AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > May > 02
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Viva Las Bravas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Heads Up: I rearranged this for easier reading. Remember, I was updating live from the game Tuesday night. That’s why everything was bass-ackwards Wednesday morning, y’all. Mea culpa.
Shake, Rattle And Roll
Folks, I spent Tuesday night at El Ted watching Los Bravos take on the Rockies and… it was Elvis Night at the ole ballyard. Whenever the Tomahawks were shown on BravesVision (tm), their ginormous smiling mugs were glammed up, King-style, with pompadours, the big ’70s-era sideburns, the bejeweled white leisure suits that marked the “Fat Elvis” years - the works. The crowd loved it, along with the Elvis songs played as start-up music before each at-bat. What they didn’t love, however, was the lackadaisical way Adam LaRoche grounded one to Rocks first baseman Luis Gonzalez with men at first and second to end a primo scoring opp in the first. Tonight’s starter, Jorge Sosa, ditched that “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo” look he had going early on and he breezed through the top of the first 1-2-3.
That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
Ummm… Yeah. Sosa’s whole 1-2-3 thing he had going in the first didn’t carry over to the second inning. Rockies RF Brad Hawpe hammered one to the guest field he’s patrolling tonight. Frenchy ran and ran and ran and… watched a Braves fan make a great catch in the stands. Showgirls 1, Elvises 0.
I Got Stung
FRENCHY TOOK A FIRST PITCH! Then he popped one up on the infield around second, ran like his britches were on fire down the line to first and was still out. Dude is up ‘n’ down. Where’s Annie Savoy when you really need her?
Rip It Up
The defense in the top of the third was spectacular. Chipper gloved a true hot corner scorcher, slinging to LaRoche (who made a stunning pick at first); Giles followed suit with literal armed robbery at second; and then Frenchy ran back to the wall to end things with a just-enough-room catch that gave the home crowd something to get happy over. How much are we loving Edgar Renteria? As much as he’s apparently loving his new warm-weather climate. Guy gets things happening, that’s for sure. So does Andruw, who brought in Giles and, oh by the by, ripped off second after that. Yawn. No big. LaRoche atoned for making the third out of the 1st inning by doubling Andruw home and FRENCHY singled to score Rochie from second. No, he didn’t wait around to see a second pitch. Francoeur ripped the first sucker that crossed the plate. Elvises 3, Priscillas 1.
Anyplace Is Possible
And there was much rejoicing. As well there should have been. Langy s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d for the diving catch in left to save a likely double and the crowd let out a roar, only to have Sosa give up a solid homer to the same field about one pitch later. Sosa wasn’t doing himself any favors, apparently feeling a need to toss extra BP to the Purple Palladins, since Andruw had to hoof it back to the 400 mark in CF to bounce off the wall to glove a long out. Rocks nabbed another run. Sheesh. Elvises 3, Memphis Mafia 2.
Ready Teddy
First-year leadoff hitter Marcus Giles told DOB that he’d find his stroke in the new spot in time and it looks like that’s the case. In the 4th, Popeye whipped a solid grounder for a single. Sosa walked and he was at second; Giles at first. Another case of Braves on base, table’s set and… and… Guess Chipper wasn’t hungry; he whiffed. Inning ooooooooover.
Burning Love
So after seeing the defensive-offensive combo platter that Renteria has to offer when he’s healthy, I’m buying my No. 11 t-shirt ASAP. Just felt like sharing. I really don’t miss… um… er… what was that other guy’s name again?
All Shook Up
Nice try in left again for Langy (guy’s not getting the easy cans ‘o’ corn) but no luck this time. Andruw had to grab the ball at the wall after No. 18’s valiant dive was just shy of where the ball actually fell, Rocks’ CF Cory Sullivan tripled, then scored on a long flyout to Andruw. Next, Matt Holliday had to show off and, you know, hit HIS long dinger out of the park to left. Sosa was just kind of giving hits away then, in case anyone had been wanting one. If you were in the market for your own MLB hit, The Ted was the place to be during the top of the sixth Tuesday night. Ann-Margrets 4, Elvises 3.
Don’t Be Cruel
Some fools tried to start The Wave. GOD, that is THE most annoying thing you can do at a ballgame. In fact, I’m of the opinion that anyone who attempts to start The Wave or goes along with doing The Wave at a baseball game must really HATE baseball. So from all of us who are true baseball fans to all of you who get bored watching the intricacies of what’s happening on the field of play and start trying to get The Wave going in the stands, here’s a message: Stop it.
In actual game-related news, in the top of the 7th, reliever Oscar Villarreal came in and Colorado’s Cory Sullivan swiped second on a nanoseconds-late throw from Braves backstop Brian McCann. Bang-bang play of the type we weren’t used to seeing when Javy Lopez handled plate duty. Ladies, I know he was handsome but good looks don’t help you on defense. I’m just saying. Your Braves Leadoff Hitter Marcus Giles has posted three hits against Purple pitching. That ain’t hay.
Dixieland Rock
Andruw doubled home that other Jones Boy, Chipper, and you could literally FEEL The Ted trembling as the fans did, in fact, follow the instructions on BravesVision (tm), taking it upon themselves to “Get Loud.” Rochie walked so the Rocks could pitch to Frenchy. Hey, if he can slap dingers to Denmark in order to get that kid fan an autographed ball then he should be able to score Andruw from second, right? Right? Wrong. No. 7’s luck ran out. Whifferoo. sigh Elvises 4, Colonel Parkers 4.
One Night
Betemit singled to first and frankly, it was about time someone (preferably us) breaks the scoring juggernaut. Oh, this just in: ABC is axing “Commander In Chief.” Geena Davis and TV just don’t mix. I wish her all the best. Maybe Bill Paxton will need a 4th wife to put Nicki in her place next season on HBO’s mega-hit “Big Love.” Giles, The Leadoff Hitter Who Couldn’t Hit Leadoff, drove in Betemit. Look for his multi-hit heroic epic exploits from tonight’s game on the 2006 version of “Fans Gone Wild.” Elvises 5, Backup Singers 4.
It’s Now Or Never
When Reitsma ran in, people went nuts and they reacted to calls that didn’t go his way like the old days when Smoltz was saving every Braves game known to man. Go crazy, Hotlantans. Reitsma just notched another save: no. 6. What happens in Vegas stays in ATL traffic: Elvises 5, Backup Singers 4.
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