trublue 939 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 Braves fans chat with Chipper The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 02/07/08 Chipper Jones went from third base to cyberspace Wednesday night. The veteran Braves player logged on to David O'Brien's blog on ajc.com as "U Kno Who". His original intent was to shoot down rumors that he was going to retire after next season. Well, that and to chide the AJC's O'Brien and bloggers for giving him the nickname "Hoss." What followed was an unscheduled Q&A with O'Brien and fans. But first Jones had to convince the bloggers of his authenticity (this was cyberspace, where "George W. Bush" posts can be found on virtually all political blogs. Jones proved his authenticity by answering several personal questions posed by O'Brien that only the 13-year veteran would know. "It was pretty surprising to see him not just stop by, but stick around and blog with folks the way he did," said O'Brien, who has been writing his popular (and often quirky) blog on ajc.com for three years. "It says a lot about what kind of guy he is, that he'd come on there without being asked and have a dialogue with fans for several hours." In addition to baseball, Jones, who said he is a frequent reader of the blog, also answered questions on topics that ranged from retirement life to Valentine's Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmitt 10 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 hey my dog is named chipper after him.....I love the Braves...although it's been tough the last few. Chipper deserves a championship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinkman 14 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 hey i am a big braves fan to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 MORE READING MATERIAL... 10 keys to success for the Braves in 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 02/10/08 The Braves used to head to spring training as favorites to win their division. It didn't matter what personnel changes Atlanta — or its opponents — had made. Times have changed. It's been two years (and two third-place finishes) for the Braves since their streak of 14 division titles. Now they are NL East underdogs. They are picked by many to finish behind both Johan Santana-infused New York and Philadelphia, respective winners of the past two division titles. If the Braves hope to end a two-year postseason drought, it would help to have a strong spring training. Pitchers and catchers report Thursday to Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 20. The AJC's David O'Brien takes a look at 10 keys to the season: 1. The Big Three starters stay healthy The Braves hope to get 600 innings from the trio of John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Tom Glavine. Getting them through camp healthy is the first step. The Braves have several options for their last two rotation spots, but they don't have others who could be expected to fill in and do what the three top veterans could do. Injuries and lack of rotation depth undermined the Braves from the outset in 2007. New GM Frank Wren set out to avoid a repeat of that debacle. He brought back former Atlanta ace Glavine from the Mets and traded for promising Detroit rookie Jair Jurrjens. There's depth, including a handful of options for the last two spots. But the Braves need those first three starters to lead them. 2. Chipper avoids strains, pulls, etc. It's a far better team with Chipper Jones in the lineup, so the Braves will hope and pray for another spring without problems from his chronic foot or abdominal strains. Hoss played 134 games last season and hit .337 with 42 doubles, 29 homers, 102 RBIs and a league-high 1.029 OPS. He's drooling over the prospect of hitting in front of Mark Teixeira for an entire season. Since June 24, 2006, Jones has put up astounding numbers: .350 average, 58 doubles, 48 homers, 153 RBIs, .434 OBP and .655 slugging percentage in 185 games. The knock on him is the 185 games, since the Braves have played 250 games in that same period — posting a 103-82 record with Chipper, and a 29-36 record without him. 3. Rafael Soriano owns the closer role For the fourth consecutive year, the Braves enter spring training with a new closer. They trust Soriano will handle the role better and longer than Dan Kolb, Chris Reitsma or Bob Wickman, hence the two-year, $9 million contract given Soriano. There's no question the Dominican has the scowl, disposition and nasty repertoire (72 strikeouts in 70 innings in '07) to thrive in the role he craved. But now he needs to avoid another homer binge like he endured last summer, and avoid arm problems he had in the past. After allowing nine homers in 24 innings from mid-June to mid-August, Soriano made adjustments and allowed one run in his last 17 appearances while piling up 24 strikeouts with three walks. 4. Tex has a year to break the bank A big season from first baseman Mark Teixeira could drive his free-agent price through the stratosphere and perhaps out of Atlanta's range. But the Braves would surely welcome that dilemma if it meant their cleanup hitter put up gaudy numbers while providing important lineup protection behind Chipper Jones and helped carry the Braves back to the postseason. After a July 31 trade, Teixeira racked up 17 homers, 56 RBIs and a 1.019 OPS in 55 games for Atlanta. The former Gold Glove winner teams with Jones to form baseball's top switch-hitting combo. As much as the Braves will miss Andruw Jones' defense, Teixeira is a far better, more disciplined hitter, and pitchers won't work around Chipper to get to him. 5. Bullpen roles are established early Best-laid plans were quashed last year when Atlanta's three-headed bullpen monster was gutted by Mike Gonzalez's early elbow injury and Wickman's inconsistency and griping. But the emergence of Aussie sidearmer Peter Moylan (.208 opponents' average), rookie Manny Acosta (4-for-43 by right-handed hitters) and Tyler Yates, coupled with the offseason addition of lefty Will Ohman and anticipated midseason return of Gonzalez, could make the '08 bullpen quite formidable. The first step is getting everyone comfortable in their roles, including a long man (Jeff Bennett could be the man) to replace traded Oscar Villarreal and provide a spot start when Smoltz or another needs a break. 6. Frenchy and B-Mac take the next step They were the only players featured on the 2007 media guide. Now it's time for Gwinnett sons Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann to take another step toward becoming franchise cornerstones. In the second full season for each of them, Francoeur raised his average 33 points to .293 and his on-base percentage 45 points to .338, while his homers dropped from 29 to 19. McCann, after hitting .333 with 24 HRs and a .388 OBP in a splendid '06 season, was slowed by injuries in a .270-18-.320 followup. Both players are married now, both are stronger after offseason workout regimens, and both say they're determined to help the hometown team get back to October baseball. Francoeur going .290-30-110 and McCann .300-22-100 would help put a lot of pressure on opposing pitchers. 7. Hampton's ready to contribute The Braves aren't reprising last year's mistake of counting on Mike Hampton to fill a top-three rotation spot. Actually, they aren't counting on him at all. But they are crossing fingers and hoping the former 22-game winner can defy the skeptics and compete again after missing two seasons for elbow surgeries. He's 35, in the final season of his much-maligned $121 million contract, and insists he wants to continue pitching beyond '08. Keep in mind, he's 1-2 with a 13.06 ERA in three starts since June 1, 2005 — and none of them were in 2006-07. But he's always been a fiery competitor and has kept himself in great condition. 8. J.J., Jo-Jo push Chuck to improve Hungry rookies Jair Jurrjens and Jo-Jo Reyes could inspire Chuck James, perhaps lead him to study scouting reports and make an adjustment against hitters who've figured him out. Though he's won 11 games both seasons in the majors, James struggled in '07, allowing 32 homers in 161 1/3 innings and getting bailed out by hefty run support in some outings. In his last nine games he had a 6.02 ERA, two quality starts and a DL stint (tired arm). Jurrjens jumped from Class AA to Detroit and went 3-1 in seven starts, including 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA and .136 opponents' average in a four-game stretch in a playoff race. The Braves lost the first eight times that Reyes pitched, but the lefty showed glimpses of big potential in those games and went 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in his last three. 9. Escobar, K.J. thrive in the middle The Braves have a young and potent middle-infield combo with shortstop Yunel Escobar, who hit .326 with a .385 on-base percentage as a rookie, and second baseman Kelly Johnson, who hit .276 with 10 triples and 16 homers in his first season at a new position after missing the '06 season for elbow surgery. The Braves lost an All-Star and team leader when they traded Edgar Renteria, but wouldn't have pulled the trigger if they didn't believe the strong-armed Escobar is ready to shine as his replacement. He's special, period. Unlike many rookies, the Cuban got even better after teams scouted him, batting .350 with a .441 OBP in his final 34 games. Both thrived in the leadoff role, Escobar batting .351 with a .400 OBP and Johnson totaling 29 extra-base hits and a .372 OBP in 306 at-bats. 10. Kotsay is a catalyst in center Mark Kotsay won't make Braves Nation forget Andruw Jones, but if healthy he should be a solid defensive center fielder, disciplined hitter and clubhouse leader. Back problems diminished his performance the past two years in Oakland, but the Braves traded for him because they believe Kotsay when he says his surgically repaired back feels sound for the first time in three years. He's driven to have a good season to restore his free-agent value. Solid defense and perhaps .275-12-.350 in 130-140 games would more than satisfy the Braves as Kotsay bridges the transition from 'Druw to prospect Jordan Schafer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Smoltz prepping for '08 his own way Starter training differently to extend career By DAVID O'BRIEN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 02/25/08 Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Braves have agreed to let John Smoltz follow an unusual spring training program that will include only two or three Grapefruit League starts and the rest of his work to be done on the back fields. The veteran ace will do most of his spring pitching in simulated games or minor-league games, where he can focus on his main goals for the spring, which include improving his change-up and especially working on his sinker and curveball. It's all part of Smoltz's plan to extend his career by improving his efficiency through inducing more contact and getting more double-play grounders. He's tired of hitters keying on hard stuff around the strike zone. "In the past, power in the zone allowed me to get away with mistakes," said Smoltz, who knows he's lost a little on his fastball and hardly ever throws the arm-stressing splitter that used to drop off the table. One couldn't tell from the results last season. Smoltz went 14-8 with a 3.11 ERA, tied for the second-most quality starts (26) among National League pitchers and ranked fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (8.6). But he pitched at times with more arm soreness than he admitted, and Smoltz said there were times he wasn't sure how he was getting such good results. "Put it this way — last year, I held my breath [on some pitches] and couldn't believe the results," he said Sunday. Thus was hatched his plan for changes in 2008, rather than keep throwing hard and keep trying to pile up strikeouts while holding his breath. Smoltz induced just eight double-play grounders in 205 2/3 innings, second-lowest per nine innings among NL starters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefieldRocks 14 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 I love the braves!!! Glad to see Glavine is finally back in a Braves uniform, that NY Mets jersey looked awful on him.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Most Braves fans are glad to have Glavine back....I think he will contribute this year. Also, I want to see him go into the HOF wearing a Braves uniform Another article below on Chipper ============================================================ Jones enters ‘08 feeling chipper By Mark Bradley | Sunday, February 24, 2008, 06:08 PM The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Mark Bradley Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — At a time when much of the baseball-watching world believed Chipper Jones had nothing left to show us, he showed us he’s still Chipper Jones. At 35 he had one of his greatest years, hitting .337 with 29 homers, driving in 102 runs and scoring 108. And where, he is asked, would he rank 2007 among his 14 big-league seasons on the scale of purely personal satisfaction? “Fourteenth,†he says. He’s kidding. Spring training 2008 has dawned with Chipper Jones feeling … well, chipper. Apart from the bruised thumbs suffered when he tripped over the opposing third baseman (more about that later), last season was free of the injuries that limited him to 109 games in 2005 and 110 in 2006. A year ago we all were wondering if this demonstrably great player was near an end. Today, Jones says, “I want to play until I’m 40.†About last season: “It was awfully gratifying for me to prove I could still play the game at a high level when a lot of people were writing me off and saying they should get rid of my salary.†Some athletes pretend they don’t read and hear criticism. Jones admits he sees and hears everything. “I read y’all’s paper and go online and check out the rumor mill,†he says. (Indeed, he even participated, without being solicited, in David O’Brien’s AJC Braves blog two weeks ago. He logged in as “U Kno Who.â€) Does U Kno Who get mad when he sees someone post something less than positive? “No,†Jones says. “I use it as positive motivation sometimes.†The creeping consensus in spring 2007 was that Jones’ body was beginning to fail. Something was always going wrong — a hamstring, an oblique, a foot. What prevented him from believing he’d become decrepit was that it wasn’t always the same injury. “Those last two years were really fluky [injuries]. It hasn’t been my body breaking down.†Here he smiles in that wry Chipper way. “If Frenchy [Jeff Francoeur] takes a pitch and lets me steal third base [instead Francoeur grounded to third and Jones, running on the play, flipped over Pittsburgh’s Jose Bautista], I probably would’ve played 150 games last year.†He played 134, his most since 2004, and he finished sixth in the Most Valuable Player voting, his best showing since he won the award in 1999. “Last year could have been my best all-around year. I was in the running for a Gold Glove — my errors were way down, and my fielding percentage was up — and I challenged for a batting title. And I hit .300 and drove in 100 and scored 100 just like I did when I was a younger cat.†Sometimes it takes an outside observer to bring a familiar sight into sharper relief. Steve Phillips, once the Mets’ general manager and now an ESPN commentator, called Jones “the Derek Jeter of the National League†a couple of years ago, and Jeter is the most respected player in the sport. To be likened to him is the ultimate compliment. Jones took it as such. “Jeter and I are good buddies,†he says. “We’ve squared off in a couple of World Series, and I think he’ll challenge 4,000 hits before he’s through. He’s a winner. I dare say I don’t think he’ll have any problem going into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.†And his own Hall prospects? “I’m one of the guys who, if I quit right now, I wouldn’t make it. I’m on the cusp. The next five or six years will tell the tale.†Until July 2007, Mark Teixeira was one of those outside observers. Today he hits behind Jones and says, “He’s the most underappreciated player in the game … No doubt Alex [Rodriguez] is the most talented player I’ve played with, but Chipper is right behind him.†And then: “Chipper could get a lot more attention in New York or L.A., but he’s a country boy who likes to hunt and fish.†If Jones indeed plays until he’s 40, he wants it to be in the only place he has ever played. “I’ve always wanted to finish here,†he says. “Atlanta is a laid-back town, and I’m not a big-city guy. I know I could probably garner more attention and accumulate more accolades in New York, but that’s not me.†There was a time when the young Chipper was as beloved by Braves fans as Francouer is now, but the inevitable familiarity (and a messy divorce) took some luster off the golden boy. Still, Jones says, “I think I have a really good rapport with fans. They certainly make me feel that way when I’m out in public. You can’t go to dinner or to a movie without people showering you with praise. You’re never going to please everybody, and I’m not going to try. But I think I’m good enough for the majority.†So here he stands: Larry Wayne Jones Jr., age 35, about to go to work on another February morning, feeling rather better this February than he did a year ago. “Last year I was putting a little pressure on myself after what had happened. This year I’m a little more relaxed.†But not fully content. If he has learned nothing else, Chipper Jones has learned that baseball is about today and tomorrow, not yesterday. “At the end of the day,†he says, “I’ve still got to keep putting up numbers to hold everybody at bay. At my age, if you have one bad year everybody thinks you’re washed up. And I don’t want to hear it.†Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 I got to see Glavine pitch the season before last in ATL when he was with the Mets. Now I cant wasit to go see him pitch in a Braves uni. Man I am SOOO pumped about baseball season!! I am a HUGE Braves fan. I never miss a game. I have XM radio to listen in my car, MLB.TV to watch games online, and MLB gameday to watch pitch-by-pitch on my cellphone. Im addicted. TrueBlue, do you go to a lot of games in ATL? I try to come down at least twice a year to catch a couple of games. I was thinking about trying the "all you can eat/drink" seats this season, but was wondering if they were worth it. Is it the 28th yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GHS06 10 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Braves Spring Training game is on TV next friday. I'm pumped for that. I was wondering how satisfied you were with MLB.TV... I was thinking of getting it this year but didn't know if it was worth it...and do you have the premium or the regular? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 [ QUOTE ] Braves Spring Training game is on TV next friday. I'm pumped for that. I was wondering how satisfied you were with MLB.TV... I was thinking of getting it this year but didn't know if it was worth it...and do you have the premium or the regular? [/ QUOTE ] I dont know yet, Im just getting it this season. I didnt have it last season because I knew I had TBS to watch 80 games plus FOX and ESPN, and then I just listened to the rest on XM radio. Im going to sign up for MLB.TV starting in April because I plan to do the monthly deal and I dont want to pay for a month of spring training. You can pay one price for the entire season, but Im getting married and moving in May and Im not sure if I will be able to get High speed internet where I will be living. So I dont want to pay for the entire season if I cant use it. So Im goign to pay the $14.95 per month, which equals out to the $89 that you pay for the entire season. Except I wont get spring training. So, in short, I will probably get the regular one, and Im sure it will be worth it. I guess it just depends on how much you like to watch baseball. Me I can set in my room and listen to a game on the radio, by myself and be perfectly content. So I know I will love watching all the games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GHS06 10 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Braves Spring Training game is on TV next friday. I'm pumped for that. I was wondering how satisfied you were with MLB.TV... I was thinking of getting it this year but didn't know if it was worth it...and do you have the premium or the regular? [/ QUOTE ] I dont know yet, Im just getting it this season. I didnt have it last season because I knew I had TBS to watch 80 games plus FOX and ESPN, and then I just listened to the rest on XM radio. Im going to sign up for MLB.TV starting in April because I plan to do the monthly deal and I dont want to pay for a month of spring training. You can pay one price for the entire season, but Im getting married and moving in May and Im not sure if I will be able to get High speed internet where I will be living. So I dont want to pay for the entire season if I cant use it. So Im goign to pay the $14.95 per month, which equals out to the $89 that you pay for the entire season. Except I wont get spring training. So, in short, I will probably get the regular one, and Im sure it will be worth it. I guess it just depends on how much you like to watch baseball. Me I can set in my room and listen to a game on the radio, by myself and be perfectly content. So I know I will love watching all the games. [/ QUOTE ] Oh, I love watching baseball. thats not the issue. If i don't get mlb.tv i can get most of the games illegally online, but its just terrible quality and not entirely reliable. If i had mlb.tv, i would watch as many games as i could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Braves Spring Training game is on TV next friday. I'm pumped for that. I was wondering how satisfied you were with MLB.TV... I was thinking of getting it this year but didn't know if it was worth it...and do you have the premium or the regular? [/ QUOTE ] I dont know yet, Im just getting it this season. I didnt have it last season because I knew I had TBS to watch 80 games plus FOX and ESPN, and then I just listened to the rest on XM radio. Im going to sign up for MLB.TV starting in April because I plan to do the monthly deal and I dont want to pay for a month of spring training. You can pay one price for the entire season, but Im getting married and moving in May and Im not sure if I will be able to get High speed internet where I will be living. So I dont want to pay for the entire season if I cant use it. So Im goign to pay the $14.95 per month, which equals out to the $89 that you pay for the entire season. Except I wont get spring training. So, in short, I will probably get the regular one, and Im sure it will be worth it. I guess it just depends on how much you like to watch baseball. Me I can set in my room and listen to a game on the radio, by myself and be perfectly content. So I know I will love watching all the games. [/ QUOTE ] Oh, I love watching baseball. thats not the issue. If i don't get mlb.tv i can get most of the games illegally online, but its just terrible quality and not entirely reliable. If i had mlb.tv, i would watch as many games as i could. [/ QUOTE ] I didnt know you could get all the games "by other means" online. PM me and give me some details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 [ QUOTE ] I got to see Glavine pitch the season before last in ATL when he was with the Mets. Now I cant wasit to go see him pitch in a Braves uni. Man I am SOOO pumped about baseball season!! I am a HUGE Braves fan. I never miss a game. I have XM radio to listen in my car, MLB.TV to watch games online, and MLB gameday to watch pitch-by-pitch on my cellphone. Im addicted. TrueBlue, do you go to a lot of games in ATL? I try to come down at least twice a year to catch a couple of games. I was thinking about trying the "all you can eat/drink" seats this season, but was wondering if they were worth it. Is it the 28th yet? [/ QUOTE ] I have been to many games. Last game in old Fulton Co. stadium, playoff games during their great run, (saw Sid Bream cross the plate) also, World Series games. I'm a huge Braves fan....a very close relative just bought four season tickets behind the Braves dugout for this year....so, I'm extremely excited. Can't wait for the season to begin. Also, Gwinnett Co. will be getting the Richmond Braves in yr. 2009, they're building a new facility about 15 miles from where I live. The ppl here are hyped. Francouer (Frenchy) and McCann (B-Mac)are both from this county. Frenchy played football and baseball for Parkview (5A) school....B-Mac played baseball for Duluth (5A) school. Can't wait for the season to start. ============================================================ Added link to the Gwinnett Braves http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/cgi-bin/gw...innett%20Braves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 They played UGA today, and tomorrow is the first spring training game vs. Dodgers. I CANT WAIT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Yeah, some former Braves wearing the dreaded Dodger blue.... Furcal and Andruw.....but, Andruw still makes his home here in Gwinnett County....said ATL was " home." I was in a local mall w/my sister (she was visiting from VA) and we are sitting down waiting on some of our group that was shopping; she asks me who is that guy approaching....I know him. I'm thinking now who would she know in ATL,...well, it was Andruw, his wife, and 2 kids...had some new sneakers/tennis shoes/whatever the slang is for them these days...(could tell by the bag.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BEAVERTAIL Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 [ QUOTE ] They played UGA today, and tomorrow is the first spring training game vs. Dodgers. I CANT WAIT!! [/ QUOTE ] i have a feeling we will be duking it out for some braves players in the upcoming fantasy draft... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] They played UGA today, and tomorrow is the first spring training game vs. Dodgers. I CANT WAIT!! [/ QUOTE ] i have a feeling we will be duking it out for some braves players in the upcoming fantasy draft... [/ QUOTE ] Just give me Escobar and I'll be happy. I feel some big numbers coming from him this season. Oh, and I would like Tex, Frenchie, and Chip....maybe B-Mac too. You can have the rest. BTW, I say we all plan a trip to ATL for a couple of games and we can all stay at trublues house. Sound good? If your relative decides to sell some of his season tickets let me know and I would be happy to but a set, if the time and price is right. haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Alum, I'll check w/the relative....it's possible he maybe willing to sell. The following is Braves "FUN" reading esp. for the golfers/hackers: ajc.com > Sports > Braves Smoltz, Braves teammates tee off with Tiger By DAVID O'BRIEN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/04/08 Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - Jeff Francoeur has learned to temper the ferocity with which he swings a baseball bat. But with a driver in his hands and golf megastar Tiger Woods nearby, the young player reverted to swinging for the fences. He tried to outdrive Woods on the golf course. "Francoeur had trouble - he just could not calm down," Braves pitcher John Smoltz said, smiling as he described the 18-hole round that he and teammates Tom Glavine and Francoeur played with Smoltz's pal Woods on Monday at Isleworth Country Club, the PGA star's home course. "I was a little too fired up," said Francoeur, who added 17 pounds of muscle during the winter, and just might have been trying to show Woods what he could do with his additional strength. He tried to hit longer drives than the world's top golfer, at least for the early part of the round. "I did [try to] for the first three holes," Francoeur said, laughing. "Until I realized I sucked and couldn't do it." It's become an annual rite of spring for Smoltz and a couple of Braves he brings along for the round with Woods. Francoeur has been part of the group for two years in a row. Smoltz is a scratch golfer who has talked about seeing playing professionally after he retires from baseball. Francoeur is also a strong golfer, with emphasis on strong. He wins long-drive competitions at Braves events, and Smoltz said the young right fielder routinely hits 310- to 320-yard drives. "He can flat-out crush it," Smoltz said. "But he doesn't have nearly the control that Tiger has over where it's going." Smoltz said he and Glavine both played well Monday, though obviously not as well as their host. "I had three birdies," Smoltz said. "I think [Woods] had eight birdies." He smiled and added, "Actually, I know he had eight birdies." Smoltz said Glavine had what is a typical day on the course for his left-handed friend. "Glav's not fazed by it," Smoltz said of playing with Woods, which Glavine had done at least once before. "Glav's going to hit his shots, complain about some, be typical Glav." =========================================================== ajc.com > Sports > Braves Tiger takes on Smoltz at plate By DAVID O'BRIEN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/06/08 Winter Haven, Fla. — Two days after John Smoltz, Jeff Francoeur and Tom Glavine played 18 holes with PGA star Tiger Woods, Smoltz faced his pal again Wednesday — this time in the pitcher's domain. Woods donned a batting helmet and Braves jersey (tucked into shorts) and stepped into the batter's box when Smoltz threw three simulated innings at Disney's Wide World of Sports. According to Braves officials who were present, Woods struck out twice and drew a walk before getting a "controversial" single in his final at-bat. "I've got the second baseman making that play," pitching coach Roger McDowell deadpanned. McDowell stayed back to watch Smoltz in the 11 a.m. session, then drove over to Winter Haven to join the Braves for their Grapefruit League game against Cleveland. Although Smoltz had fun facing Woods — "He really went after him," McDowell joked — he was otherwise serious in the second of the simulated-game sessions he is utilizing. Smoltz devised the plan — the Braves signed off on it — to enable him to work on his off-speed pitches and sinker away from the competitive game environment. He gave up a double Wednesday to Chipper Jones, who has missed four games after tweaking a hamstring and is expected back in the lineup Friday. Francoeur and Tim Hudson also hit against Smoltz. There were no fielders or umpires, and no other details such as hits, strikeouts or walks were provided. Smoltz plans to make two or three Grapefruit League starts beginning in mid-March. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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