BASEBALL AND OLD-TIME RELIGION: Florida at Atlanta

Today is an example of why I find it so easy to root for the Braves. Despite taking on the Marlins, another one of my favorite teams, I'll be rooting for Atlanta to inch closer to the wildcard. But events following the game are what really catches my attention.

From Monday's Atlanta Journal-Constituion:

The Braves host the first of three "Faith Day" promotions on Thursday. After the game, pitcher John Smoltz will talk about his faith and tell how his life was changed by believing in Christ. Christian bands will also perform for those with a $10 ticket for the event, separate from game admission. The blend of big-tent evangelism and the national pastime is expected to draw thousands of new eyes.

Church groups have snapped up hundreds of tickets — Perimeter Church in Duluth bought 500 as a starter pack so members could invite their friends to hear the Christian gospel from one of Atlanta's most famous athletes. "It's a great outreach for folks to bring guests to something nonthreatening, especially people who are leery of church," said children's pastor Mike Gaskins, who last Sunday wove parables from youth baseball into his sermon while wearing a Braves jersey.

In the Braves locker room, "pass it on" Christianity has spread to about half the players, coaches, and support staff. Some have chosen Christian songs to blast as their at-bat music. As the only big league team in the Bible Belt, the Braves were a natural fit for major league's first evangelical Christian promotion. Braves team chaplain Tim Cash helped recruit players to appear at the events. Cash, 43, a former minor league pitcher from Newnan, leads a weekly Bible study at Turner Field and holds chapel before every home game.

Cash said he believes the Braves' long run of success is due in part to loyal players with Christian values. "They've done a great job building momentum with a good nucleus of guys who have stayed with them a long time, and now they have a lot of young kids — Adam LaRoche, Macay McBride, Frenchy [Jeff Francoeur] and Ryan Langerhans — who grew up with some faith in their background," Cash said. "They're pretty clean cut, not your bad boys."

Anyway, notice the Jones boys were excluded from that list? They've always added spice to the locker room, from Chipper's daliances at Hooters to Andruw's at the Gold Club. But I think it's great to see players willing to share their faith with the fans who look up to them. And there's no better man in baseball to do it than John Smoltz. I've heard him talk about his faith before and I'm sure those in attendance are in for a treat.

My pick: Jesus and the Atlanta Braves! Seeing an event like this occur at the pro level is a great sign. Kudos to Braves management having the balls to let it happen. This kind of thing already occurs at minor-league games throughout America. Let's be proud of this shared faith that has guided us since the first boat sighted land for a change.

Related query for Mets fans: Does Julio Franco still use the entrance music "Our God is an Awesome God" at Shea? I'm curious to know if he brought small town music to the big city. It's a very popular Christian song and Julio used it as his at-bat music at Turner Field. The funniest part was hearing it wedged between Chipper's "Crazy Train" and Andruw's "Move Bitch."

By request, more beach volleyball. Today we look at the skills of 2004 Olympic Bronze medalist, Holly McPeak.