quit your barking. I’m on my way.
LikeLike
What the braves did to the Mutts this week:
LikeLike
WW, I agree with most everything you say about the Willie and the Mets….I just think he deserves some blame for not getting more out of the talent there….But, you do get the feeling the GM is getting away without much blame, don’t you???
LikeLike
Compliments of Captain Insano, Raisins
LikeLike
Like the Avatar VOR! 🙂
Man, I’ve had Firefox freeze up on me twice today….couldn’t even tell you the last time I had that problem! Even had to shut the computer down the first time, kept saying I still had Firefox going, when it wasn’t….
LikeLike
JB: Yes! 😆
LikeLike
B3: Computer ails, huh? My mantra is “Reboot and keep the fingers crossed.” Goes for my computer, too… 😆
LikeLike
OK… gotta get back to the salt mines. (Salty?)
Perils of being a working man.
LikeLike
VOR…nice music selection!
LikeLike
Clayton Kershaw may make his Debut in Chicago in a few days….sure sounds like a great name for a C&W star, doesn’t it????
Man, wish we had him….remember those curves he threw in Spring training???
http://www.rotoauthority.com/2008/05/clayton-kershaw.html
LikeLike
Raisins, I too heard the Chipper interview on Cowterd’s show. Yep, lots of cliches but that’s what you get talking to pro athletes. They’ve got to be careful what they say so that it isn’t misconstrued by some yoyo in the media.
I have never liked listening to that show, mainly because I find him to be overbearing. It’s his way or no way. If you call his show to disagree with him, you are an idiot and he’ll cut you off and not let you finish your point much less rebut his. I find that extraordinarily rude and egotistical. I understand that he’s paid to have an opinion. However, when no one is allowed to have a differing opinion I have a problem with him. I’d much prefer it if he allowed his call in guests to express an opinion other than just what he wants to ram down our throats. The other reason I dislike his show is that there is way too much football talk all year long. I’m not a big fan of football but I understand its popularity. However, with him, it’s football 365 days a year. There could be absolutely nothing of note to talk about it but they find a way to talk about it.
I’ve been listening to Dan Patrick’s show. As you know, he left ESPNradio a while ago and is working for SI now. If he’s not on the radio in your area, you can find the link from the SI.com front page.
Cowherd did have one interesting segment today where he talked about the NY Mess and Randolph. Evidently, Randolph tried to call the owners earlier in the week to discuss the comments he made about his race being an issue in how he’s treated in the media. The message he got back thru Minaya was that they would discuss it when they got back to NY.
Cowterd’s commentary was that whenever someone such as your wife, boss, doctor or whoever has news that they won’t discuss over the phone, it’s always bad news. He thinks Willie’s getting the ax when he gets back home. We’ll see. It wouldn’t surprise me at all.
If they do fire him, who do y’all think will be his replacement? I’m trying to think who might be out there that is available. Felipe Alou? I’m sure there are others, just can’t come up with any names.
All right, my nose has a date with a grindstone. Gotta get back on it.
LikeLike
Klobber…I believe Joe and Chip made a comment last night about Willie calling the owners, three times, but ‘they wouldn’t answer the phone.’ Not good…but it’ll be the best thing to happen for Willie. He’s a NY Yankee…not a Mess! Of course, I don’t think he’s a manager, either. Regardless, his bank account is in fine shape, I’m sure!
LikeLike
Willie got way too much credit in ’06, and is getting way too much blame now. Unfortunately, it is the manager’s plight to be the
whipping boy(oops, can’t use that phrase without the Willie and PC police labeling me a racist) scapegoat when everything spirals down the toilet.Candidates: Maybe Larry Bowa? Jerry Manuel? Buck Showalter? How about Wally Backman? Howard Johnson? Holiday Inn? (Just wanted to make sure you were still paying attention) Dark horse: Bobby Valentine redux. It wouldn’t surprise me…
LikeLike
One prominent name I left off my list is Ken Oberkfell, who manages their AAA team.
LikeLike
What ticks me off about Willie is that they didn’t let him gather his own coaches when he got the job. If you are hired to manage something, you need to be empowered to surround yourself with your own people. If Willie was not so desperate to be a manager at the time, there is no way he would have agreed to that.
Shrutebag Cowherd has become totally unlistenable. At first, he was entertaining but now he just says the same thing over and over and over again. Kind of like me but that’s another matter
I guess O’Brien doesn’t like me questioning the worth of Pendleton.
More on Cowherd:
http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/search/label/Colin%20Cowherd
LikeLike
Dang it! I just keep falling farther behind in work! I’m a B&Saholic! 😡
LikeLike
I llthink everyone should quit picking on Randolph otherwise they may fire him and get someone in there that knows what they are doing. Go Willie! No, don’t go Willie. Oh, you know what I mean.
LikeLike
I’m shocked that Terrence Moore thinks Chipper is better than Eddie Murray but saying that Chipper is better than Mickey Mantle is a bit of a reach but fun nevertheless
It’s amazing how fast Chipper went from ignored to being talked about nonstop everywhere
LikeLike
How many of you at least saw the clip where that dwebe Durbin asked the oil executive “Where is the corporate concience?” in a play for the hometown folks. He should have turned to his buddies in congress and asked those AHs what they have been doing. The single biggest factor in the sky-rocketing cost of fuel is the deflated dollar. Although the oil companies are benefiting hugely from this situation the failure of our government(executive and legislative)to protect our currency makes them the “and idiots” of this. Meanwhile, they travel on your money while you try to save cash for a fillup.
LikeLike
Chris, CowTerd is much better than John Kincaide. I can’t STAND that guy. As much as I like Belue, I often have to turn the channel when Kincaide goes off on his misplaced moral crusades or Fox news type shout-downs over callers who are right when he’s wrong. I’d love to be able to slap the %$%# out of him just once.
I’ll be away from the blog for the next couple of days; y’all behave without me. Go Braves!
LikeLike
Don’t let the !@#$#@ door hit you in the @$$ on the way out. 😛
LikeLike
The Dream, Atlanta’s fledgling WNBA team, plays its home opener tonight. In a related story, a tree fell in a forest, and no one was there to hear it.
LikeLike
CL was kind enough, yet again, to rescue me from filter-blivion! Please, do check out SG’s first solo flight…9:50 post. Gotta love those masters of the skies! 🙄
WW…left you a ‘memory’ song from your rollercoaster career, too! 😛
LikeLike
Brayan Pena DFA’d. Feel bad for him. Hope it doesn’t upset Escobar.
LikeLike
It’s a matter of marketing. Now, if they had called them something like “The Wet Dream”, it could have flown with the eagles. How it would have played in Peoria…that’s another story.
LikeLike
Yikes! 😯 I was sure he would be a part of a trade… Kind of a guy without a position; not a great receiver, so-so 1B, even less so-so 3B. Oh well…
LikeLike
Salty, have you played both videos at the same time? It’s really hilarious if you do. Play the SG solo flight in the background while watching the baby got back video.
LikeLike
If Salty spends too much more time in the filter we are going to have to change his chemical composition to dust molecule. 😛
LikeLike
Of course, Frank still has 10 days to work out a trade. Maybe BPena and Ring for ???
LikeLike
Yeah, I’ll bet he will get a lot for a player DFAed and Ring…no answer.
LikeLike
VOR, Ken Oberkfell??? Man, what a blast from the past!!! He started with the Cards just as I was becoming a fan in the late 70’s, and played several years with the braves of course….Gee, just looked him up, played 16 years and hit .278 for his career! Did not know that!
LikeLike
Uh oh, just noticed the time. It’s after 5 which is the B&S’s Bermuda Triangle. Later.
LikeLike
Yes, that Ken Oberkfell. Did you know he was named Minor League Manager of the Year in 2006?
LikeLike
I believe in the soul, the ***, the *****, the small of a woman’s back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve. I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days and I believe that John Wilkes Booth shot Kennedy from the Flat-Earth Society’s secret hideout at Area 51 after he created AIDS to eradicate blacks while Bigfoot and Elvis boogied the night away in Dallas
LikeLike
ww: That’s alot of Bull… 😀
LikeLike
I am a lucky man it seems, never having heard of Cowherd til today.
You guys would have loved the old guys they used to have on St. Louis radio, especially on the weekends…I am getting old, since I can’t think of their last names, but both of them had the first name of Bob….they had old stories going back to WW2(They were old coots, in other words!) and if they didn’t know the old Gashouse gang teams, they knew players and coaches who did….but, what fun can that be compared to IN YOUR FACE coverage of the game???? :Roll:
LikeLike
WW, you had me at hello! Wait, wrong movie!
😆
LikeLike
VOR, I did not know Ken O was minor league manager of the year in 2006! So, why is he still in the minors, besides the fact he’s white??? Good luck getting a job as manager with the Mets….They are too diverse a team to have a white manager! 😛
LikeLike
I’m in complete agreement with ww on Cowherd. He was entertaining early on, but he has gotten locked into a self-absorbed, overbearing kind of shtick that really gets old after a while. And he has a man-crush on Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady and Joe Torre. Aside from that, he’s OK. 😀
LikeLike
ww; I used to believe in all that kissy-face stuff; now I believe in a double-serving of cream of tomato soup.
LikeLike
And John Wilkes Booth shot the wrong man. He should have shot Andrew Johnson.
LikeLike
Paladin is back. Everybody hide until he goes away. SSSSHh!
LikeLike
Gotta go…
Exit, stage left!
LikeLike
You dummy. The door is on the right.
LikeLike
Alexander Hamilton wishes that Booth shot Aaron Burr
LikeLike
Is the rain gonna stop? I want a game tonight
LikeLike
Man Skyhawk, did Andrew steal your girl??? 😆
LikeLike
Johnson(a Tennessean)was much harder on the south than Lincoln would have been.
LikeLike
WW, who’s that in your avatar???
LikeLike
Berigan, I don’t know who it is. Just some random old brooklyn dodger photo i found out there on the internets
LikeLike
Oh, wah, Johnson was so tough on the South. Jews, blacks, southerners and the Irish are always whining about some oppression or another
LikeLike
Teen accused of biting butts at Wal-Mart
Suspect allegedly attacked at least 10 women at Lovejoy store
By KATHY JEFCOATS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/22/08
Clayton County police have arrested a middle school student and charged him with biting or grabbing the buttocks of at least 10 women at the Lovejoy Wal-Mart.
Capt. Greg Dickens said police believe there are more victims who have failed to report the assaults.
The 15-year-old suspect has been charged with four counts of sexual battery and more charges are expected.
Dickens said complaints of rear-end assaults at the store began in August and continued throughout May.
The boy was interviewed by police Wednesday after a victim saw him with relatives and confronted him, Dickens said.
LikeLike
Salty, pretty cool clip at 9:50. Rescued from the Von Wordtrapps and all. You must’ve neutralized your ph or sumpin’. Actually your clip showed a jet flight solo from my teen years. Yes, I know… pretty daring. But, like Chuck Yeager, sometimes you just have to push the edge of the envelope… punch a big ol’ hole in the sky… get that mach dial up there and such. Risky bidnez but somebody’s gotta do it.
Funny… so long ago it almost seems like a dream now. Or a movie.
Where’s Pappy? Still walkin’ Puppy?
But seriously, on this Memorial Day weekend, we’ll watch our Braves, eat our BBQ and relax or recreate with family and friends. While we do that and the rest of the year after this weekend, may we never forget the true warriors… the bravest of the brave one’s: To guys like Pappy Paladin and all of our brave fighting men and women who, on land, air and sea, tested their technology, tested themselves, fought and defended us, so that we could dream, watch baseball and say anything we want in our free country. Thank you… may we never take them for granted. May we never ever forget their sacrifice.
Don’t mean to embarrass you Pappy… but it’s a special weekend, ’twas on my mind and just had to start my weekend out on the right foot.
LikeLike
OK, I’m back to being stupid and silly now. No, really. Mean it. Promise. Seriously.
No, uh… scratch that last word.
LikeLike
I’m takin’ Ma out fer sum vittles…will return…directly!
LikeLike
SeriouslySG…consider it scratched! 😆
LikeLike
Me too Salty. Well, not your Ma… but vittles. May not return as quickly.
Before goin’… I’m still feelin’ good about the Braves with that sweep. Nice to see the Mutts playing like it was, well, late September. Just melt in May and go away.
Just happened to find another quarter.
LikeLike
Mutts melt in May and go away.
Hmmm… like it.
LikeLike
Wow, did someone turn the blog off? WHere is everyone?
LikeLike
after 5 wins, a game like this kinda sucks Chris! 😕
Those were some weak hits before the homer I must say….last year, Bobby would have him out of the game….glad he’s still in there…
LikeLike
We’re gonna win this game. Have faith my friends
LikeLike
Anyone want to talk tennis? No? Me either but here is a rather interesting French Open preview:
http://theondeckcircle.net/2008/05/23/french-open-preview/
LikeLike
Thought JoJo got shaken up there in the first inning. Made a mistake on the homer and let one mistake compound into five. But JoJo has bounced back nicely since that first inning. He never bounced back last year
How the heck does every post with a link end up in the Gitmo filter?
LikeLike
I’m with WW, I think the Braves can still win this game. Davis is on a pitch count. Be patient and knock him out early.
LikeLike
WW, I hope you are right….every lefty turns into Sandy Koufax, wish I understood why…
Oh, that walmart is 3 miles away from me! Glad my butt was left alone!
Now, we have two hits in a row…come on bravos!!!!
LikeLike
WW, you’re good with the numbers. Has Chipper been going opposite field more frequently this season than in years past?
LikeLike
I dunno, Chris. I’ll go see if I can look it up. It sure seems that way. Chipper has been so sick since he came off the DL last June. He’s played in 137 of the past 144 games and is batting .373.
LikeLike
What is wrong with Eric Burns that he won’t go on the DL for????
LikeLike
Skip sounds a bit sharper tonight. Glad to hear that. His speech doesn’t sound as slurred and doesn’t seem to be making mistakes like he was for the first 40 or so games. Hope that means he’s feeling better
LikeLike
Byrnes’ has had hamstring issues, B3.
LikeLike
Did you see how much weight that Byrnes guy has lost? Dude was a roidhead. Mitchell Report scared him off. Why else would a player coming off a career year lose all that weight?
LikeLike
Man…why are the Mets still in town…and playin’ in Braves’ unis? 😕 I want my Braves back! 😡
LikeLike
Looks like the Braves aren’t playing with much fire in their bellies tonight. Pretty lackadaisical play by Chipper and Diaz that allowed for two more runs to score.
LikeLike
Nevermind. This game is over
LikeLike
Yeah. I changed my mind that fast in 15 minutes
LikeLike
The windup of this Davis guy makes me want to go out and tackle him
Lawdie, McCann smoked that ball to center
LikeLike
WW, I think Skip sounds different depending on the meds he’s had…just a theory, but I will hear him sound almost drunk one night, then normal the next….may just be some strong stuff he has to take once a week….just a wild guess….
WW,Burns had 50 steals last year, 4 this year….hmmm….must just be his “Hamstring” Too bad really, I like the crash test dummy…
7-1 against a lefty….Dad wants to watch a movie. Kinda hard to say, but Pa, it’s only 7-1 in the 4th, plenty of time to come back….
as I say that, a double by McCann….
LikeLike
Well…given the state of this game, I think it’s time to take WW up on his artistic recommendation:
a little music and SG’s solo flight! 😛
LikeLike
Still here….What is wrong with Diaz??? That swing is so bad right now….he needs to look at video from last year….hands look way too close to his body when he swings, looks as tied up as any player can on pitches middle out…just weird…
LikeLike
So, still feel comfortable with Reyes in the rotation?????
And Smoltz in the pen????
LikeLike
No, no, JoJo, Go, Go, Yo-Yo back to Richmond
LikeLike
JoJo is having a Chuck James like performance
LikeLike
Skip just said, so far, this game is like writing an alimony check…not a whole lot of fun. 😆
LikeLike
Chuck James wishes he could pitch this well! 😛
LikeLike
Thanks for the insight about Skip, Berigan.
LikeLike
For those not watching on peachtree, they showed the trainer icing his finger…forgot about the old blister….wonder if that was affecting his control????
LikeLike
Actually, Chuck hasn’t given up more than 6 runs in a game in his last 40 starts.
Chuck has only given up more than 4 runs in a game 9 times in 53 starts. Unfortunately, 3 of those times have been this season.
LikeLike
The lisp of this girl on the peanut butter commerical annoys the heck out of me
LikeLike
The blister must be bothering him, Berigan. Would explain the inability to locate
LikeLike
For those of you that are watching the game, is your audio as bad as mine? I don’t get Peachtree normally. They are broadcasting on CSS. The audio is grainy and the volume control is awful. I normally have the volume on around 6 or 7 but I’ve got this cranked up to 20. Then the commercials come on and blasts me awake.
LikeLike
Skip says the funniest things when he is in ahole mode. Heard him the other night talking about a fan who dropped a foul ball. Skip said it hit him in the wrong place ….. right in the glove.
ooooooh, Resop head hunting
LikeLike
Chris, I’m watching on Peachtree. It’s coming on fine. The problem is probably on the simulcast side with CSS.
CSS is not exactly known for their quality broadcast production
LikeLike
WW, thanks. THe video AND audio are sputtering now. Thankfully I don’t really care because this game is a laugher. But having to adjust the volume up/down every commercial break is a pain.
LikeLike
I quote:
“These are the latest comments identified as spam by Akismet. If you see any mistakes, simply mark the comment as “not spam” and Akismet will learn from the submission. If you wish to recover a comment from spam, simply select the comment, and click Not Spam. After 15 days we clean out the junk for you.
* All
* Comments (1)
*
williamwallace
Anyone want to talk tennis? No? Me either but here is a rather interesting French Open preview:
http://theondeckcircle.net/2008/05/23/french-open-preview/
Not Spam — May 23, 8:21 PM — [ View Post ]
Comments you de-spam will be submitted to Akismet as mistakes so it can learn and get better.
There are currently 1 comments identified as spam”
I think this thing has Learning Disaabilities!
LikeLike
No audio troubles here….Doug Davis, a nice 5th, 6th starter, eh what???
Now, off to watch a movie!
LikeLike
JoJo is a one man momentum shifter. The problem ain’t a finger blister. Besides that, hasn’t he ever heard of pickle juice? Hell, he’s sittin’ by the picjkle juice man in the dugout this year. That and Diaz has really surprised me this year. Not a good surprise.
Dude was a roidhead. Mitchell Report scared him off. Why else would a player coming off a career year lose all that weight?
WW, there are quite a few physical oddities this year around the MLB. Look for the numbers on quite a few to change pretty drastically. This may be the big transition year, that’ll make expansion years look seamless in terms of overall performance, home runs, etc.
Skip sounds different depending on the meds he’s had…just a theory, but I will hear him sound almost drunk one night, then normal the next
Bear, that reminds me of Skip’s good ol’ days… when he was tipsy one night and ‘normal’ the next. Maybe that’s just my theory.
LikeLike
picjkle juice. Makes sense I guess… Jojo… picjkle. Maybe some brijne too.
LikeLike
WW, perhaps CL should sue wordpress, akismet and whoever else is involved for something. You’ll have to figure that out. Being a lawyer, I’m sure you can think of something.
Also, I need you to sue CSS for me for their poor quality broadcasting. I just know there’s a negligence case in there somewhere. EIther that or we sue for impersonating a television network.
LikeLike
Chris, do you have Charter as your cable provider? I have noticed that for whatever reason they seem to have audio issues at times. I rarely have volume control issues with Comcast but when I had Charter, the volume would be low during games or regular television shows, so I would crank it but then the commercials would come on and it would be as loud as heck. It really stunk because I was living in an apartment and my neighbor who was a fussy little queer would always bang on the wall. Eventually it got to the point that I couldn’t watch much television because I was more worried about my neighbor’s enjoyment rather than my own because he never stopped complaining.
LikeLike
from Norway…
LikeLike
WW, I’ve got Comcast. Normally it’s pretty good service. Only problems we have is on the HBO digital channels. Audio there is real low.
You say “fussy little queer” like it’s a bad thing!
LikeLike
This is awful. So lifeless. It’s amazing how bad pitching can suck the life out of a team
LikeLike
I agree. THey’ve looked lifeless all night.
Hey come on dude, don’t disappoint me. Lawsuits man, lawsuits! Time to get rich. If that idiot in prison can sue Colon Cowterd for nothing we should be able to do the same thing right?
LikeLike
I stand corrected by ww. He, from his background, knows so much more about it. I’ll bet his ancestors gave him much more of the first hand information than ours/mine did you/me. What was I thinking?
LikeLike
Well, then, damn, there’s no one left to blame but CSS. Let’s sue ’em.
That guy was a fussy little queer. Could not stand that guy. One time during a UGA game against Auburn, he started banging on the wall because my television was too loud. Heaven forbid. It was a UGA game. I’ve never even gone to the school and I was pumped up about the way the Dawgs were performing. He was a grad student at UGA. Evidently, he was too much of a snob to watch his own school in a big game. I am usually a quiet walker because I shuffle my feet. Everyday thereafter however I made sure to walk very heavy and deliberately over his apartment as my passive aggressive revenge.
LikeLike
Klobber, sound and reception fine here… Peachtree. It ain’t HD, but it’s got Skip announcing, so that makes up and covers any difference in picture definition.
Skip gives definition of sound commentary. Not HD… but SD. SD is better.
CL, spam is a scourge in Hawaii… the potted meat kind. They used to be so healthy until they were introduced to that, uh… mystery stuff. We used to take spam sammiches on fishing trips, along with Vienna sausages when I was a little tyke and couldn’t protest. Oh, you mean that other kind… net spam. Well, that’s bad too. Not nearly as greasy when you fry it.
With the indiscriminate and arbitrary ‘filtering’ of Braves and Stuff, it sounds like here is no way to teach WordPress the difference between %#@& posts, tennis posts and Tennyson posts.
Tennyson anyone?
LikeLike
If anyone, including ww, know what he is talking about, hold up your hand. No hands? Well…
LikeLike
WW, next time you have a neighbor like that, just play broadway show tunes during commercials. No, better not… could be dangerous. But your apartment would be immaculate.
LikeLike
Pappy, isn’t it way past your Chianti… uh, bedtime?
LikeLike
Savannah guy disagrees with me?! What a scoop!
LikeLike
THe video AND audio are sputtering now.
No Klobber… your TV is OK. Don’t adjust anything… it’s the Braves.
LikeLike
Pap, pray tell… what do you refer to?
LikeLike
SG; you bring this to mind.
When I’m having a really bad day, and it seems that people are trying to piss me off, i try to remember that it takes 42 muscles to frown and it only takes 4 to extend my middle finger and tell them to bite me
Conlsider yourself flipped, and chow down!
LikeLike
What the… are you serious? Are you OK?
LikeLike
Hello, I’m serious. Are you Roebuck? Let’s form a store.
LikeLike
For some reason, this song came on the jukebox at 9:29:
LikeLike
‘Hawk? What’s up??
LikeLike
Just, I thought, having a little fun. I’m off to bed. G’night.
LikeLike
Sleep well! 🙂
LikeLike
Paladin, I’m obviously missing something here. First, you said “I disagreed with you”. I have no idea what that means or when that occurred. Next, I’m “flipped” and insulted. Have no idea why you did that. Then… you were flippant.
Must be… never mind. Not important I suppose.
Have a great night.
LikeLike
williamwallace Says:
May 23, 2008 at 8:20 pm
We’re gonna win this game. Have faith my friends
😕
Oh well, if the lawyering thing doesn’t work out, perhaps you can become an economist, or a meterologist…they don’t have to be right much either! 😛
LikeLike
And the movie I watched, while only 69 minutes, still wasn’t very good! 😦
LikeLike
Berigan, you didn’t include me in your 10.27 post but I agreed with WW so it’s only fair that I take some of the flack too. I really thought that the Braves had a chance until Chipper’s and Matty’s errors in the same inning really put it out of their reach. They really looked flat as a team tonight. Hopefully they’ll get back to their winning ways tomorrow.
LikeLike
When WILL y’all learn not to take Paladin seriously? When you do, he takes HIMSELF seriously and all sorts of doodoo ensues. Just let it slide, or throw it right back at him. Don’t act like a wounded starlet…it leaves too much open and is unnecessary. He knows he’s a feminine hygiene product; remind him in the same spirit. 🙂
LikeLike
Minor Leaguer traded for 10 bats
LikeLike
CL, I saw that story. Wasn’t Kerry Ligtenberg acquired from an independent league team for a similar kind of deal?
LikeLike
Is it just me or is everyone else sick of these selfish millionaires who get their feelings hurt when they aren’t considered to be the top guy any more?
I don’t follow football and I know nothing about the Falcons or Joe Horn. I’ve heard his name but that’s about as far as it goes. But I do know that this pinhead just signed a four year contract and his 08 salary of $2.5m is GUARANTEED! DOES HE NOT REALIZE HOW MANY YEARS IT WOULD TAKE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN TO MAKE THAT KIND OF MONEY?
Do these idiots not realize that right now there are hundreds of thousands of Americans that are worried about how they are going to make their next mortgage payment? The prices of gas and food are skyrocketing and this idiot has the gall to not attend practice because he doesn’t want to be a “just-in-case guy”. Sickening. I hope the Atlanta fans crucify this idiot.
Oh yeah, here’s the link:
http://www.ajc.com/falcons/content/sports/falcons/stories/2008/05/22/falcons_0523.html
LikeLike
Advice that a Couch Potato loves to get from his/her Doctor !!
I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it… don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine I s made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain…Good!
Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!! …. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It’s the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! ‘Round’ is a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:
‘Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘WOO HOO, What a Ride’
AND…..
For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots
of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks
than Americans.
CONCLUSION
Eat and drink what you like.
Being American is apparently what kills you.
(Adding my comment: and supporting the rest of the world!)
LikeLike
Chris, I may not know much else but I’m pretty well versed in the NFL. When Joe Horn played for the Saints, he torched us pretty often on the field, and ran his mouth way too often off it (and also made somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-50 million dollars). Last year the Saints cut him before training camp at the age of 36 because he’d clearly lost a step (perhaps two) and wasn’t worth what he was asking for. The Falcons had a young receiving corps and needed a veteran to mentor them. Joe ran his yap too much but Rich McKay (the genius) decided he was worth a 4 year deal at 19.75 mil. Horn didn’t do squat on the field last year; he’s done and knows it. We’ve got a new staff and a new team, and some young, hungry receivers. He’s lucky as hell to be paid what he’s being paid to mentor them and be a third down player.
Except, when he found out there were four better receivers on the team, he decided to pout and demand a trade, without telling his coaches or team first. LOSER. He said, “They’re obviously going younger (duh) and I don’t wanna be a just-in-case-guy.” So, where does he want to go? “I feel I’m still and effective third down back and I can still mentor young players.” EXACTLY WHAT HE’S HERE FOR. Nobody will pay him what we’re paying him to take him off our hands, and he’s a distraction here. Yet another ^%$#-ing dumb#$@ ape who can’t even tie his shoes and gets more than all of us together will ever see.
CL, have I told you lately that I love you?
LikeLike
Grinch, thank you for confirming my suspicions. Joe Horn is and idiot. He obviously doesn’t realize how good his lot in life is. Nor does he understand what his role with the Falcons is.
Isn’t he the guy that stuck a cell phone under the goal post pad at the Super Dome a few years ago? He scored a touchdown and then grabbed the phone and made like he was making a phone call! I don’t have any patience for people like that.
LikeLike
Wooboy… What an ugly game that was tonight… My niece and her husband are on their way to Atlanta for the weekend to witness the big Braves in action. Wish I could have gone with them….
So much is going on around here this weekend I may just mow the lawn to escape….
LikeLike
I want to thank Grinch for coming to my “defense” last night. It’s like being defended by Clarence Darrow. I know. Darrow has been dead for over a half a century. That’s my point. Also, I have won the Grinch d-bag award so many times that there is not enough room for other names. I’ll cherish it always.
Serious note: When Grinch and I feel that something one of us said needs to be “discussed”, we do so by e-mail or the phone. Trying to do so on the blog often just fans the flames. That said, Grinch and I do not need to do anything for the most part, because we KNOW the other one is kidding.
LikeLike
No, Grinch, you’ve been very neglectful in that area.
Terrific! You’ll enjoy this:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5249518974978628334
Theodore Roosevelt on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.
“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.” – Theodore Roosevelt 1907
Do you have an 8th grade education?
Remember when our grandparents, great-grandparents, and such stated that they only had an 8th grade education?
Well, check this out. – – –
This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, KS, USA. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.
8th GRADE FINAL EXAM
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters.
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no Modifications.
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb? Give Principal Parts of lie, lay and run
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
7. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1050lbs. for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per meter?
8 Find bank discount on $300 for! 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance around which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.
U. S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U. S. History is divided.
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.
Orthography (Time, one hour)
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, sub vocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret ‘u’.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final ‘e.’ Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.
Geography (Time, one hour)
1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America.
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall &Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.
LikeLike
Just very interesting on Iwo Jima – also Babe Ruth portrait:
http://www.valorstudios.com/IwoJimaTheFirstFlag.htm?gclid=CKiQk-Kmv5MCFRcfsgod_DDFDA
LikeLike
You may have seen this before, but it’s just plain funny! 😆
As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave side service for a derelict man who had died while traveling through the area and had no family or friends.
The funeral was held way back in the country. This man would be the first to be laid to rest at this cemetery.
As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost. Being the typical man I didn’t stop for directions. But I finally arrived an hour late, I saw the crew and backhoe, but the hearse was nowhere in sight.
The workmen were eating lunch. I apologized to the workers for my tardiness, (who looked puzzled). I stepped to the side of the open grave, to find the vault lid already in place. I assured the workers I would not hold them long, but this was the proper thing to do.
As the workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I poured out my heart and soul. As I preached the workers began to say “Amen, Praise the Lord and Glory, (they must have been Baptist). I preached, and I preached, like I’d never preached before. I began from Genesis all the way to Revelation. I preached for two hours and 45 minutes. It was a long and lengthy service. I closed in prayer and it was finished.
As I was walking to my car, I felt that I had done my duty and would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication, in spite of my tardiness.
As I was opening the door and taking off my coat. I overheard one of the workers saying to another. ” I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 20 years, and I ain’t never seen anything like this before!”
LikeLike
This dog knows more continuous (intricate) dance steps than most people I know! 😀
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=HqbVbPvlDoM
LikeLike
CL; The video on “Skidboot” brought tears to my eyes, but it also gave my day a warm and fuzzy beginning. Thanks.
LikeLike
That was one utterly amazing dog! Sometimes we humans don’t give them near the credit they deserve.
LikeLike
If I had the patience and other qualities of his owner, my dog could do many of those things. He is smart as a whip. But, the height of my training has been to teach him not to pee on my leg.
LikeLike
Count your blessings! 😆
LikeLike
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – Afghan officials expressed outrage Saturday at a decision by the U.S. military not to charge U.S. Marines involved in a shooting spree that left 19 Afghan civilians dead in 2007.
Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, the commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command, made the decision Friday not to bring charges after reviewing the findings of a special tribunal that heard more than three weeks of testimony in January at Camp Lejuene.
This is another example of how the Marines are being misused in Iraq and Afghanistan. Marines are not “occupiers” or “policemen”, they are slash and attack forces. The rules of engagement are simple. If you even think one of those rag-heads is a danger to you, or your troops, take his @$$ out! If I were one of those commanders, I would much rather face charges that I “over-reacted” than write the letters to the families of the Marines I might cause to be killed by being too “cautious”
LikeLike
But, I’m sure there will be some on here that can’t handle the truth! 😆
LikeLike
I won’t be here this afternoon. I’m going to take advantage of the weather and go out and fly radio-controlled airplanes. This is my avocation, now. It’s a good outlet because it takes a lot of skill to fly them, but if you make a mistake(and don’t hit yourself)you walk away from even the worse crashes. ‘Course you have to go pick up the remnants of some expensive electronics, miniature engines and pieces of balsa in a garbage bag, but there is no completely free lunch. See y’all later.
LikeLike
Good mor…Good Afternoon! Hope everyone is out enjoying nice weather, wherever you be! Why is it I picture Pallyboy diving bombing other remote controlled planes??? It isn’t his expensive electronics, miniature engines and pieces of balsa in a garbage bag
Some baseball…will we see Charlie Morton??? He’s 24, it ain’t like he’s a baby. Seems we still need 2 starters, but I can see giving Reyes another chance or two(It’s not like we really have any other choice, right??)
Man, our temp gauge says it’s 90!
LikeLike
Real letters
Dear Abby, A couple of women moved in across the hall from me. One is a middle-aged gym teacher and the other is a social worker in her mid twenties. These two women go everywhere together and I’ve never seen a man go into or leave their apartment. Do you think they could be Lebanese?
Dear Abby, What can I do about all the Sex, Nudity, Fowl Language and Violence on my VCR?
Dear Abby, I have a man I can’t trust. He cheats so much, I’m not even sure the baby I’m carrying is his.
Dear Abby, I am a twenty-three year old liberated woman who has been on the pill for two years. It’s getting expensive and I think my boyfriend should share half the cost, but I don’t know him well enough to discuss money with him.
Dear Abby, I’ve suspected that my husband has been fooling around, and when confronted with the evidence, he denied everything and said it would never happen again.
Dear Abby, Our son writes that he is taking Judo. Why would a boy who was raised in a good Christian home turn against his own?
Dear Abby, I joined the Navy to see the world. I’ve seen it. Now how do I get out?
Dear Abby, My forty year old son has been paying a psychiatrist $50.00 an hour every week for two and a half years. He must be crazy.
Dear Abby, I was married to Bill for three months and I didn’t know he drank until one night he came home sober.
Dear Abby, My mother is mean and short tempered. I think she is going through mental pause.
Dear Abby, You told some woman whose husband had lost all interest in sex to send him to a doctor. Well, my husband lost all interest in sex and he is a doctor. Now what do I do?
Remember these people can vote, which probably explains the current situation in Washington, DC.
😆
LikeLike
Man, our temp gauge says it’s 90!
Two thoughts:
1. It talks? 😕
2. Get it out of the sun! 😆
LikeLike
CL
Do your posts with links get trapped in the filter…or is just me…and WW…and, uh uhm…Grinch? Just wonderin’. 😐
LikeLike
Oh…not to be outdone by the ‘Green One’…Love ya, CL! Gotta run! 😆
LikeLike
Jeff Bennett just got his first hit, and it’s off of Randy Johnson!!! Just woke up from a nap, how come Campillo is out after 58 pitches today, when he threw 78 the last time out????? Did he just look gassed??? Great start, regardless!
LikeLike
Berigan, he’s got a blister. Maybe he and JoJo need to call Alou to see how he handles his blisters! 😦
LikeLike
Thanks for the info Chris…that was a lot of pitches the last game, wonder if that’s why????
LikeLike
Maybe so Berigan. Some guys just tend to have more problems with blisters than other. I don’t know that much about Campillo to know if it’s a chronic issue with him or not.
LikeLike
I was listening to the car radio and heard that a baseball player had been traded for 10 bats. I figured it was Jo Jo, but it turned out to be a minor leaguer from out west. They quoted him as saying it would just make a good story when he made it to the bigs. Like his attitude.
LikeLike
Love this:
http://www.tropicalglen.com/
Thanks, Salty! 🙂 No, I don’t think I’ve ever been caught in that infernal contraption. Reserved for special people! 😆
LikeLike
Frenchy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
ummm, he one the game with a 2 run homer??? Haven’t you all come in yet????
LikeLike
So…do stats lie? 😕
Campillo, by definition, didn’t have a quality start . Looked like quality to me. He now has ten shutout innings as a starter. I’ll take that! 🙂
Saw the Frenchy, and other, game highlights. Ma wanted to go to the Chianti Store…and she weren’t awaitin’. Let it be known, that’s why the Braves won, and Frenchy the benefactor. No good deed goes…wherever they go! 😆
LikeLike
won th game…
LikeLike
Well Salty, you need to get all liquored up more often! 😆
LikeLike
B3…psst…B3…don’t tell anyone, but….I’ve been to the Chianti Store during 21 home games. Wanta guess which ones? 😆
LikeLike
Duty calls…and she’s gotta name! 😯
LikeLike
from MLB.com:
“John Smoltz, who was placed on the disabled list April 29 with inflammation in both his right biceps and right rotator cuff, will begin his first Minor League rehab assignment on Saturday with Double-A Mississippi in Knoxville, Tenn.
Smoltz will also be reevaluated after that outing, which could be one or two innings. He has said he would like to pitch in the Braves’ bullpen when he returns from the DL and has been throwing from a three-quarters arm angle to lessen the stress on his arm.”
LikeLike
FYI:
“Help! Akismet is catching regular comments as spam!
Don’t worry, if you see a regular comment on your Akismet page, just click the “Not Spam” checkbox and submit and the comment will be sent back to Akismet as a mistake. The system will learn from your submission, though it may take a day or so in some cases. False positives, as they’re called, are extremely rare and we watch them closely.”
Salty, you’re one in a million! 😆
LikeLike
Blog email today: 4 more lotteries won. $3 million euros + whatever the 4th one was. It was in Spanish. Ransom money for the filter.
LikeLike
Was it something I said?? 😦
LikeLike
Akismet: Norwegian for ‘artificial (un)intelligence’? 😕
Can you just give that lottery money to WordPress now, to pay for removal of the filter? They/you can trust us…can’t they/you? 🙄
LikeLike
Wish I could unplug the thing, Salty! Would hate to have to change addresses because of a stoopid filter!
LikeLike
Crickets?
LikeLike
Hooooooody-HOOOOO!!!!! Can I get a witness?
LikeLike
What’s up Grinch? You getting married? WHy you need a witness?
LikeLike
Only way I’d get married is if she was rich, I had control of the money, I could sleep with who I wanted to and kick her $%# out when I didn’t want to listen to her complain. Already got the pre-nup drawn up. And no, I don’t care if I never get to use it. There’s not a one on the planet I can think of worth more than 20 minutes of my time. Maybe double that if she’s cooking. Sorry; just calls it like I sees it. It ain’t from lack of experience, and it has nothing to do with intelligence or social class. It just is what it is. I’m here to make my mark on the world and not be brought down by some bitter, vindictive harlot who can’t see past her own petty insecurities long enough to do anything but make everyone else as miserable as she is. I’ve got better things to do.
LikeLike
Oh man, between you and Pallyboy, that key to the doghouse is forever in motion! 😆
I know that there are lots of “them” on the planet worth 20 minutes of my time, but they are invariably married…..some guys have all the luck. 😦 Those guys are also the ones that find a 20,000 mile ’70 Chevelle SS for sale for $500!!!!
LikeLike
BAS is MIA! Get yer butt back her, PDQ!!!! 😡
LikeLike
Good morning. What a game yesterday… great pitching duel with a dramatic walkoff finish. Wish I had seen it. Nice to see Frenchy contribute in a big way again. That should fire the Bravos up for today’s game. Glavine has been solid this year, save an outing or two, but he’s due some run support.
Hopefully, today we can add to Micah Owings 3.81 ERA (last 30 days 4.89). At 6’5”, this big ol’ Georgia boy is gonna bring it. Remember his last start against us? From MLB: “Owings struck out a career-best 10 in the game. In a start in Atlanta last year, Owings not only got the win, but also went 4-for-5 with a double, two homers and six RBIs.” The Snakes headline is: “Owings looks to put on show vs Braves.”
Well Braves fans, young Micah is going to see a new, improved Braves batting today from the one he saw last year. It’s payback tome.
What is up with finger blisters this year? Maybe Glavine needs to share some of his pickle juice with Campillo and Jojo. Like stretching and conditioning, it’s a brine thing. Pitching fingers need calluses. So do farmers, guitar pickers and sailors. It’s part of the necessary equipment.
LikeLike
Dodgers’ Jones out 4-6 weeks after going on DL for first time in career
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3411156
LikeLike
Catching up on the overnights, the yesterdays and previous overnights… it’s been slow on Braves and Stuff. Hope everyone is enjoying the Memorial Day weekend outdoors, indoors or in some cases, the Outer Limits. 😆
Grinch, not sure about the “wounded starlet” advice you offered to the blog the other night, but looking around, that characterization doesn’t seem to fit any circumstance I can find here. Maybe you got ‘wounded’ emails from a starlet or something that prompted your interesting advice and starlet remark… I’ve no idea really. Maybe it was just the middle of the night and you were watching ‘Gone With The Wind’ or something and it just popped out.
Anyway, suppose any idiot would get your overall gist and possibly even understand your intention. Not sure ‘bout the intention… guess you had to have been there and such, wherever ‘there’ is. Grinch, my friend, I just can’t see you as Dear Abby. 😆
A little song break.
Everyone has their own view of the world, relationships, blog parlance and such, even on B&S at times… so I suppose we really can’t always be sure of others intentions or their descriptions of events. Rationalize as we might, perhaps ‘disappointed’ or genuinely ‘concerned’, would be a more apt description than ‘wounded’… in how one might feel when witnessing bizarre behavior from someone we consider friend or acquaintance… or a stranger.
But I do have to hand it to you… not sure if I’d call it savoir faire or ‘alternate’ blog diplomacy, but to advise the blog against taking someone seriously and call them a d-bag… and then have that same person ‘thank you’ for coming to their “defense” is just plain funny… and odd. Maybe I’m just old fashioned that way. Perhaps along with discretion, prudence is the better part of valor.
<Just happen to have another quarter right here.
LikeLike
SG, did you know Dear Prudence, was written about Mia Farrow’s sister, who was on a bad drug trip?? Wonder how fried her brains are these days….
Not as good, but much better than the the typical cover version of a Beatles song is the Siouxsie & The Banshees version…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7Sm9_1tSE
LikeLike
Speaking ogf Siouxsie and the Banshees(The Camaro was almost called the Banshee, by the by!)
My favorite song by them….sucker for a good accordion solo! 😛
LikeLike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAx0gSdv5yA – 117k
LikeLike
These kids today, they don’t know what good music is! This was when music was….was, well….umm, it’s still better than what passes for pop music today!
LikeLike
HEY! Some baseball “stuff!” Saw a strikeout of Diaz by Randy Johnson, and it looked like his hands hurt…you suppose he’s injured??? Could that explain that ridiculous swing??? I still don’t know quite what’s wrong with it…either he is trying to inside out every pitch, and can’t catch up with it…something it just crazy wrong with it….
Chris Young will be out quite some time…funny, in that it didn’t look like that hard a pitch, but when a baseball hit’s a skull, there will be problems…
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080524/news_1s24young.html
Ad to that Jake Peavy still having elbow issues, and I guess it’s safe to say Maddux isn’t going to be on the market anytime soon….
LikeLike
Berigan, I actually think that Maddux may be on the market in the next few weeks. The Padres’ season has been miserable so far. Young and Peavy going to the DL should make things worse. Unless whoever they call up pitches “lights out” and assuming that they fix their offensive woes, it makes sense to sell. The Padres aren’t going anywhere this year.
LikeLike
Bear, you call that music? 😆
Klobber, I’m one that wishes Maddux would join the Braves.
LikeLike
May 24, 2008
CBSSports.com wire reports
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — Atlanta Braves right-hander John Smoltz reported no discomfort in his right shoulder after allowing one hit in one inning on a rehab assignment with the Double-A Mississippi Braves on Saturday night.
Smoltz threw 12 pitches, eight for strikes, in the eighth inning against the Tennessee Smokies.
Smoltz was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 28. Smoltz is expected to return to Atlanta on Sunday and the Braves will decide whether to schedule another rehab assignment or activate him.
LikeLike
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:20 am EDT
San Diego fire sale coming, just not many bargains available
The San Diego Padres already cut Jim Edmonds. They could dangle Randy Wolf to the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Florida Marlins, maybe even to his original team, the Philadelphia Phillies. They could trade Greg Maddux too, and it would be sweet if they would send him back to the Atlanta Braves, to join John Smoltz and Tom Glavine in what could be the final pennant race for all three according to the Los Angeles Times.
They’re last in the major leagues in runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. They have three pitchers batting over .300 — Peavy, Justin Germano and Shawn Estes — but only one position player over .300. What they really need is an outfield. Brian Giles is batting .311, with three home runs. He’s 37. The rest of the outfield mix? Paul McAnulty is at .200, Scott Hairston .217, Jody Gerut .195.
Those wholesale changes? We’ll see, but it’s not as if the Padres’ triple-A Portland club is stuffed with talent.
Source: Los Angeles Times
LikeLike
SG, I’m with you on the Maddux thing.
CL, nice find on the article from the LA Times.
LikeLike
Salty, you’re one in a million!
Well…why thank you, Ma’am! I’m quite taken, to say the least! 🙂
Now…the contrarian viewers…and I don’t want to apply names, will be quite dismayed! You see, a million into six billion is 6000. To whit…6000 Salty’s runnin’ about the planet! 😯
LikeLike
Grinch…can you…uh…uh uhm…clarify your position on the ‘fairer sex’? 😆
LikeLike
Bear, meant to mention… I did know that Prudence was/is Mia’s sister, but I think her ‘issue’ was more about meditation than medication… but it was the 60’s, so maybe a combo of influences was the case for her.
Funny, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bow Wow Wow were playing at the same venue the night I went to see REM’s very first NY debut, back in the day. Once a popular Athens band… REM went on to become one of the most heralded and critically acclaimed bands in the modern music era.
They were playing in a ‘fringe’ neighborhood in Manhattan the night I went to see them. Tried, but didn’t make it inside the theatre that night. Long story… involving an unexpected run in with the Hell’s Angels and then three Puerto Rican street thugs with switchblades. It was like something out of Westside Story… without the music interludes. East Village was a dangerous neighborhood in those days.
Now REM is back. Check it out.
LikeLike
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/greg_maddux_quotes.shtml
LikeLike
Salty, you’re one in a million!
With a world population of 6.7 billion, there’s over 6,000 of you in the world.
Lotsa salt! When it rains it pours! 🙂
LikeLike
Speaking of lots… CL is posting lots of good baseball stuff today. You go girl.
Especially loved the Maddux quotes.
Now, about Cox getting re-upped for another year and then maybe another year and another and another. Mercy. No room upstairs? No farm chores? Wife? Grandkids? No pets to save? Not enough games won? Not tossed enough? Won’t this put a less than stellar cap on an otherwise brilliant, HOF career?
Whose driving the boat anyway???
LikeLike
Or maybe… Whose driving the boat anyway???
LikeLike
Salty, whoops… just noticed you did the ‘million’ math before I even noticed. 🙂
Have a good ol’ BBQ to attend now, so I’ll retire from Braves and Stuff. Hope I get to see the last inning or two of the Braves, but have it set to record just in case. Should’a done that yesterday. The game’ll be a good’un. Y’all have a great day. Go Glavine, Go Braves.
Just seems like a good time for a country song. One last quarter… for the road.
LikeLike
This isn’t “aimed” at anyone. It’s just sort of a theme song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyLr-oIROSY
LikeLike
Family entertainment, Mexican style……
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/267662/36/
I love this line, “It’s part of our culture, and it’s important to know it.”
LikeLike
Sad news…
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j99CR_xFNomdLxJhwGL5d5qvUdCQD90SE0KO0
LikeLike
Here I am! Fresh from a “power” nap. From the TMI portion of the blog, this new antibiotic on top of the other 2, seems to make me need 10-12 hours of sleep…
I’m all for a Maddux reunion, don’t get me wrong! I just would think, no matter how bad San Diego is, they gotta have someone who can give them 5-6 innings…I would think with both Peavy and Young out at least a few weeks, they would have to wait….unless they get some AAA starters back…as was mentinoned above , it’s not like Portland is stuffed with talent….
And where is FLB???? Cookin’ and cleanin’??? Gonna have to start calling that girl Cinderella! 😆
LikeLike
Chris, that is sad news….amazing he was 86!!! You can bet your sweet bippy that this news won’t be on Entertainment tonight, Monday….
LikeLike
2-2 in the 3rd….Micah Owings is more of a left fielder, IMHO. I bet Arizona is sorry they signed Eric Burns long term now…Micah would fit in nicely in there…
LikeLike
SG, as he announced, has gone to a BQ. In his absence let me say that we got our wires uncrossed in private, where it should have been done. Let me offer my apologies to the blog for upsetting the tranquility that CL strives for. You all know me well enough now to know that I am quick on the trigger, but just as quick to put my guns away and offer my hand. SG is a good man and a good friend, as all of you are my friends. Let’s keep it that way. Now, I leave you, for now, with a tribute by the late and great Waylon to the great country we live in and for which many of us have fought, and which all of us love and support.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGz_xSSgjY0 – 95k
LikeLike
On the Jazz board I frequent, someone on the baseball thread mentioned the story on Andruw having knee surgery, and he also posted some comments that were on the papers website…cruel…but, kinda funny! 😛
the only surgery andruw jones needs is gastric bypass!
Also, I don’t know what everyone is talking about regarding his unwillingness to make plate adjustments, he adds more and more food to it everytime he goes to the bar!
LikeLike
If I’m GM of an AL team, I would work hard to acquire Micah Owings. He’s a solid pitcher, with a bat that needs to be in the lineup as often as possible. Rare breed…very rare. How many pitchers can get the runs back, themselves, that they give up? Don Drysdale is the last that comes to mind…maybe Ken Brett, as well.
LikeLike
I forgot to mention earlier when SG was talking about blisters…I never got one from pitching….and I sure wasn’t using a nice smooth ball like the pros do! I had a net in front of a long sidewalk next to a fence….so, every time the ball hit concrete, it scuffed up the ball, needless to say. Never had a problem though….felt good in my fingertips all shredded.
LikeLike
Salty, Bob Gibson as well, 3 seasons of 19 or more RBI’s, 24 career homers…
I hear Hampton is a good hitter, but have never seen him in action…he’s kinda like the Loch Ness Monster ! 😆
LikeLike
Berigan, that’s a funny line about AJ!
Salty, that’s not a bad idea. I wonder if AL rules require the use of the DH or if they would allow a pitcher to hit for himself. Anyone know?
Paladin, thank you. I don’t know what is going on with you and SG but I appreciate that you handled your issues outside of the blog and worked them out like the gentlemen that I know you both are.
LikeLike
Berigan, I think that certain people are more prone to blisters than others. Beckett has had problems off and on his entire career.
Perhaps it’s like boxers. Some guys seem much more prone to getting cuts to the face than others. Something about the thickness of the skin or its toughness.
LikeLike
The DH is defined by position…you could have someone be DH and have a field player not bat, but that ‘position’ can’t hit that game.
Come to think of it…Corky Miller could be included…that way, he could be DH’d for, and be Owing’s personal backstop! 😆
Yes, I was thinking about Gibson, B3…but I deferred to let you trumpet on about any and everything ‘Cardinals’! 😛 Especially that catcher….whatshisname? 😆
LikeLike
Salty, thanks for the clarification. I did not realize that was how the rule was written.
Yes, what was that catcher’s name? Simons? Simpson? Stimmons? Something like that! 😀
LikeLike
Chris, don’t quote me on it, but I think you can have the DH or the pitcher, not both…if that is what you were asking…I remember Rick Rhoden, a very good hitting pitcher, hitting for the Yankees one day while pitching…think Billy Martin was the Manager….
LikeLike
And clearly…I was wrong! Alas…it won’t be the last time, either!
The Designated Hitter rule:
A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire-in-Chief.
The Designated Hitter named in the starting lineup must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club changes pitchers. It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that game.
Pinch hitters for a Designated Hitter may be used. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter himself becomes a Designated Hitter. A replaced Designated Hitter shall not re-enter the game in any capacity. The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order.
A runner may be substituted for the Designated Hitter and the runner assumes the role of the Designated Hitter.
A Designated Hitter is “locked” into the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation of the Designated Hitter.
Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a defensive position this move shall terminate the DH role for the remainder of the game. Once a pinch-hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game.
Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game.
LikeLike
Man, I am slow on the draw today! 😳 and wrong! I watchin’ the game…that’s my excuse…
Oh, that catcher, surely you mean cardinals catcher…Steve Swisher, father of Nick Swisher! 😆 He really did look like a good hitter, but he never hit….
LikeLike
Still…undeterred…Owings would hit for himself…and be my DH 3 of the other four nights. Let him ‘rest’ the day before he pitches.
LikeLike
Long-haired, hippy-lookin’ dude…kinda like you, B3! No blisters on his fingers, either! 😛
LikeLike
&(%^*^&)(%#*@& 😈 😡 😦 🙄 Do it all over! 😈 😡 😦 🙄
LikeLike
Well, the DH rule is much more intricate than I expected.
BAD WORD, BAD WORD Tom Glavine BAD WORD!!!!!!!
LikeLike
Wait, I was right??? And apoligized for being wrong??? So I was wrong when I was right, right, when I was wrong, or something… I should never doubt myself…now I am more filled with doubt, since I was right in the first place……ummm, and now Eric Burns hit a grand slam off Tommy……so close to getting out of it….
LikeLike
Huh? What? 😕 Oh…ok. I’m comin’, Ma! Later gators, taters, and oth(ers)! 🙂
LikeLike
Still…undeterred…Owings would hit for himself…and be my DH 3 of the other four nights. Let him ‘rest’ the day before he pitches.
That is what I was envisioning……..
LikeLike
Nice, very nice play by Infante at 3rd! Stockman NEEDS some serious dental work!!!!!
LikeLike
Berigan, I went outside to finish a project after Glavine gave up the GS. Why does stockman need dental work?
LikeLike
He has a mouth full of very bad teeth….about as big a gap as I have ever seen up front…not normally mean about stuff like that, but they just look…bad….I don’t know if we will see many closeups anymore….
How did Connor Jackson get a triple on that hit to left??? Blanco did something wrong….
LikeLike
Berigan, I just got a look at him and know what you mean. Those two front teeth look like they’re more concerned with guarding the lines rather than the gaps! 😀
LikeLike
nothing wrong with those last 2 pitches to Eric Burnes….
LikeLike
Chris, 😉
LikeLike
Home plate umpire has not been very good today, IMHO.
LikeLike
Nice pitch by Stockman to get out of trouble.
LikeLike
DBacks pitcher Cruz has the skinniest arms I have ever seen on a pitcher! Sure brings it though….though I still wonder how guys throwing 95-96 and fairly straight not get hit, while people catch up to Resop’s 98 MPH….slower delivery???
LikeLike
Ber, I looked at mlb.com’s Gameday. Those three pitches were just about in the exact same spot. Puzzles me too.
LikeLike
well, it’s a nice day, score’s 7-3….think I’ll find better to do…than watch this… 😕
LikeLike
Oh one more thing(in my best Columbo voice) Phil Niekro is going to be the guest on baseball tonight, at 7 pm!!!!
LikeLike
ON DECK: SG
TOP STEP: Berigan
LikeLike
SG, not sure how “vindictive harlot” and “wounded starlet” got confused there; very different meanings.
Salty, I’ll be happy to clarify but if you want the non g-rated version it’d better be via e-mail.
I’m off to a cook out; if I don’t get a DUI on the way back I’ll check in later tonight. Everyone behave.
LikeLike
Pot calling the kettle black??? 😆
LikeLike
Who dat sez my kettle black? Do dah. Do dah. 😀
LikeLike
Grinch: if I don’t get a DUI on the way back I’ll check in later tonight. Everyone behave.
LikeLike
I’m going to bed. But, in the meantime, tell me what happened to all these “hot” Braves bats. Yes, the pitchers have given up some big numbers but that doesn’t mean you can’t win 11 – 9 games. Teams that hope to compete in October do. Dream on it.
LikeLike
Grinch…my sarcasm doesn’t translate on the blog well. Trust me…I’m clear on your position…no elaboration required! 😆
LikeLike
HYANNIS, Mass. (AP) – Sen. Edward Kennedy felt well enough Monday after his brain cancer diagnosis to compete in the second day of an annual sailboat race between Nantucket and Cape Cod.
The Massachusetts Democrat and a boatload of supporters took a ferry out of Hyannis to compete in the final half of the so-called “Figawi” race.
A spokeswoman said those joining Kennedy on his sloop “Mya” for the sail home would be his wife, Vicki, sons Edward Jr. and Patrick, and stepdaughter, Caroline Raclin. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, a close family friend, also was with the group.
Teddy is going up in my estimation. I hope I have the stones to handle it this way when my time comes. “Let’s go do some fun things while I can ” Absolutely!
LikeLike
Wow! 13 hours between posts, a new record! 😆
LikeLike
Hey Folks,
I hope you’re enjoying the day off. I just have a post I’d like to share w/ y’all in observance of Memorial Day.
Enjoy the hot dogs, beers, and time with family but please don’t forget why we’re free. Lots of love for all of you from me and my family.
Memorial Day
Peace,
JB in ATL
LikeLike
Well done JB! Sounds like from what you have said in the past here, you are pretty young, so it’s nice to see someone your age, get “it”
LikeLike
THIS JUST IN: Dayn Perry is still stuck on stupid…..
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7569
LikeLike
Salty, I knew you knew what I meant…I’m just the kind of dude who likes to elaborate anyway. 🙂
Steak and beer time is drawing nigh; I’d like to thank all those we know who gave their lives for the defense of this great nation…(Paladin, slung over my shoulder: “I’m not dead yet…”) “Yes you are.” “I’m not.” “Shut UP!” (I glance at the constable pulling the plague cart) “Give us a hand, will you?” He looks around to make sure nobody sees, Paladin says “I’m feeling much better…” WHAP! “There you are.” “Thanks, mate.”
Apologies to Monty Python’s Holy Grail.
LikeLike
All BS aside, I wasn’t going to bring this up but now I am. One of my very, very best friends in the world is named Chris (I’m not printing his last name out of respect). He was one of the funniest people I ever met. He was on the cover of Tae Kwon Do magazine at age 17, could throw a football 70 yards, was a pretty good stage actor, could basically do anything and everything you set in front of him. A true renaissance man who persevered through more than most of us will ever have to (his dad was murdered for crossing the picket line, his mom went insane and tried to burn the house down with him and his brother asleep in it). He dove into mixed martial arts and the military to become a bad ass, and in serving in several actions I can’t name here distinguished himself and found serenity and inner peace instead of the vengence he sought. He is spending this Memorial day trying to get used to a new prosthetic limb and the new ugly scar that crosses his once quite handsome face…I’d like to think God will look down on this and give Bush’s conscience enough of a kick to at least pass the money saved from all the oil we’re stealing on to the customer at the pump to make it at least partially worth this good young man’s sacrifice. Here’s to Specialist Chris M., who I can’t hang out with today though I’d give a limb of my own to do so.
LikeLike
Grinch; There is a saying that old men start wars; young men(and now women)fight them. That has been true in almost every action or war this country has fought in. That said, I salute your friend Chris and thank him for his great sacrifice. One last thing: I was once one of those young men and I(and many of my friends who are not here today)fought the old men’s wars. Bush is only one, of many, leaders of this and other countries that made mistakes that cost lives and limbs. Join me in honoring those young men on this day, instead of hating the old ones. There will be time enough for that, later. Enjoy your steak and beer.
LikeLike
Thank you, Eagle. There is a lot in that post I made that can be interpreted in a way that is not me at all; I am a military historian by trade (I’m currently reading an 800-page book on the Boer War in my downstairs bathroom rather than “Outdoor Life” magazine or something like most folks) and I don’t hate war in and of itself at all. It is simply part of human nature, and is often just. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our steaks and beer. What I DO hate is going to war under false pretenses and perpetuating both the war and the lies long after they’ve been exposed and our boys just want to come home with their bodies and wits still more or less intact. However, that is a conversation for another time and place (feel free to e-mail me at voton1066@yahoo.com). I have no wish to sully this grand day with politics; any more stories out of me in the next 24 hours will be purely military-based.
LikeLike
And no, I’m not a liberal. 🙂
LikeLike
Why the bleep is Acosta in, in the 6th inning???? 😡 😡 😡
LikeLike
Interesting to read what others said about Saddam, and Iraq, a few years ago…
“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security.” — Hillary Clinton, October 10, 2002
http://www.rightwingnews.com/quotes/demsonwmds.php
LikeLike
The same thing could be said about Pakistan, India, and about 20 other countries in the region. Any country that’s made the step up from manufacturing textiles and plastic toys is working on a WMD program at some point for the future. [Grinch, sorry, edited – getting too personal there…CL] Next beer’s on me, B-man. 🙂
LikeLike
[Sorry, Berigan, but you’ve been edited…..CL]
LikeLike
And you are a liberal, you spew the same exact crap you can read at Daily Kos, or huffington post….you wear it well….
LikeLike
Oh, dear…tsk, tsk, tsk. 😦
LikeLike
You old farts might not like the song, but it’s the number one downloaded song by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan…listened to on ipods everywhere while waxing insurgents. There are a thousand versions of Iraq videos set to this, but this particular tribute goes all the way back to WWI. Thought it would be more appropriate.
LikeLike
[Email if it must continue, please. CL]
LikeLike
I’ve never been anything but friendly to anyone here. Sorry, but I choose to honor my dead with those who both want and deserve my company. Grinch out.
LikeLike
Good game today by the Braves, coming back from the debacle of yesterday… Now, the Bravos need to take some of this mojo on the road against the Brewers and the Reds….
And now politics….. Woo boy, how abouts them Senators???? 🙂
LikeLike
To those that didn’t pick up on it, Paladin/Sky Hawk/etc. is now The Eagle. Just wanted you to know.
LikeLike
What in the name of Sam Hill happened on this blog, this afternoon? Yes, it takes some of the pressure off of me, but I would rather it not be that way. You two are FRIENDS, remember? Now, get on the hook, or e-mail, and get it straightened out. Please!!
LikeLike
It’s being taken care of the good old fashioned way. Carry on amongst yourselves.
LikeLike
Howdy Do. Braves done good today. Webb who? HA!!!
Been a’fishin and a’catchin’. Glad I heard some game on the boat radio, since I forgot to record the game again. How’d they look? How’s Jair?
LikeLike
What’d I miss on the blog? Vindictive harlots and wounded starlets… or are the boys gettin’ all bowed up, showin’ out and such?
This calls for music. 25 cents each or five plays for a buck. I got a buck.
Must find…
compromise…
solutions.
What can a poor boy do, ‘cept to sing in a rock n’ roll band?
LikeLike
Some poetry about rain.
LikeLike
Just sittin’ on the porch, having my chianti and a cigar. Listened to the train that on a cool rainey evening sounds sort of comforting. What with the individualistic “toots” of the various engineers. I’m going to bed. Hope the blog will “normalize” tomorrow with the return of Mr. Sunshine, Raisins, and hopefully, FBG. We’ll see. As Bandit would say, “We’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there”. Goodnight.
LikeLike
Pal, I hope that train you hear ain’t a twister!
But if you gotta go, Chianti and a good cigar is a good way to go I suppose. Maybe that building you’re in will go up and come back down on Nurse Rached.
Just follow the yellow brick road.
LikeLike
Do we have a full moon coming up? Just wondering.
LikeLike
Yes…Follow the Yellow Brick Road!
When you gets where you’re goin’, say Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road!
Now…what comes next? Oh, yes…it’ll be the filter for me! No doubt! 🙄
LikeLike
CL/Gil….anyone…anyone…I’m in the uh…the uhm…you know, where I normally get stuck!!!! Somebody help me!!!!
LikeLike
Jair struggled today, SG, but he’d have gotten the ‘W’ if the ump hadn’t squeezed him. Didn’t get the Strike Three call on Byrnes in the 5th…would of ended the inning. Next pitch, hit…and Cox yanked him. Webb got squeezed a bit, too, in all honesty…but Braves put the wood on his pitches much more than the ‘Backs did to JJJ.
LikeLike
Thanks Salty. I was listening when Jair came out… thought they said something about blisters but I was missing pieces. We’ve had some terrible umps the last few days. Glavine got some terrible calls too.
LikeLike
He’d have still come out, but it’s a shame to not get the call. Glavine was really taking it on the chin yesterday…brutal. Hope you’ve had a good Holiday weekend.
LikeLike
Greetings denizens. Seems like I missed a tumultuous day here at the ol’ blog. Hmmmm. Hope all is worked out between the interested parties.
Politics, like religion, is a subject best left undisturbed.
And whither Raisins? FBG? Did she fall into a sheet cake and bake herself at 350 for 22 minutes or until a toothpick stick in her comes out mostly clean?
Nice win today. Got to see parts of it. JJ didn’t bring his A game but he worked hard to keep them in it. I would have liked to see him earn the W though.
Not a bad homestand. They’ve gotta figure out how to carry the good mojo on the road. Milwaukee has been struggling. Time to capitalize.
LikeLike
Salty, stuck again? What the? You may need to change your login status.
Don’t mean to be hoggin’ the juke box, but I got one more play coming, so I’ll just push B-9… for the good finish to the good holiday weekend.
Memorial Day Song.
LikeLike
Hey Klobber. It was a nice win today and good homestand. I think they proved something with the way they handled the Snakes. I feel momentum.
LikeLike
Salty, it was a great weekend. Fished Saturday and today. Many fish were caught and had a great BBQ yesterday. Could not have asked for better. Hope you and everyone here had a good weekend.
LikeLike
Braves activate Carlyle from DL
7 hours, 36 minutes ago – Yahoo Sports
ATLANTA (AP)—Atlanta Braves right-hander Buddy Carlyle was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday, and reliever Chris Resop was designated for assignment.
Carlyle was placed on the disabled list on May 10, retroactive to May 9, with a strained left neck muscle.
Carlyle is needed because the Braves are not certain Jorge Campillo, who has blisters on two fingers on his pitching hand, will be able to make his next scheduled start Thursday at Milwaukee. Carlyle made 20 starts for Atlanta in 2007, when he was 8-7 with a 5.21 ERA.
Resop was 0-1 with a 5.89 ERA in 16 games. He has 10 days to be traded or claimed by another team before he can accept a minor league assignment with the Braves.
LikeLike
Ex-MLB pitcher Gonzalez killed by lightning
1 hour, 15 minutes ago – Yahoo Sports
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)—Former major league pitcher Geremi Gonzalez, who won 11 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1997, was killed by a lightning strike in his native Venezuela on Sunday. He was 33.
Emergency management official Herman Bracho said Monday that Gonzalez was struck by lightning at a beach.
Gonzalez pitched for five major league teams from 1997-06. The right-hander appeared in 131 games with 83 starts, compiling a 30-35 record.
Gonzalez also played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He made a combined 24 appearances for the Mets and Brewers in his final major league season in 2006.
Gonzalez played for current Cubs manager Lou Piniella in Tampa Bay and was on the mound when Sammy Sosa’s corked bat exploded in a game at Wrigley Field on June 3, 2003.
“That’s a tragic thing,” Piniella said. “He was a nice young man. He was a competitive kid, really good natured. It’s a shame, it really is. I liked him a lot.”
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a fellow Venezuelan, expressed his feeling before a game in Cleveland.
“It’s sad,” Guillen said. “A lot of people are going to be shocked. He was a good man. He had a lot of ups and downs in his career. He was 33. It was so early in his life to die. I wish the best to his family. The news went around the country pretty fast.”
Brewers manager Ned Yost expressed similar feelings.
“He was so much fun to be around. He was always happy, always smiling,” Yost said. “He was a guy that could scare real easy and then horse laugh. He was just one of those guys that when he saw you, he always had a smile on his face.”
The Toronto Blue Jays released him during spring training last year. Gonzalez then moved to Japan and pitched in five games for the Yomiuri Giants.
“The Chicago Cubs are very saddened today to learn of Geremi Gonzalez’s sudden passing,” general manager Jim Hendry said in a statement.
LikeLike
CL, sad to hear about Geremi Gonzalez… such a young man. Reminds that we know not when or where… Prayers for his family.
Glad to hear about Buddy Carlyle coming back. That was a nasty collision his noggin had with a 30 mph thigh headed to first. He was doing well up to that point in the game if I remember correctly.
LikeLike
Gotta run… fish to fry. Uh, not the Scribe type… the other kind. 🙂
Check back later.
LikeLike
SG, I agree. While the Mess are in disarray, I feel pretty good about the rest of the homestand. The A’s are pretty good and we know how good the Snakes pitching can be. Momentum building.
Hope you don’t mind but I’m gonna cut in line at the juke box. Found a quarter in my sofa cushion and it’s burning a whole in my pocket. Originially went looking for a Doors “Mojo Rising” to go with my “mojo” comment a little while back. Found this instead. Enjoy.
Oh, and I’m too lazy to do the html thing. Y’all will get over it, I promise!
LikeLike
OH, and I’m not making any political statements here! Nosirree! Just so that’s clear with everyone!
LikeLike
CL, thanks for posting the two stories. I’m glad to see Buddy back too. Resop being DFA’d was no surprise. I just hope they can get something for he and Pena. Maybe some bats!
Should be some interesting decisions to be made once Smoltz, Soriano and Gonzalez are ready to be activated. In my mind, Stockman will likely be headed back to Richmond. Not sure who else may be asked to leave though. Of course, it wouldn’t surprise me if someone went on the “DL” to make room for someone (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). You know how those things go.
Very sorry to hear about the Gonzalez kid. Just goes to show that God’s got a plan and when he’s ready for you, you gotta come.
LikeLike
Klobber, The Doors were a great, groundbreaking group. Yes, I know… some people today might criticize Jim Morrison for being strange, but it was art, poetry and music to him. Along with peyote and such… Lizard King and so forth. It was the times. Good stuff.
Gotta get the mojo goin’ for Braves. Where’s my old foam tomahawk from the early 90’s… that worked too. 😀
Salty, weirdest thing… I was catching up on the posts and all of a sudden the whole page shifted down. So I scrolled back up and there was a post from you that must’ve been in the Bermuda Triangle… or the Lollipop Guild. Maybe those posts of your are going to the land of Oz?
LikeLike
Ummm… been away a little while. Did I miss anything?
LikeLike
SG, the Doors were just a little before my “time”, unfortunately, so while I learned to appreciate their music, it was not until a few years later. Still though, as you said, very groundbreaking stuff.
I actually found another video of theirs that started with this crazy moving psychedelic imagery. Clearly the consumption of mushrooms and/or acid was involved in the making of the video and I’d go out on a limb and say they are also probably required for viewing at maximum pleasure. I didn’t post it because I didn’t want Paladin to go off in some sort of seizure when he saw all the crazy moving lights! 😀
Raisins, where have you been? I do not remember authorizing a weekend pass for you! 🙂
LikeLike
Been doin’ family stuff, you know? In fact, I have a little sunburn as a souvenir. I had to check in and give one more SALUTE to the brave and honorable fighting men and women who do protect and have protected our way of life, and to say Howdy to my fellow B&S’ers.
I hope everybody has had as good a weekend as I have. I have eaten a little too much, gotten a little too much sun and gotten too little sleep. It’s been awesome… 😀
LikeLike
Closing thought for ye olde blogge:
When people argue, they are merely advancing an intellectual point of view… which is good. When people fight, whether over politics, religion or any number of things, they are just displaying passion for their own ideas and ideals… which is good. When they fight and even get a bit carried away with written words or step ‘over the line’ with words… they are just expressing hard held beliefs.
Personally I can’t imagine anything more disagreeable and disingenuous as a group of people that always agreed on everything or would slink away because of passionate candor or verbal, written argumentative discussion, even if it goes against our own grain of acceptability.
Truth is beauty, beauty truth and all that jazz.
There is really no problem with that… in fact, it’s a very good thing. This Braves and Stuff blog has some of the best minds of any blog and some very eclectic tastes, habits, lifestyles and views from our diverse denizenry. I for one, wouldn’t have it any other way. This is the place to let it all hang out… amongst friends. When we disagree… if we give our honest points of view and we make our points with sound reason and truth, no matter the subject, we give each other what amounts to a gold coin.
This is a good place, where even the occasional disagreement can be most interesting and compelling. Whether I agree with the politics or religious beliefs of another, I respect the honest exchange. Through honesty and truthful, passionate conversation we can perhaps change minds and change the world.
Oh, would the last one to leave tonight, please turn out the lights.
LikeLike
No, it isn’t.
😀
LikeLike
Yes it is!
LikeLike
Yes it isn’t!
LikeLike
No it is!
LikeLike
OK, you have convinced me. It most definitely probably could be not.
LikeLike
LikeLike
I haven’t convinced you of anything!
LikeLike
Sure you have. I’m certain of it… I think…
LikeLike
Raisins, this could go on all night but I have a date with my pillow.
Now, if we could only find FBG………..
LikeLike
You’re right, and my brain hurts.
To quote Chevy Chase: Goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow.
LikeLike
Same song as earlier, but cooler footage.
And now a much more peaceful and moving memorial montage, set to Eric Clapton (accoustic) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO5tPf9LUC4
It can be about love, it can be about hate. It can be about truth, it can be about honor. It can be about oil, it can be about opium. It can be about impotence, it can be about virility. It can be about land, or coal. It can be about justice or oppression.
One thing, however, remains the same if it involves America: if you’re not willing to spill SOMETHING PRECIOUS TO YOU, whatever it may be, to keep this the greatest nation the world has ever known than you deserve to live somewhere else and don’t let the door hit you in the $## on the way out.
LikeLike
Grinch, the music in the first video sure is catchy, isn’t it? Paladin’s sure to enjoy that one.
The second was very touching. No matter one’s thoughts on the war and whether or not we should be fighting it, one thing can’t be forgotten. That’s the human element. All the brave men and women fighting and dying are fathers and husbands, mothers and wives, daughters, sisters and friends of people that are anxiously awaiting their safe return. They deserve our unconditional support. These people, and not any politicians, are responsible for making this country the greatest country in the world as Paladin very equolently stated earlier this afternoon.
As some of you know, my father was born in Poland just before WWII and he and his parents emigrated to the US in 1947 virtually penniless. He joined the US Army after college. He felt it was an obligation that he owed this country for allowing him the opportunity at a better life. I always respected that. It’s a shame that many of today’s immigrants don’t share the same sense of responsibility that he did.
God bless our troops, both active duty and retired, living and dead. Thank you for your sacrifices.
LikeLike
Well, My computer problems have been basically resolved … about 85% restored … will hopefully complete the process tomorrow following Carol’s Chemo session.
Also trust that it has been a good holiday for all … and those who have died in the service of our country, including those days when we were “the colonies”, have been duly and properly remembered … God Bless them all!
LikeLike
Absolutely, and Amen. And as I’ve said to some earlier (in public and in private), my views on war are quite complex. Sometimes I support it, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I recognize the motives for what they are and support them instead of the party line, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I support the party line, as I feel it’s honest. Sometimes I think it’s BS. However, I always, no matter what, support my ancestors who fought against the British, the Romans, the Indians, each other during the civil War, the Spanish, the Japanese, the Germans, the North Koreans, the Chinese, the Vietnamese and all “police actions” since. Besides legions of family, I’ve got friends I went to high school with who died in DSI, other campaigns I can’t mention and who are dying and being mentally and physically maimed now. They’re not making any excuses, and neither am I. That’s the price of peace. I’m living in a beautiful 170-year old house right now because of the blood of my ancestors and I’m chronicleing their stories for the public as a small, small partial payment for their gift to me and my country. Whatever light-hearted discussions we have here are or should be completely insignificant in the ultimate scheme of things. Unfortunately, one of us has chosen to sully EVERYONE’S good name and step in %$#% instead. Oddly enough, it’s someone I haven’t heard from since. No big surprise, but being a man of my word I’ll wait ’till noon tomorrow to drop it or take it further.
LikeLike
Sydney Pollack died today at age 73. A pioneering director who will be missed.
LikeLike
Buddy Carlyle is not as good as Chris Resop and has options…Resop doesn’t. What does Buddy know about Bobby to keep him on the roster?
LikeLike
Answer to above…. The strike zone???? 🙂
LikeLike
Good morning all…. Yes. the Bravos pulled off a good win yesterday and Jair again pitched beyond his years. This recurring blister thing is beginning to worry me a bit. Three pitchers complaining of the same problem…
The R-Braves are in the tank… 6 losses in a row remind me of why minor league baseball can be so frustrating.
And war… what is it good for? …. Personally, I am a lover and not a fighter but I have been known to scuffle now and then…
Bob, glad to hear your computer issues are being resolved… Frustrating things computers are sometimes.
LikeLike
And one last parting shot…. Until we can secure our own borders, I think we could worry a lot less over someone else’s problems….
And does it really make sense to have essentially a one sided free trade agreement with China and continue to embargo trade with Cuba?
LikeLike
And the Nationals could use Resop but I think they may try to get him on the cheap….
LikeLike
Buddy certainly doesn’t have problems finding the strike zone, the problem is his pitches are about 10 mph slower than Resop’s and with less movement. Makes for an ugly recipe.
Gil, agreed with your political views.
My only problem is watching my best friends get their faces stitched together and being called a %$^# this and ^%$# that and a drunken pig for feeling emotional about it. Guess I just don’t fully understand being insulted by yellow-bellied cowards who don’t deserve to lick my friend’s boots…maybe someone else here who normally would have said something had these same things been said to anyone but the Grinch could fill me in on why it’s all been ignored.
LikeLike
And now we know how wars get started…. Okay, make that 7 losses in a row…. Ugly game tonight by the local club…. Lots of walks, 3 errors… very uninspired group right now…
Now politics… I’m going back to sleep… 🙂
LikeLike
And now we know how wars get started
Gil, they don’t start over roses do they. Well, maybe once or twice. Right now Braves and Stuff is fighting a war of attrition. Wait… take that back, maybe that’s not actually true. Braves and Stuff has natural ebb and flow because it’s a smaller community. When the matinee is playing down at the ‘movie house’ on Main Street in Stuffville or sometimes even if a Braves game is on, the streets are empty. Now, when a fight breaks out, folks usually just go the other way and go about their own business. Not like those big city fights where everybody circles ‘round and goads it on and such. Nope, fights here cause folks to stick to their knitting. Does Rosie Greer live around here?
Anyhoo, it got ugly in here, with that fight yesterday. Downright nasty in fact. But then, what could you expect from two vicious hombres like Raisins and Klobber? Oh, it was brutal… the whole Monty Python thing, back and forth and such. It was like ping pong with all the back and forth, to and fro, fro and to… made me dizzy. Fortunately they settled it without too much bloodletting. Oh, the violent exchange. Oh, the horrors… mercy.
Then again… it’s a smart blog and we may all be thick as a brick but our differences do make us think. Therein lies not the problem, but the real point of the blog and the real opportunity… for new ideas, new information and new seeds of thought to be planted throughout cyberspace. It’s a big place.
Anyway Gil, guess it was you who finally turned out the lights last night. I’ll flip the switch and get the lights back on this fine morning. Coffee and bagels for everyone. I’ve only got a couple quarters and little time, so have a good day.
Good morning Stuffville.
LikeLike
Grinch, you have mail……
and sorry for anyone that saw my bad language here on the board yesterday, you know that is not how I usually handle things……
LikeLike
In Navy and Marine wardrooms there are 3 forbidden subjects: Women, religion and politics. It must work. There hasn’t been a duel or even a fist fight in a wardroom in over a century.
LikeLike
SG: Cinnamon and raisin bagel for me, thanks. Toasted, lightly buttered, no cream cheese. I prefer a darker roast coffee – bold but not bitter. A little half-and-half, no sweetener. Thanks! 😀
LikeLike
Y’all that want to listen to Jethro Whoever, be my guest. But, if you want to listen to some flatout bad @$$ guitar pickin'(and singin’), try this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V13y7n49yfU
LikeLike
Eagle: I’ll see your picker and raise you one guitar pickin’ fool.
LikeLike
I painted one of my guest bedrooms over the weekend. And now, the fascination of watching it in the final stages of drying beckons me. Choices, choices.
LikeLike
LikeLike
There hasn’t been a duel or even a fist fight in a wardroom in over a century.
Strangulations? Smotherings? Pillow fights?
Raisins, I have your just-right bold coffee, cinnamon and namesake bagel right here. But what… no cream cheese? Lochs? Calamada olives? Capers? Onions? You’ve got to eat. Look at those bones. You’ll blow away. You’ll catch a cold. I worked so hard shopping to get all those things and now you want a goy breakfast? What has happened to you? Fever? What will the nice man at the kosher deli think? I’ll have to avoid him now. It’s so embarrassing. Next time I’m seeink him I’m not givingk ghello. Oye vey, kids today!!! I get no respect.
LikeLike
Keeping one eye on the phone
New Hanover graduate Trot Nixon scrapping to get back to the big time
By Bob Baum,
Associated Press
Published: Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:18 p.m.
Tucson, Ariz. | The roar of adoring crowds of Fenway Park has been replaced by a smattering of applause in Triple-A Tucson.
Trot Nixon, once the epitome of Boston Red Sox grit and determination, is toiling for the Tucson Sidewinders and hoping at age 34 for another shot at the big leagues.
If it’s not with Sidewinders’ parent club, the Arizona Diamondbacks, then somewhere else, and he doesn’t know why he hasn’t gotten a call.
“You can ask why all day long, and you may never find the answer,” said Nixon, a Wilmington resident. “You just keep plugging away and doing what you can to help the team win ballgames, and let that decision be made by other front offices.”
Though he’s not the player he once was, Nixon, the No. 7 pick in the 1993 draft out of New Hanover High, hopes that someone will need a left-handed hitter who hit .275 in the big leagues with 136 home runs and 555 RBI.
“There have been some opportunities out there and I wish I could have been a part of them.” Nixon said. “Sometimes you really don’t know what I’ve done, and it’s usually nothing that a player’s done. They just see other players as a better fit.”
Barring injuries, Nixon’s chance probably won’t come with the Diamondbacks. The return to health of Arizona’s Miguel Montero and Chad Tracy pretty much closed that door.
“For us it was always a bit of a narrow opportunity,” Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. “Montero came back, Tracy’s coming back, but Trot can still play.”
It’s a long ways from those heady days in Boston, where Nixon had some of the most memorable hits in Red Sox history.
He spent eight years in Boston before the team let him go and signed free agent J.D. Drew after the 2006 season. Nixon signed a one-year, $3 million deal in 2007 with Cleveland, where he hit .251 in 99 games with three homers and 31 RBIs.
Then he found himself out of work.
The only team to show interest was the Diamondbacks, who signed him to a minor-league deal in February. There was talk of playing the lifetime outfielder some at first base. The team experimented with it in spring training only to abandon the idea.
Young outfielder Alex Romero beat out Nixon for Arizona’s final opening day roster spot. In the handful of moves the Diamondbacks have made since, Nixon stayed in Tucson, where he has played the outfield and as designated hitter.
Nixon indicated his work at first was a waste of time.
“If I’d have known that if I didn’t make the team I’d be spending my whole time in the outfield I would have just gone to the outfield and stayed in the outfield in big league camp,” he said.
That’s as close to bitterness as Nixon came in the interview.
“He’s been good,” Tucson manager Bill Plummer said. “He’s been one of our best hitters. The hard thing about Trot here is when we do have opportunities to drive in runs, they pitch around him. It’s been a tough scenario for him. He gets frustrated at times.”
It’s not a great working environment for a major league veteran trying to prove he still has what it takes.
“That’s why he’s playing, to get an opportunity,” Plummer said, “and unfortunately he hasn’t gotten one yet.”
LikeLike
SG: I gotta watch my girlish figure… 😳
LikeLike
Raisins; If we are going to get away from the “bad @$$” venue then I raise you this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Svm_Vnntyk
LikeLike
Much good tunage on ye olde blogge this fine mornin’. Better than talk of politics, war, women, Chinese imports, poisoned toothpaste and pet food, nasty pond-raised shrimp, lead contaminated toys, nuclear race, pollution, radioactive dumping, Tianamen Square, Tibet and such. Goodness… what am I thinkin’? Anyway, it’ll all work out. America will wake up and smell the coffee… that is, just right, bold not bitter, half n’ half no sweetener coffee.
My last quarter.
See y’all later. Or sooner.
LikeLike
SG, you do know that you’re On Deck, don’t you?? 🙂
LikeLike
League poised to come down hard on slow play
by Ken Rosenthal
Managers and pitching coaches, start your engines.
“A lot of them take the most leisurely strolls you can imagine out to the mound,” said Jimmie Lee Solomon, Major League Baseball’s executive vice president of baseball operations. “We’re going to ask them to jog out there unless there is some physical ailment that would cause them not to.”
Getting slower:
MLB average game times
2006 – 2:48:11
2007 – 2:51:13
2008 – 2:51:45
*Courtesy of STATS Inc. through Tuesday
That means you, Lou Piniella. And you, Charlie Manuel. And Joe Torre, please submit a doctor’s note to prove that you underwent knee-replacement surgery last December.
Baseball isn’t threatening to stage a managers’ 100-meter dash at the All-Star Game — though such an event, in the post-steroid era, might be more entertaining than the Home Run Derby.
Baseball is, however, promising to enforce the rules concerning pace of game, starting in selected games Thursday and all games Friday.
“Action will be taken this time,” Solomon said. “Umpires will enforce the rules. Everyone is on notice now.”
Such talk is nothing new. But baseball, in a series of conference calls Wednesday, read the riot act to umpires, managers, general managers and in-game entertainment staff.
Which leads to an obvious question: If the pace of games is again a major concern, is commissioner Bud Selig even less inclined to approve instant replay than he has been in the past?
Not necessarily, Selig said.
During the off-season, general managers recommended by a 25-5 vote that Selig approve replay on boundary calls — possible home runs that are fair or foul, over the fence or not.
Selig, however, continues to believe that replay sometimes creates more problems than it solves.
“What I have said all along is that I would be willing to at least look at some very limited type of instant replay — I mean, very limited,” Selig said.
MLB pace of play (average):
Padres……..2:41:39
Braves……..2:44:53
Twins……….2:45:09
Athletics……2:46:19
Phillies……..2:46:51
Mariners……2:46:53
Angels………2:47:00
Nationals…..2:47:04
Pirates……..2:47:28
White Sox….2:47:57
Cubs………..2:48:27
Cardinals…..2:49:20
Reds………..2:49:29
Blue Jays…..2:49:29
Royals………2:49:56
Astros……….2:51:00
Orioles………2:51:22
Rays…………2:51:45
Marlins………2:52:35
D-backs…….2:53:03
Rockies……..2:53:09
Giants……….2:54:26
Rangers…….2:55:38
Indians……..2:56:27
Brewers…….2:58:07
Mets…………2:58:31
Dodgers…….2:58:49
Tigers……….2:59:33
Yankees…….3:03:33
Red Sox…….3:06:15
*Courtesy of STATS Inc. through Tuesday
“I know what the general managers have recommended. We have been talking about this for a long time. I’m not crazy about it, but it’s worth at least considering.”
The pace of games is a separate issue.
General managers discussed the topic at their annual meetings last November, and Selig said not one club “pushed back” when baseball again broached the subject at the owners’ meetings last week.
The difference in play could be noticeable, if indeed baseball starts following its own rules. After initial warnings, batters can expect the penalty of an automatic strike if they linger outside the box between pitches, while pitchers can expect an automatic ball if they violate the 12-second limit for throwing a pitch.
MLB also wants pitchers to get to the mound more promptly for their eight warmup tosses, umpires to act more quickly breaking up meetings on the mound, and clubs to act more diligently in cutting off in-game entertainment and public-address announcements.
Otherwise, the games will just keep getting longer.
Through Tuesday’s play, the average time of a nine-inning game was two hours, 51 minutes and 45 seconds, according to STATS LLC — up from 2:51:13 in 2007 and 2:48:11 in ’06.
The biggest offenders, not surprisingly, were the Red Sox and Yankees — the only two teams whose games are averaging longer than three hours. The Tigers, Dodgers and Mets were the next biggest culprits.
Yet, the attendance figures and local TV ratings for all five of those clubs — as well as those throughout baseball — indicate that their fans like the product.
It’s MLB that objects to the pace.
“The commissioner is adamant about this,” Solomon says. “We’ve gotten complaints from fans and members of the media. Our sponsors and broadcast partners really want to get the games rolling.”
National broadcast partners, including FOX Sports, help slow the pace — commercial breaks are 2:25 in national games, 2:05 or less on local broadcasts, and the network breaks are even longer in the post-season.
Then again, Game 3 of last year’s World Series — a 10-5 victory by the Red Sox over the Rockies — did not last 4 hours, 19 minutes because of commercials.
At least one general manager expressed disgust Wednesday that baseball intends to implement significant changes in the middle of the season. But Solomon and Selig counter that baseball will simply do a better job of enforcing rules that already are in place.
“It’s no one thing, it’s a cumulative thing,” Solomon says. “Last year’s game was long. The post-season was very long. I’m not even going to get to Game 3 of the World Series.
“We really worked hard in the off-season to educate clubs and umpires, talk to all the parties involved about dead-time issues. We’ve monitored it to this point. It’s time to tighten up.”
Hear that, Lou? Time to start jogging to the mound.
LikeLike
Want to speed up the game? Expand the strike zone…. Works everytime…
LikeLike
How about eliminate all of the TV time stoppage? Oh, wait, no… can’t do that. That’d halt revenue. Can’t halt revenue…
LikeLike
Want to speed up the games? Get rid of commercials and all of those obligatory shots of fools with their bodies painted, etc. Concentrate on the game and play ball!
LikeLike
Yes, fans get bored with pitchers who don’t want to throw the ball to the batter… Blaine Boyer anyone? However, two games this weekend were very slow due to the pitchers being squeezed by the home plate umpire… A lot of walks makes for a slooooow game…
And wither Trot Nixon. I remember him as a catcher for the Pawtucket Red Soxs doing a lot of damage to the Richmond club with his bat. That guy could flat out hit…. Wasn’t he on someone’s HGH or steroids supply list? Could be the reason he is not getting a call. More likely a club does not want to pay a part timer $3 million to ride the pine and hit about .275… Most clubs feel they can get that out of a young kid for major league minimum.
And politics….? No problems, just remember the argument does not just go to the side that yells the loudest… Unless you are on TV… Civil discourse is always enlightening to me. I may not agree with your opinion but as long as you are not forcing it upon me I will always be glad to listen.
Just remember, when it comes down to the end of the day, a person will vote their pocketbook 90% of the the time, regardless of the reason they give…. Just human nature… 🙂
And 008… I think I like the “Hawk” better but it is your choice. I have been considering changing my moniker too…
LikeLike
Gil; Look at it this way. An eagle is just a bigger, badder @$$ hawk. 😀
LikeLike
Good thing I looked in… I’m on deck! Yikes. Can I have a half hour?
I’m with Gil… SkyHawk is better, more memorable, less lofty than Eagle. Actually I like Paladin best. That’s just my opinion Pal, so take or leave. I know… it’s not up for a vote, but still… just sayin’.
I do like Raisins new avatar. 😀
LikeLike
For Gil and others who didn’t see the “connection” with my new moniker, here is a better one. And pay attention to the first line. It doesn’t mean I am looking for trouble, with anyone.
http://www.blerings.com/TheEagle
LikeLike
How about Skypalhawkadinagle? 😀
LikeLike
Gotta jet for a while…
Going to check out the last segment of my son’s football camp.
Later, taters! 😀
LikeLike
Red Sox…….3:06:15
CL, yup, those Bosox work pitchers with the best of’em. According to your chart, they are the best of’em. I’m guessing that in itself causes their games to run longer than all others. They do make pitchers cough up more pitches than other teams. Then, there’s the green monster carems and such. Gil is right, expand the strike zone. Actually, just make it the strike zone what it should be… not what the umps have been doing lately. I saw a few by Glavine that were downright fraudulent.
Speaking of coughing and green monsters, where’s our pals Bear and Grinch? Hope they have slipped back into the green and brown furry cuddly critters and get their arses back in here.
Better go start a’writin’ a lead… don’t want CL nixing me from the lineup.
LikeLike
New name for Pal? Maybe join all monikers into an appropriate acronym?
What words for an acronym of, say… CROTCHETY OLD FART?
Nah… way too many words to come up with.
LikeLike
That’s me. Just a big cuddly eagle. It’s when people point out that I have feathers on my arse, that the shadow starts acrossin’. 😀
LikeLike
OK people, at 572 posts, this thing is slowing down. Which one of you shirking slackers is on deck for the new lead?
Whoopsie daisy… it’s me!
CL, you have mail. The lead is done. It might be controversial and may just shake up a few people but, hey… it’s freedom of speech, right? Tell it like it is and all, right? Denizens think you can you handle the truth?
(this shameless teaser was brought to you by Mr. Fly. I had nothing to do with it. He commandeered my computer. Just caught him in the act. Little bugger.)
LikeLike
“There is no strong performance without a little fanaticism in the performer.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
LikeLike
Usually when there is an unpleasant odor, there is a fly in the ointment. Anonymous
LikeLike
Your fly is open…
LikeLike
5 days on a stretcher in ER (in Canada); future of US health care?
http://www.torontosun.com:80/News/TorontoAndGTA/2008/05/23/5646336-sun.html
LikeLike
Note the names in this article and the details: hmmmm
“Raleigh, N.C. — Three people died and three more were hurt in a weekend crash that closed the inner loop of Interstate 440 for a time, police said.
Police said van driver Francisco Javier Martinez, 30, of 1925 Village Squire Circle in Raleigh, was driving the wrong way on the Inner Beltline shortly after 4:30 a.m. Sunday and collided head-on with an eastbound Lexus sedan near the on-ramp from Capital Boulevard.
The driver of the Lexus, Guillermo Zintzun Jimenez, 26, of 7107 Eversfield Drive in Raleigh, and two occupants of his car, Dagoberto Zintzun Jimenez, 21, of 3104-C Holston Lane in Raleigh, and Santiago Pascual Tellez, 14, of 2413 Blossom Court in Knightdale, were killed in the wreck.
Two other occupants of the Lexus, Jose C. Canuto, 24, and Louis Alberto Canuto, 22, both of 3216-C Calumet Drive in Raleigh, were injured in the wreck. Jose Canuto was listed in good condition Monday morning at WakeMed. Louis Canuto was treated at the hospital and released Sunday.
Martinez also was injured in the wreck. He was listed in good condition Monday morning at WakeMed.
He was charged with three counts of felony death by motor vehicle, two counts of felony serious injury by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, driving the wrong direction and no operator’s license.
The Inner Beltline was closed for more than three hours between Wake Forest Road and Capital Boulevard after the wreck.”
LikeLike
CL; The answer is obvious. Don’t have a survivable illness. Have the decency and good sense to drop dead in place.
LikeLike
His impairment was his back was wet. Caused him to lose his sense of direction. Dismissed. Next case.
LikeLike
Mu