So, we’re here in Atlanta. Listen, it was planned along time ago, before the lineup looked this terrible. Noone in their right mind would travel to Atlanta in July to watch a AAA beaten down and broken team on a whim. But it was planned and so - we’re here. We’re also having some wireless problems, so posts will be short until we can get a connection. Pictures will have to follow later too.
So, Turner Stadium is really nice. It’s a lot like Nationals Park. We arrived only to get yelled at by three different ushers for various innocent things. Eventually, we were able to watch batting practice. Despite a few days off, everyone looks cranky and lethargic. Guess that’s how this season will continue in the second half.
Though the stadium is much like ours, it also has some great unique components. We’re planning to take a tour tomorrow, so we’ll have more thoughts on the stadium and pictures soon.
Eventually, we met a few nice ushers and have to acknowledge that, despite very poor customer service all around.
Upon entering the stadium, we were dishearted (I can think of a stronger word) to see that both Estrada and Lo Duca were in the lineup. Four catchers. Well done Jim. This team is truly pushing me to my fandom limits. If we spent all this money to come to Atlanta for the weekend and have to watch these two old overpaid barely capable catchers play, just as trade bait or to soothe Jim’s ego, we’re coming home to DC disgruntled. Release them, trade them (ha! right..to who), just get them off my roster.
Speaking of moves, anyone know where Jon Rauch was tonight? Not in the bullpen. Not at BP. The game was close, could have been tied if Austin hadn’t swung at a first pitch after Atlanta’s closer Gonzalez issued a walk and a hit by pitch. Rauch’s services may have been needed. But, our closer was nowhere in sight. You can’t miss a 6’11” closer. So where is he? Sick, visa problems (ha)? Hopefully in route to his new team… A girl can dream.
The Columbus AAA roster was in good form tonight - with Casto and Langerhans hitting for extra bases.
We sat near the bullpen and left field. The price structure is a little more reasonable here (even though they win lots of division titles, and last I checked, we don’t.) It was strange seeing Bergy work out of the bullpen, but he did alright. Manning also did well. Colome, Hanrahan and Rivera all looked good warming up, but their services weren’t needed. Speaking of, during BP, Randy St. Claire spent a lot of time working with and yelling at Luis Ayala. Back to basics for the struggling set up man. He threw maybe 30-40 pitches to St. Claire in the outfield (one soared way over Randy’s head) while Flores watched on.
Tough times for this team. Tough times for its fans. Sure would be nice to see a win…or some effort…or some happy faces once in awhile. It’s getting unbearable. More tomorrow.
Entries (RSS)
July 19th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Why would you want Jon Rauch gone?
July 19th, 2008 at 7:23 am
A team that will lose 100 games has no real need for a closer. It’s a compliment to Rauch and his performance that he is our most valuable trade bait. That’s all.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I don’t think anyone wants Rauch gone, but I agree there’s no reason to hang onto him if they can move him for a couple of prospects.
I hope you all manage to hang in there and stick around. The blog world is filled with a lot of cynicism(some of it certainly justified), but you all
July 19th, 2008 at 10:07 am
manage to avoid it by and large.
Sorry about that!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:08 am
[…] Kristen, I was also wondering where Jon Rauch was as the cameras showed Joel Hanrahan warming in the […]
July 19th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Hi Kristen,
We were wondering where you guys were sitting last night. It was tough watching both Estrada and LoDuca play and Flores and Nieves in the dugout. If Nieves is the one to go, I will really be upset. What are they showcasing anyway? Just reinforcing there is no value there.
The stadium does look like Nats Park. We did the tour there a few years ago. I believe it was much cheaper than the tour at Nats Park. I can’t believe we charge $15 per adult to tour our park. Anyway from what I remember it was a great tour. Season ticket holders in Atlanta can pay like $500 a year and have access to a really nice restaurant similar to Stars and Stripes—I wish we had that.
Hope they win for you and Steph tonight. Ask Luis what he brought back for Jimmy from Mexico.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
the second half is going to be a mess, i’m afraid. these are the times that try a baseball fan’s soul. after your tour, go see Batman instead of the baseball game!
July 20th, 2008 at 11:14 am
You may be aware of this by now but just in case you hadn’t heard, evidently Rauch was not available due to a family emergency.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I know. Thanks so much. We’re having wireless problems here so it has been hard to update.
I did hear about Rauch and of course we saw him at BP and pitching last night. So it’s great to see him back. Hope all is okay with his family.
The trade comment was really a compliment. He’s had a great year and it’s hard to imagine that any of these guys wouldn’t want to be on a contending team.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
While you’re down there, can you guys sweet-talk Texeira into coming here next year for a reasonable salary? We could trade Dmitri to an AL team that needs a DH and maybe get something for him while he still has value.
Tex is a local guy, too (Annapolis i think) so we may already have an advantage
July 20th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
You’re quite welcome. I hope that all is okay with Rauch’s family, too. There weren’t any details on the team site or the radio broadcast. I, for one, figured that you meant the trade comment as a compliment.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:07 am
So, I gather your trip improved a little bit?
July 21st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
It did, definately - More coming here soon… We just had NO access to the internet at all, but had no idea that would be the case. I can only really post comments via blackberry so we felt so out of the loop.