Why Do Opinions Change So Quickly? (The Evan Gattis 2014 Timeline)
I've heard it said that athletes have very short memories. While that can help them improve their game, I have to wonder if there are some out there that have really good memories? Could Evan Gattis be among them? More importantly, could fans themselves have even worse memories than the players?
I ask the third question because, in this entry, I intend to explore my own memories, specifically as they pertain to the year that Evan Gattis had from actual dates of note. Despite all the unnecessary talks of trading him away, I think some of these dates should be reminded to you readers and fans.
Evan Gattis' 2014 Season Important Dates to Remember:
April 8th - The day his documentary; DRIVEN: EVAN GATTIS - MY STORY, premiered. It provided an outlet for Evan to bring fans an in-depth look at his life and rough road to the majors, and exceeded all expectations and ratings. If you haven't seen it, I HIGHLY recommend it.
April 21st - Evan Gattis hits the first walk-off home run of his career in a 10th inning win against the Miami Marlins 4-2.
May 10th - Evan signs autographs at Champions Sportscards in Kennesaw, GA. When I got to meet him. Best experience of my life thus far. More memorable for me then him, but who knows?
May 30th - The beginning of a 20 game hitting streak for Evan. Longest active streak by an Atlanta Brave in 2014. How quickly fans forget that it is the offensive weapons like Gattis whom we need to keep and build around. But I digress.
July 1st - Evan goes on the DL with the bulging disk, retroactive from the June 29th game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Christian Bethancourt fills in catching duties from AAA.
July 21st - Evan returns from DL, sending Bethancourt back to AAA.
August 13th - At a game I personally attended, Turner Field hosts the FAN VOTED Evan Gattis bobblehead night. The only game that the Braves beat the Dodgers this season, 3-2.
August 31st - The last home game against the Miami Marlins. Fredi Gonazalez vowed to play Gattis as much as possible the remainder of the season. The very next day, on Sept 1st, Labor Day, Gattis goes down with strep throat, that eventually leads to kidney stones. (Ironic, don't you think?) Bethancourt finishes out most of September, in which the Braves fell out of contention for the post season.
September 25th - Evan plays the first six innings of the final home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In limited capacity the last four games, Evan finishes the season with a .263 BA, 22HR's, and 52 RBI's.
A season full of highs and lows to be sure, but Evan certainly persevered through it all. It's funny how so much of the public changed their tune from praising him and recommending he go to the All Star Game the first three months up through June. Then, he gets hurt, and the tune quickly shifts to "Braves need to trade him." in the final three months of July through September. Why is this? Why, in the midst of all the talk about what the Braves need to do to make the team better, do people propose a move that will most certainly make them worse? Everyone makes assumptions that they will only make the trade if it helps the team with league ready prospects and the like. But why even take that gamble? Why not, instead, invest it in a prominent impact player that changes the game with one swing of his bat? Someone like, I don't know, HIM??!!
I ask the third question because, in this entry, I intend to explore my own memories, specifically as they pertain to the year that Evan Gattis had from actual dates of note. Despite all the unnecessary talks of trading him away, I think some of these dates should be reminded to you readers and fans.
Evan Gattis' 2014 Season Important Dates to Remember:
April 8th - The day his documentary; DRIVEN: EVAN GATTIS - MY STORY, premiered. It provided an outlet for Evan to bring fans an in-depth look at his life and rough road to the majors, and exceeded all expectations and ratings. If you haven't seen it, I HIGHLY recommend it.
April 21st - Evan Gattis hits the first walk-off home run of his career in a 10th inning win against the Miami Marlins 4-2.
May 10th - Evan signs autographs at Champions Sportscards in Kennesaw, GA. When I got to meet him. Best experience of my life thus far. More memorable for me then him, but who knows?
May 30th - The beginning of a 20 game hitting streak for Evan. Longest active streak by an Atlanta Brave in 2014. How quickly fans forget that it is the offensive weapons like Gattis whom we need to keep and build around. But I digress.
July 1st - Evan goes on the DL with the bulging disk, retroactive from the June 29th game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Christian Bethancourt fills in catching duties from AAA.
July 21st - Evan returns from DL, sending Bethancourt back to AAA.
August 13th - At a game I personally attended, Turner Field hosts the FAN VOTED Evan Gattis bobblehead night. The only game that the Braves beat the Dodgers this season, 3-2.
August 31st - The last home game against the Miami Marlins. Fredi Gonazalez vowed to play Gattis as much as possible the remainder of the season. The very next day, on Sept 1st, Labor Day, Gattis goes down with strep throat, that eventually leads to kidney stones. (Ironic, don't you think?) Bethancourt finishes out most of September, in which the Braves fell out of contention for the post season.
September 25th - Evan plays the first six innings of the final home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In limited capacity the last four games, Evan finishes the season with a .263 BA, 22HR's, and 52 RBI's.
A season full of highs and lows to be sure, but Evan certainly persevered through it all. It's funny how so much of the public changed their tune from praising him and recommending he go to the All Star Game the first three months up through June. Then, he gets hurt, and the tune quickly shifts to "Braves need to trade him." in the final three months of July through September. Why is this? Why, in the midst of all the talk about what the Braves need to do to make the team better, do people propose a move that will most certainly make them worse? Everyone makes assumptions that they will only make the trade if it helps the team with league ready prospects and the like. But why even take that gamble? Why not, instead, invest it in a prominent impact player that changes the game with one swing of his bat? Someone like, I don't know, HIM??!!
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| The Braves are going to have a fun time scoring runs if they get rid of me!!!! |
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