My buddy and i planned this epic weekend to atlanta to see the braves play the stros friday night and saturday afternoon. ironically im back in GA visting family from my current residence in houston. im joining the army and leave for basic in june which was the reason for the visit. anyway, we checked into our hotel at 4 and changed to get ready for the game. my buddy decided to wear his al horford jersey in honor of the hawks playing game 6 while i was wearing a blue escobar shirt. we got to the game and enjoyed the mclouth homer and the heyward homer but the excitement began in the top of the 8th. manzella was batting for the astros and on the 3rd 2-2 pitch he hit a foul ball coming straight towards us. i reached back with my left hand, full extension, and had it glance off my hand. my buddy picked it up off the ground and held his hands up in celebration. we were on tv for a good 6 or 7 seconds. my dad called and my brother called as they saw it live. my dad recorded the replay so i could see it when i got home. also on tv with us was the guy in front of us and his girlfriend. he offered to trade us the ball for his girlfriend and she turned to look at us, giggled, and said, "i would do unspeakable things for that ball". i tried to make the deal but my buddy wouldnt do it. well between half innings they announced that the hawks won and showed me and my buddy on the big screen (cause of his hawks jersey) celebrating the victory. we left the game that night thinking it couldnt get any better the next day. the only highlight of saturday outside of another heyward homer and the blowout was catching a batting practice homer from (we think) carlos lee. so we both ended up with a ball to take home and if any of you dvr'd fridays game or have mlb.tv check us out. top of the 8th first batter manzella 3rd 2-2 pitch. guy in the hawks jersey and guy in the escobar shirt.

i know we traded him to oakland fot time hudson. he started for them for awhile but was terrible and was optioned to the triple a team and finished that year there. i also know in 2007 he was traded to the brewers and was to report to their triple a team, the nashville sounds. but its like he fell off the map since then. anyone know where this guy is or what he's doing?

not many surprises here. lots of red sox, yankees, and cubs.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/07/05/all.star.starters.ap/index.html

 Your FanPost must be at least 75 words long. Your FanPost must be at least 75 words long. Your FanPost must be at least 75 words long. Your FanPost must be at least 75 words long. Your FanPost must be at least 75 words long. Your FanPost must be at least 75 words long. Your FanPost must be at least 75 words long. Your FanPost must be at least 75 words long.

per si.com's truth and rumors section(on thier homepage) smoltz said he be willing to return to the closer's role upon his return from the dl. good or bad news?

75 words is dumb.

filler filler filler filler fille rfiller filler filler filler fillerfiller  filler filler filler filler fillerfillerfillerfiller

fille rfillerfille rfillerfille rfillerfillerfillerfill erfillerfille rfillerfillerfillerfiller fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfille rfillerfiller fillerfiller

fillerfillerfi ller fillerfiller fillerfillerfill erfillerfillerf illerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfil lerfillerfiller

fillerfillerfill e rfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfille rfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller

fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfil lerfillerfillerfillerfil lerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller

fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller

if JS is going to do something, the time is now. wether its a third starter or someone who can actually hit the ball he needs to pull the trigger on whatever he can. and sadly none of it is going to involve "i make mendoza look like ted williams" jones. with the 10 and 5 status he's not going anywhere folks. but i do understand trying, he might be willing to do one last thing to help the club (we all know an adjustment at the plate isnt something he's willing to do) and accept a trade somewhere. minnesota for torii hunter, los angeles angels of anaheim california usa for gary matthews jr. something. anything at this point. but the time is now before the fans start jumping off this sinking ship.

the rangers are apparently desperate for pitching as they have signed MARK REDMAN. i cant believe anyone would give him a shot after his performance in atlanta. i understand us giving him a shot, but why would anyone give him one after all of this? maybe he can turn it around, or blow another 12 games for a team. but best of luck to texas and mark redman.

i know there was talk about moving saltalamacchia to first base or left field last year because of mccann behind the plate. any talk of him making the move to left this year? what's the use of having a switch hitting catcher with mccann at the big league level? i think in a year or so he could eliminate our platoon situation in left.

how many more games before chipper drives in a run? i'd put the over under at 2. i really think he's gonna light up these national pitchers this week. in fact, im calling a chipper home run in the first inning tonight. you heard it here first.

ahh, mike hampton out for the year...again. who saw that one coming? but whoever suggested we cross our fingers for next year has the right idea. we cant trade him and cutting him doesnt help. so, here's to better luck next year mikey.

that would bring us to kyle davies. im really impressed by him. i have been since his first start against the red sox what seems like ages ago. he's a nice guy in person, i hope he does well. but there's another young arm in the davies family everyone needs to look out for and thats the younger brother. my old highschool team faced jake davies so i went out to watch, he had pretty good stuff.

im sure my first "diary" has bored some of you, so i'll leave with this. rafael soriano is a beast. i love this guy. he's been better than advertised and alot better than gonzalez. how did we get this guy for horacio ramirez? shuerholz genius strikes again. anyone who read this whole thing, thanks for listening.