Braves Outlast Reds

 I tried to not pay too much attention, or get my hopes up - especially as the innings ticked by. I knew the Braves best shot was for Fried to hold serve with Reds ace Trevor Bauer, and win late. Didn't realize it would be so late. Austin Riley made several great defensive plays.  

Decent crowd outside in The Battery, where I had watched a game a few weeks ago. IDEA: I should work from there tomorrow (I won't).

Max was on his game. ARod's ESPN announcing partner loved him some Trevor Bauer, but should have loved on Fried a little more.

Blooper was at his best.
Even the announcers talked about him.

 Last weekend Blooper was a jousting knight.

After this first round Wild Card Series, the Braves would have to advance through the NLDS and NLCS to get to the World Series.

Yesterday was National Coffee Day. My parents drank Chase & Sanborn coffee when I was little. Then my dad’s company Proctor & Gamble bought Folger’s Coffee, and my dad started selling it to grocery stores. My parents switched to Folgers and liked it better. We still have Folgers hats and race cars sitting around.

 

I never really liked coffee. Actually I don’t like it. From time to time I think I could get a cup and add lots of cream and sugar or other flavors, but I figure I already eat too much sugar. Coffee ice cream is just okay – good because it is ice cream but not great.

 

Ceil was always a coffee drinker. Will started drinking coffee in high school, and Anna and Matthew followed suit. We’ve had a coffee bean grinder for years. First it was beans from Starbucks, then Whole Foods Colombo Supremo, then Dunkin Donuts whole bean coffee, and now designer brands like Joel and Charles Norman’s Bellwood Coffee. As I type this Matthew is grinding coffee beans to brew himself a cup.

 

Various coffeemakers. In Athens Will bought this huge coffee brewing machine that went with him to Oklahoma, Augusta, and his Howell Mill apartment. When he bought a house he moved it there, but finally sold it. W&MC have a wall in their kitchen filled with hanging coffee mugs. In Athens W and A hung out at Two Story Coffee near Five Points. When Joel and Charles started their business Will helped them get set up, and has worked behind the counter on occasion. The Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee House in Roswell was a hangout for a while. I’d go each week for trivia – and buy a Diet Coke to drink.

 

As you know I have always loved soft drinks, from Diet Coke to Coke Zero to Diet Dr. Pepper to Diet Mtn Dew. Love me some Tab. Used to drink several 2 liter bottles a week. Used to be all I drank. Now I pretty much only drink a soft drink when I am eating out, which has been almost not at all these past several months. Took advantage of the open bar at the wedding not for the alcohol but for Diet Cokes. When we picked up takeout Thai food Friday night (not my favorite) I had to get a soft drink to wash it down.

 

I detest the taste of beer. Not a fan of wine either, or most other alcoholic beverages. I just don’t like the taste. In fact I hate the taste. The only exception may be frozen daiquiris, which I drink way too fast.

 

These days my bad habit is the little Kool-Aid type drinks you add to your 16 ounce water bottle, especially fruit punch. But I’ll add one packet to my 32 ounce bottle.

 

So much going on. Two big emergencies at work going on. Worked a little late last night since my computer is set up on the kitchen table, then was back at it an hour early this morning. Even skipped my morning conference call to keep working. Then I had to run Matthew to Roswell and back. Was still on the phone wheeling and dealing at 7 pm. One of those days. 

 

Yesterday: not too much. Ceil wasn’t hungry. She had soup for lunch, I had quesadillas. For supper I fixed a turkey sandwich.

 

Watch the debate? Ceil had it on but went to bed. I turned down the sound and listened to the end of my book “Where the Crawdads Sing.”

 

CARL HUBBELL [SABR Bio] is the only left-handed pitcher with a scoreless innings streak of more than 45. Hubbell’s streak of 45-1/3 scoreless innings was from 13-Jul to 01-Aug-1933.  Only right-handers Orel Hershiser (59 IP in 1988), Don Drysdale (58 in 1968), Walter Johnson (55-2/3 in 1913), Jack Coombs (53 in 1910), Bob Gibson (47 in 1968) and Zack Greinke (45-2/3 in 2015) have posted longer streaks. Hubbell is the only pitcher to win the National League MVP more than once. The BRTL All-Star was voted NL MVP in 1933 & 1936 besting, respectively, Hall of Famers Chuck Klein and Dizzy Dean. He did not have to wait five years after retiring before being elected to the Hall of Fame. Played last in 1943. Entered the Hall in 1947. The requirements to make the ballot for the Hall of Fame have changed throughout the years. The 1955 HOF election was the first to use the current 5-year waiting period.

 

Doesn’t seem like Trump wants to win. Guess that’s the way he always is. Not sure what his debate strategy was. For the most part Biden looked better. But how many people are still undecided? A thought: many voting Democrat aren’t huge Joe Biden fans, but are enthusiastic about the Vice Presidential candidate and issues supported by the party. Why can’t the same be said for those voting Republican?

 

I’ll try to not quote Jim Denison as much, but on Judge Barrett’s Christian organization People of Praise: “David French’s response is especially helpful. He quotes this New York Times description of the group in 2017: “Members of the group swear a lifelong oath of loyalty, called a covenant, to one another, and are assigned and are accountable to a personal adviser…First, many millions of American Christians see echoes of their lives in Judge Barrett’s story. And second, lots of folks really don’t understand both spiritual authority and spiritual community. The concerns about Barrett reflect in part the glaring gaps in religious knowledge in elite American media.” He’s precisely right.” 

 

_{https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/amy-coney-barrett-and-the-people-of-praise-how-to-respond-when-critics-dont-understand-our-faith/}

Stetson: 2nd in the Nation

 

After Saturday's performance in Fayetteville, UGA QB Stetson Bennett IV is second in the nation in total QBR. Kirby Smart says USC transfer QB JT Daniels has been cleared to play Saturday against Auburn, but has yet to name a starter for the game.

 

ESPN 2020 YTD Total QB Rating

1. 95.2 Mack Jones Alabama

2. 93.6 Stetson Bennett IV UGA senior

3. 93.4 Kyle Trask Florida

5. 91.9 Trevor Lawrence Clemson junior

8. 86.6 Bo Nix Auburn sophomore

 

19. 72.2 Shae Werts Georgia Southern

36. 60.0 Malik Cunningham Louisville

44. 55.1 C Brown Georgia State

56. 41.7 Chase Bryce Duke senior

61. 34.7 Jeff Sims Georgia Tech freshman

74. 09.4 D'Wan Mathis UGA redshirt freshman

 

Note: only 74 QB's are listed.

 

Didn't realize legendary UGA sideline reporter Loran Smith hailed from Wrightsville GA, and helped recruit Herschel Walker.

 

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.onlineathens.com_sports_20200924_loran-2Dsmith-2D40-2Dyears-2Dsince-2Dherschel-2Darrived-2Don-2Dscene-2Dand-2Dhersquos-2Dstill-2Drock-2Dstar-2Dtoday&d=DwIFAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=V3bCe6eIhit-gUU3jEq_-uAfdi-dp4w9lk7DuKQ7b_g&s=6GiuLBfSPfkp_V12kv45xmMtUq4ilm8xconw4VuMC1k&e=

 

_{Yesterday I left work shortly after five. Stopped by home, then ran a few errands. Gassed up my car, grabbed some Taco Bell, and went crazy at Publix: bread, quesadilla shells, jelly, tomato soup, crackers, cheese. Fixed C some soup and crackers.} 

 

_{Watched YouTube TV: Father of the Bride 3-ish, a 25 minute zoom call with Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Martin Short. Also Judd Hirsh. Later I watched an old video of Letterman and Seinfeld talking at the Pauley Center for Performing Arts. Learned behind the scenes info on Seinfeld's show "Comedians in Cars Drinking Coffee".}

 

_{I'm working from home today and tomorrow. Chilly. I knew I should've worn more than just a t-shirt and shorts.} 

 

_{John 1:1-18 Summary:}

_{The Word and Jesus have been there from the beginning with God.}

_{God made all things. God is life and light. Darkness cannot overcome God.}

_{Some did not receive Jesus. Those who did are children of God.}

_{The Word became flesh – God's Son dwelt among us.}

_{The Law came through Moses, grace & truth came from Jesus.}

 

VINEGAR BEND MIZELL  [SABR bio] former major league fastballer, in spite of being appointed to federal government positions, was, according to the New York Times, "viewed as a rustic innocent" In 1968,1970 & 1972 Mizell was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina and then he was named by President Ford as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development in March 1975.  President Reagan appointed Mizell in 1982 as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Governmental and Public Affairs.. NYTimes reference is from his obit there.

 

Mizell surrendered Hank Aaron's 61st and 161st career home runs - Aaron's HR #61 = 01-Sep-1956; #161 = 25-Jun-1959. Mizell surrendered Gil Hodges' National-League-record-tying twelfth career grand slam. Hodges' record was passed by Hank Aaron and is currently held by Willie McCovey. His nickname, supposedly geographically-based, was fudged a little. Mizell was born in Leakesville, Mississippi, but at the time, his family lived in nearby  Vinegar Bend, Alabama, the source of his nickname.  

 

He was appointed as an executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.-Mizell had been a Republican U.S. congressman representing the Fifth District in North Carolina but lost his seat following President Nixon's resignation. He remained active in government and President George H. W. Bush appointed him to the Council of P.F. & S. The current co-chairs are Misty May-Treanor, Mariano Rivera and Herschel Walker. In 2010 it was re-named President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN). The fact that "executive" was in his title tells you exactly how much work he did.

 

Gale Sayers in his first game in Atlanta. Sunday the Bears did not honor Sayers by wearing white pants. Would've been a reach, but they could've worn grey masks and white C's on their helmets as well. They've already released their uniform schedule for the season, but could changed things up to honor the Kansas Comet.

Denison: "A case in point is the furor already circling President Trump's possible nomination tomorrow of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. One accusation is that she was a member of a religious group that inspired the dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale. (This claim has been debunked repeatedly but persists online.) Other attacks are forming around her Catholic beliefs regarding moral issues, as occurred during her confirmation hearings for the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2017. Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or independent, and whether you are a Catholic or a Protestant, you should be concerned about antagonism toward a candidate's personal faith. Such attacks clearly violate the Constitution's guarantee that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" (Article VI, Clause 3). And they illustrate the fact that Christian faith commitments are increasingly countercultural. Assuming Judge Barrett is the nominee, it will be important to watch the degree to which her personal faith becomes a focus of attack in the coming weeks. If it does, we should compare the way her faith is treated with the media's approach to Joe Biden's Catholic faith." 

More Denison: "One of the mantras of our relativistic culture is that we have no right to "force our values" on others. Ruth Bader Ginsburg clearly did not ascribe to this philosophy with respect to the values she championed. Whether we agree or disagree with those values—and many of us do both—we can learn from her culture-changing example. In fact, we must." 

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/hallmark-channel-announces-christmas-movie-with-gay-couple-seeking-to-adopt-the-privilege-of-offering-hope-to-a-desperate-world/

 

Interesting perspectives from people with different backgrounds.

 

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.theamericanconservative.com_dreher_joe-2Drogan-2Dworld-2Dnpr-2Dworld-2Done-2Dcountry-2Dtwo-2Dnations_&d=DwIFAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=KdDY9QA7eZJdtVhdVTlxd4ltPY7ZnLROvRzL0x8x4T4&s=mm2LfMXTgmoow6oJfuyePj1qb7sJ3w4oyj6lTmVbtMM&e=

 

Critical race theory – the root of our current unrest?

https://www.eviemagazine.com/post/critical-race-theory-is-the-root-of-our-current-unrest-and-theyre-teaching/?fbclid=IwAR2nX3MPlizgVP2etsjPv0ugOY81JYCTC_6J_v5GdJhBrGZCTzf0xsp3FbA

Church Theology

Guy I know posted a video clip from his church service yesterday, which began with a quote from the noted theologian George Harrison, the former Beatle. I was astounded. Jesus said in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The Bible proclaims several names for God the Father. I wouldn't go as far as saying it doesn't matter what we call God.

Sunday the Braves held Ronald Acuna out of the game, to rest his nagging wrist injury. Last week Acuna scored from first on a Freddie Freeman double, blazing around the basepath and sliding home headfirst, despite there being no throw to the plate. Was sliding headfirst a wise thing to do, with a sore wrist? Sure, a MLB player has to go all out regardless of an injury. Otherwise they shouldn't be playing. On a play like this the runner can usually tell whether a slide is needed by looking at the catcher's behavior – and the on deck hitter usually signals the runner whether to slide or not. As fast as Acuna was running, he had plenty of time to not slide. Some "experts" disagreed, not suggesting an alternative strategy but just ridiculing me for mine. Whatever.

Also last week Marcell Ozuna dangerously scored standing up, crossing the plate just as the throw came into the catcher. No mention form the social media experts on how he should've slid. Or slud, as ol' Dizzy Dean would've said.

Thursday: didn't see any of the Braves but kept checking on my phone. Another good start for Ian Anderson, who only gave up three unearned runs.

Friday: busy morning trying to catch up on emails, plus one conference calls and a short Zoom call. At lunch I drove over to Cobb Parkway to pick up the gift certificate I'd won. The Cobb EMC people had a tent set up to give away the prizes outside the building. Stopped by four nearby thrift stores on the way home. Was going to quit after the first two then found a nice pair of Braves "slides" at the third. I'd been shopping for a pair of these shoes recently, kind of like a cross between flip flops and shower shoes.

Usually I'd grab lunch while out and about, but we have plenty of food at the house. Made two breakfast quesadillas earlier, and about to make either a sandwich or quesadillas for lunch. Ceil was at a teacher's meeting.

I worked 7-4, then Ceil and I drove over to visit with friends, in from a tiny town in far eastern North Carolina in their Sandy Springs hotel room. Picked up Thai takeout. Lots of people at the hotel weren't wearing masks or social distancing. Had to pass up several elevators so we wouldn't ride with people not wearing masks. Hotel employees were getting onto people without masks, but not sure how much good it was doing.

Saturday football. College GameDay, GT@Syracuse, UGA@Arkansas. Also laundry, and work in the garage. Sold two old pieces of furniture we'd had stored out there, taking up space. Eggy boy sandwich for breakfast, chicken soup for lunch, and a supper of baked chicken, hash browns, and salad. Hallmark movie.

Sunday we drove down to Peachtree City to visit with our NC friends. Then we both drove to Newnan for Mary Lee's wedding, held outside in a huge amphitheater at a place called Dunaway Gardens. The place was as big as half a football field, with about 95 guests, including the wedding party and family. Plenty of room to spread out. Chairs were spaced out in groups of two or three.

Above: Dixon, brothers Andrew & Nathan, John, bride Mary Lee and brother Daniel and sister Martha, Bethany, and Anna. Below: Noelle, Ceil, mother of the bride Nancy, and Dawn.

At the reception, only a few people sat inside, well-spaced, with other tables outside, where we sat with three other couples, all good friends. BBQ pork and chicken, slaw, mac & cheese, green beans, biscuits, cornbread, and wedding cake. Of our original small group, whom we've been getting together with since before we started having children, only three of our 12 kids missed the event (both Will and Matthew had to work). Didn't get home until after 10:30. Long day. Here's a video of Anna and Ceil dancing.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__photos.app.goo.gl_Agv4YKo7ir9wFrJL8&d=DwICAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=ETx9N7BxXy-XYSw_JW3FLy_tlGshi2CWyNFt8GXJRTM&s=41WPO81qFDr6H2X6WvLLAZa9e2nQoLh46cdF2gaGWUg&e= 

Yesterday Rodrigo Blankenship went 2-3 on field goals and 4-4 on extra points, missing one attempt from 40-49 yards. The Colts beat the jets 36-7

https://247sports.com/Article/Indianapolis-Colts-Rodrigo-Blankenship-Bubba-Ventrone-says-the-most-unique-player-he-has-coached-Georgia-Bulldogs-151980556/ 

I'm not getting my hopes up with the Falcons. If they ever win I will be pleasantly surprised. No use getting emotionally invested with them. Didn't hear many details but this was the fourth big come from ahead loss the Birds have suffered – all three games this season plus that Super Bowl. Poor clock management was to blame in all four – not running the ball, instead throwing incomplete passes. You think they'd learn.

I've tried to enter Starbucks contests in the past but they are usually too complicated. When they get too hard I skip them and move on to the next sweepstakes. If it takes more than 30 seconds or a minute to enter the contest, I don't bother. I have trouble changing light bulbs.

People predicting a surge in the virus – where do they get their information? Like everything else, there's so much conflicting data out there. Seen several reports of the numbers going down. So few positive tests in the NFL, NFL, MLB. Since I am older I try to be more careful. Since he is around so much at the hospital, Will didn't attend the wedding.

Being careful – some people order groceries for curbside pickup. I wear a mask wherever I go. Try to not go many places unless I have to, then might make a stop along the way. Only ate in a restaurant once since all this started, except my weekend up in North Georgia. Seemed like at the wedding only 25-33% were from East Cobb. The rest were from far south Georgia - Wrightsville or Statesboro.

North Point Community Church and Passion City Church aren't holding services, but Johnson Ferry is. We're not planning on going to church any time soon either. I do attend small group with three other guys, all spaced out in a large room. Two of the guys work from home, and the third only goes to the office 2-3 days per week.

Good Denison column, on opposition to the Supreme Court justice nominee, slamming her for being Catholic.

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/what-a-self-described-liberal-said-about-amy-coney-barrett-fighting-for-truth-with-courageous-grace/ 

JIM PIERSALL [SABR Bio] is the only Red Sox player to collect six hits in a nine-inning game - 6 hits on 10-Jun-1953 He led the majors in sacrifice flies and doubles in the same season. In 1956 he had 40 2B & 12 SF for BOS. He won Gold Gloves for outfield play for different teams - GG for BOS in 1958 & for CLE in 1961. In the minors, he once took out a squirt gun to "clean off the plate" for the umpire after striking out on a called strike three. History does not recall the results of this action. When he hit his last home run, he ran around the bases backwards (above).

ME: though not a coach of my team at the Chicago Cubs fantasy camp, Piersall witnessed a nice running, across the body catch I made in left field on a different field. Piersall went out of his way to tell me nice catch.

BOB FRIEND  [SABR Bio] has more career strikeouts than any other pitcher in the storied history of the Pittsburgh Pirates - 1,682 K. Never led the league although was in the top ten 4 times: 1956, 57, 58 & 1960. He surrendered the first of Pete Rose's 4,256 major league hits, a triple – 1st Rose hit on 13-Apr-1963 He was the first National Leaguer to be the winning pitcher twice in an All-Star game - won ASG in 1956 & 1960.