The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

June continues dudes, and to be honest, I think Photobucket may have kicked the bucket. With all the popups it's starting to become obnoxiously unusable. So if anybody got any alternatives let me know because it's looking like it's time to move on.

On the field of play, we had a bit of excitement in the air. David Murphy has finally been cleared to play and will be inserted into the lineup tonight in Milwaukee. It's kind of ironic seeing as how, we rushed to get him out to LA and had the dude just sat back and posted up at home for a couple more nights he would have saved him and us plenty on airfare, but ah... the things we know now.

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

Now we get to the pertinent portion of the update. And yeah, this one is a doozy.




First things first, the sim was favorable. We pick up a few more games in Milwaukee completing the sweep and head on home to Atlanta to face off against NY. The Mets have been playing good baseball the past two months and for what it's worth, the series down in Atlanta gives both teams an opportunity to give themselves a bit of breathing room in a tight NL East race.


Then... this happened.




Schafer is done for 2-3 months. That's pretty much the rest of the 2016 season brehs...

Now for those who haven't taken score, let me quickly explain the gravity of this pending situation.

We lose Heyward. The OF is in shambles while the Austin Wilson experiment is underway. Upton has been ok, but he hasn't been Justin Upton as of late. And due to pressures of the division slipping away, we just added David Murphy. For 3 games, that resulted in some sort of stability out there.


But now Schafer... the work horse, the table setter, "Instant Offense', our spark and emotional leader for those tough runs is gone for the rest of the year.



This is bad... real bad.





As a result of this news we will have to go back out in the market and bring in another guy. Since we're desperate the asking price just went up substantially. This will not be a repeat of the Murphy deal which we were so fortunate to get hammered out just a week prior.

[KevinKiermaier39]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

Really Realistic, will folllow!

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

Thanks for the follow man, I'm kinda taking a break right now. Will probably pick things back up in a few weeks. Biggest question mark I got when it's time to start writing again is how to transition Tommy Hanson out of the rotation gracefully or play out this final season as a tribute.

Anybody that's followed this dynasty over the years, knows that Hanson was THE guy for our Braves. It was shocking hearing the news of his tragedy earlier this year, and I definitely want to finish the rest of his story in the Ted Turner Memoirs the right way.

I can leave it up to a vote however.


A. Retire Hanson immediately from the Memoirs
B. Let this season play out as scheduled, and start fresh next season.

[bhurst99]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

Thanks for the follow man, I'm kinda taking a break right now. Will probably pick things back up in a few weeks. Biggest question mark I got when it's time to start writing again is how to transition Tommy Hanson out of the rotation gracefully or play out this final season as a tribute.

Anybody that's followed this dynasty over the years, knows that Hanson was THE guy for our Braves. It was shocking hearing the news of his tragedy earlier this year, and I definitely want to finish the rest of his story in the Ted Turner Memoirs the right way.

I can leave it up to a vote however.


A. Retire Hanson immediately from the Memoirs
B. Let this season play out as scheduled, and start fresh next season.

B. Retiring him immediately would probably hurt your post-season chances. I say keep him for the rest of the year and lay him to rest in the off-season.

[Bluejaysfan65]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

Thanks for the follow man, I'm kinda taking a break right now. Will probably pick things back up in a few weeks. Biggest question mark I got when it's time to start writing again is how to transition Tommy Hanson out of the rotation gracefully or play out this final season as a tribute.

Anybody that's followed this dynasty over the years, knows that Hanson was THE guy for our Braves. It was shocking hearing the news of his tragedy earlier this year, and I definitely want to finish the rest of his story in the Ted Turner Memoirs the right way.

I can leave it up to a vote however.


A. Retire Hanson immediately from the Memoirs
B. Let this season play out as scheduled, and start fresh next season.

B. You'll have a better chance at the post-season (and in it) with Hanson.

[AC]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

B but I don't agree with the above reasons. Just think it's a little easier to transition him out in the offseason.

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

Alright so it sounds like Tommy Hanson will stay till the end of the year, or the next game comes out. Thanks for your thoughts as always.


Anyone with a calendar app on their phone is quite aware that February is upon us! Oh my the pitchers, catchers overpaid waterboys, and da' coaches with seeds in their mouth and everytime they spit, they spit seeds are getting pretty damn close to reporting,

I myself am starting to get that itch again so this is as good a time as any to come back from break and get things started again.


So let's see.. where were we.. In front of us here in the hollowed Halls of the Ted Turner world we come back to a cold dusty house with a few tedious problems to figure out.

Mainly brehs... this is the WORST ball club we've had since the very beginning. And to be honest, I don't think John Smoltz and Chipper Jones are going to be walking through that door anytime soon. Schafer our spark plug is out for the year. And there is turmoil at the head of the franchise. But hang on because we'll get to that in just a sec...


All of this because, Holman Keezel, and that cheap son of a bitch Walily Casillas-Thomas low balled Jason Heyward and destroyed our outfield. It seemed like a good move at the time. But the lack of star power in the outfield has hurt our sim game quite a bit, and we find ourselves a distancing 4 games sometimes 6, out of the NL East race as the 2016 All Star game quickly approaches in 5 days.

Now don't be scared because up in Mississippi the emergence of one Emmitt Tyson into the land of the 70 OVR has raised some eyebrows. He could be the answer to the Heyward equation... but, dammit we don't want to rush this kid's development. Casillas-Thomas wants him at the show now, but the savvy Keezel keeps advising him not to and to look at the open market instead:




Too bad, we'd have a great feel good moment with Emmitt ruined by Craig Kimbrel pulling his best 2014 World Series botch moment and giving up back to back homers on less than 10 pitches for the blown save.

Damn, it's good to be back... I think.

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

Now it was mentioned earlier that there was a little turmoil among the ranks. And the finger poking started with what exactly to do without Jordan Schafer in the lineup.

As running a 3 man outfield over the course of 100 games is down right ridiculous and the fatigue levels are effecting the whole lineup. Wallily wanted to make a splash and threw out 2 offers to the Royals:






The Royals looked like they were good on either offer, until a week ago when a 4 game win streak put them back in the AL Central race. There is no way in hell that Kemp is leaving that team at what would have been a firehouse sale of a bloated 20 million dollar contract... Because of an ill timed win streak, the asking Price for Kemp shot up to nothing less than Kris Medlen, our #2 pitcher as part of the package.

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

As a result of that increase, the side of the house in which Holman Keezel had been pandering the past few weeks grew a little more in power. Now everybody in the Powers That Be were keen on the idea of promoting within and accelerating the young power hitting phenom Emmitt Tyson to the show.

Everybody that is except Austin Wilson.



And seriously how is a guy bating above .250, top 3 in homers, top 3 in RBIS, top 3 in hits, and is putting together a pretty damn good season, supposed to do when every time he opens the newspaper, he's hearing about how he may be the first one outta Atlanta.

Wilson was pretty frustrated in the lockeroom, as he should be. It's a very difficult situation to be in.. It would be Freddie Freeman to make the obvious statement that led to a change in his approach.

The Second Austin Wilson Story

I hit a lot of homers.

Doesn't Matter

Well how am I supposed to get off the damn trade block. They tried twice in a week to ship me out.

You don't wanna know the truth bro..

No, no... tell me.

Nah I better not.

C'mon... what is it.

You sure? Once I say this, you might now like it.

Will it get me off the trade block.

... maybe

Alright then... well what is it?

To be honest bro. I don't mean this the wrong way. But you look like a created player.

Huh?

I can't even take you seriously looking at you. How do you think they gonna treat you?

Like I said, you Knights165 CAP looking sumbitch... if you stepped your game up a little bit, and got a bit more professional looking. You wouldn't be the first guy they consider when trying to make an enticing package. How do you think I got to be the superstar that I am?

Spoiler

Take it from me... in my experience. If you look like a pro. You'll be treated like a pro.

That's a little better.. you don't look like some fifth grade school girl waiting on Teen Nick to come on. But you can do better than this. Where the Bling-Bling at?

Excuse me.. did you just say..

(interrupting) Oh, Teen Nick? Sorry, my niece...

No, you said Bling-Bling. Who da fug in 2016 still says bling bling in a serious conversation?!

What about this?

Nice... now you've got the idea. Gold shoes... why didn't I think of that.

Probably because you just learned what Bling Bling was 10 minutes ago. Don't lie to me man!

..

And thus...The story of how Wilson came about Gold shoes ala Dorothy and the red slippers from the Wizard of Oz, and saved his career in Atlanta for maybe another night.

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

At the halfway point of the year, the Braves are 7.5 games out of first place in the NL East. (Ouch!)




Now a fair amount of time has been spent talking about the lack of fire power on the offensive end, but peep this... where's this heralded greatly acclaimed Rotation of 2015 to give Washington a run for their money? Julio Teheran has fallen back down to earth with a 9-7 record. Kris Medlen is equally floundering around mediocrity and Brandon Beachey is the key piece in many trade rumors. The Nats #1 in baseball pitching staff and top 3 offense is blowing the entire National League away and speeding to an easy clinch of a playoff spot.




Not going to lie... it's hard pushing through a season in which both sides of the Braves army is putting up bad numbers. The All Star game featured the customary Craig Kimbrel is the best closer in baseball roster spot. The only "voted" on spot that was earned, was a 3rd catcher with no intent to be put in the game opportunity awarded to Evan Gattis.



Stuck behind Molina, stuck behind Posey, and even in jeopardy of not being able to see the field if the politics of not getting Joe Mauer in the mid summer classic go down. Coach Freddi G. will work his *** off to get the hometown boy in the game, but Mauer's star power is going to be hard to overrule come game time.

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return


The 2016 All Star Game
Petco Park
San Diego, CA




One of the greatest All Star games in MLB history, it had a bit of everything. Homers, big strikeouts... clutch infield play. Extra innings... and well... a surprising turn of aggressive base running once the benches were down to the last men available. Let's get to the highlights:




All Star games are usually well pitched, or they become display of offensive ridiculousness. Troy Tulowitzki went 2-2 tonight including a first inning homer off of King Felix Hernandez to put the NL up 1-0. All signs seemed to favor a slugfest..


But that really would be all the damage for this night from the NL.. Hernandez calmed down, and gave the AL 2 more innings of shut out ball. On the opposite bump, Clayton Kershaw preserved the lead handing the ball to the #2 pitcher, and arguably best in the game today, Stephen Strasburg as the NL continued to bully the AL into offensive submission.



The AL would tie the game, as Will Myers cracked the puzzle of NL pitching, taking Garrit Cole of the Pirates down the right field line for a RBI double on a ball that Allen Craig just missed. That lapse would be 1 of 2 errors that proved costly tonight for the National League All Stars.



Both teams unloaded their lineups throughout the latter stages of the game, especially once it passed the 11th inning. yet, Miguel Cabrera still remained in the game. Annoying yes to see Mike Scoscia keep a guy in 12 innings in an All Star game, and seeing as how the pitching was considerably less talented as at the beginning of the game... it was no surprise that the AL found a way to get the best hitter in the game of baseball a chance to will his team to a victory.



Cabrera did everything he possibly could to ensure this game would end in the 12th inning. He ran though a sign at second on what should have been an easy single to right. Then on a bloop hit up the middle, ran through the sign at 3rd. Allen Craig made a lollipop throw from outfield, and yes... it appears a 57 SPD first baseman, will most certainly win the game on this baserunning blunder.



The AL wins the all star game, and will be hosting the 2016 World Series.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

I just want to say that it's been awhile since I've been active on Operation Sports, and the thought occurred to me that some of my best memories on this site were reading this dynasty.

I still stand by my statement (probably years ago) that you, lilbiggio, are a creative powerhouse and should have been hired by Sony SanDiego in some capacity.

Although I didn't expect hopping back in here to find the dynasty dead, and although I can never expect you or anyone to ever read this post, I just want to say I really had a great time over the years filling my slow days with your creativity and your knack at telling one hell of a story.

Thanks for the memories lilbiggio.

[xboxxerx]

Re: The Ted Turner Memoirs VII. - The Point Of No Return

Here, here Heroes. Well said and couldn't agree more. Just logged into Operation Sports myself the 1st time in months. First thing I looked for was this thread. Hope all is well lilbiggio