Atlanta Braves Morning Chop for FRI 9/26
To paraphrase the late Skip Carey: if you promise to patronize our website, you have our permission to walk your dog – for the rest of the season.
The Braves truly missed Mike Minor‘s absence last night as the Pirates looked to have their playoff-game-faces on. Even Edinson Volquez came to play last night as he stuck out 10 Braves (12 overall), scattered 4 hits (7) and gave the Pirates a 10-1 laugher as the Braves limped out of Turner Field for the final time in 2014.
David Hale got the spot start, and kept the Pirates close into the fifth inning. Ultimately it was walks, the pitch count (92), and near-constant threats that did him in as he allowed 5 hits (including a Travis snider home run in the 1st and two Ike Davis doubles) and 4 walks.
Then the bullpen arrived. And then batting practice ensued.
Luis Avilan and Gus Schlosser both got rocked repeatedly, giving up 8 earned runs and 9 hits between them. It wasn’t pretty.
This loss guarantees a below-.500 finish for Atlanta, a team that was 9 games over after April – and at the All-Star break. As of today, though: they are now in third place (due to the Mets tie-breaker) and just half a game in front of Miami.
I’m just gonna hide the box scores way down at the end of this, okay?
Atlanta Braves’ new ‘Simba cam’ pose floods the internet as fans hold up their babies to mimic famous Lion King scene
ERIN CLEMENTS / LONDON DAILY MAIL
While we’re used to seeing couples pucker up for the kiss cam at sporting events, the Atlanta Braves have come up with an adorable alternative: the ‘Simba cam.’
The team payed tribute to shortstop Andrelton Simmons – nicknamed Simba – by recreating one of the most memorable visuals featuring the character of the same name in The Lion King.
Parents have been holding up their babies, mimicking Rafiki’s presentation of lion cub Simba in the 1994 Disney film.
Some fans are even getting in on the action by lifting their dogs for the camera. [Ed. Note: during ‘Bark in the park’ games]
As an additional nod to The Lion King, the new custom is set to Elton John’s Circle of Life, from the film’s soundtrack.
[Editor’s Notes: yes, we’ve seen this all season, but apparently the news media – all the way to London – has picked up on this during the past week… thanks to the Braves’ pushing it on Instagram. By the way, Elton John is a huge Braves’ fan. ]