Caitlin at the Masters

Caitlin Clark spent time at the Masters last week. Instagram detailed her entire outfit, from head to tail. Perhaps in 10 or 20 years she will become a member of Augusta National. She was in town for a NetJets event with Jim Nantz. I'll link an article later this week.

Fred Couples never knew about the tradition for the Masters champion to donate their driver to the Augusta National archives, until he read that he was the only champion not to do so. He quickly made it right.

A decades old Masters green jacket was found at a thrift store in Toronto, and later auctioned off for big money.

Friday night we drove to the Forum in Alpharetta to eat at Superica. C got the salad with chicken and a margarita. I had the chicken verde enchiladas. Worked around the house all day Saturday, while watching the Masters.

We usually have potatoes or rice. Saturday morning she fixed hash browns and fried eggs. Saturday night was a sausage & rice dish. But I blame myself for eating too much.

Anna will sometimes go to that market at St Phillips on some Saturday mornings. In fact she went to a market this past Saturday morning, but it was the one at the Carter Center.

Sunday: had a little bit of a headache all thru church. Was called on to recite the story of Jesus calling down Zaccheus from the sycamore tree, Luke 19:1-9 in Sunday School. My little group of Jerry, Jim, and Brian had all discussed and recited it, and I had done the worst. My head hadn't been in it. But when I had to recite it for the entire class, I did okay.

Despite the caffeine boost I had late in the afternoon, I slept pretty good. Went to bed like at 945. When C came to bed later I heard her calling for Winnie to come with her. When I got up at 130 am I didn't see Winnie anywhere. I went downstairs and she was locked up in her crate. C had put her in the crate so she wouldn't grab the chicken C had out in the kitchen. She seemed content to be in her crate. I let her out and she went back upstairs with me.

Monday: up early to lift weights at the gym. My knee was sore for some reason, so I skipped the leg exercises I usually do. Stopped by Cozy Coop for a bacon egg & cheese biscuit. Guess I need to try a chicken biscuit next.

Got my free cheeseburger at Cheeseburger Bobbys. Shouldn't have ordered fries – there were a bunch of them. I am so full. The guy asked if I wanted a single or double. Glad I said single. They have a little bar where you add lettuce, tomatoes, pickes, onions, etc so my burger was plenty think without a second patty. The tomatoes were wider than the bun.

Since the Braves lost on Sunday, on Monday I wore a snuggy navy Braves pullover that I haven't worn all winter. Maybe it will have some wins in it. Millie commented about the red A (her favorite is the bear on my Memphis pullover). The Braves have won lost won lost won lost in their last 6 games, so they're due to win tonight (they did).

Interesting list: players with 4000 professional hits...

Tot Hits WAR…player

4769 79.6 Pete Rose..... . 4256 MLB 0427 minor 86 postseason

4394 60.0 Ichiro Suzuki... 3089 MLB 1278 NPL 27 postseason

4379 151.4 Ty Cobb..... ...4189 MLB 0166 minor 7 Cuba 17 postseason

4245 143.2 Hank Aaron...3771 MLB 0325 minor 125 PtoRio/Negro 25 post

4219 71.3 Derek Jeter......3465 MLB 0554 minor (incl re-habs) 200 post

4093 05.1 Jigger Statz...  ...737 MLB 3356 minor.....

4073 53.2 Minnie Minoso 1963 MLB 1144 minor 150 Negro 816 Cuban

4030 43.6 Julio Franco..   2586 MLB 0980 minor 296 Japan 146 Korea 22 post

4023 53.2 Stan Musial......3630 MLB 0371 minor150 Negro 816 Cuban 

Ceil has been making little geese.

AI reveals how it will take over the world – and humans will 'hand it the reins'.

Article: How To Master Saying No – And Why You Need To.

Rory Masters the Slam

A great Masters Sunday. Rory lost his 2 shot lead, fell behind but then regained the lead, pushed it to 3 shots (right?), then had Rose climb back to tie. Then Rory birdied to retake the lead before just missing the winning putt on 18. Some notes:

Career grand slams:

Total

07 US=2 Open=1 PGA=3 Masters=1 Gene Sarazen

10 US=5 Open=1 PGA=2 Masters=2 Ben Hogan   

09 US=1 Open=3 PGA=2 Masters=3 Gary Player

18 US=4 Open=3 PGA=5 Masters=6 Jack Nicklaus

15 US=3 Open=3 PGA=4 Masters=5 Tiger Woods

05 US=1 Open=1 PGA=2 Masters=1 Rory McIlroy

13 Bobby Jones retired from golf at the age of 28, shortly after completing the grand slam in 1930. US=4 Open=3 US Am=5 British Am=1

So Jack won the career grand slam three times over. Tiger also won the career grand slam 3 times. Woods first completed the career grand slam at the age of 24, the youngest to do so.

Rory double bogeyed the first hole. Connors missed a one foot putt on the first hole. Rory in the fairway bunker on the first two holes. I ate leftover spaghetti and meatballs when we got home after church. Aberg, Conners, Rory, and Bryson all wearing navy shirts and white pants. Korean golfer (M E Lee?) was playing so slow that he was in the 15th fairway after hitting out of the trees, while the group ahead of him had already teed off on 17. So the 16th hole was completely empty.

Not the traditional Sunday hole location on 16. Instead the pin was placed up on the far elevated section, where it was 50 years ago when Nicklaus birdied a 40 footer to help him win his unprecedented 5th Masters. Bubba Watson birdied 16. Bryson bogeyed three and Rory birdied it, giving him the lead back.

I had a headache all day Sunday. Not sure if it was the pollen or what. Finally when Rory & Bryson were hitting their approach shots into the 8th green I took Ceil's car for gas and a RaceTrac drink. As I pulled out of the driveway I checked to see if my friend Denise was working at GreatClips. She answered the phone, so I went for a haircut. Then to the BP across the street. Since I'd been gone for so long I just went across the other street to Kroger for soft drinks and other stuff. Was late in the afternoon but still drank two 12 ounce cans of diet Mtn Dew.

Got home at 530. Ceil went to the prayer service at JFBC. I pressed record on the Masters, and had it all qued up for when she got home. I texted Will and C's friends to tell them to not spill the beans on who won, but when Rory bogeyed 18 to force a playoff with Rose, Ceil said "I don't want to watch if Rose wins" – so I basically had to tell her that Rory won. She watched anyway.

Rose was all class in defeat. And after Rory bearhugged Shane Lowry, Rose's wife was there to congratulate McIlroy with an extended hug.

I thought the 10+10 competition might be close. Reid had a couple of guys that I didn't, like Rose. I can see me picking 10+10's for the rest of my life. How I picked this year's 10+10: someone showed how the last ten or so Masters champs had led the field in strokes gained, and listed the top 10-14 coming into the Masters. Then some other stat that had the top four of those guys. This expert picked Shane Lowry to win, and it sounded good to me. Bryson wasn't in that top 14, but I added him and several other top golfers. Conners wasn't either. Got my 20 then did a little rearranging. Not a fan of Brooks K so I left him out, along with DJ.

Murphy      2842

Whitaker    2844

10+10 oftentimes I will just go by the rankings. Many say that none of the LIV players did well. Reed holed his approach on 17 for eagle, which gave him a third place finish after Aberg and Bryson faltered down the stretch. Pretty apparent that the Augusta National didn't want the LIV golfers to be featured – or was it CBS? Bryson was fortunate that Rory and Rose made for the exciting finish, so Bryson's poor play got lost in the shuffle.

The Masters' new marker is Michael McDermott, who plays when an odd number of golfers make the cut so a player doesn't have to play alone. Former marker Jefferson Knox famously scored lower than both Rory and Sergio.

Bryson DeChambeau visited a home in Augusta for late-night Masters practice.

Article: caddy Stevie Williams commented on how efforts to Tiger Proof the Augusta National course actually helped Woods win multiple Masters.

MINNIE MINOSO [SABR Bio] is the most recent 50-year-old to get a hit in a regular-season major league game. On 12-Sep-1976(1), playing for the White Sox, he singled off the Angels Sid Monge in the second inning of Chicago's 2-1 win. Minoso was either born in 1922 or 1925. Baseball-Reference uses 1925, pegging it at age 89 at the time of his passing. He led the American League in being hit-by-pitch for ten of his first eleven full seasons there, from 1951—1954 and 1956—1961.

Notes: Moving Past the Law

Clay Smith JFBC

On Palm Sunday the JFBC deacons read through the entire Bible.

In Christ alone our hope is found. He is the foundation of our faith. No one gets excited about foundations, but without them our faith will crumple.

Romans 7 - the relationship between the law and our faith. A hard text to apply to our lives.

1, Romans 7:1-3 A funeral home is where we talk about death. We've died to the law.

v 1 Paul is talking to and about believers when he says brothers and sisters, to people who know the law. What is Paul talking about?  - the people who know Old Testament law. Also the intuitive sense of right and wrong that everyone has, the law of human nature "that's not fair!"

Clay stole a candy bar when he was in the 6th grade. He knew it was wrong.

Because of Jesus, now we have a different relationship with the law. Once the husband dies, the wife is no longer bound to him. Likewise since we have died to sin, we are no longer bound to the law.

2. v 4-6 the greenhouse produces seeds, that can sprout and grow. Paul compares our lives before we were saved with our lives afterwards. Now we belong to Jesus, who was raised from the dead. Baptism simulates us dying to ourselves, are buried, and then raised up to live with Christ.

Then we can bear fruit for God. What kind of fruit is your life producing?

Galatians 5:16-26 walk in the Spirit and do not carry out the desires of the flesh. The deeds of the flesh are evident.

v 22 but the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness and self control, against such things there is no law.

"Discipleship is becoming the kind of person who easily and routinely does what Jesus told us to do"

We are governed not by the law, but by love. If we love our neighbor we won't do things that we shouldn't.

3. The palace of Versailles in Paris, the hall of mirrors. Where the treaty was signed to end WW1.

v 7-13 we aren't saying law bad, Jesus good. Now because we are with Jesus, we keep the law because of sin. Paul mentions coveting because it is completely internal. Sin is triggered by the law. Every command is rooted in how Jesus wants us to live. Instead of coveting should lead us to being content. The law is like a mirror that should produce life and contentment, but instead produces sin and death and coveting all the more

The law shows us how far we are away from Jesus.

Palm Sunday…Jesus' humility. Riding a donkey. The people there sought to keep the law. They didn't yet know about the heart of Jesus and his sacrificial atoning work.

More on the Masters

I suppose every week on the PGA Tour there are some players have who bounce back from poor first rounds, as well as others with good first rounds who fade from the leaderboard. Still plenty of golf to be played. Any observations from the first round? When I got home from work we had the Masters on the TV most of the evening. Will be nice to watch the Masters on our new high def TV. How my Masters picks fared in round one, compared to Reid's. A lot of golf to be played.

                  1-10        11-19

Murphy                          720                  1372

Whitaker                        722                   1376

Jack Nicklaus Before and After his Honorary Starter Tee Shot.

Man you can sure tell when someone uses A.I. to write a description for an item they're selling. Goes into all this unnecessary detail that's usually not 100% accurate, and a little too generic for the item that's being sold. AI is causing people to think less, which isn't a good thing.

Pet peeve: people who call a meeting to learn what's going on, who then come to the meeting and talk the entire time, instead of asking questions and then shutting their trap and listening and learning. People get a promotion and forget everything they were supposed to have learned on the way up the ladder, so us peons are stuck explaining the same crap over and over again, and nothing ever changes. Thankfully my boss shields me from most of the crud.

STAN MUSIAL [SABR Bio] had 3000 hits but never struck out more than 50 times in any season, joining Cap Anson, Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, & Paul Waner in this "club". Tony Gwynn is the most recent member. Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, & Tris Speaker each had only one season of more than 50 strikeouts. Musial hit the most home runs in all star game history: six. He was the first player to finish in the top 10 in both batting average and home runs in the same season six times:

Year      BA NL MLB HR NL MLB

1948 .376 1   4   39  3  3rd

1949 .338 2   4   36  2  4th

1951 .355 1   1   32  4  5th

1953 .337 3   3   30  7  9th

1954 .330 4   6   35  7  7th

1957 .351 1   3   29  7 10th

Thursday: BBQ chicken, baked potatoes, and steamed broccoli for supper.

Friday: up early to lift weights at the gym. They brought in Marco's Pizza for lunch. I like Marcos better than Mellow Mushroom. Friday night we ate at Superica in the Forum.

Braves lost Friday night, so I had to wear a different outfit on Saturday. Wore all Nike: hoodie, sweatpants, and sneakers. Braves won this afternoon so tomorrow I'll wear the same thing. 

The Most Beautiful Place in each state. I've been to several, including Georgia's Cumberland Island.

"When we have a choice, people usually choose privacy, control, and comfort—and then we're shocked when we wind up lonely. We put up 'privacy fences,' and then complain about how nobody knows their neighbors anymore. But communal bonds have always been tightened by necessity." —Eve Tushnet.

Honoring the Hammer?

The Braves City Connect uniforms were inspired by Hank Aaron, and are modeled after the iconic feather unis worm in the early 70’s. Why they can’t just simply wear those exact feather uniforms any more is a shame. Those 70’s unis were white with royal sleeves. The story goes that when designer Wayland Moore showed drawings of the feather unis to Hank, the sleeves and other trim were red. Aaron disliked all the red, and suggested Moore change the red to blue. The rest is history.

This year MLB has added new City Connect batting practice caps for every team. One more cap to sell in the team store, to go with dozens of other cap designs. The Braves new CC BP cap is – what for it – RED. Doesn’t exactly honor Aaron, does it?

HANK AARON [SABR Bio] debuted on the first day players were required to take their gloves with them when they left the field at the end of each half inning, on 13-Apr-1954. Gloves-on-the-field rule changed in the 1953 Winter Meetings. In Rookie-of-the-Year voting, he finished behind a teammate who would go on to play professional basketball. Aaron finished 4th in NL ROY voting in 1954. His teammate Gene Conley, finished third. Hank is in the 500-home-run club, yet never hit 50 home runs in any season. He hit 755, but topped out at 47 in 1972.

A&C went to the Braves game last night, so Anna asked Ceil to keep Goose. It is impossible for C to say no. Disaster to have all three dogs together. Okie couldn’t stay away from Goose. C finally had to put the dogs in separate areas of the house. A&C picked Goose up around 1030. They stayed and chatted for 15 minutes or so, which was nice.

After the rain delay, the game didn’t start back until after 1130. Ozuna hit his walkoff around 150 am, I heard. Tim Kurtz was at the game, and stayed to the end. He was probably staying at a nearby hotel.

Braves have won 2 of their last 3 games, making them one of the hottest teams in baseball. Since they won last night, today I’m wearing the same black BravesVision quarter zip that I wore yesterday. I’ll keep wearing it every day until they lose (which could be tonight). Wore it out this evening.

Sports Siblings

Question of the day: who’s your favorite sports sibling? Know of any? Dom, Joe, & Vince DiMaggio. Frank & Joe Torre.

Felipe, Matty, & Jesus Alou, Cal & Billy Ripken, John & Pat McEnroe, Rick & Mickey Mahler.

Hank & Tommie Aaron.

Phil & Joe Niekro. The Van Arsdale twins.

Jon & Scooter Barry. Justin & BJ Upton. Peyton, Eli, & Cooper Manning, Charlie & Pete Gogalak.

Nick & Steve Mike-Mayer. The Kelce brothers. The three Berras.

Chase & Travis d’Arnaud. The Selmon brothers. Walter & Eddie Payton. The Fridge played with his brother Michael Dean at Clemson. Dizzy & Daffy Dean.

Jim & Gaylord Perry. 

Sandy & Roberto Alomar. George & Ken Brett.

The placekicking Gramatica brothers. The Boone brothers. Clete, Ken, & Cloyd Boyer. 

Dominique & Gerald Wilkins. Never a fan of that Cardinals catcher Molina, nor his brothers. Not a fan of Tiki & Rhonde Barber.

Braves lost last night, so I’m trying out a different quarter zip to change their luck – my black Braves Vision qtr zip.

Six former Braves are struggling with their new teams: Charlie Morton, Dansby, Ramon Laureano, Travis d’Arnaud only has one hit, Ian Anderson, and Luke Jackson.

Currently reading Kaliane Bradley’s “The Ministry of Time”, a time travel novel set in England. New York Times bestseller. Highly regarded by Good Morning America, Parade Magazine, NPR, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Obama, and me. So it must be good.

Article: how to spend a day at the Masters.

Speaking of the Mannings, Arch Manning signed a NIL deal with Viori.

ICHIRO SUZUKI  [SABR Bio] broke George Sisler’s 82-year-old record with 262 hits in 2004. Sisler had broken Ty Cobb’s record of 248 in 1911 with 257. From 2001-2019, Suzuki played in 2623 MLB games plus 19 in the postseason, but never reached the World Series. He was the first rookie to lead the majors in All-Star voting, with 3,373,035 in 2001.

When baseball’s Hall of Fame held its inaugural election for enshrinement TY COBB  [SABR Bio] received the most votes of any candidate—222—98% of the vote.  Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner received 215 votes apiece (95%). Christy Mathewson got 205 votes (90.7%) and Walter Johnson received 189 (83.6%). In Cobb’s triple crown year of 1909, he led the majors in HR (9), RBI (107), and average (.377). His career highs were 12 HR (1921, 1925), 127 RBI (1911), & BA of .419 (1911). Casey Stengel said of Cobb “He was the greatest all time ball player. That guy was superhuman, amazing.” In 14 of his 24 seasons, Cobb’s doubles outnumbered or equaled his strikeouts.

Year/2B/K/Difference

1911 47 42 5

1912 20 20 ~

1914 22 22 ~

1917 44 34 10

1919 36 22 14

1920 28 28 ~

1921 37 19 18

1922 42 24 18

1923 40 14 26

1924 38 18 20

1925 31 12 19

1926 18 2 16

1927 32 12 20

1928 27 16 11

Wednesday: worked till 6 pm. Wore my black adidas. Called C as I was leaving. She was headed to small group. My group wasn’t meeting, so I crashed on the couch. Watched Elsbeth. So good. Up early to hit the gym this AM.

Article: things parents of adult children should do.

My Masters Picks

My Masters picks.

1. Shane Lowry 6

2. Jon Rahm 4

3. Rory McIlroy 3

4. Collin Morikawa 5

5. Scottie Scheffler 2

6. Xander Schauffele 10

7. Ludvig Aberg 1

8. Bryson DeChambeau 8

9. Tommy Fleetwood 11

10. Russell Henley 12

11. Joaquin Niemann 14

12. Victor Hovland 19

13. Hideki Matsuyama 22

14. Sepp Straka 23

15. Will Zalatoris 27

16. Sungjae Im 30

17. Corey Conners 31

18. Justin Thomas 7

19. Patrick Cantlay 13

20. Daniel Berger 17

All 96 Masters players, ranked. I’ve added these totally arbitrary rankings above right, and sadly let them influence my picks ever so slightly.

This year’s article on who the Augusta National members are. Recent additions include Annika and Eli, joining his brother Peyton. I have added this info to my own Augusta National member blog post, which over time has become one of my most well read posts ever. Perhaps the most comprehensive list in existence, I am proud to say. I’m still waiting on my invitation to join.

Interesting that Tiger was not at the Champions dinner last night, after chairman Fred Ridley had announced a joint venture between ANGC and Tiger just the day before. After viewing the huge noggin on Sir Nick Faldo (back row, thank goodness), I don’t feel so bad about the size of my head. Peyton Manning might be hiding there behind Faldo, who was recently interviewed by former Brave Peter Moylan.

Great Coaches

Question of the day: Who is the greatest coach ever? Some of my picks: Wooden. Lombardi.

Paul Brown. 

Nick Saban.

Casey Stengel. 

Red Auerbach. Bobby Dodd. 

Bobby Cox.

Where does Carmelo Anthony rank among all time great New York Knicks? Stephen A Smith ranks him third. Is he better than Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Bernard King, Earl Monroe, Allan Houston, Charles Oakley, John Starks, and Patrick Ewing?

I am almost finished with my 10+10 but want to do a little more research. Come back tomorrow.

Monday: worked until 555. Leftovers for supper – spaghetti & meatballs. Went to bed at 930. Skipped the gym this AM. Pancakes for sup.

Wearing my light grey Braves quarter zip today. We’ll see if it has a win for the Braves in it. If so, I’ll wear it again tomorrow.

So many Christians these days are distracted by politics and other things of the world, and not focusing on God. Me included. Here in these weeks leading up to Easter, JFBC is focusing on prayer and fasting.

Article: Simple Health Tips:

(1) focus on blood sugar levels: eat vegetables first, walk after meals, prioritize sleep, manage stress.

(2) quality sleep is the foundation for mental clarity, emotional regulation, immune function, & metabolism. Poor sleep fuels stress and impulsive decisions.

(3) gut health influences mood, digestion, & inflammation. Eat garlic, bananas, yogurt, omega 3. Avoid processed foods.

(4) having purpose reduces inflammation, balances hormones, strengthens immunity, helps you live longer.

(5) eat for brain health to avoid dementia: berries, leafy greens & vegetables, whole grains, fish, and nuts.

(6) manage raw emotions so they don’t ruin your life.  

(7) don’t skip these basics, which are the foundation for lasting change. I have a friend who could benefit from this information.

Tricks the Car Dealership Finance Guy Might Try to Pull.

Denison: the Wall Street Journal writes: “…President Trump has in less than three months in office. . . . He has moved with astonishing speed to enact an immigration crackdown, cut the federal workforce, and demolish federal agencies.” The writers note that Mr. Trump is doing what he said he would on the campaign trail and that aspects of his agenda, including deportations, have broad public support.

Did Dr Alsup go to SPdL? There used to be a member of Revelation named Ronnie Alsup back in the Carl Bedingfield days. Speaking of the Bedingfields, Jayne participated in some kind of March on Saturday but didn’t say where, or what it was for. Guess it was affiliated with the anti Trump protests going on across the nation, but she didn’t mention that. She carried a sign, which I heard paid extra.

Retired NL Rookie of the Year Award winners who never played for another team. This is a variation of the theme of 24/30-Oct-2024.

ROY                      Year   Team   Until   WAR

Jeff Bagwell.........1991....HOU...2005....79.9

Johnny Bench......1968....CIN.....1983...75.1

Ryan Braun..........2007....MIL.....2020...47.2

Jose Fernandez...2013....MIA.....2016...14.2

Jim Gilliam...........1953…LAD.... 1966...14.2

Ryan Howard.......2005...PHI......2016...14.5

Ken Hubbs...........1962...CHC....1963... 1.2

Jim Lefebvre........1965...LAD.....1972...17.1

Buster Posey........2010...SFG....2021...45.0

Jackie Robinson..1947...BRO....1956...63.9

Future qualifiers?

Ronald Acuna...... 2018...ATL....2025...25.6

Pete Alonso..........2019...NYM...2025...19.9

Jonathan India..... 2021...CIN.....2025...16.7

Michael Harris...... 2022...ATL....2025...11.8

Corbin Carroll....... 2023...ARI....2025.... 9.9

Paul Skenes......... 2024...PIT....2025.... 5.9

New York Times interview with Bill Murray. Says he’s not the man he used to be. Looks like he wears black Hokas similar to mine.