Catcher’s Blog

Today is the day all of us Braves fans have anxiously awaited to arrive since the last game of the ‘07 season. It’s finally here! Huddy gets the start today and we get to see what the other Jones boy looks like in a Dodgers’ uni for the first of many times for at least the next two years. Here are a few comments on Andruw donning Dodger Blue:

“It’s always going to look funny,” Cox said. “[Rafael Furcal] didn’t look good in it either.”

“It will be weird to see him in a Dodgers uniform,” Francoeur said. “But I think we’ve all prepared ourselves for it. It will be fun.”

- Source

As far as I can tell from DOB’s noting, none of the starting infielders will be playing today with the exception of Mac, of course. All of the starting outfielders are supposed to be making the trip to Vero Beach with the exception of Kotsay and possibly Matty. Huddy will pitch two innings and Blaine Boyer, Chris Resop, Matt DeSalvo, and Manny Acosta will be today’s relief corp.

The game today will be specially broadcast by our own Pete Van Wieren on MLB Gameday webcast. Tomorrow’s game will actually be on TV on ESPN at 1:05 pm, so I will actually follow that game more closely than today’s or yesterday’s game.

Considering yesterday’s game vs. UGA, we did pretty well winning 8-0, but you have to figure in the college vs. major leagues ascpect. Still a nice win and shut out by lesser known, but highly viewed, Charlie Morton. Other pitchers were Zach Schreiber, Jose Campillo, Francisely Bueno, and Ryan Basner.

Also, I found this post on MLBTR and thought I should post it here. This is only the start of the rumors of where Teixeira is headed (or not headed) next year. There was an article written by Dan Connolly, a Baltimore Sun writer who believes Teixeira will go home to the Orioles and why. At least we Braves fans can say anything that’s written is probably a rumor because Teixeira has already said he wasn’t talking about his contract until after the season. MLBTR conducted a survey of teams that he could possibly go to and the Braves are right behind the Yankees in second in the survey results.  

While not too much is going on other than the normal Spring Training talk and what to expect, I realize my posting has kind of been sporadic lately. While I’m not making excuses, I do hope to remedy this now that the games are about to get into full swing.

First, there was a Braves Mailbag posted yesterday at around 10 PM last night, which is why I’m referring to it a day late. Some of the questions asked are sort of repeats, but not entirely. (Are we running out of questions, people?) The questions do delve a little into the ‘08 lineup and where it ranks, what our depth for 1B is (or isn’t), more about B. Jones, Matt DeSalvo’s chances of making the team, and also the old, but not forgotten question of Coco Crisp still being an option if Kotsay doesn’t pan out, which, so far, seems unlikely, according to both Braves writers, David O’Brien and Mark Bowman. 

I haven’t forgotten the Where We Stand series, I’m just writing it slower than I thought I would. I am going to finish it, I promise. It won’t be before or by tomorrow, but it will be in the next week or so. My “spring break,” which is technically just a week between quarters, is March 19–March 31, so I will have time to finish it. I hope that it won’t take me that long to finish writing the last three parts. 

I made an acutal contact page yesterday so that locating where to reach me is now a lot easier and more clear. I deleted the Mailbox page and moved the form to the Contact Info page, making things cleaner around the site and also easier to navigate it. I’m still trying to make little adjustments where I see fit, but I think I’ve gotten most of the site to my liking, for now at least.

But that brings me to my next point. I’m going to be playing around with a new layout, trying to make a new one for the site. The layout shouldn’t be that much different than the current one, but I’m going to see what I can do with a more or less blank theme. I still like the current layout, but I think the site needs a fresh look. I can’t help my perfectionist ways, so please excuse them. I’m not sure when the layout will be finished, but I wanted to let you readers know that that is what I’m planning to work on for the site the next few weeks.  

AJC Galleries: Feb. 17/Feb. 18/Feb. 19/Feb. 20

I know that I have been lacking on the posting front and keeping up with Spring Training stuff, but lately it’s just hard not to be lazy. I haven’t felt the best in the world the past few days, most times resulting in my coming home from classes and going straight to bed for most of the afternoon. I’m sure it’s sinuses/allergies, but it could be that I know that the quarter is starting to wind down. But I digress. I won’t try to load you down with news stories/links because there are so many.

But because it’s Mac’s 24th birthday, I will at least post the link to this AJC article on him from Sunday.

“I want to do the same thing every time I step to the plate, be consistent,” Braves catcher Brian McCann said. “This off season in the cage I got to where I felt like I did in ‘06, that comfort at the plate, feeling real good, and realizing I can cover every pitch.”

And because I was bored today during one of my classes, because of finishing my work for the most part, I made this graphic. Excuse the sad excuse of an attempt of a graphic, but it serves its purpose anyway. I’m sure he won’t see it, but I won’t waste it nonetheless.

Another small note before I forget, I took some of the extra stuff from the sidebar. I either added it to the About page or just compeletely took it down from the site. Now the sidebars aren’t so cluttered. Also, a new poll is up.

Just because it is Saturday doesn’t mean players get the weekends off. Quite the opposite, which means weekend pictures as well as various news articles.

• Mac ready to start, is hoping to be more consistent this season.
• Braves Notes: Chipper on staying healthy, Glavine throws first bullpen session, early  position player arrivals, and Aussies being Aussies.
• AJC Galleries: Feb. 15th / Feb. 16th.

 
© Atlanta Journal Constitution

So, today is Valentine’s Day, but it’s also Pitchers and Catchers report day. So far there’s only one picture up on the AJC website, but I’m sure there will be plently more to come soon enough. Let’s hope so anyway. Here are a few pictures from this morning. DOB hasn’t made his first of many daily blogs this spring today, but I’ll post the link later when he does so.

This is the start of one of the new posting ideas that I have. Pic(s) of the Day posts will feature a picture or pictures that I choose, for whatever reason, to post. These posts will probably coincide with gameday posts as well, but sometimes I’ll just post a picture for the heck of it like today.

EDIT: DOB has added his blog of the day about the goings on at DWWS before workouts start tomorrow.