Leslie Koerdt and Emily Raines talk Braves baseball.  This week’s edition kicks off with the Sports Illustrated cover featuring Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman.

Everybody says they want to win, but sometimes actions are different from words. -  Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

Baseball is a game where a curve is an optical illusion, a screwball can be a pitch or a person, stealing is legal and you can spit anywhere you like except in the umpire’s eye or on the ball.  – James Patrick Murray

James Patrick Murray (December 29, 1919 – August 16, 1998) was an American sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times from 1961 to 1998.

Many of his achievements include winning the NSSA‘s Sportswriter of the Year award an astounding fourteen times (twelve of those consecutively). In 1990, he won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for his 1989 columns^[1], and the Baseball Hall of Fame awarded him the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1987. Cited as an influence by countless sports journalists, Murray was a fixture at the Los Angeles Times for over 30 years. After he won the Pulitzer in 1990, Murray modestly said he thought the prize winner should have had “to bring down a government or expose major graft or give advice to prime ministers. Correctly quoting Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda shouldn’t merit a Pulitzer Prize.”^[2]

Prior to his tenure with the Los Angeles Times, Murray was a writer and columnist for Sports Illustrated from 1953-1961 and Time magazine from 1948-1955. He was also a reporter for the Los Angeles Examiner from 1944-1948, the New Haven (CT) Register and The Hartford Times. He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford CT in 1943.^[3]

Murray was noted for his great, albeit occasionally caustic, sense of humor and ability to turn a phrase, including the following: he wrote of the Indianapolis 500 automobile race, “Gentlemen, start your coffins”; that baseball player Rickey Henderson “has a strike zone the size of Hitler‘s heart”; and that UCLA basketball coach John Wooden was “so square he was divisible by four”.^[4]

Although eventually afflicted with blindness, Murray continued covering and writing about sports as long as he was able.

Murray created The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation whose primary purpose is to raise money for journalism scholarships. Currently 28 universities participate annually in a national essay competition in which five $5,000.00 scholarships are annually awarded.^[5]

In 1982, Murray was honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, who awarded him the Red Smith Award, which is America’s most prestigious sports writing honor. via Wikipedia

Yall wake yall butts up!!! Time to make today a great one … The word for today is Progession … Try to become better in any form today. - L.V. Ware

One of our favorite farm hands, imparts some wisdom with a healthy does of tough love!

Watch your mailboxes for this weeks Sports Illustrated, and hope these boys can break the SI Curse!  Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman grace the cover of this weeks Sports Illustrated.

Yes been a week, and this poor baby does not have a name!  To be quite honest, there are certain names that I can’t name my dog.  This is no disrespect to those not chosen, it is just the I am a hard ass when it comes to the game, how it is played, and who I show allegiance to.  To sum it up, the person my dog is named after, has to embody why I love the game!  It just so happens that each person has a key role this season.

Fredi Gonzalez: The Fredi Gonzalez Era has officially begun!  Gonzalez seems to be the perfect replacement for Bobby Cox for a reasons beyond the obvious that he was on Bobby’s staff.  What stands out to me is what he was able to do with the smallest payroll in baseball, and the support given by his former players.  It says a lot about a person today when an entire team sides with the manager  over the star player as the Marlins did.  On top of that Fredi is just a cool guy!  In an earlier post, I showed pictures from his interview with AJC Braves beat writer David O’Brien (you may have noticed they were on Harley’s)  Possible names in Fredi’s honor include:  Fredi, Gonzo, Gonzalez, Cuban, Harley

Sara Hanna Photgraphy http://www.sarahanna.com

Terry Pendleton:  This one is not an obvious choice for those of you who do not know me well.  I first saw Terry Pendleton play for the AA Cardinal Affiliate Arkansas Travelers in 1983.  In my family, it is necessary to not only be educated about who is in the farm system, but to also support them.  Pendleton made an off season move from hitting coach to first base coach.  With Larry Parrish as the Braves hitting coach, Pendleton is looking forward to being more involved with the game and strategy.  The only name I can find is T.P.- not loving it, but Pendleton did give Fredi Gonzalez the Harley I mentioned.  When Terry came back to the Braves, Fredi had his number, but gave it back.  The Harley was a thank you gift.  So, I guess Harley could work here as well!

Tim Hudson:  Who could ask more from a pitcher than what Tim Hudson gives both on and off the field!  Hudson battled back from injury to lead the Braves to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.  His strong year earned him the Comeback Player of the Year award.  After 10 years and Tommy John surgery,  he has a 94 mph four-seam fastball.  He tends to use the two-seam in the 87-93 mph more often though.  What Hudson has imparted on young pitchers is worth as much or more than the wins he has complied.  Off the field, Tim and his wife Kim founded the Hudson Family foundation which serves non-profits around the Atlanta area.  They serve as ambassadors for Make A Wish.  Hudson would have been my top choice, but something tells me it is wrong to name your dog the same name as your cousin’s baby.  What do you think?

Brian McCann: Happy 27th Birthday to the Braves catcher!  It is confession time for me.  I was not a Brian McCann fan, but it was not because of his play.  McCann to me was a whiner for his first couple of years.  In his defense, I do think he was following Bobby’s lead, but he complained about ever single pitch!  I have watched him mature over the past few seasons and am no longer annoyed by him.  My first impressions of him lead me to believe that we would be talking about him like we do about Jeff Franceour.  He has become a great leader on the field and in the community of which Braves fan can truly be proud.  Let’s hope he imparts his work ethi on the Braves youngsters who much will be expected this season!  There is really only one name fitting for this dog from the possibilities that I can think of- McCann.

Craig Kimbrel:  This kid has huge shoes to fill in the closer role this season.  Gonzalez has mentioned “closer by committee”, but even at that, much is expected of this youngster.  Kimbrel has the arm without a doubt- it is a matter of handling the pressure and maintaining control.  Turner Field regulars had the pleasure of getting to know Kimbrel’s father who rarely, if ever, missed a game.  He introduced himself as “Daddy Bean”, so the nominee for Craig Kimbrel is “Baby Bean“.

Jason Heyward:  There is nothing I can say about Jason Heyward that has not already been said.  If not for fellow Georgian Buster Posey, there would have been no race for Rookie of the Year honors.  As phenomenal as his numbers were, just think what that would have been had he been healthy all year.  Jason Heyward is more impressive off the field.  Let me applaud his parents for this,  How many times to you here about arrogant pampered athletes.  If Heyward fits that category, he hides it well.   Let’s hope he stays healthy and on track for a sensational career!  This is a guy you want kids to emulate.  Ja-Hey or Heyward would be acceptable names.

Tommy Hanson:  Is another Braves youngster.  Hanson finished last season 10-11, but those numbers are not the true indication of his talent.  Hanson spent his time off working on his control, and according to him, it paid off.  If Hanson is hits his spots and has a strong year, the NL East has the potential to be a photo finish race!  The girls like to all Tommy, Tommy Handsome.  We could go with Hanson or Handsome either one!

Tim Hudson:  Who could ask more from a pitcher than what Tim Hudson gives both on and off the field!  Hudson battled back from injury to lead the Braves to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.  His strong year earned him the Comeback Player of the Year award.  After 10 years and Tommy John surgery,  he has a 94 mph four-seam fastball.  He tends to use the two-seam in the 87-93 mph more often though.  What Hudson has imparted on young pitchers is worth as much or more than the wins he has complied.  Off the field, Tim and his wife Kim founded the Hudson Family foundation which serves non-profits around the Atlanta area.  They serve as ambassadors for Make A Wish.  Hudson would have been my top choice, but something tells me it is wrong to name your dog the same name as your cousin’s baby.  What do you think?

Steve Marek:  Many of you may have never heard of this pitcher, but I bet you remember the deal in which he was acquired.  Steve came to the Braves along with Casey Kotchman for Mark Teixeria in 2008.  We will be following this right hander who is currently on the 40 roster throughout the season.  Rumor has it Big Daddy would be the name association!

Fredi, Gonzo, Gonzalez, Cuban, Harley

McCann

Baby Bean

Ja-Hey, Heyward

Hanson  Handsome

Hudson

Big Daddy

Sutton- Dual meaning for me in Eddie & Don!

Decker

Vote by commenting!

What's my name?

My Pop always said that animals, dog especially need to earn their names.  They will tell you what their name is, not the other way around.  Today I brought home the best Valentine I have ever had, and he is (like most men in my life) confusing me!  Since it is the first day of Pitchers and Catchers, and I am who I am, there must be a baseball reference.  So let’s review what else we know about the little guy and go from there.

When first we met, he ran to me wagging his tail, and I knew this was my baby.  He was attacked by a dog that outweighed him by at least 100 pounds while I was filling out paperwork to make him mine.  He didn’t show his fear and fought back.  He whimpered like a baby when the bully was out of sight though.  After I left, he apparently barked non stop until I returned to adopt him today (two days later).  He stopped barking and wagged his tail like crazy when he saw me.  He is definitely a curious George, but is right at home.  He surveyed the entire house, and after finding it satisfactory has not left my side.  He has not made a sound- especially after we went for a walk.  It is obvious he cherishes sleep and is quite the bed hog!  I am not touching that with a ten foot pole as it relates to ball player nicknames!

This story has taken on a life of it’s own, so I am going to publish it in two segments: past and present.  They have a different way of describing that in the Big 10 don’t they?  For the past, I am including icons from around baseball because so much of my life has been influenced by baseball as a whole, but mostly by St Louis.  The present, which will come later, will be focused on the Braves.

Braves:
Wags/BWags:  Billy Wagner
He wags his tail like crazy when he sees me , and he does not seem to want to play ball just like Billy!  Although Wagner still appears on the 40 man roster, Braves fans are going to have to let go hope that he will return.  My first step is putting the Sandman in the past segment- even though I would gladly move him back to the present!  The Braves will miss his lights out fastball.  Wagner recorded 422 saves, 1196 strike outs, and a 2.31 ERA.  Those numbers cannot describe the impact of the mere sound of Metallica had in late innings!

(Black &) Decker:  Donald Harold Sutton
Though he is in the Hall of Fame as a Dodger and his #20 is retired, he is an adopted Brave in the hearts of Atlanta fans.  He has been a broadcaster in Atlanta off and on since 1989.  Sutton’s major league debut came April 14, 1966, the day Greg Maddux was born.  In his 23 year career, he compiled 324 wins, 3574 strikeouts (7th all-time), 58 shut outs, 4 All-Star appearances (All-Star MVP 1977), and 1354 at bats without a home run (most at bats without a HR).
Other Options:  BD, Blackie

Hammer:  Henry “Hank” Aaron
He was in a fight the first day I meet him!  This guy is definitely a home run and a king!  Not only is Aaron the true home run king, but he also holds the records for most RBIs (2297), most extra base hits (1477), and is third in career hits (3771).  Hank was quoted “I had the Giants’ contract in my hand. But the Braves offered fifty dollars a month more. That’s the only thing that kept Willie Mays and me from being teammates – fifty dollars.”  Maybe the dog should be named “thank you Jesus!”  Another plus is that my Paps’ middle name is Henry.
Other options:  Homer, 755, King (King Kelly played for Boston and Cincinnati.  I’m not sure that’s the best choice!)

Cha Cha:  Orlando Cepada
He’s a Chihuahua, and Cepada played for the Braves and the Cards.  ChaCha may be a bit feminine for this one though!

Cardinals:
Dizzy:  Jay Hanna “Dizzy” Dean
Dizzy & Paul “Daffy” Dean were from Lucas , AR, and the Dean family has a special place in my heart.  Dizzy was also called “The Great Man”, and let’s face it, he is my dog, of course he is great!  The Dean’s are best known for being part of the 1934 “Gashouse Gang” that won the World Series.  Dizzy’s number 17 was retired.
Other Options:  Daffy, Bo (Daffy’s namesake Paul Dean goes by Bo- that’s a trivia question for you!)

Pac(k):  Pack Robert “Bob” Gibson, PAC:  Pitcher and Catchers
Gibson was a great St Louis pitcher whose number 45 was retired.  I got little man on the first day of pitchers and catchers!
Other Options:  Gibby, Hoot (another nickname of Gibson)

Pop:  Jesse Joseph Haines
He was a right-handed knuckballer. He played briefly in 1918, then from 1920 to 1937, mostly for St Louis.  I am not sure how I feel about naming my dog Pop, but I had to include it!

Stan (the Man):  Stanley Frank Musial
This legendary Cardinal is held in such high esteem that his picture hung in our home.  In fact my brother in law thought we must be related! 24 time All-Star, 3 time World Series Champ, 3 time NL MVP, Lou Gehring Award Winner, .331 Batting Average, 3630 Hits, 475 Home Runs, 1951 RBIs, MLB All Century Team, #6 Retired.  Stan Musial was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest award that a civilian can receive, today by President Obama.

Whitey:  Whitey Herzog
The first Cardinal manager in my memory.  Little man has a white nose, neck, and chest.

Ozzie:  Ozzie Smith
The greatest shortstop of all time and you will never convince different, so do not try!

Buck:  Jack Buck

Jack Buck’s legendary voice was, and still is to many, synonymous with St Louis Cardinal Baseball.

Also Rans:
Cy:  Denton True “Cy” Young
I am claiming him for St Louis because he did play two years in the great city!  Cy Young’s recoed 514 wins will never be matched, but he also holds the records for innings pitched, games started, and losses.  I think you are getting the hint how he relates to my dog!
Other Options:  Cyrus (Cy came from teasing about his country background.  Cyrus was shortened to Cy.  I would not want my dog to be confused with Miley or Billy Ray)

Cool Papa:  James Cool Papa Bell
St Louis Stars.  He’s my dog!  Pop’s is middle name James, and he was a cool papa!

Slick:  Whitey Ford
He’s a Chihuahua!  However fitting it may be, my dog cannot be named after a Yankee!

Sparky:  George Lee “Sparky” Anderson
This guy definitely fits the name!  He does not back down would be well suited to be named after the iconic manager.  I could justify naming him after someone known primarily for managing in the American League because he did manage the Big Red Machine.  It is still not at the top of the list!

Foxx:  James Emory “Jimmie” Foxx
The second major league player to hit 500 career home runs, after Babe Ruth, the second youngest behind A Roid, oops, Rod to get to 500 at age 32 years 336 days.  He has three career MVP awards are tied for second all-time.  Most importantly, he managed the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for one season in 1952. Tom Hanks‘ character Jimmy Dugan in the movie A League of Their Own.
Other Options: Duece, Dos, Double XX (Two is a reoccurring theme in Foxx’s life), Jimmie, League

These are some of my ideas, and reasons for them.  Please comment to cast your vote, but tell me your reason!

Today’s Daily Bite goes to Braves minor leaguer Lenardo “L.V.” Ware. 

“I don’t believe in failure, I believe people quit before they are successful.”

This Daily Bite is a little more in depth than the normal quote of the day. With so much focus on athletes for the wrong reasons, I wanted to spotlight one for the right reasons!  I started following L.V. on Twitter and subsequently found his blog documenting his baseball journey.  What I have been most impressed with is Ware’s positive attitude and love for the game.  We have all heard about the less than glamorous  lives of minor leaguers, but I have yet to see anything but gratitude for the chance to play baseball from this Atlanta native.  If his tweets are any indication, it should be a great read all season long!  More importantly, if his attitude and heart have anything to do with it, he will blogging about his transition to the bigs!

L.V. Ware’s Blog

Follow @LV_Ware on Twitter.

“I don’t believe in failure, I believe people quit before they are successful.”

L.V. Ware, Atlanta Braves Minor League Player

Sara Hanna Photgraphy http://www.sarahanna.com

There are worse ways to get a story!  Atlanta Journal Constitution Braves beat writer David O’Brien and incoming Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez spent a beautiful Sunday riding Harley’s and talking baseball.  Special thanks to Sara Hanna Photography for documenting the ride.  To read more go to AJC Braves Baseball Blog with David O’Brien, and pick Sunday and Monday’s AJC print edition for the two-part interview in it’s entirety.

Trivia Question:

What is so special about Fredi Gonzalez’s bike?

Sara Hanna Photography http://www.sarahanna.com

Ok, so this has nothing to do with the Atlanta Braves, but it is fun!  Jimmer Fredette = kinda a Big Deal!

You’ve Been Jimmered!

“It may be a little different now that a couple people watched last night’s game, and even people like yourself may be fans of me now.” Aaron Rodgers to Colin Cowherd Post Super Bowl Interview