Monday, June 30, 2003
beisbol
Just what the hell is going on in the Braves bullpen, and why isn't Leo doing anything about it?
Tonight the Braves were unutterably bad. And not for the first time this week. It's been a crappy end to the month.
The night got off to a not-terrible start as the Chipper managed to limp around the bases and post a run for the Braves. Unfortunately, it was the only time the Braves got on the scoreboard.
Greg "Mad Dog" Maddux gave up three runs the first inning and by the time Bobby Cox replaced him with Trey Hodges, the Marlins had put seven runs up. Luis Castillo ran in another in his in the fifth inning, Hodges' first on the mound.
Darren Holmes pitched the sixth, left hander Ray King the seventh and Roberto Hernandez the eighth. Smoltz was spared the heartache of having to try and save this one, and I guess that Cox and Mazzone knew it was over when they pulled Maddux which probably explains the rotation of the other pitchers, but it does beg the question: who do you trust, Bobby?
Personally, right now I think Ortiz, despite his tendency to walk batters, is the #1 guy with Mike Hampton and/or Ray King being middle inning relief. Maddux needs to take some time off and get his arm back.
But lets not stop at the pitching; the batting was horrible, too with the Gary Sheffield and both Chipper and Andruw Jones without a hit. Yep, these guys who have batting averages of .323, .297 and .289 all failed to do a damn thing with the bat tonight. Three guys who have a combined 256 hits, 55 home runs and 164 RBIs failed to put bat to ball in a meaningful way.
On a more positive note, my boy Marcus Giles made almost certain of his place in the NL Team for the All Star Game next week by making two hits - his base hit in the first was follwed by Gary Sheffield driving straight at second to put both Giles and Sheffield out on a double play.
So here's to tomorrow, when I hope to report better baseball news and make a trip to the Falcons passing camp.
Just what the hell is going on in the Braves bullpen, and why isn't Leo doing anything about it?
Tonight the Braves were unutterably bad. And not for the first time this week. It's been a crappy end to the month.
The night got off to a not-terrible start as the Chipper managed to limp around the bases and post a run for the Braves. Unfortunately, it was the only time the Braves got on the scoreboard.
Greg "Mad Dog" Maddux gave up three runs the first inning and by the time Bobby Cox replaced him with Trey Hodges, the Marlins had put seven runs up. Luis Castillo ran in another in his in the fifth inning, Hodges' first on the mound.
Darren Holmes pitched the sixth, left hander Ray King the seventh and Roberto Hernandez the eighth. Smoltz was spared the heartache of having to try and save this one, and I guess that Cox and Mazzone knew it was over when they pulled Maddux which probably explains the rotation of the other pitchers, but it does beg the question: who do you trust, Bobby?
Personally, right now I think Ortiz, despite his tendency to walk batters, is the #1 guy with Mike Hampton and/or Ray King being middle inning relief. Maddux needs to take some time off and get his arm back.
But lets not stop at the pitching; the batting was horrible, too with the Gary Sheffield and both Chipper and Andruw Jones without a hit. Yep, these guys who have batting averages of .323, .297 and .289 all failed to do a damn thing with the bat tonight. Three guys who have a combined 256 hits, 55 home runs and 164 RBIs failed to put bat to ball in a meaningful way.
On a more positive note, my boy Marcus Giles made almost certain of his place in the NL Team for the All Star Game next week by making two hits - his base hit in the first was follwed by Gary Sheffield driving straight at second to put both Giles and Sheffield out on a double play.
So here's to tomorrow, when I hope to report better baseball news and make a trip to the Falcons passing camp.
footy
Well, there you have it. Ronadinho is shortly going to be on his way to Manchester. I think I'm happy about it. I mean, while I'm not actually sad that David Beckham left the club I'm disappointed that he went for the pitiful sum he was allowed to leave for, and that the club didn't say they want it all up front, or even half of it. No, most of it's coming over the next four years. Poor financial management if you ask me. But I digress...
I'm looking forward to seeing Ronnie in a red shirt, and I think that a new defender or two (please God, let's get rid of Gary Neville and get a decent replacement for the woeful Lauren Blanc) should do it. And while I tyhink Geremi is a decent enough player United already have Veron, Forlan and that South African dude that went missing as non-EU players. Adding Geremi, Ronaldinho and possibly Djemba Djemba would make six, and that's even before the work permit's in for Tim Howard, the US goalkeeper I have high hopes for. This, of course might mean that Veron exits to free up one of those pesky non-EU player spaces, and I'd be more sad to see him go than Beckham leaving bothered me.
But what worries me most, I think, is that you can possibly read all this as a sign that the quality and quantity of youth academy players coming to maturity in the youth and reserve teams is declining.
**********
Oh, and I hope Mark Hughes does decide to manage Wales and assist Ferguson at United until his Welsh contract is up. He's one of very few men I think the majority of United fans would love to see step into Ferguson's shoes.
footy
Does anyone else not get what Eric Jimbo Jimbo is talking about. For a month now the Cameroonian has been saying that he's wanted by United and yet there's nothing coming out of Old Trafford. While this isn't entirely surprising, given the way most big clubs have stopped advance publicity on transfers, it's unusual for a player to say that they're talking to a club when in the same paragraph he says he feels confident his current team will let him go if the prospective new clubs puts an offer in. It's just odd.
But not as odd as Gerard Houllier standing by his man, Emile Heskey. I admit it would be embarrassing for GH to sell the Emile for a fraction of the 11m he shelled out on him, especially since Heskey's performances last season and the deflated transfer prices which are kicking in will make it difficult got Houllier to recoup even half of his investment; but it just makes the manager look like he has no clue of what's going on when he sticks by and even defends Heskey and his shoddy showing last term.
The Atlanta Beat, the women's team, are top of the women's league. They have the only double-digit goal difference but that's mostly due to 5-0 and 6-0 wins in the first two games of the season. Since then it's been much closer.
beisbol
The Braves scraped past the Devil Rays yesterday. It's not been a good week for Atlanta's baseball team. Losing to the Phillies and only just edging the Tampa Bay Devil Rays who are now an unfortunate 26 wins and 54 losses this season - only Detroit and San Diego have more losses in the MLB.
Russ Ortiz came close to a shut out and is actually getting better at not walking every batter. He has this annoying habit of needlessly walking the bases full and I'm not sure if it's his tactics or the great defensive playing of the other fielders that has kept him in the pitching order.
Tonight sees the Maddux pitching as the Braves take on the Marlins in Florida. While the Braves were inching past Tampa Bay, the Marlins were being kicked around by the Red Sox, losing the series, 8-25, 10-9 and 7-11.
gridiron
Falcons are in passing camp again - I might try to get to see them tomorrow afternoon. The season begins September 7th.
hoops
I don't actually know much about the Hawks, except that they're a terrible basketball team and have just drafted a frenchman. The season just ended so I figure I have some time to bone up on it.
pucks
Thrashers season begins again in October and this year looks like it might be Atlanta's year. After changing coach mid-season last term, Atlanta went on to charge from dead last to actually be in contention for a playoff place. If the improvement continues next year then the final series will be worth watching.
everything else
College ball starts in September, I'll be at the USMNT game against Paraguay and other than that I'm just looking forward to the start of the Premier League in six weeks.
Does anyone else not get what Eric Jimbo Jimbo is talking about. For a month now the Cameroonian has been saying that he's wanted by United and yet there's nothing coming out of Old Trafford. While this isn't entirely surprising, given the way most big clubs have stopped advance publicity on transfers, it's unusual for a player to say that they're talking to a club when in the same paragraph he says he feels confident his current team will let him go if the prospective new clubs puts an offer in. It's just odd.
But not as odd as Gerard Houllier standing by his man, Emile Heskey. I admit it would be embarrassing for GH to sell the Emile for a fraction of the 11m he shelled out on him, especially since Heskey's performances last season and the deflated transfer prices which are kicking in will make it difficult got Houllier to recoup even half of his investment; but it just makes the manager look like he has no clue of what's going on when he sticks by and even defends Heskey and his shoddy showing last term.
The Atlanta Beat, the women's team, are top of the women's league. They have the only double-digit goal difference but that's mostly due to 5-0 and 6-0 wins in the first two games of the season. Since then it's been much closer.
beisbol
The Braves scraped past the Devil Rays yesterday. It's not been a good week for Atlanta's baseball team. Losing to the Phillies and only just edging the Tampa Bay Devil Rays who are now an unfortunate 26 wins and 54 losses this season - only Detroit and San Diego have more losses in the MLB.
Russ Ortiz came close to a shut out and is actually getting better at not walking every batter. He has this annoying habit of needlessly walking the bases full and I'm not sure if it's his tactics or the great defensive playing of the other fielders that has kept him in the pitching order.
Tonight sees the Maddux pitching as the Braves take on the Marlins in Florida. While the Braves were inching past Tampa Bay, the Marlins were being kicked around by the Red Sox, losing the series, 8-25, 10-9 and 7-11.
gridiron
Falcons are in passing camp again - I might try to get to see them tomorrow afternoon. The season begins September 7th.
hoops
I don't actually know much about the Hawks, except that they're a terrible basketball team and have just drafted a frenchman. The season just ended so I figure I have some time to bone up on it.
pucks
Thrashers season begins again in October and this year looks like it might be Atlanta's year. After changing coach mid-season last term, Atlanta went on to charge from dead last to actually be in contention for a playoff place. If the improvement continues next year then the final series will be worth watching.
everything else
College ball starts in September, I'll be at the USMNT game against Paraguay and other than that I'm just looking forward to the start of the Premier League in six weeks.
Sunday, June 29, 2003
This is my sportsblog.
Not much in here right now, but I hope to cover the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, Thrashers, Hawks and Beat; the Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech; Manchester United, England and the US Men's team along with any other sporting rambles I have.
They'll be here.
Not much in here right now, but I hope to cover the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, Thrashers, Hawks and Beat; the Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech; Manchester United, England and the US Men's team along with any other sporting rambles I have.
They'll be here.
