Heat Check: Braves, Falcons, Hawks, Tech, UGA – all HOT!
"Our team is red hot! (Clap, clap.) Our team is red hot!" (AP photo by David Tulis)
Today we offer the (long-deferred if not necessarily long-awaited) return of the Monday Heat Check, in which we take the figurative temperature of our local sporting entities. And, in keeping with climatic conditions, I must note that every team is HOT!HOT!HOT!
BRAVES: They haven’t lost in a week, and the week ahead looks most inviting. They’re home for four games against the Marlins, who have given up, and three against the Astros, who snapped a 12-game losing slide Sunday and are the worst team in baseball by some distance.
And there’s every chance the Braves will make a trade by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Zack Greinke is gone to Anaheim, and the Braves claim to have moved on from their pursuit of reluctant Ryan Dempster, but I’m not convinced that ship has sailed. There’s no reason for the Cubs to keep Dempster — they’re not going to re-sign him — and the Dodgers’ offer hasn’t been convincing. (If it had, he’d be gone by now.) And if his preferred destination isn’t an option, mightn’t Dempster be tempted to say, “I could live out of a hotel in Buckhead for three months if it means pitching in the World Series”?
As noted earlier, the Braves can and should qualify for the playoffs as is. If they get Dempster — who’s the only starting pitcher good enough to make a difference who’s apt to be available at a non-Teixeira price — they’d be good enough to win a postseason series. Heat Index: Hot, with a real opportunity to get hotter still.
FALCONS: They haven’t lost since Jan. 8. They’re in training camp with new coordinators and a new O-line coach, and they’re making all the happy noises teams in training camp, be it with or without new coordinators, make.
The big news so far has been that Lofa Tatupu, imported as insurance at middle linebacker, got hurt and got cut without playing a down. Some have taken this development as cause for hand-wringing. Please. The Falcons’ Plan A was always to give young Akeem Dent every chance to seize the job, and that hasn’t changed. Save your real concern for something that really matters, like left tackle. Heat Index: The belief here is that Hotlanta’s NFL franchise is primed to have its hottest season since 1998.
HAWKS: They haven’t lost since May 10. They’ve excised two of the Core Four. They’re starting anew under general manager Danny Ferry, which isn’t to stay they’re starting over. You can make a little something of a roster that includes Josh Smith, Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Lou Williams, DeShawn Stevenson, Kyle Korver, Devin Harris and John Jenkins. (You mightn’t be able to make the playoffs, but you shouldn’t stink on ice.)
Unless they trade for Dwight Howard, whatever the Hawks do over the next 11 months won’t much matter. Come July 2013, they’ll have money to spend and free agency to explore/exploit. Heat Index: The season ahead mightn’t be warm and fuzzy, but the future of this franchise looks rather toasty.
GEORGIA TECH: The Jackets haven’t lost since Dec. 31. They’re picked to finish second in the ACC Coastal Division. They play Virginia Tech, which is picked to finish first, on Labor Day night. If they win that game, they should take the Coastal. I like this team’s chances. Heat Index: Well, how hot would a division title be?
GEORGIA: The Bulldogs haven’t lost since Jan. 2. They’re picked to win the SEC East. They’ve lost Isaiah Crowell, but they should be able to fill out a backfield this season. Crowell or no Crowell, I like this team’s chances. Heat Index: Well, how hot would a BCS title game berth against the Men of Kiffin be?
By Mark Bradley
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183 comments Add your comment
jerry
July 30th, 2012
10:33 am
The 7-8-9 hitters in the current Braves lineup are good from 8-12 outs per game which amounts to 3-4 innings. That is a heavy load to carry.
DawginLex
July 30th, 2012
10:41 am
gbal
Do you ever ask yourself why we never ran a toss sweep last year?
THAT will answer your question as to whether our 2012 line will be better than 2011.
More athletic
16 players on schollie of which 9 or 10 will play
No seniors
Did we ever just plow anyone last year other than Auburn?
With a more athletic line, we will be able to do more stuff offensively on the edges where we do have speed.
Dr. Phil
July 30th, 2012
10:41 am
This Braves team is mismanaged both on the field and in the front office and has a big hole at 2nd base and shortstop and some very flaky pitching, yet they continue to win. I have grown to like them. They can certainly qualify for a wildcard. After that, who knows.
Gene
July 30th, 2012
10:41 am
This Braves team is mismanaged both on the field and in the front office and has a big hole at 2nd base and shortstop and some very flaky pitching, yet they continue to win. I have grown to like them. They can certainly qualify for a wildcard. After that, who knows.
reckingball
July 30th, 2012
10:45 am
How many monikers? haha.
reckingball
July 30th, 2012
10:47 am
Uggla will start a hitting streak, anyday now.
Braves will win their 1st Monday game in 2012, tonight.
GATiger
July 30th, 2012
10:49 am
I’m just going to assume your column was total sarcasm.
reckingball
July 30th, 2012
10:49 am
Anyday now, Uggla will start a hitting streak.
Joey
July 30th, 2012
10:51 am
MB, I have a theory about Uggla’s hitting struggles. Remember how badly Tiger started playing golf when he got busted and had to put a halt to the fratnerizing of all those porn stars?
Maybe Uggla is in the same boat – can’t get to the porn stars right now because of the bad publicity a few months back, and his mojo is suffering as a result.
I wonder what Clusters thinks of this . . .
Paddy
July 30th, 2012
10:56 am
Taylor Wooten is the next “Birddie” Tebbetts. The guy can scout a football player watching a baseball game, amazing ability. You would have made “Birddie” proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is next; seeing Tiger Woods at Jimmy John’s and predicting a major win at the PGA Championship?
reckingball
July 30th, 2012
10:57 am
Looks like the AJC blog machine is malfunctioning. Again.
Eating comments,… and the bad thing is, that the last one I made, was pretty dang profound.
But the machine ate it anyhow.
Sorry everyone missed it.
DesignerJacket
July 30th, 2012
11:02 am
Tech has to ratchet up the run defense and find a passing game that completes >45% of attempts. If they can do that against VPI in the opener and keep it that way all season, then the Jackets can find themselves in Charlotte facing Clemson or FSU for the ACC Championship. I’d like our chances against either of them, since if it’s FSU – they’d only have short notice to retool their D for the option, and if it’s a rematch against Clemson – well, CPJ has a good track record of winning rematches on adjustments and scheme tweaks. Plus, recently – and in the all-time series – Clemson just cannot hold their liquor against Tech. Either way, if Tech can beat VPI and just survive the rest of the Coastal Schedule, a win in Charlotte followed by a trip to Miami isn’t so far-fetched to imagine. But we’ll need run defense and a few good downfield pass completions per game to get there. Special teams improvement would be icing on the otherwise cupcake-laden home schedule.
realitycheck
July 30th, 2012
11:02 am
No paper in this nation would have a more kool aid drenched article about the local teams than this one. This article is an absolute joke outside metro Atlanta. The Braves will win a wild card and probably lose the one game playoff by one run in typical Braves fashion. The Falcons might not even make the playoffs, and if they do they will be gone quickly. The Hawks are no threat to Miami or Boston next season, and UGA and Tech might have decent records, but are no threat to the big boys, and both will lose at least three games. Copy, paste and let me hear all about it……….if i’m wrong!
hey jacket fan
July 30th, 2012
11:06 am
dont forget we have a better coach. take away the recruiting advantage that the state flagship u should have and we never lose to the dawgs.
i still have etched in my mind the flabbergasted look on jerry richt’s face when we let them score to give us a chance to win the game. it took him a few minutes to realize he had been outcoached.
ill take our sabenesque no nonsense coach over a singing hugging kissing swimming kneeling jerry richt any day..
the guy lacks toughness.
priceless.
Let's Go
July 30th, 2012
11:07 am
I hope if the Braves do make a deal for Dempster they tone it down and only give the Cubs a couple of AA prospects. What’s the point now of offering Delgado if the Cubs can’t get anything from the Dodgers. Keep Delgado for a possible off season trade.
Bill
July 30th, 2012
11:09 am
Whatever the reason you were gone ..Welcome back..
Bill
July 30th, 2012
11:10 am
Hell no to Dempster!!!!
Keith
July 30th, 2012
11:11 am
Thanks, Mark, for your work.
Is it possible for you to name 3 possible relievers the Braves are targeting?
Haven’t heard anything other than maybe Bethancourt.
Go BRAVES!
1eyedJack
July 30th, 2012
11:17 am
i still have etched in my mind the flabbergasted look on Coach Fishfry’s face when Josh Nesbitt threw a bunch of incomplete passes at BeyBey which gave you no chance to win the game. He knew instantly he had been outcoached.
Sammy Hagfarter
July 30th, 2012
11:18 am
Hawks are cold. They got a new direction but they are worse than last year. They might be hot in 2013. The Braves are hot. Could be smokin hot if they get a sp. The Falcons are warm but might get hot if Ryan plays well and if the defense plays well. The Dawgs are warm but could be hot if they are undefeated and win SEC. Dont really care about Ga Tech but hope they win ACC so when UGA whips them it will help BCS rankings.
James
July 30th, 2012
11:18 am
The Braves are 4 games back and if the playoffs started today they would be at home. The Hawks have just traded their best player and the Falcons will be third in theor division behind the Saints and the Panthers. Is Cam Newton and Drew Brees better than Matt Ryan? Yeah I think so. Georgia Tech is a team that outside of their loyal fans no one cares about and Georgia is well Georgia. They could easily and I do mean easily lose three to four games this season. They will lose one or two and will be second behind South Carolina. They go will go to the Outback or Capitol One Bowl and it will be another waste of four months.
hey jacket fan
July 30th, 2012
11:22 am
nice try no eye but you fail. cpj didnt tell our guy to drop the ball. meanwhile jerry richt had a play to score.
no wonder ugag cant win anything that matters to save their life. terrible logic for one.
where is genius dawg when you need him lmao. genius dawg. get it?
TuffShhhtuff
July 30th, 2012
11:24 am
This article was good for a couple of “Monday Morning HaHa’s”. First one, “Dempster might be tempted to say,’ I could live in a motel in Buckhead for 3 months, if it means pitching in the World Series.’ ” Really? Seriously? One starting pitcher and this team’s problems are solved and they go to the WS? Boy, somebody named MB is a “real dreamer”. Did you get hit in the head while you were away? Secondly, “the Braves can and should qualify for the playoffs as is”. Folks, I do believe he ran across some new “smokes” while he was gone! MB’s new moniker, “MR. OPTIMISM”! One final question for the fans. How many of you want to see the Braves make the playoffs and be one and done? None? That’s what I thought.
reckingball
July 30th, 2012
11:25 am
Braves don’t need Dempster.
Falcons will win the NFCSouth.
This is the year that the saints go to the bottom of the pile, just like the Phillies have in the NLEast.
UGA will take the SECEast.
Don’t care a thing, about the other two in MB’s writeup.
Robert (chi-town)
July 30th, 2012
11:26 am
Wren needs to be a little more pro-active like Kenny Williams. He gave up next to nothing to get Liriono and Meyers! Braves surely had better prospects that were in a 2nd or 3rd tier level. I’m not talking moving Delgado, Teheran, Monir or Benencourt here. Come on Frank the Braves are playing well, but we could use some help!
chc4
July 30th, 2012
11:30 am
Just read where Kevin Correia requested a trade from the Pirates. Who wants to bet he’ll be a Brave by 4pm tomorrow? He’s our typical deadline acquisition…. cheap, marginally talented and barely an upgrade (if at all) over what we already have. But we’ll get the “change of scenery will really help him” bologna. And DOB will have a blog splicing his #s trying to make it look like a good pickup.
jack
July 30th, 2012
11:37 am
Love your stuff, Mark, but you really need to get over this budawg thing.
Columbus Dawg
July 30th, 2012
11:50 am
Like I said, all of the negative predictions based on last three or four years of Georgia Football out the window this season, and these D.A’s like reality check will be no where to be found when UGA is undefeated headed to Jax.
The Hawks for me are ...................
July 30th, 2012
11:57 am
I quit watching and following the Atlanta Hawks when Walt Hazzard, Lou Hudson and a few others, like Joe Caldwell played here.
Around 1969 or 70, Hawkss drafted # 1 and signed a Ky Wildcat frosh phenom who went straight to state pen for rape ………….never touched the ball.
NBA, NFL are all about unions and so are the Braves, but I do like baseball.
Goooooooooooooooooooooooo SEC and Goooooooooooooo Dogs !!!
This area and this town are all about the SEC and that is about it. ACC is a distant third, behind the pros.
GTanner
July 30th, 2012
11:59 am
That Hawks roster can make the playoffs. Other than Joe, where has there been lost production and that has been pretty much made up with Lou Williams.
HUH?????????????
July 30th, 2012
12:00 pm
“Did we ever just plow anyone last year other than Auburn?
No, but LSU sure did plow over UGA. That was fun to watch.
chris
July 30th, 2012
12:06 pm
Dempster had his chance and made it clear this is not where he wants to be. I am not giving up our future for a 35 year old rental player. Good riddance, let’s see how far we can get with what we have.
Sad Richards
July 30th, 2012
12:14 pm
Columbus dawg is sheeple…stay off the kool aid bud!
gbal
July 30th, 2012
12:36 pm
LEX –
Where do we come up with the idea that we will have a more atheletic OL this year?
I am just having trouble seeing it? I mean we are counting heavily on an incomming freshman making major contributions! I am hoping your right but I just am having trouble finding it and AM just doesnt seem to be able to handle the pressure when Our OL is getting handled.
Stinger 2
July 30th, 2012
12:38 pm
Mark: Good that you are back. Hope you had a nice rest.
Two points: Disagree that we need Dempster. He is not worth
what it will cost to get him and he did not want to be here by choice.
Second point: Can you remember a post by Clusters that did not have something negative to say about a Braves player?
gbal
July 30th, 2012
12:41 pm
LSU did handle us in the end BUT we did hand them the momentum with a couple of dropped passes, two kick returns and a major fumble by AM…. Then a pick…… that game really should have gone our way but our own blunders let them stay in it early and then we handed them them momentum in a 6 minute stretch…. Who coined the phrase… “finish the drill”.
Jay
July 30th, 2012
12:42 pm
The Atlanta Hawks, with their roster currently constructed as is…CAN and WILL make the playoffs! We won’t be a high seed, but we could squeeze into the 7th or 8th slot. Their is definitely enough talent on the roster…tons of shooters, lots of quickness at guard, Smith and Horford are still all-star caliber talents.
BOOK IT!
reckingball
July 30th, 2012
12:55 pm
The Bulldogs plowed over the Chickens from SC, but the cocks won anyway.
Due mainly to good coaching from that anus Spurrier, and bad coaching from CMR.
the truth...
July 30th, 2012
1:01 pm
Dempster is an over rated mediocre journeyman pitcher…..we do NOT need him. His lifetime record is below .500…………good grief….
And agree with half of Atlanta that if Wren does go after him, there is NO WAY we give up any of our top guys………..
…..example….what if we’d thrown Simmons in with the Borne deal last July 31st….?
StingerSplash
July 30th, 2012
1:11 pm
The Braves in the World Series? The Hawks roster not stinking on ice?
Georgia in the BCS title game?
Someone ought to check if they heat got to you, Monsieur Bradley. (Though I think the Falcons have a very strong chance of having a very, very good season, particularly since they have ushered out their previous two very overmatched coordinators).
jeffrey d
July 30th, 2012
1:13 pm
Thanks, Mark. Welcome back!
Mean Ole Dawg
July 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
Let’s Go at 11:07 AM
“I hope if the Braves do make a deal for Dempster they tone it down and only give the Cubs a couple of AA prospects. What’s the point now of offering Delgado if the Cubs can’t get anything from the Dodgers. Keep Delgado for a possible off season trade.”
I agree with you, and I think that’s exactly what Wren will do now. Dempster’s value has diminished, so I think Delgado is off the table. For a true 2 month rental, the Brave’s aren’t going to offer as much now. Before, they had thoughts that they could re-sign him after this season, that appears impossible now given Dempster’s position.
evil empire
July 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
gbal, how dare you question lexi’s analysis…he’s a freakin’ genius…everybody knows that…
NCDawg
July 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
You must have a had a nice vacation. I think UGA has a good shot at winning the SEC East, but it’s not as strong as before all the suspensions and departures. They may be able to fill the holes but not with the potentially stellar talent as before. I ‘m thinking 9-3 and second in the East to USC. Tech is too weak on defense still to be champions. They may be better, but I’m thinking 9-3 would be a good season. Virginia Tech and Clemson will be better.The Braves have proven to be consistently inconsistent. They’ve got a good team but not a great team. Dempster would certainly help – he’s crazy of he doesn’t come to the Braves. (Does he really want to win?) Falcons? Who knows? Hawks? Who cares?
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
July 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
UGA…National Championship game???…..what in THE HELL are y’all smoking???
Just look at my blog post name….it says it all
This comes from a UGA alum and fan
Optimism….good, fantasy land…no so much. UGA 9-3, another trip to mid tier bowl.
DIT
July 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Just for fun:
Braves – Win Wild Card make it to NLCS and lose
Hawks – Don’t make playoffs
Falcons – Don’t make playoffs
UGA – 2nd in east, but only lose 2 games all year
Tech – wins their division, gets beat in the ACC CG.
the truth...
July 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
DOB seems to think highly of Dempster….I cannot agree with him on that one….
the only way I’d take Dempster is for them to take on JJ…
No Rentals Frank….NONE
Mike.Duke
July 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
Sorry, eggsuckin dog. You’re going down in Missouri. Book it.
I’ll be back in Sept with your pulled-crow-shoulder sandwich.
the truth...
July 30th, 2012
1:48 pm
I’m hoping and praying gthat LA takes Dempster AND Soriano in a moment of insanity….Remember they took on Manny a few years ago and he hit 17 HR in August and September….
Go Dodgers….save us from ourselves….
Vandy Coach
July 30th, 2012
1:56 pm
Your wife is UGALY!