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Home > ajcsportstalk > Archives > 2006 > August
August 2006
Post-game forum: Falcons fall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons finished the exhibition season with a 20-17 loss to Jacksonville Thursday night.
What are your thoughts on the game? What kind of season do you expect?
Permalink | Comments (18) | Categories: Falcons
Parking and tailgating blues
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Get ready to really grumble, Bulldog Nation. The changes to parking and tailgating festivities that UGA fans have been dreading and complaining about for months will finally be implemented Saturday for the season opener against Western Kentucky.
How have these changes altered your plans to attend home games? Or are you giving up going to commune with fellow Dawgs revelers in Athens altogether? Is it costing you more in the pocketbook to comply with these new regulations? If so, how much?
Do you think they will have the success that UGA president Michael Adams has in mind? Or does it just spoil the whole idea of cheering on your favorite team?
Permalink | Comments (187) | Categories: UGA
Post-game forum: Hot at home finally
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Adam LaRoche had four hits to lead Atlanta past the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Wednesday night as the Braves matched their longest home winning streak of the season at four games.
Chuck James (7-3) held the Giants to six hits in seven innings for his third straight win. Bob Wickman pitched the ninth for his 10th save in as many chances.
Eight-time Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones came up with a huge defensive play in the eighth, leaping against the center-field wall to rob Ray Durham of a two-run homer.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season? Are the Braves finally on a roll? Is it too late?
Permalink | Comments (109) | Categories: Braves
Post-game forum: Braves beat Giants
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves beat the Giants 13-8 Tuesday night at Turner Field.
Did you see Andruw Jones trip when he was jogging around the bases after his second home run?
What did you think of the reaction in the dugout? Think this is the kind of thing that helps a team loosen up, bond and make a run for a wild-card spot?
What are your thoughts on the game?
Permalink | Comments (37) | Categories: Braves
Congratulate the champs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Columbus became the second Georgia team ever to win the famed Little League World Series by beating Japan 2-1 Monday night.
If you’d like to write a congratulatory note to the boys, we’ll send it to the team when it returns to Columbus. Please include your name and hometown in your posting.
Post-game forum: Smoltz steps up again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
John Smoltz pitched eight strong innings as the Braves beat the Nationals 10-1 Saturday.
Smoltz won his sixth straight home start. Of the Braves’ 11 home wins since July 3, six belong to Smoltz.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season? Still a glimmer of hope?
Permalink | Comments (41) | Categories: Braves
Falcons vs. Titans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons played their third exhibition game Saturday night, facing the Tennessee Titans.
What are your thoughts on the game and how do you see the season shaping up?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Falcons
Post-game forum: Another home loss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves fell to the Washington Nationals 7-6 at Turner Field Friday night.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (63) | Categories: Braves
Can you best our bests?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You’ve read what we think are the best things in college football, in a thoroughly unscientific compilation. We didn’t take a poll or try to quantify our selections in any way.
That’s because these are the matters that are dear to our hearts — the best fight song, the best coach, the best rivalries, the best mascot and more.
And a few of the worst things we think the game is missing, or is unfortunate to endure.
In some cases AJC staffers poured out their emotions. In others we asked people from all walks of life, including some who have been involved in the game, to tell us what they think.
The passion of college football is what making these picks is all about. Now it’s time for you to express yours. Which choices do you agree with, or strongly disagree? Did we miss somebody on our all-time UGA and Georgia Tech teams? Is Tony Barnhart off the mark in making his ACC, SEC and Top 25 projections?
What do you think of the Yellow Jackets’ chances of having a Heisman Trophy winner in Calvin Johnson? What about Georgia Tech’s upcoming season? Are the Bulldogs truly in their halcyon days? Or is the UGA program under Mark Richt still a few notches below Dooley’s best years?
Have at it on this forum, and enjoy the season.
Permalink | Comments (34) | Categories: College sports
Post-game forum: Chalk up another loss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves lost to the Pirates 5-4 Wednesday night at Turner Field.
The Braves missed a chance to gain ground in the wild-card race as Cincinnati lost to Houston.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (101) | Categories: Braves
Post-game forum: Bucs beat bullpen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves lost to the Pirates 5-3 Tuesday night. Atlanta, which wasted a 2-1 lead, dropped 6 1/2 games behind Cincinnati, the NL wild card leader.
Following 14 straight division titles, the chances of making the playoffs are dwindling for the Braves (59-66). Atlanta hasn’t strung together three straight home wins since May 15-18, when the Braves won four straight at Turner Field.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (93) | Categories: Braves
Falcons trade Duckett
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons traded running back T.J. Duckett to the Washington Redskins as part of a three-team deal that brings speedy Denver Broncos wide receiver Ashley Lelie to the Falcons.
What do you think of the deal? How do you feel about losing Duckett? Will Lelie have a major impact in Atlanta?
Permalink | Comments (305) | Categories: Falcons
Smoltzie’s smokin’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After a bad outing in his last start, John Smoltz was brilliant Monday, striking out 10 Pittsburgh batters and giving up only three hits in a 3-0 masterpiece.
The Braves keep hanging around in the wild-card hunt — after the Yankees’ 5-game sweep in Fenway Atlanta is about as far out of the playoffs as the bewildered BoSox.
Is this too much torment to endure? Or do you believe the Braves will find a way to keep their post-season magic alive?
Bulldogs name starting QB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia coach Mark Richt named senior Joe Tereshinski his starting quarterback Sunday night.
What do you think of his decision?
Do you like having the maturity of a fifth-year senior behind center?
Do you think he will only hold the job until one of the youngsters is ready, or do you think Tereshinski will make the most of his chance and keep the job?
Permalink | Comments (235) | Categories: UGA
Post-game forum: A bunt?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves lost to the Marlins 4-3 Sunday in Miami and lost a full game in the wild-card standings since Cincinnati won Sunday. The Braves are 5 1/2 games behind the Reds.
Adam LaRoche surprised everyone when he bunted in the ninth inning with runners at first and second and none out and the Braves trailing by one run. He bunted into a double play.
“I don’t what the [heck] he’s doing,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said.
What are your thoughts on LaRoche’s decision, the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (184) | Categories: Braves
Forum: Falcons hammered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons were thrashed by the Packers 38-10 Saturday night in an exhibition game.
What went wrong? What did you see that really concerns you? Did you see any positives, other than it only being a preseason game?
Permalink | Comments (75) | Categories: Falcons
Forum: Braves beat Marlins
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves held off the Marlins 5-3 Saturday night. Starter Chuck James was sharp and Bob Wickman closed things out again.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (37) | Categories: Braves
Forum: Who will be the Dogs’ QB starter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia head coach Mark Richt will name his starting QB Monday.
Do you think it will be senior Joe Tereshinski, junior Blake Barnes, redshirt freshman Joe Cox or freshman Matthew Stafford?
Do you like Tereshinski’s leadership skills or are you ready for Stafford’s rifle arm and ready to accept mistakes from his inexperience. Or do you think it will be Barnes or Cox? If Tereshinski starts the opener, do you think one of the others will take over soon? Do you think Richt will trust youngsters like Cox and Stafford?
Permalink | Comments (62) | Categories: UGA
Post-game forum: Braves gain ground
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tim Hudson pitched 7 2-3 sharp innings and Adam LaRoche hit his 25th homer as the Braves beat the Florida Marlins 6-1 Friday night.
The Braves gained ground in the wild-card race too as Cincinnati lost. The Braves are 4 1/2 games back.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (36) | Categories: Braves
Awesome Oscar
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves’ experiment (or desperation attempt) with Oscar Villareal starting on the mound paid off as he pitched five innings of one-hit ball and got run support in a 5-0 win over the Nationals Thursday.
The Braves split the series at D.C., keeping them temporarily 6 games behind the Reds in the wild-card race. Next up is a three-game set in Florida starting Friday.
Does Bobby Cox have to continue rolling the dice to see if the Braves are capable of a final run? What other moves should he make?
And how do you see the series with the Marlins shaping up?
Permalink | Comments (41) | Categories: Braves
Forum: Old reliable rocked
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves lost to the Washington Nationals 9-6 Wednesday night.
Braves ace John Smoltz gave up six earned runs and nine hits in five innings.
It was another frustrating loss for the Braves, who are 6 1/2 games back in the wild-card race.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (92) | Categories: Braves
Post-game forum: Just two hits?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pedro Astacio pitched 4 2-3 perfect innings en route to a two-hit shutout Tuesday night, leading the Washington Nationals past the Atlanta Braves 5-0.
What are your thoughts on the game and the Braves’ season?
Permalink | Comments (125) | Categories: Braves
A little late for the lumber?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chipper made made it look like batting practice at RFK with three impressive homers, the first time he’s pulled off that trifecta in his career. Matt Diaz tied the National League record for hits in consecutive at-bats with 10, but couldn’t get the record with a ground ball out in the ninth.
But the Braves took an important 10-4 win over the Nationals in the first game of a four-game series Monday night in what’s being billed as critical for Atlanta’s post-season hopes.
Was this game a good sign of the Braves possibly getting back in the playoff swing? Or is there too much ground to gain — and too many teams to leap over — to win the N.L. wild-card berth?
Deion and D. Hall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Deion Sanders attended the Falcons’ practice Sunday and worked with the defensive backs, especially cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Hall is already recognized as one of the NFL’s best and also is beginning to show some of the versatility that Sanders displayed by taking some snaps at wide receiver.
How close is Hall to reaching the level of his idol Sanders? Will teams ignore Hall’s side of the field like they did Sanders? Who would you rather have back there on defense, Sanders or Hall? And how do you feel about seeing Sanders wearing the Falcons logo again? What can he teach Hall and the other defensive backs?
Lastly, do you have fond memories of Deion? What are your best memories? The high-stepping into the end zone? How about his exciting punt returns? Do you agree his tackling skills leaved a little to be desired? How did you rate his dancing in the end zone? Do you miss his flair? Can Hall rise to that level as an entertainer too?
Permalink | Comments (69) | Categories: Falcons
Post-game forum: Any optimism left?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur hit homers, Bob Wickman converted his seventh consecutive save, and the Braves beat the Brewers 7-4 Sunday to complete a 3-3 homestand. Plus Tim Hudson pitched better again and Chipper Jones returned to the lineup.
What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Post-game forum: Lost at home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rookie Kevin Barry was hit hard in the Braves’ 8-5 loss to Milwaukee Saturday.
The Braves are struggling at home, have three members of their starting rotation on the disabled list, and will place infielder Willy Aybar, who was recently acquired in a trade, on the DL Sunday.
What a mess. What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Post-game forum: Falcons beat Patriots
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons beat the Patriots 26-23 in their exhibition opener Friday night at the Georgia Dome.
The first-team offense moved the chains and got a field goal on the game’s first possession. Defensive end John Abraham, the Falcons’ big splash offseason acquisition, showed why he could be the much-needed difference maker. So too, did kicker Michael Koenen, who made four field goals. Former Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley led the game-winning drive in the waning moments.
What are your thoughts on the game? What did you see that you liked? What concerns surfaced?
Permalink | Comments (115) | Categories: Falcons
Gold wins it all at World Poker Championships
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was a 13 1/2-hour exhibition of the power of a big bankroll and a willingness to risk. Jamie Gold came into the World Series of Poker Main Event with a huge chip lead, and used it like a cudgel.
Playing aggressively and playing on the doubts of men who seldom have any, Gold stormed through the final table Thursday and into Friday morning to win the $12 million championship prize. In the end, he had personally eliminated seven of the other eight men at the table.
At 6:43 a.m. (EDT), he kneecapped the last man in his way. Holding a pocket pair of 10s, Paul Wasicka called Gold’s all-in, even as Gold stood over his huge pile of chips and told Waisick he had him beat. Gold had paired a queen on the flop. As it had the entire tournament, Gold’s higher pair won out and all the chips were his.
For second, Wasicka earned $6.1 million.
For Gold, the former Hollywood agent and television producer, he now is the star, at least in the sub-culture of poker.
Allen Cunningham was the man many considered the favorite at the World Series of Poker final table. After all he was poker’s wunderkind, who already has four World Series bracelets by the age of 29.
But he was no match for the Jamie Gold Express.
Going all-in before the flop with a pair of 10s, Cunningham was called by the heavily-stacked Gold. Gold turned over a king and jack – and naturally drew a king on the flop to win with the higher pair.
And that was nothing.
At around 6 a.m. (EDT) Gold topped even his stunning run.
He went all-in against Michael Binger, flipping over a 3-4 against Binger’s ace-10 after the flop. With a 5-6-10 on the flop Binger had a slight advantage, but Gold had a possible straight draw. Of course the next card came up a 7 and Gold had his straight. He ran straight out of the card room, needing to collect himself after another great draw.
He now has 85 percent of the chips to bring to bear against the last survivor, Colorado’s Paul Wasicka.
This Rhett Butler made a quiet exit.
The famously-named insurance man from Rockville, Md., was the fifth man out of the World Series of Poker Main Event, yielding his seat at 3:45 a.m. (EDT).
Of course it was Jamie Gold, the chip leader, who ushered him out. Desperately short-stacked, Butler went all in with a pair of deuces; but Gold prevailed with his eventual pair of queens. Gold moved his chip total to nearly $55 million, more than the combined total of the three other remaining players.
For not playing many hands at the final table, Butler made $3.2 million. As part of a syndicate that put up the $10,000 buy-in, he’ll get to keep half of it.
The biggest hand of the World Series of Poker arrived just before midnight. Guess who won? Jamie “Good As� Gold continued ravaging the field, taking out the player second in chip standings while building his own chip stack to 60 percent of the chips in play. San Antonio’s Richard Lee moved all in before the flop with a pair of jacks. Gold called and showed his pair of queens. His advantage held throughout the flop, turn and river and he would rake in a nearly $35 million pot (there are about $90 million in chips total in play). It gave the Hollywood TV producera stranglehold on the four other remaining players, with Allen Cunningham a distant second at $14 million. Lee picked up $2.8 million for his sixth-place finish.
Someone else other than chip leader Jamie Gold began doing the dirty work at the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Going all-in after the flop with a pair of 9s, along with a pair of 3s on the board, Douglas Kim, a 22-year-old online player from Hartsdale, N.Y. ran into Paul Wasicka’s better pair. Wasicka, 25, from Westminster, Colo., had a pair of queens in the bank. They held up and he moved to third in the chip count with a total of $14 million.
As the third player eliminated from the nine-man final table, Kim earned $2.39 million.
Gold, who had eliminated the first two players in the final, continues to hold a substantial chip lead at $35 million.
Jamie Gold is a smallish, brainy sort who doesn’t appear at all dangerous. But the guy has a knockout punch bigger than George Foreman’s. On his way to the final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event, where he arrived Thursday as the chip leader, he seemed to drop anyone who dared to go all-in against him. And three hours into the final, he added two more broken players to the pile outside the door. Just moments ago, 22-year-old Swede Erik Friberg went all in before the flop with a pair of jacks. Gold, who has been playing ultra aggressively with the lead, called with his pair of queens. Picking up another queen on the river, Gold won easily and pared the table down to seven players. Friberg won a whole bunch of Kronas – or $1.979 million. In the first 15 minutes of play, Gold eliminated St. Louis’ Dan Nassif. Gold continues to hold a huge chip lead, his total at $37 million. San Antonio’s Richard Lee was second at $20 million, as pro Allen Cunningham took a couple big hits and slipped down the chip count.
We are set up for a poker siege at the Rio Hotel and Casino, where it is estimated that the final nine players will go well into Friday morning trying to get down to the big $12 million winner. Last year’s event lasted more than 12 hours, and there are more chips in play now.
But just 15 minutes in, there fell the first victim, if that’s what you can call someone who just won $1.567 million. Dan Nassif of St. Louis was eliminated by chip leader Jamie Gold. Nassif’s pair of aces was no good against Gold’s three deuces.
Gold has added a quick $5 million to his collection (up to around $30 million), now holding a $13 million edge over young pro Allen Cunningham.
Permalink | |
Opening the floodgates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The bullpen imploded/exploded/caved in/fell apart during a horrendous seventh inning Wednesday as the Phillies scored eight times, sent 14 batters to the plate and rolled to a 9-3 win.
But it wasn’t just the relief pitching. Willy Aybar’s error that led to three runs was a culprit during the collapse, and Chuck James’ strong start was wasted.
The Braves lose another series to a team also chasing the wild-card as their playoff hopes diminish. How badly does this one sting? Is this just another example of a season gone sour, or do you think there’s much hope left?
Permalink | Comments (159) | Categories: Braves
Caleb King leaves Parkview
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Parkview running back Caleb King, one of the top high football school players in Georgia and the country, isn’t returning to the elite Gwinnett program but will transfer to the smaller, private Greater Atlanta Christian School.
His older brother and advisor, who may become a volunteer coach at GAC, says the school’s Christian mission was a critical component in the decision to transfer. But GAC plays at the Class AA level, while Parkview is a former state champion and perennial contender in Class AAAAA.
Will this help King in his final year of high school ball and his aspirations of playing major college football? What do you think is behind this move? Do you think his interests are at the forefront, or is this another example of meddling from family members?
Permalink | Comments (417) | Categories: High Schools
Holding steady in Vegas poker series
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just 30 minutes into Tuesday at the World Series of Poker Main Event, and already three of the 27 remaining players were eliminated. One was Georgia Tech industrial engineering grad Siddharth Jain, who entered with a short stack of chips and needed to make a move quickly.
He went all-in with a pair of eights and was taken out by a player who held a pair of kings, and picked up a third on the flop.
Doing the eliminating was Conyers native Dustin Holmes, who took out Mark Garner who went all-n before the flop with a pair of fives. Holmes held aces, and his strong hand survived. Holmes entered the day with a chip count of just over $1 million, and pushed it to $1.8 million with that hand.
They will play today until the field is reduced to a final table of nine.
It’s moving day in Vegas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Las Vegas — The penultimate day of the World Series of Poker Main Event began play at 3 p.m. (EDT), with Hollywood-type Jamie Gold holding a huge chip lead, his $13-million stack some $5 million better than anyone else.
The remaining field of 27 will be closely watching as one-by-one players fall, balancing between playing for time and playing for chips. Survival pays very well at this level. Those who finish 19th through 27th will earn $494, 797. Places 16-18 pay $659,730; 13 through 15 pays $907,123 and 10 through 12 pays $1.15 million.
They are scheduled to play Tuesday however long it takes to whittle the field down to the final table of nine players. They’ll take off Wednesday and begin the final table play, with the winner standing to make $12 million, at 5 p.m. (EDT).
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Poker leader builds chips
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Las Vegas — Chip leader Jamie Gold, the Hollywood agent who seems intent upon becoming a star himself, continues to steamroll along in the World Series of Poker. As the players took a break shortly after 7 p.m. (EDT), he had increased his chip total to $14.7 million, putting him nearly $8 million ahead of second best.
Sixteen down, two to go before play ends Monday. Atlanta’s Luke Chung continues his recovery, standing at $1.1 million in chip after having begun the day at $560,000. Georgia Tech grad Siddharth Jain is at $1.1 million according to the CardPlayer.com count. Conyers’ Dustin Holmes took a hit the last two-hour session, his stack shrinking from $1.35 million to $850,000.
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World Series field down to 35 players
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The field at the World Series of Poker has been whittled down to 35 players, a number significant in that it represents another step up in payoffs. The bump is from $244,000 to nearly $330,000. A player still alive will win a third of a million now, minimum.
Jamie Gold, the Hollywood agent, has extended his chip lead. He stands at $13.2 million, more than $7 million ahead of the next best player.
The Atlanta Three plays on. Former Georgia Tech student Siddharth Jain was at 10th place in the chip standings ($2.7 million according to CardPlayer.com). Conyers’ Dustin Holmes increased his stack to $1.35 million to stand at 24th. Atlanta’s Luke Chung was right behind at 27th ($1.2 million).
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Ex-Tech student up $2.85M in chips
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One hour of play gone in Monday’s round of the World Series of Poker, and two of the field of 45 have been eliminated. James Routos and John Lee will both take home $247,399 for their trouble.
Still alive are the three players with Atlanta connections. According to Cardplayer.com stats, former Georgia Tech student Siddharth Jain is eighth in chip standings with $2.85 million in chips. Conyers’ Dustin Holmes was holding steady at $1.15 million. Atlanta’s Luke Chung began the day with a very short stack, but quickly doubled his holdings by going all-in, pairing up a 6 on the flop and nervously watching while that held up.
Play continues today until the field is reduced to 27 players.
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3 Atlantans play on in World Series of Poker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With 45 players remaining in the World Series of Poker’s Main Event, play began Monday at 3 p.m. (EDT), and will continue until the field is reduced to 27.
Three of those still alive have Atlanta connections. Former Georgia Tech student Siddharth Jain is high on the chip count among those with $3.4 million. Conyers native Dustin Holmes began the day with $1.1 million in chips. And Luke Chung, a senior finance manager in Atlanta, was holding on with $560,000.
Four other Georgians were eliminated Sunday, but not before cashing handsomely in the $10,000 buy-in event. They were Atlantans David Woo ($47,006), Virgil Beddingfield ($51,129), Byran Micon ($123,699) and Dawsonville’s Shannon Westbrook ($123,699).
The chip leader entering Monday was Los Angeles agent Jamie Gold at $7.3 million.
No women remain in the field. Play concludes sometime Friday morning, with the last man standing taking $12 million.
There will be regular updates on AJC.com as play progresses.
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Post-game forum: Braves salvage one
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 Sunday and avoided a three-game sweep and snapped a three-game losing streak.
Does it leave you with a glimmer of hope or did the first two games of the series convince you the Braves are not a playoff contender?
Even if you are down on the team, surely you’ll admit its nice to have a closer like Bob Wickman coming in for the ninth inning. He has five saves in five tries since being acquired from Cleveland on July 20.
What are your thoughts on the game, the series, and the season?
Permalink | Comments (31) | Categories: Braves
Andruw won’t be traded
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Andruw Jones will remain a Brave — at least for the rest of this season.
Any possibility Jones would be traded ended Saturday after the Braves withdrew waivers on the center fielder.
Jones is still a little unhappy with the front office. “They should have called,” he said about being kept in the dark. “But it’s no big deal. I didn’t get traded. That’s the main thing.”
Are you relieved? Are you, like Jones, still upset that his name ever appeared on waivers? Do you think he will need to be traded eventually anyway for salary reasons or in order to acquire prospects to help rebuild the team?
Permalink | Comments (153) | Categories: Braves
Post-game forum: Fading in wild card
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves lost their third game in a row and fell to 6 1/2 games back in the wild-card race with an 8-6 loss to the Reds Saturday.
In a key series that gave the Braves a chance to close in on wild-card leader Cincinnati, Atlanta has lost the first two games.
Are they done? Are the Braves showing they won’t even make a run at the wild card? Do they even have a chance of finshing at .500? Is it time to start trading veterans like Andruw Jones and re-build for the future? What are your thoughs on the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (69) | Categories: Braves
Post-game forum: Wasted opportunities
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves fell to the Reds 5-4 Friday night in Cincinnati, costing them a crucial game in the wild-card race.
The Braves wasted 5 1/3 no-hit innings from rookie Chuck James and also loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning before Brian McCann flied out to short left field and Jeff Francoeur grounded into a game-ending double play.
What are your thoughts on the game? How painful was it to watch the at-bats by McCann and Francoeur?
Permalink | Comments (105) | Categories: Braves
Andruw unhappy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Andruw Jones is not happy about being placed on waivers, even if it was only to gauge other team’s trade interest in the Braves center fielder.
“I think it’s rude,” Jones said Friday. “At least call and say something. Pick up the phone and tell me if it’s nothing, just a rumor, or we’re doing something. Then it wouldn’t be such a shock to me if it happens.”
Braves general manager John Schuerholz said in response to Jones’ remarks, “I’m sorry if Andruw thinks that it’s rude, but waivers are confidential.”
Have the Braves treated a veteran player poorly? Or is the GM only doing what is best for his franchise? What do you think?
Permalink | Comments (189) | Categories: Braves
UGA 14th in USA Today poll
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The only preaseason poll that has BCS implications has been released, and Georgia is the No. 14 pick of the coaches who voted.
Ohio State is No. 1, and even lowly Duke, which was 1-10 last season, got the vote of Steve Spurrier, who continues to show loyalty to the first college program to give him a head coaching job.
What do you think about the rankings overall, and Georgia’s in particular? About Georgia Tech receiving votes? If you’re a Jackets’ fan, are you more excited knowing Notre Dame will be ranked No. 3 when it visits Sept. 2 in the season opener?
Or are you just feeling goose bumps in this suffocating weather knowing that college football season is just around the corner?
Permalink | Comments (30) | Categories: UGA
Andruw on waivers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Center fielder Andruw Jones, whom the Braves had discussed in a possible trade with the Red Sox, was placed on the waiver list on Tuesday. A player has three days to clear waivers.
Jones is one of hundreds of players to be put on the waiver list the last few days. Teams put the names of numerous players on the waiver wire. Some are there to test trade interest. Others are there just as a smoke screen. Potential deals can be blocked by other teams.
How do you feel about a Braves cornerstone like Jones being on waivers? Are you shocked? Is it disrespectful to a veteran star like Jones? Or do you understand it is just part of the game?
Do you think the Braves are actually willing to deal Jones even after the trade deadline has passed? If the Braves fall out of the playoff race, do you think they may trade Jones then?
Permalink | Comments (266) | Categories: Braves
Where was the wood?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So the Braves couldn’t hit a starting pitcher who triggered 19-1 shellacking in his last major league stint. They still had four innings against relievers, but could manage very little in a 3-2 loss Thursday as the Pirates salvaged a game in the series.
Adam LaRoche is sitting for a few games after getting injured Wednesday. But as has been the case all year, one or two injuries shouldn’t be enough for the bats to go silent. Yet at times that’s exactly what has happened.
The Braves move on to Cincinnati with a chance to make up some ground between themselves and the wild card-leading Reds. Would anything less than 2-out-of-3 put a serious dent in Atlanta’s post-season hopes? Or do you think there’s still time to make the N.L. playoffs?
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Dealing with the heat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A second metro Atlanta high school football player has collapsed in practice because of searing heat.
A Hiram High School player has been hospitalized after workouts on Wednesday as an investigation continues into the heat-related death of Rockdale County player Tyler Davis earlier this week.
High school coaches and school officials say they’re taking the proper precautions to prevent such incidents. But do you think they’re doing enough? Should the Georgia High School Association have standards that all schools must follow? If so, what should they be?
How worried are you about your children, or any children, practicing or exerting themselves athletically in this weather? Should practices be delayed to the evenings, or held early in the mornings, to avoid the worst conditions? Moved inside?
And how responsible should the schools be for any players who become ill, collapse or die as a result? Playing football and other school-related outdoor sports is a voluntary activity. Doesn’t some of the responsibility lie with the parents as well?
Post-game forum: Bullpen bliss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves beat the Pirates 3-2 Wednesday night and once again their new relievers, Danys Baez and Bob Wickman, looked sharp. How does it feel to finally have a setup man and closer you trust? Is there time to salvage a playoff spot?
Starter Horacio Ramirez also pitched well.
But first baseman Adam LaRoche left the game with a hamstring injury. LaRoche homered twice in Atlanta’s 4-2 victory over the Pirates on Tuesday and has nine homers in 17 games since the All-Star break. How much would it hurt to have him out of the lineup?
What are your thoughts on the game?
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Is 13 unlucky for Atlanta?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Sporting News has ranked Atlanta No. 13 on its list of best American sports cities. Thirteenth out of 99, and Athens is No. 62.
How do you rate Atlanta as a sports city? And what do you think makes a good one? Is it just how its teams perform, or does it include the atmosphere at games, the frenzy of the fans, and how much sports is the topic of conversation around town?
Closing it out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
LaRoche has another two-homer game, Smoltz wins his fifth straight decision.
And the new set-up man and the new closer get the job done. Danys Baez and Bob Wickman combine to close down the Pirates in the 8th and 9th, although a run crosses in the final frame.
Did the Braves make the right moves getting these relievers? Or is it too little, too late for a season in which getting the wild-card will be a significant feat?
Permalink | Comments (81) | Categories: Braves
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