As the Braves Turn

What do you think of Fredi's extension? I say they could still fire him after the season, but today Kincaid said something that actually made sense – they wanted to throw Fredi a bone before the veterans were traded and the season really were to go downhill without Grilli and maybe J Johnson and K Johnson and Maybin and AJ.

Last week I compared AJP to Gattis and Maybin/Markakis to Jason/Justin/BJ. The 2015 Braves all had higher averages than the 2014 Braves, strike out less, and play better overall defense. Less conclusive was the Ichiro/Gomes comparison.

And what did you think of the four greatest living players? I love Bench but Yogi's stats are better – and he won more. Same with Jeter. And didn't Maddux have a greater body of work than Koufax? (and Randy Johnson and Pedro and Roger Clemens).

Speaking of DOB – he no longer follows me on Twitter. I'm devastated. I bet the GBraves don't appreciate AM680 throwing a Braves party in Lawrenceville when there's a game around the corner at CoolRay.

Read a great book/story: "A Drive into the Gap" - 70 pages about author Kevin Guilfoile's dad and the bat Roberto Clemente used to collect his 3000th hit.

ROB: The Braves have less than $60 million tied up in guaranteed contracts for next season - including a $4.5MM buyout for Arroryo, Maybin's contract of $8MM and Cuban defector Toscano who may never show up (you should ask DOB about him - he loves fielding that question).  They only have 1 notable player eligible for arbitration (Shelby Miller).  They will have room to make moves.

It is funny that all of the hitters we traded away - Upton(s), Heyward and Gattis are pretty much who we thought they were.  Justin was hot during the spring, but cooled off the last 2 months.  BJ/Melvin looks like the same player he was the last 2 years.  Heyward has rebounded after a dreadful start, giving hope to his fan base that this is the time he turns it around.  Gattis is the most curious case of all.  He still has a chance to hit 30 HR's, with 100 RBI AND and OPS+ of less than 100 (meaning his OPS is below league average).

Still not much to report. Played on computer Friday morning then packed. Left NMB at 230 and stopped in Augusta for gas and to eat. C and A went to Zoe's Kitchen and M and I went to Zaxbys. Got 34.2 MPG on the way home, a record for the CRV. Arrived home at 10:15. 

Unpacked and cleaned upstairs Saturday morning. Watched some British Open. Drove M to Cumming and later went back to pick him up. Watched the Nicolas Sparks movie The Best of Me on Netflix.

JFBC Sunday morning. Watched more British Open. After grilled chicken tacos C took M to PCC and I delivered a bobblehead to an East Cobb buyer.

This morning I had M down at PCC at 6 am to leave on his week long camp. Doctor's appointment at 11:15. Left for doctor at 1010 and listened to 680 until 1100 – getting updated that weren't the best. Got back to the office at 1240. Doctor is taking me off the blood thinner. I go back in November to see if clot has gone away, so I can have the varicose veins treated. 

Beach was good. Will and Mary Clayton were there from Saturday to Wednesday noon, which was good. We got back late Friday night. 

M left this AM for church "camp" at the Daytona Hilton. Anna gets her wisdom teeth out tomorrow and flies to Colorado on Friday to see good friend Brittany, using Ceil's aunt's Delta buddy pass. 

Looks like Ceil will be teaching art 2 days per week at Legacy to cover M's tuition, as well as getting paid for working at Anna's school on Wednesdays. The killer is that all three kids must have their wisdom teeth taken out in the next week - with large out of pocket payments due immediately. It will wipe out the flexible spending account.