Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The Braves Are Back on Top of the N.L. EAST!!!

After what has seemed like the longest week ever the Braves have finally wrapped up the N.L. East division title.

With all this in mind I thought I would put together what I consider to be my playoff roster for Atlanta.




2013 Braves Post Season Roster


Pitchers

Rotation:
1) Kris Medlen     14-12 3.24 ERA 150 K's

-Kris is my number 1 because he is the only one with playoff experience; if you call that one shame of a playoff game last year a playoff game

2) Mike Minor      13-7 3.19 ERA 169 K's

-Some of his starts lately haven't been up to snuff, but at any moment Mike can turn it around


3) Julio Teheran     13-8 3.09 ERA 167 K's

-The rookie, it will serve him well to watch two games from the bench and watch the opponent battle against the more veteran Medlen and Minor

Relievers:
Craig Kimbrel        49 Saves 1.50 ERA

-Was this in doubt? Ever? MLB leader in saves? See you in the Ninth

David Carpenter

-Powerful righty to set up Kimbrel. Has worked great in the 8th

Scott Downs

-Need a veteran lefty. Maybe the best in season acquisition

Luis Avilan

Alex Wood


 Paul Maholm

-This is the most difficult one for me. Paul has been decent all year but with injuries and other young guys stepping in, he definitely lost his spot in the rotation. He isn't one of my 3 starters but I can't leave him off the roster all together. He is in the bullpen in case something happens to a starter , they need a fourth starter for some weird scheduling problem or he is needed to eat up some long innings.


Jordan Walden

Anthony Varvaro

Catchers:
Brian McCann .261 20 HR 57 RBI

Evan Gattis .233 20 HR 59 RBI

Gerald Laird .252 1 HR 13 RBI

Infielders:
Freddie Freeman .314 23 HR 105 RBI

Dan Uggla .181 22 HR 55 RBI

Andrelton Simmons .246 17 HR 57 RBI

Chris Johnson .329 11 HR 66 RBI

Paul Janish .184 2 RBI
-Will serve the same role he served all year. Late inning defensive replacement for C. Johnson

Elliot Johnson .203 2 HR 14 RBI (.250 5 RBI 7 SB w/ Braves)
-Great for late inning pinch running and to steal some bases if Simmons, Uggla, or C. Johnson are on 1st late in the game

Outfielders:
Justin Upton .260 26 HR 67 RBI

BJ Upton .186 9 HR 26 RBI
- I don't think he should but BJ will be the starter for Game 1. I think Freddie should keep with the platooning of Upton and Schafer depending on the opposing starting pitcher, but it's hard for the front office to sit $25 million.

Jason Heyward .251 13 HR 37 RBI

Jordan Schafer .251 3 HR 20 RBI
- Great pinch running to steal some bases and get into scoring position for the sluggers

Reed Johnson
-Reed is only making my playoff team because he got healthy at just the right time. Terdo is good and will make a big contribution next year but right now I would prefer to have a veteran righty coming off the bench.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Delta's Duck Cam

Delta Waterfowl is currently promoting one of the coolest things I've seen. They have placed a small concealed camera in the nest of a hen pintail, aka Pintail 004. The camera streams live 24/7 and catches everything that happens. Hopefully the hen will be able to hatch all her eggs. I can't stop watching this stream so check it out if you want to see the drama that unfolds on the prairies daily for all waterfowl.


http://www.deltawaterfowl.org/duckcam/


Also check out Delta Waterfowl's youtube page with highlights of past webcams. 004 even says hello to all her fans in this video. Check it out around the 30 second mark.



 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ne5yUFMYfs


Sunday, May 26, 2013

Dream Set List



Dream Set List
On July 19th I will be seeing the Dave Matthews Band for the tenth time, #11 on the following night, so I thought I would compile my “Dream Set List” that I hope to see on that Friday night in West Palm Beach. Of course I’d love for them to play all night, about 60 songs, and pull every rare song out of the hat, but I will be realistic and only pick 20 songs. Right now they are averaging 18 songs a night.
1)      Crush
2)      Write a Song
3)      If Only
4)      So Much to Say-> Anyone Seen the Bridge-> Too Much
5)      You & Me
6)      The Dreaming Tree
7)      Break Free
8)      Snow Outside
9)      The Idea of You
10)   Recently
11)   The Space Between
12)   Trouble
13)   Stay or Leave
14)   Mercy
15)   The Song That Jane Likes
16)   What You Are
17)   Halloween
18)   Grey Street
19)   Grace Is Gone
20)   Ants Marching


Evan Gattis' Legend Grows



Evan Gattis’ Legend Grows





Evan Gattis is doing very well in the Braves lineup and amongst fans. I’ve heard he his starting to be parodied like Chuck Norris and Tim Tebow. Whether he is starting or coming off the bench, Gattis has made a place for himself in the dugout. Gattis and his dramatics tend to remind me of the 2010 roster and Brooks Conrad.

Through two months of the season, Gattis is hitting .256 with 10 homeruns, 29 RBIs, and a .307 OBP. Brooks was hitting .236 with 3 homeruns, 9 RBIs, and a .290 OBP during the first two months in 2010; however his walk off grand slam on May 20th against the Reds may go down as the greatest walk off in Braves history.

Brooks and the 2010 team always had a flare for the dramatic and seemed to come through when it mattered most. I am of course only speaking offensively. Let’s not discuss the errors late in the season.
Brooks had eight homeruns in 2010, all in Braves wins while hitting .319. Gattis tends to follow suit. Nine of Gattis’ ten homeruns have been in Braves victories while hitting .310.

In his career, Brooks has hit two game tying, seven go ahead, and one walk off homerun. And Gattis, in his two month career, has hit one tying and six go ahead homeruns.

Finally, as a pinch hitter in 2010, Brooks had 13 hits, 4 doubles, 3 HRs, 12 RBIs, with a .224 BA while Gattis has 5 hits, 1 double, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, and a .714 BA in seven plate appearances.






Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Goodbye to The Office

The Office ends on the 16th and I am going to very much miss it. I have never watched a show, cared about the characters, or become attached to them like I have with The Office. I have watched it since the first episode and hate to see it go. Regardless of the cast changes and people coming and going, it will always be my favorite show that I will watch over and over.

Here is the farewell video The Office put out earlier today. Their editors really now what they are doing this season and this video will tug at your heart. It's refreshing to see actors who aren't out to make money, but just love working together.