more Bravos

One thing that has struck me about hitting coaches is that the pupil has to be open to change. Andruw had gone years with generally the same stats. They were above average, but everyone expected more from him. Last year I think he got married and was adding an indoor batting cage to his house. There were reports of him working hard over the winter. So Pendleton looks good, though we may have been trying to get through to Andruw years ago. Or perhaps Pendleton had suggested several things over the last couple of years, that one thing finally paid off.

There’s a tall boy on the team that was cut from the school , though he stars on the school’s undefeated basketball team. His hitting is all messed up, and I’ve heard several teammates, coaches, and parents shouting (conflicting) instructions. Not all Little League coaches are equal when it comes to teaching guys to hit!

I see where Yankee great Don Mattingly is getting the rap for the Yankees’ failure to advance. ARod, Jeter, Giambi, Bernie, Posada…when they don’t hit, is it Mattingly’s fault?

To me, winning divisions is tons better than not competing, which is what the Braves were like for 22 of the first 25 years here. The Hawks were a lot more fun in the ‘Nique years. Then they regressed but still made the playoffs, then they redid the team and flopped. For years the Falcons weren’t a factor.

Yesterday I remembered that the goal for the Braves management is money related…getting fans to come to games. That’s why they spent all that money on that big TV in centerfield, instead of four new all-star pitchers (this year they brought three…Hudson, Kolb, and Farnsworth). Since two million are showing up every year, including an attendance increase this year, the moves are paying off, as far as management is concerned. They care about the fans…so they can make money. I can’t fault them for that…furthering their own interests as opposed to mine.