Triple Threat

This episode reminds us of a profound truth that echoes throughout Scripture: we are all essential parts of one body. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 12:21, we explore how a rare triple play executed by the Atlanta Braves in 2023 perfectly illustrates God's design for teamwork and mutual dependence. Just as the eye cannot say to the hand 'I don't need you,' each player on that field had a specific role to fulfill. The center fielder made the catch, the first baseman completed the double-off, and the third baseman applied the final tag. No one tried to be the hero or take over someone else's assignment. This mirrors our calling in the church and in life. We're challenged to ask ourselves: What is our unique responsibility that helps our team, family, or friends be at their best? Whether we're batting ninth or playing right field, whether we're in the spotlight or serving behind the scenes, we each bring irreplaceable value. The message calls us to maximize our God-given gifts without comparison or pride, focusing instead on doing our part with excellence. It's a liberating reminder that faithfulness in our assigned role is more important than achieving worldly recognition.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:21

Welcome back to another episode of Baseball in the Bible. I'm Riker Dotson. And I'm here with my father, Ryan Dotson, and we're gonna do another podcast.

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Did you forget who you're with for a second? Yes.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

Forgot my dad. Hi.

SPEAKER_00 0:37

Hi. Happy Fourth of July. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

We're ro we're uh rocking the patriotic hats.

SPEAKER_00 0:42

Yeah, these are some cool hats. You have to show show people what the inside looks like.

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Uh I don't know if you can see it from all the way over there. Probably not, but yeah, it's a 1776 written on the bottom and then an American flag on the gold part.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

So they've got them for all the different teams out there. Obviously, we've got the Cardinals ones, but you know, you can go out and grab your your favorite team and then USA 350. Pretty cool hats. So I've we've seen them around, uh, but everybody's got them now. So go ahead and get them, even though the fourth has passed. We just celebrated our 250th anniversary as a nation. Pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

It's incredible.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

So hope everybody had a great and safe 4th of July. Hope we all have all of our fingers still and nobody's got any firework accidents, but uh hope everybody had a great great time. And um yeah, man, we're right in the heart of baseball season now.

SPEAKER_01 1:39

So yeah, it's fun.

SPEAKER_00 1:41

Got a lot to a lot to cover for sure.

SPEAKER_01 1:45

Uh I think we start off with uh devotion, then we go trip around the league, then we go um stadiums, and then we just wrap it up.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Sounds good. So what are we doing this week?

SPEAKER_01 1:59

This week we are taking a trip to uh Atlanta.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

To Atlanta, yeah. We head out in the morning, gonna catch a couple Cardinals Braves games at Truist Park.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

Because why would we go to any other games if the Cardinals weren't there?

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Right. Yeah, we've scheduled it accordingly, but uh um we're going there, so it was one of the parks that we wanted to see, so we're gonna read a little bit about that and find some cool places to visit. Um that's also kind of why we went Braves themed right now. Yeah, even though we're getting ready to be cheering against them, uh is the Cardinals plan. But going Braves Braves themed, we do have our American jersey over my shoulder just in honor of 250. 250. So uh but yeah, let's let's do the devotion. Let's say all that to say our devotion is a little bit Braves themed as well.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

But yes, it is. So uh the verse of the week is uh 1 Corinthians 12 21. The eye cannot say to the hand, I don't need you, and the head cannot say to the feet, I don't need you. First Corinthians twelve twenty-one. Triple plays are rare. Only about five happen every MLB season. They take sharp instincts, quick timing, and a team that works in perfect sync. Now imagine a triple play so unusual it hasn't happened in almost 150 years. On July 25th, 2023, the Atlanta Braves pulled one off against the Boston Red Sox. It was the first 835 triple play since 1884. A play that sends the ball from center field, eight, to the second uh to the first baseman, three, to the third baseman, five. And the last teams to successful to successfully execute this was a franchise called the Boston Bean Eaters. Sounds like a ball uh sounds less like a ball club and more like a group of competitive eaters. Here's how the Braves made it happen. With two Red Sox on base and no outs, Tristan Casses hit a shallow fly ball into center field. Michael Harris II charged in and made the catch for the first out. Then he fired the ball to first base where Matt Olson caught it uh caught it to a double off runner who was strayed far from the bag. The second Red Sox runner had tagged up at second and broke out for third when he saw the ball going to first. Olson then rocketed the ball way across the diamond to the third baseman, Austin Riley. Riley caught it and laid down the tag. One out, two out, three outs. Just like that. What made it work wasn't just quick reactions or strong arms. It was a team execution, trust, and of course, a little bit of luck. Nobody tried to play the hero or take over someone else's role. Each guy handled his assignment and relied on his teammates to do the same. That triple play shows the kind of teamwork God wants us to practice. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul compares the church to a human body. Every body part is different, but each one serves a special purpose. It's the same with us. Every believer has a role to play in God's church. No pride, no comparison, just everyone doing or everyone using their God-given gifts to help each other. What's one responsibility that helps your team, family, or friends be at their best? This week, focused on doing your part with excellence.

SPEAKER_00 6:04

Such a good good reminder, good devotional. We talk about it in the church world a lot, you know, where it's the whole body is needed, right? It's like our body. You need all of it, right?

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 6:23

We all want to be the main part, but but we're not all wired and created to be the main part. Sometimes same thing on your team, you know, we all want to be the number one guy batting in the two or the three spot, playing shortstop, starting pitcher, all those things. Um and we should there's nothing wrong with us, you know, with striving for that and pushing yourself to be the best version of what you are. But again, um it doesn't mean if you're batting ninth and playing right field, that it's like or that you're not an important part of the team, you know. And so there's value that we all bring. We all bring different skill sets, different attributes. So whatever walk of life we're in, but especially on the baseball field that's a good reminder. You know, trust yourself to be the best. But whatever whatever you have, as we've talked about in previous episodes, just maximizing what you have. Right. Maximizing your gifts and your talents.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

Because you're you're not gonna be, you know, you can't be the uh another kid. You are you. You just have to maximize what you have.

SPEAKER_00 7:32

Right. You know, you look at that play, all Austin Riley had to do was catch it and put the tag down.

SPEAKER_01 7:37

Yeah. Uh but it contributed and it got the third out.

SPEAKER_00 7:41

So it's like exactly. So I mean it's like every every part they're just doing their own thing. I liked what they said, nobody's trying to be the main character. The main character, right? Um so yeah, it's cool play, obviously a rare play. Yeah. And triple plays are uh exciting when they do happen. Yeah, as long as it's not against you.

SPEAKER_01 8:02

That would be sad. That would be very sad.

SPEAKER_00 8:06

All right. Um you said you want to go around the league a little bit?

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Yeah, let's do a little drip around the league.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

Okay. We haven't, you know, last week we had our Cardinals themed episode. We didn't do any current events. Um, so we've been a little bit behind. So uh some things have happened.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

Um that we will cover in this episode.

SPEAKER_00 8:29

Um and so we'll just update the standings really fast and then we'll talk about some some of the individual accolades that have been going on. But um again, around the league, we're starting the central. Um Brewers are on a roll uh again and um leading the way in the central. I think they uh right behind the Dodgers with the best record in the in the National League. Excuse me. Uh they're 15-31. Um and then the Cubs are in second right now, five and a half back, Cards are seven back, Pirates, Reds. Cards have had a little uh this is a rough, little rough stretch for as we're recording this. Uh, this is a key two weeks for the Cardinals. Uh for as for most teams that are uh kind of right there in the middle trying to determine are they gonna be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Cardinals are even more tricky because they're really weren't supposed to be here and they're planning for the future, so I don't think they're gonna go crazy on buying. Um but it's been a rough stretch. We we just came from St. Louis and last week and we were trying to catch a game. Trying to catch a game out. Our game got rained out. We were there, and then they they canceled it, so we're gonna have to come back up to watch it. But they lost two or three in that series to the D-Backs, and then turned around and lost two or three to the Marlins at home. So rough home stretch, and now they're going to Atlanta. Uh tough. Then they go to Chicago for the 4th of July weekend as we're airing this. Hopefully, it's been a good week. Um, and then they come home for four against Milwaukee and three against Atlanta. So these this next two weeks will determine whether we're buyers or sellers uh again as as most teams, but we'll see what happens. The Braves are still in first in the East, 49-33. The fight and feels are coming, man. They're coming quickly. They're only three games back now. Uh and and the Marlins, who again, the Cardinals just played. The Marlins are the hard hottest team in June. I think they're like 18 and 6 or something like that in June, so they've been really good. They're only six back. Um and then the Dodgers are in first in the West, kind of running away with it now. Ten games up on the Padres, 12.5 up on the D-Backs.

SPEAKER_01 10:47

Which everyone's hawcoming, to be honest.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

Well, yeah. As far as Dodgers.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:53

Uh Tampa Bay, one game up on the Yankees as we record today. So that one's still a tight series. Again, as we're recording, the Yankees just came off of a they got swept by the Red Sox four games last week. So um, and then there, and then the Blue Jays, 10.5 back, Baltimore 11, Boston 12.5. White Sox still hanging in. They're tied with Cleveland right now and uh doing well. Texas, uh, as of today, is a half game up on the Mariners at 42-42. So we'll again see how this week unfolds. Um, but those are that, and then we haven't updated the wild card because we've just been looking at the division, but just since we're getting into the season, you know, getting to that point. Phillies right now are leading the wild card, Cubs have the second wild card, cars have the third wild card, but a lot of teams, a lot of teams still right there in the hunt. And then the American League, Yankees have the first wild card, pretty good lead on that. Guardians, uh, and then Mariners. Uh, and then again, several teams right there in the mix. You know, you look at a team like Baltimore, they're only three games out, and they're seven games under 500, so you know, there's still a lot of a lot of hope there with that third wildcard spot. Um I just wanted to, again, a couple of things. We talked about the Phillies. Obviously, Schwarber is killing it right now, as is Bryce Harper. Both of them have turned it on. Um again, as we're recording this, who knows how many he'll have this week as the week unfolds, but Schwarber's sitting at 30, 30 bombs. Um and and uh again, price.

SPEAKER_01 12:40

Seasonal or just seasonal.

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Yeah, seasonal. He's on pace to hit 59 right now. That's not bad. That's great. Um and I'm trying to pull up here pull up some stats. But anyway, it's it's getting there again. We're just a few weeks away now from the from the trading deadline, end of this month, and then we'll see. We'll see who's buyers and see who's sellers. Mets did make a uh managerial change since the last time we were here. They fired Carlos Mendoza. Uh so we'll see what that does. There's there's some rumors floating around that it'll be pooh holes, but man, I hope not. I hope not. All right, home run leaders right now, Schwarber at 30. This crossed the whole league. Jordan at 25. Brian Buxton, who's having a great year, 25 home runs. Another guy, catcher, uh for the Rockies. I mean, he's had he just had a three-run, a three-home run day, uh, but 25 for Hunter Goodman. Camanero, 22, Ben Rice, 22. Um, yeah, those are your those are the league leaders in home runs. RBI league leaders, Nick Kurtz from the A, 64, Pete Alonzo, uh Jordan Walker tied at second there with 58. Um Burleson 57. Average leaders, uh Yandi Diaz Diaz uh for the Rays, 336. Otto Lopez for the Marlins, 332. Luis Arries, 324. Umordan, 311. Troy Johnson, our boy, 315. Uh sixth. That's pretty incredible. Sixth in the in the majors for batting average. And we were at the game the other day. We saw at this point he was like second in the league in doubles. Doubles, yeah, he was six in the top 10 in OPS.

SPEAKER_01 14:40

So it was fun being able to tell random kids. He was on a podcast that I own their jobs dropped.

SPEAKER_00 14:50

A little bragging going on there.

SPEAKER_01 14:51

Yeah, no, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 14:52

Yeah, there's the doubles list. Yeah, he's second right now behind uh Devers uh 22, 22 doubles. Uh Ernie Clement 21. So those are some of the league leaders. Again, Schwarber's on a roll, the Phillies are on a roll, Bryce Harper's turning it on. Um so in key season, you've got just a few weeks. We'll we'll find out who's who's buyers, who's sellers. But I did want to get into a little all-star talk because um we've got I mean the first phase of balloting is is already come and gone. Um and then as we're airing this uh this week, by the time you watch this, the second phase of balloting will already be done. I think they announced the starters on the 4th of July, so it would have just been yesterday. Um so if you're I can't remind you to vote right now because it's too late if you if you haven't. But uh we did vote. We were trying to get Walker into that that second phase, but he didn't he didn't make it in. So we're gonna look through the list real quick. If you look at these lists, I mean it's it's Brave in the National League, it's Braves, Phillies, and Dodgers. It's like is there anybody else? That yeah, is there anybody else even allowed to play?

SPEAKER_01 16:12

Because it's those three teams that there's like one national player, I think, in that mix.

SPEAKER_00 16:18

CJ Abrams is in there, yeah, but for the most part, it's it's those guys. But um, again, so you're gonna you're voting for the first round narrows it down to like the finalist, and now you're voting for the starters. The guys that were in the made it to that vote will you know they'll be an all-star, and then it's just a matter of who else gets picked in there. So still hoping for Walkers, still like I think Burley deserves it, but uh we'll see what what happens. But I'm gonna run through the list, and I'm gonna let you just real quick, you're gonna pick who you think's the starters. It would have already happened. We'll see. We'll see how you do. Okay. Let's see.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

Let's see.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

I mean, we'll see. So I'm gonna go through the list here. I mentioned early Ernie Clement earlier when I was reading the list of doubles. It's crazy. Okay, who would you vote? Who would you say is the league leader in uh voting for the National League? Who do you think what player in the National League got the most vote? Across baseball. What player do you think had the most votes for all-star across baseball?

SPEAKER_01 17:25

I'm gonna go someone like uh I I would have to say like Iaron Judge.

SPEAKER_00 17:29

Well, that's a that's not a bad guess.

SPEAKER_01 17:31

I'm just gonna go for like what I'm trying to do.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

Who's the most popular player worldwide?

SPEAKER_01 17:35

Worldwide.

SPEAKER_00 17:38

Otani? Yeah, Otani.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

I was thinking Otani.

SPEAKER_00 17:40

So Otani was the league leader uh in the National League and and barely in the across the league, because the league leader in for the American League is Ernie Clement, which surprised me. Second baseman for the Blue Jays. Um he's having a great year, and he kind of came on the scene in the World Series run last year, but he also, you know, I guess he's got all of Canada voting for him. Um and so that's pretty cool. So Otani being the top NL Volt getter, not surprising. Clement being the second second is or the AO leader is kind of surprising. Um top other top vote getters in phase one, Jordan Alvarez, Aaron Judge, as you mentioned, uh Freddy Freeman. Again, it's it's all these, you know, Max Muncy at third base, which is just ridiculous. No offense to Max Muncey, but it's like, come on, Dodgers fans, let's vote realistically. Um Braves catcher, Drake Baldwin. I mean, you know, again, you look at a guy like Hunter Goodman, he should be the the guy, probably at Bobby Witt, shortstop. Bobby Wood's there, Mike Trout's there. That's all yeah, that's good. You know, so all right, we'll go we'll go real quick through here. I'm gonna have you just pick um pick who you think. All right, you don't have to give you don't have to give like a explanation explanation on all of them, but uh catcher, your finalists are Shea Langaliers from the A's, Alejandro Kirk from the Blue Jays.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

Those are it?

SPEAKER_00 19:11

Hmm?

SPEAKER_01 19:11

That's it?

SPEAKER_00 19:12

Yeah, those are your top two. So you're gonna have two at each position.

unknown 19:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:15

Okay, you're gonna go Kirk.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

Yeah, I just like the Blue Jays more than I like the A's.

SPEAKER_00 19:19

Well, again, you look at that, I would say Langaliers is probably the he's the more deserving one. Kirk, I think, is just uh he's hitting uh Kirk, who returned to the missed two months of the season, so he's hitting 183 with two home runs. Uh it's so it's just it's like he's not he shouldn't even be in the conversation.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

Okay, then I'll go with the A's player. When you explain that to me, then it's definitely let's go A's.

SPEAKER_00 19:47

Okay.

unknown 19:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:48

First baseman, Vladdy, Ben Rice, both having great years. I mean Vladdy. Vladdy Vladdy's actually a little bit down his numbers compared to normal, but uh can't go for a Yankee. Yeah, no, I get that. Rice is having a great year.

SPEAKER_01 20:02

I I have, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:03

But you're gonna go Vladdy. Vladdy will probably win as a popularity contest.

SPEAKER_01 20:07

That's that's yeah, man.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

Blue Jays fans showing up on these votes because third base is it's different though, because it's like there's tons of teams for American countries. But it's still surprising. Uh third base, Akamoto for the Blue Jays, um, and Junior Camonero for the Rays.

SPEAKER_01 20:27

Junior.

SPEAKER_00 20:28

Yeah. Yeah, for sure. He deserves it more. Um shortstop, Bobby With. Bobby With. That's my thing. There you go. Again, I'm a Bobby With. Jimenez the second. He's a great defender, but Bobby With. Outfield, so you got six guys here. You gotta narrow it down to three to be your starters. Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Brian Buxton, Cody Bellinger, Dalton Barshow, Jesus Sanchez.

unknown 20:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 20:57

Uh Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, and then what was the third? Byron Buxton.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

She's definitely getting there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:04

And those are the three that are getting.

SPEAKER_00 21:07

Alright, so those are your designated hitter nominees? Uh Shohei's winning. No, that's the National League. Jordon and George Springer.

SPEAKER_01 21:16

Springer.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

No. Jordon is having an unbelievable. Jordan has a shot at the I know he's an Astro, but he has a shot at the Triple Crown. I mean, he's he's right there in everything.

SPEAKER_01 21:26

All right. Jordon.

SPEAKER_00 21:28

Jordon. It should be. I mean, who knows what it will be. Again, all these Astro fans are voting like crazy. Um National League catcher Drake Baldwin for the Braves, Will Smith for the Dodgers. Baldwin was the 2020 last year's rookie of the year. And he's having a great year. I shouldn't, you know. But um he's on uh Smith is on the IL, but um, so who are you gonna go?

SPEAKER_01 21:59

Well before Before I do that, I think I'm just gonna comment. How did Cal Raleigh not make it?

SPEAKER_00 22:04

He's not having a great year. Oh, he's not? Yeah. Dang. That was the American League, but he's he's not having a great Okay.

SPEAKER_01 22:10

Well, I'm gonna go Freeman.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

Who? Baldwin? Baldwin.

SPEAKER_01 22:16

Baldwin.

SPEAKER_00 22:16

Okay. Baldwin.

SPEAKER_01 22:17

I'm done. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:18

Okay. First base, Freddie Freeman for the Dodgers, Matt Olson for the Braves.

SPEAKER_01 22:24

Now, if I'm saying who's probably gonna win, it's gonna be Freeman, but I'm gonna go Olson.

SPEAKER_00 22:29

Okay. It probably will be Freeman. Second base, Ozzy Alzheim Ozzy Albies, or and Albies, I get. This next one bugs me. Bryson Stott for the Phillies, man. He shouldn't be in there. Um again, I'm biased because I feel like JJ should be. He wasn't even close. He was like eighth. Yeah. Didn't sniff it. But he's like, he's top, he's one of the top war guys. He's having a great year. Great year. More a better year than Bryson Stott. And that's just Phillies fans being Phillies fans. Voting. Yeah. But anyway, because of that, I'm not even gonna allow you to pick Bryson Stott. We're gonna pick Ozzy L P.

SPEAKER_01 23:08

Ozzy.

SPEAKER_00 23:09

Third base, again, to me, both of these are kind of crazy. But Max Muncie and Alec Bohm.

SPEAKER_01 23:16

Um I guess I'll go Muncie.

SPEAKER_00 23:20

Um, yeah, he probably will win. A short stop, you got CJ Abrams and Mookie Betts.

SPEAKER_01 23:26

Mookie.

SPEAKER_00 23:28

Uh the first phase was tight, margin about 96,000 votes. Uh yeah, so it's close. CJ Abrams is having a great year. Had a really great start. He's still having a great year. But outfield, you got Andy Pajes from the Dodgers, Brandon Marsh from the Phillies, Acunya, Tiasca Hernandez, Juan Soto, and Michael Harris II from the Braves. Ridiculous.

SPEAKER_01 23:55

Soto, Acunya.

SPEAKER_00 23:58

Acunya's hurt. Yeah. So he probably will not play. Like we won't see him this week.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

But I think he deserves it, though. He's a stud.

SPEAKER_00 24:06

Well, he is a stud, and he might get it. He probably, I mean, he can still get it, and then they'll just pick a replacement. You know. But and he probably still, even though he's hurt and everybody knows it, he probably still will get the vote.

SPEAKER_01 24:18

Yeah. And then I'm going to go the Dodger. Can't remember his name.

SPEAKER_00 24:21

Andy Paez. Yeah, Andy Paes. He's had a you know a good good start. Um okay, so Andy Paez, and you're gonna go Acunia and then Acunya, and I said what did I say? Soto. Soto.

SPEAKER_01 24:37

I said Soto, yes.

SPEAKER_00 24:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:40

Again, just favorite picks, you know.

SPEAKER_00 24:42

I mean, it's just again, when you look at that list, Brandon Mars.

SPEAKER_01 24:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:47

He's fourth in the NL with 321 average. And he's so I mean again, it's not that he's like some of these guys.

SPEAKER_01 24:52

He doesn't suck, but he's not.

SPEAKER_00 24:54

No, no, no, no. But uh and he's having a good year. Again, I just like I am biased, but Jordan Walker, man, he's had a great year. Um God deserves it. It's just when you look at him, it's just all the names I was reading to you were either Dodgers, Phillies, or Braves for the most part. So we'll see. It's gonna be one of the those teams representing the starting lineup and then other teams filling in the gaps there between on the National League. So that's the pick. Again, we'll see who wins. Uh we'll see as the starters get announced, and then that'll get they'll get announced on the fourth, and then the all-star game, I believe, is on the 15th.

unknown 25:33

Uh.

SPEAKER_00 25:34

Or the 14th. I want it somewhere right there a couple weeks from now in July. So it's coming up in a hurry, and then again, a couple weeks after that, trade deadline coming up quick. It's coming up quick. So seasons flying by, and my mic is falling like crazy.

SPEAKER_02 25:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:55

So I'm gonna adjust this, and then we'll we'll read a little bit about Truis. But because we're going there tomorrow, just wanted to also read about it, but look at some of the top places that we could check out while we're there. All right. So Truis Park opened in 2017. Uh first Braves home run was Ender Incarte. Incarte. I always butchered his name, so I'm probably butchering it now. Capacity 41,084, uh, open roof grass surface. All right, so when I look up top places to visit while we're there, Key Stadium Sites, um Monument Garden, located on the 100 level. This museum-like area displays Braves World Series trophies, championship rings, retired numbers, and an extensive tribute to the legendary Hank Aaron.

SPEAKER_01 26:59

He deserves it.

SPEAKER_00 27:00

Alright, so that's something on our list that we'll uh we'll have to check out. Um the waterfall, uh, which is just beyond the center field wall, sits as a naturalistic rock and evergreen waterfall feature designed to mimic the famous one at Coors Field. All right, and the Chop House. This three-level restaurant and bar is one of the most energetic uh social gathering spots in the stadium, offering great food, standing room sections, and patio seating right by the field. The Tomahawk statue, located in the Centerfield Plaza. Uh, this oversized illuminated tomahawk makes for the perfect photo backdrop. So we'll have to hit the top of the Tomahawk statue.

SPEAKER_01 27:49

Put a photo right now.

SPEAKER_00 27:51

Yeah, we'll put a photo right now. Um, all right. So after just two decades of largely great baseball turnerfield, the Atlanta Braves moved to the suburbs where they opened Truis Park. And everyone's first reaction was wow, just the upgrade there with the LED uh board, um 50,000 seat capacity of Turner Field was now just 41,000, uh, but it made it more kind of intimate.

SPEAKER_02 28:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:25

Um there. Uh children have a rock climbing wall in an area of the park that also includes a zip line.

SPEAKER_01 28:33

Oh, I might hit that.

SPEAKER_00 28:34

Grown-ups. Yeah, that was on the list here of places to see Hope and Wheels Sand Lot. Uh 30,000 square foot kid zone featuring climbing towers, interactive games, and a zip line, as well as the clubhouse for mascot blooper.

SPEAKER_01 28:52

Blooper. Reminds me of the Thanksgiving episode we did.

SPEAKER_00 28:56

We did that one, yeah. Um the Braves have played at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium from 1966 to 1996 before moving to downtown Turner Field, where they won a hundred or more games in five of their first seven seasons. Um, however, Braves president John Sherholtz announced in 2013 the team would be relocating, um citing all of the renovations that were needed at Turner Field. Truis Park is located within a neighborhood called the Battery. Um, the Braves tout it as the first of its kind, a destination that will simultaneously build and integrate state-of-the-art major league baseball ballpark with a multi-use development and community. It features housing, restaurants, retail stores, and a 4,000-seat live music venue. Plenty to keep fans entertained before or after the ball games. Um, the batters eye area just beyond the center field wall features three evergreen trees. The area includes boulders and a water feature, like we talked about, nicknamed Chattahoochee Falls. Undoubtedly inspired by a similar setup at Course Field. A fountain shoots streams of water 50 feet into the air toward the main video board from the upper pond. The feature comes alive after Braves, home runs and wins.

SPEAKER_01 30:19

Nice.

SPEAKER_00 30:20

Um again. When this book was written, Freddie Freeman was still playing for the Braves, so he's asking here, you know, what he thinks about it. He just said it's a lot more intimate, like we talked about. Uh, when you're out there playing, it feels like the fans are kind of right on you, uh, which wasn't the case at Turner Field. Also asked him what he liked about the ballpark, and he said 375 to right center. So he liked that the uh the wall in the power alley is 15 feet closer to home plate than it was at Turner Field. Um in terms of fan experience, there's nothing in-between about Truist. Lead designer Joe Spears said baseball has been very responsive in addressing the things patrons want. Great sightlines, which we're hoping to see, food and beverage options, and opportunities to enjoy a game even when out of their seats. To the latter end, truist features several gathering spaces where fans can socialize while taking in the action. The rooftop above the right field, the Hank Aaron Terrace and left, the Home Depot Clubhouse beyond left center, and the State Farm Deck. All right. Um, I'm sure, again, as it mentioned, there's some cool things. I see a statue right here outside of third base. I don't see who that is, so we're gonna have to check out the statues, check out all the history that the place has to offer, and take some good pictures along the way. One other thing that we'll do while we're there is eat. So we're gonna talk about and see what we want to try, just off the top of our head here. Uh, the best places to eat while we're there. Okay, so they have the bat flip, which is in section 113. Uh a mammoth 27 brioche stacked with two pounds of beef patties, braised short rib, crispy pork belly, cheese, and a fried egg. I saw a picture of it.

SPEAKER_01 32:14

Oh, that sounds good.

SPEAKER_00 32:15

I'll put the picture here just so everybody can see it. Yeah, it's I don't know that we're gonna do that. It's it's a mouthful to say the least. Um there's the blue burrito, a deep fried burrito. Sounds kind of good. Um fan favorite, Holman and Finch grabbed their legendary original cheeseburger section 335, 337, or chop house gate. Widely praised by fans as the best burger in the stadium.

SPEAKER_01 32:42

Okay, that's probably where I'll be.

SPEAKER_00 32:43

That sounds good.

SPEAKER_01 32:44

Yeah, I'm a burger guy.

SPEAKER_00 32:48

There's a low country uh shrimp. I don't think you'd be down for that. Um then there was a place here, I don't remember where it went, but I'll have to look it up. But it had uh had ice cream there for your mom.

SPEAKER_01 33:06

So you added for your mom to that sentence.

SPEAKER_00 33:11

Yeah. You like that I added that or what?

SPEAKER_01 33:14

Yeah, I thought that was kind of funny because she is your wife and you just brought her up on the podcast for liking ice cream.

SPEAKER_00 33:19

So she loves ice cream.

SPEAKER_01 33:20

She does, she's addicted.

SPEAKER_00 33:22

Alright. Um trying to look through the list here. I think that's it, so we'll just have to we'll try some of those places, or we'll try something that I didn't read about, and we'll have to let you guys know.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

Still put a picture up.

SPEAKER_00 33:33

I have to let you guys know what our favorite. Yeah, we'll take a picture of whatever it is that we decided to eat.

SPEAKER_01 33:39

Yes. And then probably after I've eaten it, we'll have a before and after picture.

SPEAKER_00 33:47

And comment on how good it was. So we're we're excited. We're gonna go to Truist, catch a couple games, hopefully the cars turn it around, and uh we'll we'll let you guys know what we liked and didn't like about Truist Park on our stadium tour this summer.

SPEAKER_01 34:00

We will rate it.

SPEAKER_00 34:01

We will rate it when we get back. All right. Anything else you want to add?

SPEAKER_01 34:07

No, I think it's been a good episode.

SPEAKER_00 34:09

Okay. Um, yeah, let's go ahead and just pray us out and we'll get out here.

SPEAKER_01 34:18

Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you just for the um platform you've given us to do this podcast and not only do it, but honor you while doing it, Lord. Uh thank you for this day. Thank you for the platform you've given us, Lord. I just pray that you would um you would just bless uh anyone who's watching this and let them know that they aren't alone and they can always contribute to the church. In Jesus' name, amen.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

Amen. Love you guys. Happy Fourth of July.