So I'm posting this under fanposts A) because I want to, and  B) I couldn't make the fanshots thing work the way I wanted it to.  So here it is, and the title says it all.  If you're anywhere near, you really should go to this thing.  I live an hour and a half away, and last year is the first one I've missed in a while, which was stupid of me because Brian McCann was there.  Oh well.  It's well worth the drive (in my opinion), and my daughter and I have made a bit of a tradition of it.

HERE is the link to the Rome Braves article with details.

So this year I'm going, and my targeted item to autograph is an 11x14 shot I have hanging in my classroom at school of Tommy I took when he was in Rome.  (The picture below is one I made and had signed as a reading prize .....the Hanson shot is on it):

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Interesting collection of people there, no?

So anyway, I'm going.  I'll report back here and post pictures if I get any.

And for the guys at the paper who like to print my pictures without permission, this picture is my property.  Not that anybody would want it.  Just sayin'.

Okay, so royhobbs has got me beat as far as stories go.  I really didn't get that many interesting pictures - as I said before, I couldn't get as close as I do in Rome, so I was not happy with what I got.  I did manage a few decent shots of Huddy:

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And check out the torque on this follow through.  I take it as a good sign!

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Oh by the way, the view from the outfield:

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I think this is Van Pope watching a pop-up:

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A decent contact shot.  Who?  No idea.  If this was last 3 or so years in Rome, I could tell you everything. 

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Sammy boy throwing down to second:

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And proof that Brandon Jones hit a bomb.  And squid have attacked Brian Barton.

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And one of my favorite former Braves farmhands, Tyler Flowers.

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And finally, my take on the Cole Armstrong hissy fit:

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(Gotta make the finale big):

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The rumor was that he drew his fist back at the ump.  I didn't see that, so I can't say for sure. 

So there you go.  Enjoy!

So we went to Rome....

In following the tradition of telling of our community adventures at the ballparks, I’ll throw mine in here from Rome.  There was very little in the way of interesting happening, but we had a good time - we always do in Rome.  My family and I usually go to 15 or 20 games in Rome a year, but due to several circumstances, we haven’t been at all this season.  My boss has a friend who plays golf with a guy who has a suite (I kid you not), so 14 of us got to go tonight.  It was nice.  The view from said suite:

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The lineup:

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And no, Eric Campbell is not our former friend.  I was hoping Randall was the good Delgado, but he didn't prove to be tonight.

Randall:

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Maybe it makes me an idiot, but I expected Randall to be a black guy.  He was not. 

Adam Milligan:

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Luis Sumoza:

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I honestly just don't know these guys.  Milligan was impressive.  Big tall dude.  I got some shots of Moody, Campusano, and others, so if anyone has any requests, I'll post.  Otherwise, I'm just too out of touch with Rome these days to know who's who anymore.  And it's way past my bedtime and I'm too tired to think. 

The highlight of our night was actualy when my daughter got picked to race Birdzerk around the bases.  They set up this whole deal where he beats her in the race, then a couple of players come beat him up for it (Hoover and Clemens), and then he asks her for a hug.  She runs over and kicks him, knocking him down, then kicks him some more when he's down.  Good, clean family fun.  The celebration:

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It was actually very funny, and the guys in the Birdzerk crew were very nice to us. 

Tomorrow I go to Gwinnett.  I'm looking for Schafer and Tyler Flowers.  If I get any interesting shots, I'll post. 

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Spring Training Pictures March 21, 2009

So I went to Disney and didn't bother with the Major League game - not because it wasn't interesting, but because the minor league fields were much more interesting to me.  We got to see Jo Jo Reyes and James Parr pitch back to back on one field, while prospects like Eric Campbell and Kala Ka'aihue were playing on the next field over.  Meanwhile several Braves pitching prospects were just wandering around taking things in - Scott Diamond, Ryne Reynoso, and Zeke Spruill come to mind as a few we saw.  The minor league Braves were playing the Nationals minor leaguers, so we also had a Pete Orr and Ryan Langerhans sighting.  Incidentally, Langerhans is one tall dude. 

Overall a good day.  Here are a few shots.  Nothing too interesting.  Just sharing.  Enjoy!

 This is sort of the scene at the minor league fields.  Ryne Reynoso is at the table, and Zeke Spruill is the guy standing in the blue and yellow striped shirt.  Others of you may be able to identify the other guys. 

Kurt Kemp watching the troops.

Jo Jo throws a pitch

....and so does James Parr.

JC Holt hitting

Gorkys Hernandez gets ready to steal.  Which he did, by the way.

Jeff Lyman pitching

And gondee's #1 prospect, Kevin Gunderson

That's it for this spring.  More when Rome and Gwinnett get going....

One of my favorite events of the off season is the Hot Stoce gathering the Rome Braves host in January.  This year looks to be a good one with McCann on the guest list.  They usually throw in a minor leaguer or two as well, so this may not be the  end of the list.  Last year they had Bobby Cox, Kurt Kemp, Frank Wren, Tyler Flowers, Phillip Britton, and Jon Mark Owings.  They announced Cox first, then the list kept getting bigger and bigger.

Anyway, here's a snippet from the official announcement.  A link to the whole thing is here.  I always go with my daughter, and I'll be there again this year.  It's usually at the stadium, but this year will be at the Forum - Rome's downtown convention center....I guess they're expecting a big crowd with McCann.  Can't wait!

"The Seventh Annual Hot Stove Gathering will be held at The Forum on Monday January 26th from 5:30 until 7:30pm. Fans can look forward to a night of fun as Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann will be the featured guest along with special guests from the Atlanta Braves organization. The 2009 Rome field staff will also be in attendance."

Just in case anyone didn't know.  Or if anyone cares....

Tazawa rejects all offers but Boston's

Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves Go Braves

So JFP's post made me think:  we've been kicking this Escobar / Peavey trade around for a while now, debating from every angle.  But I'm wondering about how the majority here feel.  I know some have switched sides after all the discussions as well.  I thought it would be interesting to take a look at where we stand now.  Thus the poll.

The original assertion was that a majority here feel that a Peavey deal including Escobar is a steal, but not in the Braves favor.  I re-wrote that as a question (apologies to JFP - I hope I'm not misrepresenting the intented point of your post....).  I know the poll choices are very narrow with no wiggle room - but that's really the issue I'm taking up - Escobar, yes or no?

Good write-up.  Flowers is in my top 5. Just saying.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/11/11/braves_tyler_flowers.html

Braves   Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          

Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves         

Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves         

Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          

Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves                

BravesBraves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves          Braves         

It's the Arizona Fall League, and T-Flow is tied for the lead in HRs with 6.   He's hitting .419 with an OPS of 1.533.  On the bad, he does have 8 walks to 14 strikeouts, but I'd take his overall production.  Here's hoping he doesn't get traded.  I know Freeman is the stud of the future, but I say again let's see something above Low A first.  Flowers could be the man. 

By the way, where has everybody been lately?????