Game #8

The last game of my blog, game number eight.

Braves vs. Phillies: September 7, 2011.

So I hope you have all enjoyed my blog. Before I tell you about the last game I listened to this past season, I would like to encourage you, even if you're not a baseball fan, to go see one game. It is not just a form of entertainment, but it is a chance to hangout and enjoy the time you have with your loved ones. Now I shall proceed to the saddest game ever.

I was watching the Braves and Phillies game on t.v in horror as the Braves suffered a tragic loss. We were tied with the Phillies at the top of the 6th inning and then we were actually winning at the top of the 7th. However, the Phillies made a come back. They got a run at the bottom of the 8th and at the bottom of the 9th. We lost by one point. The end score was 3 to 2 in the Phillies favor.

Even though we lost this game, it wasn't because we didn't try. I know that no matter who the Braves play they always give 100% into playing the game. I think that is way they are my favorite team. It's because they have the tenacity to stay in a game and give it their all, no matter the outcome. I am super excited about next season! I know that it is going to be great!

Game #7

Alrighty, game number seven.

Braves vs. Padres: July 20, 2010.

For this game my brother, Marshall, went with me because he was taking me for my birthday. I had just turned 19 actually. Anyway, we got pretty good seats. We try to always get our tickets in advanced because that is the only way to get a really good view of the players and the field.

Throughout the game Marshall and I were worrying that we were going to lose this game because it was so close. It was a really close game until the bottom of the 4th, because the Braves got two more runs. Now the score was one to four in the Braves favor. It just kept on getting better, at the bottom of the seventh the Braves made two more runs. Now the score was six to one.

People started to leave around the beginning of the 7th inning, so Marshall and I rush down to the very front of the stands above the Braves dugout. I could see all of my favorite players. Hands down that was one of the best birthdays I have ever had. Not only did I get to see my team win, but I was able to see my favorite players up close!

Game #6

This is probably one of my most favorite games, as well as one of my favorite memories. I am a daddy's girl, and for my dad's birthday last year I decided to take him to a Braves game. Partly because I wanted to see the Braves last face off with the Giants and, partly because my dad had only been to two Braves games.

We got awesome seats, I think they were seven rows back so we were right on the field. I have never seen my dad so excited in a long time. My dad loves baseball just as much as I do and, to be there so close to the Braves was nothing sort of a little slice of heaven. Dad and I were instantly yelling and chanting our heads off to cheer the Braves to victory.

The Braves won that night 6 to 3. I found out later, as dad and I were driving home, that it was the first time my dad had ever actually been at Turner Field when the Braves won. That made my night because I was able to give dad not just a free ticket to go see the Braves, but a memorable night that he would talk about forever. My dad talked about that game to all of his buddies at work and he will still bring it up, to this day, and tell me thank you for taking him to the game. This game was seriously at the top five of my favorite Braves games that I had been to.

Game #5

Okay, game number five. This experience of watching the Braves was not a pleasant one. I had come home from an exhausting day at work, my brain toasted from the shift at work and my early morning Statistics class. On June 29, 2010, it was only going to get worse. When I got home from my day, I turned on the Braves vs. Washington Nationals. The Braves had won the game the day before and I was feeling hopeful that they would win again. However, it was not destined for the Braves to have a victory on June 29th. It was heartbreaking really.

I couldn't really explain why the Braves lost that day, they were just off their game. The pitcher for the Washington Nationals, Craig Stammen, kept throwing strikes. However Stammen was taken out of the entire game after throwing a double to the Braves, Prado and Cabrera. I kept hoping that maybe the tide would turn in the favor of the Braves, but it was not to be. We lost that day with a score of 7 to 2. I don't think I can dwell on this day much longer without the feeling of failure. I hadn't had a good day a school or work and, the Braves lost to the Washington Nationals. In short, the day was horrible and I was glad when it was over.

Game #4

Alright people, game number four! Actually this is one game that goes down, in my book anyway, of the most memorable game ever. My brother, Marshall, and I had plans to go to the Braves vs. the Marlins game on the 28th of September, 2010. It had been raining all day, but I was determined that we were going to go and see the game anyway. It poured down rain all until we got to the stadium and then it seemed to clear off. We claimed our tickets at the counter and moved with the masses of people to find our seats.

When we reached our awesome seats, which were facing the Braves dugout, it began to rain again. By this point Marshall and I just look at each other and say, "What the heck? We're already wet." So we just sat there, waiting for the rain to pass and for the game to start. It took about 15 minutes for the rain to clear off again and then the team came out onto the field. So there we were, soaked and watching the Braves. Talk about dedication.

As the players came out I could feel that it was going to be a good game. The score was so close that night. We won by one point. Needless to say, us Brave fans were on the edge. I actually felt sorry Maybin, the Marlins center fielder. Brooks Conrade had hit a triple that went toward the center fence. Maybin went for the ball and hit the fence in his attempt to catch the ball. He crashed into the fence and injured his back. Next thing I knew the man was taken off the field in a golf cart. However, on the bright side, the Braves won and we increased our wild card chances. So seriously, who couldn’t forget a game that was filled with a down pour of rain, a man getting taken off the field in a golf cart, and winning that same game which allowed us to get into the wild card?

Game #3

So as I progressed in my older years, I grew to love the game of baseball! I especially loved the fact that I knew, by this time, what the rules were and how the game was played. I also learned who my favorite players were, and they were: Prado, McCann, and Jones. To this day, these are my favorite men on the field. However, I will say that last year, Wagner was added to this list. I am so sad he is gone!!! Anyway, not only would I go to games at Turner Field, but I would watch games on t.v, and listen to then on the radio. What can I say? I'm addicted.

I remember coming home from work one night, September 10, 2008 to be exact, and I was listening to the Braves vs. Rockies game. Yes I shouted at my radio, and yes I received a lot of stares from people at the red lights. I finally made it home, and I realized that the house was so dark. This was odd because it was only 7:30ish and my family and I do not go to bed that early. So I went in and found out from my brother that the electricity was down. Perfect! So I grabbed a box of cereal and headed out to my car to finish the game.

I just turned the radio on when I saw my brothers and my sister coming to get in the car to listen to the game. Now, my two brothers are around 6'4. I have a Mini Cooper. Can you see where I am going with this? Well we are all crammed in my car listening to the game and passing the cereal box around. I have to say it was a lot of fun. We all cheered together and yelled when stupid calls were made by the umpire. I found out that night that the Braves games not only gave great entertainment, but it brought me and my family together, which is a pretty awesome.

Oh by the way, we smoked the Rockies that night! :)

Game #2

So as you have probably guessed from my last entry that it would be awhile before I went to my next game. You're right! It was actually another nine years before I went to another game. This time it was with a new family member. My mom had another baby! Talk about surprises, but that is another story entirely. Anyway my younger sister, Carmel, was a little over a year when we went to my second Braves game. This time it was a little better. I still really wasn't interested in who was winning and who was losing. I didn't understand why everyone would get upset when Harris would strike out. I secretly went only because my dad told me that there would be fireworks at the end of the game. I did know that the Braves were playing the Florida Marlins, and later on my brother, Marshall, informed me that we won.

I said earlier that this game went a little better. Well yes and no. It went well because no one spilt their beer on me, however, my little sister did discover chocolate at the game. I remember that I was wearing a white shirt that day and when mom had to go to the bathroom she put Carmel in my lap. While I was people watching, I didn't notice that Marshall was giving her pieces of his candy bar. It wasn't until I looked down and saw her face covered in chocolate that I realized that my shirt was covered in pieces of Butter Finger. I gave my brother the angry look and he busted out laughing, which only angered me more. When my mother came back she looked at the whole situation, and stifling a laugh, she picked up Carmel off my lap. Then my dad saw my shirt and then he started to laugh, and said "I don't think napkins are going to fix that one honey." Oh I was so mad!

After the game and awesome firework show was over, we walked back to the car and I could feel the people staring at my shirt. They were probably wondering if I got sick and threw up on myself or something. Oh yes. Indeed, it was that bad. Completely mortified, I climbed into the back seat of the car with my sister and I asked how could she do such a thing?! As an answer to my exasperated question, she gave me this grin and started giggling. I couldn't help but laugh! That was my second experience at Turner Field and I was sure that the more I went, the more the game of Baseball would interest me. It wasn't long before the Braves games were my favorite source of entertainment.

Baseball Game #1: The Intro.

There are some kids that are raised on a ball field, and then there are some that have to be integrated into a sport. For me it was the latter, and it all began with my move to Georgia in 1998. No I am not a native Georgian. I am from North Carolina, where football, basketball, and Cheerwine are everything. Now, I moved to Georgia in the month of January, 1998. As time went on and spring was approaching, all I can remember hearing were people talking about how excited they were that the Braves season was about to start. Now at seven years old I had no idea what they meant. I thought they were talking about Indian braves, you know, the braves that are in old stories like Daniel Boone. So with my amazing logic, I assumed that it was where people went to see a Daniel Boone or Davey Crockett show. Remember, I said I was from North Carolina and I went up to Boone frequently where reenactments of those old tales were prided on being the best in the nation. I asked my dad if we were ever going to go see the Braves, and my father replied that he had already bought the tickets.

I was so excited! I couldn't sleep! You can guess my surprise as we drove up to the Turner Field Stadium. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to look stupid in front of my brothers. However, when we got to our seats, which were in the nose bleed section, I couldn't believe how big it all was. Then the game started. I can't remember what the best plays were, I was actually still a bit bummed that I was wrong about the Braves. I do remember that they were playing the Brewers, and that a man was pitching by the name of Smoltz. I remember because I thought Smoltz was some sort of drink, until my older brother said that was the dumbest thing he has ever heard. That is when I went to dad, who is the source of all knowledge, and he informed me as best he could without laughing that he was the pitcher. I still didn’t get it, so I just let it go. I also could never forget that the Braves won. Do you want to know why? Well, this really big man behind me was jumping up and down on the winning play so much that he dropped his beer. Yes, you are correct; from head to toe I was covered in this man's beer. I thought I would cry, it was defiantly the last straw for me. I decided that the Braves were awful and that baseball was a horrid game. All I wanted was to go home.

Looking back I can't help but laugh at myself. I wish I could have seen my facial expression as I looked up at the man who dropped his beverage all over me! But that is what started it all. Since my experience with baseball hit rock bottom, the only direction to go from there was up. These collections of tales are my way of showing that first impressions can often be wrong. I hope you enjoy what is to come. Thanks!