Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
More from the Freeman Files
The agony of victory: After big hit, Freeman battered by mates
11:03 pm August 15, 2011, by Mark Bradley
The adrenaline, Freddie Freeman said, was beginning to fade, which meant he was “starting to hurt from all the jumping around.” Somebody had stomped on his toe, and somebody else had yanked his elbow, and the 21-year-old was old and wise enough to know the aching would only get worse.
“We’ll see how it is in about two hours,” Freeman said, but he was smiling through the pain. Beat the game’s most feared closer — well, the most feared if you don’t count Mariano Rivera — when you’re down to your last strike and you’ll take the celebratory damage that comes with it.
Two out, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, Braves down a run, Brian Wilson staring through his facial foliage. Does it get any better than that? For Freddie Freeman, it hasn’t yet. The winning single he drove up the middle was, he said, the best moment of his major-league career — “so far.” And it was a fairly momentous turn for his ballclub.
Lose and the Braves’ lead over the Giants in the wild-card standings would have been three games. Instead it’s five. The Braves got a bit lucky in the ninth — Jose Constanza beat out a grounder to shortstop that Orlando Cabrera bobbled; it should have been called an error but wasn’t — but they were unlucky to have been trailing in the first place. That they snatched back a game they’d all but thrown away suggests they’re made of stern stock.
“It’s huge,” Freeman said. “It’s a two-game swing. To win the first game of the [four-game] series is big.”
Well, yes. And to have beaten the bearded Wilson has to do wonders for a team’s self-esteem. The Braves had fooled around and lost two winnable games against the Cubs over the weekend. On Monday they beat a better team that had much to gain. “Like a playoff game,” Freeman called it, and it felt close enough.
About Wilson: “Seeing him run in from the bullpen and hearing people in our ballpark react got us pumped up,” Freeman said. Still, the furry closer was one strike from closure. He jumped ahead of Freeman 1-2 in the count, whereupon the rookie took two pitches, which isn’t always the Rookie Way at such a loaded moment.
“You know what you’re going to get with him,” Freeman said. “It’s either going to be 91 mph [a cut fastball] or 96 [a two-seamer].”
On 3-2, Freeman got the two-seamer. He’d struck out on a similar pitch earlier this season, but Wilson got this one a tad lower, and Freddie Freeman can darn sure turn on a low ball. “It was middle, middle in,” Freeman said, and then it was bounding into the outfield and the Braves were running around and Brian McCann was squeezing the rookie between first and second base and then everybody else was joining the pummel party.
“Right when I hit it, I knew we were scoring both runs,” Freeman said, and Wilson knew it, too. He didn’t bother backing up any bases. He just started trudging toward the dugout, a beaten beard this night.
For the past month two men have been carrying this lineup — Dan Uggla, who’s 31, and Freeman, who’s barely of legal age. Uggla had taken his cuts against Wilson and whiffed. Freeman put bat on ball and won the ol’ game.
Someone asked if Wilson was indeed a daunting figure to face. Freeman smiled. “It’s just his persona,” he said, using a nice word. But the callow Freeman has a bit of a beard himself, and with every week opponents are learning to Fear The Freddie. Because the potential inherent in this young man is scary.
11:03 pm August 15, 2011, by Mark Bradley
The adrenaline, Freddie Freeman said, was beginning to fade, which meant he was “starting to hurt from all the jumping around.” Somebody had stomped on his toe, and somebody else had yanked his elbow, and the 21-year-old was old and wise enough to know the aching would only get worse.
“We’ll see how it is in about two hours,” Freeman said, but he was smiling through the pain. Beat the game’s most feared closer — well, the most feared if you don’t count Mariano Rivera — when you’re down to your last strike and you’ll take the celebratory damage that comes with it.
Two out, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, Braves down a run, Brian Wilson staring through his facial foliage. Does it get any better than that? For Freddie Freeman, it hasn’t yet. The winning single he drove up the middle was, he said, the best moment of his major-league career — “so far.” And it was a fairly momentous turn for his ballclub.
Lose and the Braves’ lead over the Giants in the wild-card standings would have been three games. Instead it’s five. The Braves got a bit lucky in the ninth — Jose Constanza beat out a grounder to shortstop that Orlando Cabrera bobbled; it should have been called an error but wasn’t — but they were unlucky to have been trailing in the first place. That they snatched back a game they’d all but thrown away suggests they’re made of stern stock.
“It’s huge,” Freeman said. “It’s a two-game swing. To win the first game of the [four-game] series is big.”
Well, yes. And to have beaten the bearded Wilson has to do wonders for a team’s self-esteem. The Braves had fooled around and lost two winnable games against the Cubs over the weekend. On Monday they beat a better team that had much to gain. “Like a playoff game,” Freeman called it, and it felt close enough.
About Wilson: “Seeing him run in from the bullpen and hearing people in our ballpark react got us pumped up,” Freeman said. Still, the furry closer was one strike from closure. He jumped ahead of Freeman 1-2 in the count, whereupon the rookie took two pitches, which isn’t always the Rookie Way at such a loaded moment.
“You know what you’re going to get with him,” Freeman said. “It’s either going to be 91 mph [a cut fastball] or 96 [a two-seamer].”
On 3-2, Freeman got the two-seamer. He’d struck out on a similar pitch earlier this season, but Wilson got this one a tad lower, and Freddie Freeman can darn sure turn on a low ball. “It was middle, middle in,” Freeman said, and then it was bounding into the outfield and the Braves were running around and Brian McCann was squeezing the rookie between first and second base and then everybody else was joining the pummel party.
“Right when I hit it, I knew we were scoring both runs,” Freeman said, and Wilson knew it, too. He didn’t bother backing up any bases. He just started trudging toward the dugout, a beaten beard this night.
For the past month two men have been carrying this lineup — Dan Uggla, who’s 31, and Freeman, who’s barely of legal age. Uggla had taken his cuts against Wilson and whiffed. Freeman put bat on ball and won the ol’ game.
Someone asked if Wilson was indeed a daunting figure to face. Freeman smiled. “It’s just his persona,” he said, using a nice word. But the callow Freeman has a bit of a beard himself, and with every week opponents are learning to Fear The Freddie. Because the potential inherent in this young man is scary.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Star Player: Kyle Maynad
Ok so I know he doesn't play a sport anymore but my friend Kyle is a rockstar! He's my friend, motivation, inspiration, encouragement and I'm so glad he's in my life! In January 2012 Kyle will be going to Africa to climb Mount Kiliominajaro!! I know he's awesome! I love Kyle so much. Whenever I go through a tough time I think of Kyle and I push through. As I wrote that I had tears in my eyes. I care for this guy cause with out him a lot of people would be without an inspiration. I also care for him because I know he cares for me. It made me feel good that he was proud of me for losing 50-60 pounds. I look at him and I think "you're proud of me? wow" I know that I'm so proud of him so for him to be proud of me just blows my mind. Kyle, I love ya....you know that you make me smile! I love ya, I love ya, I love ya! You are so awesome! I'm also so freakin' proud of you and I'm honored to call you fried!!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
To Kyle
I’ve been a walking heartache, I’ve made a mess of me, The person that I’ve been lately ain’t who I wanna be but you stay here right beside me watch as the storm blows through and I need you.
God gave me you for the ups and downs, God gave me you for the days of doubt for when I think I’ve lost my way. There are no words here left to say, it’s true God gave me you.
Now I understand to hold you I must open my hands and watch you rise, Spread your wings and prepare to fly for you have become a butterfly fly abandonedly into the sun. If you should return to me we truly were meant to be So spread your wings and fly. I have learned that beauty has to flourish in the light. Wild horses run unbridled or their spirit dies, You have given me the courage to be all that I can and truly feel your heart will lead you back to me when you're ready to land
For all those times you stood by me, For all the truth that you made me see, For all the joy you brought to my life, For all the wrong that you made right, For every dream you made come true, For all the love I found in you, I'll be forever thankful, You're the one who held me up, Never let me fall. You're the one who saw me through through it all. You were my strength when I was weak,You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see, You saw the best there was in me, Lifted me up when I couldn't reach, You gave me faith 'cause you believed. I'm everything I am because you loved me. You gave me wings and made me fly, You touched my hand I could touch the sky. I lost my faith, you gave it back to me.
You said no star was out of reach. You stood by me and I stood tall, I had your love I had it all. I'm grateful for each day you gave me. Maybe I don't know that much, but I know this much is true I was blessed because I was loved by you You were always there for me. The tender wind that carried me, A light in the dark shining your love into my life. You've been my inspiration, Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
God gave me you for the ups and downs, God gave me you for the days of doubt for when I think I’ve lost my way. There are no words here left to say, it’s true God gave me you.
Now I understand to hold you I must open my hands and watch you rise, Spread your wings and prepare to fly for you have become a butterfly fly abandonedly into the sun. If you should return to me we truly were meant to be So spread your wings and fly. I have learned that beauty has to flourish in the light. Wild horses run unbridled or their spirit dies, You have given me the courage to be all that I can and truly feel your heart will lead you back to me when you're ready to land
For all those times you stood by me, For all the truth that you made me see, For all the joy you brought to my life, For all the wrong that you made right, For every dream you made come true, For all the love I found in you, I'll be forever thankful, You're the one who held me up, Never let me fall. You're the one who saw me through through it all. You were my strength when I was weak,You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see, You saw the best there was in me, Lifted me up when I couldn't reach, You gave me faith 'cause you believed. I'm everything I am because you loved me. You gave me wings and made me fly, You touched my hand I could touch the sky. I lost my faith, you gave it back to me.
You said no star was out of reach. You stood by me and I stood tall, I had your love I had it all. I'm grateful for each day you gave me. Maybe I don't know that much, but I know this much is true I was blessed because I was loved by you You were always there for me. The tender wind that carried me, A light in the dark shining your love into my life. You've been my inspiration, Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
Sunday, August 7, 2011
star Player: Chipper Jones
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