Bryce and Zion

After camping out on the banks of Lake Powell,  near the Grand Canyon’s Horseshoe Bend, Anna and the girls hit Bryce Canyon National Park yesterday, and Zion National Park today.

We rode by the Linburgh Taqueria Sunday on our way from Lenox to Ponce. Drove through Morningside through Virginia Highland to avoid the Piedmont Park jass festival, which Matthew had attended Saturday night. I hate it when newcomers to the area (unlike me, who moved here 42 years ago) call the Virginia Highland area “the Highlands.” Might as well call it “HOT-Lanta.”

Tuesday: Matthew and Ceil cooked stuffed green peppers. A decent experiment but probably won’t be repeated. Cleaned up and watched the Braves and Whiskey Cavalier – another good show that was recently cancelled.

Had a good Wednesday evening. Left work at 3:30. Picked up Ceil and got to SunTrust Park before the Right Field Gate opened. Went over and talked to Miss Marian, who gave us a bunch of stickers and foam tomahawks. Later I picked up a bobblehead and poster from the season ticket booth. Ceil got Chickfila and a small bottle of wine. I got a burger & fries, which filled me up. Saw my Hot Stove friend sitting nearby.

The Braves replayed the earlier announcement by the commissioner that the 2021 MLB All Star Game will be in Atlanta. Before the national anthem a parade of former Braves all-stars circled the field, riding on the back of new Corvettes: Niekro, Gary Matthews, Terry Pendleton, Dan Uggla, Andruw Jones, and Chipper. Smoltz threw out the first pitch to his former catcher Brian McCann. Before the game two Nationals players knelt together and prayed (one was Soto).

The Nats batted around in both the first and second. Later people wondered if former Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki had inside info on starting pitcher Kevin Gausman. Washington’s lead grew to two touchdowns before Albies managed a single in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-hitter Max Fried poked a single, and later scored on rookie Austin Riley’s grand slam. At one point I walked over to customer relations. On the way I saw one of the regulars and said hello. On the way back I passed Phil Niekro.

Got home and turned on the postgame and replay. An above average broadcast, with Skip Carey, Glavine, and Francoeur hosting a parade of insightful guests: Commissioner Manfred, Atlanta mayor Bottoms, Cobb Commissioner Ott, and the Braves VP Derek Schiller. Each shared interesting personal anecdotes. Good to have an Atlanta mayor who doesn’t dismiss the Braves. I stayed up cobbling together my blog post and didn’t hit the sack until 1 am.

Here’s how Mike Trout’s first five seasons compare to the best 5 year span of some hall of famer’s careers. Trout’s 5 year WAR compares to Joe DiMaggio’s WAR for his best 7 year span. 

WAR=wins above an average replacement player.

HR = home runs

Top 5 MVP finishes

MVP awards

OPS=on base percentage + slugging percentage

WAR.HR.top 5.MVP.OPS
47.8  163    5      2   .975 Trout

39.5  160    3      1   .995 Mantle

39.4  183    3      1    .985 Mays

33.2  117    1      1    .837 Bonds

30.1  132    1       0   .895 Griffey Jr.

29.9  140    3       1   .908 Aaron

Lunch Thursday catered by Jimmy Johns.

Cool that Bill Curry got to play on some of those great Packer teams, then move on to Don Shula’s Baltimore Colts with Johnny Unitas.  

One of the Jeopardy contestants Wednesday looked like a cross between Will and Matthew.