We Hate the Braves and Cole Hamels 2020

[batmagadanleadoff]

I don't like when the team takes the name of the state instead of the city.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I looked to see what Atlanta's Negro League team was called, thinking that it might be a good idea for a name. I found that it was the "Atlanta Black Crackers".



THAT won't work!

[G-Fafif]

The Atlanta Deserters.



The Cobb County White Flight.

[MFS62]

The Atlanta Varsity, to pay homage to a restaurant catering to sports fans that has become a city landmark. I ate there before a game at the Ted. It is across the highway from Georgia Tech.

https://www.thevarsity.com/locations/detail/1/The_Varsity_Atlantahttps://www.thevarsity.com/locations/detail/1/The_Varsity_Atlanta

Some of the best onion rings and chili dogs I ever ate.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=39973 time=1594059057 user_id=68]
I don't like when the team takes the name of the state instead of the city.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't like using state names instead of city names either. The Diamondbacks and Rockies should have been the Phoenix Firebirds and the Denver Bears. I like the idea of minor-league names getting promoted to big-league names, as with the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, and Los Angeles Angels. (In 1969, the Montreal club should have been named the Royals.) If abnormally tall people ever get offended by the name of San Francisco's baseball team, I would hope that the new name would be the Seals. I was disappointed that Atlanta's former minor league (and Negro League) names are nonviable.

[Edgy MD]

Donn Clendenon's stepdad Nish Williams was a Black Cracker.

[G-Fafif]

Nick Markakis opts back in. Apparently you can do that (from the Athletic).

Markakis went through an appeal process and was reinstated by Major League Baseball three weeks after his July 6 announcement that he wasn't going to play. It was reported at the time that any player not classified as “high risk” to severe COVID-19 complications would be ineligible to play all season upon opting out and being placed on the restricted list. But MLB rules include a process for players returning from the restricted list, and that still held, provided a player applied for reinstatement before Aug. 1. Markakis made his original opt-out decision a few days into the Braves' summer camp, citing several factors including teammate Freddie Freeman's bout with COVID-19 at that time, fans being prohibited from attending games and a desire to be with his wife and three sons rather than trying to play baseball within protocols and restrictions that would disrupt the daily routine and regimen that he needed to prepare for games. Since he's on a one-year contract, it wasn't known if he'd ever play again, although Markakis indicated at the time he didn't plan to retire. The desire to keep playing in the future was still there, and at some point after making his opt-out decision, Markakis determined he wanted to be on the field again.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I didn't realize that there were any restrictions on who could opt in and when.



I've seen speculation that there are some players who may opt out in the first few weeks once they meet certain service-time milestones.

[Frayed Knot]

=G-Fafif post_id=42065 time=1596050420 user_id=55]
Nick Markakis opts back in. Apparently you can do that

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've decided what name the Braves should choose when they're eventually forced to rebrand themselves.



I had been looking for a name that tied into the history of baseball in Atlanta, but all I could find was the Atlanta Crackers, and that won't do. But the answer lies in the franchise's history in Boston. Before they were the Braves, they were the Boston Bees. So I humbly suggest that they become the Atlanta Bees.

[Frayed Knot]

To the Braves' credit they've actually been working/talking to native tribes in their area about the name and all assorted connections to it. I'm not sure what specifically is/has come out of those talks,

but it's a lot better than burying your head in the sand and pretending that the name has no influence outside the game and is no one's business but your own (Daniel Snyder).

[Edgy MD]

How about this guy wearing Travis d'Arnaud's uniform?

[G-Fafif]

Los Bravos have signed recently expunged Giant legend Pablo Sandoval to a minor league contract.