Game Day Pictures: Braves vs Phillies 4-21-10

I went to a game last week. I am not sure I'm ready to say why or how, but here are some pictures to enjoy. Thanks to Meagan, Phil, and Matthew for the wonderful evening! We'll discuss more later, I'm sure.

In the album, you'll see...

- They've made the NAPA Cap Shuffle easier this year.

- The Hammer sandwich in the 755 Club (not bad, not worth $14), the redesign of the bar area, plus the new and improved menu. It's still too pricey and too far away from the action. Also, our server had an amazingly complicated design on her nails.

- I tweeted about the ice cream men giving Jenna 6 scoops - I wasn't kidding.

- Intense Phillies fans

- Baby without his hat on, in the batter's circle

Full album here. I'll talk about the rest later on. Thank you to all who wished my family and I well over the last week. :)

Game Day Pictures: Braves vs Rockies 4-17-10, Jimenez no-hitter

Not much to say about this game -- we were no-hit by Ubaldo Jimenez (as mentioned earlier) and Jenna and I weren't paying much attention the game, too busy talking about the day's earlier events. Here's the full album. Most is self-explanatory, but I'll highlight a few things below...

There's a reason I call him "Tiny Dancer" - here's Medlen literally slapping his knee during some bluegrass in BP:




Jenna and I discuss the running of the bull...pen, and where her "boyfriend" ;) Hanson is:




Marteen and Rockies friend Carlos Gonzalez from Venezuela (Maracaibo, according to MLB)...




And finally, tonight was Jonny Venters' Major League debut, and he was really great! I tweeted that I liked how he wears his socks up, and I hope he will continue to do so. Keep JoJo down! Keep Jonny (and his socks) up! :)

Best. Silent Treatment. Ever.

Atlanta Braves' Jason Heyward (22) celebrates his solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies with Nate McLouth, right, during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 20, 2010, at Turner Field in Atlanta. The Braves won 4-3 in 10 innings.

Good idea Jason -- rub off some of your mojo onto "Mighty Mouse" there. (Thanks for that nickname, Alison.) ;)

Braves Nate McLouth hit a winning home run in the 10th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field in Atlanta. Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com

Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones, left, and Brian McCann, center, celebrate and urge teammates to go into the clubhouse even before Nate McLouth can touch home plate after his solo walk off home run to win the game 4-3 in 10 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field Tuesday evening in Atlanta, Ga., April 20, 2010. The Braves had three home runs, two in the ninth and one in the 10th to tie and then win the game. Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com

100420 Atlanta, Ga., -- Atlanta Braves' Nate McLouth (24) rounds third base as he celebrates with coach Brian Snitker (51) as he heads home after his solo walk off home run to win the game 4-3 in 10 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field Tuesday evening in Atlanta, Ga., April 20, 2010. The Braves had three home runs, two in the ninth and one in the 10th to tie and then win the game. Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com

Braves Nate McLouth reacts after his winning home run in the 10th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field in Atlanta. Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com

"Um, hi friends? Where are you?"

Video on Braves.com, and another angle from @vivalosbravos at Twitter, in case you missed the game. That was one of the best things ever. :D

ETA: Story from DOB with more details at AJC.com.

New Hug Header

Lizziebeth took an amazing picture on 4-17-10 and allowed me to use it as the new header for the blog. Isn't it pretty? :D

That's Peter Moylan and Kris Medlen, if you can't tell. Thank you so much, Lizziebeth!!

Braves pitcher Tim Hudson gives $200,000 to Chattahoochee Valley Community College baseball program

Holy crap, Huddy. Good for you. :)

"This means the entire world to us," [CVCC coach Adam] Thomas said. "In one single moment, he's changed this program. It's an unbelievable gesture."

Full article

That's amazing. If I made the kind of money some of these guys make, I hope I would do the same thing.

Game Day Pictures: Braves vs Rockies 4-16-10

No Braves BP today, just two unexpected pairs of pitchers playing toss together: Hanson & Jurrjens, Hudson & Medlen. Hey, what do I know? Maybe these pairs are BFF?

This is how much I care about the Rockies: this is the sole picture I took of their BP. :D

They're selling foam tomahawks and fingers in the stands this year. Heard in the stands: "Hey, I'll give you a finger for free!"

James "Red" Moore from the Atlanta Black Crackers threw out the first pitch to Jason Heyward and looked extraordinarily happy to meet Jason. 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4

The Braves Organist played a great Steven Spielberg medley for Ryan Spilborghs. B says he looks funny. Most of the guys do in their mug shots. ;) Why do you think the shot they use of Baby is the same one for 3 years straight? (Marteen, too.)

Our section was really obnoxious and there was a small crowd, so we moved down after only a couple of innings. One high-school kid was telling his less-clueless friend that "it's really rare to get five scores in one inning."

Rockies cuddle

Lowe's ovation on his way out. This is the first season he's started out 3-0.



O'Flaherty! Also:



Tomahawk Team hugs! The blonde, Jamie? I still mentally call her Celia, because she reminds me a bit of the ANTM contestant from cycle 12. Jamie is prettier and less scary-looking, though.

Best bachelorette party ever - I'm totally doing this. :)

Braves win!



Between the game and Friday Night Fireworks, the Heavy Hitters gave us some beats. My video didn't work but these pictures are fun. ;) 1 ~ 2 ~ 3

Waaatch Friday Night Fiiiiiireworks
They're goooooooood
And not creepy at aaaaaaallllllllll

Full album here, including lots of pics of individual players. Pics from Saturday's no-hitter will be up soon.

Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez celebrates his no-hitter

I took this video from section 218 tonight. To bad this was against us and not for us! Not sure what's up with the focus in the first half but it adjusts perfectly for some smiling as they get closer.

Gameday pics from this weekend will be up soon. :)

Prado's handshakes, pre-season version

A couple of weeks late on this, but Lizziebeth took the best video of Marteen handshaking his way down the line before the White Sox game we went to a couple of weeks ago. He even fist-bumps Bobby!

Video Link

Thanks for letting me post the vid here, Lizziebeth. We love Martin Prado!

Throwbacks

Hee hee.

As you probably heard or saw, the Braves and the Padres wore throwback uniforms yesterday from 1984! I love love love the Braves' baby blues and the Padres' Reese's Pieces. Let's look at some pictures of the day...



Holy calf muscles, Kyle Banks. Amazing! (Much larger pic)



Looks like something out of Star Wars, doesn't it?



"I could really go for some Reese's Pieces right now. Think someone could pour them through my mask for me?"



Does Rossy "win"? I think he does! I also think we need to see a larger version of that picture, and I'm totally digging the waistband on the pants. :D

I'm a little disappointed that they're wearing their pants all baggy and 2010-style instead of painted on, 1984-style. If you're going to do it, do it right! ;)

Throwback uniforms are fun! What's your favorite Braves uniform of the past?

Watch BP at home via MLB Network? Yes please!

MLB Network is letting us watch BP from home, y'all!! They emailed me a press release this morning - here's part...

MLB NETWORK USES BALLPARK CAM SYSTEM TO AIR 30 MINUTES OF LIVE BATTING PRACTICE COVERAGE

Batting Practice to Debut on Friday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m. ET

Secaucus, N.J., April 14, 2010 – Fans will get an inside look at pregame activities as MLB Network uses its Ballpark Cam system to produce Batting Practice, a 30-minute show featuring live footage from ballparks around Major League Baseball. MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger and Harold Reynolds will host the debut program on Friday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m. ET and take viewers inside batting practice to watch and analyze position players warming up in batting cages and on the field. The show will also include live interviews on Ballpark Cam with players, managers, coaches and announcers.

MLB Network’s high-definition Ballpark Cam system is robotically controlled from MLB Network’s studios in Secaucus , New Jersey, and cameras are currently installed in the dugout and centerfield locations at 13 MLB ballparks. The Ballpark Cams, used regularly for updates and pregame and post-game interviews within MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s live, nightly studio show, are being installed in remaining MLB ballparks throughout the 2010 season.

Batting Practice will air regularly on weeknights at 5:30 p.m. ET throughout the 2010 Championship Season, following MLB Network’s simulcast of MLB.com’s Fantasy 411 at 5:00 p.m. ET. MLB Tonight, the signature program of MLB Network during the regular season, airs live beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET until the final MLB game of the night ends each Monday through Friday, featuring live look-ins of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis.

Obviously, I was curious if Atlanta was one of the 13 ballparks getting a special camera, so I emailed the contact person. She's so nice - she always answers my questions immediately. Her reply, in part:

Yes, Atlanta is one of the parks with Ballpark Cam. We won’t be sending out any formal notices before each episode, but I can tell you that if the Braves are playing a home game on a day when we are airing “Batting Practice,” we will certainly check out their batting practice. And yes, the half-hour show will whip around all of the MLB venues where we have Ballpark Cam set up.

So! If you have MLB Network, and the Braves are at home on a Friday night -- like this Friday! -- you will be able to catch a little of BP from home! This is going to be awesome!!

ETA: Followup email!

We currently have Ballpark Cam available with the Diamondbacks, Braves, Red Sox, White Sox, Rockies , Astros, Angels, Phillies, Padres, Cardinals, Rays, Rangers and Yankees.

Concussion-proof batting helmet in St. Louis

My friend Molly W and her boyfriend went to the Cards opening day in St. Louis, and her pics on Facebook were fab. This was by far my fave -- this guy certainly isn't going to get a concussion! Molly said, "it totally bounced when he walked. There was some spring inside the hat or something." NICE. He was tagged "Awesome Guy". Love it. :)

Thanks for letting me swipe, Molly! :)

Cleaning out the DVR pt 4: I really like Heyward's smile

He looks so happy to be here; he really does. :)

Cleaning out the DVR pt 3: Mac at the cages

"I'm gonna give him a big hug." I really hope the cameras catch that. :D

Cleaning out the DVR pt 2: This isn't how I remembered Glaus' hair

This is from a Spring Training special on one of the local channels. There was also a good Wags interview that my DVD burner blipped -- sorry about that!

Cleaning out the DVR pt 1: "You're as hot as a firecracker!"

"Everything about Tom Glavine is awesome, ok?" What a great end-of-Spring-Training interview. Thanks, teevee!

It's like a 2010 version of "Chicks Dig the Long Ball"!

How hilarious! Thanks, MetsGrrl! :)

"Glaus' wife fulfills passion of her own — equestrian"

While Troy Glaus spends his days gobbling up ground balls at first base and swinging for the fences as a member of the Atlanta Braves, his wife Ann juggles two jobs of her own: spending the daylight hours refining her show jumping skills before spending nights at the ballpark cheering on the 12-year veteran.

Full article at Ocala.com

I like to hear about The Wives who have a "passion of her own" outside of supporting their husbands / raising the kids / charity work. All those are good things, but you have to have something for yourself, too. For example, while I don't always agree with Mrs. McCann's fashion choices (hee), I love that she actively runs her own boutique and hasn't given it up just because Baby's a big huge star. The time may come to have some Baby Babies, and she may want to go part-time or sell her part of the business, and that will be a decision for their family. But for now, I'm glad she's not quit her job to follow her husband. ...You know who I mean. ;)

Anyway, yay, ponies!

Game Day Pictures: Braves vs Cubs 4-5-10

Welcome to 2010!

What a fab game. Largest day crowd in Turner Field history, third largest crowd in Turner Field history, and boy, were the right field seats bumpin! Let's start out with some BP pics, though...

Lines to get in, the kid in the gray totally wins!

Hinske & Diaz ~ O'Flaherty & Medlen ~ Omar & his batting gloves

Brooks, Rossy, EOF, Meds

Jogging pitchers 1 ~ 2 ~ 3

Rossy, don't your knees need a break?

Pretty shot of Hanson

Moylan, looking very covered up. Speaking of, he was showing some of the guys some cricket pitches and I couldn't get the camera out fast enough. Hopefully this video is good enough. :)



I only took pics of one Cub, because my party had to potty. Here's my boy Dumpster scarfing sunflower seeds...


As I mentioned on Twitter, on the way to our seats B got a new shirt and a Braves employee stopped us to ask us to take a survey. We hoped it would mean we would get a seat upgrade later, but nothing happened. Sad.

Let's see some pre-game videos!

Baby's presented with his 2009 Silver Slugger.




Opening Day lineups! I like the Braves Country Lineup look.




Hank Aaron throws out the first pitch of the season to Jason Heyward.



Views from our seats at the top of Upper Reserved 417: 1 ~ 2 ~ 3

While looking around, guess who I spotted just a few rows down? Brandon Bond of All or Nothing Tattoo, aka the tattoo artist of the Braves! I went down to say hi - we've exchanged emails in the past and his assistant Nicole has always been super-nice. Well, he was great in person too. Why was he in these sucktastic seats, I asked? He had given his good seats to his parents and gotten these from a scalper. What a good guy. I don't have any tattoos (bleeding disorder, ftw), but I think his art is beautiful. Anyway...

Check out the media swarm watching Heyward stretch. I couldn't do that.

Huddy on Braves Live

The Braves sure are getting a lot of use out of that America-shaped flag, aren't they? This is Braves Country.

Travis Tritt singing the National Anthem, with both teams on their respective baselines.

Bobby took out his own lineup card to start the season. Cue big emotional music. Cue big applause.

First pitch, for real!

Baby at bat, 1 ~ 2 ~ 3

Hey, McCann's Cans are back! I wonder if those are the same guys I met years ago. They were nice kids.

Jason Heyward's first at-bat, 3-run homer and all! I barely got it, and B (in my hot pink Wayfarers) called it! Awesome.



And his second at-bat, which wasn't the same but it was fun to hear the crowd get excited for him:



Excellent "God Bless America" singer, maybe best I've ever heard live.

Tool Race vid. I'm getting a little tired of recording these -- do you still have fun watching them?



These guys were so proud of their Heyward jerseys.



Nate doesn't write vowels when he autographs?

Braves win! Player of the game is!



All pics and vids here. And before we go, some fan shots!

Sid Bream shirt

Not a typical KJ fan

The Yoda backpack at the ballpark...might not pick up women

Wrong game, Lincecum fan.

Hanson & Jurrjens couple

Baby wig! (ok, it's probably real. either way, so cute!)

THIS is why "this seat is so tight!"

GIANT TOMAHAWK!!!


What a fun game! Hope to see you at Turner Field soon!

Lookalike

We can all agree Jason Heyward doesn't look 20, right? I don't meant that in a Latin-player way, wink wink, but he just seems so mature! Well, as I was skimming the AP pics of yesterday's game, this one caught my attention...



Doesn't he look like the lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire? I love this song, so I'm going to post it for good measure. Who does he look like to you? I know CABravesFan has a good theory! :)

Game Day Pictures: Braves vs White Sox 4-2-10

Ah, this is the closest I could get to Spring Training baseball this year - a preseason exhibition game at Turner Field! All upper deck tix were $5, so we got a handful of friends together (and told some other friends to meet us in 410) and took off!

Sadly, traffic was way-bad on this Good Friday and B and I got there so late that we completely missed Braves BP! Lizziebeth got in the gates on time, so hopefully she'll have some pics to share. :) I did snag a shot of Curaçao natives Jair and Andruw chatting in CF between their BP sessions, which was super-cool. Andruw hit some bombs in BP - pic 1, pic 2 - as Ozzie Guillen mentioned, we forget sometimes that Andruw's only 32! It was fun to see him again.


Lauren: "Look, it's Tommy Glavine!" Lizziebeth: "How did you SEE him?" Heh, I don't know. Pretty random, right? This whole post is going to be pretty random. Please bear with me. :)

We have a new bromance! I love Heyward & Freeman. They're so fun to watch, and I really wish we had a spot for Freddie in the Big Club this year, but his time will come. For now, I took far too many pictures of them warming up together! And maybe a little video too. ;)



Pictures 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6 ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ 9 ~ 10 ~ 11

Excessive, I know. I'm just way too excited for this season to start and I'm kinda missing the McFrenchy stories, and Salt & Pepper are a perfectly wonderful replacement friendship!

Let's go to the in-game pics!

Lineup video:



- They're still using Baby's old jumbotron pic. I'm OK with that - it's cute.

- Glaus' pic is also way cute!

- Druw Jones was in the dugout for the whole game, and was MEGA cute. (Have I said cute enough yet today? Gimme a break, I've been working on this post for 3 days, somehow! :D) Pic 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4

- Yunie got injured a little (for real this time, not for fake)

- Andruw at bat! Pic 1 ~ 2

- Clint! Pic 1 ~ 2 ~ 3

- As I discussed earlier, I am super-excited for Freddie to move on up the ladder. I haven't met him, but by all accounts he's a great kid and he appears very talented. Also, he's pretty cute. (There's that word again!) (Also, I have to remind myself he was born in 1989. I'm starting to feel old compared to these new Braves!)

OK, so here's some Freddie stuff. :)




Honey, I have an eyebrow lady who can help you out. You'll still look like a man and no one will ever know. Ask for Shila at the Spa Sydell in Buckhead -- she is the absolute best at eyebrows I've ever known, and I've sent more than one man to her. Tell her the Lauren she used to work with sent you to her. Just saying. Loves, bye. :)

More Freddie pics and pics of the whole day in the full album. Lovvies, hope to see you all later today at Opening Day!!

2010 Braves Intro Songs

Like last year, let's keep track of the Braves' intro songs (aka walk up / coming up to bat / at-bat / going to pitch songs)! This was a very fun project and one we definitely should keep up this year.

As y'all know, I can usually pick up on the urban music but rock escapes me - I can definitely use your help identifying everyone! If you have an addition or correction to the list, please share the title and artist via comment, Twitter, FB, IM, email, whatever works for you. Thanks! :)

This post links to songs that may not be considered family friendly. I didn't choose these songs; the players did. ;) Use your discretion with kids in the room and your speakers on 11.

Catchers

#8 David Ross - It Takes Two, Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock

#16 Brian McCann - All I Do is Win, DJ Khaled -also uses- I Put On for My City, Young Jeezy -also uses- All the Above, Maino ft. T-Pain -also uses- Simple Man, Shinedown

(McCann's career intro songs)


Infielders & Outfielders

#2 Alex Gonzalez - A Cut Above, Avery Watts

#4 Omar Infante - Everybody Get Up, Pitbull ft. Pretty Ricky -also uses- Reach Up (Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag), Perfecto Allstarz (yes, same as Prado; no, not kidding)

#5 Freddie Freeman (never got Freddie's, sorry!)

#10 Chipper Jones - Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne

#14 Martín Prado - King Without A Crown, Matisyahu -also uses- Reach Up (Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag), Perfecto Allstarz

#18 Brandon Hicks (never got Brandon's, sorry!)

#19 Diory Hernandez (never got Diory's, sorry!)

#20 Eric Hinske - Walk, Pantera

#22 Jason Heyward - Kryptonite, Purple Ribbon All-Stars ft Big Boi -also uses- Atlanta GA, Shawty Lo ft. Ludacris, The Dream, Gucci Mane -also uses- What You Know, T.I. and 24's, T.I. -also uses- Over, Drake

#23 Matt Diaz - Take My Life, Jeremy Camp -also uses- Lay Em Down, Need To Breathe -also uses- Home, Marc Broussard

#24 Nate McLouth - Shoulder Lean, Young Dro ft T.I. -also uses- Remember the Name, Fort Minor -also uses- Halle Berry (She's Fine), Hurricane Chris -also uses- My Time, Fabolous ft. Jeremih

#25 Troy Glaus - It's Tricky, Run D.M.C. -also uses- Slam, Onyx

#26 Brooks Conrad - Don't Stay, Linkin Park -also uses- Shout It Out Loud, Kiss

#27 Derrek Lee -  A Star is Born, Jay-Z ft. J. Cole

#28 Rick Ankiel - Shut Up, Trick Daddy ft. Deuce Poppito, Trina & Co -also uses- Godzilla, Blue Oyster Cult

#53 Melky Cabrera - Pump It, Black Eyed Peas


Pitchers

#11 Kenshin Kawakami - OMG, Usher ft. will.i.am -also uses- Faint, Linkin Park

#13 Billy Wagner - Enter Sandman, Metallica

#15 Tim Hudson - Teach Me How To Dougie, Cali Swag District

#32 Derek Lowe - Low, Flo Rida ft. T-Pain -also uses- How Low, Ludacris

#34 Eric O'Flaherty - Electric Feel, MGMT -also uses- Uprising, Muse

#36 Scott Proctor - (never got Scott's, sorry!)

#37 Brandon Beachy - Go with the Flow, Queens of the Stone Age

#38 Mike Dunn - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, AC/DC (Had a new song on 10/1, but I had a busted phone - thanks Jayson Werth - and couldn't Shazam it)

#39 Jonny Venters - Crazy Town, Jason Aldean

#40 Takashi Saito - Frontline, Pillar

#43 Kyle Farnsworth - (never got Farns', sorry!)

#46 Craig Kimbrel - Welcome Home, Coheed and Cambria

#48 Tommy Hanson - Stranglehold, Ted Nugent

#49 Jair Jurrjens - Out Here Grindin', DJ Khaled

#50 Cristhian Martinez - Fire, Jimi Hendrix -also uses- The Pretender, Foo Fighters

#54 Kris Medlen - Holy Diver, Dio

#56 Mike Minor (never got Mike's, sorry!)

#58 Peter Moylan - TNT, AC/DC


Former Braves

#1 Gregor Blanco - (never got Gregor's, sorry!)

#19 Yunel Escobar - OMG, Usher ft. will.i.am -also used- Somos de Calle, Daddy Yankee

#37 Jo-Jo Reyes - I Stand Alone, Godsmack

#43 Jesse Chavez - Low Rider, War

_________________________________

Interesting! SI.com article on intro songs

Last pre-season workout

"It just takes a little bit of the edge off because we're all going to be pretty geeked for Opening Day tomorrow," added closer Billy Wagner. "You pretty much try to knock the edge off by throwing a light bullpen, doing some running, getting your work in and just being around the guys."

Included in the "being around the guys" was a boisterous discussion by some of the pitchers and catcher David Ross about growing mustaches, to, according to pitcher Tim Hudson, "look more like men."

SWEET. I've been saying we need more mustaches! Mustaches!!

Full article at Braves.com. Happy Easter, y'all!

Caption This!

Atlanta Braves' Brian McCann reacts after fouling a ball off his foot in the third inning of a preseason baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, April 2, 2010 in Atlanta.

All I can think of is A Christmas Story... "Only, I didn't say 'fudge'. I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the 'F-dash-dash-dash' word!"


ETA - OK, thought #2 - he looks a little like a very slim Mario Batali here, doesn't he?

Heyward's #22

Heyward’s No. 22 a tribute to former Henry Co. teammate

Posted using ShareThis

Oh, that's nice! [/Shirley]

Opening Day info!

Here's a news release from the Braves about the goodies on Opening Day!

I'll be sitting in the TOP of section 417 (ugh). The first 5 blog fans to find me either during BP or during the game get a prize! This is my face and I'll be with these two characters. :) Hope to see you there!!

---------------------------------------------

A Fan’s Guide to Opening Day

Monday, April 5th – Braves vs. Cubs – 4:10 p.m.


FAN PROMOTIONS & ENTERTAINMENT

· Gates open at 1:30 p.m.

· Pre-game ceremonies on the field beginning at approximately 3:40 will include:

o A “Braves Country” celebration narrated by legendary Atlanta Journal Constitution sports columnist Furman Bisher

o Both teams will take the field in full-squad introductions.

o National Anthem performance by the multi-platinum, Grammy winning artist Travis Tritt

o Flyover by pilots from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi following the National Anthem

· Beatles tribute band, The Return, a fan-favorite and Braves 2009 Band of the Year winners, will perform before and after the game in Fan Plaza.

· The Braves Tomahawk Team and Heavy Hitters will entertain in Fan Plaza before the game, and the Tomahawk Team will shoot t-shirts into the all levels of the stands before the game begins.

· The Atlanta Opera’s Timothy Miller will perform God Bless America before the fans sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the 7th inning stretch.



OPENING DAY TICKETS

Opening Day individual tickets as well as ticket packages (including season tickets, mini plans and flex plans) and parking may be purchased at www.braves.com, the Braves Ticket Office at Turner Field, the Braves Clubhouse Store at the CNN Center, all PUBLIX Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 1-800-745-3000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-800-745-3000      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.


· 186 $1 Skyline Seats will go on sale at 1:30 p.m. (1 ticket per person, cash only)

· Just announced: A limited # of suite tickets will be released on Friday for Opening Day. The $100 Suite Ticket includes a seat in a Turner Field suite, $30 of food and beverage credit, and 755 Club access. Fans can purchase the Suite Tickets while they last at braves.com/homeopener.

· Braves ticket windows are open Friday until the 6th inning, Saturday from 8:30 a.m. – 6th inning, and Sunday from 1 -5 for fans who have pre-purchased tickets and would like to pick them up in advance. The Braves Ticket Office will open at 8:30 a.m. on Opening Day.



GETTING TO THE BALLPARK

· Turner Field parking maps can be found at braves.com/parking along with detailed directions, parking and traffic information.

· On Opening Day the Turner Field parking lots will open four hours prior to first pitch, at 12:10 p.m.

· The Green, Blue, Orange, and Gold lots will be PERMIT ONLY parking. If fans do not have a permit, please park in the official Braves (Grey, Red, Yellow and Silver) lots located west of the Interstate along Central Avenue.

· With large crowds expected, fans heading out to Turner Field on Opening Day are encouraged to pre-purchase parking, arrive early or consider taking Marta.


OPENING DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

1:30 p.m.

Gates open – fans are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy plenty of pre-game entertainment including a performance from Beatles tribute band “The Return.” The Braves Tomahawk Team will greet fans and lead the pre-game Chop Rally, and the Braves Heavy Hitters drumline will keep the beat going with several pre-game performances. Fans of all ages can test their arm strength and bat speed in the Scout’s Alley batting cages, and younger fans will enjoy the Cartoon Network themed play land at Tooner Field, where they can climb in a treehouse, run through a maze, sing karaoke, and play t-ball with Homer.

3:40 p.m. Pregame Ceremonies

o Brian McCann will be presented with his 2009 Silver Slugger Award.

o Both teams will take the field in full-squad introductions.

o Volunteers from Operation Homefront will unfurl a giant American flag in the outfield.

o Multi-platinum, Grammy winning artist Travis Tritt will sing the National Anthem.

o Pilots from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi will perform a flyover.

o Ceremonial First Pitch

4:10 p.m. Game Time

Changes at The Ted for 2010

Check out this press release from the Braves about the new stuff at Turner Field for the upcoming season! I'm especially excited about the new concessions options - a meal for $5! That's right up my alley. :)