Stronger Than the Average Bear
It has been two weeks since your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis, had surgery to repair a hernia. Despite the timetable of 4-6 weeks, El Oso Blanco has been making more steadfast progress than expected. So the question then becomes this: Could Evan actually be ready for opening day, defying what had been previously predicted about his condition and recovery?
While I join many in you in continuing to pray for this, we must not get too hasty in wanting too much to happen too soon. The thing is, like any player in this league, Gattis does need to be at 100% before being able to resume activities on a normal level. If not, the risk of a setback could be an unbearable reality that does still, despite all of our faiths, exist within this rehabilitation period for him.
But when Brian McTaggart of MLB.com sends out a tweet such as this:
Designated hitter Evan Gattis, two weeks removed from hernia surgery, did some light running and jump roping Tuesday.— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 23, 2016
It has got to make all of us in the fan base feel so much better about him making a full, speedy, and hopefully pain-free recovery. I of course, continue to send such good vibes over to Evan like I always do. Some athletes out there, including those making the big bucks like Evan finally is now, would just be sitting around, cashing in their already guaranteed paychecks. But not Evan! No, he's actually getting out there to take steps to get back on the field and in the batter's box to help this team and get the wins they need to make a run at a championship. This work ethic and attitude from him is the mark of a true champion! And I'm so confident that all is going to go well, and he will be back in that batter's box, field and base paths soon enough.
There is one thought that came to my mind the other day. Being the daydreamer that I am, on occasion and when appropriate, I have recently pondered over some of the old footage from 2015 of some players returning to their former team's stadiums and receiving long standing ovations from the respective fan bases. Most notably, when Jimmy Rollins returned to Philadelphia as a then new Los Angeles Dodger. The ovation lasted a total of 42 seconds, which seemed, at the time, somewhat unheard of for a single player minus a few exceptions. Currently, he has been picked up and signed to a minor league deal from the Chicago White Sox, offering some more depth for the South Side.
So it got me to thinking: I wonder what kind of ovation and reception Evan Gattis will get when he returns to Atlanta? Being that I am from that area originally, I still chat with plenty of people that still root for that team, despite all that is happening for the sake of that new stadium set to open up in 2017. (God love em!) The Astros won't be playing the Braves until 2017 at the very least, maybe even the inaugural year of Sun Trust Park. (Ugh, My eyes hurt even writing this.)
But in my infinite and unwavering support of Evan, I have a hunch that when he makes his return to Atlanta, his ovation could break the one minute mark. And I eagerly await to see and hear that, possibly even to witness it live in person. Mostly, I yearn for something like that to happen for Evan, as he has more than deserved such a reception for so long. The chance to be shown what he truly means to people.
Only time will tell on that particular front. In the meantime, we get to continue seeing exactly what kind of an asset El Oso Blanco is to this game and its fans everywhere. And trust me readers, it's just as big as he is!
There is one thought that came to my mind the other day. Being the daydreamer that I am, on occasion and when appropriate, I have recently pondered over some of the old footage from 2015 of some players returning to their former team's stadiums and receiving long standing ovations from the respective fan bases. Most notably, when Jimmy Rollins returned to Philadelphia as a then new Los Angeles Dodger. The ovation lasted a total of 42 seconds, which seemed, at the time, somewhat unheard of for a single player minus a few exceptions. Currently, he has been picked up and signed to a minor league deal from the Chicago White Sox, offering some more depth for the South Side.
So it got me to thinking: I wonder what kind of ovation and reception Evan Gattis will get when he returns to Atlanta? Being that I am from that area originally, I still chat with plenty of people that still root for that team, despite all that is happening for the sake of that new stadium set to open up in 2017. (God love em!) The Astros won't be playing the Braves until 2017 at the very least, maybe even the inaugural year of Sun Trust Park. (Ugh, My eyes hurt even writing this.)
But in my infinite and unwavering support of Evan, I have a hunch that when he makes his return to Atlanta, his ovation could break the one minute mark. And I eagerly await to see and hear that, possibly even to witness it live in person. Mostly, I yearn for something like that to happen for Evan, as he has more than deserved such a reception for so long. The chance to be shown what he truly means to people.
Only time will tell on that particular front. In the meantime, we get to continue seeing exactly what kind of an asset El Oso Blanco is to this game and its fans everywhere. And trust me readers, it's just as big as he is!
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Photo Credit: Ken Murray of Icon SportswireEven in the shadows of a cave that is Spring Training, the bear grows stronger than ever before!!!! |
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