AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 29
Friday, August 29, 2008
Can Braves make it two in a row?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greetings from Washington, D.C., denizens, where sure, I’ll say hello to your money for ya. And those folks back in Gwinnett, say goodbye to a little more of your money!
Just read the Gwinnett stadium is going to cost $59 million, rather than $40 million they’d projected, and they want to take the extra $19 million out of the county reserve fund … Hey, I’m all for getting it right. Just sayin’ somebody might need to work a little on the math before they turn in their big report to the bosses.
See? No politics here. Just math. And not going to say a word about any VP nominee, except for this … My mom left me a voicemail while I was on the plane ride up here that Sarah Palin used to be a sports reporter. Oh, and my boyfriend thinks she’s cute.
Anyway, moving on.
First, let me give some credit where it’s due … DOB called that series win over the Marlins didn’t he? Impressive. Cause it came outta nowhwere. And now he can bask while he kicks back for some well-deserved time off. And here I am in D.C. to see if the Braves can actually beat the Nationals, get Willie Harris out, and put together a few good games on the road.
Can’t be any worse than the last trip, and I’m in no mood for that. Not prepared to spend the next six days blogging like I’m ready to jump off a bridge, you know what I’m saying? So let’s get this thing started right.
You wouldn’t think it would be that hard against a team with the worst record in baseball at 49-85. But then you realize that that team just swept three games from the Dodgers, including a 11-2 win yesterday. (ha HA! On my blog they won’t edit the word ‘win’ to ‘victory.’ It’s a noun in my world, OK?)
THE NATS are 7-4 against the Braves this year. And our friend Willie is hitting .424 (14-for-33) with three doubles, two triples, a home run and nine RBIs against the Braves. And Cristian Guzman is as hot as ever. Just hit for the cycle last night becoming the second Washington National to do it. Care to name the other? … OK I’ll spare you having to scroll down and reading upside down. Brad Wilkerson, April 6, 2005.
But wait just a second, when you look around the standings a bit, you realize the Braves’ record at 59-75 is better than only — get this…Oh heck, lemme just do a chart:
Atlanta 59-75 .440
Cincinnati 58-76 .433
Pittsburgh 57-76 .429
Kansas City 56-77 .421
San Diego 51-82 .383
Seattle 50-83 .376
Washington 49-85 .366
OK, yes, I know it’s been bad. But when you stack it up like this….wow. Anyway, happy place, happy place. (I sound like Jair Jurrjens who pointed out the other day after his six-run outing against the Marlins, he was like Happy Gilmore looking for his happy place. I have only seen snippets of that movie, so I’m not even sure if I’m getting that right.)
SEPTEMBER CALL-UPS: September call-ups have kind of lost their luster haven’t they, with Brandon Jones and Josh Anderson already up, with prospects Jordan Schafer, Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen unlikely to come up, according to Frank Wren, and 40-man issues kind of keeping things conservative. Not sure where else you go.
I looked up a couple of possibilities from the 40-man roster from Richmond but most of those guys are on the disabled list in Richmond — Phil Stockman, Chuck James, and Francisley Bueno. Jeff Ridgway just came off the DL mid-August. Anthony Lerew is only 12 starts into his comeback from “Tommy John” surgery. I doubt they’d want him up here just chewing up innings.
So I rest my best-guess case with Brent Lillibridge … and possibly your favorite catcher.
Traditionally Bobby brings up another catcher to lighten the load in September. Corky (keep the hoots to a minimum) could be back up if they open up a 40-man spot for him by moving somebody like Glavine, Soriano or Diaz to the 60-day DL. I looked over at his locker at Turner Field not too long ago and it wasn’t packed up, so that’s my investigative journalism at work, telling you he might be back.
THOSE CRAZY NATS … You gotta appreciate a little humor coming from the nation’s capital. And that’s what Manny Ramirez got when he came to town with the Dodgers.
Apparently the Presidents’ race took on a new look, with Teddy Roosevelt wearing a blue do-rag and dreadlocks. Teddy lost the race and the PA announcer noted it was because “Teddy was just being Teddy.”
Then there was Nats’ GM Jim Bowden, who apparently wore a dreadlock wig under a Nats cap to batting practice.
Was it a stunt to try to convince Ramirez (a pending free agent) to sign with Washington this winter, Mark Zuckerman asks of the Washington Times?
“I am happy to see Manny,” Bowden said. “I respect him. In my career, [Barry] Bonds and Ramirez have been the two best of my time. … I think it’s an honor to get to watch them. I would pay to watch them hit.”
I see Manny had some fun yesterday too with a two-run homer in the first inning before the Dodgers got run out of town 11-2.
HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND … you guys. If you’re still at your work computer instead of driving out of town through some crazy traffic, more power to you. Check in with me when you get bored over the weekend.
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