Nirvana
by Charles Bukowski from Run With the Hunted: A Charles Bukowski Reader
not much chance,
completely cut loose from
purpose,
he was a young man
riding a bus
through North Carolina
on the way to somewhere
and it began to snow
and the bus stopped
at a little cafe
in the hills
and the passengers
entered.
he sat at the counter
with the others,
he ordered and the
food arrived.
the meal was
particularly
good
and the
coffee.
the waitress was
unlike the women
he had
known.
she was unaffected,
there was a natural
humor which came
from her.
the fry cook said
crazy things.
the dishwasher
in back,
laughed, a good
clean
pleasant
laugh.
the young man watched
the snow through the
windows.
he wanted to stay
in that cafe
forever.
the curious feelings
wam through him
that everything
was
beautiful
there,
that it would always
stay beautiful
there.
then the bus driver
told the passengers
that it was time
to board.
the young man
thought, I'll just sit
here, I'll just stay
here.
but then
he rose and followed
the others into the
bus.
he found his seat
and looked at the cafe
through the bus
window.
then the bus moved
off, down a curve,
downward, out of
the hills.
the young man
looked straight
forward.
he heard the other
passengers
speaking
of other things,
or they were
reading
or
attempting to
sleep.
they had not
noticed
the
magic.
the young man
put his head to
one side,
closed his
eyes,
pretended to
sleep.
there was nothing
else to do-
just to listen to the
sound of the
engine,
the sound of the
tires
in the
snow.
© Charles Bukowski
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Photo Blog I
Several months ago I decided to check out the bar at the top of the Westin in Atlanta. For those that aren't familiar with it, it's one of those rotating restaurants that looks out on the city. This was one of the wall decorations. I looked up from my table and thought this was a great shot, especially since it most likely goes unnoticed as the feature presentation is, of course, the gorgeous view of downtown Atlanta. I love the lines in this photo, and the way the "IX" was captured so perfectly in the shadow.
Just Thought I'd Check In
April, huh? Has it really been since the beginning of April since I last posted? That's what it looks like. Blogger doesn't lie. Sorry for the hiatus. I will offer no excuses, I mean, it's not like you pay for this. At any rate, it's nice to be back in action. I've got a new feature I'd like to add to The Man on the Train: Photo Blogs. I realized that I've taken some nice shots over the last year or two with my cell phone camera, so I thought I'd upload them and post them for the world to see. The quality isn't great, of course, but I love the spontaneity of it. You never know when you'll get one of those moments where the world aligns itself just right for a picture. I hope to continue to post photos as I take them. Perhaps I will also add digital camera photos as well, but my cell phone is always with me and usually yields more universally interesting pictures. Hopefully I can update a little more frequently, I've got a few old ones to post over time, so please stop by again. We'll sit, drink sweet tea, talk about old times, it'll be fun. Thanks to those of you who have been stopping by anyway. Heck, I've even gotten comments on months old posts. It's nice to know you're not alone in cyberspace. Until later...
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Folk Tales II
This next folk tale was a fun one to write. It comes from a song this time instead of a story. I first heard the song this story is based on a few years ago. Jerry Garcia and David Grisman put out a CD of traditional folk songs, one of which was "Oh, the Wind and Rain". Then, just recently, I heard the new Tom Wait's CD, which has a very similar song called "The Two Sisters". I searched for these online and found that this is a very popular song that has gone through many versions. You can find them here. For the story, I took my favorite parts of each of the versions and constructed a narrative. The story leant itself to having a song included, so you not only get a story, but an original song based on the same style as the folk songs. Hope you enjoy!
The Two Sisters
The candle flickered slowly, casting long shadows across the room. Even the flame seemed tired at this late hour, long past the time that the last horse had clopped down the cobblestone street outside. Inside his shop, by the candle light remaining, the luthier was putting the finishing touches on what had turned out to be a very strange, yet beautiful violin. The governor had commissioned it, and while the circumstances surrounding it were odd at best, Frederick was not one to refuse the governor, or turn down a handsome payment.
With the final string in place, Frederick brought the violin to his chin and lifted the bow. Suddenly he was not in his shop, but was transported outside to a sunny day. Memory that was not his flooded him and he began to play. The bow moved back in forth in a cadence that was not his own and his fingers fretted notes on the neck that were not his will. A song emerged, the melody beautiful and sad, the glistening of ice on a rose bush after a late frost, and he began to sing. The words filled his mouth and pushed for escape. When the song was over Frederick sat listening to the last note echo around his small shop as the room took shape around him again. He sat unable to move, as if waking from a deep sleep. He began to feel the wood of his chair, and then smelled the candle, and watched as it flickered out in a puff of smoke.
***
A gentle wind from the ocean blew as the two sisters sat on the rocks overlooking the harbor. They came here often to watch the boats, busy with commerce, unnoticing, going about the day’s business. Most were small fishing vessels, but often large three-masted schooners carrying freight from England would arrive. Slowly they would emerge over the horizon and arrive in the harbor with an air of a king. Usually the sisters would talk, or Kate would sing the many songs she had memorized, but when a schooner sailed in, Helen and Kate would stare in awe and wonder and watch silently the entire progression. This day, however, did not produce a large schooner, and so the sisters gathered their things and began to walk back home as the sun began to set.
“Ahoy there, fair maidens!” the call came from behind the sisters. They turned and giggled at the young man behind them, one foot on a rock, the other over his eyes as if he were looking from the bow of a boat.
“Hello!” Helen said with a warm smile.
“Johnny, what is it that you want, we are just heading home,” Kate said with a laugh.
“Only to speak with the two most beautiful sisters in town. May I escort you ladies home?”
“Of course,” Helen said, and offered her arm to Johnny. He looked at Kate, then took Helen’s arm. After a few steps he stopped.
“Wait, I just thought of something!” he exclaimed. He knelt and pulled a beaver cap out of his pack and handed it to Kate. “Here! I know how much you loved the stories of Davy Crockett, so I got this for you.” He handed it up to Kate from his knee.
“Oh! It’s lovely, thank you!” Kate said as she tried on the hat. “Helen, what do you think?”
“It’s very nice, Kate,” Helen said and then turned towards Johnny to offer her arm again, but he had turned and was walking beside Kate down the lane.
***
Helen stormed around the next morning as she prepared for the day. She consoled her self on the fact that it was just a beaver hat that Johnny had given to Kate.
“A children’s toy,” she thought, “I am the older sister, I’m sure he will be bringing me a far greater gift. Let Kate have her hat.”
A knock came at the door and Helen peered out the curtains and saw it was Johnny. “See, Helen, you were all worked up for nothing.”
Helen rushed to the front door, took a breath, and opened it.
“Why, Johnny, what a nice surprise, how are you?”
“Oh, fine, Helen, I’m fine…um, is Kate here?”
“Kate? Uh, yes, she is, why?”
“May I speak with her?”
Helen was furious. She turned and stormed up the stairs of the large house to Kate’s room. She knocked and entered. “Johnny’s here, he wants to see you.”
Kate, wearing the beaver hat, rushed down the stairs to the front door. Helen took up a post at the upstairs window and looked down from behind the curtains. The voices trailed up on the sea air.
“You’re wearing the hat!”
“Yes, I love it, it was a wonderful gift.”
“I’m glad you like it. I, um, have another for you…” Johnny trailed off as Kate looked on expectantly. He pulled from his pocket a small box. “It’s a ring…well, you would see that soon enough…I, well, just look at it…”
He handed the box to Kate who opened it and gasped.
“It’s a gold ring,” Johnny said, “I just got back from the Governor’s office, speaking with your father, and, well…”
Before Johnny could finish Kate said, “Yes” and hugged him. “I must tell Helen!”
Helen’s stomach turned, and she moved to sit in a chair near the window, clutching her fists so tight her nails dug into her skin. She breathed, hearing the footsteps of Kate coming down the hall, and tried to control herself. Kate burst into the room.
“Look! Johnny, he’s downstairs, and well, look!”
“That’s lovely,” Helen mustered, “I’m happy for you. Say, why don’t we take a walk by the river, down towards the boats and you can tell me all about it.”
“Yes, let’s go this afternoon.”
***
Helen sat all day becoming angrier and angrier. She had vicious thoughts, and cursed her sister, Johnny, the town, her father, the house, her room, the chair, and anything she could think of or see. It was not only unfair, it was against all nature and tradition. She, as the oldest, should be the first to wed, not her annoying younger sister. She was practically a child! Not mature and refined like herself. Her father should know this, Johnny should know this, they all should!
She knew that she could not be seen this angry, and so tried to calm herself, at least externally, before her afternoon walk. When the time came, Helen had a placid demeanor, especially considering the squall going on inside. The sisters walked along the river that flowed towards the ocean. Kate was talking at a rapid rate, describing every detail. She sang and skipped down the lane. Helen said little, but smiled and nodded. Finally, they came to a rock overlooking the river where they often sat and talked. Kate stood up on the edge, looked down the river, and took a long sigh of contentment. Helen could stand it no longer. She rushed at her sister and pushed her in the river.
Kate felt the icy water and struggled to swim as her dress floated up around her and got tangled in her arms. She got her head above water long enough to hear Helen yelling.
“He should be mine!” Helen yelled as her sister was caught in the current. Helen walked along the shore as Kate struggled to swim and stay afloat.
“Give me your hand, sister!” Kate called from the river. “Give me your hand and you can have anything you want! My inheritance! My things! Please give me your hand!”
“I do not want your things,” Helen sneered as she walked along the river, “but I will have your true love!”
Helen rushed off back towards the house as Kate sank and swam. She fell below the surface, grasped at branches, tried to swim towards shore, and finally gave in to the current.
***
The miller stood outside, taking a break, and admiring the beautiful day. He looked up river and saw a figure rushing towards him. Either a mermaid or a milk-white swan, he thought to himself as he grabbed his hook and ran to the shore. He reached in and fished the woman out of the water and pulled her up to the shore. He moved her wet blonde hair from her face and saw it was Kate, the governor’s daughter. He stood over her and bent down for a closer look, not believing his eyes, and started to pick her up when around the side of the house rode three soldiers.
“Stop there William!”
The miller looked up, letting the dead girl drop from his arms. Two of the soldiers came up to him and put him in cuffs.
“I must say, I didn’t believe it when Helen ran in and said that you attacked them, but now I see it with my own eyes. Dear Lord, the governor will not be merciful. Take him away!”
***
Three weeks after the hanging of William the miller and two weeks after the memorial service for Kate, a man carrying a box under his arm knocked on the front door of the governor’s mansion.
“Frederick!” The governor said as he opened the door. “Good to see you, I trust you have completed the violin”
“Yes, I have, sir.”
“How did it come out?”
“Well, I must say, it was a strange request to be ordered to make a fiddle from the bones and hair of a person, but considering the circumstances, I think it came out well.”
“Is it any worse than abandoning her to the ground to rot? Putting her in a box, lowering her beneath the earth, and leaving naught but a granite stone to express her full life and personality? Just wilting flowers and blown grass to express the music of her soul…No, I refused to do it. Instead, she will live on in music, sounds that will echo forever to express her life.”
“Yes sir, I understand”
“Why don’t you pull it out and play. I’d love to hear how it sounds. Helen! Come in here, the violin is ready!”
Helen and Johnny came in the room and sat down as Frederick pulled the instrument from its case. He had not played it again since that first night in his shop and had been scared to even look at it. Perhaps it will not happen again, he thought, but just as he raised the instrument to his chin, he was again whisked away. The violin began to play him, and along with the same mournful song that would melt a heart of stone, the same words were sung again:
Yonder stands there my father strong
And my dear sister who could do no wrong
The ships sail in and the ships out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Then along came Johnny a courting here
Happy so much was I that I never shed a tear
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Then what should happen but my true love choose me
And a joy I’d n’er known, like a bird, set me free
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Though without my knowing, a tempest raged
A once righteous ship was sunk and caged
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
‘Twas a Jealous heart that brought her down
For it was Helen who pushed me in to drown
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Many songs do sing the free, true wren
But none but this shall I sing because of Helen
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Helen stared forward incredulous. Her hands still sat folded in her lap, but her face was red and hot and her heart beat in her throat. The entire room was silent and still as the last note echoed through the hall.
The Two Sisters
The candle flickered slowly, casting long shadows across the room. Even the flame seemed tired at this late hour, long past the time that the last horse had clopped down the cobblestone street outside. Inside his shop, by the candle light remaining, the luthier was putting the finishing touches on what had turned out to be a very strange, yet beautiful violin. The governor had commissioned it, and while the circumstances surrounding it were odd at best, Frederick was not one to refuse the governor, or turn down a handsome payment.
With the final string in place, Frederick brought the violin to his chin and lifted the bow. Suddenly he was not in his shop, but was transported outside to a sunny day. Memory that was not his flooded him and he began to play. The bow moved back in forth in a cadence that was not his own and his fingers fretted notes on the neck that were not his will. A song emerged, the melody beautiful and sad, the glistening of ice on a rose bush after a late frost, and he began to sing. The words filled his mouth and pushed for escape. When the song was over Frederick sat listening to the last note echo around his small shop as the room took shape around him again. He sat unable to move, as if waking from a deep sleep. He began to feel the wood of his chair, and then smelled the candle, and watched as it flickered out in a puff of smoke.
***
A gentle wind from the ocean blew as the two sisters sat on the rocks overlooking the harbor. They came here often to watch the boats, busy with commerce, unnoticing, going about the day’s business. Most were small fishing vessels, but often large three-masted schooners carrying freight from England would arrive. Slowly they would emerge over the horizon and arrive in the harbor with an air of a king. Usually the sisters would talk, or Kate would sing the many songs she had memorized, but when a schooner sailed in, Helen and Kate would stare in awe and wonder and watch silently the entire progression. This day, however, did not produce a large schooner, and so the sisters gathered their things and began to walk back home as the sun began to set.
“Ahoy there, fair maidens!” the call came from behind the sisters. They turned and giggled at the young man behind them, one foot on a rock, the other over his eyes as if he were looking from the bow of a boat.
“Hello!” Helen said with a warm smile.
“Johnny, what is it that you want, we are just heading home,” Kate said with a laugh.
“Only to speak with the two most beautiful sisters in town. May I escort you ladies home?”
“Of course,” Helen said, and offered her arm to Johnny. He looked at Kate, then took Helen’s arm. After a few steps he stopped.
“Wait, I just thought of something!” he exclaimed. He knelt and pulled a beaver cap out of his pack and handed it to Kate. “Here! I know how much you loved the stories of Davy Crockett, so I got this for you.” He handed it up to Kate from his knee.
“Oh! It’s lovely, thank you!” Kate said as she tried on the hat. “Helen, what do you think?”
“It’s very nice, Kate,” Helen said and then turned towards Johnny to offer her arm again, but he had turned and was walking beside Kate down the lane.
***
Helen stormed around the next morning as she prepared for the day. She consoled her self on the fact that it was just a beaver hat that Johnny had given to Kate.
“A children’s toy,” she thought, “I am the older sister, I’m sure he will be bringing me a far greater gift. Let Kate have her hat.”
A knock came at the door and Helen peered out the curtains and saw it was Johnny. “See, Helen, you were all worked up for nothing.”
Helen rushed to the front door, took a breath, and opened it.
“Why, Johnny, what a nice surprise, how are you?”
“Oh, fine, Helen, I’m fine…um, is Kate here?”
“Kate? Uh, yes, she is, why?”
“May I speak with her?”
Helen was furious. She turned and stormed up the stairs of the large house to Kate’s room. She knocked and entered. “Johnny’s here, he wants to see you.”
Kate, wearing the beaver hat, rushed down the stairs to the front door. Helen took up a post at the upstairs window and looked down from behind the curtains. The voices trailed up on the sea air.
“You’re wearing the hat!”
“Yes, I love it, it was a wonderful gift.”
“I’m glad you like it. I, um, have another for you…” Johnny trailed off as Kate looked on expectantly. He pulled from his pocket a small box. “It’s a ring…well, you would see that soon enough…I, well, just look at it…”
He handed the box to Kate who opened it and gasped.
“It’s a gold ring,” Johnny said, “I just got back from the Governor’s office, speaking with your father, and, well…”
Before Johnny could finish Kate said, “Yes” and hugged him. “I must tell Helen!”
Helen’s stomach turned, and she moved to sit in a chair near the window, clutching her fists so tight her nails dug into her skin. She breathed, hearing the footsteps of Kate coming down the hall, and tried to control herself. Kate burst into the room.
“Look! Johnny, he’s downstairs, and well, look!”
“That’s lovely,” Helen mustered, “I’m happy for you. Say, why don’t we take a walk by the river, down towards the boats and you can tell me all about it.”
“Yes, let’s go this afternoon.”
***
Helen sat all day becoming angrier and angrier. She had vicious thoughts, and cursed her sister, Johnny, the town, her father, the house, her room, the chair, and anything she could think of or see. It was not only unfair, it was against all nature and tradition. She, as the oldest, should be the first to wed, not her annoying younger sister. She was practically a child! Not mature and refined like herself. Her father should know this, Johnny should know this, they all should!
She knew that she could not be seen this angry, and so tried to calm herself, at least externally, before her afternoon walk. When the time came, Helen had a placid demeanor, especially considering the squall going on inside. The sisters walked along the river that flowed towards the ocean. Kate was talking at a rapid rate, describing every detail. She sang and skipped down the lane. Helen said little, but smiled and nodded. Finally, they came to a rock overlooking the river where they often sat and talked. Kate stood up on the edge, looked down the river, and took a long sigh of contentment. Helen could stand it no longer. She rushed at her sister and pushed her in the river.
Kate felt the icy water and struggled to swim as her dress floated up around her and got tangled in her arms. She got her head above water long enough to hear Helen yelling.
“He should be mine!” Helen yelled as her sister was caught in the current. Helen walked along the shore as Kate struggled to swim and stay afloat.
“Give me your hand, sister!” Kate called from the river. “Give me your hand and you can have anything you want! My inheritance! My things! Please give me your hand!”
“I do not want your things,” Helen sneered as she walked along the river, “but I will have your true love!”
Helen rushed off back towards the house as Kate sank and swam. She fell below the surface, grasped at branches, tried to swim towards shore, and finally gave in to the current.
***
The miller stood outside, taking a break, and admiring the beautiful day. He looked up river and saw a figure rushing towards him. Either a mermaid or a milk-white swan, he thought to himself as he grabbed his hook and ran to the shore. He reached in and fished the woman out of the water and pulled her up to the shore. He moved her wet blonde hair from her face and saw it was Kate, the governor’s daughter. He stood over her and bent down for a closer look, not believing his eyes, and started to pick her up when around the side of the house rode three soldiers.
“Stop there William!”
The miller looked up, letting the dead girl drop from his arms. Two of the soldiers came up to him and put him in cuffs.
“I must say, I didn’t believe it when Helen ran in and said that you attacked them, but now I see it with my own eyes. Dear Lord, the governor will not be merciful. Take him away!”
***
Three weeks after the hanging of William the miller and two weeks after the memorial service for Kate, a man carrying a box under his arm knocked on the front door of the governor’s mansion.
“Frederick!” The governor said as he opened the door. “Good to see you, I trust you have completed the violin”
“Yes, I have, sir.”
“How did it come out?”
“Well, I must say, it was a strange request to be ordered to make a fiddle from the bones and hair of a person, but considering the circumstances, I think it came out well.”
“Is it any worse than abandoning her to the ground to rot? Putting her in a box, lowering her beneath the earth, and leaving naught but a granite stone to express her full life and personality? Just wilting flowers and blown grass to express the music of her soul…No, I refused to do it. Instead, she will live on in music, sounds that will echo forever to express her life.”
“Yes sir, I understand”
“Why don’t you pull it out and play. I’d love to hear how it sounds. Helen! Come in here, the violin is ready!”
Helen and Johnny came in the room and sat down as Frederick pulled the instrument from its case. He had not played it again since that first night in his shop and had been scared to even look at it. Perhaps it will not happen again, he thought, but just as he raised the instrument to his chin, he was again whisked away. The violin began to play him, and along with the same mournful song that would melt a heart of stone, the same words were sung again:
Yonder stands there my father strong
And my dear sister who could do no wrong
The ships sail in and the ships out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Then along came Johnny a courting here
Happy so much was I that I never shed a tear
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Then what should happen but my true love choose me
And a joy I’d n’er known, like a bird, set me free
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Though without my knowing, a tempest raged
A once righteous ship was sunk and caged
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
‘Twas a Jealous heart that brought her down
For it was Helen who pushed me in to drown
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Many songs do sing the free, true wren
But none but this shall I sing because of Helen
The ships sail in and the ships sail out
But I loved you true and without doubt
Helen stared forward incredulous. Her hands still sat folded in her lap, but her face was red and hot and her heart beat in her throat. The entire room was silent and still as the last note echoed through the hall.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Poem of the Day XIV
The Invention of Fractions
by Jessica Goodfellow from A Pilgrim's Guide to Chaos in the Heartland
God himself made the whole numbers: everything else
is the work of man.
—Leopold Kronnecker
God created the whole numbers:
the first born, the seventh seal,
Ten Commandments etched in stone,
the Twelve Tribes of Israel —
Ten we've already lost —
forty days and forty nights,
Saul's ten thousand and David's ten thousand.
'Be of one heart and one mind' —
the whole numbers, the counting numbers.
It took humankind to need less than this;
to invent fractions, percentages, decimals.
Only humankind could need the concepts
of splintering and dividing,
of things lost or broken,
of settling for the part instead of the whole.
Only humankind could find the whole numbers,
infinite as they are, to be wanting;
though given a limitless supply,
we still had no way
to measure what we keep
in our many-chambered hearts.
© Concrete Wolf Chapbook Series
by Jessica Goodfellow from A Pilgrim's Guide to Chaos in the Heartland
God himself made the whole numbers: everything else
is the work of man.
—Leopold Kronnecker
God created the whole numbers:
the first born, the seventh seal,
Ten Commandments etched in stone,
the Twelve Tribes of Israel —
Ten we've already lost —
forty days and forty nights,
Saul's ten thousand and David's ten thousand.
'Be of one heart and one mind' —
the whole numbers, the counting numbers.
It took humankind to need less than this;
to invent fractions, percentages, decimals.
Only humankind could need the concepts
of splintering and dividing,
of things lost or broken,
of settling for the part instead of the whole.
Only humankind could find the whole numbers,
infinite as they are, to be wanting;
though given a limitless supply,
we still had no way
to measure what we keep
in our many-chambered hearts.
© Concrete Wolf Chapbook Series
Friday, March 02, 2007
News in Review III
A Solution for the Climate Crises
Paul Hellyer, a former Canadian defense minister, has a unique solution to the climate crises:
I suppose the government cover up of intelligent life is the real inconvenient truth...
The Ups and Downs of Life on the Road
The article linked to above has a first sentence that rivals "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" and "Call me Ishamel". It is most certainly the greatest first sentence ever recorded in a news article:
I get goose bumps everytime I read it.
(hat tip: Tom)
Paul Hellyer, a former Canadian defense minister, has a unique solution to the climate crises:
"I would like to see what (alien) technology there might be that could eliminate the burning of fossil fuels within a generation ... that could be a way to save our planet."Apparently Hellyer believes that governents around the world have large amounts of knowledge culled from researching UFO crashes and wants us to put it into practice.
I suppose the government cover up of intelligent life is the real inconvenient truth...
The Ups and Downs of Life on the Road
The article linked to above has a first sentence that rivals "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" and "Call me Ishamel". It is most certainly the greatest first sentence ever recorded in a news article:
"A jazz musician was injured Friday after jumping from a burning motor home driven by a one-time roller skating stripper from Lodi."
I get goose bumps everytime I read it.
(hat tip: Tom)
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
First Signs of Spring
Last week, on Thursday the 15th to be precise, I heard the three most beautiful words in the English language: pitchers and catchers. Now, before your mind wanders and you start thinking strange things about me, I’m talking about baseball. All other position players are due at camp this week, but pitchers and catchers report first and thus signal the beginning of spring and the first glimmer of hope that the long, cold winter is almost over. I don’t know what to do with myself between the end of football season and the beginning of baseball. Watch hockey? Pshh. C’mon, I live in Georgia.
So, in honor of spring training I figured I'd give my opinion on the outlook of the Braves this year and my predictions for the NL East. Since no one really reads this anymore it won’t matter if I’m way off, but if I’m right I’ll have the evidence to prove it.
Bull Pen: A
The key off season moves this year strengthend the bull pen: the Braves picked up Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano. These two excellent set up men, and possibly occasional closers, along with regular closer Bob Wickman, give us one of the strongest pens in the league. This will make this season a lot less stressful. Last year, Braves fans started rocking like Leo every time Bobby came to the mound with the hook. Look for this to take a big load off starting pitching as they won't feel like they have to go 7 or 8 innings each outing.
Starting Pitching: B
The starting rotation is still a question mark. John Smoltz should be strong as ever. Word is that he’s the type that won’t let his recent divorce affect him on the field, and since he’s in the last year of his contract he’s going to want to put up some good numbers to stick around a few more years (with or without the Braves). Tim Hudson is back, but will we see the Huddy of the last few years, or the one that was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball when he played for Oakland? The biggest question mark is Mike Hampton who is planning to return from missing a season and a half because of injuries. Let’s hope he can return to his pre-injury form. Closing out the rotation will be Chuck James, a rookie who showed a lot of promise last year. If everyhing comes together, this staff is an A+.
Infield: C+
The biggest losses in the off season did a number on the right side of the infield. Marcus Giles was released as a free agent and Adam LaRoche was traded to the Pirates. Giles has always been one of my favorites, and his off the field spirit will probably be missed more than his bat. As for LaRoche, I’ve gone from not liking him because of his lack of hustle to coming around some with his amazing second half offensive performance last season. Whatever you think about him, he leaves some decent sized shoes to fill. Rookies will be taking over at both positions, Scott Thorman at first and Kelly Johnson at second (who hasn't played second since high school) so only time will tell how that will work out. Look for prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia to perhaps come up late in the season. If he can find his bat and pick up some skills at first, we could be set there for a while.
As for the rest of the infield, we look pretty good. Edgar Renteria is a soft spoken guy that speaks loudly with his bat. He had a couple of great hitting streaks last season. Chipper is Chipper. The main question is: will he stay healthy? If not, we'll have a very young infield as his replacement will probably be Willy Aybar who came up in 2005 with the Dodgers. Behind the plate, we have probably the best young catcher in baseball. There’s nothing not to like about Brian McCann. Overall, there are a lot of holes, so we'll all be counting on Bobby to work some magic.
Outfield: B
There are two main questions in the outfield: who gets the starting job in left and will Frenchy draw a few walks this season? Ryan Langerhans and Matt Diaz are the two guys in the running for the left field spot. While Langerhans is a great defensive outfielder, he has struggled at the plate. Diaz is a better hitter, but hasn’t been as strong in the field. Perhaps there will be a platoon, but I have a feeling one of them will end up on the trading block. Spring training may just determine which one. Jeff Francoeur is a great left fielder and has promise to be one of the league’s best hitters. Now if he could just lay off the first pitch… He only drew 23 walks in 651 at bats last season. I'm surprised it's even that high. Andruw Jones in center is the strongest part of the outfield. Word is he’s in the best shape he’s been in for years at the start of spring training and he’s also going to be playing for $$$. This is the last year of his contract, and he’s up for a HUGE raise if he performs well (unfortunately, it most likely won’t be with the Braves who have a payroll cap that will likely stay with new owners Liberty Media). At the very least, we’ll get one more great season from him. Be sure to catch some games this year just to see Andruw, because this may be the last time you see him in a Braves uniform.
Bench: C
The bench is very young and will most likely be playing musical chairs as Bobby tries to come up with the right combination for the open infield spots. If Chipper goes down, the bench will be even thinner. We're not going to have a lot in the line of pinch hitters, but we will have some speed and some hustle. Pete Orr deserves mention here. He's no great threat right now, but he plays like a ball player. He hustles to first even on a little bouncer to the mound. Hopefully his spirit will be contagious.
Overall, if the pitching and infield questions work out, the Braves have a good shot of taking the division again this year. Pitching is what always won it for us in the past, and if we can work out some kinks, we could be staring down on the rest of the East, as it should be.
Prediction for final NL East standings:
1. Atlanta Braves – Yea, gotta go with the hometown team
2. New York Mets – Will be very tough again this season, but pitching is the question, espcially their aces. Pedro has been injured and Glavine is getting up there.
3. Philadelphia Phillies – Have a good shot of taking the whole division, I’d put them no more than a game back from the Mets. Ryan Howard is amazing: there's not reason he won't hit another 50 home runs this year with the short porch at Citizens Bank Park
4. Florida Marlins - A young team loaded with talent. They'll be the team to beat in a couple of years, of course they need to get their front office in order first and get out of Dolphin Stadium.
5. Washington Nationals - Still in transition and trying to rebuild. Wait until they get their new stadium and a permenant home.
So, in honor of spring training I figured I'd give my opinion on the outlook of the Braves this year and my predictions for the NL East. Since no one really reads this anymore it won’t matter if I’m way off, but if I’m right I’ll have the evidence to prove it.
Bull Pen: A
The key off season moves this year strengthend the bull pen: the Braves picked up Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano. These two excellent set up men, and possibly occasional closers, along with regular closer Bob Wickman, give us one of the strongest pens in the league. This will make this season a lot less stressful. Last year, Braves fans started rocking like Leo every time Bobby came to the mound with the hook. Look for this to take a big load off starting pitching as they won't feel like they have to go 7 or 8 innings each outing.
Starting Pitching: B
The starting rotation is still a question mark. John Smoltz should be strong as ever. Word is that he’s the type that won’t let his recent divorce affect him on the field, and since he’s in the last year of his contract he’s going to want to put up some good numbers to stick around a few more years (with or without the Braves). Tim Hudson is back, but will we see the Huddy of the last few years, or the one that was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball when he played for Oakland? The biggest question mark is Mike Hampton who is planning to return from missing a season and a half because of injuries. Let’s hope he can return to his pre-injury form. Closing out the rotation will be Chuck James, a rookie who showed a lot of promise last year. If everyhing comes together, this staff is an A+.
Infield: C+
The biggest losses in the off season did a number on the right side of the infield. Marcus Giles was released as a free agent and Adam LaRoche was traded to the Pirates. Giles has always been one of my favorites, and his off the field spirit will probably be missed more than his bat. As for LaRoche, I’ve gone from not liking him because of his lack of hustle to coming around some with his amazing second half offensive performance last season. Whatever you think about him, he leaves some decent sized shoes to fill. Rookies will be taking over at both positions, Scott Thorman at first and Kelly Johnson at second (who hasn't played second since high school) so only time will tell how that will work out. Look for prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia to perhaps come up late in the season. If he can find his bat and pick up some skills at first, we could be set there for a while.
As for the rest of the infield, we look pretty good. Edgar Renteria is a soft spoken guy that speaks loudly with his bat. He had a couple of great hitting streaks last season. Chipper is Chipper. The main question is: will he stay healthy? If not, we'll have a very young infield as his replacement will probably be Willy Aybar who came up in 2005 with the Dodgers. Behind the plate, we have probably the best young catcher in baseball. There’s nothing not to like about Brian McCann. Overall, there are a lot of holes, so we'll all be counting on Bobby to work some magic.
Outfield: B
There are two main questions in the outfield: who gets the starting job in left and will Frenchy draw a few walks this season? Ryan Langerhans and Matt Diaz are the two guys in the running for the left field spot. While Langerhans is a great defensive outfielder, he has struggled at the plate. Diaz is a better hitter, but hasn’t been as strong in the field. Perhaps there will be a platoon, but I have a feeling one of them will end up on the trading block. Spring training may just determine which one. Jeff Francoeur is a great left fielder and has promise to be one of the league’s best hitters. Now if he could just lay off the first pitch… He only drew 23 walks in 651 at bats last season. I'm surprised it's even that high. Andruw Jones in center is the strongest part of the outfield. Word is he’s in the best shape he’s been in for years at the start of spring training and he’s also going to be playing for $$$. This is the last year of his contract, and he’s up for a HUGE raise if he performs well (unfortunately, it most likely won’t be with the Braves who have a payroll cap that will likely stay with new owners Liberty Media). At the very least, we’ll get one more great season from him. Be sure to catch some games this year just to see Andruw, because this may be the last time you see him in a Braves uniform.
Bench: C
The bench is very young and will most likely be playing musical chairs as Bobby tries to come up with the right combination for the open infield spots. If Chipper goes down, the bench will be even thinner. We're not going to have a lot in the line of pinch hitters, but we will have some speed and some hustle. Pete Orr deserves mention here. He's no great threat right now, but he plays like a ball player. He hustles to first even on a little bouncer to the mound. Hopefully his spirit will be contagious.
Overall, if the pitching and infield questions work out, the Braves have a good shot of taking the division again this year. Pitching is what always won it for us in the past, and if we can work out some kinks, we could be staring down on the rest of the East, as it should be.
Prediction for final NL East standings:
1. Atlanta Braves – Yea, gotta go with the hometown team
2. New York Mets – Will be very tough again this season, but pitching is the question, espcially their aces. Pedro has been injured and Glavine is getting up there.
3. Philadelphia Phillies – Have a good shot of taking the whole division, I’d put them no more than a game back from the Mets. Ryan Howard is amazing: there's not reason he won't hit another 50 home runs this year with the short porch at Citizens Bank Park
4. Florida Marlins - A young team loaded with talent. They'll be the team to beat in a couple of years, of course they need to get their front office in order first and get out of Dolphin Stadium.
5. Washington Nationals - Still in transition and trying to rebuild. Wait until they get their new stadium and a permenant home.
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