AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 29
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Let’s take ‘er north, boys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re taking this thing north. Finally.
And if you denizens of the Braves/Man in Black and throughout Braves Nation are half as optimistic as the players are, you must be dying to get this thing started Monday at Philly.
I’m not kidding, as a group this is as eager and optimistic as I’ve heard the Braves in a few years. Everyone you ask in the clubhouse comments about how strong the bullpen is and the great chemistry in the clubhouse.
And everybody says “if.” As in, “if we stay healthy.”
“If everybody stays healthy, I like our chances,” Andruw Jones said. “No doubt we’ve got a great team. I love our chances.”
And what of the NL East champion Mets?
“Now they have got what we had every year _ the pressure to repeat the title,” Jones said. “We just have to go out and do what we do. Our main thing is, stay healthy. If we stay healthy, we’ve got a great chance.”
Oh, before I forget, must share a classic exchange from an hour or so ago in the dugout, before the last game down here at Disney, “Where Dreams Come True” (trademark). (And by the way, my dream is to be anywhere but here tomorrow).
A few of us are talking to Bobby Cox in the dugout and Andruw comes off the field during batting practice to get a drink of water.
“Play short today?” he asks Cox, the 1,000th or so time that Andruw has asked the manager about the possibility of the Gold Glove center fielder getting to play shortstop, where Andruw often takes ground balls in batting practice.
“Free agent year, I don’t think I should,” Cox says, laughing.
“[Bleep] free agent,” Jones answers, and spits out a mouthful of water. “It don’t mean nothing.”
Cox laughs and says, “That’s what I say. We’re on the same page, Andruw.”
And with that, I was just about on the floor, laughing so hard.
By the way, Andruw took batting practice wearing a jersey with “Dos Cinco” instead of his name above his No. 25. I’ll be stunned if he’s wearing it when they come back on the field for the game.
That won’t fly with Bobby, who doesn’t even let players wear their sunglasses on top of their hats when they’re taking batting practice. But for B.P., on the last day of spring in Florida, and with Andruw, the manager let it slide.
Roster decisions this weekend: The Braves are taking all 37 players left in camp to Atlanta for the Friday-Saturday games against unhinged manager Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox (I can kid about Guillen being a little wacko, because I’ve known him for a while since his coaching days with the Marlins. But some of the things that he says … wow. Hey, at least he’s honest. But wow.)
Where were we? Oh, the roster. Taking everyone north, and the final cuts will be made Friday or Saturday, Bobby said. He didn’t know which day he’d do it.
My gut feeling, barring any unforeseen developments, on the last spots: Pete Orr (over headed-to-the-DL Willy Aybar) and Chris Woodward as the backup infielders, and out-of-options Tyler Yates (unless he’s traded at the last minute) and Chad Paronto in the bully.
I think Lance Cormier’s going to get the last rotation spot over Kyle Davies, but only if Cormier’s arm is OK when he long-tosses today and tomorrow, but especially when he throws in the bullpen Saturday. That’ll be the real test.
Couple of injury updates: Ryan Langerhans has a bruised arm after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday, but he’ll be fine. Not playing today, but he took batting practice…. Mike Hampton keeps progressing, will accompany the Braves to Atlanta and Philly, pitch in sim-game conditions to hitters once in Philly, then return to Florida for an extended-spring game before starting a minor league rehab assignment. Still targeting early May for return, as early as first week of the month.
Most impressive springs: Among the young guys, Yunel Escobar and Martin Prado really opened eyes and let the Braves know by their performances that either is ready if needed this year.
If something were to happen to Chipper before Aybar (hand) is ready, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Escobar. Don’t think anything’s going to happen to Chipper, but just making a point _ they really were impressed by Escobar here.
The discs played most: These 10 did it for me this spring through 3,000 or so miles in the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV rental (which has a few coffee stains and a pleasant cigar aroma), and I’d recommend them to any with eclectic music tastes. Some very old, some very new, some somewhere between. All full-length CDs (none of that download-the-single crap for me, thanks. I’m a dinosaur). Oh, and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” saved my life one night when I was dozing on drive back from Viera and put it in to jerk me back to alertness; but it was only time I played it down here, so didn’t make top 10:
Tom Waits “Orphans” (three-CD set)
Son Volt “The Search”
Centro-Matic “Fort Recovery”
Arcade Fire “Neon Bible”
Lucinda Williams “West”
Johnny Cash “Unearthed” (five-CD set)
Van Morrison “Astral Weeks” (does music get any better?)
The Dears “Gang of Losers”
The Birmingham Sound: The Soul of Neal Hemphill (compilation of incredible old soul music culled from the vaults of the great Southern studio owner/producer)
Elvis Presley “From Elvis in Memphis” (Kentucky Rain, In the Ghetto, etc)
Now take us out, brother Townes:
“PANCHO AND LEFTY” By Townes Van Zandt
Living on the road my friend,/Is gonna keep you free and clean
Now you wear your skin like iron,/Your breath as hard as kerosene.
You weren’t your mama’ss only boy,/But her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye,/And sank into your dreams.
Pancho was a bandit boy,/His horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants/For all the honest world to feel.
Pancho met his match you know/On the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dying words,/Ah but that’s the way it goes.
All the federales say/They could have had him any day
They only let him slip away/Out of kindness, I suppose.
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues/All night long like he used to.
The dust that Pancho bit down south/Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
The day they laid poor Pancho low,/Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go,/There ain’t nobody knows
The poets tell how Pancho fell,/And Lefty’s living in cheap hotels
The deserts quiet, Cleveland’s cold,/And so the story ends were told
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true,/But save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do,/And now he’s growing old
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