Thursday, April 09, 2020

Top Five Braves Second Basemen

Atlanta beat-writer Mark Bowman’s Top Five Braves Second-Basemen:
 
1. Marcus Giles 2001-06 ranks first among all Braves 2B with a .809 OPS, and several other categories.
 
2. Tony Cuccinello 1936-40 & 1942-43 selected to play in the first MLB all star game.
 
3. Ozzie Albies 2017-2019 stands with Mantle and Eddie Murray as the only switch hitters to hit 275 with 50 homers and .800 OPS through the first three years of his career at age 22 or younger.
 
4. Felix Millan 1966-72 recorded a franchise record six hits on July 6, 1970. Three straight All-Star appearances. Two Gold Gloves.
 
5. Glenn Hubbard 1978-1987 NL all-star in 1983. Coached up Marcus Giles in the minors. His 12.8 fWAR ranks third among Braves 2B in the modern era. Started more games than any other Braves 2B.
 
HM: Red Schoendienst finished third in 1957 MVP vote.
 
HM: Bobby Lowe 1890-1901 has highest fWAR for all Braves 2B: 23.1.
 
HM: Davey Johnson hit 43 HR in 1973.
 
HM: Bill Sweeney garnered NL MVP consideration in 1911-13.
 
HM: Mark Lemke played 2B during the team’s 1990’s playoff run.
 
Not mentioned: Dan Uggla.
 
The fan vote:
61% Ozzie Albies
23% Marcus Giles
14% Glenn Hubbard
02% Felix Millan
Bad news: the Falcons did not rule out pairing black jerseys with red pants. Ugh.
 
I always enjoyed going to Ridgecrest, first with Steve Norman and the Huberts on Labor Day weekends with the singles, and later a few times during the fall. Norman would always lead us on hikes far out in the wilderness. Once we were climbing up the side of a waterfall. He was ahead / above me, and he suddenly started screaming BEES! BEES! We turned and ran down the hill. That was the end of that hike.
 
Once Steve took me and our sons on a hike up a mountain. The Norman boys were used to keeping up with each other but little Will fell behind, and missed a turn. He went off in another direction. The sun would be going down soon. Luckily Steve and I were taking up the rear, and found him scampering back from a different direction. We never told Ceil and Becky until Will and Joel were teenagers, long after Steve had passed away.  
 
Also once Steve detoured our entire caravan of cars east to Hartwell GA to eat fried chicken and fish at a place called Swamp Guiney. We all bought tshirts. Didn’t get to Ridgecrest until almost midnight. The guys in our office in Lavonia were familiar to the Swamp Guiney.
During last night’s thunderstorm I was wondering how Barney was doing all alone downstairs. As I expected Ceil went down to check on him. For some reason he was in the kitchen, a place he never hangs out (unless someone is cooking). Perhaps the kitchen counters block most of the windows and flashing lightning. 
 
Ran into a bunch of hard to close orders on Wednesday. Now I’ve been through the whole list of over a thousand, for the most part. Still plenty of work to do.
 
Wednesday meals: eggy-boy sandwich for brunch, beef quesadilla for lunch. Had a little cereal for supper. M worked all day, then picked up take out from Taqueria for him and Ceil for dinner. Forgetting what I watched on TV, but it included game footage of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run. Also interviews with Brian Snitker, Max Fried, and Touki. Later Chicago Med and Hallmark Channel.
 
Last three night’s sleep:
total.quality.deep.heartbeat
721    436     116     63
802    606     235     63
611    426     203     64
 
Thomas, Anna, & MC in their PPE.
JOE TINKER [SABR Bio] was born in Muscotah, Kansas during the Rutherford B. Hayes administration is best remembered as a Cub. Hayes’ served from 1877-81. Tinker b. 27-Jul-1880. Is mostly remembered as a Cub. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame with ten others—still a record for one year - HOF 1946. After his playing days in the majors, he took over as the captain, manager, and team president of a franchise in the American Association. He and sporting-goods manufacturer, Thomas E. Wilson, (Yes, THAT Wilson) purchased the Columbus Senators of the American Association for $65,000. Tinker took over multiple positions for the 1917 season. To allow men to become soldiers and fight in WWI, he hired only women ballpark workers for the 1918 season.
 
Progress report on the deck.

No comments: