Rowland's Office

Hello, friends. Sorry I been away for a while. Mrs. Harcavey and I took a nice train trip out west to visit her sister, Ruby, out in Arizona. I tell you what, it’s nice to be out in the desert in the winter. But I miss seeing trees!

Something smells funny

Anyhow, they were excited about the Super Bowl. Is Rocky Blier still with Pitchburg? 

As my old buddy used to say, the readers write and they’re always right. You know, I have a little difference with my chum about that. So, play ball!

Tommy Hawk Chop asks: Dear Doyle, Long-time reader, first-time writer. Do you ever talk to Jung Bong or Bruce Chen?

Tommy, thank you. Can’t say that I do speak too often with either of those young fellows. Now, I do know a Ko-rean fellow runs a little store not too far from my house name of Yoong, I think. But he goes by Ernie. Go figure.

Earl Williams Was the Best says: Doyle, Who was the best catcher the Atlanta Braves ever had? I think it was Earl Williams.

Well, Earl Was the Best, I’m going to have to disagree with you slightly. As we type, I’d have to say Javy Lopez was the best one.  Mrs. Harcavey would agree. She thinks ole Javy was a handsome fella. Now, that McCain is mighty good. If he keeps it up a while longer, why, he just might pass Lopez.

Wondering about 09 writes: Doyle, I’m wondering about the 2009 season. What do you think?

I’m wondering, too, Wondering. I b’lieve that Darrell Lowe’ll be right good. Like him. Now, I don’t know about the hitting side of things. If old Frank Reen asked me, I’d say we could use another left fielder, or maybe a center fielder. Heck fire, maybe even a new right fielder if ole Jeff don’t get it worked out at the plate. Is he really a Frenchman? Here I thought he grew up out in Gwinnett County. You know, Button Gwinnett was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Gwinnett Braves — who’d a thunk that? Wonders never cease, they say.

Play by Play writes: Dear Doyle, I see where Don Sutton’s coming back. That’s good. Do you think that’s good?

Thank you, PbP. Yeah, I like ole Don. He come up down in south Alabama, not 30 mile as the crow flies from where I was a boy. Don played ball with some of the same people I knew down there. Wonder if Don still has that big poofy hair? Just asking.

Missing the Good Ole Days asks: Hey, Harcavey, this’ll be the first year we been without Maddux, Glavine or Smoltz, if Glavine’s not back. Did you know that? I’ll stop typing and listen.

Missing, I reckon I did know that. You know, times change. Heck, I’m still getting used to these push-button telephones, and now they got what they call digital TV, and these little computers people use to send letters to one another. Shoot. So, I guess it’s sad the old boys are all gone. Only Bobby and Pendleton are still here from 1991. Maybe they can bring back Jerry Willard. He probably has as much chance of helping this team as Andruw Jones does.

That’s gonna be about it. I got to go see the foot doctor this afternoon. Y’all take care, now.

– Doyle Harcavey