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by FloridaBravesGirl
Opening Day! It seemed as if it would never get here. Now the fun begins!
…..And the ❓ questions ❓ .
Does Chipper have another great season in him? Can Lowe be the ace? Can Mac really contend for the MVP (thank you, Mr. Bradley)? Can JJ avoid the sophomore slump? Has Frenchy figured out how to play this game? How will Kawakami adjust? And has Mac learned any Japanese? 🙂 Will Schafer live up to his spring? How long before Hanson gets called up?
Soon the answers will start to come to us. Soon we’ll see our Braves on the field again. We’ll hear Joe crack a joke in that deadpan voice and Boog giggle. We’ll get used to Jim and Don on radio but miss Skip and Pete all the while. Soon we’ll see what this team is made of. I for one see better days ahead… soon!
~FBG~
Braves & Stuff 
Many thanks, FBG!!!
At last!!! I was beginning to think we would NEVER see Opening Day!!! 😆
Goooooooooo Braves!!
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Very nice FBG! There are questions this year for sure, but it sure seems like a lot less than the previous years….
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Great job Jennifer… Yes, well as of tomorrow night we will either be in first or last place but I expect that will change long before August.
Some questions not asked but always evident.. Will Glavine’s arm and shoulder hold up for the season? Will the bullpen hold a lead, can this team come back from being down in the late innings?
Still, I am looking forward to this season with great anticipation… Is this how a Pirates fan feels every spring?
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How many one-run games will they win?
How many times will Bobby get tossed?
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Will anyone besides Chipper and Brian hit more than 20 homers? Will we see 4 starters pitch 200 innings?
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I added a new link to our BlogRoll:
Braves Radio & Schedules
Hope it will be helpful!
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Disgusting! I went to the TBS Sports link: not one word about the Braves. Not even their name. They are touting a Mets-Marlins matchup this year. Pooie on them!
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CL, I think that link will be of help, thanks!
TBS, what is that some mutation of TB??? 😛
This cracked me up for some reason, does this woman look like someone that was 109 pounds heavier in the first photo???
http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2009/04/01/weight_loss_success_Anderson.html?cxntlid=sldr
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😳 Thanks y’all.
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Pic #1 does not look like 254 lbs. to me. That’s about my height & a whole lot heavier than I am, so she ought to resemble the Michelin Man. Must’ve been taken after the diet was already in progress.
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CL, I have not watched anything on TBS since they dropped the Braves. Once last year they were scheduled for TBS’s weekly game but I got to watch it on Extra Innings instead. They need to remember that the Braves telecasts made TBS.
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Braves retiring Maddux’s #31 & inducting him into their HOF in July. I’m glad they’re not waiting around, he has more than earned it.
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TBS stands for The Black Station… They have a decidedly African-American bent to their programing now. They are also stilled owned by Times-Warner. Cannot expect a New York outfit to tout a southern ball club.
I watched the last few inning of the Nationals vs Baltimore last evening. The Nats have a pretty good looking young catcher by the name of Jesus Flores, could best be described as a short stop with catcher’s gear on….
A lot of folks discount the Nationals but we should not forget they ate the Braves lunch last year….
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Gil, what you say is true…but it’s got to be racist to point out the truth, right??? 😛
And the Nats….even David Wright said the other day how hard they were on the Mutts…He also thinks the braves have really improved themselves pitching wise. What a jerk! 😉
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Since it’s Sunday it means it’s the all berigan day of the blog! Yippee!
Here’s an eye opener for anyone that needs one…
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but it’s got to be racist to point out the truth…
Well… You Know!!!!
Perhaps the old adage “if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck” might be modified to say, It must be AFLAC…
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There’s no such thing as calling a spade a spade anymore. Got to be prissie-fied up. Can’t take a chance that you MIGHT, accidentally, maybe, possibly “offend” some thin-skinned professional “victim”.
Free speech? Dead and gone. You can only speak what is approved by the liberals, ACLU, etc. POLITICALLY correct. To achieve POLITICAL purposes.
A rose by any other name…..
Forgot to mention that is strictly a one-way street, though. Those who are so easily ‘offended’ can say anything they want, call anyone anything they want, any time and any place they want. ❓
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You know, I forgot the braves actually start the season today!!!! 😯 😯 😯 Lack of sleep can leave one…lacking mental…something, yada, yada, yada…
Naturally, after the longest offseason, the longest spring training…we have to wait til 8 PM for the game! 😛
We also only play 3 games in the next 5 days! That sure makes sense, right??? Why have an extra day off in July or August, if you can take 2 days off the first week of the season, that just makes sense!!! 🙄
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You know, I forgot the braves actually start the season today!!!! 😯 😯 😯 Lack of sleep can leave one…lacking mental…something, yada, yada, yada…
Naturally, after the longest offseason, the longest spring training…we have to wait til 8 PM for the game! 😛
We also only play 3 games in the next 5 days! That sure makes sense, right??? Why have an extra day off in July or August, if you can take 2 days off the first week of the season, that just makes sense!!! 🙄
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and I didn’t hit post twice, back up, or nothin’! Honest! 😦
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Suuuuuure, Ber! 😆
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I’ve never understood the ‘play one game and have a day off’ idea.
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Well, it really seems screwy with the season starting late, doesn’t it???
Perhaps fear of snow or something. Of course, we go to the cold part of the nation first. Of course there is a possibility of flurries Monday or Tuesday night here! 😯
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Yeah, can’t take a chance on weather in Florida, Georgia, California, Arizona, Texas, etc! 😀
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Having all those early games in the northern climates was not so big of a problem when they payed mostly day games. Well, if you want to make big TV money, you have to pay the piper.
As for being politically correct… There are certain words I have eliminated from my lexicon, I try to be respectful of other people’s sensibilities but only as long as they are sensible…
My wife and I were talking this morning about my history of interaction with other people when it came to negotiations. I was one very much into respect rather than friendship. Big difference when it come to doing business with folks. I prided myself in being an honest broker. I would take some folks to task if I found they were of a different mindset.
Still, one of my favorite quotes comes form Jonathan Swift. “It is impossible to reason someone out of something they were never reasoned into”
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And helpful hint to you folks in Atlanta… Turn up the radio and hit the mute button on the TV tonight, otherwise you will throw your shoe at the set having to listen to Jon Miller and Joe Morgan… Talk about making your ears bleed….
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Miller and Morgan. That’s enough to make you go shoot yourself. 😆
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It’s funny, after all these years together, they still don’t seem to have any chemistry!
Silly me, I didn’t know this was the first game. Does that make any sense, only one game for the whole weekend???
People wiser than me, or at least have better memories… does the season normally kick off on Mondays???
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Yes, and usually with the Reds but that was a different dynasty…
And Berigan, they have lots of chemistry… Much like Kepone….
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Sigh, I think I may have run into a bad batch of gasoline. The same issue of having to run my engines rich to compensate has ran rampant amongst my yard tools. Might be Carolina Lady syndrome but it’s too early to tell for sure. I just did not feel like fighting it today. Maybe later this week before i throw in the towel and take my shredder to the shop.
Having a bad back sucks when I think about having to pay someone else to perform task I have done myself for years. (small engine repair) … I got about 2 yards of mulch done before the grinder gave out and I still have trees to transplant… I took inspiration from SG and decided that I know the perfect place to plant some azaleas. Again, I am being optimistic as it takes years to see the real fruition of one’s efforts.
I think I am going to follow Berigan’s lead and sell some of my cars. I have not driven the Lexus in two months and about the same for the TransAm. Although I am taking it to be inspected tomorrow… Does that count? I may look for one with an automatic as Josie complains the stick shift makes her hip hurt. For me, its the only car we have that does not hurt my lower back but it gives my knee fits.
Whine, whine, whine… I sound like Andruw Jones don’t I?
Okay, almost time for the game…. catch y’all on the flip….
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Are you ready for some BRAVES BASEBALL? 😀
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Starting right about now, every pitch, every run and every game counts.
Ready the popcorn, ready the couch, ready the TV, ready the iced tea and it begins anew. The wait is over. Now instead of speculation we’ll get demonstration. Love this game…
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Yes, love it even more with the Braves hitting,, Yeehaw….
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Man, I figured it would be a close game and I could safely miss the first few innings and grab a bite to eat…oh well, at least we are ahead! 🙂
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Meyers has his trash going now and seems to be working against the Braves, who seem to be in a lull trying to hit more dingers. Opening day jitters combimed with early inning fireworks.
now we need to settle down and make’em throw strikes… kell’em with singles.
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Man… I can’t even read what I type with this new, reduced format. Many mispelllllings coming.
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And Gil, I feel your (back) pain. I have really been suffering of late. Actually more in the hip than the back…but getting worse instead of better, and need to find out what’s wrong with my 1973 Lincoln. Probably the terrible carb, but my back ain’t gonna let me do anything with it right now. Might have to have my 77 year old Pa take it off the car. That makes me feel great. 🙄
Really looking forward to having to deal with our back yard that is more like a downhill ski slop. Swore Dad wouldn’t mow that anymore. Might just have to let it grow tall. No lawn service would even tough the mountain…err hill.
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Welcome to our club SG! 😉 Mozilla has spell checker..underlines questionable spelling…one of the many reasons I love it.
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Lowe, 8 shutout innings! Should he go out for the 9th???
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What fun would it be if the phillies hadn’t mounted a rally against Gonzo? 😕
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What fun would it be if the rest of the B&S’ers showed up after the first game of the year??? 😛
Tired, goin’ to sleep a solid 4 hours, later gators and gatorettes.
BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN!!!!
😀
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First place!!!!
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Wow! What a great game!
Schafer trying to look cool when you know he was doing cartwheels inside! Hope they got the ball for him!
It was priceless when the Phil’s pitched around him. Then when he faced Lidge, even he couldn’t keep a straight face. (“They got many like him in the bigs??”)
Derek Lowe! Oh, yeah! He could have easily pitched the 9th. He looked like he was just getting warmed up.
GREAT START!!
Gonzo’s last minute drama aside.
1 down, 161 to go!
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Can’t you just hear Skip’s commentary on Schafer??
I smile just thinking about it!
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The good: Lowe was awesome & I enjoyed the boys power display. WTG, Schafer!
The bad: Let’s not make the next one quite so interesting, Gonzo.
The ugly: As if Miller & Morgan weren’t bad enough they add Phillips?
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CL, I think the fan threw the ball back on the field so I’m sure they got it for Jordan.
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I hope so, FBG. That’s something Skip would have followed up on. I miss him so much!
Listening to Miller and Morgan tonight drone on and on and on – I just switched to the commentary from Skip and Pete in my mind.
At the end of the game, Morgan saying, “It’s just one game. These Phillies are fighters; they fight back. It’s just one game.”
Why not “Congratulations to the Braves on their win tonight” ??? Never crossed his little one-sided mind.
Chevrolet Player of the Game: Derek Lowe 😀
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I tried to ignore them as much as possible. Looking forward to Joe & Boog.
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Greetings Braves and Stuffers! Long time, no blog! Sorry for the absence but I’ve been a busy boy lately. That’s not a bad thing but doesn’t make for much blogging time.
The good: Chipper hitting that two-strike flare to left and then coming home when Big Mac goes yard. Frenchy, with his new stance going deep. Jordan Shafer, in his first mlb at bat going yard. Derek Lowe: can you say dominance?
The bad: Gonzo getting knocked around a bit. That didn’t make me feel good.
The ugly: ESPeoN announcers still suck!
I’m sure I missed a few things but I”M JUST GLAD REAL, MEANINGFUL BASEBALL GAMES ARE BEING PLAYED!
I wanna buy a round for the house! Who’s in?
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Hey, Chris! Missed you! Count me in! I’ll be up a few more minutes!
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Busy weekend… did I miss anything?
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😀
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I had a concert to play last night at a prison not too far from J-town… about 45 minutes away. I got to listen to innings 6-8 on my drive home, and caught the bottom of the 9th on the Miller & Morgan Show. They suck.
Great job by the ace, the 2009 MVP catcher, the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year in RF and the 2009 ROY in CF. The outfield now has 2 HR’s on the young season – fast approaching last year’s total. 😀
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J-Town??? Jail town??? 😛
Man, to miss much of the first game of the year, hope those guys were grateful! Good for you though.
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VOR needs a DVR.
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Nice article:
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11596369/rss
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Man, to miss much of the first game of the year…
I still love my Braves as much as ever, but over the course of the last year or so, especially the last 6 months, I have had a major priority shift. If I miss a few games here and there, but I know my fellow Stuffvillians will keep me abreast of all developments. That’s why we’re here, right? 😀
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If I miss a few games here and there, but I know my fellow Stuffvillians will keep me abreast of all developments.
Hmmm… not sure how I chopped that sentence up so badly… 😳
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V, trust me, I know where you are coming from. As much fun as baseball is, it is just a game, right???
After a few games, if its a choice between watching a game, or watching a movie with my Dad…Dad wins.
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A bit of levity:
I have kleptomania, but when it gets bad,
I take something for it.
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!
Except that one where you’re naked in church.
Heaven is Where:
The Police are British,
The Chefs are Italian,
The Mechanics are German,
The Lovers are French and
It’s all organized by the Swiss.
Hell is Where:
The Police are German,
The Chefs are British,
The Mechanics are French,
The Lovers are Swiss and
It’s all organized by the Italians.
A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory
I may be schizophrenic, but at least I have each other.
I am a Nobody.
Nobody is Perfect.
Therefore I am Perfect.
KENTUCKY: Five million people, Fifteen last names.
Dyslexics Have More Nuf.
I LOVE COOKING WITH WINE
Sometimes I even put it in the food.
When you work here, you can name your own salary. I named mine “Fred”.
Money isn’t everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch.
Red meat is not bad for you.
Fuzzy green meat is bad for you.
I am having an out-of-money experience.
As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him, “Herman, I just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on 280 Interstate. Please be careful! ”
“It’s not just one car,” said Herman. “It’s hundreds of them!”
Don’t sweat the petty things.
Don’t pet the sweaty things
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Sigh…. Whenever I awaken to start the day, I always have such high expectations of what I want to accomplish. Then I get out of bed… Game over… I can take something for the pain but it leaves me listless and sluggish or I can skip the meds and just be a real grump…
So far today I have managed to get JoAnn’s TransAm inspected and lunch… Not much to hang one’s hat on I’m afraid. I tried to take my 4 wheeler to have the carburetor repaired but they were closed… No wonder the economy is in the dumper.. no one wants to work…
And no Braves’ game today… Looks like House wins out tonight.
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Gil, that’s more than millions of people will accomplish today! Any day you can get out of bed, dress and feed yourself is a GOOD day! 😀
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Listening to ESPN Radio this morning, I heard the radio call of Jordan Shafer’s home run in last night’s game. It was credited to the Braves’ new play-by-play announcer, which surprised me as I had never heard his voice before. It made me realize that both Skip and Pete were gone and that made me very sad.
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CL, that was very funny! 😀
“Red meat is not bad for you.
Fuzzy green meat is bad for you. ”
No joke, I was telling my Dad that the swiss cheese I bought at target sure wasn’t very good, and as I was putting a slice on my sandwich I noticed it was quite…green! Never seen green mold on swiss cheese before. Might be ok to eat…don’t know…didn’t eat it though. Well, other than the slice I had last night.
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Gil, I get plumb tuckered out reading all the stuff you tried to do today! 😛 I did make some progress with my taxes. Being self employed and having a “system” that only you could ever understand….sucks!
My BFF mailed out my B-Day gift today, he said. He is only now getting to some yards(He’s in the lawn maintenance field) He also has put off doing his taxes til the last minute as well.
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Chris, I know what you mean! 😦 CL talking about what Skip would be saying about Schafer and all…you really can hear him talking him up, saying what a day that kid had, can’t you??? I was glad to hear Don Sutton at least. And I remembered how he’s had a lot of health issues of late.
In other news, I just saw Kevin Millwood pitch to Mark DeRosa, but it was in the Rangers/Indians game.
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And I just realized Millwood is tossing to Salty!
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“The mute button was invented for T. McCarver, but it was perfected for J. Morgan.” – Mark Bradley
😆
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Rangers looked pretty strong up the middle. If they can just learn not to mortgage the franchise by tying up all their money in one or two players, they would have a pretty good team.
One thing about being a Braves fan, you can just about watch any team and see Atlanta alumni.
I watched/slept through part of the Rangers/Indian game as well. Then decided enough goofing off and went out and washed two of the cars. I feel a little better about my day now…
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CL… See, I am not the only one who can’t stand either one…
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Gil, you have PLENTY of company in that boat! Including me! 😀
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And I just realized Millwood is tossing to Salty! 😯
Who is tossing what at me! 😕
Will it hurt? 😛
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Salty, nah, it won’t hurt much. Millwood doesn’t throw as hard as he used to!
CL, that is a classic line by Bradley!
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Salty and Chris, a couple of comedians here! 😉
I also forgot about Elvis playing SS for the Rangers. Missed his AB’s somehow.
Gil, did you notice that wasn’t an ESPN game on ESPN??? Seemed to be straight Cleveland Indians feed, telling us how to get tickets to Indians games, etc….
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Salty and Chris, a couple of comedians here!
It’s a Charleston thing…probably the water! 😆
Texas Rangers new promo campaign: Elvis is in the building!
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All the lead in the Charleston water back when Salty and I were kids clearly damaged us. Too bad they fixed the problem.
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Roy White on the Fox business network, anyone remember him??? A name I haven’t thought of…well, since he played in the late 70’s. Just looked him up, played his whole career with the Yankees. He’s written a new book. Then Roy said to Mickey, I think that’s the title…
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Congratulations to the Tar Heels!!!
😀
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Something like that, Chris! Something like that! 😆
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Some are good trades, some are bad… Does anyone else remember how giddy the Braves’ fans were when Atlanta acquired Tex? Goes to show you not every trade made by the Homeboy Upstairs worked out for the Bravos. I’m glad however these kids are getting a chance to play everyday. There are still some good ones left….
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/04/05/braves_teixeira_trade.html
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And is a reminder you can never trust a native of Baltimore…
John Schuerholz.. Mark Teixeira… Nancy Pelosi…. Anyone else see a pattern developing here?
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Teixeira was 0-4 with 5 LOB yesterday…
Well, it is April, right? 😀
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And in the What were we thinking? department… One must wonder if Washington is having second thoughts about their trade of Emilio Bonifacio, who had 3 stolen bases and an inside the park homerun against the Nats yesterday, to the Marlins…
Look for this kid to steal the shorts off of McCann when the Marlins play Atlanta this year.
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Okay, the wife is saying I am having way too much fun this morning so I need to get up and do something productive, catch y’all later….
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This isn’t productive?
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” And is a reminder you can never trust a native of Baltimore…
John Schuerholz.. Mark Teixeira… Nancy Pelosi…. Anyone else see a pattern developing here? ”
Right you are Gil! It’s funny how terrible trades one gm can make, then turn around and make a great one(Talking about Daniels, the Rangers GM-You could say the same thing in reverse about JS)
I wonder why the Rangers were able to get such a bounty for a player they had to trade, yet we got much less in the same situation.
Hats off to the scouting and development people of the braves for us still having a fair bit of talent left.
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Teixeira was 0-4 with 5 LOB yesterday…
Well, it is April, right? 😀
Kinda makes one happy, doesn’t it??? At least me, sadly enough. He was roundly booed yesterday…in Baltimore. Should be good practice for the treatment he will get at the New Yankee stadium.
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Somehow, I get the feeling Obama in Iraq will be a bigger story on the news tonight, than this story…
Iranian nuke plot vaporized in the city: NY banks unwittingly aided in material transfers, says DA
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/04/07/2009-04-07_iranian_nuke_plot_vaporized_in_the_city_-2.html
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The Chinese are pulling more strings in the background that any of us realize. “Let’s you and him fight.” Which I don’t understand because China OWNS most of the US now!
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Nancy Pelosi…Baltimore native. You’re really on top o’ things, Gil! My wife mentioned a long time ago she thought Pelosi was originally from there, since it’s my wife’s hometown as well. Of course, we confirmed her suspicions. 😯 What a trip!
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PresBO: “I’ve said before that one of the great strengths of the United States is, although as I mentioned we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”
Patrick Henry: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”
I’ll go with the great patriot Patrick Henry on this one…
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There was a piece on the local news about the trouble the local Hispanic population (est 50,000) was having due to lay=offs and loss of jobs, the news caster was saying these people need a solution to their problems as many did not speak english and did not know how to apply for assistance (welfare)… I told the wife I had a very simple solution for them…
GO HOME!!!!
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Nancy Pelosi’s father was the long time Mayor of Baltimore, it was from him she learned the art of political deal making and the accounting of favors…
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And yes, Patrick Henry was very disgruntled at the formation of a Federal Government… He felt very strongly that the revolution accomplished little when you traded one tyrant for another.
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PresBO in a non-teleprompter moment: “We have the responsibility to do things in a responsible fashion.”
Simply brilliant… 🙄
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Responsibly responsible! I get it! 🙄
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Where is Joe Biden when you need him! 😆
(Noticed that he has been kept out of sight??)
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Interesting article on Trot Nixon (local boy) in today’s paper:
Trot Nixon insists he can still play at the major league baseball level, but is not sure he will get another chance after the Milwaukee Brewers released him last week.
He believes the Brewers let him go before the end of spring training to possibly catch on with another squad, but that outfielders like him are a dime a dozen, and other organizations have rosters set in the upper minors and in the big leagues.
“At about the midway part of spring training, I had a feeling I was not going to get a roster spot in Triple A,” the former New Hanover High School star said.
Lately, he has had little contact with agent Michael Moss, who previously mentioned a club in the Japanese League, but Nixon thinks rosters may be set over there as well.
However, Nixon would consider a contract offer overseas and says his family would embrace going to a foreign country.
“It would have to be the right situation, the right club and a great area to live in and some financial considerations,” he said.
Nixon currently is in Wilmington with his family and almost seems to accept the notion his 12-year big league career may be over, but will continue to take batting practice and work out informally. Nixon is a career .274 hitter with 137 home runs and participated in six postseasons and earned a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox five years ago.
In camp with the Brewers, Nixon played all three outfield spots and says he did well defensively, but couldn’t explains his offensive struggles.
“I just had a rough spring,” he said. “Offensively, I don’t know what happened. A lot of it was probably mental. I was trying to figure out what was going on with my mechanics, my setup and why I was not seeing the ball very well. It is the way the game can get sometimes. It is frustrating and very humbling.”
If no one signs Nixon over the next two months, he doubts he would pursue a non-playing position in the immediate future.
Jeff Zona, the scout who signed Nixon as the seventh overall selection in the 1993 MLB draft for the Red Sox, offered him sound advice.
“He made a good point that my family has lived around my life so much that it is time for me to live around their lives,” Nixon said. “I should be around to see the boys (Chase and Luke) play ball and not run all over the country and be a special assistant here or a coach there. It is not to say I probably wouldn’t mind doing that in the future. I don’t see myself doing that over the next few years if I don’t get phone calls to continue playing baseball.”
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“I just had a rough spring,” he said. “Offensively, I don’t know what happened.
Maybe he should go to Texas to see Rudy… Made a difference to a lot of other players apparently..
Got the 4 wheeler taken care of and waxed two of the cars this morning.. It’ll be Katie bar the door now with the rain…. Another reason indians did rain dances to make it rain… they didn’t have cars….
Also got the truck inspected and made it to the grocery store. At least now when I am tired I feel I have come by it honestly. Does not look like I will get too much done tomorrow, just as well with the Braves having a 3 PM game. Not sure if they will get that one in however. They may become a victim of the weather.
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Waxed two cars Gil??? You in a lot better shape than you let on! That, or you have some truly wonderful pain killers…can I have some of them???
Been trying to clean up the pigsty(Gee, that looks wrong but spell check ain’t underlinin’ it so it must be right!) we call home…at least my back isn’t as bad as it was a few day ago, couldn’t do much of anything then.
My Dads got a friend from England coming here for 3 days. He’s known the woman since he met her in the mid 50’s overseas. She and her husband stayed with us about 3 weeks when we lived in Jacksonville. They are a kick. Used to run a pub over there. the stories they told! I think they and a bunch of regulars went sky diving once. I think they were sober! 😉
They are going to see the braves game Sunday!!! Not with us though. Some friends they have been staying with in Macon are taking them(And cutting into one of the 3 days we would have to visit with them)
I would love to see a game with folks who have never seen one, explain the rules, tell them how it’s so much better than cricket, etc…str but wasn’t invited even after saying I’d like to go. 😕
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2 weeks ago, my secretary’s computer went belly-up and I ended up doing her work as well as mine for a week. This week she has been sick, and I have been doing her work as well as mine.
Now, a little economic reality. Since January 1, I have received $0 in expense reimbursement. My secretary has continued to be reimbursed. Also since January 1, my partners and I have each taken a 25% pay cut to facilitate the continuing of business. My secretary, as an employee, has taken no such cut.
It would behoove her to get back to work soon, as I am more and more inclined to take her paycheck and split it between my partners and me. Why not? We’re splitting her work…
Do I sound a little bit ticked? It could be because I am tired of working more and making less.
😐
OK… I needed to vent. Better now. 🙂
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Welcome to the world of being the boss…
And Kelly takes Moyer deep on the first pitch…
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Chipper crushes one too that just missed going out… pour it on boys
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Is Kotchman slimmer this year or is it my (faulty) memory again??
Are there any worse announcers than these PHL guys?? Miller and Morgan aside?
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after 2, 2 – 0 Braves.
😀
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Have to leave for my Mother-Daughter TV night.
(AI)
You summed it up, Ber: when it comes to family, they come first!
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Announcers Harry Kalas and Gary Matthews.
Never heard of Kalas.
OK – CL out for a while.
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Yep. I can tell I was missed! 😆
End of 7, 4 – 0 Braves!
😀
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CL, believe me, you have heard Harry Kalas , if you don’t know the name. Guys help me out, he’s the voice of Campbell soup, right??? He’s been doing Phillies and Eagles games forever. Let me look up….
about 40 years. He’s older, he is probably not what he once was….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Kalas
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V, that’s a tough spot you are in. I’d hate to have to make a choice like that, but you have to do what you have to do…more golden advice from Berigan 😕
And venting is often necessary. Much better than snapping over someone cutting you off in traffic…
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“Yep. I can tell I was missed!”
You are always missed m’lady!!! 🙂
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Awwwwwww, shucks, Ber! Thank you! 😀
End of 8: 4 – 0 Braves
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Don’t know the Kalas name; I just know I don’t like his voice. Sounds “oily”. ewwww
God bless ya, Skip – you are missed more than you’ll ever know!
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Bottom of 9th – Gonzo is up.
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Bottom of 9th:
fly out to left – 1 out
fly out to left – 2 out
fly out to center – 3 out
BRAVES WIN! 4 – 0
😆
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And while making a sake for my Dad, and making some ice cream soupp for myself(Ice cream in a bowl, milk, chocolate syrup-somehow different than a shake!)the Phils went down quietly! What a difference a year makes!
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Nope, no sake, shake! 😳
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typing while watching the highlights = speeling errrorssss
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At least y’all got to see the game. Blacked out on Brighthouse for some unknown reason. Considering what we pay for ExtraInnings I don’t think any game should be blocked.
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… but I have heard Phillies’ announcers before & they are terrible.
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FBG, I was going all over the dial looking for the game. On Dish, 420, 437…then the espn channels. Then TBS. Then I remembered Peachtree(Which is the old channel 17 that TBS was on forever and a day)
Back when I was a young whipper-snapper, there was one channel I saw Cardinals on KSDK, the NBC station. Well, might see them on the game of the week a couple times a year….
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Just think: MOST fans have dealt with not being able to see broadcasts of their teams all their lives! We are spoiled by having had the TBS broadcasts, Skip and Co, all these years.
Waaaaaa 😥
And what’s more – I want them back!!! 😡
NOW!
(foot stomp, if it will help…)
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I know we’re spoiled, CL, but that’s why I pay for ExtraInnings & digital cable. Their first opportunity to show a Braves game & they fail. Also blocked Red Sox so Dad was ticked.
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Yep, power play by the stations to force the cable/dish operators to pick up their feeds…. Went through it with Washington vs Comcast a couple of years ago. I did not mind not getting the Nationals but it really ticked me off when they blocked the Atlanta games.
And the Braves… We started off the season like this a couple of years ago. That was a pretty good team too until the pitchers’ arms started falling off….
The pen has a shaky look about it right now, let’s see if it smooths out a bit in the coming weeks. Looks like Bennett put weight back on over the winter. Tough keeping it off… I still think he is aiming his pitches, results in too many pitches just off the plate and forces him to throw a hitter’s pitch.
Does Kelly Johnson remind anyone else of Jeff Kent? Not a great defensive second baseman by any stretch but could hit… I think we all realize Kelly is never going to be a gold glover but would not surprise me to see him make the all stars by virtue of his bat.
Game is on Sports South today at 3 so all you folks blacked out should be able to watch this one.
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And Berigan… On the pain and the the car waxing, the only way I can get pain free is become non-functional… Therefore I just play/work through it. Stuff has to be done so I just berate my candy-a** until I get up and do them. Going to hurt either way so I may as well make the most of it. I just try to make it tolerable. Still, it takes me twice as long (on longer) to do things that were once pretty routine, I also am not nearly as strong as I once was. That sucks too.
The worse thing to me is having to pay other folks to do the things I once routinely did myself. And I did it better… Well, most of the time anyway…
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And sake… rice wine… right? 🙂
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I got to see most of the game last night. Home runs win it again… just what we expected, right? 😀
O’Flaherty was untouchable, just like we expected, right? 😀
Seriously, they look like a different team to me. And they exude confidence. I didn’t see that last year. And I thought O’Flaherty looked pretty good. He will be the 2009 version of Wil Ohman. Francoeur’s approach at the plate is totally remade. Good at bats if not alot of hits. They will come with that approach. (Note the use of his actual name.)
And the kid… Schafer. That’s my first look at him. He looks so young! He looks like my 13 year old, except that my son doesn’t play D like that. 😆 Speaking of his D, he looks really, REALLY good. That ball he cut off in the 8th (maybe?) to hold Utley to a single was awesome. That’s the stuff that gets overlooked but wins games, folks. Soriano was solid, Gonzo was solid… overall a nice performance against the Phavored Phils…
We have already achieved half the amount of wins against the Philthies as we had all of last year. I like it. JV this afternoon. I can’t wait.
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TORONTO — Beer and alcohol sales were banned at the Tigers-Blue Jays game Tuesday night, a day after their season opener was delayed when unruly fans littered the field with baseballs and debris.
The clubhouses were cleared of booze, too, after the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario suspended the liquor license at Rogers Centre for three dates because of past infractions.
The panel cited five broken rules at baseball and football games and concerts dating to the Canadian Football League championship game in 2007. The stadium will also be dry on April 21 when Toronto plays Texas, and for a CFL game on Aug. 1.
Both affected baseball games fell on dates when the price of upper deck seats was cut to $4, a promotion called “Messin’ With Recession.” The ban covers everything from concessions, vendors and restaurants to the beer refrigerators in both locker rooms.
Signs posted Tuesday at stadium entrances listed five reasons for the license suspension: permitting drunkenness, permitting the use of narcotics, selling and serving to apparent minors, failure to request approved identification and permitting illegal liquor on the premises.
The Blue Jays’ 12-5 win Monday was delayed nine minutes in the eighth inning when fans threw two baseballs in the direction of Detroit left fielder Josh Anderson and tossed a handful of paper planes and empty beer cups onto the field.
Anderson was pleased to hear alcohol would not be sold Tuesday.
“That’s good,” he said. “These people can’t handle it.” — AP
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WASHINGTON — As the Obama administration considers a shift in the half-century policy of isolating Cuba, members of the Congressional Black Caucus returned from Havana saying the Castro brothers are eager to see a new day in U.S.-Cuban relations.
Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif., one of three lawmakers to meet Fidel Castro on Tuesday, said she got the sense that “he really wants President Obama to succeed” in his foreign policy goals. “He sincerely wants an opportunity, I think, in his lifetime to see a change in America.”
Yeah… I’m sure he does… 🙄
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/US_Congress/US_Cuba.html
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How sweet is it to do the Philthies in their own house and start the season 2-0?
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Let’s see here…
Spies hacking into the US power grid: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/08/national/main4928223.shtml
Somali pirates take a US cargo ship and hold US citizens hostage: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/piracy/5124758/Somali-pirates-seize-US-cargo-ship-with-20-Americans-on-board.html
Korea fires a missile across the collective US bow, while the administration of “change” slashes missile defense funding: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/07/lawmakers-warn-missile-defense-cuts-leave-vulnerable/
The world now sees the US as a country they can kick around as they please. Well, the people wanted change; they got it… 😐
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Here’s one for ya:
“President Obama has named to his faith-based advisory panel — a gay rights activist who has sharply criticized Pope Benedict and other Catholic leaders.
Harry Knox is the director of religion and faith at the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign. Last month he lashed out at the pope and Catholic bishops for their opposition to gay marriage, calling them “discredited leaders.”
He told the Bay Area Reporter newspaper that for following the pope’s message, the Catholic organization Knights of Columbus are “foot soldiers of a discredited army of oppression.”
Knox also criticized the pope for his stance on contraception.”
Raisins, China OWNS us (America) and has control over our finances, power system, and just about everything else. While His Barackness roams the world apologizing for America. I’m getting more disgusted with him by the day.
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😡
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I heard a couple of guys on radio propose a solution to the US deficit issue: charge a fee to enter the country.
Why not? Their reasoning… it works for Disney.
Charge a fee to enter; make ’em pay an inflated rate for food, drinks, etc.; then make them go through a US souvenir shop as they leave. One of two things would happen: we could pay down the deficit and spur the economy, or keep out all of the deadbeats putting an additional drag on our economy.
Since the new
regime, I mean, administration likes taxes so much, we call it the POGO tax – Pay Or Get Out.I like it… 😀
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Good idea, Raisins!
I really feel that we didn’t have an “election”; we had a coup.
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“But the page has turned to 2009, and the Braves are providing indication that last year’s pitching struggles are certainly a thing of the past. During the first two games of this season, their starters have completed 13 2/3 scoreless innings and their bullpen, healthy once again, has surrendered just one run in 4 1/3 innings.” – Mark Bowman
Halleluia
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See CL… There is always something to be thankful for if you look long enough. Too much “news” will make you paranoid…
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….or very realistic.
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3:00p game today?
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Yep!
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they say its nice there today….
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and i still forgot…
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Diaz playing today, Chipper not… bruised thumb. 😐
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This is not good for my productivity…
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I am loving this inning… Frenchy, Diaz, all of ’em… the hit parade.
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A couple of questionable plays in the field by Los Brovos but wow, does clutch hitting cover a lot of sins…
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And the new Francouer being the guy…
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Funny how often guys can’t turn it around during a season, but when the new season starts….sure hope he keeps it up, his swing looks so much better!!!
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I want a Schafer #24 jersey…
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I think the cold weather has really affected the pitchers
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Wow… really quiet in Philly…
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I had to lose the game… 😦
Score?
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10-5 braves. O’Flaretty (SP) and Moylan have sucked
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10-5 Braves in the bottom of the 7th, but Moylan isn’t fooling anybody – bases are loaded and only one out…. 😦
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Walked in a run….Cox changing to Boyer…. bases still loaded, one out.
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10-7!!!! 😯
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Boyer walked another one – 10-7. Bases STILL loaded, one out.
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10-8!!!!
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This is UGLY!!! Boyer walked in another run on 4 pitches….
Campillo and Bennett warming up…….
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Campillo coming in, Phillies have batted around, bases still loaded, just one out. 😥
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I think we can see where this is going
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all tied… 😦
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Victorino singles, Stairs scores – 10-9 – bases loaded (still), one out…….
I think I’ve seen this movie…..
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11-10 phillie…really pounding the ball, eh CL???? 🙄
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Walked in the tying run…10-10, bases loaded, 1 out….
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CL, it almost seems like you have a delay on your end…or are you doing the game on the computer thing???
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Single to first – runner out, scores another run – 11-10 Phillies.
Another out….inning mercifully ends……
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Computer, Ber.
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Whew! I thought perhaps I had found a tear in the fabric of time and was 2 minutes in the future! 😀
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You all know I hate to be critical of Bobby 🙄 but this is crazy, you cannot give up 8 runs in an inning after having a 7 run lead!
O’Flaherty is a loogy. Use him that way! We have what, 8 guys in the bullpen??? He got 4 outs yesterday, you shouldn’t bring him back the next day. I know, I know, they have a lot of left handed hitters. Well, you know what??? A lot of teams have a lot of lefties. I know Bobby is thinking he’s got 2 lefties in the bullpen, but when one is the closer, you really only have one.
Then I hear Moylan, they have to be careful with him, not pitch him on back to back nights. Then, they say he was up in both games. A day off, but Bobby is thinking he hasn’t pitched in a game yet. Well, 11 months after Tommy John means don’t warm him up if you aren’t going to use him.
Perhaps I am being too hard on him….he has brought everyone in quickly…and it’s early, you want to get everyone in a game fast…but this game is likely lost, and it shouldn’t have been.
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😡
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So the Braves “escape” from PHilly taking the series 2-1. Anyone else have an uneasy feeling about today? The blowpen really disappointed.
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Whoa. Just got home, checked the scores and… wha?
Have to say, glad I missed that bullpen meltdown. Must’ve been painful to watch. I’m sure Bobby contributed with his, uh, interesting moves.
Too bad. For all the league ‘cred’ we earned and momentum and confidence gained in the first two games, this one taints the series and it’s this game that will linger. Not fair, but true. It’ll take a few very good series wins and a few weeks of consistent, well performing pen to wash that bitter pill down. Calls up a quote I saw yesterday:
“I’ve come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen.”
–Bob Lemon
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I don’t think Booby had much control over the situation, much like the Braves’ relievers. Just could not find the strike zone and even when they did, were not given credit for it. It was still ugly never the less….
Let’s hope things will settle down shortly or their might be a wholesale exchange of the bullpen.
Just an example of a game that should have been won being lost…
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Gil, that game brought back some very unwanted memories of last season. Let’s hope that it was just a hiccup of some kind. I didn’t see it but heard parts of it on the radio. I’m glad I didn’t see it. I’d probably own one less working tv tonight.
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That was painful. I enjoyed it right up to the 7th but… ugghh.
I’ve been a busy little Easter bunny here. 14 dozen sugar cookies yesterday & well, I’m not sure how many today but I made enormous amounts of egg-shaped cookies. Icing them all tomorrow.
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Oh boy…I keep thinking I should not post this link but it cracked me up. Earl Weaver doing a fake pre game show back in the day. So shocking, but I laughed anyways.
Ladies do NOT listen, I warned you!!! Really, really terrible language that would make sailor’s blush.
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Well, I had to leave the game at 9-2, and see that the wheels fell off somewhere thereafter. And as night follows the day (thank you, Skip), much wailing ans gnashing of teeth ensued.
As a voice of, well, reason, let me caution you: In the same way that we did not need to order playoff tickets after games 1 or 2, let’s not teeter on the edge of the bridge after game 3. Perhaps the ‘pen faltered, perhaps some of our pitchers had difficulty with the strike zone, perhaps the umpires contributed to a certain degree… Whatever the facts were, another fact should not be overlooked. The opponent was the reigning World Champion Phillies, who have one of, if not THE, best offenses in the National League.
Also, I caution you to be careful to not so quickly assign blame to Bobby every time a player or players fail to perform. It’s a long season. Like most every other team, the Braves are pretty much assured of winning 60 games, and pretty much assured of losing 60 games. The other 42 are the ones that make the difference. Over those 42, I’ll take Bobby at the helm ahead of the vast majority of other “candidates” that may be out there. Whatever your opinion of him is, he’s a Hall of Fame manager. Those aren’t easily replaced.
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Okay, that game is in the past. Too bad they don’t play another one today. need to get that debacle out of the old mind set. It was ugly to watch never the less. It’s one thing to get shelled, quite another to just walk batter after batter.
And more pressing news. Duh….
A neighbor of mine just bought himself a new truck. A Ford F350 diesel. Only problem is he has to use a milk crate to stand on to get into it. Now why on earth would someone spend money on a vehicle they can’t get into or out of? When I was a kid, I had a horse that I had the same problem with, he was a big horse… I always needed to find something to stand on so I could reach the stirrups. I traded the horse….. I got tired of always having to walk him home after I dismounted…. Can you walk your pickup truck home?
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Fastest way to get into Bobby’s doghouse… Not be able to throw strikes….
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The goal is win 2 of 3. Mission accomplished! Now, on to the next series…similar objective! 😆 Oh, oh, oh…and the sun rose this morning, too! And…I’m not in NJ anymore! 😎 There’s no NJ in suGAr, but there is Georgia!
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Some horrible, horrible news this morning. Rookie Angel pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed along with 2 others, were killed by a hit and run driver last night, hours after pitching 6 scoreless innings!!! He was only 22 years old. 😦
http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/09/angels-starting-pitcher-killed-after-ball-game/
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None of us realize how very fragile life is. We take it for granted; it is always “someone else.” I truly hope with all my heart that that young man and his companions had secured their eternal salvation before this accident. We humans can be struck down so suddenly and unexpectedly – it is a critical decision to make.
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Pretty much puts a few walked batters into perspective, huh?
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It does that, Raisins.
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Yes, it is always a tragedy when someone so young is taken. Senseless too. Hit and run, about what I would expect. I saw it so many times…. The Good Book tells us to be ready for no man knows the time or day when He shall return. Works both ways really, we often don’t know when we will suddenly be called home.
I know the big news item is always about a shooting but it is an auto accident I fear to harm my children and grand children.
And yes, the sun arose this morning in the east. Good for us… 🙂
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Terrible news. I thought the Angels had shaken off that “jinx” that always seemed to follow them but maybe not.
OK, today I counted… 20 dozen cookies. I’m glad Easter is almost upon us, I don’t care to see any more egg-shaped cookies, thank you.
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Good morning all, well, the pain is back with a vengeance this morning. It’s 4:20 AM and I have been up for a bit. Thought I would drop in and say hello while I wait for a bit of chemical relief. If this keeps up I may have to seriously consider something stronger. I hate going that route, sometimes the old Suck it up and get over it mantra will only carry you so far. Of course the flip side is I get to view some pretty nice sunrises. Otherwise I would sleep right through them.
Hummm, that was a thought, I can remember seeing many of them while sitting on the “balcony” at the plant. A special area was built for the smokers and we were forced outside to partake of the habit. What a favor they did us by making us enjoy the cool mornings and one of God’s most beautiful creations. (By the way, I quit smoking almost 15 years ago now). Still like the sunrises though…
It really was a shame for young Nick Adenhart to be taken so young. I cannot help but think however of thousand of live lost each year in auto accidents. Those and SIDS used to be my toughest cases to deal with. At least I don’t have nightmares about them anymore. Time is a great healer if you have enough of it I suppose.
FBG… You go girl… I think you are going to need a bigger oven… 🙂
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Yes, Gil, life is amazingly fragile. We often walk around and carry on with full expectation that nothing can happen to us, but the reality is that it can happen to anyone at any time.
As CL said, it is incumbent upon us to make sure that we have eternity sewed up. This world is just a blip, a “vapor” I believe the Bible says.
And speaking of the Bible, a very happy Good Friday to everyone. It seems a bit ironic sometimes to think of the day of the crucifixion as being “Good” in any sense, but without the cross, there would be no resurrection, right? Glory!
OK… I’ll step down from the pulpit now… I just can’t help myself! 😀
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The 22-year old [Tommy Hanson], making his first Class AAA start, struck out 10 batters in 4 1/3 innings before leaving the game after throwing 84 pitches.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/04/09/gwinnett_braves_hanson.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
WOW! 😯
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These numbers are courtesy of Mr. O’B across the street. Normally, I would not so blatantly take stats like this from over there to post them over here, but dang! 😯 This is horrid! I really didn’t realize how bad Boyer has been. He might be punching his ticket to KC, or Texas, or somewhere not the capitol of Georgia…
In his 23 appearances since July 26, [Blaine] Boyer has posted a 13.76 ERA and .351 opponents’ average, allowing 26 hits, 26 earned runs and seven homers in 17 innings over that stretch, with nine walks and 19 strikeouts.
The Braves lost 19 of 23 games he pitched in during that period.
It gets worse. Against the Phillies, Boyer is 0-4 with a 15.43 ERA and .432 opponents’ average in 11 career appearances, with 19 hits, 16 earned runs and nine walks allowed in 9-1/3 innings, and only five strikeouts.
The Braves lost the last eight times he pitched against the Phillies.
In his past seven appearances against them, Boyer is 0-3 with a 23.63 ERA and .500 opponents’ average, having allowed 14 hits, 14 runs, and seven walks in 5-1/3 innings, with more homers allowed (three) than strikeouts (two).
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That is horrific! I do hope SOMEBODY gets those numbers to Bobby! He needs to read them…..
wow.
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CL, someone needs to tell Bobby how to not overuse a bullpen! 😛
I know, he couldn’t help the starters breaking down, and/or sucking…but look at Boyer’s numbers. All star break is later than ever, but 51 games before the break???
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=6316&type=pitching&year=2008
He pitched in 76 games, basically every other day, and that’s with only being in 4 games in all of September! Worn out, plain and simple.
Bobby, like Joe Torre, will lean too hard on someone when they are effective, and arms get burned out.
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Bobby Cox, Joe Torre… pretty good company if you ask me…
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Remember Torre calling on Bedrock so much? He never was as good after that. Seems that a smart player would have a clause/s in his contract about max innings, or something. ❓
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V, I think we all agree that Bobby, Joe, great with handling personalities , dealing with the day to day pressure….I just disagree with his handling of talent, at least these days. I don’t recall the bullpen being used the way it is now by him, but he had such great starters back in the day, that with them going 6-7-8 innings most nights how to use the pen was an easy decision.
I think with this staff he’s going to be a lot smarter this year! 😉
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Howdy folks, I am hoping the Braves get in tonight’s game. Looks like the bad weather will delay things a bit. Looks like most of the storms will go around me.
And the pain thing… discovered it only hurts when I move or lay still…. Still trying to figure out how to get around that one.
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Has anybody heard from Hillbilly? Have sent a note but no response yet. Am concerned after hearing about the tornadoes that went through this afternoon….
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And the bullpen, wish I could say I saw it coming. I suspect it but didn’t say it… Still, Bobby played it about the way one would expect when you have a 7 run lead. Just didn’t think the wheels would come off that fast. Now we know….
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Does he live in northern part of ARK?
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I was thinking he lived down toward the southern end.
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Also have an inquiry out to our friend Paladin in TN.
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I can’t remember, Gil. But I wanted to check on them just to be sure! 🙂
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Gil, sorry about all the pain you are experiencing. Have you ever thought about a pain pump??? Seems to make sense to get the pain meds where you hurt, instead of your stomach then onwards and upwards.
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I think Hillbilly said he was just about in Miss???
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And it looks like a big storm with a tornado in it, is heading right to Jonesboro! 😦 In Newnan now…
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And V, if one of those guys had been able to just not walk people, I wouldn’t have been bashing Bobby. I am pretty sure the bullpen isn’t nearly as bad as we saw….
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Lordy mercy, y’all take cover down there….. I think it is going to miss my little corner of the world. There are rarely tornadoes this close to the ocean (of any consequence, anyway) unless they are embedded in hurricanes. (You can actually hear them above the roar of the hurricane itself. Spooky!)
Bullpen – surely they are better than that! Now that the bad part is over with (fingers crossed on that one!), maybe they’ll knuckle down and do what they’re supposed to do. You KNOW they have to be mortally embarrassed by their collective performance! (I would hope, anyway.)
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Nasty, nasty storms…tornado warnings all over the place…no shortage of hail…cools things off in a hurry! 😆 Berigan…Raisins…batten the hatches…your night’s about to get loud! 😯
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Well, thank God nothing more than heavy rain. They are playing the game, right now!!!!
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Paladin checks in OK!
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Thats good CL!
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Pete’s on Peachtree!
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well, he was… 😕 Great to hear him, at least for 40 seconds…
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Rain delay….
3-1 ATL in the top of the 4th
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COL 10 PHI 3
😀
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Still raining? I didn’t get to see the start of the game, even though it’s supposed to be on ExtraInnings. 😡 They are apparently having technical issues.
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Finally getting it… the Nats feed. 🙄
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I went to ajc’s photo gallery, browsing through Braves photos – and was shocked to see how OLD both Glavine and Maddux look! They both appear to be in their 60s and are actually in the very early 40s. Wow, what happened??
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All the sun, maybe? Tom’s getting gray, too.
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Maybe. I dunno, but I was shocked.
Looks like SG, Chris and I will sharing in all the weather fun in the overnight hours, after all. Just got the first warning from Weather Bug.
Well, past bedtime. Keep ’em in the W column, FBG! 😀
(Bless you heart, that was one huge pile of cookies you did!)
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FBG, bet you are right, being out in the sun all the time will age you a bit. You still up. or am I the only one still up watching this beauty???
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Just me, braves win in 10!!!!
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I woke up just in time to see the tenth inning Ber…
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CL…. If Tom looks 60 to you I’ll bet I look 80… hummmm, feel 80 sometimes. Some hard miles I guess… So many days with no sleep will do that to you I guess, could get away with it when young, now, not so much…
And that kid Schafer is fast, even on TV.
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‘Morning, Gil!
Those photos I saw showed close-ups of their faces and the area around their eyes look like that of people in their late 60s or so.
And you don’t look old. I’ve seen your photos, remember? 😆 And so what if any of us looks old? Some of us are of the age where the years begin to show! I would take it as a badge of honor that I actually made it that far! 😆 And remember that the Bible says a head of white hair “is a crown of glory” !
That goes for Glavine and Maddux, as well. I was just surprised since they are actually so young. Maybe it’s genetics. Stress? Shoulda just kept quiet, huh? Apologies to everyone!
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CL, don’t worry…I wasn’t offended in the least. Of course, I look about 10-15 years younger than those two do, at the same age!
But, I would look “old” like them in exchange for the money they possess. 😕
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Wow… some storms last night. Tornadic activity close by, but nothing too close, thank God. The winds did blow the kids’ trampoline apart, though. 😯 Guess I know what I’ll be doing after the yard dries out…
Now, Braves. Got to see innings 4-8. Francoeur is back… Soriano is back… Kotchman took one off the noggin… Hate that I missed the end, but I was completely spent at midnight. Glad to hear KJ came through. The bats are for real, top to bottom. It’s gonna be a fun season, folks.
And it appears the bullpen will make it interesting.
My prediction: The bullpen will be on a short leash. They will either get outs, or be told to “get out”. Too many good arms in the system to tolerate consistently poor outings. Bennett’s appearance last night (walk, hit batsman) is just the kind of performance that will cost him a roster spot when Glav comes off the DL.
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Speaking of Glav, his current home is up for sale:
http://www.luxist.com/2008/10/13/tom-glavine-in-alpharetta-estate-of-the-day/
You could get by in it, I guess….
(I wouldn’t be able to pay the taxes on it!) 😆
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A lady opened her refrigerator and saw a rabbit sitting on one of the shelves.
“What are you doing in there?” She asked.
The rabbit replied:
“This is a Westinghouse, isn’t it?”,
To which the lady replied “Yes.”
“Well,” the rabbit said,
“I’m westing.”
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Watching KK throw a lot of pitches, seems the strike zone is a bit narrow. After typing that, he strikes out the side in the second inning.
It has been a bit chilly and gray here today. The weather looked nice at the Masters however.
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More bunny jokes! A hare-raising tale of epic proportions
I am so going to be banished to the dog house! CL, please lay out the key, or unlock the door…I know my destination! 🙄 😦
A man is driving along a highway and sees a rabbit jump out across the middle of the road. He swerves to avoid hitting it, but unfortunately the rabbit jumps right in front of the car.
The driver,a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulls over and gets out to see what has become of the rabbit. Much to his dismay,the rabbit is dead.
The driver feels so awful that he begins to cry. A beautiful blonde woman driving down the highway sees a man crying on the side of the road and pulls over. She steps out of the car and asks the man what’s wrong.
“I feel terrible,”he explains,”I accidentally hit this rabbit and killed it.”
The blonde says, ” Don ‘t worry.” She runs to her car and pulls out a spray can. She walks over to the limp,dead rabbit,bends down,and sprays the contents onto the rabbit.
The rabbit jumps up,waves its paw at the two of them and hops off down the road. Ten feet away the rabbit stops,turns around and waves again, he hops down the road another 10 feet,turns and waves, hops another ten feet,turns and waves, and repeats this again and again and again,until he hops out of sight.
The man is astonished. He runs over to the woman and demands,
“What is in that can? What did you spray on that rabbit?”
The woman turns the can around so that the man can read the label.
It says..
(This is bad!)
(You know you could just click off and not read the punch line….)
(You can still delete it)
(Last chance)
(OK, here it is)
It says,
“Hair Spray”
Restores life to dead hair, and adds permanent wave.”
Happy Easter!!!
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😆 Salty! Nothing wrong with that one! 😆
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Good game so far, lots of good plays and some not so good, Braves lead 4-3
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Schafer and Escobar – impressive in the 8th!
(Just picked up on the game – been in the kitchen all day…)
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Ber, I did stay up for all of last night’s (or this morning’s) game but went straight to bed after. Was all set to watch tonight…. & got 3+ hours of a black screen. More technical difficulties for ExtraInnings. I’m about ready to wring some necks.
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I’m about ready to wring some necks.
Food fight!!! 😛
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Happy Easter Stuffville! Thinking of you all on this special day.
How about those Braves. We’re off to a great start. Hopefully the pen can settle down and consistently do what they did last night.
Have a great Easter and God bless.
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Happy and glorious Resurrection Day!!!!! This day represents the summation of God’s plan to save humankind from a horrific, unavoidable future – at an incredibly horrific price. The ONLY way to save our worthless hides – and Jesus gladly paid that price for us.
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US Captain safe! 3 pirates dead, 1 in custody!
Thank you, US Navy!!!
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A video clip of “the bow”. Also clearly visible is the Prez’s left hand down at his side, not a 2-hand clasp as was claimed. And they dare say this was NOT a bow???? Seeing is believing!
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2009/04/09/moos.bow.or.no.bow.cnn
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Gee CL, I don’t know why everyone is upset with Obama, at least the king didn’t have his back to the President when he bent over to kiss his a**…
GO NAVY… now go get the rest of the thugs….
And Happy Easter all…
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In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ “ Luke 24:5-7
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Amen, Raisins!
Check your email,VOR! Evidence has been found of the Red Sea crossing: chariot wheels, bones of horses and men, etc.
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Hope you all had a lovely Easter! Low-key here, we had a nice Easter dinner but other than that pretty quiet. We’re starting to pack & organize to go to Tiger (hopefully Thurs. but it depends on Mom’s work).
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The email was cool, CL. I’m a bit of a history nerd so that was very interesting to me.
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Nice piece on Gene Garber. I always liked him…
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories//2009/04/13/whatever_happened_gene_garber.html
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BEWARE… POLITICS AHEAD!
Why is it that when liberals are challenged on specific policy matters, they go into “victim” mode? Barney Frank – does he remind anyone else of Sylvester the Cat? – can’t answer a simple question posed by a college student because he is too busy trying to deflect blame to the Bush administration, and too busy accusing the student of “classic right wing tactics”.
I guess if asking a man (questionable in Frank’s case) for a straight answer is a “classic right wing tactic”, then OK…
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/04/07/harvard_student_takes_on_barney_frank_over_economy.html
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Happy Easter!!!!
Yesterday. 😳
With the friends from England stopping by, had to do lots of cleaning yet, (And a bit of my taxes) then they got here about 5 pm from the game….Did I ever mention I didn’t get to go to the very first baseball game these folks had ever seen? Nope, not bitter about that at all. Besides, I got clean up instead…just as much fun. 😕
Anyway, they had a blast. Which is good. She kept talking about swinging her foam axe, and how she was told she was swinging the wrong end of the axe head. Then talked to them til 12:30. Just here for 2 more days. They sure speak funny English! 😛
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V, sufferin’ succotash, does he ever! I do a pretty mean Fwank impression, if I do say so myself.
It’s almost beyond belief what folks like him have been able to get away with. You might expect a politition to get away with what he has, back in New York city’s Tammany hall days, but today, with the internet???
But, just like that drunken Pennsylvanian Rep who called many of the members of his district rednecks(And the Marines in Iraq murderers-what is his name?) they get re-elected time and time again. They bring the pork home, that’s all that matters to most folks.
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Good morning all, A bit on the chilly side here this morning. Sounds as if everyone had a full weekend.
I am trying to decide which dragon to slay first this morning. They all bare a striking resemblance to windmills though…
I am still amped up about the Navy’s takedown of the pirates. Still, I am sure Obama will find some way to apologize to the Somolies for our “aggressive use of force”… I am surprised the pirates didn’t say it was only a wedding party….
Bill Clinton should have cleaned out that rat hole when he had the chance….
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Bill Clinton should have cleaned out that rat hole when he had the chance…
Why did an image of Hillary flash across my mind..? 😎
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OBAMA:
(I copy/pasted from the Federal Registry page at:
http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488 )
Presidential Documents
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
NOTICE: Part II
DOCID: fr04fe09-106
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
[[Page 6115]]
Presidential Determination No. 2009-15 of January 27, 2009
Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related To Gaza
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the “Act”), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, January 27, 2009
[FR Doc. E9-2488
Filed 2-3-09; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4710-10-P
What that means:
In January Obama signed an executive order presidential determination allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to settle in the United States at American taxpayers’ expense. Sure, what can go wrong when we allow hundreds of thousands of people who have been, as Mark Steyn memorably described, “marinated” in a “sick death cult,” who voted for Hamas, and 55% of whom support suicide bombing/murders in the United States.
By executive order, President Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in migration assistance to the Palestinians. Egypt won’t take them. Jordan won’t take them. Syria won’t take them. Saudi Arabia won’t take them. All of the 20 Arab countries – every one of them – has allowed the Palestinians to fester for over 60 years. Meanwhile, generation after generation have become more and more radicalized. Their lives are unproductive – they “live” to die as martyrs – yearning for the rewards of the world beyond.
The “presidential determination” will allow hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States . The determination was signed on January 27th and appeared in the Federal Register on February 4th.
President Obama’s decision, according to the Register, was necessitated by “the urgent refugee and migration needs” of the “victims.”
Few on Capitol Hill took note that the order provides a free ticket replete with housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.
Some of Obama’s most recent actions since he was inaugurated about one month ago:
1. His first call to any head of state as president was to Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Fatah party in the Palestinian territory.
2. His first one-on-one interview with any news organization was with Al Arabia television.
3. He ordered Guantanamo Bay closed and all military trials of detainees halted.
4. He ordered all overseas CIA interrogation centers closed.
5. He withdrew all charges against the masterminds behind the USS Cole and 9/11.
6. He bowed to the Saudi King.
7. His appointee to the DOJ said that the US Constitution is a guide; it is non-binding. 😯
Today we learn that he is allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees to move to and live in the U.S. at American taxpayer expense.
Anyone else see a pattern here?
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That… is… frightening…
Not too surprising, but frightening…
😡
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Harry Kalas, voice of the Phillies, died earlier today after collapsing in the press box at Nationals Stadium in DC.
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090413_Phils_announcer_Harry_Kalas_rushed_to_the_hospital.html
RIP Mr. Kalas.
We Braves fans understand the loss the Philly fans feel right now. He was their Skip…
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Now how idiotic do I feel after commenting negatively on him recently????
Is it too late to apologize?? 😦
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Not your fault, CL. You never said you didn’t respect him, just that you didn’t care for him. Big difference…
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Hey CL… It’s not like you sacrificed a goat or anything…
http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/2009/04/dead-goat-found-hanging-at-wrigley.html
Rest in Peace Harry…
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All is well in South Central Arkansas. I’m near the Louisiana line, and the storms passed about 2 hours north of here. But thanks for asking. Been busy chasing those ugly, bearded, bald-headed, pre-plucked butterballs through the woods the last couple of days. No luck yet but it’s a marathon, not a sprint: Turkeys-1 , Hillbilly-0.
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CL, it’s not your fault. He really looked bad last year. I thought he was in his 80s’ not early 70’s when I saw him…skip looked so different the last few years, and I bet someone hearing him for the first time last year would not have thought as highly of him as we did…
a photo of Joan Crawford at 20, she was a babe. A photo of Joan at 50??? Looked like a drag queen.
Bet you didn’t you see that analogy, did ya???
😛
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Couldn’t say it there, but Rest in peace Mr. Kalas.
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Jayson Stark, baseball unimaginable without Kalas.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4065036&categoryid=2378529
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Y’all are just kind.
Hillbilly, glad to hear from you! 1-0, huh? 😆
Supper tonight: yesterday’s Easter dinner leftovers = CL doesn’t have to cook tonight!!! 😀
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Good luck hillbilly, turkeys are tough critters to hunt. They are more suspicious that Hillary Clinton after learning Bill was interviewing new interns….
Okay, a couple of more things off the list, I bought some azaleas yesterday and I have managed to get two planted today. Takes about 5 minutes to plant and 2 hours to rest up between bushes… I did get the rest of the grass mowed today so it was not a complete dud.
Currently I am watching the Nationals play the Philles and to be truthful, if I was pitching for the Nats I would sue the infield for non-support. Currently 4-3 Phillies but should be 3-1 Nats…
Yes Ber, it might be a tad before your time but Ms Crawford was a charter member of the “Pepsi Generation”…. I think it was Lucile Ball who hawked Royal Crown Cola…
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Mark “The Bird” Fidrych has died. “In an accident while working on his truck…” per Fox News
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He was another great talent brought along too quickly. A real treat to watch however.
A shame he too died so young. A lot of that going around lately.
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A note from the management:
Notice is hereby given that the one known as ‘Carolina Lady’ has been forbidden to spend any time on this or any other blog or site for any reason, especially for reading about baseball, killing time,playing games or having fun, until the taxes are done! Any sighting of this person online anywhere except on TurboTax Online should reported immediately. A reward is offered.
Thank you.
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man, what a sad day! 😦
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Lots of gloomy news today. 😦
Hillbilly, I’m sure you’ll win in the end. You’re a lot smarter than a turkey.
CL, (even though you won’t see this ’til those taxes are done!) leftovers are a beautful thing, aren’t they? We had French toast yesterday morning & a honey-baked ham for dinner so I used the rest of the egg bread & ham to make paninis. Provolone, mayo, mustard, buttered & toasted. Yum.
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It just occured to me… that’s 3. Have you ever noticed how famous people die in threes? And it’s usually “3 of a kind”, like actors or musicians. It’s been a tough few days in the baseball community.
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Cl… you have to come up for air sometime….
My taxes were done by the 2nd week in February. Learned you cannot e-file at the last minute the hard way…. Good luck though, you can however get a 6 month extension pretty easy…
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I have been waiting for a specific form from my accountant since February. It is April 14, and I still do not have it. Now, I will have to file without it, which I could have done in February. 😡
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Time for a new accountant Raisins….
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However, if it will lower your tax bill, file an amended return when you get it….
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I AM A FREE WOMAN!!!!!
Filed and done!
Yes, I usually have mine done by mid-Feb – but this year I was out of commission ( and zonked out) at that time….
TurboTax worked perfectly and both claims were accepted by the IRS and the state. Love TurboTax! Got a 35% discount on it through my bank, too! 😀
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Ironically, Gil, this year it would have had no effect on the return whatsoever, yet it is something that in most year’s would. It is supposed to be a required form… oh, well… done now. TaxCut, like TurboTax, is a wonderful thing. Got my MIL’s done, too.
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Dayn Perry thinks the best NL East team resides in ATL:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9450998/Braves-should-be-favored-in-tough-NL-East?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49
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Well, I guess Perry isn’t always wrong! 😉
Its still quite early, but the starters of the Mets and Phils aren’t very impressive.
The Marlins on the other hand, scare me…
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Mac was safe on that bunt. Even the Marlins broadcasters said so.
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CL, glad you are free to play with us again! 😀
Am nearly done taxwise(Sure hasn’t helped with company here) just the state which is usually easy, but I had such a bad year, I need actually read thru the state guide this time. 😕
Missed the game, but John Kruk on baseball tonight made a very interesting observation about Chris Volstad of the Marlins. He motion is exactly like Mark Wohlers, exactly ! 😯
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GIL!!!!!
May there be MANY more to come, my friend!
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Thanks CL… You recognize however that hitting the big 60 puts me officially in the young old category… Sigh… I celebrated by planting some more azaleas this morning. 😦 …
And last night game… Garrett Anderson is having trouble hanging onto the ball it seems. Let’s hope he can get past his aversion to horsehide soon.
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Happy birthday Gil! Age is just a number! 🙂
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And, You are only as old as you feel! 😛
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Happy Birthday, Gil!!
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Terrence Moore:
When you’re the Braves, and you’ve missed the playoffs for the past three seasons, sentimentality deserves a firm handshake along the way to the door and your version of a gold watch. That’s especially true if sentimentality has a strained 43-year-old rotator cuff after missing much of last season with a damaged elbow that needed surgery.
We are talking about Tom Glavine, though. As a result, those in charge of such things with the Braves should wait slightly longer than forever before saying so long to their future Hall of Fame pitcher and his increasingly creaky body.
It is not often I agree with Terrence Moore, really not often, but he is spot on with this. Glavine deserves the right to determine his fate.
And one more thing… I hope his last pitch was not on a minor league mound in Pearl, MI. If he’s truly done, let him come back to Atlanta, make a pitch off the mound at Turner Field, doff his hat, and walk off with his dignity firmly in place. He is, after all, a future first ballot HOF, and one of the greatest Braves ever, his little fling with the Mutts notwithstanding.
I think he’s done. I hope he gets his day at The Ted.
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Age may just a number…. but a BIG number…..
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Look at this way, Gil – not so many people have as many numbers as you do! Lots of folks have singles, some have a few doubles, but 60 is like tagging third while making a triple: HA! I MADE IT! 😆
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Yep, and bent over gasping for breath…. 🙂
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I kinda got the feeling, after reading Glavine’s comments, that he won’t be pitching again. I agree that he should at least throw ONE more pitch at Turner Field. When your body breaks down, it breaks down and there’s not a thing you can really do about it.
And I most surely know what he’s talking about when he said he’s had more than enough of the rehab! It is very hard, painful WORK.
At least he got back into a Braves uniform before this happened.
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“Yep, and bent over gasping for breath…
That doesn’t matter. You MADE it! SAFE!!
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Now, if I can just manage to not get picked off…. I don’t think I can steal home anymore
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😆 No, I wouldn’t try a steal home! 😆 Just stay on the bag and you got it made!
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Hey CL, I had a friend of mine spend last week-end in Southport. I had recommended he check out the islands in Brunswick rather than go to Myrtle Beach next summer for his vacation. He and his wife loved it… Well, Ocean Isle not so much but really like the area…
Our reservations are made for the week of the 22nd of August this year. Please plan accordingly… 🙂
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Happy Birthday Gil!!! (((hug)))!
Looks like we’re hitting the road Fri. (at about 5 am. groan!). So I’ll be checking in from the laptop for the next 2 months or so.
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Oh, lordy mercy! Obama has deemed me to be a threat to National Security! 😯 😯 😯
I’m pro-life, pro-American, I believe in the right to bear arms, I am against socialism, I’m conservative, I’m a born-again Bible-believing Christian…..yep. A National Threat.
(Didn’t Hitler do that to large groups in Germany??)
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If you are interested, a link to the 9.12 petition:
http://www.912petitions.com/
I signed it.
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Happy Birthday, Gil! Nice round number…lots of experience, too!
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OK – you HAVE to watch this! You will not believe what you hear – from Britain’s Got Talent TV show:
(I’ve watched it several times now. Just incredible!!)
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Don’t you just love it when your preconceived notions are blown out of the water? Great clip..
And thanks all for the birthday wishes…. I was good, I did not go out and buy myself a new convertible to ease my feelings of being old… I guess I was just too tired… 🙂
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CL…saw that the other night. She sounds just like the character in Les Miserable…Fontine, I believe. If you’ve seen the play, you’re fortunate; if not, you should try. Incredible! When this song, of several, is sung, there is scarcely a dry eye in the house. Ms. Boyle just shows you don’t judge a book by its cover!
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CNN Reporter Harassed at Chicago “Tea-Party”
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WHO was doing the harassing???? “obviously viewers of the right-wing, conservative Fox network…”
If a reporter asks a question, does not the person have the opportunity to answer without the reporter overtalking him? Or, if you ask a question and are getting an answer you don’t like, you overtalk them?
They are clueless as to what is happening and why.
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CL, can’t you see her giving grief to someone from Code Pink??? Saying how many more people would die if the troops came home tomorrow??? Me neither.
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Did I mention the Marlins scare me??? 😯
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And as I say that, the braves have closed a 4-1 deficit to 4-3, bases loaded!
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4-4 in the 5th!
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Blaine Boyer sucks… 😡
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Yep! So does everyone not named Soriano and Gonzalez. 8 walks??? 2 hit by pitches???
Yuck. Game over, 10-4 good buddy. 😕
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Ok, IMHO…Moylan is pitching way too soon after Tommy John surgery. Needs to go to AAA. Boyer is only throwing 91, clearly something is wrong. He needs to get his arm checked out and if ok, he needs to go down as well. Like V said, too much talent in the minors to put up with this crappola. Campillo is a starter, should be traded to a team that needs one, for some live arm. Garrett needs to go on the DL.
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I think we all saw Andruw getting off to a start like this! 😯
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3520
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Happy belated birthday, Mr. Gil. Hey, no matter the aches and pains, it’s all good as long as you’re planting Azaleas and not pushing up daisies.
Last night was another game that I’m not disappointed to have missed. It seems year after year the bullpen is a black hole and this year is no different. Guess Boyer is dating Bobby’s granddaughter or something.
Is Wren still shopping? Hope so but think not. We need so many things to fill this team out: A clutch hitting first bagger, a healthy big bopper in left, another quality, tested, healthy starting pitcher and a complete bullpen. Soriano and Gonzo both scare me…. like accidents waiting to happen. Oh, better add a medicine man to ward off injuries too… or plenty of rubber bands, chewing gum and band-aids.
Other than that, we should be fine. It’s early. Yepper… early.
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Yes, Boyer had a torn laburnum and has never fully recovered from it I don’t think. He is too young to know how to get people out by pitching because he never had to do that before. He had the power arm and could blow people away with a live fastball.
Moylan is still a work in progress, so is Gonzo. Let’s hope KK can carry the team deep today. The bullpen has been exposed.
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SG: Good to hear from you…
I am concerned with the bully to a degree, but you and I are a little off on details. Gonzo and Soriano do not concern me, but Moylan does. He is obviously not ready to be back from his TJ. Boyer is lost. There is a guy blessed with an electric arm and a power shortage between the ears. He should be the casualty the Jo-Jo is added. As for Wren shopping, there are quality arms in the system, they just need to add them. Medlen and Marek are two examples of guys who can get outs. It’d just be nice to get them one more year of seasoning.
5th starter? We got one; his name’s Jo-Jo. And if he can’t handle it, Charlie can. I think Jo-Jo is ready this year though. He has a new mindset and another year of maturity. And remember, a 5th starter only gets 14 or 15 starts anyway. Hanson, you say? Like the M&M boys, I’d sure like TommyH to get one more year of seasoning.
First base? I actually like Kotch over there. Would I rather see an Albert Pujols or Derek Lee? Sure, but there just aren’t that many of those guys around. And I’d rather have Kotch than Mr. Second Half Teixeira. And Kotch’s glove will save a run here and there as well…
Left field? That’s my biggest concern. GA looks really bad out there. Is it the calf injury? Doesn’t matter; it’s part of the package we have. What a disappointment! Diaz is not faring much better. (Those way outside pitches he waved at last night in the 8th inning with the tying run on 3B made him look really bad.) LF is definitely a problem. Maybe BJones gets his shot after all. Can’t be much worse, can it?
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And I forgot about Chipper… We simply cannot afford to have him on the pine. Period. He is the single most important bat in that lineup. Friggin’ thumb… unbelievable…
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12:10pm gametime today? Crazy…
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Well, it at least clears the deck for alternate programming tonight…
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Yes… it is Har Har Tharsday on Cartoon Network. 😀
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I just had the pleasure of listening to the radio broadcast for a little while. I like what I have heard of Jim Powell so far. He has a little personality, although he is of the new generation of broadcast “voices”. Don is typical Don. He is very knowledgeable, and does an overall good job, BUT… he made the call on both of the Braves scores making it 3-1 and 3-2, and of course Don stressed the 3 on both calls. 🙄
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V, his wife probably said he should do that, or that she liked that. 😉
At least it’s something you recall about him, most guys that have come along in the last 10-15 years, nothing is different about them, than anyone else.
I have warmed up to Joe and Boog, they are relaxed, you don’t feel like they might get fired at any moment…as it seems with the way some guys announce games.
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Gil, I didn’t know Boyer had labrum issues. Jeff Bennett threw a 93 MPH pitch, and according to the Joe or Boog, it was a 2 seemer. Whether it is or isn’t, its harder than what Boyer was doing last night. Was anyone DL’ed, or sent down???
And why is the game on now, anyways????
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Man, they just showed a play Prado made at 3rd, went to his left, rolled, and threw out the runner at 3rd, from the seat of his pants!!! Wow!!! That better be on the baseball tonights web jems…tonight!
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Georgetown Says It Covered Over Name of Jesus to Comply With White House Request.
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46667
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Swept! 😯
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Did I hear them say it was the first time the Marlins did that here???
Did I ever mention that the Marlins scare me???? 😯
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The Marlins have talent, but they also have holes… kinda like the Braves. The Braves just simply didn’t get the job done. They walked too many runs in, hit too many batters, and failed to drive in crucial runs…
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Somehow I saw that coming, the sweep by Florida that is. I just did not want to paint the devil on the wall. Better things await in Pittsburgh methinks…
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Gil, I just hope the Pirates don’t play us like they did early in the year, last year…of course, they don’t have Nady or Jason Bay anymore…
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VOR, glad to hear your good review of Powell, since I’ll be listening on radio for the next 7 weeks.
That was an amazing play by Prado. He better have made Webgems!
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OK, kids, I need to try to get some sleep. Have to get up at 4 am. Whimper.
I’ll check in either tomorrow night or the next, depending on when the laptop gets unpacked. Be good.
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Praying for safe travel FBG… (as if she could see this before the travel is done…)
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Hummm, moving from Florida to north Georgia…. reverse snow bird effect???
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Good Afternoon everyone!
A bit more of that completely unbiased CNN reporter that you didn’t see on CNN(Well, they didn’t film this part)
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/04/16/what-cnn-didnt-show-roesgens-chicago-tea-party-interviews
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Oh, and I forgot to mention, Prado had the number 1 web gem yesterday!!! 🙂
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All quiet on the eastern front… Long day of running errands.
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The Braves strong start seems an anomaly at this point, as the Braves pretty much suck.
Well, maybe that’s a bit strong. They are better than some clubs I suppose. Maybe… we’ll see. To be fair and probably more accurate, I’d say we have an average team. Maybe a little below average.
Average first baseman, average second, average shortstop, injury prone and aging third baseman, above average catcher, above average left, rookie center and average right field. Then, in the pitching department we have two above average starting pitchers and an above average closer. The rest of the pen is either average, coming off of injury below average or well below average. We also have a below average manager.
Still, with a few key acquisitions at first and left and starting pitching, we could get the most out of the rest, move them up a notch on the enthusiasm scale and win our share of games and maybe make a run for it. Without that, I hate to say it but… we have a fourth place team. With a lot of luck, third.
Hey, it’s just the way it is. Agree or not, there are too many things working against the Braves these last four years. Liberty Media has an effect. Managers have an effect. Age, injuries, rookies and other teams in our division have an effect.
Thing is, after three seasons of this I really don’t feel the least bit aggravated or riled up about it. With all the givens, it’s not a big surprise or anything. I’m not going negative on the Braves or trying to be a downer, but no amount of ‘homer’ in me can change what I see on the TV and in the box scores. Average or not, I’ll pull for our guys all year, but it’s gonna be a long summer.
All this while Cox once again says, “it’s a game of inches”. Right. Many, many inches. And feet. And yards and miles.
Sigh…
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Early days SG, early days….
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Gil, you are right, it is early…but I feel SG is pretty close to what is going on as well(Though I think Yunel is above average)What’s bothering me…is Bobby is still coaching this team like last year’s team.
Schafer has speed. Lots of it I hear. In 10 games, he has 9 hits and 4 walks. 2 hits were homers. Can’t steal then, but he has been on 1st or 2nd 11 other times. How many steals does he have??? NONE. Not even one attempt. Even McCann has one steal.
Why??? Well, everytime I see him on 1st with less than 2 outs, Bobby acts like it’s McCann on first, and has the pitcher bunt him over. Then you have him on 2nd with 1 or 2 outs. Which means KJ, hitting .270, is supposed to drive him in. But, the odds aren’t really in favor of that. And I forever see him stuck at 2nd. What in the world is wrong with him stealing 2nd, then getting bunted over??? Then all Kelly has to do is lift one in the air to get a run home. Or a wild pitch. It puts pressure on the opposing team’s defense. Bobby has to know this, right??? So…why isn’t he running him???
And I know you all know how I feel about having a team with so few non-pitchers. Chipper can’t play, Yunel is hurt, GA is hurt. So, Campillo goes on the DL, what does Bobby do?? Get’s another pitcher called up! 🙄
I know the bullpen sucks, but what if Frenchy rolled his ankle? Infante can’t play 2 positions at the same time.
I just don’t get it. The Braves seem to forever end up in predicaments like this.
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Make sure your stomach can take it, Obama giving a very friendly handshake and hand on the shoulder of noted dictator Hugo Chavez, on drudge.
Also in news of the insanity we live in today…
New pollution limits possible for cars, big plants
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/04/18/epa_greenhouse_emissions.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
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Ber, he is just getting advice from another mentor….
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Yes, Gil… it is early. Thing is, that’s what we’ve said this time of year for the last 3 years. It gets to be a habit that, after repeating it so much, we start to believe it. Hey, I’m as much a homer as anyone, but when a team starts using the rationale like “it’s early”, then you know we’re off to a less than ideal start. You never hear winning teams in April say, “it’s early”.
Interspersed with multiple “why did Bobby do that?” here are some other loser phrases I hope we don’t get accustomed to using:
April: “It’s early.”
May: “It’s still early. We have talent.”
June: “We’ll be OK. Mets and Phillies will slump too.”
July: “Lotta season left.”
Aug: “We’d better get it going.”
Sept: “If we could just snap off about 8 wins.”
Oct: “We’ll get’em next year. If only we had just…”
November through March: “If we could sign a (insert 20 names) or signed a (insert another twenty names), we’d have been a contender. If only Liberty would…”
Still… Go Braves!
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I’m not ready to see the glass half empty. Doesn’t mean I don’t recognize that the Marlins have put together a pretty nice team and cheap too… Not going to complain about money not spent either… see above comment.
Just that I know it is a long season. Not like the Braves are anymore out of it than the rest of the NL East.
Now I’ll admit winning is a heck of a lot more fun than losing. However, I have been very conditioned to losing. Life in the minors does that to you.
And Schafer is clueless right now…. Needs to go across town to Gwinett and bring up Anderson… Oh that’s right, Anderson is starting for the Tigers… My bad… 🙂 (is there an emotioncon to denote sarcasm?
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Gil, the : P one, 😛 that is pretty sarcastic, IMHO.
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Man, what a weird bounce on that ball hit to center! Slicing to Schafers left, then bouncing to his right! was lucky he didn’t tear up his knee. Pirates lead 2-0 in the 6th…how many innings have the braves gone without scoring???
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Gee, Jo-Jo was looking so good, then the 6th happened. 5-0. Odds on braves winning this game??? 100-1??? 1000-1???
Hope to peeve those in charge of such things, and the braves come back 7-6!!!
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Couldn’t find out who had been moved to make room for Jo-Jo on espn’s site, but just found out on Mlb.com
Designated RHP Blaine Boyer for assignment 😯
Still bet we hear down the road it’s his arm again. Wonder if he will clear waivers.
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Oh lady, Carolina Lady…where are you??? Tax season is over! 😉
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Well, happy for Craig Monroe, 😕 just wish he’d done this against another team. Both homers looked exactly the same.
Now, if we just score 9, we are right back in this thing!
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Nice to see McCann playing every inning of a day game 10-0 blowout,after playing the night before as well. He’s young, and we might have lost the last 5 games if he wasn’t playing…oh wait, we have.
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It’s not half empty or half full… it’s just glass. Average, grape jelly Flintstones glass. 😀
What are we now, 24 consecutive innings without scoring a run? And now two shutouts against the Pirates. Maybe we can squeak out a win tomorrow and avoid Pittsburg sweepage.
Not sure if I’ve ever typed anything quite like that before. Yikes.
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Man, if things weren’t bad enough….
McCann bothered by blurred vision in left eye.
http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/04/18/braves_brian_mccann_eye.html
I would never have that surgery, I hear some people have a lot of problems several years after the procedure.
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McCann 1 for 20 and a blurry eye. Hmmm… sounds like the old, ‘blurry-eyed slump’ strikes again. Or maybe it’s the old, Braves cleanup dilimma. Mac should try the old Maddux routine of blasting his eyes between every inning with a super-sized bottle of eyewash. I’ll bet Greg went through a quart of that stuff every night he pitched. Worked for him.
Chippers thumb, Mac’s eye, Garret’s calf, Glavine’s shoulder… shades of 2008. Did somebody kill a goat at the Ted?
OK, enough Downsville stuff in Stuffville. How’s this: It’s April 18th, we’ll get’em next year! 😆
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Speaking of bad eyes… mine must be really going. I can barely see what I type when I write a post, it’s so tiny. Is there an adjustment or do I just strap a magnifying glass to my face? Maybe there’s a WP adjustment somewhere I can find.I’m talking 4 point font size. Old courier font at that. 😯
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SG, I don’t know about font type, but if you are using mozilla, click on view, and then zoom…have to do it a few times, but it works better than IE’ size increaser.
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Wow… after getting caught up on the ol’ B&S blog, sounds like we need to fire Bobby, send Schafer down to Myrtle Beach, release the entire infield and run up the white flag. I wonder if Liberty can just write off the rest of the season and save us all the heartache? After all, we’re gonna go 5-157 anyway, right? 😐
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Hey, gang!
Haven’t disappeared – just working furiously trying to make up for several MONTHS of lost time working on the genealogy project that someone has been waiting on since I started it in Feb ’08. I’m getting there….. Did NOT count on all these medical problems!
Braves: again? or still?
I’ll have to say I’m really disappointed in GAnderson’s performance to date. Yes, I realize that muscles can be troublesome to heal (tell me about it!!!), but just not what I expected at all. Let’s see what the next month shows us. sigh…..
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from ajc:
“After struggling during the last two months of the 2008 season, Boyer was off to a rough start in 2009, posting a 40.50 ERA and .429 opponents’ average in three relief appearances.”
40.50???
Wonder what is the highest ERA a pitcher has ever had….
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infinity CL! I don’t know what they put down in the record books, but I have heard of guys giving up a homer, never getting an out, and never getting a chance to pitch again.
His arm is hurt, guaranteed. Maybe he doesn’t feel it, but 91, 92??? Carlyle, and Bennett throw 93-94….
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infinity CL! I don’t know what they put down in the record books, but I have heard of guys giving up a homer, never getting an out, and never getting a chance to pitch again.
His arm is hurt, guaranteed. Maybe he doesn’t feel it, but 91, 92??? Carlyle, and Bennett throw 93-94….
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Hi folks, I missed the game yesterday, did anything happen I should know about?
Well, I am still not ready to throw in the towel but I sure do seem to need it to wipe my brow a lot. Yep, we have seen this nightmare before haven’t we?
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Gil, I saw some of the game on the radio. We had’em right where we wanted’em until the end. Anyway, as Bobby might say, “we hit a few lazers that were caught, thought we pitched well, game of inches, etc.” No, don’t throw in the towel. Best to keep it close so you can put it over your head and not see certain innings, ala Curt Schilling back when he was a Phillie watching their “wild thing” (name escapes me) closer.
Raisins, no white flag needed just yet… maybe a yellow flag. As in: Caution, mediocre season ahead, so relax and enjoy the American pastime and don’t let the occasional comment on the apparent (possible, probable… pick one) reality of the home team keep you from thinking the Braves will take it all this year. 😆
As in the eighties, they could’ve been contenders with an acquisition or two or six. There’s always hope I s’pose, but don’t bet on hope. But then, we fans can go against our own better judgment a bit in sports.
Hey, winning sure beats the heck out of losing in the enjoyment department, but if it’s only fun to think, week after week, month after month that the Bravos are gonna come close or win the division each year, then by all means, don’t let the game results, the injuries, the manager, the owner, coaches or contradictory opines get in the way of your enjoyment. I have no unreasonable expectations for our team winning the division this year. I’ll hope I’m wrong, but I’ll still enjoy the games. Maybe in July you’ll have a moment of clarity, go negative and I’ll throw some Homer chips into the pot. 😀
Now, birds, bugs, gardens and stuff: Had a National Geographic moment yesterday. Came home and saw a pile what looked to be something burnt on the ground near some azaleas, about twenty feet from my back door. I went out to see what it was and, when I got just a few feet out the door I realized what it was and slowly turned around and went back inside. It was feathers. Black feathers. A pile of them. That meant only one thing: there was a hawk nearby and I didn’t want to disturb.
So, back in the house with face pressed against the glass I surveyed the trees and sure enough, there he was… a very big Marsh Hawk, enjoying his Blackbird lunch. I’d seen this before. They swoop in, land on their prey and dispatch them quickly… almost instantly. Then, on the ground they’ll walk their catch over to cover, usually beside or underneath an overhanging bush. Then they proceed to pluck until all the feathers are removed.
If they have a nest with chicks they’ll eat the heart and fly the carcass home. If not, they’ll have a big meal all to themselves. This particular hawk was evidently without kids. A beautiful bird, with probably a four and a half foot wing span and huge feet. I had no sympathy at all for the blackbird, who probably followed the hawk around and pestered him along with the squawking crows. It was animal justice and dinner all in one fell swoop.
Then, as I watched him with my binoculars even though he was only thirty feet away, he did something I’ve never seen before. After he finished him meal and before he preened himself, he started chomping away on some resurrection fern growing on the Live Oak limb. Anyway, he seemed to want a little salad for dessert. Either that or he was just cleaning his beak. That must be it… cleaning, not eating.
The Bluebirds have nested back in their little cedar home. Mama’s on the eggs and Papa’s huntin’ bugs. The garden is finally planted with about eight varieties of ‘maters and a half dozen varieties of peppers. Okra seed goes in today. Should’a done that weeks ago. Where does the time go? I’m thinking about cantaloupe this year but haven’t had much luck the few times I’ve planted those.
After aggravating Mama bluebird yesterday clanging around the garden, I went over by the compost pile and dug up some juicy grubs and worms and tossed’em on the drive near her box. Pappa B came along ten minutes later and scooped’em up and picked up a takeout for Mamma B. I was surely forgiven for gardening and futzing around the birdhouse all afternoon.
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Whew… Lots of chores done this morning, now baseball.. Came in to find the Braves up by three, then was able to watch the top of the fourth and Prado’s clutch homer. Up by 6 now, hope we can hold them off…
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Braves, up 10 to zippo, zilch, zero, nada, goose egg, nuttin’.
We will surely win the East! 😛
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Well, certainly better than being on the opposite end of that score. And the Gnats will likely play like all-stars against the Braves after getting beat by the Marlins. I hate going in to play a team that is due…
Richbrave and I are riding up to DC Tuesday to see the Braves play. Anyone know who is scheduled to pitch for the Bravos?
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Gil, Lowe is going tomorrow…wait, just saw a link on probable pitchers.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers.jsp?c_id=atl
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Susan Boyle sings “Cry Me A River”
http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/4B4F4DB9-1892-49E4-9CF6-AEF78DBAC855/
Wow.
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Good morning all, pretty quiet in Stuffville this AM it appears. It’s raining here, back to priming for May flowers I guess. At least I will not have to tote water to the azaleas today (or tomorrow for that matter)…
Any takers on a bet the Nationals claiming Boyer off waivers? I think Randy StClair could get him straightened out. Lord knows the Gnats could use the bullpen help. The kid just has to understand he is not John Smotz…
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Gil, I think Boyer is the classic “million dollar arm, ten cent head” kid. He has issues between the ears. He showed flashes of potential, but did he ever perform well consistently? I can’t recall if he did…
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Yes Raisins, big difference between can’t and won’t but results are usually the same…. Much like Andruw…
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CL, that recording is amazing! So amazing I didn’t even think it was her! To think that was 10 years ago and no one noticed her then…
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Boyer in 2005 3.11 ERA in 43 games.
Last year pre all star ERA 3.93. .237 BA against. Post all star 11.17 😯 .321 BA against.
Think Soriano. Only dumber, afraid to say his arm hurts.
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Cardinals Acquire Blaine Boyer For Brian Barton
By Tim Dierkes [April 20 at 3:46pm CST]
According to a press release, the Cardinals acquired reliever Blaine Boyer from the Braves for outfielder Brian Barton.
Boyer, 27, was designated for assignment on Saturday to make room for Jo-Jo Reyes. When he’s right, Boyer is able to get strikeouts and groundballs. Last year he dealt with a sore knee.
Barton, 26, was taken by the Cardinals from the Indians in the 2007 Rule 5 draft. He hit .268/.354/.392 in 179 plate appearances last year while playing mostly left field. Barton, an aerospace engineering major in college, was a well-regarded five-tool player prior to a 2006 knee injury. Atlanta’s less-crowded outfield should present a better opportunity than St. Louis.
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Wow… rocket science….
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I am glad they got something for Boyer, sort of like trading in a Pinto for a Vega….
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OK, I just wrote a long post about all the stuff I’ve been doing & the laptop ate it. Suffice to say I’ve been busy.
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Hey, it only took 12 minutes to post. Have I mentioned that this laptop hates me? Yes?
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At least it wasn’t a Pinto for a Yugo. Or a hornet. Or a Gremlin.
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FBG, don’t be silly… computers can’t hate. They are inanimate objects.
They do disrespect though. Those little buggers know our hot buttons and push’em on occasion just to get back at us for tickling them all day.
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Wow, there can’t be more than a few hundred people at the stadium tonight.
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in the pouring rain, I might add……
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This blog is almost as populated as the stadium! 😆
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from SI.com:
“ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals got help for a needy bullpen on Monday, acquiring right-hander Blaine Boyer from the Atlanta Braves for minor league outfielder Brian Barton.”
Umm, did they do any scouting before they agreed to this??
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Hey, I’m here! 😛
Watching Dean Martin roast of…Dean Martin!
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Slumping, average Braves lose to the surging powerhouse Nationals, 3-2.
There’s no fire in the team right now and no logic in the lineup card as usual. Some managers set the tone and light the match. Some don’t. Some watch, some see. Managers surely see in players what fans don’t. So, Kotchman has “cleanup” written all over him.
Must be as a tattoo under his jersey.
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Guess it’s a good thing I decided to watch Dean Martin roasts, than the game. 😕 Did I mention one roast was of Hank Aaron??? Eddie Matthews was the braves manager at the time, and was there as well!
Like Gil said, not good to face teams way overdo to win a few games.
I see Shafer was batting 7th at least. I see he had a walk. Did Ross bunt him over so Lowe could have a crack at driving him in??? double 😕
No steal attempts again, yet the nationals stole 2 bases, weird, huh???
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sort of like trading in a Pinto for a Vega…
😆
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Kotchman has “cleanup” written all over him
And who does? Ross? Shafer? Francoeur? Unless Chipper can bat both 3rd and cleanup, I don’t really see anybody else that fits the mold. Kotch was as good as anybody. Classic crap shoot, heavy on the crap.
I sense that you simply do not like Kotchman. I get it. But I am curious as to whom you would have batted 4th instead. I also sense that it would not matter, because you also have a strong dislike for Bobby. That I don’t get. But we know we disagree there, so… que sera… Disagreement is OK unless you start testing missiles over the Pacific.
I give Diaz all the credit in the world for working his tail off to be a serviceable Major League left fielder. But he’s nobody’s All-star. With GAnderson turning into a world class bust and Mac out with blurred vision, there is nobody else in the lineup besides Chipper to make a pitcher tremble.
The Braves need a power bat in left… period. Like I said, I respect Diaz. But last night’s homer aside, he ain’t it.
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Now… that being said, how would I have set last night’s lineup? Glad you asked. I would have done it slightly differently. Mine would have looked like this:
KJ
Yunel
Chipper
Franc
Kotch
Diaz
Ross
Schafer
I don’t understand batting Ross 8th and Schafer 7th. Ross is not Corky Miller. And Schafer is better 8th where the pitcher can bunt him over – like JV. Maybe Bobby didn’t want a slow Ross ahead of the speedy Schafer on the bases? That I could see. And really, Franc & Kotch… not much difference except righty/lefty.
Bottom line is, there is only one real cleanup option, that being Mac. When he’s out… and GAnderson is out… 😐
Maybe when Mac is out, you could move Schafer to the top and everybody else down a notch. That’d probably tick Chipper off, but what else you gonna do? Bat Kotch 4th? Oh, yeah… we did that…
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OK… Brian Barton…
He’s 27, 6’3″, 190 pounds. He bats right, throws right.
He spent all of 2008 on the Cards roster after being a Rule 5 pickup from Cleveland. He did not make the ML roster this year and was assigned to AAA Memphis.
His ’08 stats were: 153 AB’s in 82 games, 2 H, 9 2b, 3 3b, .268 Avg., .354 OBP, .392 SLG, 13 RBI, 39 K’s, 19 walks, 3 SB’s. He batted .289 as a pinch-hitter.
In 2007, he was #86 on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list, and Cleveland’s #4 rated prospect prior to knee surgery later that year.
And as Gil alluded to, and as the guy across the street reported, “Barton is a rocket scientist. Really. He attended the University of Miami where he was one semester shy of a degree in aerospace engineering. He had undergraduate internships with Boeing and NASA.”
The kid hits right handed, has power, and plays all 3 outfield spots. It sounds like a potentially good trade for both teams.
And I’d take a Vega over a Pinto anyway. Ever seen a Vega with a Chevy 350 in it?
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Ah the Vega… Another victim of poor engine design from GM… Steel push rods, aluminum valve guides… duh….
And looks like it will be a long night in store for me… rain predicted for game time in Washington. Maybe not such a good idea to get advance tickets to a National’s game. Not Fenway after all… Oh well, one must take the good with the bad, or so I have been told.
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I sense that you simply do not like Kotchman. I get it. I also sense that … you also have a strong dislike for Bobby. That I don’t get.
Raisins, I don’t dislike or strongly dislike either man. Just a respectful home team baseball posit and performance criticism that we apparently don’t agree upon. Nothing to get worked up over.
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Howdy, SG. I am not worked up. Just posit-ing myself. As I said, disagreement is OK as long as you don’t start lobbing missiles across the border.
I think we both agree on much more than we disagree on. The team is flawed in that a missing key individual here and there really cripples the lineup. With Chipper missing several games already, now McCann, and the missing GAnderson I was hoping to see (not the one we currently have – oh, wait… we don’t even have him), the team has a definite lack of thunder. I thought, and still do think, that having a lineup rife with gap hitters makes for a potent team. The problem is that the key guys have been MIA too much.
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Carroll Rogers:
The visit with the specialist went well for McCann. He was fitted with a contact for his left eye, that should fit better than the one he tried recently. He thinks he can play with this and get through to the end of the season and if he has to have more Lasik surgery he could have it then. His eyesight has changed in his left eye since the Lasik surgery and he’s more nearsighted in that eye. But he has no regrets for having it. He’s in the lineup tonight.
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That’s good news on McCann! Sure hope it helps him!
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I hope so too!
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Let’s see…….
There was something very special about April 22……
What was it?……
OH!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SALTY!!!
May there be MANY more!!!
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The US Navy Presidential Ceremonial Guard Drill Team in international competition in Norway.
http://www.whc.net/rjones/USN/USN_team.html
They won and you can surely see why!
One more reason to be bursting with pride over our military!
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Gonna try to find sleep. Again. 😀
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Happy birthday Mr. Salt!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And like the lady said, and many more!!!! 😀
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Gosh do I ever love being sick and unable to sleep! 😛
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How about them braves! Man, do they ever inspire confidence, or what??? 😕
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Happy Birthday NaCly!!!
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Brian Barton, acquired by Atlanta from the St. Louis organization on Monday in exchange for reliever Blaine Boyer, is driving from Memphis and should arrive during today’s 2 p.m. series finale with Durham.
The speedy outfielder will be activated on Thursday for the start of the G-Braves’ four-game home series with Charlotte. Gwinnett, at the player maximum of 24, will have to make a roster move at that time.
Barton, who turns 27 on Saturday, played in 82 games with St. Louis last season, batting .268. The California native can play all three outfield spots and has a strong arm. He starred in the College World Series for Miami and played in the Cleveland organization for five seasons before being claimed by St. Louis in the winter draft. — Gwinnett Daily Post
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Good morning all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SALTY…. Twas a great day for all of us… 🙂
Now baseball… Uh, this team is lacking fire, too bad they have banned bennies in the majors, this team could use some.
KK looks to be an interesting case. Really strikes me as a number four guy in a rotation. Does have a lot of deception in his pitches ranging from 67mph to 92mph on the radar gun. However, I seems pretty evident to me that other teams have adopted a very patient approach to hitting when facing Braves starters. Kerswin had tossed over 80 pitches to the Nats last night by the 4th inning. You knew the Nationals were going to get to him.
As fr the Braves, they ran themselves out of the game last night. At least three base running errors cost the team last night.
Jordan was swinging for the fences last night in his first at bat but he cut down on that big looping swing by this second appearance. Diaz showed us why he is not a gold glover when he seeming got lost on a fly from Austin Kerns that bounced past him to the wall for a triple.
In the field Schafer did make a couple of outstanding defensive plays.
My final analysts, two teams playing for last place in the NL East and the Braves acted like they wanted the spot more. If you cant get a guy home from third with nobody out, you are not going to win many ballgames.
On Nationals Park. Nice park, lots of concessions, people are friendly, seats are comfortable, sightlines and view are very nice. Not as nice as Camden Yards in Baltimore but much more comfortable than Turner Field. Driving through Washington is always an adventure, you just have to be aggressive…
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Gil: The Braves absolutely lack fire… I think Schafer will be OK as soon as he acclimates himself. He himself said his big baserunning mistake came due to not being used to batting 8th – ahead of the pitcher. He basically said he realized as he was rounding second that if he gets thrown out at 3rd, the pitcher leads off the next inning, so he tried to stop and go back, but it was too late.
SG: I am so disappointed in the LF situation, I could cry. Diaz just simply is not an everyday ML LF. And GAnderson is constantly one tweaked muscle from the DL. He hasn’t impressed when he’s been in the lineup either. Having stellar defense but average offense from 1B is acceptable if LF shows up sometimes, but with nothing from LF, 1B becomes magnified. Is it too early to scour the trade market? One big bat could make an immeasurable difference on this team.
Also SG: I have the utmost respect for Bobby Cox, and I really believe he gets a bad rap in many circles, but this lack of intensity that seems present right now has to be stemmed by someone. The buck surely stops at Bobby’s locker. Bobby works hard to earn the respect of his players, and he leads by pulling not by pushing. That being said, maybe it’s time he turned over a water cooler or two. Something needs to wake this sleeping team.
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Gil, sounds like you had a good time, in spite of the score.
KK…I sure hope things work out for him…for many reasons, not the least of which, $$$.
Japanese starters seem to like to nitpit, don’t they?? I guess hitters there are more aggressive, so it pays to be cautious there.
I laughed when you said at least 3 baserunning errors cost the team, because I was thinking stealing of bases. Silly me. 2 steals all season. Schafer hasn’t attempted one yet.
I checked his minor league numbers, looks like he’s not a base stealer like Josh Anderson. I thought he was supposed to be faster than him???
Has anyone ever been ROTY while batting 8th????
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V, I don’t know what to think of LF. G.A. has to be given a chance, right??? He picked a really terrible time to get hurt…
No one including the Braves seemed to like the idea of Ryan Ludwick. Well, right now he has 5 HR’s, 16 RBI’s and a .378 BA. He’s protecting Fat Albert, so I don’t think the Cards would trade him for KJ now.
But, they sure have way too many outfielders. Chris Duncan can play just as lousy a lf as Diaz, but He’s hitting .362 with 2 HR’s and 11 RBI’s. (.446 OBP!!!)
Rick Ankiel’s off to a slow start, .227 no homers, 3 RBI’s but last year he hit 25 HR’s in part time role. If he played left, instead of center, no one would ever run on him, ever!!!
So, anyone of those above make sense for us if GA can’t get it together???
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Funny… I think…
Yeah, definitely funny:
😆
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Oh, I forgot to mention, Colby Rasmus is a rookie, and seems to be the CF now…
Ankiel and Duncan are both lefties, sadly enough. Ludwick bats right handed. But I think that ship has sailed.
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Hope you had a really nice time at the game, Gil! The Mighty Nats struck again!
Garrett has thus far been a terrible disappointment.
And here we are limping along again. 😦
I love Bobby Cox, but he needs to retire. Somebody has to light a fire under this lot.
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Well, if the fans stop showing up, that will get noticed and quickly. Have you all noticed how sparse some of the crowds have been around the country?? Peter Gammons said attendance was down 6% so far this year, but some crowds I have seen…some homer in Cleveland to right field, all 3 decks were just about empty. They were snickering on baseball tonight that if they left right after the show, they could still get the ball. Don’t think there was rain involved either.
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Just an observation… The laid back corporate style of the Braves would work well if you had a bunch of established high valued stars like the Yankees. The quiet confidence to go about their business and just wear everyone down. However, it’s my opinion that when you have a lot of young players who have not yet made their mark, you must employ a little more whip and a lot less carrot. The need to earn the right to be treated as an equal… Bobby needs to kick some butt starting with Terry Pendleton..
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Good point Gil! This is not the same team Bobby had that one every year…there was no point kicking that team, he just knew they’d get it in gear eventually.
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I agree in that I think Bobby’s management style has not adapted to the requirements of the team. And he doesn’t have the benefit of a Pat Corrales, et al to take up the slack. Chino, as far as I can determine, is useless. Don’t think Hubbard is very vocal. Don’t know about Snitker. Eddie could easily do it but he’s in the ‘pen and dealing with pitchers.
It’s a mis-match all the way around. Good people all, but not in the right positions.
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EVERYBODY…thank you very, very much for the birthday wishes! 😆 You’re a special group!
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You’re so very welcome, Salty! Hope this was a really GOOD day for you!
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Good morning all, Well last night’s game was a good one. While the offense did not exactly tear the cover off the ball, the pitching was top drawer. I am especially encouraged by Soriano. He looked the part of a closer last night.
A day off for the team today and then to Cincy…
And the Pirates sweep the fish… Imagine that, pretty good team in Pittsburgh I would say.
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Yes, Soriano was bonafide closer tough last night. The Nats batters looked completely overmatched against him.
It was interesting to hear the announcers call the game “a good win for the Braves”. Well, every win is good in that context, but a good win? A win is a win is a win is a win and I’ll take ’em every time, but hardly good from the standpoint that it took a bases loaded walk in the 9th to produce the only run.
This team is surely different from the established champions from the 90’s, and their requirements are just as different. There is gonna come a time in the very near future when Bobby walks away, in his own time which he has earned, and someone is going to have to fill some very large shoes. You never want to be the guy to follow the legend. You want to be the guy who follows the guy who follows the legend. And I know it’s easy to take shots at the coaching staff, but what exactly is Chino doing? Maybe there is alot of behind the scenes stuff the bench coach does that we can’t see, but then how is TP still carrying the mantle of hitting coach? We can see that… or rather aren’t seeing much. Our hitters are eerily similar in their respective approach, and that comes back to one person – the hitting coach. Loyalty is a fine thing, but not to the detriment of the team. Someone needs to pat TP on the back, buy him a tank of gas for his Harley and point it away from Turner Field.
And since I’m on coaches, I’ll give Roger credit for a staff that is bulldog tough and a ‘pen that is pulling itself together. Maybe the best thing to come from the Boyer trade isn’t the young OF, but the knowledge that you produce, or hasta la vista. Where would we be without our pitchers?
This much I know. If we were getting decent offense and the pitching was lacking, I’d be panicked. But the pitching is there, and the offense will eventually begin to show a pulse.
“It’s still early.” 😀
(I knew y’all would like that…)
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Boy, it chilly this morning… Summer is on the way however, will be in the upper 80s by Saturday… Not a moment too soon for me.
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what exactly is Chino doing? Maybe there is alot of behind the scenes stuff the bench coach does that we can’t see…
Clubhouse buffet
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Yikes! 😯
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/shared-gen/ap/General_Baseball_News/BBA_Umpire_Out.html
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Clubhouse buffet
Ah, yes… but we can see that, can’t we? 🙂
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Yikes #2…
Joey Devine is the latest TJ victim.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/22/SPL0176MB4.DTL&feed=rss.athletics
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Yep, a win is a win and it counts as much as a blowout win, but a commanding win it was not. Two weeks or a month from now it’ll just be a win. For now, it was Lady Luck and an excellent start from Jair.
By the way fellow Stuffians, I haven’t gone to the dark, glass half full side regarding the Braves. Quite the contrary. I’m enjoying watching the games. Well, the ones I’m able to catch anyway, which is fewer than usual.
I’ve just lowered my expectations. We have a very young team, with the exception of Chipper, Lowe, Anderson, Norton and a few others. When Chipper sits and when Garrett rides the DL, our team is so young that McCann and French are the ‘old hands’. That’s very young… and inexperienced. But fun to watch.
Not so fun is seeing them hamstrung by an owner that won’t invest a little bit more in a few high-end guys with big bats (1st and LF) and a manager that is accustomed to (and needs, now more than ever) a seasoned, All-Star roster on the field with a Mazzone and Corrales in the dugout. But that ain’t happnin’. That train has left the station.
This year I haven’t followed the team news that much. Not disinterested, just distracted. Maybe Wren or JS has announced, maybe not but it’s obvious that the Braves are in a rebuilding phase. Well, perhaps it’s not obvious to many fans that just expect pennants every year. If I were Wren, I’d not only announce that but I’d get everyone excited about the young team. Lower expectations but increase excitement for the game, the players and such. Then I’d make sure the players were motivated to give it their all every pitch, every at bat and every inning… or be in a revolving door between Gwinnett AAA and the Bigs at the Ted. Play hard, scrap or play down the road. Anyway, maybe that’s just me.
Me, I’ll be glad when the current regime is gone, from owner, JS, Wren and Cox to all the coaches, replaced by a new, competitive owner and new management group. Then I can look upon the 90’s up to early 2000’s as the ‘glory days’, and my expectations will once again be raised to expect a pennant race in September.
Until then, it’s all about the kids, not necessarily the wins.
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Belated Happy Birthday Salty! And a very belated Happy Happy to all you good birthday folks that I missed.
I’m about to the point of just declaring January 1st as the big birthday and forget the rest. Then I’ll be 39 and holding forever. 😀
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Ouch! Harsh words from Bowman:
While I’m confident that [Jordan] Schafer will prove effective while battling through inevitable strikeouts, I’m also pretty sure the Braves spent about $2.5 million too much on the left field manequin that Scott Boras sold them in February.
When you talk to Garret Anderson, he’s as lifeless as he looks during those few occasions that he’s actually deemed himself healthy enough to be on the field. He’s a nice guy who has had a nice career.
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Whoa! Think Bowman will get many more interviews from GA??
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Well, he calls ’em as we see ’em… er, he calls ’em as he sees ’em. 😀
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I told Richbrave on our ride up to DC that I thought Bowman had gotten himself removed from Garrett Anderson’s Christmas card list with that comment. Pretty unusual for a mouthpiece like Bowman on the MLB Team blog to trash a player like that. True or not, was pretty tactless… funny… but tactless… I wonder why he didn’t rail against Frenchy and Andruw when they were stinking up the joint last year?
Anyway, hope everyone had a good day. Mine was going along swimmingly until the alternator crapped out on the Lexus while Josie was driving it. Thank goodness for AAA. Finally getting a return on my investment….
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Nice article: http://www.ajc.com/fulton/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/04/23/jordan_schafer_news.html
Just shows we are ‘the company we keep’! Just explains why I come here…at least when I can!
Thanks, SG!
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‘Just’ must be my word of the day…just sayin’! 😆
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Just a terrific article, Salty! Just wanted to say thanks!
😛
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Ditto…
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Nice article Salty!
Gil, I have to say good for Bowman, this time. I think G.A. didn’t want to leave the team he played his whole career for the Angels. And since Bowman hasn’t said things like this against Andruw, or Frenchy, speaks volumes. And he knew Frenchy was working his butt off, and Bobby and TP acted like Andruw was working hard, taking a lot of BP.(BP from TP???)
I wonder if G.A. feels like he’s underpaid on top of everything else.
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OK…you got me, CL…and Gil! 🙄 😆
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Fantastic article on Schafer. There is a perfect example of why I like the kid. He has something besides baseball ability that is going to separate him from the crowd. I like his future…
As for GA, he will be evaluated before today and may be DL’d. I think Ber may have hit on something when he says GA may feel underpaid. After all, he kinda was a last minute “better get somebody” signing, way under typical market value. Am I calling him disgruntled? No… but when you don’t feel valued, you may not have the same zeal. I’m just sayin’…
(By the way, if you can be disgruntled, can you be gruntled? Just wonderin’…)
So if GA is DL’d, who gets the call? BJones is my guess. I think the kid might have some game. I’d like to see. I doubt the new guy, Barton, gets the call. I’ll check on his first game with the G-Braves.
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Barton was 1-5 yesterday with a run scored in his first game in LF with the G-Braves.
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Good morning all, looks to be a beautiful weekend on the horizon here in Mechanicsville. A tease of summer… Too early to open the pool but I can think about it.
Big series coming up with the Reds this weekend. Too early to say it’s make or break but the Bravos can turn things around a bit.
And news this morning of 11,000 pigs killed in a fire last night, wow, that is a lot of bar-b-cue…. Big pigout….
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What’s the latest on Tom Glavine? I haven’t heard any news at all lately. In fact, it’s been strangely silent. Of course, he was told on the 14th to rest it for 2 weeks before testing it again. That’s 4 more days from now…
Just for discussion, if Tommy G is done, who gets the spot? Jo-Jo? Charlie? I believe they’d give those 2 a shot in that order before pulling TommyH up from his routine. What about Paul Byrd? He’s “2 weeks” from being ML ready, and says he wants to pitch “close to his Georgia home”. Well, the Ted is pretty close. I’ve seen nothing to link the Braves with Byrd, I’m just speculating since it is a pretty slow news day.
I’ll look for some kind of update on GA…
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V, I’d like to see Brandon Jones get another chance at well. Give him a month of platooning to see if he can, or can’t at this level.
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GA is not in tonight’s lineup, but there is no announcement on his status yet.
Just FYI… 😀
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Salty, 😀
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man, it’s hot today!!!
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GA DL’d… BJones called up. He will be at the game tonight. (Having the AAA team a mere 45 minutes away is kinda handy.)
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Of course… Cincy is a little farther from Gwinnett… 😳
Apparently someone had a little foresight and sent BJones on ahead to Cincy in anticipation of the move.
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Tonight’s lineup:
KJ, 2B
Yunel, SS
Chipper, 3B
Mac, C
Kotch, 1B
Franc, RF
Diaz, LF
Schafer, CF
Vazquez, RH
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Well, is this the beginning of the end of U.S. car companies??? Hope everyone will really enjoy those Chinese cars of our very near future….
http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/24/autos/pontiac_obit/index.htm
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Reds are 9-6, with little offense. Seems like every team has 2-3 really good starters these days, doesn’t it???
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NEW BLOG IS UP!
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