Where is AJCsportstalk?
AJCsportstalk has moved…to a new blogging platform.
Don’t freak out, though. You’ll still be able to voice your opinion on all the latest breaking news dealing with UGA, Georgia Tech, the Falcons, Braves, Hawks, Thrashers and the rest of the sports world right here.
We’ll see you there.
Home > ajcsportstalk > Archives > 2008 > June
June 2008
O Atlanta, how shall you fare in Canada?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves travel to Toronto this weekend to face the embattled Blue Jays to close out this season’s installment of interleague play.
Atlanta is 7-5 against American League teams this year. With Wednesday’s win over the Brewers, the Braves (39-41) stand four games behind Philadelphia in NL.
Bobby Cox will face in the opposing dugout former Brave Cito Gaston, whom he has managed, has had as a coach on his staff and faced in the 1992 World Series. Gaston, who led Toronto to World Series titles in 1992 and ‘93 and had not managed a baseball squad for more than a decade before taking over last week, manages a Blue Jays (38-42) team that is more than 10 games behind Boston in the AL East. The team is 3-3 under Gaston.
With the Phillies coming to the Ted next week, what are your expectations of the Braves this weekend?
Should the team continue to rest the ailing Chipper Jones? Should Brent Lillibridge get some playing time? Who would constitute your lineup?
And how will the Braves finish off the first half of the season?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves
A letdown or still a big success?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia lost the deciding game of the College World Series Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs lost two straight games to Fresno State after taking the opener of the series.
Are you disappointed, or did you never expect Georgia to get this far?
What happened to the Bulldogs after winning the first game and taking a big lead early in the second game? How did it slip away?
With a season full of success in Athens, how does the baseball team’s run compare to football, basketball, gymnastics and tennis?
Permalink | Comments (277) | Categories: UGA
What’s on your Peachtree iPod?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s just a little more than a week before the start of the Peachtree Road Race, and many of the 55,000 participants are getting ready by listening to their favorite music while running.
Do you pace yourself and get through the grinding practice runs with tunes? If so, what do you like to listen most, and how does your selection of music help you prepare for the July 4 run?
Do you like to mix it up between genres, or do you stick to one kind of music? Do you like it loud, pumping and fast, a little mellow, or something soothing and relaxing?
If you listen to an iPod (or any other MP3 player or even a Walkman) how often have you “shuffled” your playlist over the years?
Peachtree Road Race officials are once again discouraging runners from plugging in while they run the 10K course through Buckhead and Midtown. What do you think of that request, and will you abide by it?
Permalink | Comments (128) | Post your comment | Categories: Peachtree Road Race
One-game season for UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The season has come down to one game for the University of Georgia baseball team.
Win tonight and it will bring a national championship back to Athens. Lose and it will be the national runnerup.
The Dogs were pounded 19-10 last night by Fresno State, forcing tonight’s winner-take-all contest for the College World Series title.
So, do you think the Dogs will bounce back and win the championship tonight? If you do, or if you don’t, let us know why.
Permalink | Comments (202) | Post your comment |
Will UGA finish the drill tonight?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Apologies to football coach Mark Richt for borrowing his phrase, but will the baseball team ‘finish the drill’ tonight against Fresno State in the College World Series?
The Dogs rallied for a 7-6 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-three series last night, a loss that could be demoralizing for a Fresno State squad which held a three-run lead in the eighth inning. Nick Montgomery, who started last Saturday against Stanford, will get the start for the Bulldogs.
The Dogs realize that completing the task might be difficult, considering that the last two CWS champions lost their finals opener before rallying to win the last two games. But if the Dogs are able to finish the drill tonight, Richt and other notables will be there to see it in person.
So, what do you think will happen tonight? Let us know.
Permalink | Comments (147) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA
Have the Braves found their closer?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was only one inning, but Mike Gonzalez’ return to the mound Wednesday had to bring some comfort to Braves fans, who had grown tired of seeing the bullpen blow leads.
Despite not pitching in more than a year, Gonzalez looked extremely sharp. He didn’t allow a hit and struck out one in the ninth inning to preserve the Braves’ 5-2 win over the Rangers.
Are you comfortable with Gonzalez as the Braves’ closer? Are you concerned with his durability, after his recent injury problems? Are you still hoping Rafael Soriano can return to form?
And can we get some love for Jo-Jo Reyes (five hits, one earned run in seven strong innings)?
Permalink | Comments (62) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves
Tiger-less Tour: What will it mean?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tiger Woods’ season apparently is over. That means a Tiger-less British Open, PGA Championship and Tour Championship at East Lake.
Has Woods become so dominant that his absence from the remaining major tournaments render them less prestigious?
Also, it has been revealed that he played the entire U.S. Open, which lasted 91 holes for him and Rocco Mediate, with a double stress fracture in his left leg. Does this add to his performance as one of the greatest in sports history?
Mets fire Willie Randolph
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Still apparently reeling from last-season’s monumental collapse, the New York Mets finally cut ties with manager Willie Randolph - in the wee hours of the morning Tuesday.
The move was announced at 3:15 a.m., hours after the team defeated the Angels in Anaheim. Randolph will be replaced on an interim basis by Jerry Manuel, the former Chicago White Sox manager who was born in the south Georgia town of Hahira.
As a Braves fan, what do you think about this move - or are you more concerned with what’s going on with your team to be worried about the Mets?
For the Mets’ fans, what are your thoughts? Did you see this move coming? Did it happen too early in the season - or not early enough?
And for baseball fans as a whole, what are your thoughts on the move? Let us know what you think.
Permalink | Comments (59) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves
Who would Georgia rather face: Miami or Stanford?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two games into the College World Series, Georgia is sitting pretty.
The Bulldogs posted their second straight come-from-behind victory Monday, rallying from a three-run deficit to down Stanford. Now, they’ll be able to rest up and enjoy the sites and sounds of Omaha until Friday, when they’ll face the winner of Miami and Stanford’s elmination game.
Which team do you think Georgia would rather face?
Permalink | Comments (52) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA
Sudden death at U.S. Open
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate have begun their sudden-death playoff, starting at the par-4 No. 7.
Woods opened by driving into the fairway, on the right side. Mediate hit into the left bunker with his drive. He’s 185 yards away, and his bunker shot hit the cart path and now he’s in real trouble.
Woods is 156 yards away. His second shot is on the green, about 18 feet from the hole.
Mediate hits his third shot and is on the green, 12 feet from the pin.
Woods lines up his putt from about 18 feet. He comes up 3 inches short, and has that putt for par.
Mediate needs to make his 12-footer for par. He misses. Woods taps in his short put for par.
Tiger Woods has won the U.S. Open.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment |
Which is worse: Braves’ bullpen or their bats?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves changed uniforms, going with their throwback jerseys for Thursday afternoon’s game with the Cubs. The change of clothes did little to change their fortunes on the road.
The same problems contributed to the Braves’ 3-2 extra-innings loss, their sixth straight defeat.
The bullpen could not hold the lead, after another strong outing by Tim Hudson. And, the offense could not come up with a clutch hit.
Which flaw is more frustrating to Braves fans? Is it Manny Acosta and the bullpen’s failures? Or is it the lack of clutch hitting from a line-up touted as one of the NL’s best before the season?
Either way, something has to change, or it’s going to be a long summer.
Permalink | Comments (72) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves
Is Curry the right guy for Georgia State?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia State has hired Bill Curry to coach its inaugural football team, which is scheduled to begin play in 2010.
On the plus side, Curry has big-name recognition after coaching major programs Georgia Tech, Alabama and Kentucky. He has been an analyst for ESPN for the past decade, too.
On the downside, Curry has been out of coaching since 1996, when he was fired by Kentucky.
Is he the right man for the job?
Permalink | Comments (142) | Post your comment | Categories: College sports
Wish John Smoltz a speedy recovery
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves’ veteran pitcher John Smoltz had surgery on his ailing right shoulder Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala.
The Braves are expected to make an announcement on the results of the procedure, which will sideline Smoltz for at least this season and could possibly signal the end of his illustrious career.
Here’s your chance to wish the veteran righthander good luck and a speedy recovery.
Permalink | Comments (166) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves
Toughest loss of season for Braves?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Second baseman Kelly Johnson dropped a popup with two out in the ninth inning Friday night, allowing the tying run to score, and the Braves went on to lose to the Phillies in 10 innings Friday night.
The Braves tried to tie the game themselves in the bottom of the 10th but Gregor Blanco was thrown out at the plate to end the game.
Was this the toughest loss of the season for the Braves?
What are your thoughts on the game and the season?
Permalink | Comments (233) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves
Backup fullback or two tailbacks?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia fullback Brannan Southerland had foot surgery Friday and could miss at least the first five games of the season.
Fred Munzenmaier, one of the two backups to Southerland, has been suspended for the first two games of the season, so the Bulldogs may rely heavily on fullback Shaun Chapas for those games.
But Georgia has two highly regarded tailbacks in Knowshon Moreno and Caleb King. Do you think coach Mark Richt should play both Moreno and King at the same time or would the Bulldogs be wiser to utilize a fullback and alternate Moreno and King so both will be fresh?
Permalink | Comments (84) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA
Braves draft Georgia baseball signee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves drafted left-handed pitcher Brett DeVall of Niceville (Fla.) High School with their first pick (40th overall) in the baseball draft Thursday afternoon.
DeVall, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound pitcher ranked No. 33 by Baseball America, signed with the Georgia Bulldogs in November.
The Braves got a good look at him as he played for the East Cobb Astros summer team. He was also a member of Team USA Junior Olympic team.
The Braves’ first pick came in the supplemental round, as the team did not have a first-round pick. They had to give that to the Mets as compensation for signing Tom Glavine.
As heavy as the state of Georgia was represented in the draft, the Braves didn’t dip into that in-state talent with their top pick, something they had done four times in the past eight drafts.
The state of Georgia had five players taken in the first round — three of the first eight picks — including No. 1 overall pick Tim Beckham, a shortstop from Griffin High School, by Tampa Bay.
FSU catcher Buster Posey (Lee County) was drafted fifth overall by the Giants, Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham (Westminster Schools) was drafted eighth by the White Sox, third baseman/pitcher Ethan Martin (Stephens County) was drafted 15th by the Dodgers and Georgia reliever Josh Fields (Prince Avenue Christian) was drafted 20th by the Seattle Mariners.
The Braves have gone heavy in Georgia talent in recent years — with four of their past eight top picks coming from in-state. They chose outfielder Jason Heyward out of Henry County High with the 14th overall pick last year. For three years in a row, 2000-02 they chose Georgians with their first-round pick: Adam Wainwright from Glynn Academy, Macay McBride from Screven County and Jeff Francoeur from Parkview.
The Braves had two second-round picks at 64 and 70 overall: 64 is their regular slot, and they pick at 70th because they didn’t sign Josh Fields last year after drafting him in the second round.
Permalink | |
Braves’ Smoltz to have surgery
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
John Smoltz is set to have season-ending shoulder surgery. Smoltz, 41, has spent his entire career with Atlanta and is the only pitcher in history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves. He marked his 3,000th career strikeout in April. Smoltz is eligible for free agency after the 2008 season.
Do you think this surgery will end Smoltzie’s career? Should he retire? Will he make another comeback as a closer? If so, will he return to the Braves or sign with someone else?
Permalink | Comments (187) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves
Will Chipper reach milestone today?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chipper Jones is only one home run away from becoming the 43rd player in Major League Baseball history with at least 400 career home runs.
Will Chipper reach the milestone today as the Braves host the Marlins at Turner Field? Chipper hit home run No. 399 Tuesday in the win over Florida, extending his mark as the all-time home run leader as an Atlanta Brave (see photos).
So, what do you think? Will Chipper reach the milestone today or sometime during the current homestand, which ends Sunday against the Phillies.
Let us know what you think. Also, check out the most recent blogs by David O’Brien and Chop Chick as well as complete Atlanta Braves coverage.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
