Braves,
(1) Practice as usual Friday (May 1) from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The weather forecast looks fine. If the high-school softball field is in use we will practice at Cumberland (not at Cahill). It will be good for the guys to have one more practice before our game Saturday.
(2) From now at least until the end of May we will have practices every Friday and Sunday from 4 to 5:30 p.m., with days off on Sunday May 10 (Mothers Day), Friday May 22 (beginning of holiday weekend), and Sunday May 24 (holiday weekend). Our preference is always to practice at the softball field on the high-school grounds, with Cahill and Cumberland being backup locations if the high-school field is in use.
(3) Scratch the May 22 make-up game possibility. Too many of our guys will be out of town.
(4) Right now we have two games to make up (Phillies and White Sox). Because the Majors field is so tightly scheduled (lots of Minors games are being played there), there are very few available game slots. I have suggested to the Majors commish that the first two Tuesdays in June (June 2 and 9) at 4:30 p.m. would be times when we probably could field a team. If players have conflicts with those days, I hope five weeks' notice would enable us to minimize them. Games at 4:30 p.m. cause lots of problems for adult fans and coaches, but the most important thing is to get the games in so that the kids can play.
The Majors schedule is a mess, obviously. The coaches of the teams and Majors commissioner Darren Miller are working hard to find times when we can get postponed games played.
Thanks for bearing with us in this less-than-ideal situation.
Dave
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
No game Thurs April 30; possible game Fri May 22
The Braves will not be playing a game Thursday evening, even if the rains hold off. This is disappointing, but circumstances make it unavoidable.
If you are interested in an explanation for the postponing of Thursday's game, read on. If not, don't bother.
Thursday evening the White Sox will have five players and two coaches at a church function. In theory they could have filled out their team with a few players called up from the Minors, but the Majors commissioner told the White Sox several weeks ago that the game would be rescheduled so they were not planning to play Thursday. (You may remember that I sent out e-mails exploring our players' availability for May 23 and July 2, dates that turned out not to work for us.)
The Thursday game was never taken off the official schedule, however, so we naturally assumed that the White Sox had arranged to play. This evening the Majors commissioner gave me the option of winning by forfeit Thursday or continuing to work to reschedule the game. A forfeit wouldn't help our players get the game experience they need and want, and in any case I simply didn't want a cheap win at another team's expense.
The Majors commissioner is proposing that we play the White Sox May 22 at 6 p.m. I hope we can make that happen. If not, June 2 is a possibility.
I tried to see if the Phillies would be available Thursday to make up our rained-out April 25 game, but five of their players had conflicts.
So we look forward. The early forecast for our new season opener Saturday morning (MAY 2) is good. Let's keep our fingers crossed that we will actually play ball!
Dave
If you are interested in an explanation for the postponing of Thursday's game, read on. If not, don't bother.
Thursday evening the White Sox will have five players and two coaches at a church function. In theory they could have filled out their team with a few players called up from the Minors, but the Majors commissioner told the White Sox several weeks ago that the game would be rescheduled so they were not planning to play Thursday. (You may remember that I sent out e-mails exploring our players' availability for May 23 and July 2, dates that turned out not to work for us.)
The Thursday game was never taken off the official schedule, however, so we naturally assumed that the White Sox had arranged to play. This evening the Majors commissioner gave me the option of winning by forfeit Thursday or continuing to work to reschedule the game. A forfeit wouldn't help our players get the game experience they need and want, and in any case I simply didn't want a cheap win at another team's expense.
The Majors commissioner is proposing that we play the White Sox May 22 at 6 p.m. I hope we can make that happen. If not, June 2 is a possibility.
I tried to see if the Phillies would be available Thursday to make up our rained-out April 25 game, but five of their players had conflicts.
So we look forward. The early forecast for our new season opener Saturday morning (MAY 2) is good. Let's keep our fingers crossed that we will actually play ball!
Dave
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Practice Wednesday (April 29); Game Thursday (April 30)
Braves,
The weather gods willing, we will have a practice Wednesday at the softball field on the east side of the high-school grounds as soon as the high-school varsity team completes its game against Grafton.
The varsity game begins at 4:15 p.m. I would like to have members of the Braves at the field no later than 5:45 p.m. The varsity game will end around 6 p.m. (but possibly earlier), and we'll need to be ready to take the field right away. Practice will end at 7:30 p.m.
The guys on the team are getting excited about our first game of the season, which will be Thursday at 6 p.m. Braves should be at Water Tower by 5:15 p.m. for pre-game warm-ups.
Dave, Ross, Rick
The weather gods willing, we will have a practice Wednesday at the softball field on the east side of the high-school grounds as soon as the high-school varsity team completes its game against Grafton.
The varsity game begins at 4:15 p.m. I would like to have members of the Braves at the field no later than 5:45 p.m. The varsity game will end around 6 p.m. (but possibly earlier), and we'll need to be ready to take the field right away. Practice will end at 7:30 p.m.
The guys on the team are getting excited about our first game of the season, which will be Thursday at 6 p.m. Braves should be at Water Tower by 5:15 p.m. for pre-game warm-ups.
Dave, Ross, Rick
Team Rule: No seeds, big chew in dugout
Everyone,
The Braves coaches will be enforcing a team rule against food in the dugout during games. In other words, no sunflower seeds, no candy, no sharable gum (e.g., Big League Chew). Experience has shown that food in the dugout is a huge distraction when players should be paying attention to what's going on on the field, and especially to supporting their teammates.
Water, Gatorade, and other hydrating agents are fine, of course.
Thanks in advance for your help telling players about this rule and supporting our efforts to enforce it.
Dave, Ross, Rick
The Braves coaches will be enforcing a team rule against food in the dugout during games. In other words, no sunflower seeds, no candy, no sharable gum (e.g., Big League Chew). Experience has shown that food in the dugout is a huge distraction when players should be paying attention to what's going on on the field, and especially to supporting their teammates.
Water, Gatorade, and other hydrating agents are fine, of course.
Thanks in advance for your help telling players about this rule and supporting our efforts to enforce it.
Dave, Ross, Rick
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday practice cancelled, schedule updates
Braves,
With standing water on all of the practice fields Saturday evening, a 90% chance of more rain overnight, and a 70% chance of thundershowers Sunday, we are canceling the practice we had hoped to have at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Meanwhile, we have been trying to reschedule our April 30 game to accommodate the White Sox, but so far it has been impossible to find a date that works any better. Lots of our guys would have had to miss a game July 2. So, barring further word from the Majors commissioner, we are planning to play that game as scheduled on Thursday.
It would be really useful to have one more practice before Thursday, so please check e-mail early in the day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The first day that practice fields are dry enough, we will call a practice.
No word yet on when Saturday's rain-out will be made up.
Dave, Ross, Rick
With standing water on all of the practice fields Saturday evening, a 90% chance of more rain overnight, and a 70% chance of thundershowers Sunday, we are canceling the practice we had hoped to have at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Meanwhile, we have been trying to reschedule our April 30 game to accommodate the White Sox, but so far it has been impossible to find a date that works any better. Lots of our guys would have had to miss a game July 2. So, barring further word from the Majors commissioner, we are planning to play that game as scheduled on Thursday.
It would be really useful to have one more practice before Thursday, so please check e-mail early in the day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The first day that practice fields are dry enough, we will call a practice.
No word yet on when Saturday's rain-out will be made up.
Dave, Ross, Rick
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Aaron helps open 'Chasing the Dream'
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Cooperstown, N.Y. — He's still the classiest man in the room, just like in his playing days when with quick wrists and amazing grace he chased the ghost of Babe Ruth, chased the greatest record in baseball.
On Saturday, Hank Aaron came back to Cooperstown - where ballplayers are forever young - and reminded a new generation of fans just why he's part of the fabric and history of a game, and a nation.
Thirty-five years after he surpassed the great Ruth to become baseball's all-time home run king, the slugger who once plied his trade with the old Milwaukee Braves and the modern-day Brewers was on hand for the ribbon-cutting of an extraordinary permanent exhibition: "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream."
In the entire history of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, only two players have been deemed worthy of having permanent exhibitions to detail their careers: Ruth, the larger-than-life figure who brought baseball into a modern slugging era, and now, Aaron, more of an everyman whose consistency in all phases of the game marked a stellar career.
Aaron's 1957 World Series ring he won with the Milwaukee Braves was on display, along with his National League MVP plaque. And so, too, was the shirt, pants, cap and helmet Aaron wore when he hit his 715th while playing with the Atlanta Braves.
Braves Rainout Theater
When I was a boy growing up in Pittsburgh, televised baseball was much rarer than it is today. We could see only one national game of the week on Saturday afternoon, plus the road games of our hometown team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sometimes those road games were rained out. So the local TV would substitute something called Pirate Rainout Theater, and throw any old movie they had laying around on the air.
Here at Braves Blog Central, we aren't going to throw any old video up on the blog. Only baseball video. So relax and enjoy these clips.
unbelievable baseball pickle (4-13-09) from jay be-gone on Vimeo.
Sometimes those road games were rained out. So the local TV would substitute something called Pirate Rainout Theater, and throw any old movie they had laying around on the air.
Here at Braves Blog Central, we aren't going to throw any old video up on the blog. Only baseball video. So relax and enjoy these clips.
unbelievable baseball pickle (4-13-09) from jay be-gone on Vimeo.
Schedule change confirmed
FYI, we have received final confirmation that the May 30 game against the Dodgers has been moved to Sunday, May 17, at 3 p.m.
This is good news for us.
Dave
This is good news for us.
Dave
Friday, April 24, 2009
Opening Game Saturday
Everyone,
We have our season opener tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 p.m. against the powerful Phillies.
The coaching staff would like the players to be at Water Tower by noon, if possible, so that we can give everyone some time in the batting cage before the game, so that everyone can warm up, and so that we have time to get our team mentally ready for its first game in the Majors.
Thanks,
Dave
We have our season opener tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 p.m. against the powerful Phillies.
The coaching staff would like the players to be at Water Tower by noon, if possible, so that we can give everyone some time in the batting cage before the game, so that everyone can warm up, and so that we have time to get our team mentally ready for its first game in the Majors.
Thanks,
Dave
Proposed game change
Everyone,
The Majors commissioner has just sent me a proposal for moving the April 30 game against the White Sox to Thursday, July 2, at either 4:30 or 6:30 p.m.
If enough of the players could be there on July 2, I'd favor a 6:30 p.m. game so that more parents could attend.
Please let me know ASAP if your son could NOT make a 6:30 p.m. game on July 2.
Thanks!
Dave
The Majors commissioner has just sent me a proposal for moving the April 30 game against the White Sox to Thursday, July 2, at either 4:30 or 6:30 p.m.
If enough of the players could be there on July 2, I'd favor a 6:30 p.m. game so that more parents could attend.
Please let me know ASAP if your son could NOT make a 6:30 p.m. game on July 2.
Thanks!
Dave
Schedule update: No Memorial Day weekend game
Braves,
We will NOT be playing on Memorial Day weekend -- too many of our players will be out of town.
We continue to explore ways to help out the White Sox, who will have trouble fielding a team for the game scheduled for April 30. One suggestion was to play the game on May 10, but that's Mothers Day and none of the brutish, insensitive men who are working on this problem wanted to propose a Mothers Day game to the families of their players.
Updates as they become available.
Dave
We will NOT be playing on Memorial Day weekend -- too many of our players will be out of town.
We continue to explore ways to help out the White Sox, who will have trouble fielding a team for the game scheduled for April 30. One suggestion was to play the game on May 10, but that's Mothers Day and none of the brutish, insensitive men who are working on this problem wanted to propose a Mothers Day game to the families of their players.
Updates as they become available.
Dave
Friday practice (April 24), Uniforms
Braves,
It was great to see everyone at the pizza party Thursday! The kids had a blast, and I enjoyed meeting and talking with the parents.
Bring a water bottle to today's practice; for 4 p.m. the National Weather Service predicts a temp of 83 degrees under a blazing sun.
Friday's practice will begin at 4 p.m. at the softball field on the east side of the high-school campus. Chris and I will be there by 3:45 p.m. if anyone wants to show up for some pre-practice hitting.
Practice will end at 5:15 p.m. because a bunch of the Braves are going to Miller Park for the minor-league game that begins at 7 p.m.
(You may not need much water for Saturday's game. As of 7 a.m. today, the NWS forecast called for thunderstorms (70% chance) and a game-time temp of 56 degrees.)
Here are the Miller Park transportation plans:
Dave Pritchard takes Chris, Connor, and Evan.
Stuart Blacher takes Jason, Matt, and Liam.
Ross Harmsen takes Tyler and Tyler's younger brother.
We will be heading to Miller Park directly from practice. Kids should bring:
Thanks (especially to party planner Karen Higgins),
Dave
UNIFORMS UPDATE
Uniforms have arrived!
We hope to have them delivered to our practice Friday. Uniforms of guys who won't be at practice will be delivered direct to their homes.
Dave
It was great to see everyone at the pizza party Thursday! The kids had a blast, and I enjoyed meeting and talking with the parents.
Bring a water bottle to today's practice; for 4 p.m. the National Weather Service predicts a temp of 83 degrees under a blazing sun.
Friday's practice will begin at 4 p.m. at the softball field on the east side of the high-school campus. Chris and I will be there by 3:45 p.m. if anyone wants to show up for some pre-practice hitting.
Practice will end at 5:15 p.m. because a bunch of the Braves are going to Miller Park for the minor-league game that begins at 7 p.m.
(You may not need much water for Saturday's game. As of 7 a.m. today, the NWS forecast called for thunderstorms (70% chance) and a game-time temp of 56 degrees.)
Here are the Miller Park transportation plans:
Dave Pritchard takes Chris, Connor, and Evan.
Stuart Blacher takes Jason, Matt, and Liam.
Ross Harmsen takes Tyler and Tyler's younger brother.
We will be heading to Miller Park directly from practice. Kids should bring:
- Money ($10 for their ticket, plus whatever you're comfortable having them spend on concessions)
- A change of clothes if they don't want to wear their cleats, baseball pants, sliding shorts, and cup to the game. I think they'll be able to change in the bathroom in the high-school gym.
- A sweatshirt or jacket, because it may be chilly at the game and during the post-game trek back to the vehicles.
Thanks (especially to party planner Karen Higgins),
Dave
UNIFORMS UPDATE
Uniforms have arrived!
We hope to have them delivered to our practice Friday. Uniforms of guys who won't be at practice will be delivered direct to their homes.
Dave
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Weather note for Thurs April 23 practice
Braves,
Dress warm for today's practice! The wind chill at Water Tower on days like today is nothing to be trifled with.
Coach Dave
Dress warm for today's practice! The wind chill at Water Tower on days like today is nothing to be trifled with.
Coach Dave
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thursday Practice, Pizza Party, Friday Practice, Schedule Changes
Braves Parents & Friends:
Lots of Braves news in emails from Coach Dave this week. I'll try to summarize the key items here.
Thursday April 23 practice and party: Practice at 4 p.m. at lovely WATER TOWER PARK. Then, following practice, pizza party for players and their families at the CAHILL PARK WARMING HOUSE, hosted by the lovely and talented Karen Higgins (kwhiggy@hotmail.com).
Friday April 24 practice, post-practice field trip: 4 p.m. practice at Cahill/Cumberland/wherever the coaches can find a field. Coach Dave notes that practice may end a little early Friday (a) to keep the guys fresh for their first game of the season the next day and (b) field trip.
After practice, some folks are planning to head for Miller Park to watch the so-called "Border Battle," featuring a Midwest League matchup between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers farm team) and the Peoria Chiefs (Cubs farm team).
For this game, any seat in Miller Park costs only $10. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. Let Coach Dave know if you are interested and want to talk about transportation.
Uniforms: Dave says, "The LL board does not know when uniforms will arrive. A call is in to the supplier, and the board HOPES that the uniforms get here before the season opens Saturday. If the uniforms don't show up in time, then kids will play the way they've played through most of history since Abner Doubleday walked the earth -- wearing t-shirts and battered hats from random teams or farm-implement manufacturers."
Schedule changes, issues: First, six players on the White Sox have a church function at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, which is when we are scheduled to play them. The White Sox coach has asked whether we'd be willing to move the game to Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m.
Dave says, "I wouldn't want to make the switch if a lot of you will be away that day, which is the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. If we had enough guys to play, however, the benefits of the switch would include (a) the likelihood of better weather, (b) having one less game on a school night, (c) giving us a game in the 16-day gap between May 14 and May 30, and (d) helping out White Sox coach Carl Fuda, who doesn't have too many other options."
If your player would NOT be able to make a game on May 23, please let Dave know as soon as possible.
Second, Dave has received good news from our league commissioner about our request to change the game we were scheduled to play on Saturday, May 30. The game (against the Dodgers) has been moved to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. This change is good for the Braves because it gets us out of a back-to-back game situation on May 30-31, and because it gives us another game in mid-May.
Lots of Braves news in emails from Coach Dave this week. I'll try to summarize the key items here.
Thursday April 23 practice and party: Practice at 4 p.m. at lovely WATER TOWER PARK. Then, following practice, pizza party for players and their families at the CAHILL PARK WARMING HOUSE, hosted by the lovely and talented Karen Higgins (kwhiggy@hotmail.com).
Friday April 24 practice, post-practice field trip: 4 p.m. practice at Cahill/Cumberland/wherever the coaches can find a field. Coach Dave notes that practice may end a little early Friday (a) to keep the guys fresh for their first game of the season the next day and (b) field trip.
After practice, some folks are planning to head for Miller Park to watch the so-called "Border Battle," featuring a Midwest League matchup between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers farm team) and the Peoria Chiefs (Cubs farm team).
For this game, any seat in Miller Park costs only $10. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. Let Coach Dave know if you are interested and want to talk about transportation.
Uniforms: Dave says, "The LL board does not know when uniforms will arrive. A call is in to the supplier, and the board HOPES that the uniforms get here before the season opens Saturday. If the uniforms don't show up in time, then kids will play the way they've played through most of history since Abner Doubleday walked the earth -- wearing t-shirts and battered hats from random teams or farm-implement manufacturers."
Schedule changes, issues: First, six players on the White Sox have a church function at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, which is when we are scheduled to play them. The White Sox coach has asked whether we'd be willing to move the game to Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m.
Dave says, "I wouldn't want to make the switch if a lot of you will be away that day, which is the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. If we had enough guys to play, however, the benefits of the switch would include (a) the likelihood of better weather, (b) having one less game on a school night, (c) giving us a game in the 16-day gap between May 14 and May 30, and (d) helping out White Sox coach Carl Fuda, who doesn't have too many other options."
If your player would NOT be able to make a game on May 23, please let Dave know as soon as possible.
Second, Dave has received good news from our league commissioner about our request to change the game we were scheduled to play on Saturday, May 30. The game (against the Dodgers) has been moved to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. This change is good for the Braves because it gets us out of a back-to-back game situation on May 30-31, and because it gives us another game in mid-May.
Practice today (Wednesday April 22)
Good morning Braves,
Take a look at that big, round, glowing orb in the eastern sky! Sunny weather couldn't come at a better time for the Braves.
I know that many of the guys on the team won't be able to be at practice right at 3:30 today. The students from Cumberland, for example, aren't released until 3:15. Then they have to get home, grab a snack, take off their school clothes. pull on their sliding shorts and baseball pants, grab their glove, bat, and water bottle, and dash over to Cahill. I don't think too many of our players who can do that in 15 minutes.
Chris and Jason go to the middle school, which gets out at 2:57, so they and I will be at the field by 3:30 to stake our claim. We'll start practice at 3:45, and will intend to end it around 4:45.
Thanks for understanding the need for practices three days in a row before our season opener. Most of the Braves have never played in a Majors game, and the team we will be facing Saturday is a good one with a couple of flame-throwing pitchers. We may not win -- young teams need to have realistic expectations for games like these -- but we want to be as prepared as possible so the players can feel good about how they played.
Thanks,
Dave
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)