Bowman Newsletter: No crying in baseball, though Wash considered it

April 14, 2022

Asked about the loud ovation he heard when his name was announced on Opening Day, Braves third-base coach Ron Washington said, “There’s no crying in baseball. If there was, my eyes would have been pouring.”

Washington was overwhelmed again on Saturday, when a sold-out crowd again roared as he walked on the field to receive his World Series ring. The 69-year-old baseball lifer has become a beloved member of Braves Country since joining Atlanta’s coaching staff prior to the 2017 season. His tireless work ethic and humorous exchanges with Ozzie Albies and others have endeared him to the fans.

“That is indescribable,” Washington said about both ovations. “That proves you earned your worth around here. The Atlanta fans are true fans. They are here whether you win or whether you lose. I’ve been a lot of places. But the fans here in Atlanta are different. You can tell true fans by how they come to the ballpark when you win and when you lose. I don’t know the difference here in Atlanta.”

Washington was the Rangers’ manager when they made consecutive trips to the World Series in 2010 and ’11. He’s had aspirations to manage again. But he feels quite thankful for the experience he gained last year, when he became a world champion for the first time.

“I’ve been in the game 53 years, and there isn’t anything more special than that,” Washington said. “That’s what you come to Spring Training for, to be a world champion.”

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO …

Travis d’Arnaud, for his hilarious reaction to being hit by Dee Strange-Gordon’s 52.1 mph pitch during the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 16-4 win over the Nationals. d’Arnaud playfully fell to the ground, just as he had planned as he strolled to the plate to face the veteran utility man, who was pitching for the first time in his career.

“Walking up [to the plate], I was thinking, ‘If I get hit, I’m just going to flop down,’” d’Arnaud said. “I almost spoke it into existence. It was fun.”

PROUD PAPA

Braves first-base coach Eric Young Sr. experienced the thrill of having both of his sons present during this week’s series against the Nationals. His 15-year-old son, Dallas Young, is a young actor who has spent the past couple of years filming Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” in the Atlanta area. As for Eric Young Jr., the former Braves outfielder is enjoying his first year as the Nationals first-base coach.

“I think it’s phenomenal for a dad to actually witness his kid at work any time, but to be doing the same job you’re doing at the same time is just incredible,” Young Sr. said. “I think this is the first time it’s ever happened in Major League Baseball, that a father and son coached in the same game at the same spot. I think it’s real cool. Then, to have a movie star in the stands watching, I’m just a proud dad who is smiling the whole game.”

TRIVIA

Who holds the Braves’ single-season record for most home runs hit in March/April?

A. Andres Galarraga

B. Justin Upton

C. Chipper Jones

D. Hank Aaron

GIVING THANKS

When Ian Anderson completed 2 2/3 innings on Sunday and Huascar Ynoa tallied just three innings in Monday’s start, the Braves were in trouble. They ended up using Tuesday’s tentatively planned starter Tucker Davidson just to get through Monday’s game. Consequently, they opted to promote Bryce Elder, who still hadn’t thrown the first pitch of his second full professional season.

But any concerns about Elder’s readiness quickly evaporated as he limited the Nationals to three runs over 5 2/3 innings on Tuesday. His effort allowed the Braves to reset their bullpen. More importantly, the right-hander created reason to think he has earned at least one more start.

Not bad for a guy who entered his sophomore year of high school planning to golf instead of play baseball. The opportunity to play both golf and baseball arose when Brian Tickell became Decatur (Texas) High School’s baseball coach. Tickell told Elder he could play both sports as long as he threw his side sessions, completed his pitcher fielding practice drills and was available to pitch when scheduled.

Two years later, Elder landed at the University of Texas, where he pitched well enough to be selected by the Braves in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft.

“If it wasn’t for [Tickell], regardless of what he taught me, I wouldn’t be here,” Elder said. “I can’t thank him enough.”

MLB VAULT

With the Braves spending this weekend in San Diego, here is a look back at one of their most memorable moments at Petco Park. Chipper Jones created history with the two-run homer he hit off Jake Peavy on July 16, 2006. Jones’ homer gave him an extra-base hit in 14 straight games, which tied the National League record Paul Waner had set in 1927. Jones recorded three hits the next day in St. Louis, but each was a single.

TRIVIA ANSWER

B: Upton set a franchise record when he hit 12 homers during the first month of the 2013 season. Galarraga hit 10 homers during the first month of both the 1998 and 2000 seasons. The only other player in franchise history to record a double-digit total in March/April was Ryan Klesko, who homered 10 times before May arrived in 1996.

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