The Monday Heat Check: Braves are warm, Hawks not so hot
Eric Hinske scores the Braves' lone run against San Diego on Sunday. (AP photo)
What you see here is new weekly feature. We call it the Monday Morning Heat Check, and its intent is to measure the warmth, or the absence thereof, of Atlanta’s sports entries. And what qualifies me to determine such things? Well, I buy my eyeglasses at the same posh establishment frequented by Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel. Need I say more?
The Braves: Went 4-2 on the week, sweeping a pretty good opponent in Toronto before losing a series to the last-place Padres. On Saturday the Braves scored 10 runs and you thought, not for the first time, that maybe they’d gotten it going. On Sunday they managed two hits, and you thought, not for the first time, “Nah.” They’re still five games back of Philadelphia in the East, and Jonny Venters just proved he’s human after all. Heat index: Warm, but not nearly sizzling.
The Hawks: For a couple of hours Thursday, the Hawks were the center of the NBA universe. SI.com reported they were about to be sold, and Yahoo! Sports reported they were trying to trade Josh Smith to Minnesota for the No. 2 pick in the draft. But Bruce Levenson, one of the many owners, claimed no sale was imminent, and the trade never happened. The Hawks were left with the 48th pick in the draft and took Keith Benson, a skinny center of some promise from Oakland. This prompted Chad Ford of ESPN Insiders to give their draft class of one a league-low C-minus. Heat index: Tepid.
Georgia Tech basketball: The good news was that Iman Shumpert was selected with the 17th pick of Round 1 — by the Knicks, whose fans booed the selection. This made four first-round draftees for Tech over the past five seasons. The bad news is that those gifted Jackets never did much while they were Jackets, which is why Tech has a new coach. Heat index: Hot in terms of pro potential, chilly in terms of college production.
Georgia basketball: Had Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie returned for their senior seasons, Georgia would have been ranked in the preseason Top 25. But they left and didn’t even get taken in Round 1 for their trouble. Worse still, both were taken by the Clippers. Heat index: Cold, cold, cold.
The Falcons: They’re locked out. They’re practicing on their own. If they ever get unlocked-out, they’ll be one of the best teams in the NFL. Until then, they’re just a bunch of guys tossing around a football on a high school field. Heat index: In cold storage.
The Dream: Last season they played for the WNBA title. They’ve started this season 2-7. Yep, they’re an Atlanta team. Heat index: Not even room temperature.
The Thrashers: They’re officially gone, and they’re no longer the Thrashers and Craig Ramsay is no longer the coach and … well, it’s as if they never existed. Which prompts the question: Did they? Heat index: As cold as the grave.
I ask you: Were the guys in blue ever really here? (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
By Mark Bradley
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145 comments Add your comment
rawdawg
June 27th, 2011
8:40 am
First
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
8:41 am
Rawdawg again. He’s a kudo’ed dynasty.
Dan
June 27th, 2011
8:41 am
Piss on the NHL!
The Real Brave
June 27th, 2011
8:43 am
Anyone who thinks the Braves are even warm has not seen their record against teams with losing records. See: Padres, Mets…etc.
Sam
June 27th, 2011
8:43 am
There is no cooling off the Falcon’s Offense right now.
dtanner
June 27th, 2011
8:44 am
braves are boring and completely uninspiring,get rid of schafer and mcclouth
Floundering Fox Hounds Batman!
June 27th, 2011
8:46 am
Too bad Fox cant nail down the top players in Georgia. They are going elsewhere. Just like Richt in football. UGA is cold, cold, cold too.
Bawbie
June 27th, 2011
8:47 am
Fire Dave Perno!
ken
June 27th, 2011
8:50 am
and we wonder why Atlanta fabs are made fun of…4th best record in baseball and our fans dont think we are at least warm…..those who dont think this team is solid in the new MLB then dont know baseball….mlb is not 11-10 finals anymore…it is a pitchers game and the braves have the best staff…just go with it and support them or go watch cars go in a circle!!!
Reid Adair
June 27th, 2011
8:51 am
“Tepid” might be too kind to the Hawks, Mark.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
8:56 am
“Tepid” is a word I once used regarding a Hawks matter with which Stan Kasten, then the general manager, disagreed. So I use it advisedly, Reid.
GT Dude
June 27th, 2011
8:57 am
Let’s take a page out of the NCAA handbook and just say that the Thrashers used ineligible player so that all references to both their wins and losses will be stricken from the record books so in essence they never existed
superiorblogman
June 27th, 2011
8:59 am
Seriously Rick Sund needs to go right now. The guy can find a way to trade Jordan Crawford, Chris Singleton, Mike Bibby, and Mo Evans for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong but he can’t find a way to get a full time starting center. Rick Sund is worthless way more worthless than Mike Bibby ever could have been.
The new owners need to make a splash by firing this guy as soon as the deal becomes official.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
8:59 am
“Vacated,” you mean, GT Dude?
Tron5000
June 27th, 2011
9:05 am
As long as ASG owns the Hawks, they are as cold to me as the dead body of the Thrashers franchise. Can’t bring myself to care about the NFL, what with the lockout and all. Women’s basketball? Please.
That leaves the Braves and GT football and basketball as the teams I actually give a crap about.
Man, I really hope the Braves do something this year. ‘Cause the chances of GT football or basketball giving me something to get excited about are slim and none.
Skeezix
June 27th, 2011
9:08 am
Mark: Going into this season I didn’t think offense would be a major problem. So I have a question. During the run of 14 straight division titles, was there a year where the Braves offense was as puny as this year?
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:11 am
again…this MLB is not the same as the 90’s….if we were the only team struggling at the plate then it would be an issue….we are 9 games over .500 without our best hitter…..sheesh…even the Phillies are looking for a bat!!!!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
9:13 am
Actually, Skeezix, the Braves hit .250 as a team in 1995. That was the year they won the world championship.
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:13 am
and as far as GT at least we are headed into the right direction with a coach who gets that at Tech we need 4 year solid players who can compete rather than one NBA first rounder who messes up chemistry
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:14 am
Mark…let these morons know that we are fine and will be in the playoffs and with our bullpen and starters have a serious shot at winning it all.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
9:15 am
The Braves have a serious shot at winning it all, ken. But I do wish they wouldn’t make it so hard on themselves.
Ted M
June 27th, 2011
9:17 am
The Braves Pitching Staff will end the year with a great team ERA but it won’t be as good as it is now. So the hitters are gonna have to do better just to keep pace with that, then they are gonna have to do even better to catch the Phillies.
Uggla needs to get hot for 10 straight games and there should be no talk of him busting out until he does so.
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:18 am
agree but I believe that when Prado comes back we will be fine…the question is how will the lineup look? My thought would be for the best lineup….
CF Shafer
LF Prado
3B Jones
C McCann
1B Freeman
2B Uggla
RF Heyward
SS Gonzalez
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
9:20 am
I think you’ve got it, ken.
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:22 am
thanks Mark….now when it comes to GT…how long before coach gets it turned around in your eyes?
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:24 am
one more point on the Braves…they are 12-6 in the 18 games that their best hitter(Prado) has been out…not too shaby!!!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
9:25 am
Might take Brian Gregory a little while, ken. The cupboard’s bare.
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:26 am
yeah thats what I think too Mark..thinking NIT in 3 years and NCAA in 4?
oldmike
June 27th, 2011
9:33 am
I hope Lowe can go on a roll and run off 3 or more outstanding starts in July. Maybe then we can trade him for a power hitting outfielder. We also need to get Uggla out of the alternate universe he is in. His funk is killing the team.
J-Man
June 27th, 2011
9:35 am
Fire Larry Parrish and Trade for Kemp…….is that too much to ask for??????
BravesFaninVR
June 27th, 2011
9:41 am
I agree that Uggla is not really helping but to blame the woes on him is shortsighted. If only one person is struggling then a lineup is usually still potent. The real problem as I see it is the Braves inability to manufacture runs. The struggle with bunting, moving runners over, stringing hits together. All that with a lack of team speed spells a low scoring team.
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:42 am
shoot why go for kemp since we are dreaming in the clouds lets go get josh hamilton…geez people are stupid!!!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
9:43 am
I don’t know, ken. One recruit can change everything.
Sonny Clusters
June 27th, 2011
9:44 am
We used to get two hits by the third inning. Maybe what the Braves need is some group therapy. They could all go out to the Double Dime and kill something over the All Star break. Then, when they get back maybe they’ll be hitting. We’re not sure what it’s going to take but getting Uggla started has to be part of the answer. You wasn’t kidding when you said he was a slow starter.
skip
June 27th, 2011
9:45 am
So the Braves heat index is warm? Maybe, but their offense is…..hell, I don’t know, what’s the next adjective after pathetic.
Joey
June 27th, 2011
9:49 am
Mark, has a MLB team 9 games over .500 EVER been held under 5 hits in a game this many times, before the All Star break?
The question is rhetorical, but it is kinda unbelievable how many times it has happened so far.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
9:50 am
I believe “pitiful” follows “pathetic,” skip.
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:50 am
in top 15 in hitting in baseball
Chicago Cubs (4th) 31-46
KC Royals (6th) 33-45
Baltimore (8th) 35-40
Houston(9th) 28-51
NY Mets (11th) 39-39
LA Dodgers (13th) 35-44
Oakland (15th) 31-46
question would of any of you idiots change places with these teams fans just so you can more hitting….crazy people!!!
BravesFaninVR
June 27th, 2011
9:50 am
Maybe the Braves put too much emphasis on Pitching and not enough on offense. I agree that pitching is important. However, it can be wasted with no run support. In the last two decades the Braves have only developed two elite hitters (Jones, McCann) as opposed to countless pitchers. I’m begging to think its an overall organizational problem. They need to develop hitting in the minors the same way they develop pitching.
Sonny Clusters
June 27th, 2011
9:52 am
Is it just us or does somebody else think Jason Heyward might not have spent enough time in the minors learning how to hit and field his position? Learning up here is going to be hard to do.
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:56 am
now in top 15 pitching:
Philladelphia(1st) 49-30
Atlanta (2nd) 45-34
SF Giants (4th) 44-34
Seattle (5th) 39-39
Washington (7th) 40-38
Pittsburgh (9th) 40-38
NY Yankees (10th) 45-38
Tampa Bay (11th) 44-34
Milwaukee (12th) 44-35
Cleveland (13th) 40-35
Do you see a patten here people….the BRAVES are FINE!!!
ken
June 27th, 2011
9:58 am
Freedie Freeman and Jason Heyward will be really good hitters and were developed in the minors!!
I believe also that Schaffer will be a really good lead off hitter when he masters it!!
Barry
June 27th, 2011
9:58 am
What is the braves team batting avg today?
headley lamar
June 27th, 2011
9:59 am
The Braves will be fine. Is this gonna be a great Braves offensive team.
No.
But the Braves bats always warm up in the second half. Or so it seems.
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:00 am
wait a minute….wasnt Prado developed in our system…oh yes he was….gime me a break people!!!
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:01 am
.237 but remember that we have played many games without our best hitter in Prado…and by the way the Phillies are hitting only .246
headley lamar
June 27th, 2011
10:01 am
Still have yet to see Sonny Clusters and Mark Bradley at the same place at the same time.
Je
June 27th, 2011
10:03 am
Imagine ken if we had batted around the middle instead of at the bottom? I think that’s what most people expect with the payroll. The offense is anemic and has been like this for years.
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:03 am
the facts are if Uggla wasnt in his worse slump of his career then we wouldnt be saying anything, but the facts are he is and our team is suffering a little, but when he gets going and Prado comes back the Braves will be one of the best lineups in the game. also remember that we are not trying to catch the phillies but we are wanting the playoffs and that is where we are!!!
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:04 am
payroll is 17th out of 30 teams…we dont spend money like we use to…other than chipper and uggla nobody in the lineup makes huge money
headley lamar
June 27th, 2011
10:05 am
Excellent Stats Ken.
Pitching wins in the post steroid era.
If you can pitch you at least have a chance. If you cant you have no shot .
Reed
June 27th, 2011
10:07 am
ken a 10 point difference in team batting is a lot. quit being obtuse.
headley lamar
June 27th, 2011
10:09 am
and we wonder why Atlanta fabs are made fun of…4th best record in baseball and our fans dont think we are at least warm
Ive always blamed this on 1991. I think alot of people became Braves fans that year for the first time and alot of them have continued to follow the team. Problem for alot of them is they really dont know baseball.
Hence the very low baseball IQ among Braves fans.
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:09 am
i agree that 9 points(learn math buddy) is a big difference but again prado and uggla make huge differences there!!!
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:09 am
headley lamar…you are very correct sir!! that is why I try to educate them the best I can!!
Skeezix
June 27th, 2011
10:10 am
Thanks Mark. I believe the team BA to date is well below 250. This team (offense) has the potential of playing so much better–that is why fans are so frustrated I think. Also, they got to two games back of the Phillies and have slipped to five.
THRASHERS Season Ticket Holder
June 27th, 2011
10:11 am
The ATLANTA THRASHER should still be alive.
It is the Atlanta Spirit Group that should be now dead and roasting in HELL.
Remarkable
June 27th, 2011
10:12 am
Mark, Who wanted to buy the Hawks? Was it a good fit?
mmixon
June 27th, 2011
10:12 am
Again, Mark … it’s very simple.
Hawks:
1) Drafted Sheldon Williams
2) Drafted Marvin Williams #2 (wasn’t even a starter on his college team)
3) Traded youth for Kirk Hinrich when Deron Williams was on the block ..
4) Paid a role player as if he’s a top 5 player
And this is just recent history. No way we can have faith in them until they stop insulting our intelligence.
We can’t have faith in them until they show
headley lamar
June 27th, 2011
10:15 am
ken a 10 point difference in team batting is a lot. quit being obtuse.
Reed. Do you know how many runs the Phillie’s have scored this year.320
Know how many the Braves have scored 308.
They have a whopping 12 more runs over 80 games.
Thats an extra .15 runs per game. Or in other words almost even.
Quit being acute.
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:17 am
headley lamar you are so correct…but these people dont like real numbers they want to live in the clouds!!
Remarkable
June 27th, 2011
10:17 am
Mark, I know that this might get you in to trouble if you answer this, but, do you think the Braves need another Hitting Coach? Who should they look at?
CONservative Johnson
June 27th, 2011
10:18 am
Braves are lukewarm at best . . .
Spend some damn money!
Larry
June 27th, 2011
10:20 am
The sign of a great manager is guiding his team to defeat the teams they should.
That this team–only because of it’s pitching–can compete with anyone on a given day or series, but continues to look lethargic and uninspired against the weaker teams is an indictment of Freddi Gonzalez, hands down the single dumbest manager in MLB.
Think of it this way, if the Falcons were beating the Packers, Steelers and Eagles, but losing to the Bengals, 49ers and Panthers, everyone would be wanting to fire Mike Smith.
What’s the difference?
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:21 am
hitting coach….we have two on staff….how many more do we need? the facts are that they are major leaguers and need to just hit the damn ball!!
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:23 am
now if the Falcons were 13-3!!! I would be glad to know that they could beat the better teams because that is who you face in the playoffs dummy!! I guess Terry francona(holder of 2 world championships) is a dumb manager because he just got beat by the PADRES in boston in a series…
YOU MY SIR ARE A MORON!!!
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:25 am
okay lets get this straight:
The Braves are in trouble in October if the Cubs, Astros, Mets, and Padres make the playoffs and if the Phillies, Brewers, Giants, Cardinals, Reds, and Dbacks make it we will be fine.
Okay Ill tyake my chances!!
Paul H
June 27th, 2011
10:36 am
No UGA and Tech football indexes?
GT BBall
June 27th, 2011
10:36 am
Hey Mark – I’ve read alot of comments from UGA fans blaming the NBA or NBA people for Tompkins and Leslie leaving early. I thought those two and Shumpert where told they were unlikely first round picks, but all 3 decided to try it anyway. The two UGA players made a huge mistake and now have to deal with clipperland. Atleast Shumpert showed up in shape and maxed out his potential for this draft.
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:38 am
both lukewarm i would say….the state of college football in the state is kind of sad right now…both schools aiming for mediocore bowls again it seems:(
Reed
June 27th, 2011
10:38 am
headley use your head
anyone who watches this team knows how inconsistent they are. the sd series was a small sample of this team. 2 runs 10 runs and 1 run. what is the series average? 4.3 runs. not bad, but they went 1-2. just because runs scored are close doesnt mean squat. team batting and team pitching and overall records are whats important. if the braves had a consistent runs runs scored per game and not some skewed number because they score 10,12,14 runs one game a week, then they would be in first place. in other words, give us phillies offense and were 20 games over 500
Alan
June 27th, 2011
10:39 am
WOw the dodgers are still paying marquis grissom or they owe him over 2 mil. Andruw jones is due like 5 mil. no wonder that team is broke.
Alan
June 27th, 2011
10:40 am
Oh and manny is owed something like 20 million. must be nice to retire and have some team owe you 20 million when you’ve already made tens of million in your career.
NoGaGator
June 27th, 2011
10:43 am
We need Bobby out there to get run a few times! Have him come in for a couple games a week as bench coach – kind of like Smoltz and Glavine in the booth. Then let him go out there to argue a play, get run and then back to the clubhouse for a few cold ones.
Maybe it’ll shake some things up. If not, at least the games will be more exciting than watching paint dry.
Joey
June 27th, 2011
10:45 am
They are major leaguers, ken, but if a hitting coach isn’t important to the “major leaguers,” why have one or two on the payroll?
THRASHERS Season Ticket Holder
June 27th, 2011
10:47 am
The ATLANTA THRASHERS should still be alive.
It is the Atlanta Spirit Group that should be now dead and roasting in HELL.
(Yes, I am so angry, I said it twice!)
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:48 am
that is the better question my friend:) have you ever heard chipper or brian talk about the great hiiting advice they are getting from their hitting coach…nope they talk about how they called their family!! again great question Joey!!!
Larry
June 27th, 2011
10:51 am
ken,
I see you like to call people idiots and morons. Indeed, it is you that are both!
People like you, who never played the game as I did for 9 years, are the epitome of the bespectacled, pocket protector goobers who can only spout statistics which are available to find by anyone with more than a double-digit IQ. You may be impressing the pork rind goober club on here; you aren’t impressing the others.
The reason the Braves have the 4th best record is simple–pitching. With the same Braves pitching staff several MLB managers and teams would be much further along than what Fredi Cox can do. Further, what is it about watching the other team celebrate last on the pitcher’s mound in the last 14 of 15 playoff opportunities by Fredi’s mentor and clone, Bobby Cox, that statistical goobers like you cannot comprehend?
The answer is simple, as constructed and managed, the likelihood of the Braves winning three straight series over as many as 19 games in the postseason is less than winning the lottery.
And then you site the aberration of Boston losing 2 of 3 to the Padres and trying to use this to rationalize the Braves PATTERN of losing to losing teams, often to mediocre pitchers on the mound.
So, just shut up, please, as you utter, unabashed idiocy and failed attempts to sound baseball savvy using well know stats are insulting to the real men who played and understand fundamental leadership qualities and genuine, authentic, sustainable–and championship caliber–performance.
Walker, Texas Ranger
June 27th, 2011
10:52 am
Welcome to Blueland
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:54 am
okay guys lets break down this batting average thing….we sux against lefties hitting only .212….and guess what everybody is throwing against us…the Padres even threw a bullpen guy against us so they could start a lefty against us and here come the Mariners starting two lefties against us and why shouldnt they….
Schaffer (lefty)
Heyward(lefty)
Jones (switch)
Mccann(lefty)
Freeman(lefty)
Uggla (righty but sux against lefties)
Gonzalez(righty)
Mcclouth(lefty)
see why we are struggling hitting folks!!!
ASG = JERKS
June 27th, 2011
10:55 am
Boycott the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena. My Screen Name says it all. Hawks are a bunch of losers anyway. Joe Johnson is way overpaid but you already knew that.
ASG = JERKS
June 27th, 2011
10:55 am
TEST
Larry
June 27th, 2011
10:56 am
And who fills out the lineup, goober?
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:56 am
larry contact me you may be surprised who I am and if you did play 9 years of professional ball then I am sure we arn into each other…
again contact me @ skydogg25@comcast.net would love to talk!!
ASG = JERKS
June 27th, 2011
10:56 am
BRUCE LEVINSON says: DEAL WITH IT.
ken
June 27th, 2011
10:57 am
larry who would you put in ross for mccann? maybe brooks for freeman? we are a left handed hitting team period!!!
404
June 27th, 2011
11:02 am
Well, I guess I’ll have to post this over here on Bradley’s website, because
UGA-homer Chip Tower doesnt like ANYONE writing “unflattring” things
about anything UGA-related.
So, we have the former City of Columbus Parks & Recreation Director Tony Adams and at least 2 others that have been ARRESTED, used MUNICIPAL funds to pay for the personal travel expenses of a UGA-bound recruit, Jarvis Jones.
It’s noteworthy that Mr. Adams did not use PERSONAL funds. He used MUNICIPAL funds.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Very Very Bad.
On November 18, 2010, the same Columbus newspaper wrote that Mr. Adams
and Herman Porter were dimissed after it was discovered that Mr. Adams
had “mis-appropriated $200,000.
Folks, this isnt about $800 airfare and $200 cell-phone bill.
It’s about a $200,000+ “slush fund” operated by now-former employees of the
City of Columbus Parks & Recreation Department.
So, where did $200,000 go ??
The better better question is: To WHOM did $200,000 get paid to ??
So, whats the REALLY INTERESTING link in all this ??
Here it is: Money was used to pay airfare for UGA-bound recruit, Jarvis Jones.
Anyone want to guess WHERE Jarvis Jones played high school football ??
Thats right: Jarvis Jones played for Dell McGee at Carver-Columbus HIgh School.
Yes, that UGA-designated hot-bad of un-eductated football talent, Carver-Columbus.
Folks, this story has been building for the past 12 months.
The R-E-A-L-L-Y dangerous question that will be asked is this:
Have there been ANY OTHER recruits from Carver-Columbus
that have ALSO received illegal benefits from this “slush fund” ??
Folks, this Columbus-Slush Fund story has M-A-S-S-I-V-E implications for UGA as it unfolds.
Stay tuned.
bass
June 27th, 2011
11:03 am
You are spot on Larry. The braves have not won 3 series in a row all year. But they have lost 3 in a row. They are not consistent at all and that is NOT what you need to win in the playoffs.
ken
June 27th, 2011
11:05 am
by the way Larry the Red Sox are 14-16 against teams .500 or worse no abberation there just facts buddy!!
headley lamar
June 27th, 2011
11:05 am
in other words, give us phillies offense and were 20 games over 500
Umm no we arent. We would have about the same record we have now.
2 runs 10 runs and 1 run. what is the series average? 4.3 runs. not bad, but they went 1-2
Sure. THATS WHY I USED A MUCH LARGER SAMPLE THAN JUST THREE GAMES. I USED 80 GAMES. OVER 80 GAMES THE BRAVES AND PHILLIES HAVE SCORED BASICALLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF RUNS. SURE ONE GAME CAN SKEW THE STATS. IM SURE THE PHILLIES HAVE HAD A FEW GAMES WHERE THEY SCORED A BIG NUMBER AND THEN STRUGGLED AFTER THAT.
Again Braves Fans baseball IQ has to be the lowest in the majors.
Larry
June 27th, 2011
11:07 am
Uh, no thanks, Ken!
For the protection of my family and business I value both my anonymity and secrecy of my email address. Email addresses are easily traceable to individuals and, from a man of such vast and profound knowledge, I find it odd that you would make your’s public.
Bizarre!
headley lamar
June 27th, 2011
11:08 am
Folks, this Columbus-Slush Fund story has M-A-S-S-I-V-E implications for UGA as it unfolds.
None of that has anything to do with UGA but hey keep trying pal.
Even if it did Jarvis could jut use to Cam loophole and say he didnt know anything about it. Besides he was being recruited by USC at the time. Not UGA.
But dont let facts get in the way ok.
ken
June 27th, 2011
11:09 am
thats what I thought then shut the hell up!! dont question my knowledge unless you want to compare:)
ken
June 27th, 2011
11:10 am
by the way Larry you didnt answer me…what would you do to fix the lineup oh graet manager you are sir!!!!LOL
Larry
June 27th, 2011
11:11 am
headley,
You can’t even spell “were” correctly and you type in ALL CAPS like a 9 year old and you have the nerve to question the IQ of others? Most amusing.
You and ken should play doctor and nurse together!
ken
June 27th, 2011
11:12 am
LOL I guess the Yankees with the 2nd best record should just tear up their team because they are 3 1/2 games back of the Phillies….too funny Larry!!!
ken
June 27th, 2011
11:13 am
Larry I have got o go but you have made my day my friend…you are truly an ignorant fan or excuse me former player!!!!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All I'm Saying Is....
June 27th, 2011
11:14 am
Tepid is an apt description of this column and its contents. That’s five minutes of my life I’ll not regain so thanks for that Bradley.
Bettman the Moron
June 27th, 2011
11:14 am
NHL? What’s the NHL?
Larry
June 27th, 2011
11:15 am
My lineup against the lefy tonight:
Schafer (LH)
Jones (RH)
McCann (LH)
Uggla (RH)
Freeman (LH and hits lefties well)
Gonzolez (RH)
Heyward (LH)
McLouth (LH)
Bettman the Moron
June 27th, 2011
11:16 am
Oh, and I almost forgot…..Winnipeg? Is that some form of artificial hairpiece?
George P. Burdell
June 27th, 2011
11:23 am
At least Gregory won’t have to put up with all the nonsense that he could only win with Hewitt’s recruits.
Larry
June 27th, 2011
11:25 am
My lineup against the LHP tonight:
1. Schafer (LH)
2. Jones (RH)
3. McCann (LH and hits lefties)
4. Uggla (RH)
5. Freeman (LH and hits lefties)
6. Gonzo (RH and hits lefties)
7. Heyward or Hinske (LH)
8. McLouth (LH)
9. Pitcher (RH)
That’s 4 RH batters, 5 LH batters with three that hit lefties well and LH/RH balance in the lineup versus 4 of the top 5 batters being LH against a LH pitcher.
Now, hard is that, Fredi?
We all know this is too hard for ken!
Mitchell
June 27th, 2011
11:31 am
The Braves: Went 4-2 on the week, sweeping a pretty good opponent in Toronto before losing a series to the last-place Padres. On Saturday the Braves scored 10 runs and you thought, not for the first time, that maybe they’d gotten it going.
No, I knew it was bulls***.
All they needed essentially was two runs to win the game. If they had only gotten half the final total in the first five innings or so Jurrjens would have had the luxury to go out there and not feel like one pitch could cost him the game.
Scoring six or seven runs late in a game that you already have in hand proves nothing about your offense other than when the pressure’s off they have an easier time of it.
Bettman the Moron
June 27th, 2011
11:33 am
Love the people who keep saying the solution to the Braves is “spend more money”….HELLO…we just spent 62 mil on Ugly and look where it’s gotten us…..lowest batting average in the National League. Money is not the issue, and not once under Liberty’s watch have the Braves been denied the ability to go after a high priced free agent.
Tony
June 27th, 2011
11:44 am
Yep 404 i’ve said for months that carver columbus has shady things going on. now the truth is being uncovered. it’s gonna get ugly when more illegal activities come out
Phil Hamby
June 27th, 2011
11:51 am
The most maddening part of being a Braves fan for me is the way that we “pretend” . We “pretend that Freddie G. is doing a good job . We “pretend ” that Dan uggla is deserving of being in the lineup . We ” pretend ” that losing to poor teams will still get us where we need to be . Lets stop pretending and start contending .
SSIgator
June 27th, 2011
11:55 am
Mark -
You left off UGA football. The way the offensive line is wilting away the defensive line will have to play both ways this year. UGA Football = room temperature.
Joey
June 27th, 2011
11:56 am
“Scoring six or seven runs late in a game that you already have in hand proves nothing about your offense other than when the pressure’s off they have an easier time of it.”
**********************************************
That’s true, Mitchell. I’ve posted before that some of our hitters are front-runners. I’m sure all teams have guys like this – I just notice ours.
I’m not gonna name names, cause I’m pulling for the whole team, but Mac, Chipper, and Prado all seem to hit the same, no matter the situation. Mac has left a lot of RISP this season, but he has also knocked a bunch in too.
I’m still optimistic, only 4 or 5 games back, with little hitting – hell, we can still win the division. I think if Chipper or Mac go on a rediculous tear, Uggla will feel less pressure and get going at the plate.
I think one thing Fredi is not getting credit for is the much improved defense. Just saying.
DetroitBraves
June 27th, 2011
12:02 pm
The Falcons orchestrated the lockout as a final, desperate attempt to stop another Aaron Rodgers scoring drive. Alas, it didn’t work. Rodgers: 7-for-8, 72 yards, culminating in a TD pass to Donald Driver on 3-and-17. The Falcons rushed 3.
Cherokee Brave
June 27th, 2011
12:07 pm
What about the Beat?!
DetroitBraves
June 27th, 2011
12:20 pm
Mark Bradley, your article grading Fredi Gonzalez created a lively discussion. How about grading Frank Wren’s tenure? There are some things that he has done well, but what GM doesn’t have a few things they have done well? (The answer is Hawk Harrelson, but I digress.) There are others, not so much. Then there are others than could have been disastrous but were more or less avoided by luck, rather than Wren’s sudden enlightenment (Furcal, Peavy, Burnett…). Of course, all of these moves are easy enough to applaud or berate with benefit of hindsight but wondering what you and others think of the Wren era.
Sonny Clusters
June 27th, 2011
12:21 pm
Taking a team’s temperature is not something we’d want to do . . . especially if they didn’t use an oral thermometer. We think Uggla may be dropping the temperature down for the whole team.
Kyle
June 27th, 2011
12:24 pm
Go ahead and admit that Gonzalez was a mistake and lets get Jim Riggleman and a new coaching staff lined up for 2012.
Mike
June 27th, 2011
12:32 pm
I am think that Hawks is going to be sold soon, no matter what Bruce Levenson says(like most of the people doesnt believe him). i know on the Hawks blog, it was on NBA Draft review that David A not only did confirmed that rumor by CNNSI(and that article is still there and he sticking to his story) but the ASG was going to keep the lid on who they sold to. i was going to link here but it is easy to find out it. So they temp is Terpid to Lukewarm.
gcs
June 27th, 2011
12:45 pm
The Braves: WHY CAN’T THEY BEAT LAST PLACE TEAMS???
The Hawks: Trading up in this lousy draft is a BAD idea. For where they were picking, I think they did okay. Bruce Levenson can still go to H-E-double hockey sticks.
Ga Tech basketball: pretty sad when a “basketball school” is worse in hoops than the lousy football team.
Georgia basketball: Bad move by Thompkins and Leslie but they will both have 10-year careers.
The Dream: WHO CARES?
The Thrashers: Gary Bettman better not ever find himself on a layover in ATL.
.
DIT
June 27th, 2011
12:53 pm
Mark, Have you heard who the Braves might be looking at as the trade deadline will soon be coming up?
really???
June 27th, 2011
1:10 pm
I’m really not going to be surprised if the Heyward/Freeman combo plays out the same as Francoeur/McCann. Frenchy came up to all the hype, while McCann came up relatively quietly, and McCann has turned out to be the better player. I wouldn’t be surprised if Freeman surpasses Heyward as the better ‘young’ player on this Braves team.
wxwax
June 27th, 2011
1:14 pm
Mark, you ignored one of Atlanta’s professional teams.
You should at least do them the courtesy of acknowledging their existence, no?
J-Man
June 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
Bradley, I would like for you to put a poll up. Should Larry Parrish be FIRED? YES or NO. And I’m willing to bet that 90% of people will vote for him to get fired. I hope you put it up because it should make an interesting social experiment.
tela/
June 27th, 2011
1:40 pm
mark
have u asked why uggla is not batting 4th in between chipper and mcann?.359 in 39 ab ,stats dont lie
Michael "Crocodile Tears" Gearon
June 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
May as well rate the city’s Women’s Professional Soccer team as well. The Atlanta Beat have yet to win a game, and have earned two ties.
Heat index: Frigid (yep, they’re an Atlanta team too!), and a shame since they play in a great new stadium.
tela/
June 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
DIT
trade deadline is 35 days away,u call that soon?lol
tela/
June 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
jman poll was up wake up from the rock,and go look at the other articles lol
tela/
June 27th, 2011
1:44 pm
this is how the lineup should be
schafer
nate
chipper
uggla
mccann
heyward
freeman
pitcher
gonzo
tela/
June 27th, 2011
1:45 pm
dont laugh nats were 5-0 when pitcher batted 8th
bias
June 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
breaking news…….braves just traded for matt kemp
bias
June 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
source……
Najeh Davenpoop
June 27th, 2011
2:06 pm
“Heat Check”? Did Dominique Wilkins write this article?
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Careful, MB. Any shot at the now (thank God) ex Georgia Tech coach may get Hewitt Fan out of hibernation for more illogical defenses of the Fool at the Flats and his continued trumpeting of the greatness of the Atlanta Celtics AAU program.
Dominique Wilkins
June 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
See you in court, Bradley. Don’t forget what I did to the last guy that made me mad.
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
The Phillies just went without Chase Utley for an extended stretch, don’t have their closer and could lose Oswalt for a while. And the Braves are only (good and bad) 5 games back.
But the only piece missing from the Braves is Prado. Hanson will be back in short order. That’s not enough to to make up ground on the Phils or to make up for the outs in the lineup that are now Struggla and Gonzalez (anyone else noticed how far his batting average has tumbled of late?) and to an extent Heyward and even … gulp … Larry Wayne Jones Jr. He’s hitting .265 with not nearly the power numbers of old. Right now, McCann and Freeman are carrying this offense. How long can a catcher and a rookie first baseman continue to do that?
J-Man
June 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
Dammn u Bias dont play with emotions lol
Bobby Coccyx
June 27th, 2011
2:40 pm
How about that World Cup Soccer!?!? I’m sittin’ around with nothing to do, so I might as well watch the wimminizez run up and down the field…
Delbert D.
June 27th, 2011
2:54 pm
Here’s the solution for the unsold Hawks: Levenson and the ASG call Ralph Wilson. Get in on a package deal to move the Buffalo Bills to L.A. as is being rumored, and swap the Hawks for the Clippers at a sweet price! A win-win-win! Plus, Jay Leno has to get new material.
really???
June 27th, 2011
3:11 pm
Delbert, sadly that will never happen. The Bills won’t move until bought, and they won’t be bought until Ralph Wilson dies. According to news reports, Wilson was bitten on the neck by Al Davis two years ago.
Matt from MN
June 27th, 2011
3:15 pm
Yet another cheap shot from you Mark about the Thrashers. Were was all of this “interest” from you and the AJC when the team WAS here? I’ve seen more coverage in the last month and a half than I’ve seen in the last 5 years combined.(*exaggeration for emphasis*). That’s sad and pitiful.
Delbert D.
June 27th, 2011
3:28 pm
But I heard it on Chuck and Chernoff, it’s got to be true. They said Wilson is planning to move the franchise in anticipation of his death. I think I got that right. I don’t think they meant he is planning to die in anticipation of his moving the franchise.
Fish Bisch
June 27th, 2011
3:43 pm
The Hawks should have drafted Chris Paul and kept Pau Gasol
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
3:44 pm
Wouldn’t too many Pau(l)s have spoiled the broth, so to speak?
KEN (GT BB)
June 27th, 2011
4:03 pm
Who cares about Tech BB it is pitiful and now a low paid coach who can’t recruit!! Ga State takes over as number 2 in the state, guess who’s number 1? DAWGS RULE Football now basketball!!
longtime braves fan
June 27th, 2011
5:03 pm
404 how do you figure any of that has to do with uga. at worst they find these two players ineligible. no implications as far as uga is concerned.
The Lemmer
June 27th, 2011
5:21 pm
You lineup makers forgot about the DH??? Mr. Blank, please buy the Braves so we can compete & not have to get the economy players!
Delbert D.
June 27th, 2011
5:36 pm
The ice at Philips Arena is plenty large enough for curling. The stone is a heckuva lot easier to follow than a hockey puck.
Proud-Dawg
June 27th, 2011
7:30 pm
@404, get a job