Saturday, March 17 2001

Good morning and welcome to Day 1 of the 8th Annual Spring Training Trek 2001!

Good morning and welcome to Spring Training Trek 2001 - A Baseball Odyssey.  This is day one of nine, and it started much like previous years, with the alarm clock going off at 5 am, a quick shower, and off to the airport for a 7 am flight.  Delta 2225 from Atlanta to Orlando was a remodeled 737 aircraft with more legroom, comfortable seats and pop down LCD video panels which played a safety video so the stewardesses would not have to be ignored by the majority of passengers as they went through their routine.  The flight was uneventful but on time, and I think that if Delta can afford to redress their flight crew with soft style business attire, they can afford to pay the pilots (who keep us from crashing) what they want.

After a Mears shuttle ride to Disney World, I checked into the Port Orleans - Riverside resort.  The first room on the 2nd floor had a loud air conditioner, so the bell hop arranged to have me moved to another room on the 1st floor.  This was better, because after a long day, that last flight of stairs is a killer.  I took an hour to unpack and relax before heading to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex for this afternoon's game against the Houston Astros.  The weather was a little overcast but cleared up in time for first pitch.

I waited in front of the Events Board in front of the Wide World of Sports complex from 12:30pm to 12:50pm before entering the ballpark to get something to eat and find my seats.  I am sorry I missed an opportunity to meet other Chop Chatters. 

In addition to Braves baseball, today at DSports we have the Doyle Baseball School, the AAU Volleyball Classic, Lacrosse Spring Training Track and Field Spring Training, Softball Spring Training, and the NFL Experience.  A very busy afternoon.

The Braves take the field wearing their home whites and their traditional St. Patrick's Day green caps.  John Burkette gets through the top of the first, giving up one hit and no runs.  In the Braves first, Rafael Furcal draws a walk but Andruw Jones hits into a double play.  Chipper Jones flies out to center left, and the odyssey is under way.  Top of the 2nd, Burkette induces a pair of grounds to first, and then hit.  A ground to 2nd gets the lead runner and Burkette is out of the inning.

Rico Brogna leads off the bottom of the 2nd with a high fly to shallow center for the first out.  Brian Jordan grounds to 2nd, and then BJ Surhoff drives one over the right field fence to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.  Lockhart draws a walk, then catcher Jesse Levis flies out to left foul territory to end the inning.  IN the top of the 3d, Burkette gets a ground to first, then Surhoff gives up a double, dropping a fly ball at the left field fence.  A ground to short gets the 2nd out, and Furcal looks the runner back to 2nd.  A solid hit to right field scores a run and the Astros are on the board.  Another hit puts runners at 1st and 2nd, but a another fly to left and Surhoff ends the inning.

Bottom of the 3rd, Burkette grounds to 2nd.  Furcal chops one in front of the plate but can not out-run the through to 1st.  Jones flies to center, and the inning is quickly over.  The top of the 4th opens with two outs.  Then a double to left center, Surhoff fires it in to 2nd, catching the runner trying to stretch a single to end the inning.  In the bottom of the 4th, Chipper grounds to 2nd, Brogna strikes out, and Jordan strikes out and has a few word with the umpire, but no fisticuffs.

In the 5th, Mark DeRosa takes over at 3rd.  Out number 1 for Burkette is a ground to 2nd.  A fly to left and a strikeout, and the Astros half of the inning is over.  In the Braves half, Surhoff pops up, Lockhart drops one into center for the Braves second hit of the game.  Levis singles to right, moving Keith to 2nd.  With runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, Travis Wilson pinches for Burkhart and strikes out.  Furcal lines to center, the fielder loses the ball, scoring Lockhart.  Levis is thrown out at the plate to end the inning, but the Braves regain the lead.

In the top of the 6th, Chris Seelbach takes over on the mound, Jesse Garcia at short, and Steve Torrealba behind the plate.  Seelbach gets a deep fly out to left, then gives up a home run to right.  With runners at 1st and second, a fielders choice moves the runners up with 2 outs. A walk loads the bases, but Seelbach gets the strikeout to end the inning.  But the Astros tie it up 2-2.   In the bottom, Andruw Jones gets a double, DeRosa pops out, and Brogna grounds to 3rd moving Andruw to 3rd.  Jordan singles to right scoring Jones and the Braves take the lead. Surhoff grounds to 3rd and the inning is over.

Today's launch was BBQ Pork, Cole slaw, and a green Bud.  A diet coke helped me keep my eyes open toward the end of the game.

In the top of the 7th, Chad Perry takes over at 1st, and Corey Aldridge takes over in right.  Pitching is Chris Cumberland who gives up a fly to 2nd, then a home run ties the game up again.  A 1 out walk is followed by a strikeout and a ground to 2nd to end the game.  Time to stretch. The Braves get 3 ground outs in the bottom of the inning.  In the top of the 8th, Matt Whiteside takes over the pitching, but is taken out by Bobby Cox with a 2-2 count.  Kerry Lightenberg comes in for emergency relief.

While Kerry warms up, the announcer says that the March 3rd rain-out against the Devil Rays will be made up March 24th.  I had planned to spend time at Magic Kingdom while the Braves played in Baseball City. But already I can feel the pressure of chop chatters all over to see if there are tickets available.

Lightenberg gets to Ks and fly out to center to end the inning.  In the bottom of the inning, Lightenberg makes a rare batting appearance, and surprisingly, strikes out.  Top of the 9th, Lightenberg leads off the inning with a walk.  A bad throw on a stolen base attempt by Torrealba puts the runner at 2nd with one out.  Attendance today is 10,325. Another stolen base puts the runner at 3rd with one out.  As easy a time as Kerry had in the 8th, he is having a devil of a time in the 9th.  A second walk puts runners on the corners.  A called strike gets a sarcastic round of applause from the crowd.  A genuine round of applause reflects pleasure with strike three, and Bobby Cox replaces Lightenberg with Marc Valdes.  A pop-up to shallow center ends the inning.

In the bottom of the 9th, Chad Perry grounds to 3rd, and we are looking like extra innings with the clouds darkening.  Number 94 (non roster invitee) draws a walk.  Bobby Rivera moves the runner to 2nd with 2 outs.  Keith Lockhart is replaced by Marcus Giles.  With 2 balls and 2 strikes, Giles begins shooting souvenir after souvenir into the stands. A full count, with Garcia on deck, Giles singles to center scores the unknown player, and the Braves win 4-3.

Totals are Braves with 4 runs, 6 hits, no errors.  Astros 3 runs, 9 hits, 1 error.

Stopping by the ticket window, I picked up a ticket behind the home dugout for the make-up split squad game on Saturday.  It was a difficult choice - 5 hours at the Magic Kingdom, or 3 hours and the ball game. Sorry Cinderella.  I also, I did a little shopping and picked up my nephew a Spring Training shirt, and Jody, if you are reading, you will have to be surprised.

Plans to take a swim were pushed aside by threatening weather.  Instead, I took a quick nap and tested the computer.  From the Alligator Bayou lodge 28, I took the boat to Downtown Disney.  After doing a little window shopping at Downtown Disney's West Side, my table was ready at Planet Hollywood where I had dinner.  Next to close out my St. Patrick's day celebration was Pleasure Island.  Packing up my troubles in an old kit bag, I went to the Comedy Warehouse.  Then I rung in the new year at the West End Stage with the Implosion dancers.  Finally, I closed out the day with fellow travelers in the Adventurer's club.

That's all for today.  I have been up for 21 straight hours on 2 hours sleep, so I will sleep in on Sunday.  The weather is expected to turn rough, but rest assured I will ride it out and keep you the reader up to speed.

Kungaloosh, everyone!

Fuskie