Sunday, March 25 2001

Good morning and welcome to Day 9 of the 8th Annual Spring Training Trek 2001!

It's the last day of Spring Training Trek 2001 - A Baseball Odyssey.  It has been a long trek, many miles and blisters on feet, but it is nearly over.  That does not mean you can take a breath and relax, however, because day 9 is as action packed as the first. Last night, I packed one of two bags for the return trip; this morning I packed the other full of dirty clothes and overpriced souvenirs.  Port Orleans - Riverside automatically checked me out, so I left the bags for bell services to put in storage, dropped the laptop off at the registration counter, and headed for Disney's MGM Studios.

It was only 11am, so I had some time to spare before going to the game. I entered the part, picked up a fastpass at the Star Tours virtual reality attraction, and then went to the Backlot Express restaurant for some lunch (double bacon-cheese, fries, diet coke).  Next it was off to Endor, a flight through a meteor shower, an attack run on a death star, and a very touchy landing.  But safe back on earth, I made my way over to Disney's Wide World of Sports for this 6th and final game of the trek.

Kevin Millwood started the game for Atlanta, with a fly out to center. A ground to 2nd, throw to 1st, out number 2.  At this point, my tape ran out of batteries so I vaguely recall a couple of hits and the Indians were on the board early 1-0.  In the bottom of the inning, with fresh batteries (I came prepared), Rafael Furcal leads off singles to left. Quilvio Veras bloops to left, moving Furcal to 3rd.  Next, Wes Helms hits a 3-run home run to give the Braves a 2-run lead.  Brian Jordan flies out.  Travis Wilson flies out.  BJ Surhoff flies out.

Top of the 2nd, Millwood gets a fly out to center, throws three strikes for out number 2, then gives up a double to left.  Fly ball to center drops in; Martinez fields and throws to 1st, but catcher Jeff Horn covering drops the ball, scoring the runner from second.  A single down the first base line turns into a double down the first base line turns into a triple down the first base line, and the Indians tie the game at 3-3.  A fly out to right ends the inning.  In the bottom of the inning, Dave Martinez leads off and grounds to short for one out.  Horn flies out to right.  Millwood swings weakly at the first pitch and pops up to the infield for the third out.

In the top of the 3rd, Millwood gets the first batter, then gets a fly out to enter for out number 2.  Then a home run over the right field fence; Jordan and Martinez just watch it go.  A double to right is fair by just inches, followed by a 2-out walk.  A single to left scores a run, runners hold at 1st and 2nd.  A ground ball to 2nd and Millwood finally gets out of the inning.  But the Indians lead again 5-3.  In the bottom of the inning, Furcal grounds to 3rd.  Veras singles to left. Helms pops up to the catcher in front of the Braves dugout.  Veras makes a break for 2nd, the catcher makes the throw and misses the fielder. But Jordan pops up and the inning is over.

We go to the 4th inning as Millwood records the first out with a fly to right.  A ground to Veras at second for out number 2.  A fly ball to Martinez in center and the inning is over, Millwood pitching his first scoreless inning.  Travis Wilson drops one into deep center to start the bottom of the 4th.  Surhoff doubles to left center, scoring Wilson. with a runner on 2nd and no outs, Martinez lines to right but the throw home is dropped by the pitcher, although Surhoff holds at 3rd.  There are runners on the corners with no outs.  Horn takes a wild pitch, moving Martinez to 2nd but Surhoff stays at 3rd.  Horn draws a walk to load the bases with no outs.  Millwood singles to bring Surhoff home, and the bases remain loaded.  Furcal sacrifices to center, scoring Martinez and the Braves retake the lead.  Veras beats out a run-scoring double play, giving the Braves runners at 1st and 3rd with 2 outs.  Veras gets caught off 1st like a deer in headlights as the catcher runs all the way across the infield to tag him unassisted.  But the Braves get 4 to turn a 2 run deficit into a 2 run lead.

In the top of the 5th inning, Millwood gets a fly out to center.  A ground ball to 3rd, throw to 1st, out number 2.  A solo home run to left center continues Millwood's problems.  A strikeout ends the inning, but the Indians claw back, Braves 7 Indians 6.  In the bottom of the 5th, Helms hits it into the gap in right and to the wall for a stand-up double.  A fly out to left by Jordan; Helms tags and beats the throw to 3rd.  Wilson strikes out, but the catcher drops the ball and has to throw to first for the second out.  Surhoff lines to the outfield wall, the fielder drops it, for a run-scoring triple.  Horn grounds out to 3rd to end the inning.  The Braves go to the sixth with a 2 run lead.

In the 6th, Joe Slusarski gets a pop up to 3rd.  A ground to short, throw to first, in time, out number 2.  A ground to 2nd, Veras can't get a glove on it, picks it up and throws to 1st in time to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Horn grounds out, Chan Perry pops out, and Furcal draws a 2 out walk.  Furcal steals 2nd, but Martinez grounds to short and the inning is over.

Steve Avery pitches the top of the 7th, giving up a lead-off single to right followed by a fly out to right, a single to left, a ground to second, and a fly out to center.  In the bottom of the inning, Helms grounds to 3rd.  Jordan grounds to 3rd.  Wilson grounds to short for the third out.  And the Braves go to the 8th inning, with the score 8-6.

In right field is Damien Jones and pitching is Kerry Ligtenberg.  A ground ball becomes out number one, followed by a walk, and a deep fly to right off the wall.  The runner rounds third to score as the throw is cut off up the first base line.  One out, runner on 2nd.  Ground to 2nd, throw to 1st, runner moves to 3rd with 2 outs.  A single to left ties the game but a ground out prevents any more Indian damage.  The score is now tied 8-8 in the bottom of the 8th.

Today is Tom Glavine's birthday and all 11,080 fans (a park record) sing him Happy Birthday (you can too from home).  Surhoff leads off the bottom of the inning with a double to the left field wall.  Martinez drops one into center field.  The throw is cut off by the catcher as Surhoff scores to regain the lead.  Horn grounds to short, moving the runner to 2nd.  Jesse Garcia pinch hits with a fly out to center. Furcal chops through to right field to score Martinez, but Furcal gets caught rounding first for out number 3.  But the Braves have a 2 run lead going into the 9th inning.

A double to left starts the top of the 9th for Marc Valdes and the Indians come threatening again.  Angelo Groves plays right field as Valdes gives up a walk.  A ground to short, throw to first, double play.  And the Braves are one out away from a come from behind victory. A pop up to the pitcher and the game is over!

Braves 10 runs on 13 hits with no errors.  Indians 8 runs on 14 hits with no errors.  My record at Spring Training Trek 2001 is a perfect 6-0 (a first in the 8 years I have made this trek).

On the way out I was stopped by a couple of ladies with whom I spent 2 hours back at Fan Fest in Atlanta waiting in line for Tom Glavine's autograph.  It IS a small world after all.  If you made the trip down to Spring Training (Nancy), please post your observations about the team, the ballpark, and your Disney experience.

So now I make my way back to Downtown Disney's Marketplace for some last minute shopping and then a last trip to the Port Orleans - Riverside Resort.  Dinner was a red-wine soaked filet and then it was time to catch the Mears shuttle to the airport, and my Delta flight back home. Just like that, the trip is over and it's time to go back to work.  The problem with vacations is that you never get to do all you want to do, and they are over too soon.  But there is always next year, if you want to join me, start building your vacation fund and come December, we'll plan the 2002 Spring Training Trek!

I couple of last minute observations.  Disney continues to impress me with the size of its organization, the logistics, the attention to detail, and the amazing ability to get you to focus on the magic as the $20 bills keep sliding out of your wallet.  The Braves continue to impress me as an organization that does not let little things like the loss of Eddie Perez or injuries to Smoltz, Lopez, and Chipper interfere with fielding a good team.

There were a number of special moments, the chief has to have been being in the water and having a dolphin nuzzle me.  On the field, nothing was more exciting than Wes Helms who showed he could field both corners and command the plate.  Look for good things from him and Travis Wilson. Aldridge was OK but has already been sent to the minors where he belongs.  Avery also impressed me as being further along than press reports would indicate, but I do not know where he will end up.  Abbot hit well but did not impress me much.  Same with Martinez.  Maybe it's just sour grapes that they were the best we could do.

Veras is playing strong as was Furcal.  Glavine and Maddux seem to be having the expected difficulty with the new strike zone, but Burkette seems totally comfortable.  Kevin Millwood is troubling as well as troubled, and we can only hope the Spring jitters will turn into a strong season performance.  The question of a 5th starter remains, if Smoltz's recover suffers more setbacks.  Behind the plate, Levis will likely be a strong backup to Paul Bako, at least until Lopez heals.  Am I optimistic?  I am always optimistic when the season starts.  That is a benefit of Spring time.  Opening day is April 2nd, the home opener is April 3rd (I will be there), so ARE YOU READY FOR SOME BASEBALL????????

Fuskie