The Buzz of Greater Rome

BRAVES AT THE BREAK: BETTER THAN '03?

Talk to "the regulars" at the ballpark--the diehard fans, the baseball addicts, even some of the staff. To a person, while pledging allegiance to Jeff Francoeur, they'll tell you the same thing about the 2004 Braves:

"This is a better team."

That's saying a lot considering the '03 version went from a franchise opening loss in Savannah in April 2003 to the South Atlantic League Championship last Sept. 12.

Is it a better team? Some of the numbers indicate so. When the starting pitchers are in their respective zones, the Braves look great (see Chuck James' 13-strike out performance on Fathers Day). They're hitting more home runs. They had a blistering 11-game winning streak.

But there have been the bad games, too, with late leads given up and out-and-out batting practice by opponents.

At the season's midpoint, the completion of the first 70 games, the Rome Braves look good: 40 wins, 30 losses and a pretty steady fan base, too, for a second-year club.

So let's look under the hood:

40-30: The Braves win/loss record for the first half of the season, good enough for third place in the Southern Division behind Cap City and Charleston. 2003 first half record: 36-33.

3,825: Average number of fans to see the first 34 home games including four sellouts (5,105 is the stadium's capacity) and a few near-sellouts. 2003 half season average: 4,016. All of 2003: 3,979. Our 2004 forecast: 3,900 per game by season's end.

130,059: Total fans paid at State Mutual Stadium so far this season, good enough for fourth place in the entire SAL, behind only bigger ballparks in Lakewood and Lexington. Braves' 2003 season total: 246,718 for 62 home games (a lot of rainouts last year). Our forecast: On track to easily top 250,000 to 260,000.

.321: Batting average of Martin Prado, the team's best so far this season (in 100 or more innings played). League leader: Ryan Harvey of Cap City at .361.

1.68: Earned run average for pitcher Jake Stevens, the team's best. League leader: Jarrett Gardner of Augusta at 1.66

0-0: Braves average in the second half of the season thanks to Tuesday's rainout in Savannah.

FROM THE FANS

"I thought the Braves were a very interesting team the first half. They have a good chance to make the playoffs again. I was very pleased that attendance was good this second season. I just love to come to the park and watch the K club in action and all the other interesting things going on. Rome is very lucky to have the Braves." Mike Naugher, Piedmont, Ala.

AT A GLANCE:

Streak of the half: Yup, that 11-game wonder at home and away (May 14-26). Far short of the 25-game South Atlantic League record, it still was a welcome site and up righted a troubling first few weeks.

Would-be streak of the half: Has anyone seen the, uh, Naked Cowboy this season?

Game of the half: Opening night. The come-from-behind win at home on April 8 set a perfect tone for the new team this year.

Glenn Burns Award of the Half: Named in honor of the WSB weatherman. It goes to nature for thankfully sparring numerous rainouts this season. The one they had, on Memorial Day, likely would have been avoided had the field been covered the night before.

Promo of the half: The stadium replicas by, who else, State Mutual Insurance. Runner-up: The duffel bags by K98 and Harbin Clinic.

Promo performance of the half: BirdZerk! followed by the Blues Brothers Act -- and that brawl with the Catfish on June 16.

Comeback player of the half: Kevin Daniels, the guy who does all the promos with the fans between innings. The radio star was hit hard with some sort of virus and missed more than a week's worth of games. He's back now but still looks 10 pounds lighter than before--and he was light then.

Staff of the half: From the parking lot crew to the ushers to the attendants, the part-time staffers remain among the friendliest of nearby minor league teams. Always helpful, always polite and very kid friendly.

Stat of the half: 100-plus. That's the membership total in the Rome Braves Fan Club. Those monthly meetings at the Georgia Power complex are getting mighty crowded.

Club of the half: Call them the Strike Out Club or the K Club or whatever, Bill, Randy and the K Man himself, Ernie, and their patient spouses have had sections 206, 208 and others rolling this year. And just wait until you see what's planned for July 8 when Comcast broadcasts live from State Mutual.

Voice of the half: Allow us to paraphrase: "If he wants the prize, and we knoooooooooow he does," it goes to PA announcer Eddie Brock Jr. In addition to his daily miracles, Eddie had to step it up after lightning blasted the PA system in mid-June and also was in rare form June 19 doing some of the fan/promo work with the Braves' Ms. Everything, Rachel. We've got a major league announcer.

Runner-up voice of the half: Al Thomas gets the honor as the new color guy with Randy Davis on WLAQ and Oldies 95.7. Al came into his own the other week when RD came down was an ailment that left his voice on the DL.

Lense of the half: As clever as the Q102 Kiss Cam is, the new Fan Cam this season is hot, too. The camera crews have been great about pinpointing some of the more fanatic fans. Case in point: Mrs. Jean-Jean the Dancing Machine, wearing that loud red shirt, on Fathers Day. She was rockin' and had the place moving.

Mascot of the half: Romey underwent a little adjustment about this time last year and, since "therapy," has been a mascot on the move. Friendly, cuddly, much more visible and always willing to give autographs (our son must have 300 of them), the Big Blue Guy is a hit. Just ask the kids at the library or Barnes & Noble the other week.