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"Will you sign my balls?" Macon, GA

My apologies for the immature title. Though I must admit that at events like these, it's always tempting to say something stupid/lame/stupid that the guys would remember or maybe mention to each other on the bus ride home. Anyway, I just figured I'd pass along some photos and share what went down today in Macon. I had a handful of stuff to get signed, so my girlfriend took the pictures. There were a ton of people there and they were pushing people through quickly, so she captured what she could. We were asked not to ask the players to look at the camera and smile, although most of them tried to when possible.

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In the picture above you'll see the crew: Huddy, Heyward, Redmond, Ross, Hubbard, Clontz, and Jim Powell. Huddy was typical Huddy - polite and quirky. I told him, "Happy to see you in a Braves uniform for a few more years." He looked at me, then at my girlfriend for about three seconds or so, then replied "I appreciate that; it's good to be back." Then I asked, "How's the elbow feeling?" "It's feeling real good, real strong." See folks. Huddy's no injury risk, he said so.

Star-divide

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Here's big bad Jason Heyward, emphasis on big. He's gonna look monstrous at the plate this year. You almost feel like he should go to the plate with a pine tree. He started signing with his right hand until he realized there were cameras around. I had all of these things I wanted to ask him, but I blanked and just thanked him for coming out. He replied, but it was so deep and manly that it went beyond my human ability to hear frequencies so low. Then he tamed a wild stallion. Anyway. He was very calm, cool, and collected throughout the whole event and looked like he had been doing this for 10 years.

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Here's Redmond, Ross, Hubbard, and Clontz. I really like Redmond. I told him I hoped to see him get his shot in the Bigs this year. He said thanks a lot, and gave me an appreciative "that makes two of us!" kind of look. David Ross is one cool dude, too. It's obvious he's got a great sense of humor. I asked him how he was enjoying the offseason, and he said that it was good, and he was ready to get back out there. Hubbard was happy to sign a ball for me, as was Clontz and Powell. It was cool of Clontz to be there; it was interesting to meet an old Braves player whom I used to emulate his odd delivery when I was 8 or so.

22648_107489879267315_1000001891041_medium

One last pic of the crew. It's always interesting to actually meet and interact with people that you talk so much about, but don't really know. It's unreal to blog about Jason Heyward all day and then next thing you know, he's three feet in front of you. It definitely made me anxious for Spring Training to start, I'll say that. It was a good time today, but for me, the real win was finally getting my girlfriend her first autograph. It took a year and a half to get her into Braves baseball with me, and when you get anyone to see the beauty in baseball, it's a win for everyone (except football fans). And now look, she's totally...

22648_107489875933982_1000001891041_medium

...stoked about it.

7 recs  |  Comment 52 comments

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Hahahah

Nice title. You get a rec just for that title alone.

And I’m with ya on Heyward…when I went to the AFL in October, I talked to him for a brief second after the game. I had so many questions, but I couldn’t really think straight and just wished him the best.

Great post. I gotta get me a girl like you have that is at least semi-interested in sports. My ex hated sports and didn’t even play t-ball or soccer as a little kid…doesn’t every kid do that?! That’s probably why we didn’t work out lol

Remember folks, I'm almost always wrong.
My sig was too long...

by mvhsbball on Feb 3, 2010 12:21 AM EST via mobile reply actions   0 recs

man these

balls are as smooth as eggs!! YESS I WILL SIGN UR BALLS SIR,LOL

by HARDBODI82 on Feb 3, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Ah good ole Chappelle stand up lol

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S. Thompson

by mad_dog_maddux on Feb 3, 2010 11:41 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Nice

+1 internet points

“Escuse me Miss………..do you sign balls?”

I thought hurricane season was over........

by bravesguy311 on Feb 3, 2010 3:28 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

+1

"SIGN PUJOLS OR FIRE WREN" ~ Swo12bv

by Smoltz's Beard on Feb 4, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Fantastic post!

The Heyward part is hilariously good.
I’m afraid to say much more. ;)

by Lizziebeth on Feb 3, 2010 12:59 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

haha. I’m having the exact same reaction!

rec’d btw

"Batting second and playing shortstop-he's Cuban. Yeah, his name's Pablo...no, eh, Yunel Escobar, sorry"

by GoBravesNY on Feb 3, 2010 6:31 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

The old Brad Clontz sidearm. I used to pretend to be him playing in the backyard just because his delivery was so strange. That and the Dizzy Dean type arm swinging delivery. I actually used that in the only game I ever pitched in Little League.

by BullManUGA on Feb 3, 2010 2:39 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I had a little league coach who would not let me pitch b/c I used that sidearm delivery. When he finally did though, it was magical (or, perhaps just pretty awesome).

by hollerin' brave on Feb 3, 2010 6:41 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I love sidearmers. I didn’t pitch much in high school but on the rare occasions I did and I was facing a left handed batter (I’m left handed) I’d wait until the third pitch of the at bat then drop down and throw one sidearm at his knees. Usually the guy would crap his pants and the rest of the at bat was easy throwing low and away outside while he weakly flailed at the ball just wanting to sit back down.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2010 6:49 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Great stuff! The bit about Heyward was classic. Glad to hear it about Redmond, he really is a good dude. He’s pretty hilarious too, definitely the clown of the team. And dude, good job on the GF, very cute.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2010 6:50 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Well done

Promoted to the front page.

by gondeee on Feb 3, 2010 8:21 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Grrrrrrr, now you’ve got me itching for the season to start and its only just past groundhog’s day. ::Shakes Fist::

by soup du jour on Feb 3, 2010 8:21 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Great pics...

It’s really weird to see guys like Hubbard when they aren’t in all of their baseball gear (especially with the glasses and everything). He looks a lot different when he’s not on 1st.

by Fischerking on Feb 3, 2010 8:31 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Of all those guys I wish I could have gotten Hudson’s autograph. I live too far to away to go to one of those, shame.

I have spent a good amount of time trying to convert my wife into a baseball and football fan but so far I have only had progress on the football front. Anyways, good looking girlfried by the way.

Thanks for the pics.

by bbxxj on Feb 3, 2010 8:32 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Hope ya don't mind my saying

But…..The g/f is SMOKIN HOT !!

by ggotch on Feb 3, 2010 8:36 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

This.

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Feb 3, 2010 9:12 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, i said “very cute” cause I didn’t want to be creepy, but she’s a total babe, SHWING!

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2010 9:27 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Word

Great Smile.

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Feb 3, 2010 1:16 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

haha thanks everybody.

When people see us around, the typical reaction is something like “she’s with HIM?”

"Sometimes I wonder what'd it be like to be outside and not hear the birds chirping...I think it'd be kind of nice."

by alligatorimpersonator on Feb 3, 2010 4:45 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

People can hear my thoughts?

by Lizziebeth on Feb 3, 2010 6:07 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

She looked better when i dated her. Zing!

"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson

by 10-4 on Feb 3, 2010 9:24 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Good, but

I’m going to need to you tone down your writing. You’re writing is geared too much towards “the in-crowd,” with esoteric jokes and references that the casual reader wouldn’t be able to understand. I don’t understand a single thing, and I have no idea whom anyone is aside from Tim Hudson, and the colored fella whom I’m assuming is Jason Heyward.

Nah, just kidding. This’s awesome. I wish there were more caravan stops, closer to, y’know, Atlanta.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Feb 3, 2010 9:40 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

and the colored fella whom I’m assuming is Jason Heyward.

Yikes. I mean, this was hilarious, then it just got funnier.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2010 10:07 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

wow

your whole post is insider and obscure

"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"

by Doghnut on Feb 3, 2010 10:43 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Brilliant

TC insider, where we can charge members a nominal fee for more text with more inside jokes and more sarcasm, and more trainwreck internet fights between members over things like OPS and WAR and other acronyms that sound like a Bill Cosby seizure. And anyone getting caught quoting us on other sites for free is immediately warned and banned at the same time.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Feb 3, 2010 11:12 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

“I told my wife I’ll never forget Cartagena, Colombia,” said Miller

so i guess you arent “effing” around huh?

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Feb 3, 2010 1:18 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

i just realized i effed that up pretty good

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Feb 4, 2010 6:59 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"

by Doghnut on Feb 3, 2010 9:05 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha

by Lizziebeth on Feb 3, 2010 6:17 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't get it...

why would Heyward have been signing things with his right hand, unless…….

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 3, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

He secretly has two left hands?

by McCann and McWill on Feb 3, 2010 12:43 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I just dont get why they were at academy…the new dicks is where its at

by AirHawksnumberonefan on Feb 3, 2010 1:31 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

theyre doing academy at pretty much every stop

"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"

by Doghnut on Feb 3, 2010 9:06 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Great post,

Thanks for sharing!

When asked what aspects of Heyward’s game need improvement, one scout simply replied, "Nothing."

by HEYJUDE on Feb 3, 2010 6:17 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

EWWW dude. Signing officials in Black sharpie.

I’ll pass…

MATT DIAZ IS THE F**K*NG MAN.
They made me change my signature...

by nick9314 on Feb 3, 2010 8:03 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

What’s wrong with black sharpies? Inquiring minds wish to know!

by soup du jour on Feb 3, 2010 9:43 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Blue pen is the ink of choice for baseballs. In fact, as a rule the autographing community shuns black ink. Personally though, I’ve always used black, I think it looks better. But yeah, Sharpie on a baseball is a no go.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 4, 2010 1:27 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

My Klesko and Huddy baseballs were signed in black sharpie. There’s just no comparison with the good look of blue pen.

"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson

by 10-4 on Feb 4, 2010 8:24 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Black ink, not only sharpie ink fades on baseball very quickly.

Its not a choice thing for me, in fact, I think black looks better also. Its just that I want my autograph to be there in a month.

MATT DIAZ IS THE F**K*NG MAN.
They made me change my signature...

by nick9314 on Feb 4, 2010 5:55 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

so black fades faster than other colors?

or is it just sharpie? that seems a bit more plausible…color shouldnt matter.

"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"

by Doghnut on Feb 4, 2010 6:18 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

See, I feel like this is something that got around the autographing community sometime back in 1992 and never went away. I have cards signed from as far back as 1997 in black sharpie and they still look as crisp and dark as the day I got them. I don’t believe that black fades faster than blue, in fact I think blue looks faded from the start. Sharpie technology has advanced since this notion was first put forth.
Another one that’s out there that just isn’t true is that the 9 card pages used to hold cards will rub the autographs off of the cards. Yeah, the crappy old ones would, but the modern ones, and by modern I mean the ones they’ve been making for the last 15 years, don’t. Again, I have plenty of examples.
Autographing, like any community, has all kinds of rumors and half truths that, when you take the time to examine them, just aren’t factual.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 5, 2010 3:06 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Black ink (sharpie or ball point pen) fades off of leather really really quickly

The auto will be fading after the first month.

MATT DIAZ IS THE F**K*NG MAN.
They made me change my signature...

by nick9314 on Feb 4, 2010 5:57 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Watch out for Jordan Schafer then

If you give him a choice, he’ll use a sharpie, every time.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Feb 4, 2010 1:13 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, so will every major league player

They want ur shit to fade.

MATT DIAZ IS THE F**K*NG MAN.
They made me change my signature...

by nick9314 on Feb 4, 2010 5:56 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Except Pat Neshek cause he’s the coolest guy on the freaking planet.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 5, 2010 3:06 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Very very true.

MATT DIAZ IS THE F**K*NG MAN.
They made me change my signature...

by nick9314 on Feb 6, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

rec'd

Brad Clontz sighting…classic.

"SIGN PUJOLS OR FIRE WREN" ~ Swo12bv

by Smoltz's Beard on Feb 4, 2010 2:36 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

When is Macon, Ga going to ST??

Myself and a few other Maconites are planning on planning some planning time for planning a trip down to Orlando for ST. Anyone else in the area planning on going?

"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host

by bwellnjonesco on Feb 8, 2010 2:25 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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