Catcher’s Blog

This is my review post on the Braves vs. Marlins game from August 28, 2008. The link to all the pictures will be below the review since there are 85 pictures; it would take too long to include all of them in the post. Some are linked in the post, though. Please continue reading if you wish.

My mom and I left going to Columbus, GA at around 12:15 pm to get my sister at her apartment. We got my sister and left around 1:30 pm or so on our way to Atlanta. Once in Atlanta, we headed to some transmission place to pick up my brother’s transmission that took almost an hour and wasn’t supposed to. We almost didn’t even find the place to begin with. By the time we left this place headed to Turner Field, it was around 4:40 pm or so, thus making us miss the Braves batting practice because of traffic. Once we got there we parked in the blue lot and walked a short distance to the field. We went in and did a few things before going to our seats, which were in section 121, row 4. To give you an idea of where we sat, please view this picture that was taken by Patcave on flickr.com at the game that I just found last weekend. I thought it was pretty neat, lol. I was in the middle and my mom and sister were on either side; my mom was to my right and my sister was to my left.

Anyway, moving on. When we arrived, the Marlins were in the middle of their batting practice, so we watched them until they finished and readied the field for the game.

Marlins’ BP pictures: Mike Jacobs, Dan Uggla, Misc. players 1, Misc. players 2, Misc. players 3.

We got a BP ball from Matt Linstrom, who was in right field somewhere in those pictures. He proceeded to ask “where’s the southern hospitality?” so we then said please, lol. We almost got Scott Olsen to autograph it since he was almost standing right beside us while chatting with a security guy, but the players went in before we could.

After the Marlins exited the field, we waited a little while before the Braves players started emerging onto the field. Of course, Mac was the first one, much to my delight. ;D Then the starting pitcher, Charlie Morton, made his way out to warm-up. Other players made their way onto the field not too long after to stretch and warm-up. Right before the game started, some “little league” teams were honored and got to get autographs from the starting players.

The game started at 7:10 pm and it was Parrothead night. Here are some from the game itself:

- The man himself and greatest manager in the game, Bobby Cox.

- The best hitting catcher in the game right now with 23 home runs, Mac.

- Florida’s hot right fielder, Jeremy Hermida: picture 1, picture 2.

- I had a perfect view of KJ all night and here the better pictures that I got of him: picture 1, picture 2, picture 3.

- We had them 4-2, so we brought in Gonzo to finish it: picture 1, picture 2, picture 3.

When the game ended, we headed out to the buses where the players would be getting on to go to the airport to head off to Washington. We waited about twenty minutes for the players to come out to get on the buses. When everyone finally did come out, we got a few autographs and I snapped a few pictures in the process; my sister got the autographs since she was in the front behind the railing.

- Our first autograph was of Acosta, but I wasn’t able to get a picture of him.

- Next it was Campillo that signed.

- The starter, Charlie, signed autographs for a few people, but we didn’t get his autograph.

- Next was Blanco, but again we didn’t get his autograph.

- The next autograph we got was of Frenchy. He always signs for people and is so nice to his fans.

- Next was the reincarnated Mike Hampton. We didn’t get his autograph, though.

- Next was Mac, who is always sooo nice with his fans. Mac signed more than anyone else did and made sure after someone dropped a ball that he signed it for them. picture 1, picture 2, picture 3, picture 4.

- Last, but certainly not least, was Smoltzie and the rest of the stragglers to come out (Bobby, Chipper, and Ohman were three of the main guys that I remember). They couldn’t sign because of the bus having to leave and apologized, but I believe Chipper did sign for one or two people.

- We also got autographs from Blaine Boyer and Buddy Carlyle, but got no pictures of them. The autographs we got: picture 1, picture 2. I know some are hard to make out, I can’t really help that, though, lol.

We left for home after this and thus concludes the trip to Atlanta. It was a far better game than the previous one we went to against the Brewers on June 25th, personally. Not the game itself, but the experience. Better seats, better view of the field, and not nearly as hot. The record in games that I’ve attended is now up to 4 out of 5 wins, which is just cool. To view the rest of the pictures and even some videos of a few players, please click below.