A little disappointing that we only  had a few rookies to torture this year, but it was still funny - I hope they never stop doing this! The costumes were not as diverse as last year, but they showed a lot more skin - well, most of them...

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And on to the rest some more of the pictures from Family Day/Vintage Car/Javy (I promise NCC!) and the game on 8/23. Let's get back to the players now.

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Ok, so I began this thinking I could get all the pictures into one post. I was wrong! There's just too many. First I made it to the latest Publix event and caught up with Imhotep and the Surgeon. Then, arriving at the Ted the following game day, instead of BP I found a field full of wiffle balls & bats, Braves, wives, girlfriends, children and other relatives running around  - woohoo, it was Family Day! Add to that: Javy Lopez signing autographs in Fan Plaza, a vintage car drive-around the warning track, current players signing 'graphs, and oh yeah, a game we won.

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Thank goodness a picture says a thousand words, because I'm a bit better with photos than I am with the written (or spoken, for that matter) language. I'm a regular over at Talking Chop, but visit here from time to time checking on my ex-boyfriend (because he got married, not because he left the Braves) John Smoltz, and my favorite AL team. I have a family tie over in Greenville, SC, but had yet to make it to a Drive game - until Tuesday night. Despite the rain throughout the evening, I managed to get a few pictures, so I thought some OMers (er, feel free to correct my nickname usage; didn't want to call you "Monsters" and really get slammed!) might like to see their minor leaguers in action.  

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Yeah, I know it was over a week ago, but we beat the Freak, so I figured the pictures might still be enjoyable to some. On with the show...

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So taking a walk out back of the Ted after the final home game on Sunday is not stalkerish at all. It's just saying "bye", "have a great road trip" and "we love ya....ah, er, boys?!" Wearing dresses did seem to give them an advantage in speeding up the security "strip" search all the players, broadcasters and staff were subjected to in front of the crowd. They all seemed quite good natured about it, blowing kisses and curtsying. We even got a slight mooning from Jair.

Charlie Mortgensven

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We all know how terrible Sunday's game was, and thank Pujols it's behind us now. But despite the game, I left the Ted on Sunday feeling pretty good and I wanted to tell you all why. Going to games alone, I meet a lot of people, mostly ushers and security folks. Some actually remember me, like Mr. "Big Man" at the gate near where Marta lets off, and dear Ici, the usher for section 138. But Sunday I met somebody really special...Hazel.

If you're ever going to a game and have to sit in the upper deck, I strongly suggest you sit in 418. That is Hazel's Haven. Sure it's not first base or home plate, but the view is fairly good, there's a breeze, and Hazel will try to make it fun (or at least tolerable if you're just a miserable s.o.b.)! I didn't have seats in her section, but I was at the park early and thought I could get a clear shot of the SportsSouth broadcast booth from there, in case they used it for the Braves Live segment. Not only did she not mind, she let me stay there and she treated me like a loved granddaughter; asking me if I had enough water, urging me to get out of the sun but handing me towels to wipe off the sweat when I wouldn't, giving me a new hair tie, candy, a Braves bumper sticker...I saw her playing games with and giving sweets & stickers to the kids, as well as fans, handkerchiefs & pins to the older folks...all this in only 4 innings. I went by her section before I left and took a picture of her with the sign Turner Field put up for her this year:

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Hazel has been doing her thing at the Ted for a while, so the kicker that makes her even more special is that this year she is doing it while suffering from leukemia. I tried to think of a better word than suffering, because to be around her, you wouldn't think of it that way. The woman's resolve to have fun and spread her joy never flagged. Even on that oppresively hot and bad-game day, she was still smiling and pumping people's spirits up as they left. So even if you don't sit in her section, maybe go by and say "hi" to the bronzed lady (she puts bronze glitter on her arms) in 418. A true fan, and a true good spirit!  

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ATLANTA -- John Smoltz has said that he'll be content if he never throws another pitch. Now, just two days after he attempted to alleviate stress on his shoulder with a move to the bullpen, the Braves veteran pitcher finds this to be a more defined possibility.

The Braves have scheduled an 11:30 a.m. ET press conference at Turner Field and at that time, they are expected to discuss Smoltz's future. There has been talk that he will need to undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder.

Smoltz was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday and then a few hours later, he blew his first save opportunity since 2004. Although he allowed the Marlins two earned runs in that one-inning relief appearance, the 41-year-old hurler still seemed at least somewhat optimistic about his future.

But when he awoke on Tuesday with increased pain in his shoulder, Smoltz and the Braves immediately understood that he simply might not be able to pitch any more, whether as a starter or a reliever, this year.

In the past, Smoltz has said that he'd retire if he ever needed to undergo another major surgery. He softened that stance on Monday afternoon, indicating that there would at least be a possibility that he'd attempt to prolong his career after enduring a long rehab process.

Smoltz pitched through pain in his shoulder during last season's final four months and encountered further discomfort during the last two weeks of Spring Training this year. After making five regular season starts, he decided that he couldn't continue as a starting pitcher.