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by Gil in Mechanicsville
After much angst, we all find ourselves wondering if this team can actually make the playoffs. 4&1/2 games back with nearly 6 weeks to go; certainly it will make for interesting theater.
Good pitching beats good hitting, an old adage that has proven true for many seasons. With a National League best ERA, the Braves staff is once again leading the team to resurgence. So, what has changed to allow for the sudden optimism in Atlanta’s chances to again visit the post season after what seems to have been forever? Simple, good pitching combined with timely hitting.
The Braves were on a run when Omar Infante’ suffered an unfortunate
Infante'
injury. It seemed to stop the Braves in their tracks just when the seemed poised to make a run. It was not until the insertion of Martin Prado as an everyday player that the Braves have once again regained a winning form. Now, that is not to say that Kelly Johnson was dragging down the team, only to say no one was providing the spark. At the time, the Braves’ entire offense appeared centered around Chipper Jones and Brian McCann. As they went into their inevitable slump, so did the Braves.
Ryan Church
Fortunately, the much-maligned Frank Wren also recognized the correlation between the two. The trade of hometown hero Jeff Francouer for Ryan Church appears to have helped shake the Bravos out of their doldrums. Coupled with the acquisition of Adam LaRoche for Casey Kotchman has also aided in a resurgence of offense. Additionally, blog whipping boy, Kelly Johnson, appears to have regained his timing as well as his confidence after a stint on the DL and a rehab stay in Gwinnett.
Now it appears Infante’ will be rejoining the club on Tuesday. While Diory Hernandez has a lot of upside, He is still a ways away from being an effective major league player. Infante’ is a much more proven utility man. In addition, two pitchers on the DL should be returning soon. Hudson and Carlyle should help bolster the pitching staff. While Manny Acosta can be effective at times, he is still pretty inconsistent. Perhaps the Nationals could use him in exchange for some of their prospects.
~Gil~
Braves & Stuff 
Excellent, Gil! And MANY THANKS!!!
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Twelfth? 😀
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Gil…nice job! I couldn’t help but chuckle over the Manny trade to the Nats for prospects! Even in the midst of an 8-game win streak, you’re still pining to take their best ‘on the cheap’!
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Well done Gil!
Now, lets all make a lot of posts to slow this blog down!
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Berigan is up next! 👿
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Good lead Gil. Yes, it makes for interesting theatre, only better. Baseball… the ultimate reality show.
Folks, I spent ALL afternoon, which really blew my already tight schedule to smitherenes (blog first?), dealing with a stolen mail issue. Seems a thief stole mail out of our mailbox sometime Saturday. 😯 I found out about it yesterday evening, when a neighbor down the way called and said they found a stack of our mail, including tax returns, in their yard by the fence next to the road. All of the tax package was intact, but it had been opened and looked through. The folder was laying on top of the envelope. Social security numbers and everything any crook might want to know… right there. Two other envelopes with Merrill Lynch statements were unopened. No telling what else may have been in the box and I guess I’ll never find out now.
So, this morning filed a police report, called all the neighbors warning them, went to the post office to tell them and inquire about a PO Box, called CPA and told them to never mail anything to my home address again, etc. Then, when all that was done I interviewed the nice lady who found and returned them, talked to the police again and got numbers for the postmaster, who wasn’t in all afternoon.
Then I did something I’ve been putting off far too long… I signed up for LifeLock. They monitor and resolve any identity theft issues. On top of that I joined CreditReport.com, to monitor any changes and enrolled in a fraud alert service which is free to member. Some overlap between the two, but at this point, well worth being amply covered.
Still can’t figure this thing out. Why would someone steal the mail, open and go through the tax returns and then leave that and the other two statements in a neat pile down the street? Doesn’t make sense. No logic or reason. Pros would have just taken the stuff and I wouldn’t have even realized they were missing for weeks. If the postman delivered accidentally to another home and the erroneous recipient opened the manila envelope before realizing it was not theirs, why on earth would they leave it by the road down the street?
I’m still scratching my head over this one. What is this world coming to? This is a crime free, old, neighborly end of the island that we’ve lived for going on 16 years with never any problem. We’ve hardly ever even locked the door. Leave keys in my truck. Guess all that changes now. That’s the shame of it all. A real violation and feeling of vulnerability is a strange new world.
So, be warned… if you were even considering sending me any large amounts of cash or valuable merchandise, you may want to wait until I get a post office box. 😆
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That’s been happening for a while in Bradenton, SG. Needless to say Dad always heard about it & was always very careful with any sensitive mail we had. They may have been looking for credit card info. Sorry you had something so nasty happen. (((hug)))
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VOR, I met a nice lady today who works in the furniture store here that grew up in Jefferson.
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SG, I am so sorry!! Drinks are on me tonight. JUST YOURS!!!
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Gil, excellent lead. Not that I anything less, of course. It will be very interesting to see how this shakes out. I do feel a lot better about the Braves’ post season chances than I have in the past few years. Nice change of pace.
SG, sorry you had that happen to you. It really is a sense of violation. Nasty feeling. Hopefully it was just kids being nosy and with no malicious ideas in mind. Either way, I’d load up some shotgun shells with rock salt and keep it loaded. Let them come back and see how fast they run off with a backside full of salt!
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Thanks for the hugs and free drinks and encouragement guys. Rock salt 😆
Sorry for the negative post about all that. Had me pretty riled up and such. I should have known better than to depend on what is becoming a risky mode of mail delivery, the old mail box by the road. As the economy gets tougher, we’ll no doubt see much more of that and lots worse. A sad indication of the times I’m afraid.
So, are the Braves gonna get to the post season or just break our hearts and fall short again? Could go either way but I sure like our chances at this point. Is our skin thick enough for this ride? Absolutely… after the last few years we’re battle tested. Are the Braves contenders or pretenders? With our very good pitching and now that our lineup doesn’t have three automatic outs… I like our chances.
With any luck, barring key injuries and against a vulnerable Phillies team that can go into a funk and slump for extended periods, I like our shot. Against a good but young, inconsistent Florida team prone to losing handfuls in a row, we’ll take them down the stretch.
Contenders… all any fan needs in their team. This may wind up being a great pennant race. Like Gil said, a lotta games to go. With good starting pitching, time is on our side.
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SG… We have had some similar incidents over the past several years. Usually teens looking for targets of opportunity. Sad state of affairs however. Another example of why it is frustrating that we, law abiding citizens, have to go through extra expense and trouble just to exist. Once upon a time, it was the crooks who were behind bars, now it is we who have to sequester ourselves behind locked doors.
Perhaps the most frustrating thing is the feeling of being violated. You have my sympathies my friend.
Chris, thanks… Don’t over do it down there. I know you are doing what is necessary to survive, don’t wear yourself out.
Ber, looks like I am back to my old, convoluted sleep patterns. Suxs don’t it?…
Now baseball, Florida picked up a half game on everyone last night. I still don’t think the have the horses to finish the job but they are still a game up on the Braves. Atlanta’s fate is in their own hands. Another set of must win games on the horizon.
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First, SG… I expect what you had is kids looking for, well, whatever they can find. Probably checks. They rummaged through whilst running down the road, didn’t find anything “quick” (hopefully), and just ditched the stuff. Too many kids today have no morals because they aren’t being raised by their parents, sorry parents that don’t want to invest the time. So the kids look at their sports heroes – dog fighters, drug users, womanizers, drunkards, etc. They look at TV – debauchery and hedonism central. They see our “leaders” – liars, cheats, adulterers, hypocrites. Some of us are working hard to make sure our kids have some moral grounding, but often it feels like we’re swimming upstream. It’s worth the swim, though.
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Second, Braves… This team is an enigma. They played great baseball on the coast, with the exception of the first game after flying all night cross-country after a stinkin’ ESPN night game. They could easily have gone an eye-popping 6-1 or even 7-0 on this road trip, and 5-2 ain’t nuthin’ to sneeze at. Yet I’m worried about the Nats. The lowly Nats! Not because they are on a hot streak, but because this crazy team can own the Phils and Dodgers, and play down to the Nats and other bottom dwellers. It’s nuts…
Anyway, I like ’em because of their pitching. Get this team in a 5 game series, and their starters can carry ’em. In a 7 gamer, they’re still very strong. But you gotta get there first, and I am still not sure if we can climb that hill. Still have a gaping power hole in RF. I read yesterday that the Phils are currently experiencing a “power outage” where their four 20+ homer hitters have hit zero in August. Uh, the Braves have exactly zero 20+ homer hitters. Staggering. I’m not sure they can get there as currently constituted… but they are definitely alot more entertaining than earlier this season.
And here’s the thing: the more I watch them winding up this season, the more excited I get about 2010. I really expect JHey and Schafer to join N8 in the OF next year, and I expect them to be a formidable crew, both offensively and defensively. We know what our IF can do, including the perennial All-Star catcher. The big question for 2010 is 1B. That should be Frank’s primary target for the offseason, and I expect him to accomplish it much the same way he accomplished this season’s goal of rebuilding the pitching staff. Somebody like Aubrey Huff on a 1 year deal will bridge us to Freddie in 2011. Or better, a trade for a guy in the last year of a deal like a Carlos Pena, Paul Konerko or Derrek Lee… oh, yeah.
1. N8
2. Prado
3. Chipper
4. Mac
5. JHey
6. Yunel
7. 1B
8. Schafer
9. P
Formidable lineup if you ask me. But nobody did, so I’ll shut up now… 😀
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After acquiring Alex Rios for nothing yesterday, the ChiSox have seemingly no room for Jermaine Dye. He’s under contract through the end of 2009 with a mutual $12MM option for 2010. One of either Huddy’s or KK’s contracts will be gone in ’10, as well as one of either Gonzo or Soriano. Can Dye play 1B? Can we pick him up for the rest of 2009 for RF and move him to 1B for 2010? A quick google search reveals that he played 1 game at 1B for the ChiSox in 2005, and had 0 errors over 8 chances with 7 put-outs and 1 assist.
Dye and his right handed bat and 24 HR’s would look sooooooo good in the cleanup spot behind Chipper. I’ll even go so far as to say that he would make the Braves very real contenders for this year.
Now that Chicago has Rios and his fat contract, they may be very motivated to cut ties with Dye for very little. Something to think about…
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How about this…
Gonzo to ChiSox for Dye. They need ‘pen help as Jenks has become somewhat iffy. Helps with salary and nets you something for a quality guy you were likely to lose anyway. Then you have salary flexibility to re-sign Soriano.
Huddy returns to the ‘pen as a setup guy to go along with Pete.
Buddy Carlyle returns as a long reliever, and Boone Logan goes back to Gwinnett. ‘Pen is now Carlyle, Medlen, O’Flaherty, Moylan, Huddy, Soriano. VERY strong.
Dye starts in RF, Church goes to the bench, Norton goes fishing.
Infante is already back replacing Diory.
I like it. I like it alot…
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Of course, while Dye has a good chance of getting through trade waivers, maybe not so much for Gonzo. The teams that could use him the most, and could afford him, are behind Chicago in the waiver order, though, so it is possible.
Conversely, teams that would be motivated to claim Dye to block the Braves are behind us in the waiver order.
It’s at least plausible that the process could occur. Now if we could only get the execs on board…
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Isn’t anybody going to argue with me? I am stirring the pot with a pretty big ladle this morning. 😐
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Well, it’s a pretty big pot…
1b, why not keep Rochie?
As for Dye, what, 2 million left to pay for this year?
Actually, the Braves are in the cat birds’ seat if you ask me because they are the team with the worse record as far as waivers are concerned.
Only about 3 more weeks before the rosters can expand anyway…
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1b, why not keep Rochie?
Good question… and I have an answer. Freeman is on track to arrive in 2011, so you don’t want to block him by tying up 1B for more than 2010. LaRoche is a FA after 2009, and is very unlikely to 1) want to sign a 1 year deal, and 2) need to sign a 1 year deal.
Here’s a list of FA 1B’s for 2010:
Russell Branyan SEA (one decent year in his career)
Carlos Delgado NYM (way on the decline)
Jason Giambi * OAK (already done)
Ross Gload * FLA (unproven)
Aubrey Huff BAL (decent, but not better than LaRoche)
Nick Johnson WAS (he and LaRoche are probably 1 and 1a)
Adam LaRoche PIT (top of this heap)
Robb Quinlan LAA (who?)
Matt Stairs PHI (hanging on)
Mike Sweeney SEA (bench guy)
Jim Thome CHW (really only a DH)
Chad Tracy ARZ (a level below LaRoche/Johnson)
So LaRoche is in line for his first multi-year peak-years deal. He’ll probably get at least 3 years and maybe 4.
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Only about 3 more weeks before the rosters can expand anyway…
True, but players added after roster expansion are not eligible for post-season rosters. Gotta get your playoff ducks in a row by August 31.
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Confession: Wren was right
OK, time to admit the truth.
Much as I love John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, much as I hated to see them leave Atlanta, Braves general manager Frank Wren was right to part with both.
Smoltz, who left the Braves for a better offer from the Red Sox coming off shoulder surgery, is mulling his options after getting designated for assignment.
Glavine, who was released by the Braves just as he seemed on the verge of returning from elbow and shoulder surgeries, has not resumed his career.
Wren, the bad cop in both cases, took a public-relations beating. His decision on Glavine seemed particularly cold, considering that the pitcher would have received a $1 million bonus upon joining the major- league roster.
The issue, Wren said, was performance, not money. The Braves simply did not believe that Glavine still could pitch effectively in the majors.
Instead, the team promoted rookie right-hander Tommy Hanson, who is 6-2 with a 3.22 ERA — numbers Glavine probably could not have matched.
The Braves’ quest for more stability in their rotation was the main reason they were reluctant to commit to Smoltz, 42, and Glavine, 43.
Now the question is settled.
The Braves’ rotation, bolstered by the off-season additions of right- handers Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami, ranks fourth in the National League in innings pitched and third in ERA.
— Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports.com
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Wow, use guys sure have been busy! 😯
Where to start??? I have already forgotten much of what I just read! 😳
SG, very sorry someone stole your mail! Weird they would leave the stuff, but perhaps they are paranoid, thought someone saw them, so they ditched the evidence. SS# is a concern I am sure. Sounds like you have done the right thing(s)
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I have very mixed emotions on LaRoche. I was not happy to see him traded to the Pirates, but homeboy was right about that deal.
In case people didn’t notice, LaRoche has sucked the first have of seasons. Last 3 years, he is hitting .164 in April. Man, we think Frenchy made us pull out our hair!
Last 3 years, .247 pre all star game, which as we know is more like 90 games. I have read others talking about Rochie getting a 3-4 year deal, I just don’t see it.
He projects to 21 HR and 70 RBIs this year. Would we want to sign him to a 3-4 year contract, even if we didn’t have Freeman in the system???
Aubrey Huff. an interesting name. I forget about him. 3 years older than Rochie 12 HR 68 RBI’s. Projects to 100 RBI’s But I guess he isn’t going to want to sign a short contract either, is he???
Hmmm….
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LaRoche is signed only for this year, right? I kinda think he will not be resigned. The Braves just can’t let HALF the season go by without production. We all know where that puts us!
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Well, I am going to let next year take care of itself. Still the rest of this season to worry about first. Just bear in mind that Scott Thorman was a former number one pick too who was tearing it up in the minors.
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Yes, what Raisins said. Most of it anyway.
No, make that all of it. That way I don’t have to take little insignificant pieces and spend any time explaining another view.
What Gil said too.
What CL and Bear said too.
What Rosenthal said with one twist: it wasn’t the fact that Wren let them go, it was HOW it was done. Besides, for such chump change, neither of them would have broken the bank and one of them could have contributed quite a bit from the pen or the dugout without ever throwing a single pitch.
I’m either in a very agreeable mood or y’all are just right on the mark with everything today. 😆
Oh, add what Mark Levin said too… even though I didn’t even hear one word of what he said today. 😆
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Raisins, you’re so correct on the kids of today comments (there I go again).
Bear, yes it is odd, pointing to a very confident operator or a very dumb petty thief.
Hopefully it was just bad or mischievous kids in my situation… though I’m not so sure about that.
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Looks like I ran everybody off, being so agreeable and all.
Wellalrightythen… yer all wrong, wrong, wrong about, uh, whatever.
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They let morons sit in the front row seats?
Thanks buddy. Cost us an out.
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Three hour domination. Like a three hour tour, only… you know.
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Hey, SG! Hope today was a much better day for you!
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SS Minnow, right?
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SG has wandered off somewhere.
Chris, I sure hope you locked the Saloon!
This lady is turning in! A long, trying day!
Though I did get the good news that the transmission repairs are covered under the warranty! Will get the car back sometime….
Have a rental in the meanwhile. ’09 Taurus. Great riding car. The only problem I’ve noticed is that when I think I’m doing about 45, the needle is nudging 70. Oops! Cannot judge speed with that thing! Its cruise control and I are best buddies! 😆
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CL looking for new career as race car driver? 😉
Excellent game. Chipper’s oblique must be feeling better. Don & Jim were very impressed with his HR.
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Well… right after I posted my last comment yesterday, trying to draw some “conversation”, a landscaping crew cut my phone line. It is still not repaired. I lost an entire day of work, and I RUN the stinkin’ business. This morning I am set up in the corporate satellite office – the local coffee shop. At least they have scones…
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Nice, solid win last night. This team is putting it together. Do we have talent stacked up at second base or what?
Watch the caffeine Raisins. It’s so easy to sit in a coffee shop with the nice aroma and tasty, exotic coffees and, before you know it, you’re completely buzzed. We’ll monitor your typing speed and keyboard jitters… will send you a coffee-overdose alert if we see you getting out of hand. 😆
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Yes CL, I wandered off to make popcorn and then the couch whispered to me, “c’mon kid… over here”. Later an even louder voice came from my bed, “hey, big day tomorrow, get in here”.
In the middle of all that conversation with inanimate objects, the cat was saying, “don’t stop scratching my head” and Mrs. Guy was telling me about her day but I couldn’t hear a word she was saying over all the chatter and, uh, ESPN, so I just nodded.
OK, I’m just kidding. Really… no, really. I’m a good listener. No, really. 😆
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Watch the caffeine Raisins. It’s so easy to sit in a coffee shop with the nice aroma and tasty, exotic coffees and, before you know it, you’re completely buzzed.
What do you think I do at home?
I’m probably safer here. Cost factors create a limit…
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Well, was out during much of the game, but every time I got in the car, the braves were up by a few more runs, which is a good thing! 🙂
I think the best thing in the world was the Nats having an 8 game winning streak comming into town! Forgot the 40 – 72 record, they were the best team in baseball when they rolled into town! Had swept the Marlins and the Diamondbacks(yes, I looked it up) so the braves knew they couldn’t just coast with these games. Hopefully, they will keep it up for the rest of the games!
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Wow V, some pretty talented landscapers! 😉 Sucks it effected your business though. In case you didn’t know that. 🙄
SG, someday I would like to meet your furniture!2 😛 Well, perhaps not…they might not talk to me. What with me not originally being from the south and all.
I sure hope the misses doesn’t read this blog ever, or you are in big trouble !
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Mrs. Guy was telling me about her day but I couldn’t hear a word she was saying over all the chatter and, uh, ESPN, so I just nodded. 😦 😥 😥 😥
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Yea! I have returned from the corporate satellite office (aka the local coffee shop) and am back in the NE Ga. corporate office (aka my home). Everything is back to, uh, normal… or a reasonable facsimile thereof.
Whew!!! 😀
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Nice article on JHey (those seem to be coming more frequently, huh?):
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-top-prospect-showing-star-potential-113248.html
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Old saying… “Sell what’s available today”…
It’s great that Heyward is in the pipeline but the fans need to focus on who is on the team and in the line-up right now. Just saying…. Not that I don’t think he won’t be an asset, just will have to wait until he gets to the bigs before I can get too excited.
The Braves are playing like… well, the Braves… Or at least the teams I grew to love in the 90’s. Like I said, gain a game a week. Philly and the Fish showed last night why it’s tough to gain ground on them but if the Bravos can just keep plugging away they will get there.
I was glad to see Acosta get through the ninth last night but he did create a bit of drama didn’t he?
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FOXsports:
Manager Bobby Cox lost no time getting Omar Infante in the starting lineup once the infielder was activated from the 15-day disabled list before Tuesday’s game. If previous experience counts, Infante’s broken left hand shouldn’t prevent him from picking up where he left off offensively.
Cox initially inserted Infante at third base, subbing for Chipper Jones, who missed all but the first game of last weekend’s Dodgers series with a strained left oblique muscle.
But when Jones moseyed on over to his locker and was asked how close he was to seeing his name back in the lineup, his mouth dropped open as he looked up.
“It’s not in the lineup?” he said. “Excuse me a minute.”
Minutes after tracking down Cox in his hangout just off the dugout, Jones returned.
“You were saying?”
And just like that, the lineup had changed. [ 😆 ]
Infante bumped Kelly Johnson from second base. Martin Prado, who has been the Braves’ starting second baseman, stayed at first base.
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Philly and the Fish
Sounds like a band…
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or an Elton John song…
Benny and the Jets.
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How did I miss SG’s birthday last week? Aug. 3, right? Did I wish you a Happy Birthday? I’ve been so muddle-headed lately, I don’t know…
Anyway, if I missed it, Happy Birthday! [even if it is 9 days late) 😳
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And a Happy Birthday to our old friend Skip Carey today. I know he’s enjoying a big ol’ fat piece of birthday cake today. Probably angel food cake…
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Uh… that’d be Skip Caray. 😳
More muddle-headedness…
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Hmmm… big storms are a-comin’. Sure enough, I get my phone line back, I’ll probably lose power. 😐
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Oh, man! Oh, no! sigh…..
Okay. Everybody to the doghouse!
SG? Um, sorry?? REAL sorry?! I hate it when this happens!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SG!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SKIP!!!
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Ewww! Andruw is hitting .190 since the All-Star break and just .154 in August.
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That should be… Phillies and the Phish. 😀
Look out Klobber and CL, big, red splotchy things are headed your way. You too Raisins? Seems like it’s storming all over the world. Gonna be a rainy night in Georgia too. Seems like it’s… well, you know.
Yepper, it was my birthday. Thanks guys! No biggie, I forget it sometimes.
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We may just have to get a bigger calender. We keep missing folks. Sorry SG, I guess we will have to make up for it by forgetting everyone else’s birthday too….
So, that makes two folks in a row… Who is next?
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I’m the world’s worst with remembering birthdays. Once, while taking a break, some bud’s and I were sitting in the bottom of an eight foot hole in the middle of a trailer park in south Florida. One of them looked at me and said, “isn’t today your birthday?”. We celebrated right there… in the bottom of that hole.
That sounds whacky, eh? Guess I’d better ‘splain that’un. Part time job while going to college. We built a trailer park, dug the lines, put in drainage pipes, attached double-wides and laid sod. Not much we didn’t do. High class stuff. It paid the tuition, rent and allowed a splurge for a cheeseburger now and then. 😀
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Hmmm… splurging in a hole in a trailer park in South Florida.
Sounds like a party! 😀
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I have spent a large part of this afternoon looking for a SIMPLE calendar program that has an event alert.
Had one on the old hard drive (the one that DIED!) don’t have one on this one – thus
forgottenoverlooked birthdays, etc.Anybody got a suggestion for one??
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Does Google Calendar have alerts?
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Dunno. Will check it out. I don’t want to ever miss another birthday!
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Yes! Am setting it up now!
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Frog strangler here.
Uh, outside… the rain. Not me. I have nothing against frogs. I like them. Especially their legs… sauteed in olive oil with garlic and capers. Or just fried. 😀
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whoops, lightning just popped real close and the wind just got up to about 40mph. Better shut down.
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Sg, very sorry to have forgotten your Birthday??? I blame FBG! 😀
Did you have a good one??? Do anything fun??? Eat some frog legs????
Nary a drop here in Jonesboro.
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Sg, very sorry to have forgotten your Birthday???
What did I mean by those ????? ❓
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I give, Ber! What?
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What a difference having the ability to hit the long ball makes. Well, the Braves won’t gain ground tonight except on the Marlins. That’s okay, won’t lose any either.
Gonzalaz almost had his head handed to him tonight by Josh Baird. Scary…
Great play by McCann to end the game tonight too…
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😳 Sorry, SG!!! I think the 3rd was the day Dad & I drove up so I’ll plead travel fatigue.
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OK, had to battle the laptop a bit but I just saw Gonzo’s catch. 😯 How did that miss his face? Yow.
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Missed much of the game, but recorded the post game show. Funny, they will have 40 minutes for some games, and other games sports south has to get to a rerun in progress.
Gil, right you are! I did catch the last inning or so, and Gonzo seemed a bit shook up by that ball coming so close to him. I bet he could hear is whizzing towards him. I thought it hit him at first!
Glad they are not letting off the throttle, hopefully they will play the phils like they have all year long!
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Man, those were some pretty swings Roachy put on those home runs. Just crushed… things of beauty.
Commanding win last night, but that command was rapidly disappearing with Gonzo’s 9th inning. His wheels were wobbling and about to fly off. He almost always scares me out there. Yes, balls hit hard back at the pitcher would rattle most closers, but he gets rattled by far less. The passion is there and the talent is there but the execution isn’t consistent.
Watching the walks and runners on, even with two outs seemed like a train wreck in slow motion. We’ll never know what would have happened had Mac not made such a great, heads up play to throw that runner who wandered off the bag for the last out. Don’t know about you, but I was about to cover my eyes watching Gonzo out there.
This Phillies series is gonna be fun. We don’t have to win the series, but it’s sure gonna be tough if we don’t.
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Well, the Phils are tough but it’s not like they can’t be beat. The Braves won’t hold em scoreless but the Phillie pitching staff is hittable too.
I agree on Gonzo not being as effective as he was before the TJ surgery. He appears to be overthrowing the ball. It’s causing him to be wild. Balance is the key… Still, he’s a gritty kind of guy… Gotta like that in a player.
Moylan has taken some heat this year too but the guy never gives in. I still think it takes a couple of years for a player to regain his pre-surgery form.
Now, back to the Phillies, two of their tougher pitchers will be on the mound for this series but it’s not as if the Bravos are putting a couple of weak sisters out there against them.
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Weak sisters? You haven’t seen my sister’s slider!
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😀
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When Roachy makes contact, dude can hit the ball a LONG way…
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McCann made a nice throw…but Roachy made the play. He saw Morgan stray too far and broke for the bag…that’s what got Mac’s attention. The catcher can’t initiate that play…otherwise the ball’s in the right field corner. 😆
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Good point there Saltman!
And that dope, Kieth Law was saying LaRoche was a below average fielder when the trade went down! Must use same stats as Shawn used to reach his conclusions….
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This how our loving and caring government is going to give attention to our medical needs:
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Now, to follow tragedy with comedy. How superheroes probably spend their down time:
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McCann made a nice throw…but Roachy made the play.
Exactly right, Salty. I should’a said that. Great heads up stuff.
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OK… I feel the need to say this…
I have given TP much grief for the Braves miserable offensive showing over the 1st half of the season. The offense has awoken, and is really clicking on all cylinders right now. Pretty much spots 1-8, too.
I feel the need to man up and give the guy some credit. I can’t give him blame for all the bad and not give him props when things go good, can I?
So, way to hang with ’em TP. The hitters seem to have come around.
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I agree, Raisins, however, I still have doubts. Why does Chipper have to watch the videos WITH TP? Can’t TP figure it out for himself?? So, who do we credit? TP or Chipper? Both? Where would TP be without Chipper’s help? No answers from me – just wondering?
It is one dark, drippy, gray day here! Good day to really get some work done!! 🙂
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Aw, man… Les Paul has died at age 94. 😦
In my world, that’s a big deal…
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Yes Raisins, too bad he won’t have a parade too like MJ… Greater talent if you ask me.
Yes, begrudging must acknowledge TP, but then, why is Francouer so much better as a hitter for the Mets than he was for the Braves?
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Francouer so much better as a hitter for the Mets than he was for the Braves?
Well, in my opinion, too much pressure from the home crowd. Sounds weird to say that the heat is off him in NY, but the pressure here must have been crushing. Probably weighed on TP, too, since he caught alot of crap for Jeff’s failure.
I wonder what kind of clubhouse guy he was..? Nobody really seems to miss him. Conversely, Church seems to have blended in nicely. I like his versatility, too. In fact, I love him for the bench. Just not in love with him as a starter. But, we’ve been down this path before.
Bottom line, though, is that the team is better with Church than it was with Jeff. I’m glad for it.
Same with LaRoche. Maybe individually not the top 1B out there, but as part of the whole, he makes the team better. I think that’s what makes the GM job so tough. You can’t just look at a guy’s individual talent to assess him and the impact he’ll have.
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Les Paul was a genius! Look what he did for guitars! Loved his music! He and Mary Ford were great!
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RIP Les.
He may not play any more but Les is more. 😀
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The genius of Les Paul:
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Just fantastic, SG! Love her voice!
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❓
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Superman dude. 😆
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Sheila doesn’t deserve her middle or last name. Should just be Sheila Canyouhearmenow.
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“I am Batman”…
“Yeah, I know. You keep sayin’ that”..
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Uh, don’t let WillyWally see this one:
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R.I.P. Les Paul….
Did you know up to, I don’t know, last year or so, he was still playing in a restaurant/bar????
Here is some info about that…
In recent years, even after his illness in early 2006, Paul played Monday nights at New York night spots. Such stars as Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Van Halen came to pay tribute and sit in with him.
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Here is Les in 2008 on his 93rd birthday doing somewhere over the rainbow.
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Wow… just wow…
I give him a standing ovation for a life well lived.
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Senator Stabenow says she can ‘feel’ global warming when she flies
http://www.examiner.com/x-722-Conservative-Politics-Examiner~y2009m8d13-Democrat-Senator-Stabenow-says-she-can-feel-global-warming-when-she-flies
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Debbie Cakes Stabenow is a complete idiot.
I think the Senator is just feeling the violent, swishing movement of her intellect and credibility being sucked out of her every time she opens her mouth.
On top of that she probably poots at 30,000 feet.
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Sorry, both SG and Raisins! I just goofed on who wrote what.
A day in the life –
Picked up the car from the transmission shop, drove about 5 miles and watched the gas needle drop, drop, drop to almost E. Pulled over and shut it down.
When I did, white smoke started coming up from under the hood. Got out, popped the hood and the smoke dissipated. Then saw coolant running out from under it.
Called AAA. The Car Care Center will call me tomorrow.
Had some guys coming out to replace a 3×3′ section of bad wood on the roof. They came after I left to go pick up the car. When I finally get back, they’ve found a bunch more that is in really bad shape. (Had my brother go up there and verify!)
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CL, I wish my week was going as well as your day. It would be a vast improvement, so count your blessings, sister.
Other than that, sorry about the car and the roof. The old, “when it rains it pours” fits.
Speaking of… where Salty at?
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Speaking of pouring, again… it’s doing that again here. Every afternoon, big rain, big lightning and close strikes. Yesterday it struck no more than 60 feet away from where I was sitting at my ‘puter. Found no damage until I went to manually turn on the Rainbird sprinkler system. It fried.
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CL, I have the honor of replacing my sister’s roof. I feel your pain. Hers is in shambles. I’m getting depressed.
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Oh well, what will be will be.
If you’re happy and you know it…
😯
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Dominating in the rainstorm is a very torrential experience.
Much like Debbie on planes.
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JJ’s going tonight. I like our chances with him out there.
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I hope he is not out there right now, would be lonesome… Braves have the night off.
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Gil, I just realized that. And there I was, all ready for a big game tonight. Having an off night on Thursday just ain’t right.
I’ll call JJ now.
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CL.. Don’t you hate it when the repair shop fails to complete the job?
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They completed THEIR part, but obviously left things undone that they bumped, disconnected or whatever! TWO things don’t suddenly go wrong – fuel and coolant – within 5 miles of the last repair shop!
Just got the new bill for the roof: $2,025.00
Will find out about the additional CAR bills tomorrow.
ASK ME HOW FLIPPIN’ HAPPY I AM!!! 😡 😡 😡
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SG, CL, sorry you guys are having such a rough time right now! 😦
CL, I really don’t think you should have to pay for anything, but that’s just my opinion. You know, it’s possible a hose just decided to burst,5 miles down the road… but most likely cut or loosened by them…oh well, hard to prove at this time now, isn’t it???
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Ber, that’s the primary reason that I had the car towed to a different place! Bless AAA!
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😦 CL. (((hug)))
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More good news! My roof is open, right? Covered with tarp or whatever… The repairmen supposed to return mid-morning.
“From the National Weather Service 9:05 PM:
From 2 AM Friday through Friday morning:
Rain and thunderstorms will be on the increase overnight and Friday. The rain is expected to become heavy at times. Rainfall amounts of one to as much as three inches are expected with locally higher amounts possible. This amount of rainfall atop wet to saturated ground will be enough to increase the potential for flooding.”
😥
Thanks, FBG! I think I’m gonna need some more! 😥
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Oh no! (((hugs))) & a biiiig umbrella.
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When we had the new roof put on a few years ago it started to rain lightly about 2/3rds through. Not only did the crew work on past their normal quitting time, they called in one of their other crews who had finished for the day & got it finished before the rain really kicked in. Serious customer service there.
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These guys weren’t able to get started until nearly 3 due to rain, and they didn’t leave until just before 9. My roof is wrapped with some kind of stuff. It looks like all it needs is a big red bow on it!
I think I’m gonna run away from home! Y’all wanna come with me? I get scared by myself!
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I have a guest room.
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I’m on the way!!! Thanks, FBG!!! 😆
Oh, wait a minute! I don’t have a car…..
thud
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With Braves teammates Brian McCann and Adam LaRoche watching from the front row at Gwinnett Stadium, Hudson was hitting 92 mph on scouts’ radar guns. The stadium radar gun was low, but Hudson was told his fastball was 90-93 mph, his cut fastball 87-89 mph.
“I’m really happy with how my cutter is right now,” Hudson said. “And I’ve thrown some really good [split-finger fastballs], and that’s obviously tested my elbow really good.”
Hudson will pitch again Tuesday, possibly with the Gwinnett Braves in Norfolk. He needs at least two to three more outings to build up to 90 pitches before he’s ready to return. — ajc
Hmmm… 2 or 3 more outings… that should take about 15 days… which would be August 29, 2 days before roster expansion. I wonder which pitcher will go on the DL so that Hudson can be activated prior to September 1 and be eligible for the postseason roster..?
And it’s pretty cool that Mac and Roachey went to the game on their off night.
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Also from the ajc:
Also Thursday, Jordan Schafer got the cast removed from his left wrist and plans to test it out swinging on Monday. If it’s still bothering him over the next week, Schafer said he’ll need surgery, which would require three months to recover.
The center fielder has been bothered by a wrist injury since April 10 when he got hurt swinging against the Nationals. He tried to play through it but hit only .204 in 50 games in his first taste of the majors.
I hope it’s OK so that he can join the team after Sept. 1. Of course, he’s missed so much time, Frank & Co. may want him to work every day the rest of the way in AAA.
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Neal Boortz:
Another Democrat attack on those who value private sector health care has come to light.
Remember the cute little girl who was “randomly” selected to ask PrezBO a question at his town hall meeting earlier this week? She asked Obama about all of those signs outside saying “mean things” about Obama’s health care plan. Well Michelle Malkin did a superb job of getting to the truth here. The little girl, one Julia Hall, was none other than the daughter of an Obama campaign worker and donor Kathleen Manning Hall. Julia’s mother even has pictures of her arm-in-arm with Obama on her web page.
OK … so the “evil right” points out that this girl is obviously a plant, and how do the Democrats respond? They’re OUTRAGED, I tell you, OUTRAGED … because “evil conservatives” are ATTACKING this cute little girl! How DARE they?
So .. here’s how it works. This woman uses her daughter as a prop for ObamaCare. She’s exposed by that “evil” Michelle Malkin. Other “evil mongers” spread the word … and suddenly we’re attacking a cute little girl.
Desperation isn’t attractive.
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Warning… Political rant ahead…. feel free to use scroll button…
On second thought… I will keep my opinion to myself.
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It’s just…who stands to gain in all this? Where will the money shift to? Has to be a reason for all this time and effort.
And why the need to rush things? Why the need to pass bills in the middle of the night?
Old saying, if you have to hide what you are doing, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.
Yes, I want great health care, I have not really been the recipient of great health care so far… I know too much about the industry to be objective.
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There is not one goverment run entity – i.e. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, FNMA (Fannie Mae), FHLMC (Freddie Mac), USPS – that isn’t inefficiently operated and in financial crisis. Not one. Why does anyone expect ObamaCare to be any different?
What is the definition of “insane” again?
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“…where Salty at?
Uh, oh! 😯 Is Deion after me? Did McCarver blame me for something? I don’t like cold water!
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Dittos all. Oops… only Limbaugh, Boortz, Hannity and Levin listeners, mobster’s, radical right-wing zealots, bigots, nazis, bible thumpers and gun toting rednecks say that stuff.
Here’s a disturbing email I received this morning:
Guns you own to be itemized on your 2009 tax return.
Senate Bill SB-2099 will require us to put on our 2009 1040 federal tax form all guns that you have or own. It may require fingerprints and a tax of $50 per gun. This bill was introduced on Feb. 24. This bill will become public knowledge 30 days after it is voted into law. This is an amendment to the Internal Revenue Act of 1986. This means that the Finance Committee can pass this without the Senate voting on it at all.
The full text of the proposed amendment is on the U.S. Senate homepage, http://www.senate.gov/
You can find the bill by doing a search by the bill number, SB-2099. You know who to call; I strongly suggest you do. Please send a copy of this e-mail to every gun owner you know.
<http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h45/text
Very Important for you to be aware of a new bill HR 45 introduced into the House. This is the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sale Act of 2009. Even gun shop owners didn't know about this because the government is trying to fly it under the radar.
To find out about this – go to any government website and type in HR 45 or Google HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009. You will get all the information.
Basically this would make it illegal to own a firearm – any rifle with a clip or ANY pistol unless:
– It is registered
– You are fingerprinted
– You supply a current Driver's License
– You supply your Social Security number
– You will submit to a physical & mental evaluation at any time of their choosing
– Each update
– Change or ownership through private or public sale must be reported and costs $25. Failure to do so you automatically lose the right to own a firearm and are subject up to a year in jail.
– There is a child provision clause on page 16 section 305 stating a child-access provision. Gun must be locked and inaccessible to any child under 18.
– Your government would have the right to come and inspect that you are storing your gun safely away from accessibility to children and fine is punishable for up to 5 yrs. in prison.
If you think this is a joke, go to the website and take your pick of many options to read this. It is long and lengthy. But, more and more people are becoming aware of this. Pass the word along. Any hunters in your family pass this along.
This is just a "termite" approach to complete confiscation of guns and disarming of our society to the point we have no defense – chip away a little here and there until the goal is accomplished before anyone realizes it. This is one to act on whether you own a gun or not.
Congress is now starting on the firearms confiscation bill. If it passes, gun owners will become criminals if you don't fully comply.
It has started.
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If all of these “public servants” are in Washington to ‘serve’ us, why do they find it necessary to be so sneaky and try to hide their activities from us??
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
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CL, that’s because public service now means self serving and power brokerage. Instead of serving constituents, they believe they are ordained to rule us.
Now, baseball: big game, uh, lemme double-check… TONIGHT! 😆
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Just got back from Washington… I have a used car I’d like to sell, because I need the money to give it away to those that haven’t bought a car because they don’t work and don’t want to work. It’s a very good car. I’m only asking 3 billion. But that price is only good for a very short time. Maybe I’ll go up tomorrow on the price so you’d better buy it today. Great car.
Inspect it before buying? No way. No kicking the tires either. In fact, you’ll just have to trust that it’ll be good for you, based on what me and my used car pals tell you.
Oh, we have some old houses too but you can’t buy those. We want you to pay us so we can pay off the mortgage of those unfortunate people living in them now.
We have some nice new, green cars too. And muni-bonds. They’re really a good deal. Nothing is safer than muni-bonds ’cause they are guaranteed by the city’s that sell ’em. Nothing could be safer than an American city, right? Yep, they’re almost as safe as your Federal guv’ment. Solid as a rock.
And dollars! Anybody wanna pay us for some used dollars? This week only, we’ll let you buy all you want for, say, 85 cents. That’s a deal. But you have to act fast.
No time to wait on good deals.
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Funny, Raisins!
One of my favorite signs here reads:
NC Department of Revenue
right beneath that is:
East Coast Finance
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http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa091900a.htm
SB-2099….False
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SB-2099 is not evident but HR-45 is an actual bill proposed by Blair of Illinois.
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If only criminals have guns then I guess I will become a gangsta…
Just bought a Remington Model 32… classic piece that has two sets of barrels. Josie is not too happy with my purchase but hey, might as well spend it while it is still good.
On free health care… I am reminded of the woman who called the local radio talk show during a strike by coal miners in western Virgina which was causing cola supplies used for heating to become scarce. She was adamant that the government should send in troops to force the miners to return to work.
A lot of folks are like that, they fail to think things through and fail to realize that every action has a reaction. While I truly believe there are some health care professionals who want to heal humanity, there are many more who are in it for the money. Price controls are what most think should be in place for everybody but themselves.
I still say that an economy which is dependent on everyone being in debt is doomed to failure. It is nothing but a giant Ponzi scheme. Much like social security.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled “stuff”… Marlins and the Phillies both gained a half game on the Braves yesterday. Would be great to sweep the Phillies, however, I will settle for two out of three….
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As important as this series is, and it cannot be understated, tonight’s game is even more so. It will set the tone for the series and show the Phillies which Braves team they have to worry – or not worry – about. Maybe the most important regular season game on 4 years. Maybe…
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Uh, IN 4 years… 😳
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SB-2099….False
Thanks Salty. I should always put a disclaimer when I’m too busy to look something up and just throw it out there. After seeing yours and reading the link you offered, I went back and looked at the email I clipped from earlier. Sure enough, I noticed that the SB-2099 part was an add-on that someone on the email string placed above the original email regarding the HR-45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sale Act of 2009. Adding rumors on top or alongside the truth weakens the truth. I sent a reply-all pointing that out to the group that sent it to me.
Now I feel better.
Did anyone else hear that Snopes and About.com are really fake websites designed to build trust, then screw everybody up as soon as they get a signal from Obama just before the big socialist transformation by spreading disinformation? Read it this morning but haven’t had time to verify.
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Kidding about the Snopes part. No, really…
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The Chosen One, Campaigner in Chief is doing a Town Hall meeting… again.
The crowd is very behaved. No questioning of the dubious Health Care agenda. No questioning except scripted softballs. Very carefully screened crowd. Not a mob, not nazis, but liberals, socialists, democrat hacks, Acorn thugs in disguise and just your regular, ordinary, run of the mill, zombie-like idiots.
Very calm event. That’s what you get when none of those pesky un-American zealots who think we need to hold onto God in public, adhere to that crusty old Constitution and continue the greedy capitalism and other such old fashioned, out of touch beliefs.
PreBO will explain everything. Sounds like a duck explaining Aflac benefits. “If you’re hurt and, uh, out of work, um, you know, well then, you need, uh…”.
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Phlog those Phillies. 😀
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It’ll be a sad day when the AFLAC duck is laid off… 😦
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I mean, really… what other marketable skills does he have? It’s not like he can step in front of the camera and say,”General Motors!” or anything. Of course, we all know GM isn’t allowed to spend any $$$ on ad campaigns anyway. Even though Blow Biden says you have to spend money to fix the economy, the government won’t let GM spend much on advertising. Typical business decision by people with no business experience. But they’ll be able to operate an insurance
scheme, uh, program, won’t they? Maybe the Insurance Czar will be the Tooth Fairy…LikeLike
JoAnn has observed that most of the folks who have asked questions are wearing green.
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Bottom line, government run health care will deduct coverage fees from paychecks just like FICA is taken today.
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If we can win two from the Phils and Colorado helps us out against the Phish, this thing would be a horse race… and we’ve got better pitching. No matter what the Phish do, we gotta take two right here.
Gotta fry some fresh picked okra and some fish before game time.
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Wow, whole lotta posts whilst I was out and about today!
We really have to watch the “Moby’s” out there…we already seem like panicky Petes that will believe anything…cuz nothing seems too far fetched. Trust, but verify! 🙂
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Marco……..
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Braves hitters have been deflated single handedly by Victorino. Blanton is one lucky young man tonight. Just throw home run pitches and let the CF catch’em. Try that in Philly and see what happens.
Gonzo now… holding breath.
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whew. Exhale…
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Braves seem to be trying too hard to hit home runs tonight. Seems the long ball fever of late has gotten them off their game, especially on a night when the wind is working against them unless its to right field.
Need some doubles.
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well dammit… tyhe wind didn’t seem to effect Ryan Howard’s home run.
Soriano coughs up another one. Not a pressure pitcher in big games I’m afraid.
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RATS!!!!!
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Bleh. If Dad has breakfast with Victorino again next spring he’d better throw eggs on him or something.
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That was an especially tough loss last night, not just because we really needed to win it, but we had it won.
Throughout the entire game we hit better than they did and pitched better than they did. JJ has only one of his very few bad pitches crushed. Soriano the same. Both pitches were mistakes of location. Neither pitch made any sense. Not sure if they were erroneously called for or if the pitchers just missed their spots, but Utley could not have asked for a better pitch to hit out, and Ryan got the only pitch location that he can currently hit right now. Bad calls or bad execution, dunno.
We were hitting up a storm but Victorino and company were chasing down and snagging everything hit in the air… which seemed to be most of our hits. Kept hearing about many of our warning track hits were hr’s in Philly and, while that is true, two hr’s killed us.
Rarely do I see so many bloop hits and end-of-bat punches and seeing-eye accidental drives as the Phils had last night. At the same time, how many solid drives did we have right at someone or robbed by their great outfield defense? Lots.
Lady Luck played a huge role in the game last night. Still, we could’a beat her by grinding out some small ball when it was apparent that balls in the outfield were destined for a glove. As I said last night, Braves can’t get homer-happy. Seemed everybody in the order was taking that approach last night and swinging for the fences.
That makes the game this afternoon the biggest game of the year. We shall see if the Braves have what it takes to bounce back.
That’s my wrap.
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Bad combination… Teenager and a can of spray paint…
Now, baseball…. yes SG, some really well struck balls that went for naught. However, that’s baseball. Maybe Lady Luck will smile on the Braves this afternoon.
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I’ve replayed that game in my head a few times. Haven’t done that in quite a few years. So few big games I s’poze. Whatever the case, each of my scenarios had us winning. 😆
One pitch not thrown in the same location, one fly ball just a few feet further or one drive a few feet to one side or the other and this game was a blowout. But all the morning after should’a could’a and woulda’s won’t change that box score.
Here’s a clip of a Cox quote that I find spot on:
Bobby Cox: “The high fly balls weren’t traveling for us tonight… I think we just played in the wrong ballpark tonight. We did everything but win the damn game.”
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Bad combination… Teenager and a can of spray paint…
❓
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This just made me LOL! Tennessee Ernie Ford and some children. Watch the little boy beside him!
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Ernie with Minnie Pearl and George Goeble
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From fun to – I don’t even know what to call it!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,539741,00.html?test=latestnews
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If you haven’t seen this ajc clip, you’ll enjoy it! Click on the Greg Maddux video.
http://www.ajc.com/video/?bcpid=1659825399&bclid=22594788001&bctid=25740815001&bcplt=917×606&bcautostart=true
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You can really have some great conversations when you’re talking to yourself! 😆
I wonder if I’ll ever see my car again……
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Yes, I think it is likely. Don’t know when, though….
sigh….
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I have asserted my weekend visiting rights and have my car!
Replace 2 hoses, 1 water pump, 1 vacuum test = $678.00
Monday morning I begin my studies on “How To Be A Mechanic For AAA”! Nearly $95.00 per hour!
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And the new roof repairs are leaking. Water stains are now on the ceiling.
I’m going to put on my headset now, turn the music up really loud and I’m going to my ‘Happy Place.” Please do not disturb!
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THE biggest, most critical game of the YEAR and my local yokels couldn’t even put it on tv!!!!!!!
They have Nascar, college tennis, tennis replays, golf, golf replays, NFL preseason, swimming, diving, cricket, soccer, classic baseball from 1983 (on 3 stations), more golf, more college sports, knitting and butterfly collecting… but NO freakin’ Braves. Arrrggghhhh
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Oh no… sorry CL. Stay in that happy place and whatever you do, don’t look up. 😯
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CL!!!! 😦 {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}
Are you going to a dealership??? They charge way too much. Dealership gets the lions share of the labor$$$.
Did we have this talk before??? That waterpump can’t cost even $100. Let me look one up. I looked up a 1998 Taurus, at autozone, about the year your Mer is correct??? $42.99 to 54.99 for a water pump.
IF you are going to a dealer, ask everyone you know for mechanics they use, if they like them, if they seem expensive….
I am sure there is a fair bit to take off that car to get to the water pump, but that sure sounds extreme to me, doesn’t it Gil????
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I am sure there is a fair bit to take off that car to get to the water pump, but that sure sounds extreme to me, doesn’t it Gil????
I sure have a way with words, don’t I??? 🙄
Sounds like I want Gil to agree that sounds extreme to me…
oh well.
For those not able to watch the game, lady luck still seems on the Phils side.
G.A. made the best play I have seen him make in the outfield, charging in on a ball, and catching it while sliding. Yunel tripped over him, but seems fine. Should be a web gem. Someone else made a great play(Chipper?) but I forget! So long ago. 😕
Bu tthe Phils keep tripling and doubling. Someone needs to tell LaRoche to play closer to the line with lefties up. I may not be the sharpest tool in the box, but I think singles are less of a problem then doubles and triples. Not late in the game, but still…
Oh yeah, lady luck. the flyin’ Hawaiian got an easy triple on one past him because it went under the padding and just stopped there.
Then Feliz did the same thing in left between G.A. and Nate, ball just died under the padding. How often do you see that happen???
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Wow! David Wright got hit in the head(helmet) by a Matt Cain pitch, so you know that was thrown hard. I have grown to respect the guy, he’s played every game. Hope he’s ok. Scott Rolen went on the DL because of the after effects of the same sort of thing.
In the braves game, Prado was in pain after a swing…Bobby and the trainer came out, but he stayed in. Then Nate was taken out of the game,(he was on 1st) but I don’t know why!
Infante in for Prado, Church in for Nate.
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Ber, got tired of getting ripped off by dealerships, etc so THIS time, I decided to try the AAA ‘Car Care Center.’
Here’s their breakdown (pardon the non-pun…):
Remove and replace radiator hose
Parts: $71.07
Labor: $94.89
Coolant flush, up to 8 qts standard antifreeze
Parts: $31.60
Labor: $38.35
Remove and replace water pump
Parts: $109.98
Labor: $313.14
Fuel: $10.00 (They were unable to duplicate the fuel problem.)
Pressure test: $18.95
Supply Charge: $23.48
Sales tax: $14.35
Total: $725.81
AAA discount: -47.53
Total: $678.28
Will never return there!
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Yep, sounds pretty expensive to me too, but then I just spent nearly $1000 on my Lexus because of a computer problem. I guess the bottom line is that a car is going to cost you money one way or the other. Doesn’t make it any less frustrating though.
Another good ball game today, Fox is showing the Braves/Philly game. I guess New York must be off.
Well pitched game, and I as I type this, Werth hits a dinger…boooo
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Lidge screwed up a throw to 1st and Infante just drove in the game winning run!!!! Braves win, BRAVES WIN!!!!
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Why did everyone get the game but me? 😯 The TV listing here said FOX at 4:00, but it got blacked out or preempted for, hold your excitement… women’s soccer. Not a pivotal game mind you, just a regular, boring game. 800 channels and no Braves game. Our local Comcast doesn’t buy the full programming for reasons of their own ($), but it’s not even available with the sports package or ppv. It’s not fair. Not right. It’s plain wrong.
Watching Gameday ain’t good for a body. Not for me anyway. I kept checking back with it and as the game got later and later and then into the 9th I couldn’t stand it any longer. Wifey and sis wanted tacos so we jumped in the truck, turned on the game just in time to hear the bottom 9th. Hearing live radio is better than seeing live robots and little, numbered, colored balls trailing into an animated strike zone.
What a win!!! 😀
That comeback win took most of the frustration out of not seeing it on TV. Most of it anyway. Better now. May need a rooskie. Where Klobber at?
Win tomorrow and take the series. These chumps from Philly ain’t all that much.
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CL, sounds like they belabored your auto repair. Belabored it way up.
The evil wind that occasionally blows misfortune, roof leaks, car problems and other such expensive irritations along the coast will soon pass, as all things must.
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SG, weird you didn’t get the game! Threaten to go to satellite, that might get them to not run soccer.
If you don’t complain, then they will think no one minded.
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Radio only for me here, SG. And in Florida I have to pay big bucks for ExtraInnings & digital cable or I would see no Braves games at all.
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CL, I wish I could offer an explanation of why bad things happen to good people. All I can figure is you have a lot of good luck coming soon. Better buy a lottery ticket. 🙂
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Now Braves… That was fun. Nerve-wracking, but fun. Wish y’all could have seen Dad jump up & down in the living room.
We may go down to Gwinnett tomorrow.
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Greetings folks. Had computer issues this week. BOTH computers decided to take some vacation time. Grrrrrrr. Got one back up and running but it wasn’t easy.
Raisins, that Clinton/Prosperity sign is real and it’s in South Carolina! Those are the names of two towns upstate somewhere.
Missed last night’s and today’s games. Glad to see that Lidge is human. Any chance he can start Sunday’s game?
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Top ‘o the mornin’… y’all. 😀
And good morning sunshine. Might even get some of that today. Love the rain but we’re saturated and the skeeters have been busy makin’ babies.
Bear, I have complained to Comcast. I’ve spoken to manager’s managers. Does no good. It’s a deal handed down from corporate. They run what they want, when they want. Their business motto is, it’s good to be a monopoly cable company.
I’ve weighed the investment of time and the reward of getting the handful of games that are blacked out during the season and it just hasn’t been worth spending hours and hours wading through their stuff and it wouldn’t achieve results anyway. But they do have my suggestions and complaints registered. Probably in file ’13’. You know, the round file.
I’ve also weighed the investment of time and money to add satellite to the mix or replace cable with satellite. I’m on Comcast high-speed internet so I’ll have cable anyway until something else as good/fast comes along. Then I’ve weighed time time I actually watch TV with the investment of getting more channels than I already have (800) 😯 Hey, I love watching the Braves but I’ll probably miss 10-30% of them anyway. I love me some TV watching but compared to most folks, I probably watch half as much.
So, until that day comes when virtually everything is available and interactive, on-demand via the net and reproduced in HDTV, which should be soon… I’ll most likely stay put and be annoyed on occasion when something I want to see is preempted.
Either that or just give up and start watching women’s soccer. 😆
Funny, but as I was posting yesterday about all the sports that were on instead of MY game, I scanned the TV listings. It is incredible, the number of sport events that are playing at the same time. If I listed only those events it might be the longest post I’ve ever made. 😆
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From the Department of Stuff:
You’ve heard of Fibonacci, but this is a pretty cool thing to see on a beautiful Sunday morning:
This ain’t baseball stats, y’all.
If that didn’t bore you, here’s more. Just goes to show, we can learn a lot from Italians and rabbits.
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“I Never Left Atlanta On Bad Terms” Great article!
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9942978/'I-never-left-Atlanta-on-bad-terms‘
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CL, that is a very good read! I sure didn’t thing things would work out in NY for him, but so far, so good!
Chris, 2 computers down??? Sounds like you SG and CL should buy lottery tickets, you guys are due! 🙂
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from MLBtrade rumors…Zimmerman is a smart “kid”
Chico Harlan spoke with Ryan Zimmerman who chimed in: “When it comes down to it, Strasburg has to think about, ‘Can I go to bed if I turn down $15, 16 million dollars—whatever it is—to pass up the opportunity to play for these guys?’ That’s a lot of money. I don’t understand what he thinks will be better next year. If we don’t take him, who’s gonna take him next year? Pittsburgh? San Diego? San Diego is not gonna pay him more. Absolutely his leverage will never be higher.”
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I just noticed: the evil spell that has hit SG, Chris and me goes right up the coast- GA, SC, NC. Hmmm. The rest of y’all inland better batten the hatches!
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Three hours of silence. Ya must have taken it to heart! 😆
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Tonight’s lineup:
1. Infante, 2B
2. Prado, 1B
3. Chipper, 3B
4. McCann, C
5. Escobar, SS
6. Anderson, LF
7. Diaz, RF
8. Church, CF
9. Vazquez
I like our chances.
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So, according to CL’s picture layout of Gil’s lead up top, Infante got the big hit last night. Church is next?
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Mention of our blog on majorsandminors.com:
“At least the Braves have a snowball’s chance at the postseason. Shame on me, right? Wrong- we’re not even the only neglectful Braves blog-Braves and stuff featured an interesting take on the Braves top position prospects- back on July 26 (those were the days). While I question the classification of Brooks Conrad as a top prospect, a blog that’s classy enough to feature Skip and Pete in the image header is a blog that I can get behind.”
Are we neglectful?? What did we neglect?!
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CL, I can’t find that blog!
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Total views: 60,305
Busiest day: 732 — Monday, December 17, 2007
Totals
Posts: 85
Comments: 42,437
Categories: 97
Tags: 49
Spam
Akismet has protected your site from 261 spam comments.
(At least 250 of those are Salty’s!) 😆
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Sorry, Ber! It’s probably because I got the name backwards! 😳
I invited Brian Anderson, the blogmaster there to join us anytime. Hope he will!
Here’s the (correct) link: http://minorsandmajors.com/
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minorsandmajors.com
http://minorsandmajors.com/2009/930/yesterdays-news
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Wow… I was WAY behind on that one…
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Hey, shape up there, Raisins! No more slacking off!
😆
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CL, now that I have read the rest of that blog, I think he thinks we haven’t written a new blog in awhile??? perhaps he bookmarked that one, and doesn’t know we don’t keep them on one page??? Well, I guess they are all on a page, but I don’t look at them that way.
The good (or bad) news is that we aren’t alone- there are a number of blog readers that have fallen victim to the lack-of-content-plague that’s sweeping across the internet.
Of course, we noticed that issue months ago with Scribe’s blog, and shoot, I forget the kids name that was going to have a baby…what’s his name???
It is clearly very hard to keep a blog going day after day, month after month, year after year.
60,000 hits pretty good!
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Actually, Ber, I think he was complimenting us on staying current, when others seem to be asleep at the wheel. At least that’s what I took from it.
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Jelly Bean.
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C’mon Rox, eat those Phish.
Will our game start before 9:00? May have to record thissun.
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(At least 250 of those are Salty’s!)
😯 I’m a spammer? 😦
First Deion’s runnin’ around with “Where Salty?” Now I’m a spammer 😡
Hmmm…… 👿
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Salty, how many times did Gil and I have to fish you out of the filter? Had to have been hundreds! 😆 And it was our pleasure!
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Speaking of current, we are at 200+ now, Ber. We’ll be needing a new lead before you know it! How’s it coming?!
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And that was JBinATL. Miss him!
WHERE IS HILLBILLY??!!
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HillBilly shows up now and then across he street…
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Where Salty Spam at? 😆
Yes… JB. Jelly Bean. No doubt taking care of little Bean, Jr.
there are a number of blog readers that have fallen victim to the lack-of-content-plague that’s sweeping across the internet.
Television, magazine and newsprint readers have trouble finding decent content too. Trash, spin and fluff have reached pandemic levels.
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Hate to see this thing rained out, but it would be a shame to try and get in a mudfest with this much on the line.
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If you see Klobber, tell him I got the locks changed for him. He knows where the new keys will be!
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Saloon locks changed? 😯
That’s ok, I have a locksmith buddy that can let Klobber in. Let’s me in all the time. Buddy likes rooskies too. 😛
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Game’s about to start.
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Hey folks, always thought our little B&S blog was on the leading edge. Cl definitely deserves kudos for sticking it out and persevering with out corner of the blog universe.
Sorry for my absence today but one of the kids brought their brood over for a family day in the pool. Wow, am I glad we don’t have little ones to raise any longer… The cat has been hiding under the bed since noon…
Patiently awaiting baseball to start in Atlanta. If they had played this game when originally scheduled, the Braves would be on their way north to play the Mets tomorrow. Now they will likely play until 1 AM and be dragging tomorrow night.
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Greetings folks. Been busy painting all day. I was going to paint my son’s bedroom but I decided that I should paint the saloon. Seems that some of the “patrons” (I say “patrons” because they weren’t of the paying variety) scribbled quite a lot of graffiti all over the place. Took three coats of special paint but I finally got it done.
CL, you said you had the locks changed. Did you mean the locks to the saloon or the doghouse? I think I know someone that needs to take a visit there.
Nice to see Matty D go yard to tie things up. Vazquez has really pitched well this year. It’s a shame that his won/loss record isn’t better. He surely deserves better.
Tomorrow morning at 8.30 I will officially be the parent of a high school kid. Damn, I feel soooo old. It seems like she was just born the other day. Raisins and Hillbilly (if you’re not out in the woods hunting) hug those babies tight. They’ll be too big for that before you know it!
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Gil, every time I hear the word “playoffs” I can’t help but think about this:
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umm, don’t pitch to Hoawrd…tip for Javy…hope I wasn’t too late in getting that info out to him.
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Too late e evidently, Bear.
Well, Javy blinked and the way the Braves are struggling…again… with the bats, it’s gonna be a big uphill climb to score three runs. Especially with Prado, Mac, McLouth and Chipper missing from the lineup.
I’m calling it a night. Braves are on their own. It’ll take Lady Luck to get back in this one.
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Well, as the old saying goes, great hitting always beats great pitching.:?
Wildcard or bust!
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Stayed up just long enough to see Howard do it to us again. Javy pitched well, as usual, but Ryan owned him with those hittable mistakes. Sure am glad I waited for an 8:00 game on ESPN with Joe Morgan and then sat through an hour and a half rain delay to watch Ryan Howard crush, Happ dominate, Javy blink, Chipper wince and Mac struggle. 🙄
Other than that, it was a Happ‘nin. Tip o’ the cap to Rookie Happ, although his job was made easier without Prado and McLouth, a not-so chipper Chipper, a loafing Garrett and a tired Mac.
Both Braves and Phils have very good pitching, but looking at the lineups, side by side, it’s just plain hard to beat a club that has better players at almost every position on the field and on the bench. That and the fact that one or two runs ain’t gonna win you many games in the MLB. I’d have to sit both Chipper and Mac a day or two, otherwise they’ll drag on the rest of the season.
Thoughts of sweeping the series seems now like a distant, unrealistic dream. Winning the series was possible. Coming away from the weekend six back in the division is not an easy mountain to climb. There is still hope, but the mountain just got higher, steeper and more slippery.
sigh…
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Ow…
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To balance my last post…
😆
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I went to sleep right after Diaz’ homer… apparently the Braves offense did also.
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Just an observation, not an opinion:
If I recall correctly, one of the things Ozzie Guillen would say about Javy last season was that he choked at big moments in big games.
I’m not saying that’s what happened against Ryan Howard, but those 2 pitches sure did drift out across the plate didn’t they? Javy himself said, “He beat me today. He’s a powerful guy you’ve got to be careful with. I made two bad pitches.” courtesy of ajc
Uh, two bad pitches to the wrong guy on the wrong team at the wrong time. Might help the “Huddy or Javy in 2010” debate to heat up a little more, huh?
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OK, the last sentence was an opinion. Just the last sentence.
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This one’s all opinion:
Can’t help but think that one more power bat in the lineup would have made all the difference in this series. In any series, really. The Braves are a flawed team playing good baseball – for the most part – but not ready for October.
I think they are still in it thanks to good pitching (you know ’em), great leadership (Mac), top front office effort (Wren, even with his hands financially tied), and good management (dissenting opinions understood and welcomed). But the fact is, they are a flawed team as we have documented over and over. They couldn’t get over the hump in a big 3 game series because of the glaring hole in the lineup. The same would happen in a 5 gamer. Any playoff series really focuses more on hitters because ALL playoff teams have good pitching or they wouldn’t be there to begin with.
Am I overreacting to this series loss? Maybe… but who beat us this weekend? Was it Utley, Rollins or even Victorino? Nope, it was their bopper. We don’t have one…
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Well, Soriano coughed up a gopher ball to Ryan too.
All is not lost as far as the Braves’ playoff hopes are concerned but it is misplaced right now….
Like the old saying, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best…
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Back later. Gotta do some work now…
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To reiterate what I said at the beginning of the season when someone asked for a comparison between the Braves and the Yankees, for the Yankees not to make it, a lot would have to go wrong, for the Braves to make it, a lot would have to go right.
Philly has a stronger line-up than the Braves right now. Just the facts… Braves still need to get ahead of the Marlins before they can overtake the Phillies and they have not done that as of yet.
Game at 4PM today against the Snakes… Let’s make up a half game at least. Otherwise, folks just might get their wish and have Wren start playing for next year by having a fire sale of pitchers…
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The reality is, if we can sweep ARI, and Philly drops 2 of their next 3, we could be where we wanted to be, just 4 days later. The net effect is the same, but the psychological effect is much longer lasting – to both players and fans alike.
And there is one less week to catch up.
And Gil is right. We need to focus on the Phish, because they’re the team immediately ahead of us in both the division and the WC.
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Just one makeup game with the Snakes, then it’s off to the Mutts. Gotta win today and sweep NY. Well, we don’t gotta but it would be a nice change.
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Just one game with the Snakes? Well…. makes a sweep a little more plausible, then, doesn’t it? 😀
Hmmm… making up a rain game, though? Hope we get it in. You seen the forecast? I guess it’s good they have a 4:00pm start. With the remnants of Ana creeping up from the gulf, maybe they can squeeze 5 innings in between raindrops somewhere before midnight.
And a sweep of the Mutts would be fun for no reason at all; it just would be. I kinda hate it we’re pitching TommyH in a makeup game with a NL West wannabe. I’d rather have him carve up NYM for the above stated reason. Just because they’re the Mutts.
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Less than 7 hours remain… will Stephen Strasburg sign with the Nats?
If he doesn’t he is a fool and a pawn. And Boras is an ass once again.
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And don’t forget today is Smoltz day, too. He will more than likely be released by the BoSox some time today.
Then what?
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LA? Tigers?
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Jon Heyman:
The Nationals say they have offered a record bonus at or north of $12 million (the record is $10.5 million for Mark Prior in 2001), according to sources. But there’s no evidence the sides are close. Strasburg’s camp is believed to see him as having a $50 million value.
Of course, it’s Strasburg’s call in the end. And it takes a rare amateur player to turn down a seven-figure offer (or in this case, an eight-figure offer).
So far, though, there has been little indication of any progress at all in the Strasburg talks.
I think he’s out of his mind. Actually, I’m sure it’s all orchestrated by Boras, who has poisoned his mind. Regardless, he has lost my respect. His focus should be on baseball, not $$$. Every team should know where his priorities are, and it ain’t winning baseball games. I hope he doesn’t sign, and his value drops quicker than Paris Hilton’s pants…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jon_heyman/08/17/redsox.slump/1.html
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FOXsports’ Ben Maller:
[John] Smoltz is on the side of the road out of gas. He’s got a less than 5% chance of helping his next team make the playoffs.
Yikes! 😯
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N8 has been DL’d and Reid Gorecki called up.
“Who?” you ask? Gorecki has been AAA Gwinnett’s CF, where he has batted .286 with 9 HR’s, 27 2B’s and 49 RBI. It’s his first ML callup. No word on whether he’ll be in the lineup, but he is supposed to be there for the 4:00pm start.
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2day’s lineup:
1. KJ 2B
2. MattyD RF
3. Chipper 3B
4. GA LF
5. Yunel SS
6. Roachey 1B
7. ChurchMouse CF
8. DRoss C
9. TommyH P
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Smoltz’ release from Boston is official:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9948512/Red-Sox-officially-release-former-Cy-Young-winner
I dare say that didn’t exactly turn out like he had hoped…
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good afternoon all! Did FBG see a game in Gwinnett???
Gil…”To reiterate what I said at the beginning of the season when someone asked for a comparison between the Braves and the Yankees, for the Yankees not to make it, a lot would have to go wrong, for the Braves to make it, a lot would have to go right.”
I don’t recall that, but that was a very astute comment.
I think the braves in a way were hurt by G.A. hitting about .280…few teams will replace a guy doing that, but 15 HR, 66 RBI’s in 500 AB’s(Projected)…fine 20 years ago, but doesn’t cut it with a platoon in right.
Before the Phillies series, I would have said, the platoon is fine, the team is playing just great…
but we need some pop…we have pop at AA. We brought up a “line drive” guy from AAA, not a bopper.
I do believe others here have asked for a real bopper. Will the team show some guts and promote the one we have in the system???
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Forgot to mention without Nate’s power, it hurts the team as well. Perhaps it’s time for Church to start hitting, assume he will be playing every day now.
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Rod Dibble who is doing the color commentary for Nats made a statement the other night that I thought was very much on point. He said that giving an untested rookie all that money took away the hunger for them to make it in the bigs.
He said while Strasburg was an obvious talent, he still has not pitched one single inning of professional baseball. It is a huge stretch for someone to make the assumption that he will be successful.
I have always thought that the best players were the ones who came up through the system and remember the bus rides and the stale locker rooms. I say let him sit for a year and then see who will sign him. His loss…
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“Forgot to mention without Nate’s power, it hurts the team as well.” Berigan, the true master of the obvious comment! 🙂
Strasburg. First off, I HATE Borass, in case you all didn’t know that. A true Cancer on the game of baseball.
I’d rather see Bonds in the hall, than him have anything to do with any future player in the game.
But…the Nats were so cheap last year, they didn’t get their top pick signed for a difference of 400K!!!!
Read something the other day that said the Nat’s Owner is a multi-Billionaire!!!! 😯
Also some baseball writer was talking to a football guy that was talking about some 1st rounder who not only wasn’t #1 overall, wasn’t even the best at his position. And he signed for some huge deal, of which 28 Million was guaranteed!
No player is worth the money they get paid, but…Mark Prior got 10 Million back in 2001. This kid has better stuff, if nothing else. If they lose their 2nd number 1 pick in as many years, over 2 million( 12 mil is what is being mentioned) the small fan base isn’t going to want to hear about it.
(and they saved money last year not signing that #1 guy, right???)
I know Satan is using the argument that Dice-K getting 50 Mil at 28, wasn’t worth as much as Strasburg, but the red sox have more money than sense…and how’s that deal working out for them now???
But, if the Nat’s owner has billions, at 11:59 PM make a 20 Mil offer, so that if the kid turns down 20 Mil, everyone will think he is a fool…and perhaps some kids in the future will shy away from Satan in a Brooks Brother suit.
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Then, there is the argument that 20 million dollars just doesn’t buy what it use to. And the guy is a billionaire because he didn’t throw money away like a drunken sailor…
Risky business putting that much moolah up for a pitcher who is always just one pitch away from a permanent injury. The Nats rushed Zimmermann up to the big leagues and we see how well that has worked out for them. Kid might never be effective again…
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Gil, all true…but the nats are a dead last team again. Lots of hitting, but no pitching. They can’t keep losing out on the best pitcher they draft, year after year, can they??? What do they say if Strasburg doesn’t sign??? Next year we get 1 and 2?? Of course they will be Boras’ minions as well…
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Arron Cook, the guy who passed on the Nats last year was drafted by the Royals this year and he still hasn’t signed. What, do they all think they will sign with the Yankees if they hold out?
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Now, it’s not that I don’t think that a player shouldn’t get the maximum he can for his services but sometimes they need to understand that they need to prove themselves before they can earn the money.
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Of course if I did have to pay out that kind of money, I’d ride him like a rented mule…
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3 zip Bravos against a tough pitcher.
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uh.. make that 7 zip for the good guys…
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You know, Ryan Church really has a pretty nice looking swing… especially clearing the bases!
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Yes, he really needs to step up with Nate on the DL.
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Okay, nice comeback for the team today. They could have come out flat , well Kelly Johnson did, but everyone else is playing good baseball. Nice two run shot by Roachie…
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It is good to see the team get up off the mat and punch. Hanson is the real deal.
On Strasburg, it ain’t Boras that’s running the market up. It’s called free enterprise. It’s the ugly, ridiculous side of free enterprise, but it’s legal… and rampant in pro sports. If the owners were not willing to pay exorbitant salaries to the agents of players and the fans stopped paying what they do for ppv, tickets and merchandize, the prices would all come down to earth.
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Yes SG, that’s the way free markets work. Charge just what the market will bare. NASCAR is finding out that there is a limit as to how much is too much. Many more empty seats than in years past. Seats in Richmond are $60 a pop cheaper than two years ago.
Good win by the Braves but what in the world is wrong with Gonzalas? All over the place with his fast ball… Looks as if he is overthrowing to me…
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Yep, free enterprise run amok winds up being a very costly enterprise for the consumer… until the consumer has had enough, then it’s costly for the brand. Folks don’t look kindly upon out of control valuations. My crystal ball says that MLB will learn this very soon. Watch 2010 for a big correction.
Gil, Gonzo does look odd out there and his control seems to vanish instantly. It sure looks like he’s overthrowing. Then, with his falling off the mound after every pitch, hitting batters and such. Something’s not right.
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Didn’t go to Gwinnett, Ber. Hot, humid & forecasted rain.
I would never wish anything bad on young Mr. Strasburg but I’m a big believer in what goes around comes around. Karma will bite him in the butt.
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It has been my experience that pitchers try to overcome ailments by throwing harder, then the control goes away. Like over swinging at a golf ball… guaranteed slice or duck hook.. Balance is still the key and he looks anything but balanced.
And did you see him hit the deck when that ball was hit back up the middle? Maybe when Huddy comes back, they need to move Lowe into the closers spot.
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I know if we can see it on TV, then Wren and company can see it up close.
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And I am hoping there is nothing seriously wrong with Prado… He is the one guy the Braves cannot afford to lose.
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I think Gonzo is tired. Someone with a better memory than me, was he warming up in the bullpen Sunday??? Even if he hasn’t, he has pitched 4 of the last 6 days.
I freely admit he has looked shaky, but guess what? The last game he gave up a run, was the 23rd of July. Last earned run was given up July 9th.
Bobby has to find a way to trust other pitchers in the bullpen, or why have them??? Acosta hasn’t pitched since the 11th! So guess what??? After not pitching for a week(bare minimum) he’s likely to be rusty if he pitches against the mutts.
And the game was 9-4, and Soriano was warming up! 🙄
just saw this while checking out his stats…
Soriano admitted on Saturday that he’s dealing with muscular discomfort behind his right shoulder, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports. (Aug 15)
But, as Don and the other guy said, he was throwing hard in the bullpen today. Just don’t get that.
Gonzo can’t pitch tonight, can he??? I hope Soriano has healed up enough, because no one pitches complete games anymore.
Moylan projects to pitch in 90 games this year!! After T.J. Surgery! What if he went down??? Who takes his place?
If Bobby doesn’t trust Boone Logan or Acosta, then call some other guys up. No sense wasting a roster space.
Speaking of wasting a roster space, why is Greg Norton still on the club??? Because he can get a walk now and then???
What a difference a year makes…last August, 3 HR’s 8 RBI’s and a .320 average(and only 2 games were he wasn’t a pinch hitter)
This year, 0 HR’s 6 RBI’s .136 BA for the whole year. Did Tony Clark retire??? He’s a switch hitter with you know, some actual power….
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Wow FBG, who got you wound up? 🙂 Of course you are right…
Logan actually pitched an inning yesterday. Gave up a couple of runs.
Gonzo just looks all over the place with his fast ball. Fatigue could be a factor.
And the Nat gave Stasberg $15 million… Whew!
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Carroll Rogers, ajc:
“With the anticipated addition of Tim Hudson in the near future, we have not pursued John Smoltz,” [Frank] Wren said in a text message Monday.
Uh, did anyone expect him to? Really?
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MISS JOSIE!!!
(Thank you, Google calendar alert!) 😆
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Let me get this straight.
Obama’s health care plan was written by a committee…
Whose head says he doesn’t completely understand it
Endorsed by a Congress that hasn’t read it
Touted by a president who smokes
Financed by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes
Overseen by a surgeon general who is obese
And funded by a country that is a few trillion $ in the red
So, . . . what could possibly go wrong with this plan ?
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CL, I like to look at it this way:
Medicare is bankrupt. Medicaid is bankrupt. FNMA failed. FHLMC failed. Social Security is headed toward bankruptcy.
If you had a son who had totalled 5 cars you bought him, would you by him another?
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One need only look at the VA healthcare to see a microcosm of ObamaCare. It was just about 10 years ago that the VA hospital in Atlanta sent my father-in-law home with a clean bill of health after he spent the day in their “emergency” room with a number of unusual and uncomfortable symptoms. 2 days later he was dead.
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CL, that was classic.
Yes Raisins, the VA, Post Office, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Military benefits, Freddie, Fannie, DOT, Clunker cars…
Happy Birthday Josie! I’ll assume Gil is doing all the chores and all the cooking this week. 😆
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Josie says thank you… 🙂 She is no longer revealing her age but I can vouch that she looks pretty darn good, whatever it might be.
Yes, having the government run anything is a very scary proposition.
Personally, my take on the whole deal is the “Silent Majority” has ceased being silent and it is scaring the heck out of the liberals who don’t know how to counter their own tactics.
So, in this world of rampant misinformation, I honestly don’t know who to believe so my answer is NO… Folks can work from that point forward for me.
Now baseball, lets beat up on the Mets like it’s 1999…
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Did y’all know that the insurance industry represents 1/6 of our total US economy? You want the Feds in charge of 1/6 of our total economy? Uh, not me…
And Happy Birthday Mrs. Josie!!! 😀
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I can believe the 1/6th part. I’m pretty insurance poor myself. It claims more than 1/6 of my income foe sure when you account for health , dental, auto and homeowners plus the life insurance. Then there is what I pay for mom’s supplemental and Medicare part D… Still, can’t afford to be without it now.
I get a little PO to hear the yuppies whine about their high premiums to take care of the old folk. Well, I didn’t make any claims on mine either for 40 some years…
By the way, had my physical and other than the fact that I weigh too much, I am in excellent health. It really screws up the government’s actuary tables for fat guys to beat the system… Sadly, I don’t know if it is s blessing or a curse to live too long with all this pain. It’s bad when you have to go to the dentist to get relief. Love the NO2… 🙂
Waiting for Josie to get back form visiting mom so we can go out for lunch. Have a good day folks.
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Love the NO2 😆
Later that day…
Gil: Uh, doc… I need to come in.
Doc: What’s the problem?
Gil: Toothache.
Doc: Like the one yesterday?
Gil: Uh, yea. Real bad.
Doc: Well, we couldn’t find anything yesterday but come on in.
Gil: See you after lunch. Uh, milk toast.
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Ken ROsenthalt regarding the skipper:
Bobby Cox, Braves: There were rumblings earlier in the season that he might step down, but the Braves’ turnaround — and the vast potential of prospects such as Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman — should persuade him to return.
My money says he does step down after the season. I think the signs point to it. In the past several years that he has worked under 1 year extensions, he has gotten them done by now.
If I had to guess, he’ll take a FO spot at the under-the-radar urging of Mr. Wren. Frank has already shown that he isn’t one to ride the horse of sentimentality. My money says Frank wants to move forward into the next generation of Braves with a new guy on the top step. I have nothing to base that on other than pure gut, but that’s the feeling I get.
I suppose we’ll know this one before to long…
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Uh… Ken Rosenthal. Dang typing… 😡
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Happy Birthday Mrs. Josie!:D
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Happy Birthday Mrs. Josie! 😀
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2night’s lineup:
1. Infante, 2B
2. Marteeen (aka Dizzy), 1B
3. Chipper, 3B
4. Mac, C
5. GA, LF
6. Yunel, SS
7. MattyD, RF
8. ChurchKey, CF
9. DLowe, P
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Cox in 2010, sitting behind a desk in the front office. All day long, he’s watching office personnel walk up and down the hallway, busy at work.
From Bobby’s office you can occasionally hear… “c’mon kid”.
After a few weeks of this, Wren makes a deal with Bobby. He’ll give him a window office so he can, uh, watch stuff… but he has to keep his door closed.
Can see it now.
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Bobby Cox never did look right in a suit, was always a field kind of guy. I would expect for him to be more into the evaluation of talent type of mode. Some sort of special assistant to the boss sort of job. Of course, the scuttlebutt is Bobby and Frank are not all that keen on keeping each other’s company. Would be more likely a special advisor to McGirk. Primarily would evaluate talented school kids near Atlanta.
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Yes, SG.
July 31, 2010… Frank Wren is working the phones in an effort to make that fine adjustment to a playoff bound Braves team… from a short distance can be heard, “Let’s go, Frankie! C’mon, kid!”
I can see it too… 😆
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Gil, you thinking the spikes will tear up the carpet or somethin’?
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Reportedly, Prado was still feeling a little wobbley after taking BP. He may not be in tonight’s lineup after all. Obviously LaRoche would be back in, but the previously reported order would also change.
No decision as of yet.
Stay tuned to this channel for more info as it becomes available…
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I would expect for him to be more into the evaluation of talent type of mode.
That’s always been his strong suit. Can learn a lot just by watching. 😆 No, but seriously, he’s always been good at evaluating talent.
Prado still dizzy? Yikes. Sumpin’ ain’t right.
I read or heard something from Rochey the other day, after he sat for Prado to play first, along the lines of “he didn’t like to sit, especially with all the sitting and rest he had being traded several times”. He didn’t seem happy about not starting.
I’d like to see Chipper sit and let Prado play third than to lose Adam’s bat right now. Boy, these injuries sure piled up all at once, eh.
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Prado was still feeling a little wobbley after taking BP.
Well tell him to snap out of it. Besides, some people pay good money to feel that way. 😆
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I think Gonzo is tired. Someone with a better memory than me, was he warming up in the bullpen Sunday???
Uh, dunno… was Sunday like, two days ago? 😆
I freely admit he has looked shaky, but guess what? The last game he gave up a run, was the 23rd of July.
Well just tell Gonzo to relax. Besides, some people pay good money to get all shaky like that. 😆
But serially (sometimes hard to do), I agree. Tired body and an even more tired arm. With so much use after TJ, he’s a perfect candidate for a dead arm. The shaky part is probably a symptom of the same tired, shaky condition. Although some people pay good money for… ah, there I go again.
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Maybe Prado needs to take his BP after his BP. And that’s not a joke.
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I would never wish anything bad on young Mr. Strasburg but I’m a big believer in what goes around comes around. Karma will bite him in the butt.
But FBG, would you feel that way if he was a Brave, got to the bigs in short time and got 25 wins his first season?
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Josie says she believes Prado has a pinched nerve in his neck, symptoms show up after he looks up… We have seen it in patients before.
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And Escobar shows once again he hate contact…
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Woowee, Roachie crushed that one….
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Prado may need a good chiro.
Crap… Sheffield knocks in two. Still nobody out. Lowe looks very mediocre tonight.
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he looked good until he took that shot off his left hand.
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now both hands are bothering him
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and the Mets are in his head too…
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c’mon Bobby , go get him…
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Waited too long.. wow, going from four up to four down in one inning, who do the Braves think they are playing, the Nats?
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Oh, my…
You have got to b kidding me…
8 runs?
Figured it was safe to get a shower and hang with the neighbor a bit and… yeow. How in the heck did that happen? Lowe gave up 8 in one inning?
Hope the Braves didn’t feel like they could just waltz into NY, throw the gloves on the field and wait for the sweep. If they did, they don’t now.
Most teams have nights like this, but the Braves can’t afford any. They’ve already used up their allocation.
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Prado has been flown back to ATL for further evaluation. That doesn’t sound so good.
To me, he sounds like he is exhibiting some signs of vertigo. I’ve seen it; I’ve had it. Of course, that could be why it looks like it to me.
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That sucked…
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V, I’m sorry about what happened to your Father 10 years ago. Those are the stories that need to be told to people on the fence of government run healthcare…
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That was ugly. Uuuggglllyyy. Get the D. Lowe voodoo doll away from whoever had it in the Mets clubhouse.
Prado is worrying me & I don’t have much faith in the Braves’ doctors.
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SG, 1- I wouldn’t be happy about any potential Brave behaving as he has & 2- Hopefully the Braves won’t finish low enough to have a really high pick anytime soon.
I think there should be a cap on the signing bonus any drafted player can receive. Say 1 million, which should be more than enough to get them through college & onto a different career path should baseball not pan out.
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And Happy Birthday to Miss Josie!
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I missed all the action. Well, when I finally remembered the game was on at 8 PM, saw the braves were up 4-0, and I almost had a pang of sorrow for the Mutts…what a hapless bunch, just destroyed by the injury bug. Who’s first? What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third…
Then, driving to a late dinner at the dwarf house, I heard the mutts just pushed across the lead run, 5-4. Hmmm…8th guy was coming up that inning for the Mutts. Yet Lowe was still in there. hmmm. The the pitcher got a hit(I think that was the order, so very many hits, runs) the guy that’s not Don Sutton(I am starting to warm a bit to him, will need to learn his name) was wondering why Lowe was still in there. More hits, 8-4 when I went in to eat. Wasn’t too worried about missing the last few innings.
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Now GBG, I don’t know…a million doesn’t go as far as it used to! 😉
Actually, I agree. Teams are giving more than that(1 Million) to guys in the 4th round and lower!
There are restrictions on players when they are young, stuck to a team for 6 years, paid whatever the team wants to pay you the first 3 years. Don’t see why teams have to give a guy 15 mil when he may blow his arm out in the AZ league and never pitch an inning.
I think I read that only 3 of the number 1 picks overall,(that were pitchers) have had winning records.
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Jim Powell, Ber. If you didn’t hear the beginning, you missed the good part of the radio broadcast. Jim & Don had a fan in front of them who apparently had a severe case of plumber butt so we got many many puns on “moon”.
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Yep, plum butt ugly….
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🙂
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Very uninspired play last night. They seemed like a deflated team. Once the seams came unraveled in the 4th, they just put it into cruise control and chugged into the night. Bleh. Not worth the electricity it cost to keep the TV on…
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Yes Raisins, ditto that.
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I think there should be a cap on the signing bonus any drafted player can receive. Say 1 million, which should be more than enough to get them through college & onto a different career path should baseball not pan out.
FBG, that may sound fair and equitable to you and no doubt there are plenty of folks that would agree with a signing cap, but this is a slippery slope with many negative or unintended consequences, such as we see with other limitations placed on certain professions and industries. What looks “fair” to some may actually have the opposite effect. Taking this thought a bit further out…
If we place a “fair” cap on drafted players, what group or individual will determine fair? Colleges? Player’s Union? Owners? MLB? Selig? Player agents? Henry Waxman?
If we believe newcomers in baseball should get a prescribed amount when they start, then what about other professions? Should young, rookie actors get a cap? First album by a new band can only earn a set amount? Young entrepreneurs can only earn up to a million when they begin? Artists? Where does it end? What are the consequences of this?
Would we actually create disincentives for kids going into the sport of baseball? Would we create the environment and temptation for under the table payments to cheat the ‘control’ system? Do we place an artificial, arbitrary amount a highly talented individual can earn quickly in a sport that is fraught with risk?
Are we trying to save owner’s money in this, or just limit players because we think we should dictate what is “fair”? Are we basing that fairness on our own circumstances or some other monetary comparison? Are we basing one million dollars on today’s standard of living? Have we factored inflation? Have we factored hyperinflation?
Here’s the thing… we may all agree that baseball players and pro athletes earn a ridiculous amount of money, especially when we compare that to our own lives. But that is not a reason to limit anyone. We see the argument across the country today, with one political party wanting to place controls and salary ceilings in certain industries and the other party wanting to free government control and allow the free enterprise system to work. This may seem like an unfair comparison, but it’s not. It’s simply a microcosm of a larger economic value system.
If the owners want to pay outrageous salaries and signing bonuses to draft talent, so be it… it is a free country and it is after all, their money to spend as they choose. If the owners then want to subsidize their expenditures with higher ticket and merchandise prices or limit access to many fans by going Pay Per View, it is their right in a free country. Just as, if an auto manufacturer wants to design and build a car that 90% of the public can’t afford, they have the right to do that. The consumer markets will sort it all out.
If the fan (the consumer) is willing to pay higher ticket prices and order a PPV package to subsidize $15 mm signing bonuses, higher player salaries and such, then they will do just that. If you, the consumer, decide that YOU don’t want to pay the higher prices, then you won’t. It’s as simple and as natural as that.
If we want to place controls on anything, we don’t have to assign that control to any person or group. We already have the control. If baseball becomes too expensive for the average fan, the MLB and the owners will adjust prices downward. They will be forced to, but not because of some authoritarian body. Empty seats speak louder to team owners than Bud Selig or Player’s Union or the Henry Waxman’s of the world.
There are many unintended ramifications when you start tinkering with free enterprise, so I hope you’ll reconsider your position on this. I’ve no doubt rattled on more than I needed with this rationale and surely I’ve missed better examples… so I hope I’ve added a helpful, differing perspective for you to consider about why we shouldn’t arbitrarily limit or stifle any profession.
Over the long term in this great Republic of ours, founded on freedom, built on a free enterprise, capitalist system. In politics, business, sports, entertainment and health care… We The People, with our vote and our wallet, already have all the control we need.
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Did Raisins call it right on Prado? Hope not:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/08/19/the-braves-prado-gets-dizzy-and-i-think-esasky/?cxntfid=blogs_mark_bradley_blog
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More baseball Headlines:
Smoltz to sign with the Cards!!!
Jerry Manuel is a jerk.
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ESPN’s Jason Stark on the need for a new draft system:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=4407622&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines
Excerpts:
This draft isn’t working. It hasn’t for years. [Completely agree.]
These are just some of the ideas being collected by a committee, headed by the esteemed John Schuerholz, which is studying ways to “fix” the draft. They won’t all fly. They won’t even all make it to the bargaining table.
• SLOTTING — Baseball is now the only major sport that doesn’t have some sort of system that regulates how much drafted players can get paid. And that can’t go on. Not just because the clubs want slotting, either. It’s because players want it. We’ve polled a bunch of them. And big league players want those $15 million deals going to them, not to kids who have never played a professional baseball game. [The union will NEVER go for it. Period. Won’t happen.]
• TRADING PICKS — Now here’s a concept the union is in favor of. So it seems just about inevitable that this is a new draft wrinkle that’s coming soon. If you have the first pick and you don’t want the price tag that comes with Stephen Strasburg, or you don’t want the migraine that comes from dealing with Scott Boras, you pick him anyway and then dangle him on the open market. Amazingly, it’s always been small-market owners who have opposed the idea of dealing picks. And what’s their argument? That it would allow Boras to manipulate the draft. Huh? He manipulates it just fine now. [No impact if a slotting ]system could be implemented. Little impact otherwise, really, IMO. A Strasburg type doesn’t come along very often. That’s when trading a pick is really valuable.]
• WORLDWIDE DRAFT — We’re not sure if this on-again, off-again idea will ever fly. But it’s gaining momentum again, because it needs to. A system that allows the Yankees and Red Sox to outspend everybody on any player they really want, with no limits whatsoever, doesn’t serve anyone except the Yankees and Red Sox. Whether baseball can figure out a way to navigate all the unique laws and circumstances of every country with a baseball talent pool is a massive question. But we now sense more interest in getting those international signings under control than we’ve sensed in years. [Completely agree with Stark on this one. If you are going to abide by a draft system, it should apply to all players.]
• THE CONTROL ROOM — Another idea that’s been building steam beneath the surface is a way for teams to wriggle out of the embarrassment of being held hostage by 17-year-old high school kids. What some people in the sport would like to see is a draft system similar to the hockey draft, which would allow any team picking a high school player to control that player’s rights through his college years. “We need something to that effect,” said an exec of one team, “just so you don’t feel like you have no leverage as a club in those negotiations. So if you draft a kid out of high school and he says he’s not ready to sign, after his sophomore year you can try to sign him again. And after his junior year you can try to sign him again. And then, if he still doesn’t sign, after his senior year of college, then he goes back into the draft.” [As with slotting, the union will never go for it. It gives teams more leverage than players, and the union simply will not have that.]
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From the yawn department:
Eric Campbell has been released…
http://www.tristate-media.com/articles/2009/08/18/pdclarion/sports/doc4a8b78ec6734b260507586.txt
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Hello folks, well, got half of the grass mowed. Then managed a dip in the pool… Yep, this retirement thingee sure is tough…
Agree on the assessment that the teamed tanked it after getting down four runs. I thought Medlin pitched pretty well however.
Josie sends her thanks to the gang for the birthday wished. I am doing things a little different this year, treating her to a birthday week. Yep, every day is her birthday this week. That also gives me cover in case I forgot something…
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“That also gives me cover in case I forgot something…”
Gentlemen, take notes from this very wise man!
😆
PSA: It also counts FORWARD! If you HAVEN’T forgotten anything, it will help reduce/negate future flubs!
BTW, I never told you this!
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The ability to make good judgments comes from experience,
Experience come from using poor judgment Unknown… 🙂
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Ello, ello….
I was watching the “highlights” of the game on baseball tonight. Lowe’s fastball seemed to get slower, and slower as that inning went on. He normally throws the sinker in the “lowe” 90’s, right??? I was seeing hit after hit at 88-89. One of the last hits was 79 MPH, but didn’t look like a curve/slider… just a hanging nothing pitch as Red Sox fans are fond of saying.
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Strange results of poll to whom should leave the rotation if Hudson comes back…
If Tim Hudson returns to the rotation … who is the Braves’ odd man out?
*
Jair Jurrjens
0.76%
*
Tommy Hanson
1.50%
*
Kenshin Kawakami
61.00%
*
Derek Lowe
4.92%
*
Javier Vazquez
0.78%
*
Six-man rotation!
31.04%
Derek is the one with the 4.45 ERA…but, Honestly, did anyone expect one of the 5 to go to the bullpen???
So why is Hudson starting, anyway??? Stretch him out, then turn him into a reliever?? That doesn’t make sense, does it??? He would have to stay in the pen for awhile after the starts….Are they going to just trade him??? Being in the minors, does he go through waivers like he would on the 25 man roster???
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Gil, your 2:24 speaks volumes! 😆
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Wow, flipped by to see the braves go from 5-0 to 8-0 after Brian McCann destroyed a ball, hit it in the seats that are far away(and up) from the fence. And there are no cheap homers in their new stadium.
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Well, I think the Braves can put this one in the win column.
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Hey… who is this LaRooch, LaRose, LaRoche kid, anyway? I kinda like him…
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… 😀
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Revenge is sweet. Take that, Mets!
SG, I don’t have a problem with MLB players, young or not, earning however high of a salary they can get for their abilities. I just object to paying such ridiculous amounts to a kid who hasn’t yet thrown a pitch as a professional.
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Ber, regarding your early posting about the rotation…..
Well, it’s a pretty good problem to have isn’t it? I remember about this time last year when the Braves were trying to patch together a starting rotation from all sorts of used parts. You have to hand it to FW, he did a good job bolstering the pitching. Nice change of pace.
Hudson is in the minors on a rehab assignment so he is not exposed to waivers. However, he has to be brought back in a certain amount of time. I think it’s 30 days but I’m not absolutely certain about that.
As far as what to do with the rotation, it’s tough to say what may happen. I don’t see BC going with a 6 man rotation although I wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to it. I’m just not certain that page exists in “the book”. One thing to consider as we move forward into the last six weeks of the season: Tommy Hanson has never pitched more than 138 innings in a season. So far in 09 he’s thrown 145 (including his time in AAA) and I believe he’ll have at least two more starts by the time that Huddy is ready to come back so you can add another 12 or so innings to his 145 for a total of 157 or so.
As good as Hanson has been would it not be prudent to slow him down a bit? Move him to the bullpen? I’m not sure if that would stunt his growth or not. He’s been arguably the best pitcher on the staff this year but it’s not inconceivable to me that they would shut him down as his innings add up, particularly if the Braves fall further out of the wild card race.
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Chris, you make a good point about Hanson! I’m sure Bobby would love to “Avery” him through September and hopefully October, but they need to think longterm. The Braves have not had a good starter developed from within since Wainwright. Or do we give his success to the Cards? (14-7, 2.61 ERA in case anyone was wondering)
If nothing else perhaps shut him down for a few weeks, like he was on the DL. He has a ton of heart, but between his stressful way of pitching, and still sort of a weak looking Charlie Morton build at this age…he needs Joba rules or something…
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Good news on Prado:
The Braves and second baseman Martin Prado received good news Wednesday when Prado was diagnosed with “exertional headaches” after being examined by Atlanta neurosurgeon Richard Bernstein.
Prado will be treated with anti-inflammatory medication and is listed as day-to-day, pending the elimination of the symptoms. The Braves think he will avoid a stint on the disabled list. — ajc
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Nice whalloping the Braves gave last night as Braves Nation turned from a wince to a smile. Rubber match tonight, KK v Santana. Should be good.
Just read the ajc report on Prado’s diagnosis, which was about as clear as mud. “Exertional headaches”?
So, he should be fine as long as he doesn’t exert himself? Hmmm… wonder if GA ever had that?
Maybe it’s inflammation, since they prescribed the anti-inflammation meds. But wait… inflammation of what? Brain?
Starting to sound like inner-ear. I’m sure ajc’s crack investigative team and Braves PR Dept. will exert themselves to shed more light on this in the days to come.
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Have no fear, google is here!
Exertional Headaches
Exertional headaches are a group of headache syndromes, which are associated with some physical activity. These headaches typically become severe very quickly after a strenuous activity such as weight lifting or sexual intercourse. 😯
Exertional headaches can, in some instances, be a sign of abnormalities in the brain or other diseases. Activities that can precipitate these headaches include running, coughing, sneezing, sexual intercourse, and straining with bowel movements. Anyone who develops a severe headache following these types of exertion should certainly be checked to rule out any underlying organic cause. Tests may include a MRI of the brain and MRA of the blood vessels in the brain.
Most exertional headaches are benign. Although these may occur in isolation, they are most commonly associated with patients who have inherited susceptibility to migraine.
Benign exertional headaches respond to usual headache therapy. Some are particularly responsive to indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory agent taken before the exertional activity or to others such as Rofecoxib and even aspirin.
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“exertional headaches” Man, I could come up with so many one liners for that one….
Yep, an ailment “Loaf” never suffered from… Come to think of it, neither have I… 🙂
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Anti-inflammatory medication.. The old “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning” treatment…
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Yep… treatment for the “SI” cause of exertional headaches is best accomplished by the use of aspirin. NOTE: this course of action is to be used as a preventative measure. Have his partner hold the aspirin firmly between her knees…
😉
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It should also be noted that using the above method, aspirin has been found to be very effective in family planning and in the prevention of STD’s.
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Nat Hentoff is a long time jazz writer, and a pretty liberal guy that used to write for the Village Voice. So, when he writes a column with the title,
I am finally scared of a White House administration…
I imagine some people will listen!
http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/hentoff081909.php3
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OK – which of you will be the first to try this?!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=21337502001
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OK… I am very impressed… but can he write a blog lead? Huh? Let’s see him try that! 😀
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Whew.. half daredevil, half acrobat… totally insane…
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Raisins, no, but BER can!
How’s that new lead coming along, Ber? We’re at 300+ already.
berigan2electricboogaloo August 10, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Well done Gil!
Now, lets all make a lot of posts to slow this blog down!
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Deja vu all over again:
Astros pitcher Mike Hampton, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, underwent an MRI that revealed a thickness tear of the left rotator cuff. He will put off surgery and try to rehab the injury in hopes of returning this season. — Houston Chronicle
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These headaches typically become severe very quickly after a strenuous activity such as weight lifting or sexual intercourse.
And to think, some women have the ability to forsee one of those exertional headaches coming and avoid all activities that might trigger them or make them more severe. Sometimes they simply say the words, “no dear, I have a headache” and it clears right up.
Amazing how women are so perceptive and proactive. They just seem to know when to avoid weightlifting.
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Hummmm, sort of like getting a brain freeze.. but different…
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I can hear Bobby Cox shouting to Marteen from the dugout now, “C’mon kid, stop screwing around and get a hit you giving me a headache…”
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Gil! 😯
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CL, I’ve been meaning to work on that blog…it’s getting a bit musty now, need to air it out, find a way to work Ted Simmons name in it….but should have something in say the next 24 hours….
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Will Ted Simmons and Dale Murphy go into the Hall of Fame together? 🙂 Okay, you’ve got the headline, fill in the rest… 🙂
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Normally, I like a good pitcher’s duel but gee, Kawakami is boring to watch…
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Okay, so I spoke too soon, he must have read my thoughts and sped up his game. The Mets did make it interesting tonight. Still, it was a good win for the Braves. They cannot afford to give away anymore games.
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Okay.. did everybody else leave?
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I have been slack all week… gotta actually do some work today… 😦
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KK vs. Halladay, KK vs. Kershaw, KK vs. Daisuke, KK vs. Santana…
Whatever you may have thought about him, he’s drawn the other team’s aces and dealt in all of them. He has changed my view of him over his last several starts for sure. Dude can pitch…
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Hilarious CL….
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I LOVE THAT DOG!!! 😆 😆 😆
Sadly, the dog is smarter than a majority of the voters in the USA…
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[Last night, Braves’ first round pick Mike] Minor pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts against the Charleston Riverdogs. His showed the control he was drafted for, throwing first-pitch strikes to each of the six hitters he faced, despite not pitching since the NCAA regionals on June 1. Of his 24 pitches, 16 were strikes.
Really nice story by the ajc’s Carroll Rogers on Minor:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-first-round-pick-impressive-in-debut-120523.html
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In New Mexico, the federal government owes dealers around the state more than $3,600,000 in the Cash for Clunkers debacle. Guess how much has actually been paid – exactly three checks totally $14,000.
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/business/business_krqe_albuquerque_dealers_stiffed_as_clunkers_pile_up_200908200033
Can’t wait for fed run health care… 🙄
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Biggest series for the Braves in 5 years, and the news is incredibly slow.
3 at home this weekend against the Phish, with whom we are tied for 2nd in our division and for 3rd in the WC race, followed by 3 with SD – a team we could easily show a letdown against, then 3 at Philly and 4 more at the Phish. A defining 13 game stretch if ever there was one.
And while we’re doing all that, San Fran and the Rocks will be duking it out with each other and the Dodgers out on the left coast.
It’s time to either make a real move, or make October vacation plans…
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Ok, I have actually followed through on a new blog. It’s terrible! 🙂
Since I made that statement that I would do it, found out we were going to have company. Female company, so that means cleaning the “bachelor” pad better than say for a fellow, understanding male. So no time to polish this….dull lead.
She’s married, so don’t be asking what the story is! 😉
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2night’s lineup:
1. Infante 2B
2. ChurchKey CF
3. Chipper 3B
4. Mac C
5. Roachey 1B
6. Yunel SS
7. MattyD RF
8. Reid Gorecki LF
9. JV P
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So. I guess that means that Prado is still lifting weights? And Kelly Johnson is still in Bobby’s doghouse… We already know the story on GA…
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Prado, KJ, anybody… Chipper is in a deep slump and needs to sit himself out a few games. Bobby won’t. It changes the whole lineup when he’s an automatic out like he has been.
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Rochey to the rescue… 3 run jack.
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I missed the homer, company just left. I checked online earlier, looked like the braves didn’t even have a hit thru 5 innings!
LaRoche may just work his way into a one year contract…but he may want more. I just don’t know who is going to offer him a 3-4 year contract.
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Uninspired baseball from the Braves tonight… or maybe just the first game of series, Cy Young opponent, travel to Miami, Coconut Grove gawkin’, Chipper in lineup, Matty in ozone swingin’ at Mars, Prado not in, Nate not in, sitting KJ because he’s finally started hitting, leaderless clubhouse, Gil asleep, Bear cruising the Dairy Queen, rain delay… effect.
Multiple-whammy stuff going on here. Who’s job is it to inspire and motivate the team? Can’t remember.
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Glad I didn’t stay up to watch that ugliness.
That’s yer 2009 Braves, folks.
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Good morning all, Yep, twas a pitiful effort on the Braves’ part last night. SG, you are right on in your assessment of Chipper. Does it seem to you folks that there is always someone in a funk in this year’s line up? Right now it’s Chipper…
Josie and I will be heading out soon, making our way to the annual family vacation. The beach house is supposed to be equipped with high speed internet but you folks know how that goes. Often promised, not always delivered, just like the Braves this season.
Later…
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Well, 6 runs in 2 games typically won’t get it done, will it??? Lucky to win 1 of the 2.
Marlins had 15 straight games of 10 hits or more, before it was stopped thursday. That was the most since the 1937 St. Louis Browns, of all teams. Growing up in St. Louis, all you ever heard about the Browns was how much they sucked. Got in the W.S. only because every team was short players because of WW2 going on at the same time.
Anyway, they just started another streak of 10 or more hits last night.
V’s right, most important series in 5 years. These are supposed to be the weaker Starters going in this series. if the Braves don’t win the next 2, it’s going to be tough to stay in the W.C. hunt. Oh, they will scrap and fight. Win and lose. but, they have been playing there best ball of the year this month. 11 wins in 15 games I think before last night….but you go back to win one, lose one, and it’s over….
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Gil, have fun!
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“I thought [Vazquez] pitched real well,” Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. “He just made a couple of bad pitches there in the seventh inning.”… “The two homers were offspeed pitches that were up,” Jones said. “Those are the ones that make hitters’ eyes get big.”
Chipper is really starting to aggravate me. Instead of talking about a few bad pitches Javy made and “helping” some of the guys with their hitting as has been reported lately, he needs to focus on his own performance. He’s actually dragging the team down at this point and infecting the entire team with his lack of hitting patience, poor production, lack of power, mediocre fielding and perfunctory performance and near lackadaisical attitude.
Yes, I know… he’s always been that way and he’s not really as unconcerned as he comes across. After all these years watching him, he seems to appear more disinterested and casual when he’s slumping and pressing. Regardless, this ain’t the first time he’s had an opportunity to be a motivational leader yet seem to ignore or neglect the role of Chief Competitor. Hoss-lite needs to spend a few days with his mouth shut, off the field, nursing whatever it is ailing him and spend that time with his dad in an empty batting cage somewhere.
We really need Nate and Prado back, but it’s possible that they won’t return for a while. Even when they do, what can be expected of their performance ability? Center fielders need their legs healthy and second basemen (any position in professional sports) needs to be able to exert without negative effects. Garret’s back has him out. How long? Only his agent knows for sure. Matty has fallen back into swinging at pitches darn near over his head. He needs to be put way back in the order to get the pressure off.
Under the (dire) circumstances and were I the manager, my lineup tonight would look like this:
1. Barton LF (yes, activate Brian. It’s a short drive)
2. Infante 3B (soft hands… he can do it)
3. KJ 2B (he was improved, right?)
4. Rochey 1B (the closest thing we have to cleanup)
5. Mac C (after 2 unsuccessful AB’s, put Ross in)
6. Yunel SS
7. Church CF (not ideal, but whatchagonnado?)
8. Diaz RF (Snitker, calm him down with each swing)**
9. Hanson P (always like our chances)
** the actual hand signals from Snitker would be, swipe across the chest (no meaning), pats on his head (means use your head, Matty), swipe on left leg (means nothing), three stooges double eye poke simulation (means watch the ball out of the pitchers hand), sideways tomahawk chop over head (means don’t swing if the pitch is above your shoulders) and finally, left fist pounding right hand (means, if you do swing at those overhead pitches and it’s “to the moon, Alice”).
Of course all these hand signals take place over about 10 seconds between every pitch. After Matty’s second AB, hopefully… a mere pat on the head by Snitker will suffice.
Baseball can be very complicated. 😆
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CL, if you still need a lead to speed up the ol’ blog, you’re welcome to grab that 9:56. Hey, it’s not a good lead, but I’ve proven time and again that I don’t embarrass easily. 😆
Now, an automobile engine question for my car-savvy blogmates:
Gas or diesel? I’m seriously considering a diesel pickup for when prices go through the roof (which I think is very soon). Currently in a Dodge Ram 4-dr, 8 cyl gas guzzling hemi. I like it. The new ones have improved shocks too.
Any suggestions from you autoaficionados?
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While driving last night, I turned the radio over to the game. Almost immediately, the Phish scored their first run. Disgusted, I changed it. A little later, I flipped it back on and heard them score runs 3-5. I turned it back off quickly.
Last night’s loss was all my fault. If I’d just kept my hands off the knob… Oh well, can’t dwell in the past.
Chipper is SOOOOO not Chipper right now. He went 0-fer in the Mutts series for the first time in his career. Worse, he doesn’t look like it bothers him much. At least you could see the dissatisfaction on French’s face when he was the team albatross. Now Chipper is in a Francoeurian funk himself. Hopefully his doesn’t require 2 years and a ticket out of town to correct it.
All joking aside, this started when he “tweaked” his oblique. Can you just “tweak” your oblique? Methinks (where have I heard that before?) not. I believe the tweaked oblique has freaked his technique. I appreciate his trying to play through it during this most important stretch of games, but he’s hurting us by trying to play through it during this most important stretch of games.
Unfortunately, as SG so eloquently pointed out, we are already missing the lineup’s #’s 1 and 2 hitters, and haven’t had a real #4 all season – although SG again correctly asserted that Roachey should immediately be placed there. No question.
So facing this most important run of the schedule without the top 1/3 of the batting order is a tall task. But, that is what playoff teams do. They overcome.
Defining moment defined, eh?
(Wow… that was alot of aimless rambling. I need more coffee.)
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(Wow… that was alot of aimless rambling.
Not a lot, compared to my aimless rambling. 😆
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SG, Diesel might not be a bad idea! How many miles you drive in a year???? I CANNOT stand the smell of diesel fuel, I have to pass trucks if they are in the same lane as me. Better make sure the misses can stand it. Think any rental car places have a diesel you can rent??? They are quieter than before, and you will save moola burning oil instead of gas.
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So…Ryan Church, Garret Anderson and Martin Prado can’t play. Chipper’s left wrist is killing him, according to Jim Powell, and was supposed to have the day off, but had to play tonight.
Why not send Acosta or Logan down for a day or two and bring someone up???
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Well, we evened the series and we did it without some of our best starting lineup and without some of our second string. Man, these injuries are piling up. Backaches, headaches, hamstrings, wrists…
Do the Braves, specifically Chipper, Garrett, McLouth and Church, do any stretching or conditioning when not playing? Makes me wonder just what those young athletes do to stay in shape. Are our team doctors, trainers, physical therapists, etc. doing anything wrong (or right), or is this just a whole string of bad luck at once? The last few years it seems the Braves tend to have injuries in bunches. Maybe a bad chiropractor? Somebody mislabel the liniment with Preparation-H or sumpin’?
Just seems strange to have so many at once. Whatever. Rubber match tomorrow. Big game. All of our games are big at this point. I just wonder if the Phillies will ever lose again this year. I’m not all that worried about the fish. They’re due a late season comeuppance. Hopefully the Braves can handle that task tomorrow.
Bear, from what I understand, diesel is no longer the stink machines they used to be. I’m just not sure on how smooth the ride, availability of gas stations and the pickup. I’ve read plenty of pros and cons but you’re right about a first-hand test drive.
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SG, I was stuck behind a diesel big rig last night on a two lane road…kind made me laugh. Kinda. They did something to supposedly make diesel cleaner, oh I don’t know a year or two ago. I had high hopes, but they still stink, at least when I am behind one. Only thing they seemed to do was push diesel fuel prices up.
But, like you, I am sure fuel prices are going to keep going up and up. We are loaning money to Brazil to drill off their coast, but we never will here. Cuba, and China will drill off our coasts in international water…but not us. That would be wrong! 🙄 Sigh…too early for politics! 😀
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Don’t know if this is true or not, but I sure wish I had thought of it! 😆
Outside England ‘s Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, its parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were £1 for cars ($1.40),
£5 for busses (about $7).
Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn’t show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.
The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo’s own responsibility.
The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee.
The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.
Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain
(or some such scenario), is a man who’d apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own; and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about $560 per day — for 25 years.
Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over $7 million dollars!
……
And no one even knows his name.
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CL, it’s criminal…and funny! 😀
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SG, after seeing all the injuries the Mutts have suffered, our stuff seems like small potatoes….it does make one wonder why some teams seem to always suffer more injuries than others, doesn’t it???
I still remember Skip talking about TP forever having hamstring issues and how he kept hurting them say once every month or so, stretching. So Skip said, stop stretching! 🙂
I do feel sorry for some individual Mutt players. David Wright getting hit in the head. Might be out the year. I believe the young starter Jonathon Niese torn his hamstring off the bone! Oh, just the though of it!!! 😯
Wouldn’t want to be part of the training staff for the Mutts.
Ok, read this, feel sorry for them once in your life, then get over it! 😉
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AkV4nXO6O7m1YZNXI9ERwIGFCLcF?slug=ap-brokendownmets&prov=ap&type=lgns
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Rats! Snopes.com says that the parking lot attendant story is false, although the local paper in Bristol did publish the story several years ago before finding out that it was not true.
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I do not now, have not ever and will not ever feel one iota (FOB?) of “sorry” for the Mutts.
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Let’s not all talk at once, huh?!
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CL, I guess Gil is not DSL ready up there, like they claimed he would be! 😉
I slept thru the game(Slept from 4 am to 8 then 1 PM to 4)
but it looks like it was a good one! Huge to beat the Marlins 2 out of 3. I think SG is right, they have a lot of offense, but somehow just don’t look like a complete team. Too raw…somethin’.
Well, is it the National league??? San Diego hitters??? there ballpark??? Dave Duncan see something wrong with his windup??? Smoltz went 5 shutout innings, striking out 9!!
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their ballpark… sigh… funny how the i’s will do that to ya!
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Bear, when Prado is back in and KJ is back on the bench where he belongs, we can handle Florida handily. When Nate returns healthy, full-speed and the rust knocked off his bat, we’ll be that much stronger. When GA is back and Gorecki is back in Gwinnett where he belongs, we’ll have another power bat.
When Norton is removed from Atlanta and replaced by any warm body with a bat, we’ll have a better bench. When Prado, Nate and GA are back and Chipper gets a few days off to wake up from that bad dream he’s having, we’ll be even stronger. If (a big if) that happens soon, I like our chances to at least make it interesting down the stretch.
Man, I’ve never seen Chipper struggle like this… for this long anyway. The way his body is giving out on a regular basis, I don’t think he’s got three seasons in him. Maybe not even two. I’d hate to see him constantly battling through tweaks, hamstrings, foot problems and extended slumps, stinking it up and hurting the team until he gets traded before retiring a Brave. Hope he’ll recognize when it’s time to hang up the cleats.
On top of that, we have a bizarre season going on with Lowe. He looks like his mechanics are all screwed up, he looks uncomfortable and he has the look of a player without confidence. Half the time he ‘aiming’ and not pitching… avoiding hits instead of getting outs. This guy has been a warrior in his career, but the juice is gone, at least it is this year. My guess is that he’s working on a dead arm or a tendon problem. Even if it’s not those things, he’s going to hurt himself falling all over the mound like he’s been doing. A mystery.
With the team we’ve had on the field in the last few series, I’m amazed we’ve won any, much less taken series like we have.
Tenuous times for the home team.
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I missed most of the game. Mom & Melissa have arrived after getting their facility through state survey (with flying colors). So it has become family vacation time. Went down to Provino’s for a late lunch & scouted around the Mall of Georgia area.
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Good morning all from beautiful Holden Beach NC… T’was tough getting the internet connection to work but after tracing down the cable wires and sending out the blood hounds, we were able to get connected. Still, it’s been just a tad bit hectic around here.
Great comeback win for the Braves yesterday, too bad I could not see nor hear them… However, the line scores indicate that SG’s assesment is right on. Hate to say it but Chipper is putting up the same type of numbers that got Ryan Langerhans released by the Braves.
Is Kelly Johnson playing his way off the team? I don’t look for him to be back with the Braves next year. Just not a multi-million dollar player.
Good for Smoltzie… Always liked the old coot.. even when he was a young coot…
Okay, Josie is stirring so it’s time to make the coffee, later all…
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When Prado, Nate and GA are back and Chipper gets a few days off to wake up from that bad dream he’s having, we’ll be even stronger.
So true, so true. Reid Gorecki is completely overmatched up here. I never thought these words would go forth from my fingers, but we really miss GA in the lineup. As Gil just said, KJ is playing himself off of this team. Prado is the sparkplug of the team, and N8 gets the lineup rolling. And Chipper… well, Chipper needs to be Chipper.
It is a good day to have an off day. If I could wave a magic wand over the team, Prado would return tomorrow night, and Chipper would rest for the entire San Diego series. While Prado could be back, Chipper won’t sit. And Bobby won’t make him. Wish he would. Maybe if Prado and GA return, Chipper might… nah, he won’t.
The good news is, though, that we will get all of the hobbled ones back in a week or so, and be pretty close to full strength for the stretch run. It’s been a while since our lineup has had N8, Prado, Chipper, BMac, Roachey, Yunel, GA and the RF of the day in it.
And I think Lowe is struggling with his grip. I hate to say it, but he needs to get a grip. We need him for 6 more weeks, and we need the high Lowe, not the low Lowe.
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FOXsports:
And for the record, Lowe says the blister and callus raised on his right thumb had no effect on his pitches, but Lowe gave up five runs (three earned) and nine hits in five innings Sunday.
Uh, grip? I’m tellin’ ya…
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You nailed it, Raisins!
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If I were Lowe I think I would be riding the “raised blister” excuse for all it was worth. What?? He doesn’t want to say the real problem is an elbow or shoulder or brain fart… yep, that’s the ticket, “exertional headache”.. Never even knew they existed before the AJC used the term….
So what’s the reason? No love in the dugout? In Bobby’s doghouse? Or is it the old “tired arm”? My hunch is it’s the latter…. AKA, TOTP…. To Old To Play…..
Oh well, the girls have gone to the beach for the day. Will come home this evening burnt to a crisp… The old fat guy will stay inside and watch from the windon or the porch. Hey, pasty white is a color too….
Anyhoo, vacation is what you want it to be, not what someone else wants you to do… 🙂
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Enjoy, Gil! Don’t recommend going in the water. Sharks were there a week or so ago, someone got a minor injury. And a storm just went by so the currents can be pretty bad!
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SO Prado’s worrying too much, and now worrying about worrying… Worrisome, if you ask me.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-hope-to-have-122094.html
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Yowser! Prior to yesterday’s game, Roachey has hit .410 (25/61) with 7 HR’s, 15 RBI, a .507 OBP and .787 slugging percentage in 18 games since coming home.
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Don’t worry CL, bad knees and rip currents make for a very dicey situation so I avoid the ocean as much as possible. Like to look at the water, not much for swimming in it…
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Well, we all knew JHey would have to leave Freddie Freeman behind at some point in their respective development. A hand injury to Freeman could put him out for the rest of the year. It might be the last time Freeman and his bud JHey, called “salt and pepper” by Pearl manager Philip Wellman, are on the same field until Freeman makes the bigs. JHey is already ahead developmentally, but if Freddie has to sit the rest of this season, he’ll likely start ’10 back in Pearl. If JHey isn’t in ATL in ’10, no doubt it’ll be AAA Gwinnett.
Great story on Freeman:
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/aug/24/freeman-could-be-next-great-brave/?sports
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“exertional headache”.. Never even knew they existed before the AJC used the term….
And look at your background! Must be awfully rare….clearly no one here ever heard of them. Them??? They? it??? Those???
V, sounds like you are right about the I’ve got blisters on me fingers issue…
Remember last year with J.J. having one and how he kept starting, and doing poorly til he sprained his ankle and missed a start, which allowed it to heal???
That’s what Lowe needs to do, or have a manager that sees someone struggling and gets said struggler to skip a start.
Let Medlen go 4-5 innings, then bullpen it the rest of the way.
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Very nice article on Freeman, V! The Salt and pepper comment got me…I was sure they were both black. And they are! 😉
Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr were in 2 films together, and they were called Salt and Pepper, for some reason…don’t know why…
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I’ve got blisters on me fingers 😆 Nice Beatles reference…
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That you at your desk V??? 😉
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Owie!!! You know that had to HURT!!
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So, what has WordPress been up to lately? I found this interesting:
Here are July’s stats:
* 394,609 blogs were created.
* 5,666,839 posts were published.
* 418,946 new users joined.
* 6,594,795 file uploads.
* 3,762 gigabytes of new files.
* 839 terabytes of content transferred from our datacenters.
* 7,890,707 comments.
* 6,681,646 logins.
* 1,253,217,900 pageviews on WordPress.com, and another 1,289,187,116 on self-hosted blogs (2,542,405,016 total across all WordPress blogs we track).
* 2,146,576 active blogs where “active” means they got a human visitor.
* 1,419,364,230 words.
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1,419,364,230 words.
That would be the ‘SG’ factor…otherwise, much less! 😛
Those other blogs must not have ‘lint traps’, either! 🙄
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The SG factor. Salty beat me to it. 😆
Good day for the Braves today. We won a double-header, while the Phils, Marlins, Rockies and Giants all lost double-headers!!!
No, wait… that was a dream. Nevermind.
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Now the fish gravatar shows up after two days? 🙄
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Salty, just think what he could do if he had a real computer! 😆
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CL, I don’t get it….wordpress is free. no ads on this page. How do they make money to store that kind of data amounts???? 😯
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And V, at some point, after a rival is beaten to the ground…then pummeled some more…then propped up so they can be beaten up some more….
Call me a compassionate conservative 😉 call me a bleeding heart liberal…well, don’t call me that…just call me someone that figures there are mutts fans just like us…with funny accents…that love their team like we love ours, and it’s just beyond ridiculous what has happened them….call me whatever you want(behind my back! 🙂 ) I feel sorry for them…the real fans. Not the ijits that post on the ajc…
And edited cuz it’s too long story….
Surgery a concern for Mets’ Santana
NEW YORK — Johan Santana and Jeff Francoeur are the latest Mets stars to be sidelined with injuries.
Santana
Santana
Santana was scratched Monday from his next scheduled start because of discomfort in his pitching elbow. Francoeur has a torn ligament in his left thumb, leaving New York without its right fielder and top hitter.
The setback involving Santana is particularly alarming for the fourth-place Mets, who are counting on the two-time Cy Young Award winner to lead their rotation for years to come.
“He has not been throwing between starts for quite awhile. I would say since before the All-Star break. He has been pitching with this problem, but not with the level of discomfort he has now,” New York manager Jerry Manuel said Monday after his team’s 6-2 loss to Philadelphia.
“I’m terribly concerned,” Manuel told Newsday. “No question about it.”
Francoeur told MLB.com that he spoke with Santana about the likelihood of surgery. He told the Web site Santana “can get it looked at now and be two months ahead by Spring Training,” indicating a need for surgery in the immediate future.
Mike Pelfrey, Santana’s fellow starter, added, “I don’t think anyone expects good news.”
Santana had been slated to pitch Tuesday night in Florida. Instead, the left-hander will be examined by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek and undergo an MRI, according to multiple media reports.
“I hope to have some definitive word for you tomorrow,” Manuel said.
Francoeur
Francoeur
Right-hander Nelson Figueroa will start against the Marlins.
The Mets have 11 players on the disabled list, including David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, J.J. Putz and John Maine.
Santana is 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA in 25 starts during his second season with the Mets. He was acquired in a February 2008 trade with Minnesota.
Santana was unavailable for comment after Monday’s game. New York catcher Brian Schneider said the pitcher’s stuff hasn’t been up to par lately.
“What I’m looking at is his location, which, like I said, hasn’t been as sharp as it had been,” Schneider said.
New York also learned Monday that Francoeur has a torn ligament in the thumb on his non-throwing hand. He is day to day, the club said, but is expected to miss at least a handful of games.
“The right thing now is to let the swelling go down. It’s kind of big,” Francoeur said. “I’m going to try to play through it to the end of the season. If I can rest it for two or three days and then play, I’m going to do it. You might say, ‘Why bother? We only have 38 games left.’ But I came here to play and I want to play.”
Acquired last month in a trade with Atlanta, Francoeur was injured Sunday while making a diving catch. X-rays were negative, but his thumb swelled up afterward and he went to the hospital Monday for an MRI, which revealed the tear.
Since joining the Mets on July 11, Francoeur has been the team’s most productive hitter. He is batting .305 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 39 games. He also has eight doubles and two triples.
“Hopefully, the swelling goes down quick and I can get back in there. I’ve been fortunate that in four or 4 1/2 years I have never missed a game because of injury,” Francoeur said.
More
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4420095
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Real computer? 😯 Oh my… computer envy. 😆
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charles bronson – MANDOM!!!!
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MANDOM? Fortunately, no breakfast yet…that was disturbing!
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Charles Bronson hawking Japanese cologne. 😯
That was hilarious in a cheeseball factory sorta way, but since I always liked Bronson, I’m gonna have to extricate the images from that ad from my memory somehow. Yikes.
He couldn’t have done it for the money, right? More like a career Deathwish?
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I’m sure it was all about the Benjamin’s! Hey, I’m Charles Bronson! I can’t be doing commericals in Japan for cologne! Wait, you want to pay me $1,000,000 in 1974??? Do you want me to sing Three Little Maids From School Are We??? 😀
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Good morning folks, got up to see the sunrise over the water this morning and missed it again… Dang, and I used to think the whole world answered to my beck and call. Silly me….
Mandom… Is that why the Japaness don’t shake hands?
Always liked Bronson too, heck of an actor. Dish for a wife too. Why not?
Too bad about Francouer, bad thing is someone needs to beat the Phillies besides us. Still need a little help. While the team’s play of late is encouraging, they my have waited too long to make their move. Can’t worry about next year because the Mets are going to be a lot better next year and I suspect so will the Marlins. Can’t count out the Nats either, they have got some pitching coming along.
As much as everyone is clammoring for Freddie Freeman, I still think the Braves would have a much better team if they signed Roachie to a multi year deal. He seems to fill the bill pretty well as far as first basemen go.
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Gil, now that Freddie may be out the remainder of ’09 (and AFL season as well), his development may be set back enough to look for a 2 year bridge as opposed to just 1 year. I think Roachey is more likely to take a 2 year deal over just 1. Who knows, though. And with all of the hype over JHey, did y’all realize young Mr. Freeman is the #11 prospect in all of baseball? I see no reason to rush the kid. JHey is different… he is a once in a blue moon prospect with maturity well beyond his age. “Rushing” him isn’t really rushing him, it’s simply accelerating the process. They should take their time with Freddie and try to keep Adam another couple of years.
From an economic standpoint, if JHey can make the team out of spring, the $$$ saved is enormous. Couple that with one of the +/- $12MM pitchers leaving, and there is easily enough $$$ to sign a capable power bat for 1B. Now we all know of the famous Roachey 1st half struggles, but his 2nd half this season has been nothing short of eye opening. He has really impressed me, and I have always been in his corner. Why Bobby doesn’t slot him into the 4 hole every night is absolutely beyond me… but I digress.
Anyway, another BIG series starts tonight, but they all are now. We need the sweep. We have 40 games remaining. The last few Wild Card teams have averaged 92 wins. To get to 92, we need to win 26 of the last 40. That equates to winning every series and sweeping 2 to get in. With SD, FLA, PHI, FLA, CIN, HOU, STL, NYM, PHI, NYM, WSH and FLA remaining, we need this to be one of the sweeps. With so little margin for error, we need to sweep the few weak sisters left on the schedule.
OK, another rambler… off to work now…
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And for what it’s worth…
I feel bad for Frenchster getting hurt as things were turning around for him, but the Melts fans, players and even manager showed their true colors by their recent comments over Church being out with a bad back.
Karma’s a b!+(#, ain’t it?
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Oh, yeah…
I vaguely remember as this season was beginning, someone brought up the question of “Which high profile pitcher would blow his elbow this season?” I chose Johan Santana. Do I win anything?
OK… that was just wrong… 😐
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Excerpt from a recent Dave O’Brien Q&A with Roachey:
Q: This will be your first time going to free agency. Have you thought about what you want, about location or years and dollars? Or is the market changing so much each winter that you can’t even think too much this soon about those kinds of things?
A: I can think about where I’d like to end up, where I’d like to play. As far as money and years, there’s no telling until the season’s over and you see what the market is. Really, every year I’ve been in this boat, as far as not having a long-term deal and having to renegotiate. And every year I’ve played it the same way — wait until the last game’s over, give it a couple of months and then start thinking about it.
Q: But aren’t you looking forward to maybe not having to go year-to-year this time, possibly getting some security with a multi-year deal, at least two or three years?
A: I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to listening to a long-term offer. It’d be nice to settle my family in somewhere. But I can’t complain; we’ve had pretty good luck going year to year.
Q: Have you thought about the Braves being a possibility? Or do you look at their situation, with Freddie Freeman coming up and think that it’s maybe not more than a year before he gets here? Or have you even thought about it like that?
A: To be honest, I don’t even know who Freeman is. I take it he’s a first baseman coming up? No, I haven’t. That’s completely up to them. I’m sure they’ll know this winter, whether they want me back for a year, for five years, or not at all. Again, I like it here. But that really doesn’t mean anything with what we do. A few things have got to fall into place and that’s kind of up to them.
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OK… work now…
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Yes, but I think it was which high profile pitcher would be the first to blow out an elbow…
Still, with the crackdown on hgh and steroids, I see lots of players falling by the wayside. Too bad a compromise can’t be found so the reasonable use of PEDs couldn’t be used to assist players in their recovery from injuries. Lord knows that if industry could find a way to improve the performance of their workers, they would have the stuff in dispensers by their water coolers….
Oh wait…
I think many sports fans have revealed their true colors when it comes to PEDs, it’s only cheating when it a player from another team using them….
Okay, off for a spin up to Oak Island. Going for the Bar-b-cue today. May visit a couple of antique/junk shops along the way.
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Gil, that sounds like a great day ahead. Enjoy, my friend…
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Braves minor league center fielder Jordan Schafer is headed for surgery on the left wrist that has been ailing him since April.
Schafer learned on Tuesday with a visit to Braves hand specialist Dr. Gary Lourie that the conservative route was not working. He’s scheduled to have surgery on Monday.
The surgery will keep him out of action for three months so his 2009 season is over and any chance he had at a September call-up is ruled out. Schafer said he might still try to play winter ball if he recovers quickly enough from surgery. –ajc
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I hate to so blatantly borrow stuff from across the street, but this bears presenting. From Baseball America via Mr. O’Brien:
From the midseason Best Tools issue of Baseball America, as voted by the managers in each league, in the minors and majors.
In the Triple-A International League, Tommy Hanson was named best pitching prospect and Kris Medlen was cited for best changeup. In the Double-A Southern League, Jason Heyward was named best batting prospect and Freddie Freeman was named best defensive first baseman. And in the high-A Carolina League, Cody Johnson was named best power-hitting prospect, Craig Kimbrel was cited for best fastball, Freeman again as best defensive 1B, and Heyward as most exciting player. (Freeman and Heyward began the season at Myrtle Beach and were promoted to Double-A Mississippi at midseason.) Low-A Rome had no one on the lists.
At the major league level, the Braves had just two mentions: SS Yunel Escobar finished third in voting for best infield arm, behind former Braves SS Rafael Furcal and Colorado SS Troy Tulowitzki. And Bobby Cox was second in the best manager category, behind Tony La Russa and ahead of Joe Torre.
You knew I had to hilite that one, didn’t you…
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Only proves that opposing managers want to give props so Bobby doesn’t retire.
They prolly all have PC’s too. 😆
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Ber’s masterpiece is posted!
NEW BLOG IS UP!!
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