When you become a baseball fan, you also, naturally, become a fan of baseball quotes.
They take you behind the score. Tell a story. They’re as addictive as stats. Only better.
One of my favorites goes something like this: “Nowhere in life is defeat more meaningless than in baseball.”
Yes, it’s a long season, filled with peaks and valleys, streaks and slumps.
Because of that, it’s a perfect time to experiment.
Let’s face it, no one predicts the Braves will make it to the World Series this year. But we’re excited about what the season holds. Like any good team, we’ve tinkered with our lineup (perhaps not as much as the Braves) and will be trying a few new moves to improve our coverage.
It all begins in the printed newspaper. Each day, you’ll find two extra pages devoted to the Braves.
So far, we’ve taken you inside the clubhouse to hear what teammates had to say about the stunning trade of ace closer Craig Kimbrel. We shared the story of Cameron Maybin’s surprise that he had been traded to the Braves. (He quickly packed his bags and caught an overnight flight from San Diego.) And we were there when Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez flashed a smile after the team’s 2-1 nail-biter of a victory on Opening Day. “Did you expect anything else?” he asked.
All season long, we’ll take you beyond the score – from the perspective of our beat writers, our visual journalists, our bloggers and our columnists, Jeff Schultz and Mark Bradley.
Whether the Braves are on the road or playing at home at Turner Field, we’ll have a dozen journalists with more than 200 years of combined experience hitting the field – each one of them dedicated to bringing you the latest.
Our coverage, of course, extends far beyond the printed newspaper.
In previous columns, I’ve talked about our deadlines and the inherent tension that comes with offering readers a paper that is as complete as possible and one that is delivered to your home in the morning, early enough so you can read it with that first cup of coffee before rushing out to work.
That sometimes means we don’t always have the latest scores. When that happens, we guide readers to AJC.com, MyAJC.com and the AJCePaper. Even though the AJCePaper is the replica edition of the newspaper, we’ve been able to add sections and update stories in ways that aren’t always possible in our printed newspaper.
We’ll take full advantage of all three of those platforms this season.
On the AJCePaper, for instance, you’ll find a digital-only baseball section each Sunday. In that section, you’ll find our unique insight as we take you inside the Braves clubhouse. As an added bonus, we’ll be providing team-by-team coverage from around the league.
Each night, after the paper is put to bed and the presses stop rolling, a group of folks will stay behind to update our coverage on the AJCePaper so that you can find the latest on the Braves – as well as scores from around the country.
On Twitter and on Facebook, you’ll not only find our inning-by-inning updates, but you can also enjoy our take on what makes each game so special. While you’re at it, don’t forget to sign up for our Braves email newsletter. Throughout the season, David O’Brien, our Braves beat writer, will be answering your questions on AJC.com.
Planning on heading to Turner Field to catch a game this year?
You’ll want to visit MyAJC.com and read our story that takes you inside the stadium and provides a rundown on everything you need to know this season – from special events to ticket deals to new food options. (Chances are, you’ll find me in Section 102 at the new Wing Diner. Others, though, might opt for a lighter fare at the new Fielder’s Choice.)
This year will be special in so many ways.
The franchise turns 50, and we’re busy pulling together plans to celebrate that milestone.
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of that magical night in 1995 when the Braves won the World Series.
And this summer, John Smoltz will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Like any great team, we need a great skipper, and Ray Cox, our senior editor for sports, will be leading the charge. He’s a longtime sports journalist who’s seen plenty of baseball.
Here are a few things you should know about Ray:
He covered Tom Glavine’s season opener for the Class A Sumter Braves in 1985 before most of Atlanta knew who he was.
Speaking of the Braves season opener, Ray directed coverage at a newspaper in South Florida when the Marlins debuted in 1993.
And while working in Baltimore, he disagreed with the call on the infamous Derek Jeter home run in the 1996 ALCS.
Ray joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1998, and since then – like most of us – he has many great Braves memories.
We’re hoping there will be plenty of new ones this year, too.
After all, “baseball,” Babe Ruth once said, “was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world.”
