Kuzul

For a sky copter sky plane traffic report on the outlook for the 2011 Bravos, let’s go to Captain Herb Emory.

How’s the season looking Captain Herb?

Captain Herb – Well, it looks like the Braves will be in contention for a NL Pennant in 2011. I like the addition of Uggla and no glaring losses. Freddie Gonzalez is a solid skipper who will take over for the great Bobby Cox. I wish we had one more lefties in the starting rotation for those series against the lefty dominated lineup of the Phillies. The Phillies will be tough to beat with that starting rotation.

Speaking of rotation, when was the last time you had your tires rotated? Go to Big 10 Tires to get them rotated today. How is the outfield looking Kim McCarthy?

Kim McCarthy – Well Captain Herb, the Braves outfield in 2011 has potential to be very good, but with question marks. Look for the J-Hey kid to have an All-Star year in right field. Also, look for McClouth to bounce back and have a solid year in center. Prado gets a look in left after a break out year in 2010 and Jordan Schafer adds flexibility.

Speaking of flexibility, Auto Zone has flexible hours to meet all of your automotive needs, visit your local Auto Zone today. How about that infield this year Mark Arum?

Mark Arum – Thanks Kim. The infield for the Braves has question marks this year. Uggla is a big addition that will bring much needed power to the lineup. Freddy Freeman takes over at first and has a lot of potential, but will have his ups and downs in his rookie season. Gonzalez is solid at shortstop and McCann is an All-Star catcher and may be the best in the game. Big question at third is how long until Chipper pulls a hammy or a groin? 

Speaking of hammy, be sure to visit Subway today for one of their delicious foot long ham sandwiches. Now for the pitching, let’s go to Doug “Fireball” Turnbull.

Doug “Fireball” Turnbull – Uh-oh, we now have a code red in the bullpen. Billy Wagner is retired and it looks like the Braves are counting on Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters as closers. Your backup route is to go with veterans Scott Linebrink and George Sherrill. 

The starting rotation has the potential to be one of the best. Huddy, D-Lowe, JJ and Tommy Hanson are solid but all righties. I would like to see Mike Minor have a break out year and become that much needed lefty in the starting rotation, especially in those head to head series with the Philadelphia. 

Speaking of Philadelphia, what a great movie starring Tom Hanks. Be sure to visit a Red Box movie rental and pick up a copy of Philadelphia or another great movie today. Back to you Captain Herb.

Captain Herb – That is a look at your sky copter sky plane view of the 2011 Atlanta Braves. Stay tuned for more and see what Kirk Mellish has for the Braves outlook on his Mellish Meter!

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I was driving through my neighborhood this weekend. It was a balmy 70 degrees and I saw dads and sons playing catch and kids playing wiffle ball.

Could it be that time of year? Ahhhhh, the Boys of Summer!

I love baseball. A late summer night, listening to Jack Buck call a Cardinals game or Ernie Harwell call a Tigers game with the radio under your pillow. Ahhhhh, the Boys of Summer!

Watching Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek call a game at Fenway Park on the Saturday Game of the Week. Ahhhhh, the Boys of Summer!

Sitting in the bleachers, eating a hot dog on a warm summer afternoon. Ahhhhh, the Boys of Summer!

Playing wiffle ball and having your best friend pitch to you like Luis Tiant, windmilling the bat like you’re Willie Stargell. Not enough kids to field a team? No problem, right field is out. Ahhhhh, the Boys of Summer!

Surrounded by talk of lockouts, scandals and sexting, it was refreshing to see people enjoying baseball for what it was and is: a game.

In these days of free agents, contracts and labor disputes, are there still athletes who love the game?

I think so. And, as I thought about it, I put together a “Dream Team” of baseball players who played or play the game because they love the game.

Pitcher

I have to have both a righty and a lefty. My righty is Mark “The Bird” Fidrych. Anyone who talks to a baseball has to love the game.

My lefty is Bill “Spaceman” Lee. He might look like Charles Manson, but he loved the game. My reliever is Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky. To watch him psych himself up before each pitch was a sight.

Catcher: Rick Dempsey

This guy always had fun. Who can forget those clips of Dempsey on “This Week in Baseball” running the bases on the tarp during a rain delay with his hat on backwards?

First Base: Ernie Banks

“Lets Play Two.” Whether you’re a Cubs fan or not, his smile was contagious and you could not help but love Ernie Banks. Remember when they used to actually schedule doubleheaders? You could go watch two games for the price of one!

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia

You can’t help but admire this guy. He doesn’t look like a baseball player, but his uniform is always dirty and he’s always hustling.

Shortstop: Ozzie Smith

When a guy does a flip as he takes his place on the field, he has to be loving what he’s doing.

Third Base: Brooks Robinson

How many times did you watch Brooks Robinson dive behind the third base bag, get up and fire a strike across the diamond? When I think of baseball, I think of Brooks Robinson.

Outfield: Pete Rose

Whether or not you believe he belongs in the Hall of Fame, you have to have “Charlie Hustle” on your team.

Picture Pete Rose chugging from first to third, pushing off his helmet and showing off that Prince Valiant haircut or running over Ray Fosse in an All-Star Game that doesn’t mean anything…well, no matter what your opinion of Pete Rose, he loved to play the game of baseball.

Outfield: Willie Mays

The “Say Hey Kid.” Yes, they had cartoons of him, and it seemed like he was always smiling and having fun. I can picture Willie Mays running full speed with his back to the infield, making a basket catch and whirling to throw back to the infield.

Outfield: Manny Sanguillen

I know, he was a catcher. But he did volunteer to play right field after my boyhood hero Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash on a mission of mercy. Sanguillen had a contagious grin.

Swinging that huge bat, flashing that smile, he loved to play the game of baseball.

Designated Hitter: John Kruk

Remember when he faked a heart attack while dodging a Randy Johnson fastball? Watching Kruk play, and now watching him broadcast, is entertaining, to say the least.

Manager: Tommy Lasorda

Anybody who attacks the Phillies’ mascot has to manage this team. Of course, his bench coach would be Yogi Berra. After all, as Yogi said, “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”

Wow, what a team this would be to watch, to follow, to enjoy the game of baseball for what it is: a game. For all of us who fell in love with baseball as children and still love the game.

Ahhhhh, the Boys of Summer!

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