Almanzar had basically one good full season in the majors, 2004, in which he wasn’t that good and had a pedestrian strikeout rate. After five innings in 2005 he needed Tommy John surgery. He’s in the mix, I guess.
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Well I guess it is that time of year when every team goes out looking for pitcher that have ever thrown a ball near the plate, praying that one of the 35 of them that comes to camp will catch lightning in a bottle for a season. Then go on to sign a four year deal to set up for the Yankees the next season, where they get light up like a lightning.
What do you guys think about this:
The food service at my school is terrible and they force all on campus students to buy the meal plan (which costs between $500-$1500) IF you don’t use all the money by then end of the semester, you don’t get a refund. THe service is terrible and everyone bitches. So in one of my classes we are stagging a boycott on March 31 as a class project. This is going to be huge!
Is your food service Sodexho, Smitty?
Our unused meals get converted into snack bar dollars at approximately 1/3 of their value, so we don’t totally lose everything. But it’s a really bad exchange rate. However, given that I have 130 meals for the term, there are 3 weeks left, and I’ve used exactly 27 of them, I will be converting my remaining meals into flex dollars. Next year I’m probably going to be in campus housing that’s off-board, so I can cook for myself. Why would I want to go to all that trouble? When you have eaten the food here, you will be more than willing to take the time and effort needed to cook your own meals to avoid starving to death.
Good luck on your boycott. We’re trying to get our food service changed because Sodexho funds prisons or something and everyone’s upset about it.
I’m guessing that most people who want to be in a league are signed up already – but, if you’re interested, I’ve got 5 spots (out of 12) left in a Yahoo! league I set up.
It’s rotisserie scoring, offensive categories are – R, HR, RBI, SB, BB, AVG, OBP, SLG. Pitching categories – W, SV, K, BB, Total Bases, ERA, WHIP & K/BB ratio.
League ID is 31946, and password is ‘braves’. I’ll probably open it to a public league next week if it’s not full by then.
UAB was trying something similar awhile back. Here’s what I wrote.
No we have Aramark. I will keep you guys posted. People have been finding out about the boycott and really seem to be in to it
I liked the article Mac, any suggestions about how we might further our plan?
Go to the media. Either find out who writes the college beat for the local paper, or try the “On Your Side” segment (or whatever they call it) on a TV station.
I ran across an interesting interview that Baseball Digest had with R.E.M. bassplayer Mike Mills. In here, he discusses his lifelong devotion to the Atlanta Braves:
http://www.remhq.com/flash/news/news.html?news_id=1984
For anybody that was expecting Jeff Bennett to be our bullpen savior, well, I’m sorry. He’s still having elbow problems and was released. Though I wonder if “elbow problems” is a cover-up for “we finally realized that we don’t want pitchers who have had anything to do with the Milwaukee Brewers.”
Awesome interview, ububba.
Now that’s a fan.
Fox might buy Turner South. Don’t really know exactly what would happen; all I can hope is that, for us poor souls up here in Nashville who aren’t smart enough to buy a dish, the TS games would become available on cable. That’s probably just wishful thinking, though.
And FWIW (which isn’t much!) Harold Reynolds just said the Mets are winning the division this year. I saw Kirkjian say the same thing yesterday. Not that it surprises me at all anymore. I’m to the point where I laugh at it now. People just don’t learn. Or they wanna look smart when it actually finally happens. (If that logic holds, I could be a weatherman in Arizona and just say it’s gonna rain everyday until it actually does rain, and then look how smart I am! Riiiiight.)
Speaks volumes to the state of affairs on campus when this crop of students boycotts/protests target food service. You should have seen the eighties…Enjoy not cooking/cleaning.
On to the real crime, these bleedin’ relievers…
I know most people on here don’t care for Chris Reitsma, but I got a chuckle out of this line from Mike Bauman Perspectives page on MLB.com:
“Reitsma, who will pitch for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, was in good spirits upon his arrival, kidding teammates who had chosen not to participate in the WBC, that their choice was based primarily on a fear of losing to Canada.”
I received an email from Atlanta Braves.com this morning and they had this Around the Horn where they talked about the big stories for the new year by position…well I guess they didn’t update from last year because here are the HOT topics:
? Catchers: Estrada will shine again
? Corners: Chipper back in familiar spot
? Middle inf.: Lots of potential
? Outfielders: Veterans fill holes
? Starting rotation: New ace in town
? Bullpen: Kolb assumes closer’s role
? Bench: Franco leads youngsters
I worked in my school’s dining hall for the last three (3) years I was there and consequently got all of my meals for free. You could always try that angle if you really don’t want to pay for the meal service; however, scraping grits off of plates before 8:00 a.m. leaves much to be desired.
I just got the official Braves Spring Training whatch-a-macallit e-mail. It amuses me because apparently they just recycled some articles from last year including how Estrada is the heir-apparent to Javy Lopez and really hopes to continue “last year’s” success. Awesome! I hope he does.
Anyways, that’s just the catcher report. Hopefully the article on Sheffield will have some real insight.
Mondi is comming into this spring in the best shape of his life! He should hit 30 bombs. I don’t think that Francoeur kid is near ready, but that is ok, Mondi should anchor right field for the next three-five years.
Yeah, too bad Francoeur isn’t ready yet, but at least we have a solid closer finally. I wasn’t sure before, but now I’m a little more confident Kolb won’t crack under the pressure. And I could’ve sworn Julio signed with the Mets, but it’s always good to have him back.
I think Hampton might win 20 this year
Leo’s web site has been updated. The picture at the top is of Leo in his new O’s uniform!
http://reds.linefeed.org/bios/stalin.html
My favorite line from Big D’s story that Fox might buy Turner South is the following:
John Mansell, senior analyst with Kagan Research, has estimated the value of Turner South at $200 million.
WHAT?? Who could possibly say that channel is worth $200 mill? I’d pay $75-$80, tops.
Without Junkin’ and the Braves, the network would be worth $5.97
You forget Rick ‘n Bubba, Live at the Bluebird Cafe, Bushwhacked….
No, I didn’t forget them…
Hey look a contraction article
http://www.all-baseball.com/cubreporter/archives/021825.html
Giles turning the tomahawk chop into the “Walk like an Egyptian” dance in the promos is worth $200 mil alone.
“My game, my team, my South, go Braves!” is the greatest song in the history of mankind.
Remember when Mark DeRosa did the sprinkler on those comercial? Ugh
Smitty,
Good link to Leo’s web site. This just adds to his legend even more. According to his web-site he “died” in 1953. Leo is Pure Evil! or the Devil!
He didn’t really die, he just became more powerful. Kind of like Jedi
I have to agree with Adam R., nothing gets me pumped like hearing Cee-Lo lay it down for tha’ “A.”
“Rookie first baseman James Jurries will get consideration this spring. The right-handed slugger hit .282 with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs in 106 games last season at Class AAA Richmond. He also struck out 107 times in 363 at-bats and served a suspension for using steroids.
“We’re going to look at Jurries pretty hard,” Cox said. “He can hit. He’s popped the ball everywhere he’s been.”
Hee hee… Bobby Cox said “hard”!
Don’t worry about James Jurries, I heard Leo was the one who really peed in his cup.
Javy Lopez says he doesn’t want to be anywhere but in Baltimore and refuses to be a distraction, The Baltimore Sun reports.
“I want to finish my career in Baltimore,” Lopez, who said he hopes to play two more years after this season, told The Sun. “I don’t want to be the guy that wants to play for so many different teams before you retire. I feel very comfortable here with the Orioles.”
Two years? wow!
As long as he can swing a bat no reason not to keep him around as a DH.
More Shocking But True Headlines…
DNA Tests Prove “He Whose Name Will Not Be Spoken” Leo’s Biological Son
Leo Moonlighted As FEMA Advisor During Katrina
Al-Qaida Fields Team for World Baseball Classic: Leo Named Pitching Coach
Those rascally Methodists:
Methodists ditch Richmond, Va., meeting over Braves’ nickname
I’m not sure what the city of Richmond is supposed to do about it.
Well, that was one of the dumbest things I’ve read recently. Richmond’s Convention Center is really, really nice, and not to use it because of a sport team is just silly (“strong stance” or not). The ironic thing would be if Richmond were to end up losing the Braves?
Also, the guy who pointed out there’s a sports team in Richmond called the Braves knew about it because of the Skychiefs. Wouldn’t Skychiefs be offensive, too?
Aren’t the Methodists worried about a Pirate backlash(Buccaneers)but I’d think they would be more worried about a city that would name a pro team after their greatest enemy(Devil Rays). I have a feeling that Leo is involved somehow.
Anyone around here listen to the Arctic Monkeys? Their cd isn’t out yet but you can listen to their whole album on MySpace (or by other, less scrupulous means).
Also, their damn show in DC is already sold out. Sigh.
CHill, a Richmond columnist makes the same point.
Artic Monkeys’ video for “When the Sun Goes Down” can be found at iFilm.com. Pretty cool, pretty gritty.
As a Methodists, I wonder one thing; When did we start carring about stuff like that? Ugh.
I am sure my gradparents will say something about the Braves now too. Oh well, I will get a good laugh about it in my Francoeur jersey.
Just named my fantasy team Gold Clubbers. Wonder what the Methodists would think of that.
We like it!
I appreciate the Methodists’ concerns & they’re certainly free to go wherever they want for whatever reason they see fit, but they gotta know that they’re taking it out on the wrong people. Richmond has nothing to do with it.
Don’t like the Braves? Don’t watch ’em, don’t give ’em your money. Simple.
Note to Richmond columnist: A Devil Ray is an aquatic creature, not a Lucifer-launched projection.
Aramark is horrible.
Mac,
Congrats on Bama beating the Vols today. I saw the 1st half and Bama really put the kibosh on them. Not sure if this has been mentioned but seems that Bruce Benedict(yes that one) is a referee in the SEC.
Florida is tumbling… yuck.
Bruce Benedict has been an SEC official for quite a while, now.