Taking my outdoor excursions, travel, and sport experiences and reliving them through writing.
Working to apply the same method of ease that I have on skis to my golf swing while keeping a mindful eye on the Braves and at the same time trying to figure out how to play golf every day.
When you live in a concrete fortress filled with millions of people, life in the city can be pretty draining and contains many unpleasantries. Atlanta specifically is full of cement and humid air. In the summer, the cement gets boiling hot and the air becomes thicker than an unopened jar of honey. In order to stay away from these city nuisances, it's imperative to get out of the city whenever possible (ie: every day you don't work) and position yourself by a body of water or elevation changes for comfortable temperatures. One way to cease that opportunity is to travel just a few short hours north west of this concrete bunker to the Highlands, North Carolina area.
Taking the city cement and replacing it with the mountain air always provide a sense of self reassurance and restoration that there is opportunity out there to explore the outdoors and thrive in it, should we choose to take advantage of it.
Rain clouds covering the mountain views atop Rabun Bald.
Rainbow on Whiteside Mountain.
Final scenes of Deliverance were filmed here.
Sky Valley Golf Club. Mountains in the distance used to house a ski lodge.
Last night I was able to capture a vivid image of the Tuner Field sky line. The picture was taken on my D70 fish eye lens. This lens creates s a unique visual picture, as it's designed to capture a wide panoramic image. With proper lighting and scenery, it creates an optimum picture scenario for this specialty lens.
Braves vs. Padres Tuesday June 10, 2015
It was a comfortable summer evening at the Ted. The Braves were able to win their second straight game against the Padres. Backed by a strong pitching performance from Williams Perez and a singles attack from the offense, (all 14 hits were singles) the Braves put together a sold win 4-1.
Through 59 games, the Braves sit one game below the .500 mark with a record of 29-30. In what has been an under-performing division to date, they are 2 games out of first place behind first place Washington coming into today's game. The 2015 team has been a fun team to watch, specifically comparing to 2014's team. They show a lot of fight and for the most part you get the feeling they are still alive in games. Are they bound for a deep playoff run? Probably not. But sitting over one third of the way through the season, they are not out of the picture. My hope is that this team will still be playing for the NL East or a wild card spot come the dog days of summer. Only time will tell if they can maintain a .500 or better record, but they have done a good job of proving the critics wrong to this point, and I see no reason why they can't keep that going.
First pitch is in 12 minutes. Time to get back to .500
Jackson Hole is in an ideal position right now. They have snow. Most of the west is lacking in snow; specifically California, Colorado, and even Utah is well behind their normal average total for February. Our time in Jackson consisted of very little snowfall; maybe six inches total throughout a seven day ski trip. With the dry conditions, smooth morning groomers and north facing slopes were the place to be for the week. Jackson was also experiencing abnormally, record high temperatures that made conditions seem like spring during most afternoons. You make the most of the conditions and remember your in an incredible place not everyone will have the opportunity to experience. In winter months in Jackson, you hope you never have a view of the Tetons, as it signifies snowfall. But when the clouds lift and the sky opens, the opportunity presents itself for majestic views:
Bluebird Jackson Hole - The only place for fresh tracks was in the backcountry.
The backside of the Tetons as seen through the fish eye
By far the most frightening potato in Idaho
Jackson sun set as seen through the fish eye
Official Beer of the Tetons
Grand Targhee offers a nice change of pace from the large Jackson Hole crowds
Backside view of The Grand
Cloud Cover slowly lifting over the Tetons
Clouds cleared for an immaculate view of the Tetons
When Frank Wren was fired as GM for the Atlanta Braves and his duties were filled by John Hart, there was certainly reason to believe change was coming across the Braves organization. That change has translated to a complete overhaul of the team, rebuilding a depleted farm system in the process. John Hart traded away three out of four of the most prominent power threats in the lineup in Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis. In return, for this mass amount of talent, the Braves received one major league ready player in Shelby Miller. The initial reaction from Braves fans when they see this is probably: what is this guy thinking? How are we going to score runs with an offense that was 29th in the league during 2014 and now has no power threat? The second question is reasonable and something I often ponder on. I believe every decision John Hart has made since coming on has been for the best of this organization. With the moves that have been made in the off season by the Braves front office, I believe the Braves are still going to be able to remain competitive in 2015 and are built soundly for a strong long term future.
2015
When the Braves take the Braves take the field on Monday April 6, 2015 for their opener against the Marlins, the team dynamic will have a different feel. It's first important to understand why the Braves made the significant trades they did over the last few months:
View 1, The Average Fan:
Gone is your two time gold glove awarded right fielder, maybe the best outfielder in the game who has raw power, speed and ability to hit for average. Gone is your left fielder who hit 29 home runs and drove in 102 runs and is still in his mid 20's and could be considered easily one of the top young outfielders in the game. Gone is one of the best stories in baseball. The man known as the white bear with raw power and no batting gloves. Heyward and Gattis were certainly the hardest to see go from the Braves. Both were brought up from in the Braves minor league system and fan favorites; they will be missed.
The 'White Bear' became a well known story across baseball and one of the biggest sales for the Braves over the past two years has been Gattis shirts and white bear hats. I would imagine these are discounted on price right now in the Braves store.
View 2, The Educated Fan:
With Jason Heyward's and Justin Upton's contract expiring at the end of 2015, there was little reason to believe John Hart would be able to structure a long term deal with either player at the end of the season. Heyward will probably command a deal in the upwards of ~$50M and Upton's deal will in all likelihood gross the $100M mark. Both players are still in their 20's and have large upside potential. Unfortunately the Braves are not the same organization they were under the ownership of Ted Turner where they had the ability to spend as they wanted. They are now under a middle of the market salary cap through the ownership of the Liberty Media.
Jason Heyward burst onto the scene in dramatic fashion his rookie year, There after he was plagued by on and off injuries and never seemed to reach his ultimate potential. Will the change of scenery in St. Louis enable Heyward to become the player we all thought he could be?
By dealing Upton and Heyward, this freed up a large chunk of 2015 payroll. It brought in a front line young starting pitcher in Shelby Miller (Miller is under control for four more years before becoming a free agent), and most importantly provided an influx of much needed talent into the minor league system.
With most of the major off-season deals completed for the Braves (at least one would think) Let's take a look at the current breakdown of the Braves roster on a position by position basis:
Second Base
In 2014, the Braves were among the worst in baseball in all major statistical categories at second base. The season began with Dan Uggla, some apparently in the Braves organization thought Ugglas would turn it around. This of course was not the case. About a month into the season Uggla's average had dipped to around .150 and the Braves finally pulled the position out of his hands. Ramiro Pena played the position some but proved he is not a full time player. Rookie Tommy La Stella then burst onto the scene and provided some much needed consistency, hitting for average and playing solid defense. Once LaStella cooled off into the summer months, Phil Gosellin came up from AAA and the two pretty much platooned for the rest of the season.
One of the first offseason moves Hart made was trading La Stella to the Cubs. Additionally, he brought in free agent Alberto Callaspo. The 31 year old hit a career low .223 last year and has battled weight issues in the past. He will compete with Gossellin in Spring Training for the starting second base position. If anything, Callaspo carriers a lower strikeout rate than Gossellin, which the strikeout pron Braves desperately need. Ultimately, this was a inexpensive sign for the Braves and whoever ends up winning the starting job will be filling the spot until highly touted prospect Jose Peraza is ready to take over.
I believe Jose Peraza is a key center piece for the future of this organization. Peraza, the Braves Minor League Organization Player of the year in 2014, is a 20 year old Venezuelan speedster who has so far shown the ability to hit at all levels he has played. He started 2014 in class A ball where he hit .342 with 22 extra base hits. A June call up to AA saw him continue to thrive hitting .335. Between A and AA, He stole 60 bases, including home base twice. Upon arrival, there is no doubt that he will be the leadoff hitter for many years to come. He will be Atlanta's first true leadoff hitter since Furcal's final season in Atlanta in 2005.
Jose Peraza will bring a speed dynamic to the Braves offense that they have not had in many years.
He will receive a lot of playing time in spring training and will have the chance to show his make up to the Braves coaching staff, front office and fans. I am really excited about this kid and can't wait to he gets the call, which will no doubt be at some point in 2015. When he is called up, you should see a similar buzz around town that you saw when Heyward was called up. He is the real deal; mark my words.
Summary: If Callapso/Gosselin combination does not prove effective, watch for Mr. Peraza to take the baseball world by storm before the all star break.
Pre Season Position Grade: C-
Short Stop
If Andrelton Simmons defensive skill set was a match to his offensive skill set, he would be the best player in baseball. In his first two years in the league, Simmons has become the best defensive player at his position and one of the best overall in the game. He put in another highlight real season in 2014 winning his second consecutive gold glove. The real question for Simmons comes at the plate.
One of Simmons finer plays of 2014. I am not sure if anyone else in baseball makes this play.
Simmons first full year in the majors in 2013, he put up a respectable slash line .248/17/59. However those numbers overshadow the offensive flaws in his game. Simmons has a big, wide open swing and is probably one of the more aggressive hitters in baseball. He rarely walks or strikes out. Simmons big upper cut swing leads to a lot of ground balls and pop ups. These flaws saw his stat line fall to .244/7/46 during 2014. Simmons is at his best when he cuts down on his swing and take the ball up the middle and other way. Simmons is a big piece for Atlanta in 2015. If he could get his swing right and hit for a higher average and get on base more consistency, he will be a big boost towards the offense.
Summary: Simmons glove work is as good as it gets; offensive consistency could go along way for an offense that needs all the support it can get.
Position Grade: B-
First Base
Freedie Freeman came into 2014 season having just signed the largest contract in franchise history. Freeman had a huge 2013 putting up a .319/23/109 slash line and finishing fifth in the MVP voting. Those numbers dropped drastically in 2014 .288/18/78. With the departures of Heyward, Upton, and Gattis, Freeman remains the lone power source in the Braves lineup. There is reason to believe he won't receive much to hit and will receive a high number of intentional walks as there is really no protection with all of last years power sources departed.
Freeman has been, and will remain the Braves most consistent hitter. He plays every day and he hits for power for average. It will be interesting to see if pitchers give him anything to hit at all in 2015 as he is by far the best bat in the Braves lineup.
Summary: Look for Freeman's numbers to build off a down 2014 season; assuming he doesn't break Chipper Jones's franchise record for most intentional walks in a season.
Position Grade: A-
Third Base
Similar to Andrelton Simmons, Chris Johnson had a very disappointing offensive season in 2014. After finishing second in the batting title race in 2013, Frank Wren inked Johnson to a fairly lucrative two year $23.5M deal. There after, Johnson's numbers declined drastically. His batting average dropped nearly .60 points and his strikeout numbers increased by over 40. Additionally Johnson posses no speed and he grounded into 25 double plays last year.
There's little doubt that Chris Johnson wears his emotions on his sleave. He had several irrate blowups during games in 2014 on and off the field.
Johnson at times wears his emotions too much. There was one game in 2014 where he was pulled for an explosion in the tunnel following an at bat. I would imagine that that some of those Gatorade barrels will never be the same. There was reports that the Braves tried to package Johnson in their trade packages this offseason, but apparently found no takers. This will no doubt be Johnson's last year in Atlanta. I think the position will be filled long term by Rio Ruiz, the 20 year old who the Braves got in the Evan Gattis Deal.
Summary: An average defender and offensive player is all that you get in Chris Johnson. A good goal for Johnson would be to cut down on his strikeouts and hit for a better average in 2015.
Position Grade: C-
Catcher
With the departure of Evan Gattis, the catching job in Atlanta has no undoubtedly been handed over to Christian Bethancourt.Bethancourt has for some time been pronounced the catcher of the future. Bethancourt got a little more than a cup of coffee in 2014 appearing in 31 games and batting .248 He proved he could handle major league pitching and his offensive game will continue to develop with time. He doesn't contain a great deal of power, but he handles the bat well and has above average speed for a catcher. Bethancourt has long been known for his defensive skill set behind the plate. He calls a good game and his a rocket for a throwing arm. The one knack on Bethancourt is he has been called lazy at times.
AJ Pierzynski was once voted the most hated man in baseball by his colleagues.
The Braves made a great sign in bringing in veteran AJ Pierzynski to backup Bethancourt. Pierzynski is known to have a fiery attitude on the field and to be a fierce competitor. He will be a great mentor for Bethancourt and should be a great fit for helping his development in 2015, Should Bethancourt struggle this year, you know you have a proven veteran player in Pierzynski who could step in and play every day if needed.
Summary: It will be exciting to watch a full season of Bethancourt as he continues to develop. I wouldn't expect huge numbers, but he will be fun to watch improve offensively and should be a great battery mate for a young rotation.
Position Grade: C+
Right Field
With the Braves trading away Jason Heyward, there was an obvious void to fill in right field. Hart made the decision to sign free agent outfielder Nick Markakis to a 4 year deal. At 31 Markakis is going to be a solid veteran player. While he is no Heyward defensively, he is an above average defender in right and is a career .290 hitter. He's been bothered by a herniated disc in his neck over the last several years which has no doubt been a direct contributor to his declining power and average numbers. Markakis and the Braves made the decision for their newly acquired right fielder to undergo neck surgery several weeks ago; Markakis is supposed to be ready for the start of spring training. Hopefully the surgery proves beneficial and allows Markakis to provide steady offensive output for the 2015 season
Summary: You know what you are getting in a veteran player like Markakis and he could prove to be a clubhouse leader on a young team.
Position Grade: B-
Center Field
The worst free agent signing in Atlanta Braves history and probably one of the worst in baseball history stands as the Braves starting center fielder in 2015, BJ Upton. I won't even get into the numbers of Upton over his first two years, but they have been historically bad. Because of the money he is being paid, he will start the season as the Braves center fielder. How much the organization can take of his terrible play remains to be seen. Some speculate that new hitting coach Kevin Seitzer will help turn BJ's swing around, but I'd put more probability on me winning the lottery on with a ticket that I am never going to buy than BJ's swing coming around.
Braves fans are all too familiar with BJ Upton strikeouts and his look of disgust.
Upton posses above average speed, but he lacks the ability to get on base. His defense his been sub par at best. He takes bad routes to balls and often times there is a noticeable lack of effort defensively. Offensively there is no coming back for Upton it would seem. The Braves are stuck with Upton contractually for three more years and I don't believe there is anyway they will be able to trade him. I can just see other GM's laughing on the other end of the line at an attempt to package Upton in a trade deal.
Summary: We count down the days until BJ Upton is no longer the center fielder for the Atlanta Braves.
Position Grade: F
Left Field
After the Heyward and Upton trades, Evan Gattis was presumed to be the starting left fielder for the Atlanta Braves. With Gattis now on his way to Houston the question remains what the Braves will do in left field. The Braves signed 25 year old cuban outfielder Zolio Almonte. Almonte is young with potential, but not a proven every day major league player. The Braves are currently looking to the free agent market to fill this void. There are not a lot of great options currently on the free agent market and are rumored to be pursuing veteran Johnny Gomes. The position will be battled out in spring training.
Summary: Left field is in all likelihood going to be a platoon situation that could change throughout the course of the season. I think a Gomes/Alominte platoon could be the starting point come opening day
Position Grade: Not Available, but it's not going to be passing with flying colors.
Rotation
The Braves are looking to build this team around a strong young rotation. Returning starters from last year include Julio Teheran, Alex Wood and Mike Minor. Teheran had a great year in 2014 but like most of Atlanta's rotation received little run support. He finished 14-13 with a strong 2.89 and was selected to his first all star team. Tehran will continue to develop and improve and goes into the season as the Braves number 1 starter and more than likely will start opening day. Alex Wood was shifted around to where ever the Braves needed him for the first half of 2014. He spent time in the rotation, the bullpen and even time in AAA getting stretched out to re-join the rotation. Once he was finally stabilized in the rotation, he became one of the Braves best pitchers. He was electric for periods of time during the last third of the season. Mike Minor looks to rebuild of a down 2014 season in which he had a career high in losses and ERA. He showed promise toward the end of 2014 and will hopefully be able to build off that confidence coming into 2015.
The fourth spot in the rotation will be filled by Shelby Miller. Miller was acquired earlier this offseason in the Jason Heyward trade and is a very nice addition to the rotation. Miller finished third in the rookie of the year voting in 2013 and put up a solid sophomore season in 2014. The fifth spot in the rotation is still up in the air. A few days ago the Braves signed veteran lefty Wandy Rodridguez who will battle for the spot in spring training. Another interesting potential fifth starter is Michael Foltynewicz (say that ten times). Foltynewicz came over in the Gattis trade and certainly has the makeup to be a big league starter. His fastball tops out around 98, his downside is that he struggles with control at time. Having a fifth starter with that kind of velocity is certainly intriguing and could be an interesting story line for 2015.
Summary: The Braves support a young rotation with four very quality arms. If they can stay healthy, I believe they could surprise some people and turn into a top tier rotation in 2015.
Position Grade: B+ Bullpen
Assuming he's not traded, Craig Kimbrel will again anchor the back end of the Braves bullpen. Many wonder why the Braves would keep Kimbrell when they have a team that could have a difficult time scoring runs this season which could prove to give heir elite closer sparse opportunities to close out games. The rest of the Braves bullpen will have a different look and feel in 2015. The Braves traded away Kimbrel's setup support from last year; Jordan Walden and David Carpenter. With their departures, Hart signed former All Star closer Jason Grilli to a two year deal. Grilli struggled with the Pirates in 2014 and was shipped off to the Angles where he pitched better in the second half of the season. Hart also brought in another power arm in former Orioles closer Jim Johnson. Johnson saved 50 games in 2013 but similar to Grilli struggled in 2014. Rebound success for these two pitchers will be crucial to the late inning bullpen success in 2015.
Additionally the Braves got back talented young flame thrower Arodys Vizcaino from the Cubs. Vizcaino could find himself in a crucial role in the bullpen. The Braves biggest offseason signing, not for skill, but from a name standpoint was Josh Outman. Outman is a solid lefty but he carries one of the great last names in baseball; so we got that going for us.
Maybe the best last name in baseball?
Returning starters from last years pen include lefty James Russell, Shae Simmons, Ian Thomas and David Hale. Hales is a valuable asset who will compete for the fifth starters spot or could find himself as the Braves long inning relief man again in 2015.
Summary: The Braves sport a revamped bullpen that has the makeup to be very solid.
Grade: B +
Season Outlook: A lot of experts have already ridden off the 2015 Atlanta Braves. General Manager John Hart best described the makeup of this team best a few days ago ' We may not be the prettiest girl at the dance, but we are going to be a lot of fun to dance with'. On paper, the Braves are not a great team, but the good news is we get to see how paper translates to the field. 2015 will not be the team of household names; gone are fan favorites Gattis, Upton and Heyward. Enter a new generation of Braves. The Peraza's and Bethancourt's of the world now stand in place to try to make their mark on this storied franchise. Do I expect them to be able to compete for a 162 game slate with a Nationals starting rotation that looks like something out of a video game? In all likelihood, no. I don't expect them to roll over and give up either. This team is probably not built to win a World Series, let alone an NL East Title. What they are built for is future, long term success, and as a fan that's the direction you want your team to be trending in. If your a fair-weather fan, you might want to stay at home and wait for 2017, like so many seemed inclined to do; but in doing so you will be missing out on what could be a very exciting 2015 campaign.
2014 will mark the thirteenth straight Auburn/Georgia football game that I will have attended. The streak dates back to 2002. The only time it was ever really in n the balance was during the 2011 season as I was living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming at the time. Fortunately, I was able to fly back south for the game and keep the streak alive. I believe that this is one of the great cross state rivalries in college football. Two schools, only 178 miles apart. The rivalry begin 122 years ago in 1892 with Auburn leading the all time series 55-44-8. So many great players and coaches have had an opportunity to take part in this rivalry: Pat Dye, Vince Dooley, David Pollack, Shug Jordan, Cadillac Williams, Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson just to name a few. One thing I think that makes the rivalry great is the number of Atlanta Metro area kids that go to Auburn. With UGA nearly impossible to get into, you got to imagine there's a little bit of spite from the Atlanta kids who grew up wanting to go to school in Athens, but were shunned away. Similar to my case as a cross state Birmingham dawg fan growing up wanting to go to school in Athens, but there is no spite held.
I grew up a big Georgia fan, which made going to school and converting to an Auburn fan difficult at first. Through my years at Auburn I was able to make the transformation though. Now Georgia is the enemy. Also not sure why they wouldn't want my talents in their school. Taking a look at the games in scope since 2002, there have been some all time classics. The implication of some of the games have propelled both schools into SEC Championships and further. In my opinion during the twelve year period, I would say 2002 was the most meaningful game for Georgia and 2013 for Auburn. Let's take a look at the high stake classic rivalry games over the past twelve years:
2002
Georgia travels to the Plains ranked seventh in the Nation, Auburn ranked twenty fourth. Georgia came into the game needing a win in order to win the SEC East. This is probably one of the more memorable Auburn/Georgia games I have been to. At the time I was 13 and a huge Georgia fan; this was the first Auburn/Georgia game I ever attended. It was a cold rainy day in Auburn and we were sitting up near the top rows of Jordan Hare's upper deck; what almost seemed to be another zip code. It was a classic rivalry game, both teams battling all day. Georgia was down 21-18 facing a fourth down and goal from the Auburn 19. David Greene lofted a pass to Michael Johnson in the right corner of the end zone for what became on of the memorable catches in Georgia football history. Larry Munson's call:
Georgia would go on to beat Arkansas in the SEC Championship and Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. The lone blemish on the schedule and the only thing that kept them out of an appearance in the National Championship game was a 20-13 loss against the Gators.
Michael Johnson goes 'over the top' to snatch the SEC East title for Georgia in 2002.
2005
Maybe the best year to sum up a classic rivalry game. Two good football teams battling through the crisp, cool November Athens air. Faced with a 4th and 10 and the game on the line Brandon Cox found Devin Aromashodu (great football name) who took the ball all the way down to the Georgia one yard line.
Originally the call on the field was a touchdown. However it was then moved back to the Georgia one yard line. This actually worked completely against Georgia's favor as Auburn was then able to bleed down the clock to a few seconds and kick a field goal for a 31-30 victory. As a not yet converted Auburn fan, I remember this loss really stinging.
2007
November 10, 2007 Georgia calls for a blackout against Auburn. Wearing black jerseys for the first time in their programs history, and asking their fans to wear all black; Auburn never really had a chance. I have been to a lot of games in Athens, and this was possibly the loudest I have ever heard Sanford stadium.
My view from the blackout game. A see of black. I was pretty easy to spot in orange.
The Dawgs were able to match the pre-game hype. Georgia would put up a 45-20 victory in a game that was never really close. I think this was one of Georgia's most talented teams in the past decade plus lead by Matt Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and Mohamed Massaquoi. Fast forward to 2008, Georgia was ranked number one in the Nation at the time, and welcomed Alabama into Athens. Georgia decided to pull out the black jerseys for this game. Alabama came into Athens and shocked number one Georgia. Black jerseys have since been retired.
2013
This one is still fresh on Auburn and Georgia fans alike. Auburn came into the game 9-1 still in contention for an SEC East Title and potentially a National Title if their cards fell right. Auburn roared out to a commanding lead, holding a 37-17 lead a few minutes into the fourth quarter. Momentum quickly changed and Aaron Murray, Todd Gurley and company had comeback upset on their mind. The Dawgs chipped away and the Auburn offense could get nothing going in the second half. With a little over 2 minutes left in the game Georgia faced a 4th and goal from the Auburn 5 yard line. A gutsy fourth down run by Murray gave the Georgia the lead and left the Auburn faithful stunned from Georgia's comeback.
Auburn got the ball back with a little under two minutes. Time ticked away and Auburn faced a 4th and 18 at their own 27. Only a miracle could keep Auburn's dreams alive. And so it ensued:
It is one of those plays that almost just leaves you speechless. The ball was poorly under thrown by Marshall, but it ended up being the perfect pass. The only thing Georgia really got out of 'The Miracle at Jordan-Hare' is a heavy dose of irony. The two Georgia defenders who tipped the pass to Louis no longer play at Georgia. Tray Matthews transferred to Auburn and Josh Harvey Clemons transferred to Louisville to join former Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.
What is often overlooked is Aaron Murray nearly led Georgia back down the field for a come behind victory after the Ricardo Louis touchdown, but the Dawgs fell just short. The 'miracle' victory for Auburn propelled them to an SEC Championship and an appearance in the National Championship game. It was a fitting end to a magical season for Auburn.
2014
With all the great games over the past 12 years, it's hard to believe the SEC considered breaking off the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry after the expansion of the SEC adding in Missouri and Texas A&M. The conference reshuffle did see Auburn host back to back games in 2012 and 2013. I would say 2012 was the worst game to watch over this time period; the Dawgs put a 38-0 pounding on Auburn in a year in which Auburn failed to win an SEC game.
With Auburn's loss to Texas A&M last week, their hopes of an SEC West title have faded significantly, but are still alive. Georgia is still in serious contention for the SEC East and a victory over Auburn compiled with a Missouri loss would send them to Atlanta in December. 2014 is setting up for another potential classic. Two good teams with a lot to still play for, leaving us with one simple question:
2017
I jumped in to look back at games played since 2014, it has not been a pretty run for Auburn. Ofcourse, I am going to pick the one game since 2014 that Auburn won to highlight. Both teams came into this game with a lot on the line, Auburn had one loss in conference and Georgia was undefeated. Auburn controlled their own destiny and needed a win against the Dawgs and then a few weeks later in the Iron Bowl. After falling down 7-0 early, Auburn controlled the game from there. Kerryon Johnson was a man amongst boys and ran for 165 yards, Auburn went on to a 40-17 beating. Auburn would go on to win the Iron Bowl propelling them to a rematch against Georgia in the SEC championship, which went further south than this Rivalry for Auburn.
Six months ago in I was in the Monashee Mountains in British Columbia, Canada on a week long helicopter skiing tour. For miles upon miles all that could be seen by the naked eye is mountain tops covered in fresh snow. Fast forward six months from March to today; I am sitting in a chair looking at a computer screen, which is apparently contributing to my eye sight failure. My eye sight in my right eye has gotten slightly worse, but my left eye has gotten better. Thankfully the chair I set in everyday is ergonomically designed, otherwise I would probably be blind by now.
Like any form of vacation, they tend to go by too quickly. This one was no different. It's always amazing how quickly the distance of an incredible week tends to dissipate from our memory. I remember one week after returning from this trip and falling back full force into the work grind, making it feel like it had been months ago that I had been stepping out of a helicopter and found myself skiing down untouched powder perfection. While I have posted a few initial thoughts from this excursion, I have not fully captured everything that it was. As the summer days dissipate, the weather turns cooler and the air becomes a little bit less thick, we know that winter is soon on it's way and it's only a matter of time before our winter playgrounds are accessible. I felt it was important to reflect on some highlights of the trip as the working life begins to completely stricken my sight and sends me into blindness, and I am unable to do so.
1. The Waiting
Just like the Tom Petty lyrics, the waiting is the hardest part. The planning for this trip began almost a year in advance. Once we confirmed it was a go, the trip begin to consume my mind. It's amazing how much of my free time became dedicated to the trip. I began reading up on avalanche safety, back-country etiquette and tracking the winter patterns throughout the northwest. Even my daily workout regiment became focused on ways to prepare for powder skiing. You can talk to others who have experienced heli-skiing, read stories of the experiences people have had and even watch video of the entire process. But until you are actually there engaged in the experience you find your mind constantly envisioning and trying to set the stage for what the experience will actually entail. I don't think I had ever been in a position where I had such much excitement and nervous energy flowing over a trip. The days leading up to the trip finally began to dwindle and the time had come to set dreams into motion. Here. We. Go.
Go Time
2. There is a first time for everything
There is a first time for everything: what a terrible, cliche saying. But when you add on to that: stepping out of a helicopter deep in the Monashee mountains preparing to ski down an untouched powder tree or glacier run, it has a little better ring to it. We were skiing out of Mike Wiegele's; a five start mountain resort known for some of the greatest powder skiing in the world. Everyone is typically there for a week and guests are divided into groups of 7 or 8 which is the group you will ski with for the week. The helicopter's essentially operate as ski lifts. They pick you up in the morning. They drop you off at the top of each 'run' and pick you up at the bottom. Each morning the group gathers near the heli pickup spot and waits for the distant sound of helicopters to start up from a near by heli hanger. I will never forget our first pickup. The heli comes in from a quarter mile out over the tree line and lands to pick you up; the engine never stops nor do the blades so obviously safety is of the utmost concerns. Boarding beneath thumping blades all communication is non-verbal. I had so much nervous-energy getting on that helicopter for the first time. Taking in the entire experience: here I am buried deep in the British Columbia mountains about to be dropped off into a powder paradise: Let an epic week commence.
First time ever in a helicopter. So much energy.
3. Powder, Powder, Powder
I have grown up my entire life skiing and I spent a winter in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and while most of my skiing had been in-bounds to this point, I had what I thought to be some fairly decent powder experiences. Everything that I had ever experienced to that point in my life was no comparison to the six days of powder skiing at Wiegele. Every run: untouched, untracked powder. As a skier, that is what you dream about,. At a resort on a good powder day, you might get 2 or 3 runs before the entire mountain gets skied off. At Wiegele it's untouched on every run. While I had skied some powder coming into the trip, I had never skied powder every day, every run. As the week began, I did not present the best form and found myself exerting more energy than necessary. As the week progressed, my form steadily improved and I became more confident and comfortable with every turn. Over the course of the week I saw a drastic improvement, with some help and tips from our guides who ski powder every day of the winter I found my self flowing in a powder paradise.
Hitting stride, mid-week
4. A Little Wind One of the more memorable experiences that sticks out that didn't actually take place while on a pair of skies was the wind. Not the wind that was encountered on the mountains but the wind was encountered in the heli while trying to land in our drop off zone. Several times we tried to land, and the wind was simply to much. Strong gusts pushed the heli back and forth. Here you are hovering over a ledge, a glacier and or a tree line and you can't go to the ground. Move on to the next spot.
Throughout the entire trip I think the only time I really felt my heart jump was experiencing some serious winds on a Glacier Tour in the Monashee's. This shot was taken as we begin the travel deep into the Monashee mountain range.
5. Glacier Skiing versus Tree Skiing
Our skiing ether consisted of high alpline (above the tree line) or in the trees. Skiing in the trees is in incredible. It's what powder skiing is all about. Higher degree pitches and deep flowing pockets of powder. Outside tree skiing is high alpine. It's more open and less vertical pitch. One day we did a glacier tour deep in the Monashee Mountains. It was a crystal clear day and the views were surreal. The pictures don't even really service it justice. Your deep within mountains upon mountains surrounded by glaciers and a select group of people. While the skiing is not as optimum as the trees, the views of the glacier/alpine skiing we did will be forever etched in my mind.
The black steak represents the heli-drop spot on top of a glacier. Our glacier tour provided unreal views of the Monashee mountain range. Pictures don't even serve it justice.
A brief opening in what was one of many incredible tree runs.
6. Stretching?
Days on this vacation started early, a little before 6:00 am to be exact. There is very few things that make it easy to get out of bed that early, skiing qualifies as one of them.The day started each morning with a 6:30 am stretching class. This was not a mandatory class, but because of the magnitude and the physical level of exertion involved with powder skiing it was highly recommended. It's funny thinking back on the time since this trip and the number of things that have really gotten me enthused to wake up prior to 6:30am. Stretching still tops the list, and it is an experience that doe not justify a picture.
7. Oh, Canada
There's nothing like some dog food nestled in the middle of the steak section. Canadians also love hockey and curling.
8. The Ultimate Chair Lift
Ever since returning from this trip, the sound of a helicopter has never sounded so good. I look at them with a completely different context. Every time I hear one now, it triggers thoughts and memories of this incredible trip. Unfortunately the context of the sound of a helicopter now takes place in a concrete jungle. For six days I was fortunate enough to have a ski life in the form of a helicopter. Now as winter approaches as does the time to get back to the mountains, I move back to what I knew before the helicopter chair lift - a soft seat with a bar - never losing sight of what needs to be done to get back to the ultimate chairlift.
One of the great shots of the trip. Seems to sum it all up.
Georgia vs. South Carolina, a cross state rivalry game that has grown from a regional rivalry to a rivalry with national implications on it year in and year out. Typically the first SEC slotted game on each schools schedule, this game puts the winner in the drivers seat to win the SEC East. This year will be no different.
Two years ago Georgia rolled in to Columbia, SC as the fifth ranked team in the country, South Carolina ranked number six. A highly touted showdown turned out to be no contest what so ever. The game was over mid-way through the first quarter as USC jumped out to a 21-0 lead. Aaron Murray and the Georgia offense turned in a dismal performance and might as well have just stayed on the bus. Something about Georgia playing in Williams-Brice has always given them issues. This series has historically been a battle and Georgia's historically had trouble putting up offense and points in Columbia. Their point totals for their last six trips tell that story:
Saturday's game is a really intriguing matchup. I think it's going to be a battle as usual and has the potential to swing either way. South Carolina is going to come in with a chip on their shoulder after an opening embarrassment to Texas A&M, but Georgia comes in with a lot to prove as well. It's going to be interesting to watch the game develop. I think the key player to watch is Hutson Mason. Mason wasn't asked to do much in week one as Georgia's four deep running attack wore down Clemson's defense. Georgia comes in missing their top two deep threat receivers so they don't bring anything intimidating in the downfield passing game. But, with the early issues shown by the USC secondary I think Georgia at least takes a few shots down field early. Georgia presents issues in their secondary as well, but I was impressed with the halftime adjustments they made against Clemson. Dumping Granthem and hiring Pruitt was a smart coaching decision. If Mason were to come out and make a few early mistakes, I think that would put UGA in a position where it would be difficult to win the game. Mason gained some experience in a few starts last year, but this is the highest pressure start he has had in his career and will certainly be the toughest environment he has every played in.
Interestingly enough, Georgia and South Carolina both play the same SEC teams on their remaining schedule: Auburn, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri. Both teams lucked out and as they don't play any powerhouses from the West outside of Auburn (LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M). Again, this just sets this game for huge implications on who wins the east.
I think Georgia wins a close battle, but it wouldn't surprise me if they come out flat and have to fight from behind to do it based off their recent history in Columbia. If your Georgia, give the ball to #3 until South Carolina proves they can stop you. When healthy, Gurley is the best running back in college football. If they are in a lot of third and longs, they won't win this game. I think if South Carolina's Mike Davis stays healthy he could be in for a big game as well.
On a separate note, I have always wished they would come out with a line for how many times Spurrier will throw his visor over the course of a game. Though Spurrier doesn't look it, he is aging. Thus I think there could be a drop in visor throws over the course of this season compared to previous years. However looking at this game and the potential of frustration that Georgia's running attack presents, I think the spread for visor throwing would come in at 2*
*Visor throwing point system
1 point for visor off the head, makes contact with the ground.
The Braves snapped a seven game losing streak with a 2-1 win last night over the St. Louis Cardinals . Gavin Floyd pitched really well in his first start since tommy john surgery, and the offense did just enough to get us back in the win column.
Cardinals starter Tyler Lyons had a solid start giving up only one run in six innings.
Freeman and Simmons turned a slick 3-6-3 double play.
BJ Upton striking out. As a Braves fan, we are all to accustomed to seeing this.
Gavin Floyd pitched seven strong innings in his first Major League start since having Tommy John Surgery.
Justin Upton is greeted by Freddie Freeman after his fourth inning moon shot home run.
