Braves make wise move

The Braves shook up their team when they brought Derek Lee on board and that decision may well win them the pennant. They brought on a winner who can only be good for the team.

The move was made largely to replace Chipper Jones. Troy Glaus will moved back to his natural position at third base some as well as play first and bat as a PH.  If they make the World Series possibly DH too.  All of this to help replace Jones who is lost for the season due to an ACL injury.

Hopefully the move will help Glaus improve his .174 batting average if he feels more natural on defense as well as gets some rest the next 15 days since they moved him to the DL list.

It looks like it is going to be a hot end to the sumer in Hotlanta. Look for the Braves to take at least the wildcard, but more likely the division championship.

Look for them to put down the Giants, Cardinals, Reds, Phillies or anyone else as they head towards a World Series title for Bobby Cox.

Derek Lee is the final piece to a complicated puzzle that has worked all year. I look forward to his home runs and his mastery of defense at first base. He already won one World Series and will soon have another ring.

3 Thoughts for Friday

Things that have me thinking

Some days there is more than one thing on my mind in the complicated sports world and today is one of them. There are a lot of things to ponder as we sit on the edge of another weekend, likely filled with watching games of different types.

*The world is once again watching Brett Farve. I don’t know why.  He is not going to high school practices because he wants to help kids. Well, maybe he does but his main goal is to get himself out in the public before he decides to come back again, and again and again.  Favre will be wearing purple in training camp. The only real question is if he will show up on time. He should. Just because he is an eventual hall of famer doesn’t mean he has different rules. Showing up late is another tactic to get some media exposure. This is the third year in a row for the watch Brett Saga. It is getting old.

*On a completely different note, there is talk in Cleveland of retiring the jersey of LeBron James. I would just say, why?  Do they want to honor the man who brought zero championships to your city? Maybe you want the jersey of the man who abandoned you on national television to hang over every home game. The retirement of a jersey should be a respected and honorable occasion. In my book Lebron meets neither of those categories, yet.

*And, Chipper Jones is quoted as saying he is getting a “feeling of 1995” with this year’s team. That is the last time the Braves won the World Series. I am older than Chipper, I am getting a feeling of 1991. That is the first time in the modern era the Braves made it to the World Series, they lost in 7 games to the Twins in what is the longest world series, 69 innings in 7 games in history.  Click here for a complete over view of that World Series, its interesting but heart breaking...as a Braves fan.

Chipper and I agree on what is important. This team is special and it looks like the post season is in its future, barring a second half collapse. Getting there is only half the battle. The true test of the team will be whether or not they can get it done in the post season. Time will tell on that.

Brian McCann MVP for All-Stars

Brian McCann the catcher from the Atlanta Braves won the Ted Williams All-Star MVP honors last night in Anaheim.  His bases loaded two out hit drove in the runs to give the national league their only runs of the night, enough to beat the American League.  Since McCann is a local favorite of the Braves, he is from Athens Georgia, this meant a lot to the organization.  I am hoping that he will be the next Chipper Jones of the Braves and stay for the long haul.

With that said, McCann's hit meant alot more than getting MVP honors though to the Braves.  This year's winner of the mid summer classic gained home field advantage in the World Series.  That means if the Braves continue on as the best and hottest team in the National League they would have home field advantage in the World Series.  This would be extremely special considering it is Bobby Cox's and most likely Chipper Jones' last season with the Braves.

For a full recap of the All-Star game click here.

Its 91 all over again!

HOLY COW BRAVES FANS!!





It looks like we might have a winner as the hottest team in the league (who may play in the hottest place!) strives towards the National League championship. It brings back memories of 1991, the year the magical run of championships began after the miseries of the 1980s.

There are some similarities between the two. The first, and obvious is the skipper, Bobby is still over there watching over things. The hair is a little grayer and the classic walk a little slower when he makes his way to the mound but he is still the best manager in the game.  Put Chipper Jones in the place of Terry Pendleton. That year Pendleton was the old guy playing third base leading a bunch of youngsters. I am not sure but I feel like Chipper was somewhere in the Braves minor league system dreaming of "The Show."
Now he is the savy veteran trying to point guys half his age towards a pennant.  There were a lot of young guys on that team, as there are on this one.  The major difference is where they play. My favorite stadium in the world, Fulton County stadium, is nothing but a baseball stadium shaped parking lot now. It is a parking lot for Turner field. I know all about modern change, etc., etc. That doesn't mean it is always better.

Another difference is I likely won't be there this year. Traveling down to Georgia with my dad, staying in a Motel 6, eating hot fudge Sundays at Shoney's and enjoying two games in two days was one of my best memories as a teenager. Both dad and I have different lives now, maybe someday.

Also on the sentimental side, there will be no Skip Caray calling the games. He has gone on to the big announcers chair in the sky along side his dad. He has to be enjoying this year's edition of the Braves.
Lets go Brave's nation. Lets get the Tomahawk Chop going. Lets win one for Bobby in his last year. Lets win one for the "Chipper" regardless of his plans for next season.