Live from the ballyard: Smoltzie and I avoid each other!
I spent about a half-hour in and around the Red Sox clubhouse, and I should tell you the Red Sox have a great vibe about them. Kind of like the old Braves, only a tad livelier, and nothing like the new Yankees, who come across as spoiled and surly. The Red Sox, I can report, have a splendid mix of guys.
And now you’re wondering: Amid this splendid mix, did I encounter My Favorite Pitcher in said clubhouse? Not really. (Nor did I go looking for him, or he, I feel sure, for me.) My Favorite Pitcher and I almost crossed paths when the Sox were preparing for batting practice, but we both turned our heads. (We’re really good at this, as you may know.)
I can also tell you I’m writing a little something for Sunday print — and for posting here later today — on Red Sox manager Terry Francona, whom I see as the New Bobby Cox. (And I mean that, Larry, as the highest possible compliment.) Francona is a delightful conversationalist, and we media types got to talking with him about Michael Jordan — whom Tito, as he’s known, managed in Birmingham in 1994 — and then we got around to Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith.
And I’m thinking, “Gee, Bobby Cox never has that sort of conversation with the media.” But lo and behold, I walk across to Cox’s Batcave and he brings up Michael Jackson, and then John Schuerholz, who’s sitting there, asks Cox what was the first record he ever bought, and Cox says he never bought a record in his life and Schuerholz says his was “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets. And there we went.
I brought up the Temptations and the Supremes as my first recorded purchase. Dave O’Brien mentioned Wild Cherry. (I swear.) Then we got going on Kiss — O’Brien’s first concert, you should know — and Mark Lemke said something about Gene Simmons that I choose not to reproduce here.
And now you’re up to date on all essential baseball matters. And if you’d care to share your feelings about Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson or Anna Nicole Smith or Gene Simmons or even this afternoon’s Braves-Red Sox game … well, I’ll be happy to chat back all afternoon long.
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227 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
7:34 pm
No one gave his paycheck to me. But there seems a sense of great frustration, and I’m going to try and write something about it right this minute.
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:34 pm
Instead of calling some one else out has Chipper called himself out?
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:36 pm
Frustration was 3 weeks ago. Pissed off is the sense today. At least for me.
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:41 pm
Come on guys. They’re “one hit away”, “a call here or there”, “a couple of bad pitches”, from “being a good ball club.”
I know it’s not true, but it’s what the Braves have become accustomed to using to justify their play.
And for those of you that think the Braves are one hitter away from being a solid team, you really need to be a bit more realistic. Their lineup is really pretty anemic. They are 3-4 players from being solid.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
7:44 pm
For the record, anyone who wanted to focus upon the two no-called strikes to Ortiz, that would have merely sent the game to extra innings. I’m sure by at least inning 18 the Sox would have squeaked out a run to win!
No excuses.
June 27th, 2009
7:45 pm
Atlanta Braves.
Lowering the bar for underachievers everywhere.
DirtyDawg
June 27th, 2009
7:47 pm
For some reason I hadn’t seen MB’s piece on ‘his favorite pitcher’, but I congratulate him on calling Smoltz out. This guy, as great as he’s been, has also been a whining prima-dona his whole career – just ask his ex-wife and neighbors. This whole thing about his signing with the Red Sox instead of the Braves was simply that he didn’t want to have to work that hard in order to ‘earn’ his $5.5 million by showing that he could indeed pitch after surgery at his age…and he still hasn’t shown it despite all the camera coverage and feel-good comments form the faux announcers today.
This business of GA being a ‘glider’ and ’sanguine’ has got to be being delivered with a tongue poking through the cheek. Dead lice wouldn’t fall off of him. OK, so he got the hit in the ninth to get our hopes up, but then they didn’t bother to pinch-run for him…with that Kotchman must have figured, ‘if they don’t care enough to put somebody in that just might score on a base hit, then what’s the use’.
You can say all you want about Yunel being the only one that doesn’t seem to be hustling, but I’ve got a couple more – GA for sure and the HOFer at third. Yes, Chipper is so ‘in a funk’ at the plate, he just doesn’t seem to give a s**t…so why should we.
I suppose that they’ll bitch about the calls on Ortiz, but on replay they both looked ‘off the plate’…my bitch is that the damn knuckleballer got every call there was all day long – and the game last week as well – but a regular, hard-thrower, like Javy didn’t get crap from the guy. There ought to be a law against calling a knuckle-ball a strike – they either hit it, miss it, or walk.
Watching the NL East’s futility of late, I’m reminded of something my Dad used to say when asked about the outcome of a lackadaisically played game between two mediocre teams, namely, ‘One of ‘em was sorry and the other was glad of it’…only with this Division it’s ‘all of ‘em are sorry and the rest are glad of it’.
Dave
June 27th, 2009
7:50 pm
If Chipper and Brian aren’t hitting, we DOA.
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:53 pm
Chipper and Brian? Chipper is a mid-level third baseman at this stage of his career. He’s been living on his past exploits for about 3 years now. When was the last time anyone really looked at the Braves as dependent on Chipper’s production? This is soon to be McCann’s team. Trouble is….why would he want it?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
7:54 pm
Chipper described the lineup as “offensively challenged” and said he meant “the whole lineup — nobody’s exempt.”
Hawk01
June 27th, 2009
7:54 pm
new lineup when Infante returns. Francoeur must be benched or sent to AAA. Give Diaz a shot. Try to trade Anderson. He can still hit, but he can not run, and looks bad in the outfield. Package Francouer, Kotchman, Bennett, and Johnson for some Power.
McClouth CF
Infante 1B
CJones 3B
McCann C
Diaz RF
Escobar SS
Prado 2B
Blanco LF
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:56 pm
No offense Hawk, but that lineup doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of any MLB pitching staff that I’m aware of.
And if it did, the bullpen would find a way to make it all for not.
No excuses.
June 27th, 2009
8:02 pm
Atlanta Braves.
Remember the 90’s.
Hawk01
June 27th, 2009
8:04 pm
Is Bobby Cox trying to win or is he just over the hill. Anderson on 2nb with the tying run and he does not send out Jair Jurrjens or Johnson to pinch run. Anderson could have only scored on a long single or an extra base hit. He is enamored with Francouer. OK Francouer you have been given your home town discount by not being sent down earlier………………it is time for you to sit in Atlanta or play in Gwinnett. We got nothing for Texiera, absolutely nothing. Call it a year. Sit down with Chipper and see if he would like to go to the American League because he can not play 3B this year. We have to replenish our minor league system.
crimedog
June 27th, 2009
8:07 pm
mike, you’re aware Chipper won a batting title last season?
Hawk01
June 27th, 2009
8:12 pm
Mike, you are so right, but heads need to roll. A 1B with 2 hr and a corner outfielder with 5 hr. Speed,power, and pitching win games. We have sort of like 1 out of 3 with the pitching. Get Jim Leyland next year. We do not need anyone that has been close to the players such as Hubbard, TP, McDowell etc.
mike
June 27th, 2009
8:12 pm
Seems I remember. It was such an impact on the Braves that they finished……..
Beautiful Monte
June 27th, 2009
8:20 pm
I’m surprised Mr. Bradley is wasting his time with the Braves.
I mean, not a single one of them has a long track record of abhorrent behavior that culminated with with a stint in Federal prison, so they’re obviously not his kind of people.
mike
June 27th, 2009
8:29 pm
Unfortunately, I’m a Tiger fan also. They’ll never part with Leland unless he retires.
SthrnSrvy
June 27th, 2009
8:34 pm
I have stood beside the Braves, up and down. However, these past few games have opened my eyes. What the hell is going on, i knew the offense has struggled, but 19+ innings without crossing home?????? Too much good pitching going to waste…PICK IT UP BRAVOS
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
8:39 pm
Here’s tomorrow’s print column, if you’re so inclined.
About to head home now. Thanks to one and all for hanging out this afternoon. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy these live chats. (Really!)
Bill
June 27th, 2009
8:43 pm
Mark, did you get a chance to talk to Coach Mills or Coach Farrell while in Red Sox clubhouse? If so what was the info? Thanks for hard work, u#1.
MIKE lump
June 27th, 2009
8:49 pm
i just got back from the game and i was totally embarrassed for the Braves franchise. Everyone from booby on up should feel disgusted for not doing their job. I would be conservative if i called the mix 50-50 Braves to Red Sox fans. I have never felt so pathetic.. My team, the HOME team the team i love can’t compete. Hell we can’t even make people splurge on tickets.. I had to booo just to drown out the lets go red sox chants..Thats not a fan issue.. it’s an organizational issue. They aren’t marketable.. Braves are now the Royal’s and the Astros and that flat out sucks. Our offense is AAA with no signs of life. So all you other posters rearranging the batting order… stop it! Crap is crap! at on point today the next 3 batters had a combined batting average of 275.. thats 125+50+100.. hardly worth buying a ticket for! Liberty Media Please sell us so we can salvage at least an ounce of pride. I’m glad the game was national so now everyone will continue to enforce the stereotype that Atlanta is a fair weather city! UUUUUGGGGHHH!
Dawg A
June 27th, 2009
9:00 pm
Mark…. you mentioned the Red Sox clubhouse. Who are your top three favorite baseball players to talk to and then who are your top three least favorite? I coach baseball so I would also love to know who are your easiest managers to talk to and the most difficult ones to approach. Thanks … I would to know your opinion on these!
RT
June 27th, 2009
9:04 pm
I got a idea,bring up the minor league players now, why wait till sept.AND FIRE COX!
Larry
June 27th, 2009
9:19 pm
Mark,
“The next Bobby Cox?” Come on, Mark! Don’t insult Tito, the games best manager today in BOTH the regular and postseasons. Tito already has two World Series titles under his belt since 2004 and is the favorite to get number three this season.
Francona is sharp, has a versatile, disciplined and multi faceted (speed, power, hustle, fundamental and determined) group of players who doesn’t, as you and others like to say, WANT to play for their manager, but respect everything about his leadership, strategy and in-game decisions such that they feel COMPELLED to play their hearts out for him! How many Braves players other than McCann and McLouth (he’s new and untarnished by Cox…yet!) play their guts out for Cox every night?
And Mark, “Anna Nicole Smith” and Michelle (yes, Michelle) Jackson? Are you serious? Mark, the Braves’ season is appearing more and more hopeless every day, Many players are making October plans away from the ballpark already, and we have the worst in-game, decision making manager in the modern era and you go to the ball park and come back and write about a drug addicted, foul mouth playmate and a drug addicted pedophile?
Mark, please tell me you’re not really a girly man! You’re my only hope here other than the pandering DOB and the slightly off center Jeff Schultz. We need a writer to have the honesty and integrity to tell the truth, Mark! That writer could be you, buddy!
You can do it, Mark! I know you have it in you to once and for all tell it like it is! Then, when you do, you’ll not only be proud of yourself but you’ll never have to worry that the Braves will not let you in the clubhouse for the free food because I commit right here to letting you use my tickets right behind the plate, my access to the 755 Club, and I’ll buy you all the $8.00 hotdogs and $5.00 you can eat!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
11:08 pm
My three favorite baseball players, speaking professionally: Glavine, Chipper and David Justice.
Least favorite: Lonnie Smith, Bruce Benedict (yelled at me once), Tom Seaver (phony).