AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > January > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMcBride savors hometown, Braves future
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Sylvania — This evening will be a glowing occasion in this town, the capital of Screven County. Of such proportion that Sylvania required a bypass for U.S. 301. The Chamber of Commerce holds its annual dinner tonight and the main speaker will be Macay McBride, 23, rather youthful for such an occasion, but Macay and Sylvania fit hand in glove. His life is right here.
“Only place I ever want to live,” he said, at the wheel of his Silverado on the way to the hunting field. He was a high draft pick of the Braves, coming out of high school in 2000, 24th in the first round in 2001. Promising left-handers such as he are hard to find, clean-living homebodies, cheeks aglow with good health. Amazing, the number of major league players who come from the Sylvanias of America. Smalltown heroes, revered by neighbors and showered with pride.
One of the first things Macay did with the million he got to sign was buy about 500 acres of land out near Brier Creek, more a languid river than a creek in its flow down to the Savannah. He wasn’t necessarily following the advice of the late humorist Will Rogers — “Invest in land. They’re not making any more.” — he was establishing himself for his future with his then bride-to-be, Dru. Another thing he did was buy himself a second-hand pickup, since replaced, and a farm utility vehicle for his dad, Joey, who works at the Southern Co.’s Vogtle Plant.
This is big hunting and fishing land, and this week the Sylvania folk had their annual quail hunt on the farm of the Don Shepherds, Don Sr., Jr. and III. Macay supplied his golf cart, once painted Bulldog red and black, now camouflaged for hunting. Once in awhile he’d take a shot, but mainly his day was a walk through the fields of broom sedge and briars and a discussion of his future in baseball. When he arrived with the Braves in midseason, he came mainly as a starter. Here, Bobby Cox used him mainly in special situations.
“I don’t mind doing this,” he said, “but I don’t want to be a left-handed specialist all my life. You can make a good living in the bullpen, but I think I’m better than that. I’d rather be a starter, a full pitcher. I just want to be able to have a good life here when I’m through.”
The hunting fields and the fishing streams of Screven County will be forever in his blood. At home, he’s up and out by 7 o’clock in the morning. Life in the big leagues affords him the pleasure of sleeping in on the road. “I’ll tell you,” he said, “life in the minor leagues is the worst of all, those early morning flights.
“You get to bed about midnight after the game, then you get about three hours sleep and get to the airport and catch a 7 o’clock flight, fly out and play again that night. It’s a tough life.”
With the Braves, he has bonded with other young ones into a closely knit group. “We stay together, sort of like the same things and we want to win, Jeff Francoeur, Brian McCann, Ryan Langerhans and Pete Orr. You don’t see that on other teams. They kid me a lot about my country ways. When Jeff replied to our wedding invitation, he penciled in, ‘I guess you’ll give me directions on what dirt road to take.’?”
He laughed gently. “They’re just city slickers.”
He has spent time with the new pitching coach, Roger McDowell, only on the telephone. “He’s going to be different from Leo, but it’s not going to be a great change. I don’t blame Mazzone for going back to his home state to hook up with an old friend. I was just surprised that he wasn’t making more than he was after all those great seasons with the Braves.”
Camp Roger, as I’d suppose it has been re-christened, begins shortly, then off to spring training and reunion with the young clan. But he’ll never be far away from Sylvania. Home, someone once said, is where the heart is, and that’s where his heart is, and the birds and the fish will never be safe. “I’ve never lived anywhere else, don’t want to live anywhere else.”
Permalink | Comments (12) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By CW
January 18, 2006 09:22 PM | Link to this
I grew up a few miles north of Sylvania and spent many a summer day in and around Brier Creek. It’s refreshing to see someone make it from our little corner of the world to the big leagues. I’m sure Macay will much more than a left-handed specialist when all is said and done. We have another kid from these parts named Broxton whose throwing in the majors too, with the Dodgers. I wish them both nothing but the best. Nice article, as usual, Mr Bisher.
By BW
January 18, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this
Great little story on McBride. I hope BC gives him a chance to start someday. South Ga. has many players in the minors and major in the last 10 years. I live in Douglas,GA. the home of GREG WALKER ,White Sox hitting coach and Ex player.He to was a great outdoors man. Keep up the good work Mr. Bisher
By Ron ROberts
January 18, 2006 10:57 PM | Link to this
Great story. On the downside, one quote from McBride sums up how many Braves fans feel about it’s current ownership…
“I was just surprised that he wasn’t making more than he was after all those great seasons with the Braves.â€?
Exactly.
By SouthernJackAssRadioPersonalityGoneHaywireRR
January 18, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this
It makes me want to cry!!!…GO METS!!!…
By Pete
January 19, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this
Mr Bisher, it was nice to read one of your columns after so many years. I moved from GA in 1969 and yours was a name I never forgot. I remember Milo Hamilton and yourself as being the ones who kept me in touch with the Braves when my folks moved north. I must be getting up there, I remember Falstaff oo although I was only 12. Georgia will always be home to me and I’m very happy to see your writings again.
By bayoudawg
January 19, 2006 10:40 AM | Link to this
Some of my fondest memories are there in Screven County. A buddy of mine who taught me to play guitar is now preaching in a Methodist Church in Hilltonia. We fished/hunted the creeks and fields. I grew up in Palmetto, Fulton County, Georgia and knew several football players from Screven County High. They all seemed to migrate back or at least they got close. I’m now in Louisiana but my heart is in Georgia (with my 10 Grandchildren) Thanks Furman for this column. GO DAWGS!
By Travis
January 19, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this
Yeah we like to hunt and fish in Sylvania and it does seem we all find our way back just like I did! We all seem to enjoy the same things in life! Go Macay, see you at the Wild Game Party February 18th!-Travis
By SouthernJackAssRadioPersonalityGoneHaywireRR
January 19, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this
Damn!…Sounds like a Waltons’s reunion!…
By Voice of Reason
January 19, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this
RR, you can continue to cry over the exit of Leo all you want, but I won’t. It was time. If retaining Leo was as important as many of you seem to believe, it would have happened, period. Conversely, I believe his timely exit was necessary to the development of the young arms we now have. With all due respect, Leo’s strength isn’t nurturing youngsters, it is coaching established pitchers. God bless him in his exit, but don’t assign the Braves’ fortunes to his absence.
By GW
January 19, 2006 02:21 PM | Link to this
I just hope the Braves don’t ruin McBride by experimenting with his role forever. Make a decision on what he does best and leave him there so he can further develop. I know he must fear being used as the lefty just to pitch to one hitter a game. Out you come whether you give up a grand slam or strike the guy out. I’m sure many young prospects feel the same way in today’s big leagues. I lived in Screven Co. for 5 years. Wonderful place.
By Bill
January 19, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this
Furman - no one at the AJC can write like you and never will!
By SouthernJackAssRadioPersonalityGoneHaywireRR
January 19, 2006 09:26 PM | Link to this
GO METS!!!…