A Couple That Kills Together...

As is typically the way of the baseball off season, this one has had it's share of interesting stories.  But, one of my favorites is one involving Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel. 

Tucked away in a nice little piece in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the 2011 National League Rookie of Year is this.

Kimbrel got married Dec. 1. The honeymoon in the Dominican Republic was relaxing and romantic and all it’s supposed to be, he said that seeing Ashley, his wife, shoot a deer on their first hunting trip together was a highlight of his offseason. That came during a weekend excursion arranged as part of a speaking engagement Kimbrel did for a foundation run by Dr. James Andrews.

That's adorable. 

The 24-year-old got married back in December and, shortly thereafter, dude a charity gig and, wait...took his new bride hunting?

“It was a nice eight-point, she killed it a few weeks ago,” Kimbrel said proudly. “They set up this hunt for us to go on. I was like, can I bring my wife? They said, yeah, sure. She wasn’t too excited about it at the time, but when we got down there and she shot it, she was so excited. She was, like, ‘I know what you’re talking about! This is so exciting.’”

Yes.  Exciting.

And in case you were wondering what Mrs. Kimbrel and a dead animal looks like...wonder no more.

Madison Murphy: "My Dad is a Super Hero"

Everyone has already said it, so allow me to be the next...this year, it's likely that Dale Murphy will become the 35th player to drop off the Hall of Fame ballot after 15 years.

But not if his family has anything to say about it.

Murphy has eight kids...and, to help their father collect the 75% of the vote needed for enshrinement (the two-time National League MVP fared best in 2000, when he garnered 23.2%), they've taken to the internets.  Hard.  The Murphy bunch has even set up a petition to help get the word out.

In this Hall of Very Good exclusive...this is what his lone daughter, Madison, has to say.

Understanding exactly who my dad is, has been a lifelong process.

Growing up primarily in Utah, my childhood was far away from the legacy he left in Atlanta. Basically, the only thing I knew about my dad's baseball career is that he had one. I had no knowledge of awards or statistics. My dad never displayed his memorabilia. We didn't have pictures lining our walls or framed jerseys in our family room. Anybody walking through our house wouldn't even know a baseball player lived there.

Baseball fans always know that my dad is modest, and sometimes people even ask me, "Is he really THAT humble?"

Yeah. He really is.

I cannot remember one time where my father boasted about his career. He never gathered us all around to talk about an amazing game he had, or what a great guy everybody thinks he is. He was never his first priority - and neither was his career. Our family never slipped from the top of his list. Because of this, I never looked at him as Dale Murphy the "Baseball Player", he was always just my Dad.

Because I was born a few months after my dad retired, my childhood wasn't filled with trips to the ballpark and people bombarding my dad for autographs. Up until my teenage years, I never looked deeply into who exactly my dad was during his career.

I remember being 14 years old and searching "Dale Murphy Stats" and "Dale Murphy Highlights" on Google and YouTube. I did this often, and tried to learn as much as I could about my dad's career. I wanted to know what he really had accomplished, because I knew if I asked him directly, he would downplay his talent, calling himself "average" or "lucky."

That's just who he is.

He's not one to admit he was one of the greats, even if everyone around him knows it.

I could watch highlights and read statistics for hours, but my father's career was more than numbers.  My father left a legacy, not only for the Braves but for the world of baseball. I sit here trying to give you all a picture of what my dad is like as a baseball player, but more importantly a person. The words that come first to my mind: humble, kind, respectful, strong, talented, caring, full of integrity and character, just to name a few.

I know, I look like a little girl talking about her daddy like he's a super hero. But I'll be the first to argue it - to me, my dad is a super hero.

And this is where the Hall of Fame comes in. This is where I write to you, Baseball Writers. There are going to be people who argue that my father's numbers are just flat-out not good enough. With the help of my eldest brother Chad, I am able to give you said numbers.

Here goes:

• Back-to-back MVP in 1982 and 1983. One of only 13 players to accomplish feat and, at the time, the youngest ever to do so.
• Seven-time National League All-Star. Top National League vote-getter and started in five of those games.
• Four-time Silver Slugger award-winner.
• Five-time Gold Glove winner.
• Sixth player in MLB history to reach 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season.
• In 1983, he became the only player in history to compile a .302-plus batting average, 30-plus home runs, 120-plus RBI, 130-plus runs scored, 90-plus walks and 30-plus stolen bases in a single season.
• Led the Majors in total bases during the span of 1980-1989: 2796
• Second only to Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt in total home runs (308) from 1980-1989: 308
• Second only to Hall of Famer Eddie Murray in total runs from 1980-1989.
• First in total home runs from 1980-1989 among all Major League outfielders: 308
• First in total RBIs from 1980-1989 among all Major League outfielders: 929
• Second in total hits from 1980-1989 among Major League outfielders: 1553
• Second in total extra-base hits from 1980-1989 among Major League outfielders: 596
• Played in 740 consecutive games from 1980-1986. 11th longest streak in history at the time, and 13th today.
• Only missed 20 games total between 1980-1989.
• In 1987, reached base in 74 consecutive games. Third longest streak in Major League history.
• 398 career home runs. 19th in Major League history when he retired, fourth among active players.
• 2111 career hits
• 1266 career RBI
• .265 career batting average
• Sports Illustrated's "Sportsmen of the Year" Award: 1987.
• Represented baseball as their "Athlete Who Cares the Most" for his charity work, along with U.S. gold medalist Judi Brown King, Kenyan gold-medalist Kip Keino and others.
• Lou Gehrig Award: 1985. Given to the player who most exemplifies the character of Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field.
• Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award: 1988. Given to the player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team".
• Bart Giamatti Community Service Award: 1991
• Jersey number "3" retired by the Atlanta Braves: 1994
• Inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame: 1995.
• Induction class included Roberto Clemente and Julius Erving. One of only eight baseball players inducted in the Hall's history.
• Inducted into the Little League Hall of Excellence: 1995. Joining Mike Schmidt, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nolan Ryan, and others.
• Inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame: 1997
• Inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame: 1997
• Inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame: 2000. Joining Baseball Hall of Famers Phil Niekro and Hank Aaron, among others.
• Founder of the IWon'tCheat Foundation in 2005, whose mission is to encourage character development among youth.

Now, aside from the fact that those numbers are numbers few have touched, I'd say there are well beyond enough to have him inducted. But, of course there will be those who disagree.

But then there's this, from the Baseball Hall of Fame website:

Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.

Integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions?

You'd be hard-pressed to find another man who emulates every one of those attributes better or more frequently than Dale Murphy. Take one look at the fans in Atlanta, and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Almost every jersey worn at Turner Field reads number 3. I believe it's because Braves fans know truly what what my father's career was. They wear that number 3 with pride, knowing that the man who once played in that jersey was not only talented, but a genuinely good, humble, honest person.

He was one of the rare bright spots for the Braves in the 1980s. He was their franchise, and he did it with pride, character, and without performance-enhancing drugs.

My father was a clean player - and I mean squeaky clean. No tobacco, no alcohol, not even a puff of a cigarette. More importantly than that, no steroids. Heavy-hitters like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds became the talk of baseball only a few years after my father's retirement.

America lost sight of what baseball was. The purity and love of the game that my dad had so well emulated had begun being overlooked, and the Steroids Era bombarded the world of baseball.

Because of this, I believe my father's statistics (and his character) have been overlooked.

Of course, 700-plus home runs is an amazing feat, but it's time the Baseball Writers see what truly makes a man Hall of Fame worthy. It's time they follow their own rules, by inducting a man who has integrity, sportsmanship, character, and made incredible contributions to the team(s) on which he played.

This is my father's last year on the ballot. He's not campaigning himself. He's not out showing off his statistics or career to anybody. So we, as his kids, have taken it into our own hands. It's time the Writers and fans of baseball see what an incredible player my father was, and the great man he is every single day.

My dad is everything a Hall of Famer should be.

It's time to put him in.

Chipper Jones...Conspiracy Theorist

Even now and then, I forget what it is that I love about the internet.  Then, well, and then Chipper Jones goes and watches a movie from more than 20 years ago. 

And tweets about it.

Sure, I realize I'm late to the game on this one, but Wednesday night, the eight-time All-Star sat down and watched "JFK" on  REELZ and decided to voice his displeasure with, of all things, the findings of the Warren Commission.

Alright, here's the thing.  I can't disagree with the guy.  But what I love about this is the complete random nature that all of this popped up on Twitter.

I mean, there's Chipper Jones, deep in the wild at the Double Dime Ranch watching basic cable and deciding his 200,000-plus followers needed to know his JFK conspiracy theories.

Now, if only dude can uncover the truth about the 2012 American League MVP voting.  Am I right?

Chipper Singles in Final At Bat

Sometimes, certain things just feel right, right?

During Wednesday afternoon's contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chipper Jones entered in the game in the sixth and delivered a pinch hit single in what would be his last regular season at bat.

On September 14, 1993, Jones did nearly the exact same thing in his first big league appearance for the Atlanta Braves...smacking a seventh inning pinch hit single off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Kevin Wickander.

Suffice it to say, between those two hits...dude was no slouch.

In case you were paying attention to the "Chipper Jones Milestone Watch" in 2012, Jones ended his career with 2726 hits, 549 doubles, 468 home runs and 1623 RBI for his storied career. The 40-year-old is the only switch hitter in Major League history to post a .300 career average (.303 to be precise) with more than 300 homers, and his career batting average ranks second all-time among switch hitters.

In 1999, Jones was named the National League MVP after hitting .319 with 45 home runs and 110 RBI. He was selected for eight All-Star Games and was part of Atlanta's 1995 World Championship squad.

Oh, one last thing.  With all due respect to Craig Robinson over at Flip Flop Fly Ball...I decided to do my own take on his "First and Last" series.

See you in Cooperstown, Chipper!

 

New York Pub Renamed After Chipper Jones

After Jose Reyes bolted New York for Miami, Shaun Clancy, owner of Foley's NY Pub and Restaurant offered disgruntled Mets fans free beer and appetizers in exchange for the shortstop's jersey.

Welp...the Bill Veeck of booze vendors is at it again.

When retiring Atlanta Braves superstar Chipper Jones makes his final appearance at Citi Field September 7-9, Foley's will be renamed "Chipper's".

"Sometimes you have to tip your cap to your opponent," said Clancy said.  "While Chipper has broken the hearts of many Mets fans over the years, New Yorkers are as knowledgeable as anyone and they know greatness when they see it...even when it resulted in disappointment for their hometown team."

In 88 career games at the Mets' former home, Shea Stadium, the 1999 National League MVP hit .313 with 19 home runs and 55 RBI.  Jones ranks behind just Mike Schmidt (60 home runs) and Willie Stargell (60) with 49 roundtrippers against the Mets.

And in case you were wondering, yes, Clancy is willing to offer up free chips (they serve ten different variaties!) for one year to "The Girl with the Chipper Tattoo" if/when she shows her face, er, Chipper's face at popular New York watering hole.

Get on your horse, Megan...that's a good deal!

Surf's Up, Chipper!

I mentioned it before and I'm going to say to it again...when I heard that Chipper Jones was retiring, I was worried that he'd be subjected to the hackneyed "farewell tour" gifts every time he came to town.

And, well, thanks to the San Diego Padres...I was justified.

Earlier this week, former Padres great, closer Trevor Hoffman, presented Jones with his very own, what appears to be, Teen Choice Award.  Sure, the retiring Atlanta Braves great probably doesn't surf, but still...a surfboard?  Yuck.

You can check out a breakdown of some of the other gifts Jones received over at Big League Stew.

Naturally, I had to check in with "The Girl with the Chipper Tattoo" to see what her favorite was and what she would do to honor her hero.

I'm with Megan...I don't know what I would give him either.  Rumor has it, however, that the Boston Red Sox were offering up John Lackey, Mike Aviles and $10 million had the eight-time All-Star made his way to Fenway one last time. 

Zing!

 

Catcher Gets First Career Steal...Keeps Base

Step aside, Michael Bourn, the Atlanta Braves have a new threat on the basepaths.

David Ross.

After more than ten seasons in the bigs and 636 career games, the backup catcher swiped his first base Wednesday night as the Braves upended the Philadelphia Phillies 12-6.

But here's the best part about 35-year-old's inaugural theft...dude was actually able to go all Rickey Henderson get the base from the Phillies grounds crew following the game.

“I’m going to have it in my house so everybody knows I at least got one,” Ross said. “I’m pretty proud of it. I got a good jump, that’s for sure. I better get a good jump if I’m going to steal a base.”

And in case you were wondering (you weren't), Ross's career best was back in 1999, when the then-22-year-old swiped five bases for the Vero Beach Dodgers.

***Click the picture above to see the spectacular highlights!***

Jinkies! Freddie Freeman Found His Glasses

I know what you're thinking..."we can put a man on the moon, but we can't get Freddie Freeman some decent glasses?"

Okay.  Maybe not.

Late last week, the Atlanta Braves sophomore slugger took sp,e time off due to, wait for it, "dry eyes".  I joke, but Freeman's condition is actually pretty serious.

"I keep putting myself back to square one when I put the contacts back in," Freeman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Take them out, put drops in, it’s irritating everything again, finally came to the conclusion take a few days and let my eyes rest and do the drops and hopefully that work."

Following a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies in early May, Freeman was diagnosed with corneal abrasions.  The 22-year-old said his vision had deteriorated from a prescription of 1.5 diopters in both eyes to 1.75 in his left and 2.0 in his right.

Not good for a guy who makes his living swinging at things with a bat.

And in case you were curious, Freeman was batting .298 with six home runs and 26 RBI when he left Denver.  In the 16 games after, he hit .150 with just one homer and six knocked in.

But now, dude has some custom made specs and, according to Braves beat writer Mark Bowman...he can see!

Cincinnati Reds to Honor Chipper Jones

When I heard that Chipper Jones was retiring I was worried that he'd be subjected to the hackneyed "farewell tour" gifts every time he came to town.

And, well, I was right.

But, the Cincinnati Reds are doing it different.  And this, well, this...I like.

According to The Outside Corner, the Reds will be putting a "jewel" on the side of all of the bases celebrating Jones' career. And when the series is over, the Atlanta Braves superstar gets to take one home with him.

The other bases will end up in the Braves and Reds Halls of Fame.

There's no word yet on what "The Girl with the Chipper Tattoo" is planning on doing.

Happy 40th Birthday Chipper!

Sure, he's not the oldest guy in the league (we all know who holds THAT distinction), but I think it's fair to say that Chipper Jones is having one heck of a birthday.

Matter of fact, the Atlanta Braves third baseman celebrated his 40th birthday Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers in pretty much the same way he's celebrated most of his birthdays in the league...he caught fire.

Thirteen times, Jones has played on his birthday (April 24) and in those games, he's batted .429 (21-for-49) with five home runs and 11 RBI.  And his team, they've done alright too...going 11-2 along the way!

Oh, about those five home runs.  Yeah...that ties Jones with Todd Helton with the most birthday roundtrippers among active players.  We'll have to wait until August 20 to see if "The Toddfather" can get his sixth.

So, Jones does well on his birthday...cool.  But how does he do the day after?  As it turns out...not so shabby.

In fourteen April 25 games, the future Hall of Famer has hit .333 (18-for-54) with two homers.

2012 is it for Chipper

It's been hinted at, joked about and rumored...but now it's official.  2012 will be the swansong for Atlanta Braves superstar Chipper Jones.

The 39-year-old announced Thursday that this upcoming would be it.

So if you're paying attention to the "Chipper Jones Milestone Watch"...dude is at 2615 hits, 526 doubles, 454 home runs and 1561 RBI for his storied career.  Jones is the only switch hitter in Major League history to post a .300 career average (Jones is hitting .304) with more than 300 homers, and his career batting average ranks second all-time among switch hitters.

In 1999, Jones was named the National League MVP after hitting .319 with 45 home runs and 110 RBI.  He was selected for seven All-Star Games and was part of Atlanta's 1995 World Championship squad.

Now...I wonder what the girl with the Chipper tattoo has to say about this?  And will she be in Cooperstown in July 2018 when her hero goes in on the first ballot?

Chipper Jones was Joking?

Oh, Chipper...you're hilarious!

Monday, Chipper Jones told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, basically, that he was considering retirement.

"I've said it a million times, it's hell getting old," said Jones, who’ll be 40 next month.  "The body is starting to tell me every morning when I wake up that it’s getting close...I don’t know if I can make it through this year."

Naturally, that made Atlanta Braves fans panic because, well, dude is slated to be the team's starting third baseman.

Tuesday, however, the seven-time All-Star was backpeddling.

"It was tongue in cheek. I was kidding. I just got done playing eight innings with three at-bats. I was a little tired," the 1999 National League MVP told MLB.com. "I wasn't by any means suggesting I couldn't make it through the season. If I didn't think that I could, I wouldn't be out there."

"I think it is a disservice to Chipper Jones to suggest that after wearing a Braves uniform for 22 years, he is going to abandon his teammates in the middle of a season," B.B. Abbott, Jones' agent, said. "Anybody who knows anything about him knows he is not like that."

I guess I don't get the humor.

REPORTER:  Hey, Chipper...how ya feeling?

CHIPPER:  The body is starting to tell me every morning when I wake up that it’s getting close...I don’t know if I can make it through this year.

ZING!  Comedy has come a long way, gang.

That said...if you find yourself in the Greater Orlanda area watching Spring Training this weekend, the always funny Jim Norton is there Thursday through Saturday.

Tell him The Hall sends its regards!

Behold...the Chipper Jones Tattoo!

Alright, enough with the whole "Chipper Jones is fat" thing.  Yeah, yeah...we all saw the picture. 

Matter of fact, Jones did too, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

“I’m also fat now, from what I hear,” Jones said, smiling as he winced while taking his jersey over his sunburned arms. “I’m a little worried, this is the first time I’ve ever been called fat.”

"Thing is, I'm seven pounds lighter than I've ever been in camp, and now I'm fat," Jones said. "I weigh 226, 227. Usually I'm 235."

But, we're all missing the real story here...have you seen Atlanta Braves fan Megan Perry's Chipper Jones tattoo?

I mean, someone probably thought she was a little obsessed with the future Hall of Famer when she changed her Twitter handle to @chipsgirl10...but now?

I caught up with with the SoCal native and asked her about her motivation...here's the response.

I love love Chipper wanted to show that loved him for 18 yrs so 4 1/2 hrs and 450.00 dollars later there u go

Talk about dedication.

John Smoltz Unloading His Gigantic Crib

Earlier this week, word came that former Cy Young winner John Smoltz was putting his $7.2 million house on the market.  No big deal, right?  Players buy and sell their houses all the time.

But have you seen the listing?  Holy cow!

Read!

The Smoltz estate is, at the very least, a sportsman’s dream. Set on nearly 20-acres of land, the property comes complete with separate tennis and basketball courts, separate baseball and football fields, a stocked fishing pond with an oxygenation system, jogging trail and an 18-hole golf course. The 18,265-square-foot mansion includes a total of 10 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, and features exposed beams, cathedral-style vaulted ceilings, marble and hardwood flooring and a lavish two-level grand foyer. Inside, the home includes a wealth of amenities highlighted by a movie theater with adjacent concession stand, home gym, outdoor kitchen and lounge area with a wet bar.

Now that you've read about it...just look at the place!

Smoltz made a ton of money during his career, so it shouldn't come as a shock to anyone that he was living like a king.  But do you really need to shell out more than seven million to live like an eight-time All-Star?

For less than a third of the cost, you might want to pick up the house of Smoltz's former teammate Reggie Sanders?

You can check out the former All-Star's crib below.

John Rocker Strings Some Words Together... Calls it a "Book"

Just in time for Christmas...John Rocker is releasing a book.

Matter of fact, baseball's favorite bigot even claims that he wrote at least 98 percent of the book.

"These are John Rocker's words, these are my thoughts, these are my opinions," one-time Atlanta Braves reliever told Macon, Georgia's WMAZ Wednesday night.

Rocker wrote "Scars and Strikes" in response to a 1999 Sports Illustrated article that he says "ruined his good name forever."  The book is said to mix "baseball memories with his political and social opinions". 

Oh, and what social opinions they are!
On ever playing for a New York team:

I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing.

On New York City itself:

The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?

On one-time Mets manager (and current Boston Red Sox skipper) Bobby Valentine:

The guy is not professional. Could you see [Yankees manager] Joe Torre or Bobby Cox getting thrown out of a game and then putting on a Groucho Marx disguise and sneaking back into the dugout? If a player got kicked out of a game and did that, Joe Torre would probably suspend him for a week. Bobby Cox would probably demand that the player be traded and tell him not to come back to the team. The Mets' manager did it! That, and his college rah-rah s---? I don't like it.

So, do you think Rocker is now naughty or nice?  Better question (and not as cliche given the season)...are you going to check out his book?

Dale Murphy Talks Chipper Jones

It's natural for a ballplayer, any ballplayer really, that, once they finish their career...they go on to talk about it on a daily basis.

Many get paid handsomely to do it (i.e. Nomar Garciaparra, Harold Reynolds, etc.).

Plenty don't.  And I guess that's what the internet it for.

One of the more recent entries into the whole social media fray is two-time National League MVP Dale Murphy and, suffice it to say, the former Atlanta Braves superstar has a few thoughts about his former team and, namely, Chipper Jones.

Read!

Lately a few people have asked me about Chipper and whether he can get to 500 home runs. I definitely think he has a chance at 500, seeing as how he’s sitting at 450 right now. If he comes back next year (and I think he’s already announced that he will), he could be even healthier than he was this year (he was recuperating in spring training this year, if you remember). In fact, not only do I think he could he get to 500 home runs, but I think he could get to 3,000 hits and finish his career with some truly impressive numbers (either way, he’s still a Hall of Famer, no question about it).

I'm with Murphy on the Hall of Fame thing...Jones will, without a doubt, get in on the first ballot. Dude is, along with Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle one of the best switch hitters of all-time.

But, I'm not buying the whole 3000 hits and 500 homers prediction.

Consider this.

Jones is currently 39-years-old (he'll turn 40 three weeks into next season) and, basically, 400 hits and 50 homer shy of the milestones. Or, essentially, the same amount of hits and homers as the 1999 National League MVP has hit since the 2008 All-Star break.

Yes, I know the guy has been injured. But it isn't like a 40-year-old thirdbaseman is going to get more durable as he gets older.

Plus...it isn't like you can put him at first a la George Brett and prolong his legacy given the Braves have a bonafide stud in Freddie Freeman already occupying the position.

So, let me hear it, gang. Do you agree with me or one Dale Bryan Murphy? And, no, no hearts will be broken if you side with Murph...the guy is an '80s baseball immortal.

Chipper Jones is Coming Back, Gang!

Hey Atlanta Braves fans...don't book your July 2017 trips to Cooperstown just yet...Chipper ain't done.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chipper Jones is playing in 2012.

“I’m playing next year,” the 1999 National League MVP said Friday. “I still feel like I can go out there and play a good third base and be a threat, at least, at the plate."

Two hours later, he hit a home run for the second night in a row.

With 448 home runs, Jones is adding to career numbers that have already earned him the distinction of being the only switch hitter in Major League Baseball history to have a .300-plus batting average, 400 bombs and 1500 RBI.

“I take a lot of pride in those numbers,” Jones said. “Those are awfully big numbers over an 18-year career. But that’s not what drives me. I want to punctuate my career helping these guys win a championship.”

Alright...Who Wants a Jersey?

It appears as though Atlanta Braves reliever Peter Moylan has figured out a way to cut through the Casey Anthony Trial Twitter clutter.

Offer his followers a free jersey.

I found this jersey in my locker, so where does it go? My basement? NO, YOU GUYS. get me to 25k people! Always add the tag #moylosjersey

I’ve seen a lot of players offer a lot of different things via Twitter…but a jersey? Never.

Sure, the tattooed hurler has just a fraction of the followers Nick Swisher has, but I’ve never seen the New York Yankees outfielder offer up swag.

And in case you were wondering…no, Moylan didn’t make The Hall’s pre-season "Baseball Players to Follow" list. But something tells me the Aussie knows what to do to change that.

Hint hint.

And Now...Derek Lowe's DUI Video

I told myself long ago that I was going to focus on covering milestones, the Hall of Fame and sprinkle in some pop culture and social media.

Unfortunately...I got sidetracked along the way.  And I blame the players themselves for that.

Last night, shortly after Derek Lowe finished up a gem of a start (he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning), WXIA out of Atlanta posted the newly released footage of the Atlanta Braves pitcher's April 29 DUI arrest.

Kyle from over at Crossing Broad broke down the best exchange of the 20-minute clip.  It happens about ten minutes in

Lowe: Once you say you play baseball, you're already guilty. I play for the Braves, so there you go.

Cop: I never heard anything about you playing baseball, you said you played golf tonight, today.

Lowe: I do, I play... Derek Lowe for the Atlanta Braves.

Cop: I don't know Derek Lowe from nobody. I don't even watch baseball.

Lowe: That's what I do.

Cop: I don't care nothing about baseball. You say you're a player?

Lowe: Yeah.

Cop: What position do you play?

Lowe: Starting pitcher, for the Braves.

Cop: What's your name again?

I've got two questions.

One...who do you suppose was in the Camaro that Lowe was racing?  And two, again, why don't these guys get drivers?

Oh, lastly, Derek Lowe..."quit yer bullshittin'".