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Thursday, August 17, 2023

Millie's First Game

Late yesterday I was able to get my company's Braves tickets, MC had wanted to take Will to a game, so I met them there. Millie's first game. Shivonne has been to four games now, and the Braves have won off of them.

I didn't leave work until almost 5:30. Stopped by Taco Bell on the way. Took my new route to the game to avoid 285 – Peachtree Industrial to Spaulding through Dunwoody and across 400 and Roswell Road, across Johnson Ferry at the river, where its called Riverside. Then I cut through a neighborhood to Heards Ferry, past the old Mullen house to Northside and Interstate North Parkway and Powers Ferry to my parking space where Yearwood used to work. Gave W my parking pass and I walked the 1-1/2 miles to the ballpark. Walked down to my seat just as the national anthem was starting.

LOTS of Yankee fans: standing, blocking everyone's view. Lots of Aaron Judge jerseys. They all went home disappointed, as the Braves swept New York out of town. Cool to see Judge in person (above). Millie slept most of the game, but Shivonne had a big time, with the in game fireworks, music, and so much to look at. Shiv pouted after the tool race, when the larger than life toys disappeared behind the centerfield fence. 

We all went for ice cream. Shivonne knew what to do – she could feed herself. Got ice cream all over both me and her, but it was fun. When I got home I took off my clothes and put them in the washing machine.

Stayed til the end of the game, which meant a big crowd exiting the stadium at the same time. Weaved my way through, bypassing the jammed pedestrian bridge and crossed the road on foot. Weaved my way through eventually to the front of the pack, and down the hill to my car.  After running 3 miles before work, I racked up over 14000 steps for the day, almost 8 miles.

With Tuesday night's win, Brian Snitker "equaled" Bobby Cox's winning percentage. With Wednesday's win, Snit moved ahead of Cox. When he retires, Snitker will be a lock for the Braves Hall of Fame.

.55705301 Brian Snitker

.55582686 Bobby Cox

.508 Casey Stengel

Casey's Yankees won 7 world series and 10 American League pennants between 1949 and 1960. Casey finished in first place ten times (before division play).

Cox won five pennants and one World Series, finishing in first place 15 times.

Snitker has managed for 8 seasons, finishing first the last 6 seasons, with one pennant and World Series championship.

Tuesday: watched the Braves Yankees. Atlanta has now won 6 of the last 7 games against the New York teams. Dodgers have won 8 straight. The TBS announcers were saying that with the 11-1/2 game lead the Braves should dial back on the innings of the starting pitchers, and rest the everyday players. Wouldn't that just wear out the bullpen? Snitker will indeed do what's best for the team – but should the Braves lose one or two games all the self-proclaimed "experts" will start back with their second guessing, damn the best record in baseball, the 2021 world championship, or 5 straight division championships. Snit knows that the season will be judged on how deep they go into the postseason.

Joey Votto of the Reds is an interesting bloke. While traveling he may only use a toothbrush once, and leave it behind in the hotel room. Carries a fan to stay cool, and a sleep mask so he can sleep well into the morning.

Charlie Culbertson was cut but signed with Gwinnett, but is on something called the Development List.

BOB GIBSON [SABR Bio] was the first pitcher to win the National League Cy Young Award by unanimous vote, in 1968. He won again in 1970 & missed repeating unanimously by a single vote. All three of Sandy Koufax' Cy Young Awards were won unanimously, but they were all MLB, not NL. Gibson attended Creighton University (Bluejays) in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. In 9 of his 17 seasons pitching in the majors, he struck out 200 batters – from 1962-66; 1968-70; and 1972. He was the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Three Rivers Stadium, on 14-Aug-1971.

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