AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 14
Monday, July 14, 2008
Bye-bye San Diego, hello Bronx
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
San Diego … to New York — It’s never easy taking that cab ride to the San Diego airport on Sunday night, the sun setting, the cool breeze blowing, the pretty ladies walking along the sidewalks, the outdoor cafes bustling, the sailboats on the harbor.
But duty calls, and we’re leaving the paradisical city with its tanned denizens, its rich assortment of tattooed locals, straw-fedora’d cruisers, wealthy tourists, hard-working immigrants, and bums — surf or street, they got ‘em all — and did we mention beauties? Of every nationality, they got those, you better believe it.
We’re about to experience some culture shock, of the baseball variety and otherwise, flying from San Diego to New York’s LaGuardia, with an oh-so-convenient stop in Atlanta to change planes (psss, Delta, maybe a direct flight to New York would interest one or two people?).
And we’re going from the Petco Park in the trendy, tony Gaslamp District by the water, to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. But that’s more than all right, folks. Petco’s a great place to watch a series, but I want my All-Star Game in the House That Ruth Built (or Wrigley, or Fenway, although I should say, the one in San Francisco’s beautiful park last year was a pretty special setting).
But I can put up with the stifling subway ride or two, and a forecast for thunderstorms, to be part of this last All-Star Game at the ballpark that New Yorkers (and plenty of others) call simply The Stadium.
Even a veteran like Chipper Jones doesn’t try to play it cool about playing in this All-Star Game. Hoss is excited, as he said again Sunday after the Braves’ finished off a direly needed series win against the Padres with a 12-3 win that couldn’t have done anything to clear up whether the Braves will be buyers, sellers or perhaps both at the trade deadline. More on that in a moment.
Chipper was in the visitor’s clubhouse, packed and ready to limo it to the airport to board a charter flight along with Brian McCann, McCann’s wife Ashley, and Braves trainer Jeff “Bubba” Porter, who was picked to serve as NL trainer.
Mac’s parents were going to fly up to New York, and Chipper’s folks are flying up from the Double Dime Ranch in Texas, along with his wife. Chipper hasn’t been to the All-Star Game since 2001, hard as that is to believe.
“It’s an experience in and of itself, and to be able to share it with those guys is something I’m really looking forward to,” Chipper said, referring to his parents. “Every All-Star experience is tremendous, but I can’t wait to see the look on my dad’s face when we interact together with some of the greats in the game.
“You interact with all those guys at some point during the course of a season. But my dad doesn’t get that opportunity very often, and I’d love to be able to take him down to the clubhouse, and take him out to Monument Grove, watch the look on his face.”
When I asked if he was bringing his kids, Chipper smiled and said, “No, just grownup weekend.”
Besides, his son Shea is going to get a tour of his namesake stadium in Flushing in the second half of the season when the Braves play the Mets in the other New York stadium that’s also seeing its last season of major league ball.
McCann’s been selected to the All-Star Game all three seasons that he’s been on the opening day roster, the first player in franchise history that can make that claim. But like Jones, he didn’t try to play it cool. He’s pumped about this.
“If there’s a year to make the All-Star team, it’s this year,” said McCann, who had three hits including his 18th homer Sunday. “Yankee Stadium — there’s not a better setting for an All-Star Game. It’s gonna be the last one played at the Stadium. It’s probably going to be one of the best days of my life.”
Did I mention he’s excited?
All the players are going to take part in a parade down Sixth Avenue in Manhattan Tuesday afternoon, and all living Hall of Famers have been invited to participate in that and in a special pregame ceremony. It’s going to be a goosebump-raising scene, I’ll bet. They’re going to show highlights from that on the broadcast before Tuesday’s night’s game, is my understanding.
About this weekend: Well, we said before the trip that the six-game swing through Southern California might determine whether the Braves would trade Mark Teixeira before the deadline and/or try to add a power bat to their lineup if they felt like they were still in the race.
We also said it might not determine anything, if the Braves didn’t lose four or more games or win four or more during the trip. And they ended up splitting six, and going to the break 6-1/2 games back, still in that middle ground of are-they-or-aren’t-they in this thing, at least for another week or so.
As we said last week, there is a way the Braves could be both buyer and seller before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and the rumor out of Boston is exactly the type of scenario we referred to.
If the Braves could get an impact first baseman to step right in for Teixeira and not be much of a dropoff, then they might trade him before the deadline and also try to make a move to strengthen their outfield. In other words, trade Teixeira without waving the white flag on the season.
If they were able to get Kevin Youkilis from Boston in a trade for Teixeira, that’s a deal that would fit that description. Youklis is a solid player and team leader, a good glove man who hits for average, power and draws walks. He’s a gritty guy the Braves who might be just what this Braves team need.
Won’t give you 30-40 homers and 130 RBI like Tex, but Youkilis is on pace for about 25 and 110 this year.
Frankly, I have doubts about whether Boston would trade him. He’s still very affordable, and he’s extremely popular in Sox Nation, which is no small matter of concern.
If I were the Braves, I’d actually do that deal for Youkilis and just about any mid-level prospect you’d name. If it came right down to it, I think I’d do it straight up, since Braves can afford Youkilis, and seem very unlikely to be willing to spend what it’ll take to re-sign Tex.
You’d rather have two draft picks than Youkilis? No way, I say. Give me a known commodity like him any time.
But again, I have my doubts as to whether the Red Sox would trade him for Tex. We’ll see. I should be able to talk to a couple of people tomorrow to get a better idea if there’s anything there.
OK, gotta get on this plane. Wanted to talk more about what this weekend series at San Diego meant. I mean, Padres are bad - remember they lost 10 of 11 at home before beating Braves in series opener Friday.
But Braves still won two of three and showed some serious offense today. That’s one thing Padres have done well, pitch and hold down other lineups. So for the Braves to do what they did today, against a pitcher (Randy Woolf) who’s been very tough at Petco, was a good sign.
We’ll see. Still a lot of ball to play. And I’d guess it’ll be another series or two before the Braves make any major decisions regarding Teixeira - that is, unless the Red Sox would actually pull the trigger and give them Youkilis.
OK, a tune before we depart: Love this song, which was covered memorably by Wilco and Billy Bragg on one of their two terrific Mermaid Avenue CDs of Guthrie covers.
“CALIFORNIA STARS” by Woody Guthrie
I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I’d like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars
I’d love to feel your hand touching mine
And tell me why i must keep working on
Yes, I’d give my life to lay my head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I’d like to dream my troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed and make another day
Underneath my California stars
They hang like grapes on vines that shine
And warm the lovers’ glass like friendly wine
So, I’d give this world just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars
