Outside the Academy Sports + Outdoors store at Hamilton Place on Tuesday afternoon, the wind howled and the rain blew sideways, midwinter at its worst.
Inside, Atlanta Braves pitcher Cory Gearrin, a Rhea County native, talked about pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in warm and sunny Florida 13 days from today.
"I was really excited this offseason to be named to the 40-man roster," Gearrin said during the Braves Caravan stop. "Hopefully this year I'll get there. I anticipate playing in October."
Judging by the 300 or more Braves fans who ignored the weather to catch a glimpse of their favorite boys of summer, October baseball must be a realistic goal for all the Bravos. Especially if general manager Frank Wren's news concerning third baseman Chipper Jones' recovery from knee surgery proves true.
"Last week Chipper spoke to our rookies," he said. "He told them he'd be batting third and playing third on opening day. I got an e-mail last week that he literally knocked the cover off the ball in batting practice. So everything's looking good at the moment."
It felt good to see the Braves send Wren, Gearrin, Eddie Perez, Jordan Schafer and Co. to Chattanooga. It's as least as much star power as Atlanta's sent our way for the Caravan since the mid-1990s.
"We'll come see them in the winter," Wren said of the fans, "so, hopefully, they'll come see us in the summer."
Blake Bentley drove all the way from Gainesville, Ga., to see his heroes. He arrived at 8 in the morning with his fiancée, Breanna Bussey, for an event that didn't begin until 4 in the afternoon.
Staff Photo by Allison Carter/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Corey Gearrin, left, gives David Frailey his hat back after signing it Tuesday at Academy Sports. Gearrin and other Atlanta Braves players stopped by Chattanooga as a part of the Atlanta Braves Caravan."I came to see Jordan Schafer," said the 24-year-old security guard who took a vacation day to see the Braves. "Young and in prime, this is his time to shine."
Cathy and Eric Youngblood didn't take vacation days. But the Lookout Mountain residents did bring young sons Kahler (10) and Ander (5), who wore a No. 10 Jones jersey.
"We got No. 228 through 232," Eric said of the tickets issued for those getting autographs. "They cut it off at 250. We were lucky."
Wren said the Braves were lucky to get former Atlanta coach and ex-Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez to replace Bobby Cox.
"There were going to be eight to 10 managerial changes," Wren said. "It was important for us to get out there quickly and get the guy we wanted. There's not going to be another Bobby Cox. We knew that.
"But when you look at Fredi's pedigree, he worked under Bobby Cox and Jim Leyland, he has a dynamic personality, not unlike Bobby, and I think he's going to relate really well to our players."
One of those players is Schafer, who's spent most of the last two seasons recovering from a broken bone in his left wrist.
"I'm 100 percent," said the outfielder who hit a home run his first major league at-bat in 2009 before suffering the injury a few weeks later. "I'm headed to Florida tomorrow to begin getting ready."
Gearrin's family was more than ready for the Caravan stop. At least 12 family members made the trek to Hamilton Place, including uncle Charlie Bryson, who wore a Braves T-shirt with a No. 46 on the back. That was Cory's number during his Class A days with the Rome Braves.
Asked what number her son might wear with the big club, Geri Gearrin smiled and said, "Whichever one they give him. And he'll be happy about it."
Proving that even millionaires are more like you and me than we might think, Wren was happy to pick up a couple of dog bowls at the Academy store for his golden-doodle Toby and cocker spaniel Molly.
Asked what he purchased before his Caravan responsibilities began, Gearrin -- who witnessed the first game ever played at Turner Field when he was 9 years old -- grinned and said, "I don't have that major league money yet."
Maybe he'll finally make that money this year, and maybe not. Maybe the Braves will return to the playoffs under Gonzalez, and maybe not. But Rossville resident Angeline Lassiter intends to use her season tickets whenever possible, no matter what their record.
"I've been a Braves fan since the 1970s," she said. "I've got Braves earrings, a Braves watch. I bring my tomahawk every game I come to. I was a Braves fan before it was cool."
If Chipper keeps knocking the cover off the ball, being Braves fan could be cooler than ever by October.