AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 25
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Talking trades and Smoltz’s shoulder
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Port St. Lucie, Fla. _ We’re at beautiful Port St. Lousy, and we’ve got Tim Hudson going for the Braves and both Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez pitching for the Mets.
What’s that? Oh, nevermind. Santana and Martinez are both pitching on backfields here. So we’ll just get back to waiting for a trade announcement and keep an eye on this game to make sure no one gets hit in the face by a pitch.
By the way, we’re way behind on posting a blog today, so we’ll keep this one short. Had to stop by Dark Star Ballpark to watch John Smoltz throw today, the first time he’s done any kind of throwing since he was scratched from last Friday’s start with shoulder soreness.
The good news: He said he felt “normal,” and didn’t have the soreness he felt when he had to cut short a side session last Wednesday. But before anyone starts to wonder, no, the plan hasn’t changed. Smoltz to the DL to begin season.
He’ll throw again Wednesday or Thursday, then off the mound this weekend if there are no setbacks. He would pitch in a simulated game next week against minor leaguers at Class A Rome, just up the road from Atlanta for those of you not familiar with the Peach State.
Braves have some fallback plans in place (which they won’d divulge), but the plan they hope to follow has Smoltz returning April 6 from DL to start a Sunday afternoon finale against the aforementioned Mr. Santana, according to a couple of Mets writers who said that’s how their rotation shakes out the first week.
How big would that atmosphere be at Turner Field, with Smoltz coming off the DL and Santana making his first Mets appearance at Turner Field? Smoltz does like the big-game atmosphere, and that’s about as big as you’ll get in April, outside of opening day (but opening day is in March this year, so nevermind that).
Speaking of opening day, Tom Glavine is excited about pitching the home opener Monday against the Pirates at Turner Field. And I’m thinking that’s really going to feel more like opening day than the added Sunday night special opener at Washington, seeing as how that’s just one game and it’s the day after the Braves play two exhibitions against Cleveland.
With most of baseball opening on Monday, it’ll at least feel like a second opening day for the Braves, and not “just” a home opener.
So what’s the reception gonna be like for Glavine? To me, there’s little doubt it’ll be a big ovation. Sure there will be some boos, but in a packed house I doubt you’ll hear them over the cheers. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s what I expect anyway.
OK, I told you I’d keep this thing short, and I’m going to. We’ll get it posted now, since the first inning’s already started and I want the good denizens to be able to have the usual banter and such.
It’s been good this spring, hasn’t it? It’s been a lot of good discourse here, really has. We’ve cultivated quite a motley (and I mean that in a good way) and knowledgeable audience of hardcore and not-so-hardcore Braves fans and a lot of music lovers, too. Makes doing this a pleasure (well, not always, but usually).
Oh, and if you’re ever in Winter Haven, do yourselves a favor and stop by Andy’s Igloo. The best milkshake in the world, I was told. So I drove a mile or so from the ballpark to this old-school walk-up (or drive-thru) burger joint and tried it. And you know what? It’s at least as good as any I’ve ever had.
Tremendous. Vanilla shake, very large for less than $3. Gotta love it. I skippled the goat’s milk fudge stop on the way back.
Made good time on the drive to Port St. Lucie today and caught the Braves bus twice (I had to stop for gas). Rober Earl Keen, the CD by the new super-duo The Gutter Twins (Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan) and Cohiba made for a nice driving experience.
Now I’m enjoying some ball and a pulled-pork sandwich, making it all but about two ballparks this spring where I’ve sampled the pulled-pork. This one’s tasty, or at least better than I’d expect to be served by New York types.
”DOWN THAT DUSTY TRAIL” by Robert Earl Keen
When I was a young boy
The only things that really mattered were
Making friends and having fun
Walkin’ down the railroad track
‘Til you reached the river
Turn around and head on back
When the day is done
Ain’t it like they always say
Everybody goes their own way
Nobody knows no one can tell
It’s always been the same for me
Guess it’s just the way it must be
Headin’ down that dusty trail
When I was a young man
The only things
that got me goin’ were
Gettin’ high and chasin’ love
Lyin’ down beside my girl
On the banks of the river
With nothin’ but some mustang wine
And all the stars above
It’s a twistin’ turnin’ windin’ road
I get lost and broken down
I’m a stumbler and it won’t be long
‘Till stumble back around
Since I became my own man
Everything that matters to me is
Making sure I’m staying true
To my friends and the ones I love
‘Till cross that river
All alone I’m movin’ on
Until my time is through
