05 Oct
Health Update
I’ve been letting this go for awhile, until I was pretty sure… But it appears that the cancer is defeated, at least for now. You can never tell with this, but all the tests (blood work and PET scans) show up as cancer-free. The only lingering effect is some “peripheral neuropathy”, which basically means dead nerves in my feet and fingers, a common side effect of chemotherapy. It interferes with my typing, because I can’t feel the keyboard properly and my fingers slip, but that’s a small price to pay.
There will be continued follow-ups… but so far, so good.
YEAH! Go Mac!
October 5th, 2009 at 10:01 amI have two of my good friends battling Breast Cancer and my father-in-law recovering from esophageal cancer… so maybe it’s a reflection on my circle of acquaintance that “peripheral neuropathy” sounds like it means “crazy around the edges” to me…
Thanks for sharing your good news, Mac. Here’s to your making even more progress with your recovery!
October 5th, 2009 at 10:04 am‘cancer is defeated’ better than Braves Win! to your future health Mr. Thomason.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:07 amThrilled to hear, Mac. Nerves grow at about an inch a month so with the chemo removed from your body, I expect you will regain sensation in the coming future.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:09 amWonderful news, Mac. Prayers from the Stuart household will of course continue on your behalf.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:09 amExcellent news! Stay well, Mac.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:26 amMac, great to hear. Such a tough disease to combat, and it’s always good news when someone beats this mofo down.
Thanks for all your work on the Braves this season too — can’t say I was too fired up they crapped the bed for the last six games, but the percentages weren’t in our favor to begin with.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:29 amBest. Braves Journal. News. Evah.
Continued prayers and best wishes for you Mac.
Edit: Oooh, I forgot the Frenchy trade news. Was that better than Mac beats Cancer??? Close, but I think it comes in second to today’s announcement.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:31 amGreat news Mac. All the best in the future as well
October 5th, 2009 at 10:40 amGreat news, Mac!
October 5th, 2009 at 10:40 amSuper News!!!
October 5th, 2009 at 10:42 amGood job Mac. I never doubted you. I knew you had it beat when the cancer was forced to send Manny Acosta in to pitch.
Let me know if you need any help writing up stuff (like the write up for the upcoming Lowe for Puljos trade.)
October 5th, 2009 at 10:43 amSpeaking of Frenchy, Jerry Manuel told reporters that acquiring Jeff Francoeur may be the best thing to happen to the Mets this season. Really? We think so, too, Jerry!
October 5th, 2009 at 10:50 amF**k you, cancer. F**k you.
Yay, Mac!
October 5th, 2009 at 11:10 amMac rules.
Cancer drools.
Great, great news.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:14 amGiven the way things ended for the Braves, I’m sure everyone here needed a pick me up, and you provided that in spades!
Congratulations and good luck, Mac.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:14 amCapital.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:18 amWonderful news, Mac. I am very happy for you.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:19 amIncidentally… I found the organ music for the Washington batters at yesterday’s game amusing.
Maxwell = Theme from Get Smart
October 5th, 2009 at 11:22 amDesmond = can’t recall the song, think it was a Desmond Dekkar one.
Pete Orr = Row Row Row your boat
Elijah Dukes = Dukes of Hazzard theme OR Duke of Earl
Morse = SOS in Morse Code
Bard and Gonzalez I couldn’t figure out
Jorge Padilla = George of the Jungle
Martin = some Coldplay song
Good news Mac…thanks for your coverage this season under trying circumstances.
I’ll just credit your provocation of Ryan Howard this season to mis-typing. Perhaps he will understand and grant us leniency.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:24 amThat’s one for the good guys, Mac!
Now if only Alabama doesn’t break your heart.
With continued prayers, here’s hoping for a “Road From Bristol” this winter when all your parts catch up!
October 5th, 2009 at 11:28 amawesome news, Mac
October 5th, 2009 at 11:31 amBravo!
October 5th, 2009 at 11:53 amTerrific, Mac. Here’s to continued & complete recovery. Best news in a while.
#19
October 5th, 2009 at 12:06 pmDesmond Dekker & The Aces’ “Israelites,” the first reggae song most folks outside the islands ever heard.
Wonderful news, Mac! Here’s hoping next year is kinder to the Braves and to your person.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:23 pmThanks ububba… I didn’t dig through my records when I got home to try and figure it out.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pmIf you haven’t seen this…
Wow.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/10/minaya-interested-in-hiring-towers-ricciardi.html#comments
October 5th, 2009 at 12:28 pmFantastic news, Mac. Congratulations
October 5th, 2009 at 12:35 pmGreat news, Mac.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:40 pmGreat news, Mac.
Thanks for sharing.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:53 pmA little common sense from Tony Barnhart.
http://tinyurl.com/ycnyb3t
As one might imagine, I’m still a little sore about it.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:54 pmI’m still sore about the ’05 VU-UF game in Gainesville, so I feel for you, ububba.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:57 pmRe: 31-ububba
Saturday was my day I announced to my family we were now Bulldog fans. The red and black stuff would work with our Hoosiers stuff, too.
Naturally, as we watch and cheer, I get stuck by one of my own hard-won arguments-no single call from an official should actually determine the outcome of the game.
Not even Denkinger. Influnence, but not determine.
October 5th, 2009 at 1:13 pmNow I have to hear it from my family about that excessive celebration call cost the Dogs the game. I argued, but not with my heart.
Stu,
That was the worst call in college football history. My brother is a Vandy fan and in his mind he gives the win to the Dores.
October 5th, 2009 at 1:16 pmCongrats Mac!
October 5th, 2009 at 1:37 pmMac–Thanks for update and the news! Best of luck for the future!
I want to also thank you once again for a fine season of insight, wit and commentary. Braves Journal has made a great contribution to Braves’ fans throughout the world. By coming to this site many of us are able to follow the team in ways which would not be possible otherwise.
I might add that in some ways the site is even more important during the offseason–when Braves’ info is less plentiful. Therefore, I am grateful for your work during the season and look forward to many discussion on this site in the months to come.
Keep Up the Good Work!
October 5th, 2009 at 1:42 pmThat’s great news, Mac. I’m happy for you.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pmFantastic, Mac! All the best for a speedy recovery
October 5th, 2009 at 2:35 pmNow that Cancer is no longer in Mac’s long term outlook, do you think Wren could flip it for some middle relief help?
October 5th, 2009 at 2:56 pmHappy to hear that Mac. Fantastic news.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:57 pm#39, he already flipped it for Ryan Church….
(Glad to hear you are getting well, Mac.)
October 5th, 2009 at 3:31 pmAlex R. informs me that Fredi Gonzalez is apparently about to be fired. Odds on him being named manager-in-waiting sometime soon?
October 5th, 2009 at 3:36 pm@42
I bet Wren won’t commit to something like that.
October 5th, 2009 at 3:43 pmGreat news Mac!
October 5th, 2009 at 3:50 pmI agree with Mac’s other well wishers. Take care of yourself man.
October 5th, 2009 at 3:51 pmRe: Fredi Gonzalez
October 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pmI heard the same thing on WFAN today. I also heard that the Marlins (and Indians) may be interested in Bobby Valentine.
WFAN host: Who did you enjoy watch play this year?
Omar Minaya: You have to enjoy watching Francoeur going out there every day, especially with that broken thumb, and playing with that recklessness that he has.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:47 pmBest news all season.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:03 pm@47: Like a dream come true. The Mets have an awful season after being anointed the NL East favorite and their GM is talking about enjoying watching Francoeur play right field for HIS team! Heaven!
October 5th, 2009 at 5:05 pmAwesome news Mac.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:47 pmfrom peanut:
“In order to retain the financial flexibility to keep the club’s rotation strong and also address the needs at first base, outfield and the back end of the bullpen, Wren is expected to explore the possibility of trading Lowe, who is owed $45 million over the final three years of his contract.”
he also goes on to say that the braves are going to decide what to do with tim hudson in the next few weeks. frank wren seems like he wants to get the offseason over in quite a hurry.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:55 pmFrank said on air two weeks ago that the Hudson situation would need to be handled the week after the world series. Frank better put on his best selling pitch to move Lowe. Id take Fredi as Bobby’s replacement
October 5th, 2009 at 6:02 pmMac, good things do happen to good people. God bless you/
October 5th, 2009 at 6:22 pmMac, for the win!
Glad to hear it.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:12 pmI’m glad to hear that, Mac. I’d say “may you see the Braves disappoint you for many years to come,” but that won’t be the case. You should enjoy all the championships the team will win, and we’ll be glad to have you running this site, with us along for the ride.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:12 pmWay to go Mac. It takes a tough S.O.B to beat that
October 5th, 2009 at 7:26 pmThis is great news Mac. Well done.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:35 pmIf Wren can trade Lowe then that would be pretty sweet. Maybe he can trade him to the Mets for JJ Putz’s 2010 option, which we could then decline.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:40 pmPerhaps Wren, unlike some folks, is smart enough not to pitch Lowe as “dude, I just need to move this contract.” Maybe he’s smart enough to find one of the many teams in the leagues who could benefit from a 200 innings, 4-something ERAish rotational anchor and see what they might have to offer in return.
It’s a small sample size to date, but evidence suggests that Wren is better at this than some of the regulars around here.
Many happy returns, Mac.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:04 pmBetter than a playoff birth.
Glad to hear it, Mac.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:16 pmMy computer has been broken for a couple weeks, and I just got it working today. The first website I went to was yours, Mac. Even though I (thankfully) withdrew emotional from all things baseball when college football season started, I still gotta read Braves Journal. Of all the interneting I do and how much I missed having my computer, I think that it shows what Mac means to us. Even though you mentioned over Facebook that things were in the clear, it’s so good to hear you’re doing well.
How old is the website by the way? I’m trying to figure out how long I’ve been reading this. I wanna say it’s been since 2001.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:21 pmFrom reading David O’Brien’s comments on his blog it sounds like there’s a decent chance the Braves keep KJ. I hope they do.
By the way, Coach, I saw your comments on the latest Chop-N-Change post and I think it’s disgraceful you would be so unwilling to visit another side of an issue.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:23 pmMac, great to hear. Chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy isn’t cured by medications or treatments, but should go away on its own as long as the damage isn’t too severe. Medications may manage the pain and symptoms. Here’s hoping to a full recovery, side effects included!
October 5th, 2009 at 9:24 pmThe earliest version of the website was April of 1998, but the move to blogging software was in 2002.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:24 pmI’m kinda a health nut, so I know my vitamins–but keep your diet rich in B-6, B-12, alphalipoic acid, carnitine (supplements, red meat, nuts, seeds, dark green vegetables), and magnesium/calcium and there’s a great chance the neuropathy will heal. These nutrients give your body those necessary for nerve regeneration and healing.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:34 pmGreat job, Mac. Great job.
Ryan C,
Although I would love to see the scenario presented out in your off season predictions, I can’t say that I agree that Smoltz will be back. I think that bridge is burned, and I can’t imagine that the Braves will try to bring him back.
My question is, can Kenshin Kawakami close? I understand that he would be a great long relief man in the bullpen, but if he can learn how to work out of a daily relief spot during the off-season, I would feel a lot better about next year.
I also want to analyze the team’s needs before we start throwing out trades. What do we need going forward? I don’t think that we will (or should) start Heyward in right field next year, so as it stands (if Kawakami can indeed be a serviceable closer), do we need middle relief help, a first baseman, and one solid outfielder?
October 5th, 2009 at 9:46 pmFantastic news Mac!
October 5th, 2009 at 9:51 pmGood on ya, Mac. I come to you for every post game writeup and I’m glad to know I’ll get to keep that habit.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:54 pm#51–Bring it on! If the Braves can move Lowe, then a lot of good things can and should happen….
October 5th, 2009 at 11:15 pmCongratulations, Mac!
October 5th, 2009 at 11:30 pmJeebus, Mac, you never mentioned this at the TT site, so I just found out about your health “issues.” I’m certainly glad it appears to have been successfully treated!
Peripheral neuropathy has myriad forms of manifestation (my mother has it). Some are very painful, others are pain-free. I hope yours is the latter.
We’ve found info from The Neuropathy Association to be useful.
October 6th, 2009 at 2:03 amWow, that’s a huge relief, Mac. Very nice.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:20 amFantastic news, Mac.
October 6th, 2009 at 6:28 amGreat news Mac. I’m very happy to hear it.
October 6th, 2009 at 6:31 amMore weird medical stuff for athletes, this time it’s Donovan Tate.
Hmmm?
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090930&content_id=7252502&vkey=affililiate&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd
October 6th, 2009 at 7:15 amRe: Fredi Gonzalez
I’m a fan. His situation was discussed on the MLB Network shows last night. Some points:
1) Ownership may want a new manager in place for the new stadium in two years.I missed that, didn’t know a new stadium had been approved.
2)Some owners grumbled about team “not living up to expectations this year.” I think they’re stoned. That team won 87 games and were a bitch to play.
3) Bobby Valentine (Ugh!) is in play. The network guys don’t buy it. Valentine earns in the $4M range and that’s more than all but maybe two of the Marlins players.
I hope they do let Fredi go. I think he’ll make them sorry down the line.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:41 amI would like to join the chorus of those who are thrilled with the good news Mac!
As far as Gonzalez goes, didn’t he used to be 3rd base coach? My recollection is that we have a 3rd base coach who isn’t exactly appreciated as one of the best in baseball – let’s bring Fredi back if he’s let go! If not, can we get someone else to coach 3rd? I know the Diaz play that mathematically eliminated us was probably not Snitker’s fault, but I found it ironic that our season ended on a baserunning blunder at 3rd – an all too common occurance.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:40 am“I always thought the knuckleball was the easiest pitch to catch. Wait’ll it stops rolling, then go to the backstop and pick it up.” ― Bob Uecker
just laughed when I read it
October 6th, 2009 at 9:34 amGreat news!!
October 6th, 2009 at 9:42 amGreat news Mac.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:07 amThanks again for providing us with this venue to discuss our favorite team.
Glad to hear that the prognosis is good. Thanks for the dedication to this site and tolerating all of us for bitching about things that were far less important than what you were going through.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:08 amMac, I’m late to the party but I just saw this and wanted to rejoice with you. Will be praying that the Lord will uphold and protect you.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:13 amAnybody care between Tigers & Twins?
I kinda like both towns, but I think the Tigers (with Verlander) would have a better chance vs. NYY.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:32 amI hope the WS is Twins vs Cards and Smoltz gets some revenge for ’91
October 6th, 2009 at 10:38 amI hope the Cards lose in the first round and that Smoltz is the primary culprit.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:39 amI have to admit a mild averse rooting interest in the fate of Smoltz. It wouldn’t break my heart to see him get shelled once or twice. WRT to the postseason, I would of course prefer an NL (non-Phillie) win.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:56 amA) I don’t have the animosity towards Smoltz that some here do.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:57 amB) I can’t bring myself to want the Dodgers/Phils/Rockies to win… and I’d have a really hard time wanting Boston or the Yankees to win… Angels and Tigers I’d be OK with, Twins I’d be marginally OK with I guess… but I’d rather see somebody beat them in 7 games in the Metrodome (seeing Sid on Sunday may have reminded me how much that loss sucked).
C) To top it off, I’d rather have Pujols get a ring in a season when we don’t make it to the playoffs than have him want it even more the next time we’re in it and have him beat us.
A) Obviously. He was my all-time favorite baseball player, but he’s run his mouth to the point that I want him to fail.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:18 amB) Rockies, Angels, Twins/Tigers are the teams I’ll be rooting for. Pulling against the Red Sox, as always.
C) I don’t think Pujols’ level of wanting has much effect on his or his team’s postseason successes, and I seriously doubt winning a championship this year would lessen his desire to win another one in a future season. In addition to the Smoltz thing, I can never support Tony LaRussa.
I love Smoltzie (the baseball player) and would like him to get a WS ring. He deserves it.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:17 pmSmoltzie already has a World Series ring…..
October 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pmSmoltz has a WS ring, of course, and it’s ironic that he, the winningest pitcher in post-season history, didn’t win any games in the 1995 post-season.
I’m a little conflicted on Smoltz because he’s become annoying & I rarely root for the Cardinals. (Even as a Brave, some of Smoltz’s comments bothered me.)
I think I’d like to see the Cards lose in the first or second round & have Smoltz get a win or two along the way, so that he can maintain his all-time post-season wins record (15-4).
Why? This year, there’s no telling how many chances Andy Pettitte (14-9) will get to break it.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:27 pmExactly what I was thinking – Smoltz gets a couple of post season wins and Pettite does not.
By the way, Angels over the Cards.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:49 pmYeah ububba, that record is the other part of it for me too… I want “our guy” to have the winningest post season record and not a Yankee (even if he isn’t our guy anymore).
Stu has a point about LaRussa… and Pujols…
The two big reasons are that I want Smoltz to keep his winningest post-season pitcher record AND I (especially 15 year old me from ’91, three days before my 16th birthday… I knew I wasn’t getting a car for that birthday, but I sure wanted the Braves to bring back a WS win) would love to see him beat the Twins in the WS. It wouldn’t be the same without Puckett taking part in the loss… but it would be a great way to shut-up the Metrodome and a hell of a way for Smoltz to be able to hang them up (assuming he does… who knows).
October 6th, 2009 at 12:53 pmJust read the news. Congrats, Mac! And a big THANK YOU for keeping Braves Journal going through it all.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pmI have a hard time getting into baseball once he Braves are out of it. I usually get into anyone but the Yankees or Red Sox mode. I want an NL team to win. The team with the best chance IMHO is the Cards. But who knows its a crap shoot from here on out.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:09 pmDon’t post often, but read frequently. Thanks Mac for the site, and best wishes for your continued recovery.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:18 pmYankees and Dodgers is my personal prediction, Yankees taking it all.
October 6th, 2009 at 2:02 pmIn fact, Smoltz has a WS ring and a great reputation as a post season pitcher, but he actually got hit hard in the 1995 World Series….
October 6th, 2009 at 2:06 pmMark Bradley making the case for why the Braves need to keep Norton around:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/10/06/why-the-braves-must-keep-greg-norton-at-all-costs/
I know he was trying to be funny in there… but I just couldn’t be amused by it.
October 6th, 2009 at 2:11 pmI always root for the NL team in the World Series unless it’s the Cardinals. If it’s Yankees vs. Cardinals I will find something else to do aside from watching baseball. The DH is an abomination surpassed only by Cardinals baseball.
October 6th, 2009 at 2:11 pmIf I had to root for one of the teams in the playoffs it would be Anaheim or LA. I will never root for a wild card team. I will not root for an NEC team. I’m bailing out Detroit’s economy as is, a WS win isn’t something I think they need on top of that.
Between LaRussa and Smoltz, I can’t fathom sheer level of self-righteous prickishness in STL.
I’d like to see an LA/LA Series, just to annoying Bristol, CT.
I can’t root for Anaheim, outright, because that don’t play real baseball. I won’t root for a Torre based club, but I’d enjoy seeing the steroid nannies freak out if Manny got another ring.
October 6th, 2009 at 2:17 pmI also usually root for the NL team, but this year I just want to see the Yanks go down in flames. Unfortunately, I think they are the team to beat…..
October 6th, 2009 at 2:18 pmStu,
I know what you mean about Smoltz. But don’t we all have a friend that just will not shut up and simply must show his behind in public, but he’s still earned the title of “friend”?
If some folks can let Manny be Manny (I’m not one of those), I can let Johnny be Johnny.
DeRosa, Pujols and Smoltz? Yeah, I’m pulling for the Cardinals and hoping that LaRussa makes such an ass of himself that he gets none of the credit.
October 6th, 2009 at 2:30 pmThe cool thing if Detroit wins is how colorfully they celebrate. As in:
“I’m so happy, I think I’ll burn this car!”
October 6th, 2009 at 2:32 pmMan, listening to a Charlie Manuel press conference is hysterical.
FWIW, Jurrjens was named NL pitcher of the month for September. (5 starts, 4-1 w/ 1.25 ERA)
October 6th, 2009 at 2:59 pmhank,
I do have such friends, and they’re often in severe need of lesson-teaching. I am often one of those friends to other people.
I didn’t mean to imply that I don’t still love John Smoltz. I do. I just want him to get his ass handed to him, and I want it to be a learning experience.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:16 pmStu, I think he had his ass handed to him pretty well in Boston… and some of the post Boston statements seemed to indicate that he had grown a bit because of the experience (not saying he’s prefect mind you, just seemed to have learned/grown a bit).
October 6th, 2009 at 3:31 pmMark Bradley, although I agree with him sometimes, is a douchebag. It ain’t Nortons fault Cox kept running him out there. And I never heard much in the way of snark when Norton turned in a great season as a pinch hitter last year. It’s a crap job that is very hard to be successful at, and while I too would have advocated a change, there is just no call for that kind of article.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:33 pmWhat I think will happen: Yankees over Cardinals
What I would prefer: Rockies over Angels
I don’t have a much of a rooting interest in any of this year’s playoff teams. I hate the Dodgers, Phillies, Cardinals, and Yankees. I don’t hate the Red Sox, but 2 championships is enough in one decade for them. Let them wait a few decades before they get another. I have relatives in Colorado so I sometimes root for their sports teams when a Georgia team isn’t involved. I can’t root for Detroit because of Leyland. I’m indifferent to the Angels, so let them win the AL.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:51 pm@108: Right on. Norton didn’t put himself on the field–Cox did. Norton was a fine pickup in 2008 but it just didn’t happen this year. He wasn’t even making a million dollars so the Braves could have inconsequentially cut ties with him a long time before he started damaging our offense on a continual basis. Frank and Bobby might have butted heads over what to do about him, with Bobby advocating his retention.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:52 pmspike/sdp,
Compared to what I read & hear every day, that “kind of article” is about as rough as daisies & dandelions. Didn’t raise a blip on my radar.
And it is Norton’s fault that he hit .145.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:13 pmWell you do work in New York, noted for it’s genteel brand of journalism. But so what? Just because hatchet jobs have become de rigeur in your industry doesn’t make them any less objectionable. PH is a tough job to do well, and the sample size gods magnify your performance for good or ill. It’s Norton’s fault he hit .145. He’s probably out of baseball as a result too. Fine, call for his release, or whatever, but he’s done nothing, either in comportment or play, to warrant some dumbass hyuk-hyuk column from a “journalist” who was starved for something to fill his column that day.
I admire him for having the emotional stamina to make a career after being faced with a situation that would have made a lot of us give up our dreams. A far better, and more interesting piece, would have been to interview him about his future, how he views the time spent in MLB as a journeyman, and how this season has affected him. But that would require both insight and effort, something which journalism in general, and sports journalism in particular, doesn’t seem to do too much of these days.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:33 pmI think Spike nailed it as far as Bradley is concerned.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:43 pmububba………how was Lucinda? i saw her about 18 months ago at a nice venue here and still get chills thinking about it. what a voice, what a songwriter…………..as far as baseball goes, i think i’ll root for the twins and rockies just so we can see Bud tapdance around while he tries to sell that one to the country. especially with those horrible stadiums. lets hope for blizzards in Colorado. ………………the last few years, with no Braves in it, i’ve kinda skipped the post-season but now my football season has already gone so far south that it’s springtime so i’ll be wwatching the playoffs closely.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:46 pmSpike,
Tough titty, that’s life in the big city.
Guess Cabrera’s not hung over today.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:51 pmChip Carey really is an irritating man, isn’t he?
October 6th, 2009 at 4:54 pmAdam..thats what happens when you stop being an irritating boy.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:56 pmHere’s what we’ve learned so far…
Jim Leyland on Magglio’s improvement: “He stopped being tentative, started being aggressive.”
Ron Gardenhire on his players: “I got a bunch of baseball players.”
October 6th, 2009 at 5:03 pmTough titty, that’s life in the big city.
Oh agreed. But just so I understand you clearly – are you advocating this style of “sportswriting”, or just saying that people engage in it and it’s an occupational hazard. If the latter, I am sure Norton’s not losing any sleep over it, and neither am I, but the fact that it is common, like Norton’s .145, doesn’t exempt it from criticism.
October 6th, 2009 at 5:12 pmSpike,
What are you, Greg Norton’s agent?
That column/blog was just a joke—some found it amusing, some didn’t. (FWIW, I liked the anecdote about his daughter.) It was one of those what-are-we-gonna-do-without-him-to-kick-around-anymore columns.
Norton, apparently & sadly, had become a hot topic in AJC forum land, so the column was more about the idea of diminishing page views (with Norton gone) than anything else. Big deal.
And yeah, there’s the occupational-hazard element: Don’t wanna get kicked when you’re down or headed out the door? Don’t wanna have columnists’ daughters make jokes about you?
Then don’t kill the team by hitting .145.
October 6th, 2009 at 6:09 pmLucinda Sunday Night
barry,
I got lucky. She played a three-night stand at Irving Plaza, this wonderful 2-level venue in Manhattan that fits about 1,100 people, and apparently I got the best show of the lot. (In fact, I’m told that it was the gig of the tour so far.) A coworker saw her Saturday & told me she had one of her little meltdowns. Apparently, there was a little more of that last night. The middle show, my show, was the best Lucinda I’ve ever seen.
Her voice was in spectacular form & so was her mood. (It was her husband’s birthday—that might’ve had something to do with it.) She did chunks of albums in order: 4 songs from “Sweet Old World”; 7 songs from “Car Wheels on the Gravel Road”; 4 songs from “Essence”; 1 from “West”; 7 from “Little Honey.” (Nothing I remember from “World Without Tears.”)
Except for the AC/DC cover (“It’s a Long Way to the Top If You Wanna Rock-n-Roll”) & the regulation blues rockout of “Joy,” it didn’t get too raucous. The band, Buick 6, went the understatement route & the tunes weren’t all the obvious ones. Nonetheless, she was pretty captivating on things like “Blue,” “Something About What Happens When We Talk” and, of course, “Essence,” which is always spellbinding.
My highlight: Alone with an acoustic guitar, she dedicated a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel” to the recently departed Jim Carroll (of “People Who Died” fame). Her voice was so clear, the accents so right, that it just burned holes in me. I looked around & people were welling up. It was awesome.
October 6th, 2009 at 6:16 pmBoy is Skip Caray bad. Hyping every f*****g single and even the laziest flyballs.
October 6th, 2009 at 6:30 pmGood for you Mac….
October 6th, 2009 at 7:10 pm@122: Blasphemy, Tom! Horrible typo.
On another note, does anyone remember Jason Varitek’s “majestic” foul down the right field line last year in Tampa? Haha.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:23 pmI hate the fucking Twins! Go Tigers!
October 6th, 2009 at 7:50 pmIs it me, or was the middle infield NOT at double play depth there? The Tigers’ defense has been beyond horrible this inning.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:59 pmChip Carey just screamed “line drive base hit!” on that inning ending double play. That was awesome.
Also, are the announcers or anyone else gonna deal with the fact that the runner was actually safe?
October 6th, 2009 at 8:01 pmHaha. Chip is so used to saying “Line drive! Base hit!”.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:01 pmI haven’t used mlb.tv in a while. Anyone know how to fix the “you pick the camera and that’s the only camera you get to watch” thing they got going on? It’s miserable
October 6th, 2009 at 8:02 pmhahaha! I literally ran here to post Chip being an absolute tool but I guess I was beaten!!
hahaha!!
October 6th, 2009 at 8:02 pmWhat in the hell was he thinking there? He had absolutely no chance to score there.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:03 pmhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/20721751/Frank-Wren-Transaction-History
I didn’t feel like screwing up my alternating rows to get rid of Dessens.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:11 pmWatching from high behind home plate on mlb.tv really shows the ineptitude of Chip Carey.
*Ball hit to shallow center field, Granderson sees it all the way*
Chip Carey: Granderson got a late break, charges in! Makes the catch!
Ron Darling: Granderson got a good break on that.
*Ball hit to straight away center field*
October 6th, 2009 at 8:27 pmChip Carey: Gomez, charging in!
*Gomez stands completely still and catches the ball*
I actually think that the “line drive! base hit!” call is so bad that it might get national attention. But really, for me, it’s the fact that he keeps having to change his pants every time the ball is hit to the outfield.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:32 pmI like that TBS is doing games for all these different teams now and that Chip Caray is calling them and this long 1-game playoff.
Maybe now a national audience will finally realize that it isn’t Joe Buck or Joe Morgan or Tim McCarver who is the worst announcer in the game.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:42 pmTwins win the right to lose to the Yankees!
October 6th, 2009 at 8:45 pmLets go Twins….and in 2010 save us from Chip Caray….
October 6th, 2009 at 11:28 pmAt least Chip isn’t likely to take over for Boog. It’d be nice if we could get Jim Powell to migrate over from radio. Hell, I wouldn’t mind if we had Simpson, Sutton and Powell if it meant no Torborg, Rathbun or Chip.
ububba – I didn’t know Jim Carroll had died, but there are very few deaths I would find less surprising.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:11 amMac, just read your news, I am so happy for you. Well done!!! Take some good rest during this offseason because we will be awesome in 2010.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:31 amThat’s excellent news, Mac! Wonderful to hear!
October 7th, 2009 at 6:45 amAwesome: http://twitpic.com/kjp8k
October 7th, 2009 at 7:05 amThanks Adam M.—sometimes a picture is really worth more than words….
October 7th, 2009 at 7:42 amMac, I’m thrilled to hear that you’re doing better, physically and otherwise. Like Stu said, you’ll remain in my thoughts.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:32 amMac, your site has made a more enjoyable Braves experience, Thanks for all your hard work. Best wishes on continued good health.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:00 amFWIW, Playoff Picks
Pha in 4
StL in 4
NYY in 3
LAA in 5
Fave Playoff Tidbit from NY Times:
“Nothing better epitomizes Alex Rodriguez’s October futility than this astounding fact: since Game 4 of the 2004 A.L.C.S., Rodriguez is 0 for 27 with runners on base in the postseason. He has come to bat with 38 runners on base and stranded every one.”
He’s certainly playing the right team this week.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:36 amPlayer A Postseason, career – .279/.373/.483/.856
Player B Postseason, career – .309/.377/.469/.845
One deified, one vilified.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:56 amA. Arod?
October 7th, 2009 at 10:02 amB. Big Pappy?
B is Jeter, A is A-Rod.
The vast majority of A-Rod’s good numbers come from his time in Seattle. As a Yankee, he’s not been good. The 0-for-27 stat should speak volumes.
Additionally, Jeter has done it in way, way more games, which should count for something. Then there’s that matter about big hits in big games which resulted in titles.
BTW, super high winds in NYC today, 40 MPH. Gonna be an interesting game in The Bronx.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:34 amMcCann wants more Lasik
October 7th, 2009 at 10:35 am@149,
If McCann goes back under the laser, he better only do it with an expert at a high end university medical complex. “Second Lasiks” are even more likely to cause complications including but not limited to kerataconus.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:40 amThe 0-for-27 stat should speak volumes
It does. What it says to me is 27 AB’s distributed over 4 years is, how you say, noise. But it fits nicely with a meme that is near and dear to a large number of folks, so I am cool with it stranding for the massive FAIL of A-FRAUD.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:45 am@151,
Well said.
Call me crazy, but I really like this McCann fellow.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:39 amI had a dream last night that we traded Derek Lowe. I was curious who we traded him to, but I was too busy celebrating to ask. Then Derek Lowe walked in the room and heard us celebrating and walked away looking very sad.
I should stop eating before bed.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:43 amSo, Jeter’s 12 post-season results are what? Music?
No matter how you slice it, no matter how dear the notion of sample size warms your heart, that’s awful—certainly unacceptable for the cleanup hitter of the New York Yankees, whether his name is Alex Rodriguez or Mel Hall.
When the highest-paid player in baseball can’t do better than 0 for 27 with runners on base in 4 consecutive series that his team loses, that’s a gag-o-rama. If you’re a Yankee fan, that’s gag-a-licious. If you hung out with A-Rod, you’d be a gag hag. OK, I’ll stop.
It’s not a meme, Spike, it’s a genuine pattern with real numbers that indict A-Rod.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:50 amThe efficacy of Lasik is hotly contested anyways. Mac should do his best to adjust and stay away from lasers.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:53 amHa, misunderstood the 0-27 stat. I thought that was the one postseason where they moved him down to the 8th spot, not 4 consecutive series with runners on base. That’s a bit harder to justify.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:57 amGuys, I’m such a sucker. I had a Hottie McTottie bartender last night. She gave me some attention and was friendly and so I left a $20.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:14 pmThe efficacy of Lasik is hotly contested anyways.
It’s definately a case-by-case basis. I had lasik done about 10 years ago, and couldn’t be happier. But, messing with the eyes is a pretty scary thing, and I doubt I’d go through it a 2nd time.
I’d skip it too, if I were him.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pmIt’s not a meme, Spike, it’s a genuine pattern with real numbers that indict A-Rod.
Since 2007, Jeter is a shocking 1 for his last 11 w RoB. Kill him too.
4 consecutive series with runners on base*
*over four year time span
Count tha ringzzz, Chocker!!1!!!11
October 7th, 2009 at 12:47 pm@157
I definitely think a cite would’ve been appropriate there sdp.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:49 pmI’d give my left nut for 20/20 vision.
@157 don’t sweat it. The combination of hormones and alcohol always leaves men with much less money.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:52 pmGreat news Mac. Best wishes for continued health.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:00 pmSpike,
A pinstriped false equivalent.
Jeter has had tons of post-season success (personal & team) with the Yankees. A-Rod has had tons of failure with the Yankees.
And that recent 1/11? That’s coming off a series where he hit .500. Jeter has hit .300 or better in 16 of the 25 series he’s played.
What’s fascinating to me—aside from that fact that someone is out there trying to defend A-Rod’s Yankee post-seasons by pointing to Jeter—is that you’d be hard-pressed to find another great player who has coughed it up so hard in the bright lights.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:10 pmWhat I find fascinating is that some can take 27 disparate events over the course of literally THOUSANDS of at bats, separated by entire seasons, on aggregate overwhelmingly successful, an find a “pattern” of failure. When it is pointed that this same pattern can exist for examples that are held to be “successful”, a tautology is employed wherein the initial statement is shown as proof of itself.
Fact – Alex Rodriguez has enjoyed postseason success.
Fact – Derek Jeter has enjoyed postseason success
Fact – Alex Rodriguez has enjoyed postseason success as a Yankee(2004 ALDS,ALCS)
Fact – Derek Jeter has enjoyed postseason success as a Yankee (numerous)
Fact – Alex Rodriguez has experienced postseason failure as a Yankee(2005,6,7 ALDS)
Fact – Derek Jeter has experienced postseason failure as a Yankee (2004 ALCS, 2007 ALDS)
INESCAPABLE CONCLUSION – A-WAD IS TEH SUXXORS IN OCTOBER!!!
October 7th, 2009 at 1:23 pm157,
Did she at least give you a few free beers? I can justify tipping well if I got a few free drinks out of it.
And how much was your tab? A $20 tip in NY isn’t that crazy unfortunately…
October 7th, 2009 at 2:10 pmIn the spirit of getting no respect from stunning bartendresses:
So this girl comes up to me and says, “Give me a hundred dollars and I’ll do anything you want.”
I said, “Sold! Now paint my house.”
In the absence of another “sansho scores!” string, perhaps this will incite some Rodney love.
October 7th, 2009 at 2:45 pm@165: No, I had a Yuengling and a strong as hell Long Island Iced Tea. My tab was ~$7 bucks. She was a college student and I’m a generous guy.
October 7th, 2009 at 3:27 pmso Soriano and Gonzo are type A FA, and Anderson and Laroche are both type B. Seems like we could be in line for a pretty good draft
October 7th, 2009 at 4:00 pmspike,
Comparing the Yankee post-seasons of those 2 players really isn’t a good idea. Jeter blows him away in that category.
Those 27 “disparate” events are huge. They’re consecutive. They occured in the past 17 post-season games, 13 of which the Yankees have lost. They contributed to his team’s failure in those 4 consecutive series.
I’ll say it again, one should expect the highest paid player in baseball to be a lot better than that. He’s deserved the heat.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:43 pm167,
Less than $7?! I need to move.
No wait a minute…no, I don’t.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:45 pmThey’re consecutive.
Events separated by a year of the same event happening 500+ times do not count as “consecutive” to me. I am fine with not liking A-Rod, personally professionally or any other way for that matter. Cherry picking 27 AB’s out of his career to “demonstrate” he is a postseason failure is not only intellectually dishonest in context of his career postseason numbers (see above), but even in terms of his Yankee career. He has had two series (and fifty at bats) of superior performance. That doesn’t really work conveniently with the A-Rod as postseason failure narrative, so they are conveniently ignored in favor of the 27 that support it.
But by all means, have it your way.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:53 pmsdp,
Did you get her number? Was the $20 for cab money home the next day?
SHAWIIIING!
October 7th, 2009 at 5:01 pmWould it be possible to get some conspicous consumption worked into the rebuttal?
October 7th, 2009 at 5:01 pmLook I’ll dial it back – ububba is one of my very favorite people on this site, and I value his opinion on baseball and music, among other things very highly. What cheeses me off so on this topic is that the Yankees of late can’t just lose – they have to have a scapegoat. “Someone stabbed us in the back and prevented the Yankees from their rightful prize!” Arod certainly leads with his chin, PR-wise, and doesn’t seem to be a particularly astute guy. But I’ll be damned if I won’t speak up for an inner circle HOF, one of the three or so best guys ever at his position, who has done nothing but hit the crap out of the ball during his tenure in NY, be held out as the reason for their post series failures.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:15 pm@170: Upstate SC…no, you don’t need to move.
@172: No number. She didn’t seem like my type and I think she was a smoker. I’ve never rode in a cab.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:20 pmA guy who gets paid $30 million a year shouldn’t be oh-for-anything. That’s the reality of it.
I hate the Yankees, but not nearly as much as I hate the Red Sox and their cah-pahk-chowder-bowl-eating fan base.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:23 pm175,
I think he meant the $20 was cab money for HER.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:25 pmsdp,
I think she liked you.
WFAN interview with Yanks GM Brian Cashman: “In the post-season, it’s not about ‘small-sample size’ because one punch can change the whole series.”
And now he’s 0 for his last 28.
Spike,
October 7th, 2009 at 5:31 pmYou gotta admit, that ain’t too good no matter how you slice it.
csg at 168,
You do realize that you don’t get draft picks unless you offer arbitration?
I don’t think we need to offer arb to Garret. He might take it and we need him gone.
On Soriano, he would be expensive, too.
LaRoche is a no brainer. If he does a one year at an arb inflated 10 or so, then fine. Freeman can take over next year.
Gonzo also might be o.k. to offer as he probably won’t come in over 5.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:07 pmI didn’t realize we could decline Hudson’s option and still offer him a smaller contract. Wonder if that’ll happen.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:10 pmThat’s great to hear, Mac!
October 7th, 2009 at 6:25 pmNew thread/poll.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:42 pm