Big Papi: Bigger Than the Game?

Seems like David Ortiz has begun to think of himself as bigger than the game. Not just that pitchers should be tossed for throwing in his vicinity. He doesn't think the rules of the game apply to him any more. Perhaps it started when he was all the more honored after cussing when speaking to a sold-out Fenway Park crowd, as well as a regional TV audience. His act may have been cute in years past, but now it's just getting old. Next week in Minneapolis I'm sure we'll be treated to endless shots of Ortiz – coaching derby contestants and nursing them with Gatorade and towels.

If NL manager Mike Matheny was going to pick Posey and the Brewers catcher over Gaddis anyway, since Gattis was hurt it would've been a nice touch for Matheny to have picked Gattis to the team, then picked Posey as his replacement. Posey would've understood and not had his feelings hurt. Perhaps MLB doesn't let that happen because incentive clauses would kick in.

Ushers at Coolray Field said the July 4th crowd was so large (over 11,000) that people were turned away. People were parking down the street at BrandsMart, Publix, and on Highway 20. The July 5th crowd was considerably smaller. Wilson Betemit played first base for Durham, hitting only .232 but with 12 home runs. Jose Constanza recently broke the record for most games played by a Gwinnett Brave: 314. A dubious record.

I tweeted about Nature Boy Ric Flair giving starting pitcher Cody Martin a high five. Last night Cody Martin favorited and retweeted my tweet. It had been odd that instead of the earlier ceremonial first pitch before the national anthem, the GBraves waiting until the nine starters took the field to start the game to announce Flair's first pitch. Flair took a little kid with him to the mound (his own grandson?). Martin backed off the mound, but Flair went out of his way to give him five. Flair was moving pretty slow, and bounced his slow toss to the catcher. Pretty weird.

Any substance to the rumor that the Braves would include Shea Simmons in an Uggla trade? I think it highly unlikely, since the Braves need more bullpen help than they need an extra bat. Shea Simmons is too good to trade, even with Kimbrel locked up in the closer role.

ROB: I would hope there would be nothing to the S Simmons rumor.  As dominant as Kimbrel is, you are only 1 pitch away from needing another closer.  I thought they could have done that with Gattis as well.  MLB.com tweeted out that the NL has never had a more athletic OF than Puig-Mccutcheon-Gomez.  I am assuming the person who wrote that had no idea who Aaron-Mays-Clemente were.

Since he has been leading off, BJ has an OPS of .740 and his strikeout rate is 'down' to 25%.  Small sample size for sure, but the last 9 games he has been the player they thought he was when he was signed. Sorry I missed the Ric Flair thing.

ME: Good point about the NL all-star outfield. Not one of them will ever come close to 3000 hits or 500 home runs. Puig's diving catch and throw to third was replayed endlessly on ESPN. No mention of him obviously taking the wrong path to the ball. A truly elite outfielder would have been able to make the catch standing up, and the runner would have never even tried for third.

Several calls were going against the Braves Monday night. Later on one or two went the Braves way. Interesting game, though I went to bed when S Simmons was pulled. Good to see Johnson pounding fists when he was removed from the game.

At the beach next week it's doubtful I'll be able to do any of the following: (1) attend Saturday's Pelicans game, (2) watch Monday's Home Run Derby, (3) watch Tuesday's All-Star Game, and (4) watch Wednesday's ESPYs. UPDATE: So far I am two for two.