The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

[AC]

Look at that crowd in Gwinnett (from previous page). Somebody's got to fire the marketing director. How can Ted Turner put up with that?

That's emptier than a 2009 blue jays game!

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[bhurst99]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

That's emptier than a 2009 blue jays game!

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I love how most of the fans who are there aren't even sitting together. It's like nobody could even find a friend to take to the game.

[AC]

I dunno, maybe there was a zombie apocolypse and all their friends were infected, and the baseball field is the only safe place.

Or not. But that WOULD be a great mode hahaha

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[AC]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

Is there an update coming soon?

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

haha yall went in on that photo about the fickle folks down in Gwinnett. Actually had me googlin' what you were referring to concerning Toronto and after one picture:



This my friends.. can't be life?

So now erm, back to business, this is actually a good and bad news type update. While I always enjoy breaking the fourth wall I must break it with a large sledgehammer because on the one hand I am about to reveal what was the greatest performance of Atlanta Braves Baseball on MLB the Show. Period.

Better than all the walkoffs, the 3 HR games, the clutch relief appearances, Derek Lowe winning one in 2010, Hanson beating the Yankees in 2012... Prado robbing the Rockies in Game 5... just any moment that you've ever read about throughout these memoirs have officially been trumped. Ice T style...

And yet on the otherhand the consequences of how this game came about sadden me on a personal level.

You see, this past week I lost a family member that I was very close to. In fact the person that raised me basically. I took it pretty bad the first few days.

Well anyway I decided I'd fire up the Show. Hadn't played in awhile, and I just wanted to distract myself from thinking about the events that were taking place. We had just hit the road to start a 13 Game Road trip out west making stops in San Diego, LA, and Colorado.

The first matchup was our Boys from Cobb County vs. The Padres. I was already excited for this game because it was a rematch of an excellent NLCS from last year and I knew it would be a great series, seeing as how they were also in first place in the NL West.


Zambrano was on the mound, we know how inconsistant he can be.. and yet, Big Z was through the first 9 batters untouched.

That's usually the first goal you shoot for is trying to give your best effort when the batters are timid. They usually come back with a more agressive approach the second time around.



But after 6, Z was still untouched. And at this point the game began purposefully trying to jinx things. Nearly every other batter there was a reference from the boys upstairs about what was going on in that hit column.


And for those taking score in the probably 20 years I've been playing Baseball games, dating back to Tony LaRussa RBI baseball, or Triple Play Gold on the SEGA. No-No's ALWAYS got broke up around this mark. We've all played the game, we know when we're on the verge of one, and we usually all know when they are about to get broke up. I was already well aware of what was going on without the help of Matty V.

Yes, that is Fulton County in that 8bit graphic. I'm good like that...

The end was a little hard, the CPU was starting to catch on, but that damn ground ball up the middle never came. They kept popping up, flying out to OUT field, and weakly hitting the ground balls right to our infielders. . And for the rest of the ball game we played 3B bunt D to avoid the "chicken****" management of the CPU. Jim Tracy's words not mine.
I kept waiting for the bull****, my words not his, and almost got it when Zambrano had a ball hit him right in the arm and then I started animating over the ball, but he picked it up and got the close play at first..

There would be no other scares to that nature




This was a long post, and I know it... but let's be honest with ourselves. I'll probably NEVER,EVER,EVER,EVER throw a No-Hitter in a baseball game again. So one post for something this special is hopefully cool beans?

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be



... Even more so, we'll never see Zambrano pitch a game with one walk. Now THAT was an abnomaly.

[R1zzo23]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

Congrats on the no-hitter! I know what you mean on the CPU doing everything it can to break it up. I remember playing MVP 05 back in the day. My pitcher was 8.2 innings deep and had a no-no in the works. Next batter comes up, hits a little flare just behind where the first baseman was standing and the CPU wouldn't allow me to move my defender back to haul in the easy, lazy liner. No-no broken up...

[bhurst99]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

Congrats on the no hitter. I've near had in one in 25 years of playing video game baseball. That's a great accomplishment.

[Rexis]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

Damn, I been waiting on an update of the last thread (Its in my subscription folder).

Funny I didn't see this earlier because I've been on top of updates to Hurst's two baseball franchises. Good thing I visited the main forum today instead of just going to check my subscribed threads. Even though I lost a couple hours of sleep, It was nice catching up with a lot of updates to go through.

Sorry about your loss and congrats on the no-no.

[AC]

Sadly, the only picture I can see on my phone is the Blue Jays one. Yeah, it's been like that. However, now people are starting to sneak down to those seats. Which sucks, because I always sit in those seats.

On the no no, congratulations. Coming off something like what happened to you and pitching a no no is great. Another reason to love baseball. Congrats again, great update.
P.S don't worry about the long post. We all enjoy your updates, I think that I speak for everyone when I say that no one minds a longer post.

Cheers! :-)


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[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

Damn, I been waiting on an update of the last thread (Its in my subscription folder).

Funny I didn't see this earlier because I've been on top of updates to Hurst's two baseball franchises. Good thing I visited the main forum today instead of just going to check my subscribed threads. Even though I lost a couple hours of sleep, It was nice catching up with a lot of updates to go through.

Sorry about your loss and congrats on the no-no.

Ah cool a Rexis cameo. I actually feel your suggestion last season to run with the young guys in the rotation actually made the difference in getting over the hump and getting a ring last year and also saved the direction the offseasons were to go from 2010 on..

I only knew about the top 3 guys and didn't have confidence or knowledge in anyone in AAA, but once we started diving deeper into the depths of our system guys like Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy, and shudder even Kris Medlen have shown that they will carry the team for as many years as we need them as long as we can afford to keep them I guess....

So here's a Coors to you.


And a Coors to everybody else too, because we have finally gotten on a bit of a roll. The No-No was nice. The money is flowing in like milk and honey. We're out in La-La Land, and the Weather's nice, the Women...



I guess to interrupt our little small inpromptu party it appears the MLB Amatuer Draft has come up. Son of a bitch, it was just getting fun today! While the option to keep on kicking back silver bullets is not a possible choice. We go on and join Ted and Josh the Security Guard in a draft that's already in progess:



I just cropped this photo to show first picks and ours. We're selfish people here in Atlanta. We only care about us.. and pick one.... and maybe pick 2. But that's where the line is drawn amigo.

Also rather than spend valuable time, rating prospects with stats and x's and o's I thought it'd be a much better use of time to make note of a few guys who based on the CPU having a great sense of humor will be destined for greatness. I call it our "This guy's going to be a Beast because he has a Cold *** name" Moment"

For instance, Jerome Swift? eh? First pick eh? A 18 year old with no facial hair and pimples straight out of a prep school in Hollywood, Florida? I guess he'll be good regardless of his generic normal sounding name.

But..pick 22 in Milwaulkee Humberto Marquez? Or Santiago Vizcaino. Now THAT's.... a cold *** name. Having two last names will do that for a fella.

Or the Angels Boyce Heintz. Brilliant naming CPU.

And let this be a mini man lesson amongst ourselves. Next time you get into an argument with the special lady about possible names for future children. Fire up MLB the show and let her see some of these "alternative" names choices you could be coming up with. Your name will sound like a million bucks after seeing some of these names. Again the Memoirs is more than entertainment or banter.. it's can be a place of education.


Ahem... back to business, this was actually a great selection by Ted Turner and Josh. Usually the CPU gets it wrong. Usually the CPU goes after the best player available. Maybe the BPA was a position of need for us and this is all one nice coincidence. Needless to say, we needed a thirdbaseman, and we got a B potential guy at the last pick.

Keep in mind 3rd base has been our achilles heel. A-Gon has lost the job to Uggla. Uggla as you know can't hit the righty heat so he's not a permanent option. Conrad would be the fulltime guy but Furcal is so old he gets tired every other game so he has to play SS rather than 3B. We've also thrown Hinske at 3rd. We've had Freeman spell there too. It is clearly a Jersey Shore Turnstall on the hot corner, and any talent coming into that position would be a plus.

We also picked a guy it appears named Tug.. if you're like me you should be already salvivating at the possible opportunity of the life and trials of some random dude named Tug down in A ball.. he'll be the first one to get a contract.

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be



Ted chuckled a little...

Was it funny that as soon as Vincente Padilla entered the game, he knew there was a chance the game would get blown open? After battling all game with Jair Jurrjens pitching magnificently and getting absolutey ZERO run support due to the Braves leaving 8 men in scoring position on base throughout the game.. We were nursing a tied game into the 8th, and the opportunity for the Dodgers to steal one at the end seemed to be pending.

Then Padilla started running from the outfield bullpen and again I must note... Ted chuckled a little.

Once the first two guys got on with a single up the middle, and a double down the 3b line. Runners at third and second. Heyward up. Padilla sucking... and then again as the CPU has done this year... they've decided to take the bat out of Heyward's hand rather than lose to the 2012 MVP.

That's starting to become a rather unfortunate situation by the way.



And just like that... Freeman has done it AGAIN!

And this is what confuses me on the situation. This used to be McCann's role. He used to be the guy batting behind Heyward who'd come in take the heat and burn the pitcher for choosing to not go after Jason. But then... it seems once McCann got his dinero from our front office he has now turned into a shell of himself as he is now in a two season slump.

This after we cut this guy a check for 5 more years at max money before Heyward even got his off the top. You telling me there's 4 more years of this? Damn...



Enter Freddie Freeman. Just as McCann is starting to show signs of taking his money and riding into virtual retirement. It seems that Freddie Freeman is finally, FINALLY, starting to come around. it only took him 3 years. But I must tell you this guy has made me really regret losing Derrek Lee in 2011 every game he has played in. But... if he continues to play at an All Star level it may compensate for McCann becoming less of an offensive threat.

Unfortunately for Freddie, he'll never make it because the all star ballot goes

1. Pujols (Lifetime MLB the Show spot it seems)
2. Random HR leader 1B
3. Most deserving guy based on stats.

Freddie Freeman is currently in that #3 range. Unless he was to eat a year supply of Wheaties prior to the season and start smashing the crap out of the ball.. he's always going to be on the outside looking in, unless Pujols opens the door for someone else to get a taste at a All-Star game. As it stands, Freeman is most certainly due for this chance. he's been playing incredible so far.

EDIT-I almost forgot to mention why Ted was so tickled? Because friend, it is common sense that Vincente Padilla is a horrible picture. Maybe he was good in Philly, but his tenure here in Texas had me knowing he was going to give our boys a chance. The Dude sucks and he proved it, giving up 2 hits, a intentional walk, oh... and a first pitch grandslam. That's pretty realistic and pathetic at the sametime IMO

[AC]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

Are we going to see more back story from this?

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

It had been hours since the team had answered the last of the postgame questions from bothersome beat reporters, and had changed out of their gray pants and into casual wear for the bus ride over to LA Century Plaza. As is usually the custom on road trips, the equipment manager makes one last round before signing over the lockeroom for the host team's approval and inspection.

However it was a Friday, and strangely enough although we were a bit behind schedule tonight.. Ted and Josh the Security guard appeared in no hurry. In fact, they sat one folding chair in front of the other, looking perplexed:

Ted:
You know, I never thought I'd see it come to this. That son of a bitch is coming after us.

Josh the Security Guard
Whaddya mean you didn't think it was coming? Don't act now that you're having some sort of moment of clarity or something like that Mr. Turner. They have sent me letters for the past 5 months. Roberts, the Appeals court.... Private letters, facebook notes.. they've come from all angles Mr. Turner. YOU chose not to act accordingly.

Ted:
Well what do you want out of me Son? An apology. A glass of milk and cookies? You want me to just blow this whole thing up just like that? You know if I come forward, we STILL lose it all..

Josh the Security Guard:
...

Ted:
I'm not saying I'm playing it slow... I'm just wanting us to play this smart. I know there is a way we can get out of this with you still making a **** load of money. I can still make a load... you can own the team, and we will beat this case. I've... we've.. worked too damn hard for this just for somebody to come up out of nowhere and try to take it back.

Josh the Security Guard
That's all I want Ted...

Ted:
What's that

Josh the Security Guard
I want to know things. I want to know what you know. Understand what you understand. I want to have that reassurance. That faith when I step in the court room... that I'm not stepping in a lions den, but a place where we will have a gameplan. As it stands right now, I'm getting sued. I don't even know who the hell is coming after me.
It's unnerving to get punched in the dark.

Ted
That's all? You want to know who's coming after you... I can tell you who this guy is if that's all you want.

Josh the Security Guard actually implied that he wanted to know more legal strategies and planning, but Ted had already started his clever plot device story of who Walily Casillas-Thomas was....

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs Part 4: Rise Of The Powers That Be

The Powers That Be
***
In the old days of Atlanta there was a...um a, structure of order you could say within the city. A collection of power and old money. Now when that old money started to dry up and fade away that was new money and the industrial titans of the 70s chance to pour into the city. I was one of those self made men. I created Turner Broadcasting and made millions.

The old money that remained didn't like this, they couldn't stand the fact that there were others like me. People who once weren't fit to eat at the dinnertable with them, now ordering better glasses of wine. Living in far more luxiourious houses, and making old money obsolete. Needless to say Josh, there were clashes every other month. Atlanta was falling apart at the top because we were too damn stubborn to make it work.

Walily Casillas Thomas was an innovator. He created the Powers that Be of Atlanta.

He argued, why have a pissing contest between ourselves when we could instead utilize our monies, our influence, our many different strengths and control so..so much more.

He was such a diplomat too! Hah... the foresight to bridge old and new. Senile and young. WE. CONTROLLED.ATLANTA. Hell.. all of Georgia at one point. He found a way to bring us together. And as a result we began to become a bit too powerful.

It all ran through us... you wanted a favor, you talked to Walily. You wanted to own a piece of land, it went through us. If you so much as opened a lemonade stand on the corner and didn't run it through the Powers that Be, you were a target. And you were quickly dealt with.

I'm ashamed to say that I was a part of this. Sure it netted me even more money. And through control of TBS and CNN I had such a high stake in this alliance. But once I lost it all... I see how quickly they turned on me. How quickly they forgot all that was promised. The only reason they want the Braves back now after we picked them up from dead is because they are now in the prime of their sucess. Which means their influence is at it's peak.

And as you know firsthand Josh, they will kill to meet their goals. They are a ruthless bunch. They can not be taken lightly.. that is why I ask you to go through with this trial on my behalf. It really is for the greater good son if you want us to come out of this true winners and not men who have to fear for their lives the rest of their days.

So who's coming after you? It's the Powers that Be. I have no doubt of this. You can single out Walily Casillas-Thomas if you want, or you can try to pick each one of them out trying to figure out the others. But now that you know they are coming, you should use this as motivation to trust me more than you ever have before. I know how they think because... well I was them. You have just got to trust me on this one son and do as I say without a whole f'n bunch of questions. ok?!