Winkler

Another effective outing tonight for Braves reliever Dan Winkler.

Last week he entered the game wearing red shoes and striped socks.

Couldn't find a picture, but did find a couple of other gems.

A few years ago Winkler broke his elbow pitching at Turner Field.

Its interesting how different people go to different places. I’ve always been happy with a relatively low quality of food, be it Taco Bell, Wendys, Cici’s Pizza. Lately we’ve been eating at nicer places: Antico, Moxie, Papasittos, Pizzaria Luccia, etc. A step above chains like Roadhouse and Red Robin. That said, Saturday night our team at work is going out together to Top Golf in Roswell. We’ll see what the quality of food is there. My tastes have been trending upward in the past few years. That’s why I was wishing my team was eating somewhere nicer than Top Golf on Saturday. 

 

Same with ice cream. After working at Baskin Robbins I know what good ice cream tastes like. Ceil likes Jeni’s ice cream, which is over there at Westside Provisions near Taqueria. Also in the Alpharetta Avalon near El Felix.  BR31 and Jeni’s has much less “air” whipped into the ice cream, and has a higher milk fat content, making it tastier and more rich than grocery store ice cream, especially store brands. The difference is night and day.

 

That Pasta Factory building in Roswell has been so many different businesses, hopefully the restaurant can stick. Pure is practically next door and there are three places across the streets, including Luckys. Then more a block away in downtown Roswell. Not too far from the famous Moxie Burger, you know.

 

 

Some people think others drive a long way to church. I suppose any distance may not matter if you like the church. When my dad joined Mable White Baptist Church it was on the other side of town, eleven miles and at least 20 minutes away. In Atlanta everything is about 30 minutes away. 

 

miles/minutes

03.4 10 our house to Johnson Ferry Baptist

04.5 10 dad's house to new Mable White

05.5 12 dad's house to Rock Springs Church

08.8 17 W&MC's apartment to their church

11.0 20 dad's house to old Mable White

 

Was researching the Joshua Tree National Park, one of the places Anna will be visiting on her trip.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Tree_National_Park 

The Nike Astrograbber was one of the first “cleats” made specifically for astroturf. While most Georgia Tech football players in the late 1970’s wore adidas, a few backs wore Astrograbbers. Head coach Bill Curry also wore them. Interesting Nike slideshow: Nike Football Illustrated: A timeline of game-changing Innovations …

 

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__images.app.goo.gl_uCcCH3cxHqkpA6176&d=DwICAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=m0lcTEaLik-8zxvyvFHDDjiwOKAuqlM3vNJFZrAilig&s=ynPYFMO7iAV9YEgFMml5cE3LDkSmxWKjwFD8_w3ll8c&e=

 

As a boy my family would visit my grandmother in Atlanta’s West End. As I recall she lived on the same street as the Wren’s Nest, the historic former home of author Joel Chandler Harris. Formerly Gordon Street, renamed Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SE, not to be confused with the stretch of Interstate 20 a few blocks to the north, which bears the name Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. Anywho, Will’s church is on that same street. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Chandler_Harris_House

 

Monday after work Cheeseburger Bobby’s was having a special deal on their ice cream cones that I fell victim to. They make them look so good in the pictures and emails, but of course in real life it wasn’t anything special.

 

Was almost six before I left work. Had planned on leaving at 5:30 but was doing stuff for other districts. Work continues to be busy. Ceil grilled chicken, tossed a salad, cooked a black-eyed pea dish. Baked sweet potato strips. She went out to TJ Maxx. Watched The Neighborhood and The Voice.

 

Tuesday: Not much to report. Left work at 5:30. Dropped off two books at the library but didn’t go in. Dropped by Goodwill to look around.

 

Got home and noticed the side door open out to the garage. Barney was sitting in the open door of Ceil’s car. He doesn’t like it when we cook in the oven. He smells the smoke and hates the smoke detector alarm. Usually he’s happy to sit in the car, but when he saw me he came outside. Then he went to the backyard and down to the creek. Then he wants to explore and doesn’t come back. Then he couldn’t climb up the steep hill. Ceil had to chase him down.

 

Supper was breaded chicken tenders, tossed salad, and baked potato and sweet potato wedges. Helped clean up. Watched some Braves. Ceil started watching a Hallmark movie. I was tired so I went to bed at 9:20.     

 

Since Ceil has her small group tonight, after work today I am stopping by Moes for supper.

If I visualize the misplaced apostrophe, does that make me a loser?

 

Was reminded of George Plimpton’s creation Sidd Finch. Were I a Mets fan his would be a cool jersey to own. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidd_Finch 

 

Other cool jerseys on my list: 

21 Mets Sidd Finch royal

44 Bama Forrest Gump

66 Clemson William Perry

30 Clemson Dwight Clark
34 Eagles Herschel Walker

Channel 17 Braves Andy Messersmith

Braves Bobby Dews

18 Georgia Tech Billy Lothridge

98 UGA Rodrigo Blankenship

Responding to Muslim Arguments

Case Study:  The Deity of Christ 

Ali's three statements dismissing Christianity:

1. the Bible has been changed

• Ask: how do you know the Bible has been changed?
• Dan Rice existing manuscripts argument
  • double standard: there is no Islamic equivalent to New Testament textual criticism.  

2. Jesus is not God's Son

• what we believe about the Son of God is different than what you might think
  • God did not have relations with Mary
• the Gospel of John, one of the most important books of the Bible was written for this very reason:
  • John 20:30-31 "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus in the Christ, the Son of God..." 

3. The Trinity is not even in the Bible

• It is true the word "trinity" is not found in the Bible
• what we believe about the trinity is not what you might think (has nothing to do with Mary)
• the concept is found throughout the Bible
  • We are commanded to baptize "in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19)
  • Jesus himself is called God
    • John 1:1 "the Word was with God and the Word was God"
    • John 8:58--"before Abraham was, I AM." 
    • John 20:20--Thomas "My Lord and my God!"
    • Romans 9:5--"...is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever, Amen," 
    • Colossians 1:15-20--"He is the image of the invisible God..." 
    • Titus 2:13--"the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ"
    • Rev 22:13--"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" (see Rev 1:8) 
• our belief in the Trinity is at the very foundation of our salvation and the Christian faith
  • The Father planned our salvation
  • The Son purchased our salvation
    • If Jesus is not the Son of God, he would not qualify to be punished for our sins.
  • The Holy Spirit preserves our salvation
    • if the Holy Spirit does not dwell within us, we would not remain a Christian!

 What WOULD you say? First, some reminders:

• remember you are speaking to someone who has been blinded by the Evil One (2 Cor 4:4)
• pray! Ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment
• be a good listener
• speak the truth in love
• invite him to start reading the Bible together

Second, some assumptions about where Ali is coming from:

• What he is saying to you is a core tenet of his religion
  • God is one
  • it is blasphemous to say that God would have a son
• Other beliefs Muslims hold:
  • Jesus never died on the cross ("the Jews thought he did")
  • another person could never be punished for your sins
  • the Bible has been changed
  • man is born as a blank slate (not with an inherent sin nature)

 So what would I say? 

• Quick "drive-by" response:
  • How do you know the Bible's been changed?  Have you ever read it?  Perhaps you should. 
• Longer curb-side conversation response:
  • How do you know the Bible's been changed?  Have you ever read it? 
  • May I share with you a story?  
    • Mark 2 story of Jesus healing the paralytic
  • That is from the Bible.  Mark 2.  Would you be interested in getting together again to read the Bible.
  • objective:  drive the conversation to helping the person encounter Christ through the Word

Typically, how do Muslims come to faith in Christ?  Research has show these are the most common ways:

1. Through experiencing the love of a believer (contrary to what they assume about Christians)
2. Encountering the love of Christ through the Scriptures
3. Through dreams and visions

Notes from a recent Sunday School class.

Balling

Those Braves pitchers. They’re raring back and trying to throw it through a brick wall, throwing far out of the strike zone on a three ball no strike count. They throw as hard as they can because they know they’re only going to pitch one inning.

 

At least they’re trying new pitchers. They’ve gotten rid of a bunch of guys who didn’t get the job done: Freeman, Venters, Viscaino, Brach, Brothers, McCarthy, McCreeny, Moylan, Phillips, Ramirez, Ravin, Sanchez, Sims, Whitley, Wilson, Winkler. So many guys have come and gone that its hard to keep up with them.

 

The umpires call so many borderline pitches balls because baseball wants more offense. So many batters are swinging and missing and striking out that the umpires have to help by not causing more strikeouts by calling borderline pitches strikes. So more baserunners via the walk, and more chances for the batters to hit.

 

The Braves aren’t the only team with a bad bullpen. Both the Mets and the National have worse. Bullpen ERA: Braves are under 5.00, Mets over 5.00, Nats over 7.00. Since few teams are making trades so early in the season, the Braves best bet for an immediate solution is to load up the bullpen with some of the rookie starting pitchers. Thing is so many of those young guys aren’t throwing strikes.   

 

 

Have a good weekend? Do anything special? Not much happened on Friday night. One night we had a chicken, tomato, and rice dish.

 

Saturday morning I got my hair cut. Got it early to avoid the Easter rush. Came back and cleaned up: upstairs, laundry, dishes, etc. Cold. Wore three layers. Made quesadillas for lunch. M had got some gluten free brown rice tortillas shells he didn’t like, but they were good and crispy and tasted ok with the beans, rice, ground turkey, and BBQ sauce I put on them. Also drove Ceil up to Whole Foods. Three access points – all three were gridlocked. Not fun. M had to work both Saturday and Sunday. Watched game one of the Saturday doubleheader. Not too fun.

After game one I flipped it over to Atlanta Eats, that show you ought to watch about different Atlanta restaurants. Hosted by Steak Shapiro, the sports talk yapper. They spotlighted Jim Adams Farm to Table, located at the corner of Bolton Road and James Jackson Parkway, a mile or so west of Sara Gonzalez Park. Joel Norman’s Bellwood Coffee is located in the same building, The show interviewed Charles Norman. Becky Norman happened to be there the day they were filming, and they showed her drinking coffee and talking to a friend of ours, Kathy Arasmith. Kathy is the mother of Will’s former classmate and teammate, slugging catcher Andrew Arasmith, who is now a resident of Europe. Atlanta Eats: I guess the Atlanta Airport pays them to do a segment on restaurants at the airport. That part is always a waste, but the rest of the show can be interesting. 

 

http://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-joel-norman-bellwood-coffee-upper-westside/

 

After that we turned off the TV for supper. Chicken soup with rice, and chicken salad. I had seen on my phone the Braves has fallen behind early, so I was in no mood to turn the game on again. Later Ceil went upstairs to read. I was playing on my laptop so I didn’t bother turning on the TV. Didn’t hear about the big comeback until Sunday morning. The game didn’t get over until almost midnight but Drew Kelly had stayed up for it. 

 

Sunday morning we arrived at Will’s apartment at 9:35. Anna arrived from Athens at almost the same time. Traffic was light through downtown over to W&MC’s church in West End, Cornerstone Church. The service started at 10:30 and lasted almost to twelve. All the pews were filled. MC was one of eleven singers. Bible-based songs similar to the ones we sing at JFBC. The Cornerstone preacher was starting a series on the book of Matthew, his text from chapter one, the genealogy of Christ.

 

After church we ate at W&MC’s apartment. Ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, cauliflower mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, cooked carrots, Ceil’s fresh baked rolls, lemon squares, and coffee. MC’s mother Regina joined us, as well as Will’s friend. Nick had been in Will’s dorm at UGA, then in Augusta at med school, then they happened to attend the same church in Atlanta.

 

Made it back in time for my small group at five. Anna stopped by the house to pick up some items before heading back to Athens. She’s going to be busy at school the next few weeks finishing up her final project, pulling all-nighters in the art school. Art school ceremony on the eighth, final project presentation and graduation party on the ninth, and UGA graduation on the tenth. On Sunday the 12th Anna and several roommates embark on a two week road trip out west, through Dallas, Austin, Arizona, and Vegas to Southern California and back.   

 

After being gone all day I was emotionally exhausted. Ceil turned on a replay of New Amsterdam and Schooled. Later she went to bed and I watched the end of the Braves game. I think they play better when I’m not watching.

 

Was going to stop at Bojangles this morning for their two bacon egg & Cheese biscuit deal. Pulled my car in just after two other cars, then noticed the special had ended, so I pulled out. Those were the last things I needed.

 

This coming Friday night is Ronald Acuna bobblehead night but I think I’m going to a church function instead.

He Is Risen

Resurrection Sunday services with W&MC in West End at Cornerstone Church. Christ-centered and Bible based music and preaching.

Anna drove over for the service and lunch at W&MC afterward.

 A few more Master photos. Tiger teeing off on twelve.

The Hogan Bridge. This from a gallery on the Golf Magazine website.

Tomorrow I'll post the link.

Golfers' families at Wednesday's Par Three Tournament.

Jets versus Falcons in Birmingham.
Meanwhile on North Avenue:

Know Your Ballplayer #3

Third installment of know your ballplayer, edited from the trivia questions and answers by Horsehide Trivia. Two Braves players this week. Both Lonnie and Otis played back in the day before alternate and throwback uniforms were worn.

JOE MORGAN [SABR Bio] racked up nearly 700 hundred stolen bases in his career without ever leading the league - 689 career SB. His snowman got frozen on D-Day. Uniform #8 retired 06-Jun-1998 by CIN. He's the only player at his position to twice win the MVP without skipping a season in between. Second baseman, won MVP 1975 & 1976.   ERIC DAVIS is the only Cincinnati Red to homer in his first World Series at-bat - WS HR 16-Oct-1990 off Dave Stewart, the previous season's World Series MVP. Twice in his career he had a game where he hit three home runs and stole a base - 3 HR + SB = 10-Sep-1986, 03-May-1987. He made his ML debut as a pinch hitter, wearing no number. Debuted w/CIN on 19-May-1984 since the only available road uniform didn't yet have a number sewn on. Pinch-hit for P. Bob Owchinko.   CESAR CEDENO was the first Dominican Republic native to homer in an All-Star game - AS HR 1972, in the 6th inning right after he'd replaced Willie Mays in CF. Led the majors in doubles in his 2nd and 3rd seasons in "The Show". Received votes for a .05% share in 1982 for HOF entry. Further research has revealed that all of the following Dominicans received a Hall of Fame vote before Cedeno did: Felipe Alou 1980 Matty Alou 1980 Juan Marichal 1981, 82, 83 Rico Carty 1985 Jesus Alou 1985 Manny Mota 1988, 89 Rico Carty 1985 Cesar Geronimo 1989 CEDENO 1992   Cedeno's last AS appearance as a starter in 1973 and Biggio's start in an AS G was in 1995. Here are the All-Star bench players from HOU during that interregnum: 1974 Cesar Cedeno, OF 1975 Bob Watson, 1b 1976 Cesar Cedeno, OF; Ken Forsch, P 1977 Juaquin Andujar-P 1978 Terry Puhl, OF 1979 C Reynolds, J Andujar, J Niekro, J Sambito 1980 Jose Cruz, OF; J.R. Richard, P 1981 Bob Knepper, P; Nolan Ryan, P 1982 Ray Knight, 3B 1983 Dickie Thon, SS; Bill Dawley, P 1984 Jerry Mumphrey, OF 1985 Jose Cruz, OF; Nolan Ryan, P 1986 Bass, Davis, Scott, Smith 1987 Mike Scott, P 1988 Bob Knepper, P 1989 Mike Scott, P; Glenn Davis, 1B 1990 Dave Smith, P 1991 Craig Biggio, C; Pete Harnisch, P 1992 Craig Biggio, 2B; Doug Jones, P 1993 Darryl Kile, P 1994 Bagwell; Biggio, Caminiti, Drabek, Hudek LONNIE SMITH was the first player to appear as a designated hitter in four different World Series - DH is the WS of 1980, 82, 85, 92 He was also the first player to appear as a designated hitter in three different World Series, and the first player to appear as a designated hitter in two different World Series. His nickname "Skates" was properly earned. Smith was branded with the nickname "Skates" due to his somewhat awkward footwork while playing the outfield in baseball, and also because of his poor base running in the 1991 World Series (below). The baseball historian Bill James wrote about this nickname at some length. He wryly stated that Smith should have had a post-retirement career teaching (so-called) "defensive recovery and cost containment" since he had excelled at recovering from defensive difficulties in the outfield. GENE RICHARDS [Wiki] was selected first overall in the 1975 Draft. Chosen 1st round (1st) in the MLB January Draft-Regular Phase out of South Carolina State University, one slot ahead of classmate Willie Mays Aikens. In his first professional season, he led the league in hits, batting average, stolen bases, games played and won the league's MVP. In his rookie season in the majors, he broke a record that had been intact since 1910. He set the modern-day MLB rookie record of 56 stolen bases in 1977, eclipsing Rollie 'Bunions" Zeider's 1910 record by seven. Zeider had been tied by Sonny Jackson in 1966. He once held the San Diego Padres' records for hits in a season as well as the club's career records for triples and steals until Tony Gwynn broke them all.   JUAN SAMUEL was a three-time All-Star, and the first player to have 10 doubles, 10 triples, 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases in each of his first four seasons in the majors - 10+ stats in each of 984-87; AS in 1984, 87 & 91. He is still the only rookie with 700 at-bats in a season - 701 AB in 1984. The first of his two career grand slams was the first one Todd Worrell ever surrendered GS off Worrell 09-Jun-1986 OTIS NIXON a former New York Yankee stole more bases in the 1990s than any other major leaguer, not counting minor league stats. Played for NYY in 1983. From 1990 through 1999, had 478 SB, none in the minors. Stole five World Series bases during that span, but didn't bring home a ring. In fact, he made the final World Series out the first year he ever played in the postseason. Played for ATL in 1992 and was thrown out on an ill-executed (or ill‑conceived) bunt for the final Series out. Played in 2 G for ATL in the 1999 WS, but managed only 1 H and 0 SB. If you add in the bases his brother stole then, it barely increases the total. Younger brother Donell stole 47 bases in the majors but only 5 1990-99. He was the older of the two, but he was still a Junior. His full legal name is Otis Junior Nixon. ME: in 1992 Otis was photgraphed wearing this warmup below. I've owned that same warmup for almost that long, but this was the first time I saw a Brave wearing it. DAVE COLLINS was the first designated hitter in Seattle Mariners' history. He was also the first ever batter in SEA history 06-Apr-1977. His lackluster performance one season ruined another player's chances with the Yankees. He was drafted by three different teams (twice in the first round) before he reached the majors and it wasn't with any of those three. Drafted by CIN in the 23rd round of the 1971 amateur draft. Drafted by KCR in the 1st round of the 1972 amateur draft (Jan secondary). Drafted by CAL in the 1st round of the 1972 amateur draft (June secondary).   During his sixteen-year major league career, he was released or granted free agency by seven major league organizations and traded away by four more. When George Steinbrenner saw how few bases (13) Collins stole in his one year as a Yankee (1982), the famously patient, wise and practical Mr. Steinbrenner decided that base-stealing was not the way of the future and so traded their top draftee, Otis Nixon before his 2nd season. Traded by SEA to the CIN for Shane Rawley in 1977. Granted Free Agency by CIN in 1981. Traded by NYY with Fred McGriff, Mike Morgan and cash to TOR for Tom Dodd and Dale Murray in 1982. Traded by TOR with Alfredo Griffin and cash to OAK for Bill Caudill in 1984. Traded by OAK to DET for Barbaro Garbey in 1985. Released by DET in 1986. Released by MON in 1987. Granted Free Agency by CIN in 1987. Granted Free Agency by CIN 1988. Released by CIN in 1989. Granted Free Agency by CIN. Last played for STL in 1990.   ALAN WIGGINS a former Dodger, drafted by the Angels, batted just ahead of Tony Gwynn in the lineup the season the Padres first won the National League pennant. Hit 1 & 2 with Gwynn for SDP in 1984. Drafted by CAL in the 1st round (8th overall) of the 1977 MLB January Draft. Only he, Dave Righetti and John Shelby made it to the majors from that group. Released by CAL, he was signed by LAD & played in their farm system in 1979 & 80. The only year he got MVP votes was the year he led he league in times caught stealing. CS 21 X in 1984. Finished 21st in MVP voting. Attended the same community college where Jackie Robinson's Olympic medalist brother went. Attended Pasadena City College where Mack Robinson had attended (Yes. Jackie went there too).   GERALD YOUNG is the only major leaguer born in Honduras. B. 22-Oct-1964 in Tela, Honduras. Helped set an MLB record because fourteen players drafted by a single team from his draft reached the major leagues - 14 players from the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft chosen by NYM made it to the Mets, among them Dwight Gooden, Floyd Youmans, Roger McDowell, Greg Olson & Rafael Palmeiro. He put on base stealing clinics after his playing career "Base Running Secrets from a Pro"   RODNEY SCOTT a former Cub, finally got some MVP votes when he led the league in triples - 13 3b in 1980. His single MVP vote was good for a tie with Ken Griffey, Sr. et al. However, 6 other future Hall of Famers finished ahead of them and that was in the NL alone. That was good enough for him to tie with the father of a future first-round Hall of Famer. Years later when he was given his release, an All-Star teammate of his was so irritated that he walked off the team. In May 1982, when Scott was released by Montreal, Bill Lee was the teammate who staged the protest. He then finished his career with a handful of games for the Yankees. His disapproving ally, however, never played another game in the majors.   ROGER CEDENO [SABR Bio] his record for stolen bases in a season by a New York Mets player was broken by Jose Reyes. Had 66 SB for NYM. After falling just short of Cedeno's team record twice w/60 & 64, Reyes stole 78 in 2007. Reyes also has positions 3, 6, 13, 31 and 49 on that list. Cedeno occupies 2nd and 45th place. He was released by his final team in the majors by showing up to camp weighing the equivalent in pounds to his career RBI total. Let go by BAL for having a spring training weight of 274 lb on is 6'1" frame. His nephew is Yangervis Solarte who plays for SFG.   ERIC YELDING made it to the majors in spite of making 175 fielding errors over the previous three seasons in the minors. Made 59 errors at multiple positions for the 1986 Ventura County Gulls; another 59 E dividing 1987 between the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays and Double-A Knoxville Blue Jays; then in 1988 at AAA Syracuse, he got his E total down to 35 and was headed for the Bigs. He qualifies for inclusion in this week's theme because his stolen base total one year in the majors trailed only those of Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson. Had 64 SB w/HOU in 1990. Coleman had 77 & Henderson 65. His nickname matches exactly that of another player in this week's quiz. Nickname "Cool Breeze", same as Rodney Scott. He was generously called a utility player, but mostly teams didn't know where to play him in the field. In his five years in the majors, over the span of 368 games, he played at least ten games at six different positions, eight if you're willing to count pinch-hitter and pinch-runner as "positions". Full record   WEEKLY THEME – Players who stole more than 60 bases in a National League season without ever leading the league.   Player                  SB       Year                 Career WAR C. Cedeno             61         1977                     52.8 Cedeno                66         1999                       1.7 Collins                  79         1980                     15.8 Davis                    80         1986                     36.1 Morgan                 67         1973, 75             100.6 Nixon                    72         1991                     16.6 Richards                61         1980                     18.7 Samuel                  72         1984                     17.0 Scott                      63         1980                       4.0 Smith                    68         1982                     38.5 Wiggins                 66, 70  1983, 84                 7.1 Yelding                 64         1990                      -1.7 Young                   65         1988                       6.0   Many people came close but failed to specify National League. Otherwise players such as Chuck Knoblauch, Rudy Law, Miguel Dilone, et al would have shown up. Questions archived here: http://horsehidetriviA.        blogspot.com/   Horsehide Trivia home page: https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia   https://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/2019/04/2019-04-08-nl-players-w60-sb-season-who.html