The Braves did replace the injured Thompson, Jordan, and Reitsma, but they were a big part of the problem.  I haven’t been keeping with all the comings and goings, but they were grooming James to be a starter.  The tall Aussie and Thorman were both tearing it up in Richmond, earning their promotions.

Just when guys like McBride and Ray start looking good, they have a bad outing.  Cormier was the return for dumping Estrada’s salary, so if we were to get anything out of him, it would be a bonus.  Paronto and Yates were also cheap free agents with little downside…hopefully one or two would work out, like Ray.

No MLB has good middle relief, and only a few teams have excellent closers…the key is having the starters get you deep in the game, like Maddux and Glavine used to do.  Smoltz had the lead when he left the game Sunday…when you score seven runs you should win.  Perhaps this is the week Sosa is taken out of the rotation. 

They play Betemit, and his average has been dropping.  My friend thinks Giles could be gone after this year.  The Braves say Thorman will get some playing time at first base as well.  I don’t see what’s wrong with Diaz.

They seem to mostly use the same guys with the lead…currently that may be, in descending order…Ray (closer), Sosa ( 8^th and 9th), Stockman (I haven’t seen), Thompson (when he comes back…the pen?), McBride, Remlinger, Paronto.

Cooperstown!

Call me crazy, but I’m taking Will to play with the Shaw Park team at Cooperstown.  We’ll leave late Thursday or very early Friday and check in late Friday or early Saturday.  Saturday they have some events and meetings, and play two games a day Sunday through Wednesday.  The single elimination is Thursday, and we’ll come home Friday…perhaps with a stop in Philly or DC. 

I’m staying in the barracks with the team, kinda like a chaperone.  Basically Will is the hired gun to help bolster the team’s chances, though I hear the competition is competitive, with select teams with budgets in five (or six?) figures.

The other parents don’t seem to mind, since it’s helping the team’s chances.  They seem to be just as interested to traveling to NYC, four hours away.  I’ll stick with the Hall of Fame…after driving 15 hours, I don’t want to drive more!

Will needed rubber cleats, and he dug out the Nikes I wore ten years ago for my week at the Cubs fantasy camp.  They still had the polish from where they shined them every night.  The big difference between them and current Nike models is that these have the old NIKE above the swoosh, instead of the swoosh only.  He likes them.  He has a sore ankle, which is unusual.

Watched Glory Road last night.  Have you seen it?  About the NCAA final where Kentucky got beat by that small school in Texas.

Anna is at a knitting day camp this week.  Thursday Matthew is taking this class where they take raw wool and make a teddy bear.  Yesterday he went to the JFBC VBS.  He loves to make crafts and eat cookies, but he didn’t know anyone in his class, so it wasn’t his favorite.  This is the guy who like to play baseball for the teammates.

I’ve got to get to one of those Chickfila breakfast buffets…are they only on Saturdays?