Braves Bits

Braves Bits...Interesting…Reitsma to the DL. That’s also an easy way they could “let go” of Jordan. The 6’8” callup has good stats. Most “experts” don’t mention what my friend the CPA did…the unpredictability of baseball. Today' AJC article was mostly on the mark, talking about how you don’t completely overhaul a business for one bad quarter after 15 successful years, not to bring in high-priced free agents like Baltimore, keep Cox and JS, etc. As much as I’d like Dontrell, we’d only need to get him if they could sign him. Every now and then, an AJC columnist or a national announcer will give the Braves props for the moves they make, but more often I hear “they need to do something!”, forgetting the almost weekly moves that are made.

Guess we should’ve made the Thomson trade with the Pirates in the spring, even though Davies and Horacio have since been hurt. You never know the inner workings of a deal that doesn’t go through…until the book comes out, anyway.

That Giles deal sounds sound…makes sense both for the money and to improve the team. In the off-season people won’t make a big deal about the struggles he’s currently having. While reading the Schultz piece I was thinking about how the CPA thought he’d rebound…I still think he will.

Hadn’t mentioned the Andruw and Chipper player statues. They’re nice in that they’re individually numbered, but the resemblance isn’t that great. Will wants to get all of them, but one is the night before we leave for the beach, and another is on our anniversary.

My CPA friend has such good insight, I don't want it to go to waste. He writes...Smoltz losing to Fla hurt last night. It seems like we are finding new ways to lose. Of couse, you know how unpredictable baseball is, Thomson and Sosa could win the next 2 games and turn the season around. At least we have Hudson, Ramirez and Smoltz going against Boston this weekend. I read in Ken Rosenthal's column on Fox yesterday about how some in Baltimore's management is not happy with Mazzone. They promoted their minor league pitching coach to be the bullpen coach.

No matter what you do, everyone is always wanting that 1 big mid-season trade. I don't think it is that often that you are going to get McGriff for 3 minor leaguers who don't make it and if you are not careful, you may end up trading a John Smoltz for a Doyle Alexander. Even if you do make the trade, who/what is it going to be for?

A position player? They probably could still trade for Craig Wilson, but where would you play him - in a 1B platoon. LF - I don't think the organization is ready to give up on Langerhans / Diaz.

Starting pitching? Do you want to give up a package of kids for Willis, if you don't know if the new management will be willing to spend the money to tie him up long-term. Certainly not Zito, though I am sure Beane would make a deal with JS... outside of those 2, who is available who is available that is a significant upgrade over the group of (choose 3 as your starters) Ramirez, Thomson, Sosa, Davies, James?

Relievers? This is where a move, if any, will be made. They caught lightening in a bottle last year with Farnsworth, but everybody is always looking for more relief pitching, so whatever is out there will command a high price.

Another thing people don't realize, realignment made a big difference for mid-season acquisitions. So many more teams are in contention in July than pre-realignment. It takes a bold GM who is 5 games out of the Wild Card in July and trade their best pitcher for prospects.

More of my misc. ramblings...
Loved reading Staci's recent blog posts. Hers made me jealous, as we could certainly stand for more clearing out. Ceil has been better about clearing out stuff…actually I’ve gotten bad about wanting to keep some of the more classic toys and stuff. Will wants to put everything on his shelves. We’ve gotten into the habit of taking small loads to Goodwill instead of saving up for garage sales…we easily give away the $500.00 max claimable on taxes.

One “fun” thing I’ve done is take clothes to consignment shops. There’s one on East Piedmont near y’all…ReRuns, behind the Walgreens, across from Kroger. Mainly women’s clothes, but they also do men’s, kids, and baby. Pays lots more than yard sales.

Was going to work in Charlotte Friday. I would’ve been ok with going up and back, but Ceil decided to go to her parents. Yesterday afternoon the guy I’m going to see quit, so the trip is off. Ceil may still go. I could stay and work around the house. Will might stay here this weekend and play games TH-FRI-SAT…I was wondering about catching a Boston game Friday had he not been playing. Who is going for the Sox? Will did fine in his game last night.

Lang was in Dallas for games 1 and 2, and now is in Miami. He invited his parents to game 5.

Not exactly what I wanted, but looks like we’re going to Six Flags Sunday with friends.

Saw Hollandsworth in RF for the Indians Sunday night…is he a regular?

There’s been more info published and on the internet since the movie has come out, which I agree is good. I haven’t read much of it, though I have read a lot about the movie and how it jives with the book. The ‘Secrets of the Code’ book I had mentioned a few months ago is exhaustive in it’s detail…it quotes/complies opinions from previous books, like the one involved in the lawsuit against Dan Brown. One co-author of that book wasn’t involved in the suit, and was interviewed on the History Channel.

The Pelicans are in town when we’re at the beach in July