...Roger Federer is better than the American Pete Sampras. It pains me to say it. I will fight tooth and nail for an American to always be better than the foreigner (xenophobe, whatever. I call myself a Patriot!), but in this case, the Swiss Army Knife native is better.
Yesterday by winning his 14th grand slam title, Federerererererererer tied Sampras's record but by winning on the Roland Garros red clay, he did something Pistol Pete never did: complete the career grand slam. Federer is now the sixth player to hold the career slam, most recently Andre Agassi, but I have to say he is the best.
Both were dominant on the Wimbledon grass and there is NO reason to think that Roger won't win there this year. Rog is also the defending US Open champion. Why couldn't he win there as well? Flushing Meadows is the lone hole on Nadal's resume and honestly, why are we saying that Nadal has passed Federer? Nadal used to be owned by Roger and last month, didn't Roger beat Nadal on his own red clay?
While Nadal might now be the No.1 player in the world, there was a time when Federer was the clear No.1 and that was what, less than a year ago? Roger's time may be coming to a close, but you have to think that he has at least 4 grand slam titles left in him over the final years of his career. He is only 27 (soon to be 28) and Sampras was 31 when he won #14. Federer could be approaching 20 when he turns 31. As for Nadal, he is likely this generation's Agassi: cult hero and multiple grand slam winner, but never on the level of Federer. Remember that Agassi overtook Sampras for a while, but in the end we all recognized Pete as the better player in the grand scheme. The same will be true with Roger v Rafa 20 years from now.
Federer is tied for the most and won at least one on each, which Sampras never did. He has the quantity (14 over everyone but Sampras) and the quality (one on each over Sampras) and that to me means he is the best. Too bad Roddick has decided to date SI swimsuit models instead of focusing on tennis, but he has his one Grand Slam, so why bother getting better? The money is still coming in. What's the motivation? Roger appears to be on top for a while and Sampras's number of 14 may drop to third if Rafa keeps playing well on the French clay and grabs one other every other year.
Well at least we still have women's tennis and the Williams sisters.....crap. Nevermind. They are both off designing dresses and appearing on Letterman. Tennis is dead in America. Can Agassi and Sampras come back?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Old School was better...
I just don't get hangovers. Never got them when I was drinking and I didn't get it Saturday night either when I saw the flick at MoG. I actually felt left out because seemingly EVERY ONE ELSE in the theater was LMAOing the entire time. Was I missing something?
I guess maybe the answer to that question comes in the form of the fact that I am now 27. I guess I don't find grown men pretending to jack off babies that funny. I guess I am over MFingCS being all that funny these days. Gay-Asian stereotypes really aren't that funny. Gay jokes period....are they funny? Not to me.
So I guess I am no longer the in the target demo for these types of movies. Maybe if I was still a 19 year old college sophomore this movie would have been funny. Or maybe if I didn't want to punch Bradley Cooper's character Phil in the face every time he was on screen.
Or maybe if Ed Helms's character said, "Hey Tuna!" once or twice, that would have been better.
I feel so old. But sorry, Old School WAS JUST BETTER. Vince Vaughn's dry humor along with Will Ferrell before he blew up and throw in Ari Gold as the new dean of a college, and you have a great, REALLY funny movie. Perhaps I had blown up expectations for this film since the previews and commercials looked so funny...or perhaps the producers put all of the funny parts in the trailers. Oh well.
One more thing about movies....Let's discuss movie theater etiquette.
If you are so important that you need to have your cell phone with you, especially in the middle of a two hour movie, DON'T GO TO THE MOVIE. You are clearly important, so that means you cannot come down to the plebeian level and watch a movie. Oh, wait you are 14 years old? Is your mom telling you that she will pick you up in front of the mall instead of in the parking lot? Not that important.
Me? I leave the phone in the car. Why? I am going to a movie to escape reality for 2 hours. I can do without a phone for less than three hours. And odds are, I am with one of the 6 people that I'd take the call from. Maybe some people have more important lives that whatever the pressing issue is cannot wait 3 hours. But if that is the case, DON'T GO TO THE MOVIE!
And don't tell me texting is OK. No, your phone still lights up! When it is dark and all of sudden your phone lights up, it kind of ruins the atmosphere...
and PLEASE don't tell me "Oh, it's just the previews" You know what, dickhead, I'm trying to watch them! Quit talking and texting during them.
Oh, hey, if you want to do Mystery Science Theater, please continue. Only make sure you do it quietly and are seated WAY away from me.
Finally, I get to a movie at least 20 minutes BEFORE THE PREVIEWS start, mainly so I can get a good seat in the middle of the row so Wifey and I can watch the movie from a good angle. What I DON'T need you to do is show up 2 minutes before the previews begin or even in the middle of the previews and ask me to move over one seat so you can have the two seats on either side of me, only together. No, what I need YOU to do is do what I did and show up 20 minutes early and getting those seats. No, you show up late, you get the seats that are left. And if you even try to ask me, be prepared for me to be rude to you.
That's all I ask for. Just be considerate. I'm trying to watch the movie too. I paid $10 apiece to watch it. I'd like to be able to watch it without you being a jerkface.
I guess maybe the answer to that question comes in the form of the fact that I am now 27. I guess I don't find grown men pretending to jack off babies that funny. I guess I am over MFingCS being all that funny these days. Gay-Asian stereotypes really aren't that funny. Gay jokes period....are they funny? Not to me.
So I guess I am no longer the in the target demo for these types of movies. Maybe if I was still a 19 year old college sophomore this movie would have been funny. Or maybe if I didn't want to punch Bradley Cooper's character Phil in the face every time he was on screen.
Or maybe if Ed Helms's character said, "Hey Tuna!" once or twice, that would have been better.
I feel so old. But sorry, Old School WAS JUST BETTER. Vince Vaughn's dry humor along with Will Ferrell before he blew up and throw in Ari Gold as the new dean of a college, and you have a great, REALLY funny movie. Perhaps I had blown up expectations for this film since the previews and commercials looked so funny...or perhaps the producers put all of the funny parts in the trailers. Oh well.
One more thing about movies....Let's discuss movie theater etiquette.
If you are so important that you need to have your cell phone with you, especially in the middle of a two hour movie, DON'T GO TO THE MOVIE. You are clearly important, so that means you cannot come down to the plebeian level and watch a movie. Oh, wait you are 14 years old? Is your mom telling you that she will pick you up in front of the mall instead of in the parking lot? Not that important.
Me? I leave the phone in the car. Why? I am going to a movie to escape reality for 2 hours. I can do without a phone for less than three hours. And odds are, I am with one of the 6 people that I'd take the call from. Maybe some people have more important lives that whatever the pressing issue is cannot wait 3 hours. But if that is the case, DON'T GO TO THE MOVIE!
And don't tell me texting is OK. No, your phone still lights up! When it is dark and all of sudden your phone lights up, it kind of ruins the atmosphere...
and PLEASE don't tell me "Oh, it's just the previews" You know what, dickhead, I'm trying to watch them! Quit talking and texting during them.
Oh, hey, if you want to do Mystery Science Theater, please continue. Only make sure you do it quietly and are seated WAY away from me.
Finally, I get to a movie at least 20 minutes BEFORE THE PREVIEWS start, mainly so I can get a good seat in the middle of the row so Wifey and I can watch the movie from a good angle. What I DON'T need you to do is show up 2 minutes before the previews begin or even in the middle of the previews and ask me to move over one seat so you can have the two seats on either side of me, only together. No, what I need YOU to do is do what I did and show up 20 minutes early and getting those seats. No, you show up late, you get the seats that are left. And if you even try to ask me, be prepared for me to be rude to you.
That's all I ask for. Just be considerate. I'm trying to watch the movie too. I paid $10 apiece to watch it. I'd like to be able to watch it without you being a jerkface.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Better than Six!
2003 was the last time the Walton girls tennis team has lost a match. That particular loss took place in the state championship finals. A lot has changed since then but the one constant has been a zero in the loss column for the Lady Raiders. Since falling in the 2003 finals, head coach Roberta Manheim’s squads have won 116 straight matches, including 17 straight this season and six straight state titles, including the 2009 crown.
The 2009 edition consisted of four seniors and ten sophomores, and Coach Manheim believed that as the season went along, “the girls felt the pressure of the winning streak.” Manheim believed that some of the girls might have put too much pressure on themselves. “No one wanted to be the one to let the rest of the team down by losing.” The two seniors Elizabeth Kilborn at No.1 singles and No.2 Emily Lauten would not let that happen as they preached the team concept. Kilborn was did not lose a match all season and despite a bout with Mono, Lauten was also undefeated until the final day of the season. Lauten was able to win in the semi-finals against Colquitt but lost later that same day to Centennial in the finals. Walton was so dominant that the 3-1 win in the state championship was the only single match the team dropped all season en route to the 17-0 record and the state title.
Both Kilbron and Lauten will take their talents to ACC schools next season (Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, respectively) but the Walton Lady Radiers will just reload. Manheim is “excited about the prospects for next season with 5 of 7 starters returning.” This year’s No.3 Emily Zabor should move up along with likely two of the other sophomores Kayla Brady, Maxie Weinberg (the No.1 doubles team this season), Stephanie Falcon, and Claire Marshall (No.2 doubles). Of the underclassmen, Manheim says “they are tremendously talented athletes, but talent along will get you only so far.” She notes that the large class genuinely cares about each other and they “feel a real sense of pride at keeping the winning streak alive.”
Manheim’s motto is “One match at a time” and she preaches it throughout the season. While it might be hard to keep one match in perspective when a 116 game winning streak is always at stake, but Manheim says that if each player takes care of her business on her own court, the wins and titles will take care of themselves. The motto seems to be working and with this group returning, a seventh and eighth title don’t seem that farfetched. Of all of the state’s athletic dynasties, this one could be the most dominant in quite some time. Girl power lives at Walton and might continue for another 116 matches.
The 2009 edition consisted of four seniors and ten sophomores, and Coach Manheim believed that as the season went along, “the girls felt the pressure of the winning streak.” Manheim believed that some of the girls might have put too much pressure on themselves. “No one wanted to be the one to let the rest of the team down by losing.” The two seniors Elizabeth Kilborn at No.1 singles and No.2 Emily Lauten would not let that happen as they preached the team concept. Kilborn was did not lose a match all season and despite a bout with Mono, Lauten was also undefeated until the final day of the season. Lauten was able to win in the semi-finals against Colquitt but lost later that same day to Centennial in the finals. Walton was so dominant that the 3-1 win in the state championship was the only single match the team dropped all season en route to the 17-0 record and the state title.
Both Kilbron and Lauten will take their talents to ACC schools next season (Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, respectively) but the Walton Lady Radiers will just reload. Manheim is “excited about the prospects for next season with 5 of 7 starters returning.” This year’s No.3 Emily Zabor should move up along with likely two of the other sophomores Kayla Brady, Maxie Weinberg (the No.1 doubles team this season), Stephanie Falcon, and Claire Marshall (No.2 doubles). Of the underclassmen, Manheim says “they are tremendously talented athletes, but talent along will get you only so far.” She notes that the large class genuinely cares about each other and they “feel a real sense of pride at keeping the winning streak alive.”
Manheim’s motto is “One match at a time” and she preaches it throughout the season. While it might be hard to keep one match in perspective when a 116 game winning streak is always at stake, but Manheim says that if each player takes care of her business on her own court, the wins and titles will take care of themselves. The motto seems to be working and with this group returning, a seventh and eighth title don’t seem that farfetched. Of all of the state’s athletic dynasties, this one could be the most dominant in quite some time. Girl power lives at Walton and might continue for another 116 matches.
Plenty of targets for Joseph Cox (And AMurr)
Is he DJ Shockley or JoeT3?
Georgia fifth year senior Joe Cox has waited his turn behind first Shock, then JoeT then No.1 overall pick Matthew Stafford and now has finally gotten a chance to take the field as the full-time starter. How well will he do? Well, he will certainly have receiving options that Matthew Stafford never did while at UGA.
But who are those receivers? Let's take a peek...
All-SEC receiver AJ Green returns after piling up more stats than the higher hyped Julio Jones of Alabama and he is finally healthy after missing some time over the spring with various injuries. To see this guy going full steam is impressive. I got a chance to see him pull off some insane catches against Arizona State last year and he is incredible. Just unreal. He will probably see some double teams early, but he showed last season that when healthy, he can still beat those double teams. And he will be one more year in the system and a little bigger. Gotta like that. He's a preseason All-SEC. Look for him to be Postseason All-SEC as well.
On the other side, Michael Moore will probably get the start at the beginning of the year. Moore seems to have gotten over his early career dropsies and looked very sharp in the bowl game. With his size and (hopefully) his hands, he could take the step up that MoMass did his senior year. Everything is in place from what I've heard from my UGA insider people. (Names will be withheld because you don't reveal sources.)
I cannot wait to see how the true freshman from Memphis Marlon Brown does. This guy was a huge get at the end of signing day and The Sporting News calls him the next Keyshawn Johnson. (I hope they mean receiving ability and not prima donna attitude) They will likely put this guy in on red zone plays and maybe move him around in motion to get him on linebackers or smaller corners.
Rantavious Wooten looks like another Santana Moss/Damien Gary-type (a bit undersized but can still run out to get it). Hopefully if he plays he can line up in the slot and run past some safeties.
Tavarris King took a redshirt last season, but did play a few snaps, including a LOOOOOOOONG catch against Arizona State. I got a chance to watch this guy play at Habersham Central and he just dominated. He has size and speed and could certainly make a splash this season. I like the potential of this guy from what I saw in his high school days and in the ASU game.
Israel Troupe is another lean, speed guy. I am not certain I'd want this guy going across the middle, but he can stretch the field and open things up underneath for Marlon Brown. I like that idea.
Aron White is a WR/TE mix who showed flashes last year of being able to catch the ball....something Tripp Chandler could never do consistently. He might be trying to add bulk to be a full-time but he is the only TE with playing experience that will start the season. Hey, he scored against Florida! And he might be Logan Gray's security blanket when Gray is on the field. Perhaps an Alge Crumpler/Mike Vick situation?
Arthur Lynch, the freshman from Mass. I think he is more of the blocking TE of the two freshmen, but he clearly has skills, otherwise why would UGA aka TE-U go after him?
Orson Charles has been promised some flex packages and at 6'3, he might be more of a receiver anyways. A redzone weapon if there ever was one: too fast for an LB to cover, too big for a CB, too quick for a safety. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy (Aaron Murray's security blanket!) has 6 TDs by the end of the season.
I am sure there are other guys that I'm leaving out but I think this collection will see the most playing time out there. And with Moore, Green and Brown with Charles and White, Joe Cox should come close to 20 TDs, IMO. Especially behind the line that he will sit behind. Accuracy is better than Stafford's and all he has to do is deliver the ball and let these guys make plays. And I believe they can. Cox could be the next Chris Weinke. Yeah, I said it. No heisman, but he will surprise a bunch of people and likely have people wondering "what if" he had played last season.
Georgia fifth year senior Joe Cox has waited his turn behind first Shock, then JoeT then No.1 overall pick Matthew Stafford and now has finally gotten a chance to take the field as the full-time starter. How well will he do? Well, he will certainly have receiving options that Matthew Stafford never did while at UGA.
But who are those receivers? Let's take a peek...
All-SEC receiver AJ Green returns after piling up more stats than the higher hyped Julio Jones of Alabama and he is finally healthy after missing some time over the spring with various injuries. To see this guy going full steam is impressive. I got a chance to see him pull off some insane catches against Arizona State last year and he is incredible. Just unreal. He will probably see some double teams early, but he showed last season that when healthy, he can still beat those double teams. And he will be one more year in the system and a little bigger. Gotta like that. He's a preseason All-SEC. Look for him to be Postseason All-SEC as well.
On the other side, Michael Moore will probably get the start at the beginning of the year. Moore seems to have gotten over his early career dropsies and looked very sharp in the bowl game. With his size and (hopefully) his hands, he could take the step up that MoMass did his senior year. Everything is in place from what I've heard from my UGA insider people. (Names will be withheld because you don't reveal sources.)
I cannot wait to see how the true freshman from Memphis Marlon Brown does. This guy was a huge get at the end of signing day and The Sporting News calls him the next Keyshawn Johnson. (I hope they mean receiving ability and not prima donna attitude) They will likely put this guy in on red zone plays and maybe move him around in motion to get him on linebackers or smaller corners.
Rantavious Wooten looks like another Santana Moss/Damien Gary-type (a bit undersized but can still run out to get it). Hopefully if he plays he can line up in the slot and run past some safeties.
Tavarris King took a redshirt last season, but did play a few snaps, including a LOOOOOOOONG catch against Arizona State. I got a chance to watch this guy play at Habersham Central and he just dominated. He has size and speed and could certainly make a splash this season. I like the potential of this guy from what I saw in his high school days and in the ASU game.
Israel Troupe is another lean, speed guy. I am not certain I'd want this guy going across the middle, but he can stretch the field and open things up underneath for Marlon Brown. I like that idea.
Aron White is a WR/TE mix who showed flashes last year of being able to catch the ball....something Tripp Chandler could never do consistently. He might be trying to add bulk to be a full-time but he is the only TE with playing experience that will start the season. Hey, he scored against Florida! And he might be Logan Gray's security blanket when Gray is on the field. Perhaps an Alge Crumpler/Mike Vick situation?
Arthur Lynch, the freshman from Mass. I think he is more of the blocking TE of the two freshmen, but he clearly has skills, otherwise why would UGA aka TE-U go after him?
Orson Charles has been promised some flex packages and at 6'3, he might be more of a receiver anyways. A redzone weapon if there ever was one: too fast for an LB to cover, too big for a CB, too quick for a safety. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy (Aaron Murray's security blanket!) has 6 TDs by the end of the season.
I am sure there are other guys that I'm leaving out but I think this collection will see the most playing time out there. And with Moore, Green and Brown with Charles and White, Joe Cox should come close to 20 TDs, IMO. Especially behind the line that he will sit behind. Accuracy is better than Stafford's and all he has to do is deliver the ball and let these guys make plays. And I believe they can. Cox could be the next Chris Weinke. Yeah, I said it. No heisman, but he will surprise a bunch of people and likely have people wondering "what if" he had played last season.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Survivor Cuba: Episode 11
Previously on Survivor, TO and Nash nearly came to blows in the immunity challenge, but it was Tebow that came out on top. Sergio was sneaky but not sneaky enough in the challenge and his assist from the Survivor auction wasn't enough help. Tempers flared between Kerri Walsh and Sean Avery at the auction and their feud continued at camp. In the end, TO's tricks weren't enough and he was sent packing. Does the crew have a strong hold on the game or will the BPs go for one last hail mary?
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, oh delay oh delay, ahhh e a-ahhhh
Tribe Quest...Tim Tebow, Sean Avery, Ichiro, Kerri Walsh, Steve Nash, Sergio Garcia. The Jury: Danica Patrick, Brandi Chastain, TO.
Day 31. The Crew is walking back to camp all smiles while Sergio and Kerri Walsh seem down. Sean Avery asks Walsh what's wrong and then cracks up laughing. Kerri ignores him but Avery keeps prodding. "Maybe you shouldn't have jumped ship?"
Sergio turns around to defend Kerri. "She made a move. It doesn't look like it will work out but she was 5th in your four person clique. At least here she would have been in the final three and then who knows?"
"Whoa Sergio. Don't say too much! I think that's the most you've ever said to us!" Avery remarks before laughing again.
In confessional Kerri and Sergio admit that they fear that they are going home now that TO is gone. Our only hope is somehow we win immunity and use the other idol and one of them goes home. But even then we still need a miracle to make it through the next vote. The numbers are not good.
Back in camp, the Crew is seen laughing and playing around the fire. Sergio and Kerri think hope is gone.
Commercial...Did you hear that Tom Hanson got called up to pitch for Atlanta. NOT TOMMY, but Tom Hanson. I am making it my person quest to get Atlanta to call him Tom. Join me Sundays on 790 from 2-4 and on this blog and my twitter to voice your support. Thank you!
Jeff Probst welcomes the Survivors to the rewards challenge. Everyone will be playing QUEST (like Horse, but spelling Quest, the name of the tribe). You will throw the ball into a basket. Last one standing gets to not only send someone to Exile, but also gets to pick another person to go on a helicopter ride where you will get a steak dinner, shower and a massage before spending the night in Fidel's summer home. Sounds pretty good, right? Let's go. Sergio goes first and hits a deep three pointer. Ichiro makes it and Avery swishes. Kerri misses Q. Tebow is up next and he drains a behind-the-back shot from the free throw line. Nash makes it then Sergio misses Q. Ichiro makes a lefty free throw but Avery misses Q. Kerri misses and Tebow tries a dunk but misses. Nash slams home an easy dunk, which Sergio cannot do QU. Ichiro goes with a lefthanded layup and Avery makes one as well. Kerri misses QU. Tebow misses a behind the backboard shot. Nash drains a 3 and Sergio hits as well. Ichiro misses Q. Avery makes an underhanded free throw and Kerri misses QUE. Tebow makes a lefthanded layup, which Nash makes and Sergio misses QUE. Ichiro makes a 3 that Avery makes as well. Kerri is well short QUES. Tebow makes a free throw that Nash crushes as well. Sergio misses to get QUES. Ichiro misses a layup and Avery nails a 16 footer from the baseline. Kerri misses and is out. Tebow delivers on a three that Nash hits. Sergio misses and is out as well. Ichiro connects on a bounce shot that Avery misses QU. Tebow tries the bounce shot and misses. Nash dunks which Ichiro does as well. Avery is rejected by the rim, QUE. Tebow dunks and Nash easily does as well. Ichiro takes off wrong and misses QU. Avery misses a three which Tebow makes, as does Nash. Ichiro misses the three point attempt, QUE. Avery misses a reverse layup and Tebow misses a behind the basket shot. Nash dunks again, much to Jeff's chagrin and Ichiro makes as well. Avery misses, QUES. Tebow hits a 12 footer that Nash makes but Ichiro misses. QUES. Avery misses a dunk. Tebow makes a free throw, as does Nash but not Ichiro, and he is out. Avery tries an 8 footer but Tebow misses, Q. Nash dunks and when Avery misses, he is out. Tebow tries a half court shot and misses. Nash calls for an opposite hand free throw and makes, but Tebow misses the right-handed shot, QU. Nash dunks and Tebow misses, QUE. Nash attempts a three and misses. tebow drills a half court shot that Nash misses, Q. Tebow goes with the backwards shot and misses. Nash attempts the same shot and makes. Tebow misses his second attempt, QUES. Nash goes to 3/4 court and drains the LeBron underhanded shot. Then Tebow MAKES his. Probst almost loses his head. Nash tries a free throw line dunk and misses. Tebow goes about 80 feet out and football passes the ball INTO THE BASKET! Nash misses and it is QU to QUES. Tebow bounces one, but it misses. Nash brings Ichiro out and leaps over him, Knowshon style for a dunk. Tebow tries it but misses and is out. Tebow is NO KNOWSHON! Nash wins, sends Kerri to exile and selects Tebow to go on the rewards challenge. Everyone else heads back to camp
Commercial. Did you catch Rush Propst on last week's Score Atlanta's Official Visit with Fletcher and Scott on 790 the Zone? NO? Visit Southernpigskin.com and you can listen to the entire show. Fletcher is going GLOBAL, Baby! 790, Hooters, GA's NPR affiliate, Score Atlanta, now Southernpigskin....where will he turn up next?
Tebow and Nash are shown heading to Fidel's retreat. The Helicopter lands and they get out and immediately are shown to the bedrooms. The guys take a shower and shave and dress in clean clothes. They head out and get massaged before settling in for a steak dinner. They discuss strategy a bit, both quite happy with The Crew's standing in the game. Knock out Sergio and Kerri then its Tebow and Ichiro against Avery and Nash. Or is it? Tebow and Nash talk about potentially switching that now that they are getting along better.
On Exile island, Kerri is struggling to make a fire and it is starting to rain. She isn't having much fun. Back at camp Avery is lauging about how miserable Kerri probably is and Sergio leaves the hut rather than hear Avery bash his partner. "Ahhh, come back Gio, I'll stop," Avery promises. Garcia returns and barely sits down when Avery laughs that he bets "the b!tch is COLD!" Garcia leaves the hut again.
Nash and Tebow finish the steak dinner and dessert before retiring for the night.
The next morning they return to camp to find Sergio sleeping under a tree in the rain. They wake him up and bring him back to the hut. Avery is laughing about how Kerri must be doing and Nash tells him to stop. Sergio quietly thanks Nash. Nash said that Avery was out of line with all of that. Sergio says that he did it all night.
In confessional, Sergio wonders if maybe there is one more miracle out there.
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Probst welcomes the Survivors, including Kerri to the Immunity challenge. Everyone is taken up to a platform high above the water where they will play a game similar to musical chairs. There are various bases separated by thin balance beams. Probst has welcomed in a local band to play and once they stop, get to a base or you are out. Be careful though because the balance beams are thin. Ready? GO! The band begins to play and everyone starts circling around the outer ring. The band stops and everyone scampers. Sergio falls before he can get to a base, and Nash slowly walks to a base. Everyone moves to the second ring. The music starts, then stops and Ichiro and Avery near a base when the music stops. Avery hipchecks Ichiro out of the way and reaches base. Once again they move in. The music starts then stops and Tebow beats out Kerri to the final base. Tebow, Nash and Avery are left. Nash and Tebow reach base the next time. In the finals, Tebow is one step away from the base when the music stops and wins immunity! Nash is disappointed but he congratulates Tebow.
On the way back to camp, Sergio and Kerri make one final play for Nash. They push that his turning on the Crew would give him the ultimate "outwit" card in the final jury vote. "You can say that you played hard, won a few challenges and then flipped the game in its head," Sergio offers. Nash seems to buy what they are saying.
At camp Avery is pushing for Kerri to go. Tebow ponders about voting out Sergio because he is sneakier. "But he still has the idol. It expires after tonight, so you know he will use it," Ichiro reasons.
"Unless he gives it to Kerri and one of us goes," Tebow counters. Avery exhales. That is one thing he is worried about. "We've got to figure out who is going to use it. Nash, you still have any pull?"
"Maybe some," Nash says.
"Go check it out," Tebow asks.
Nash makes his way over to the BPs and at this point, Nash reveals in a confessional, he isn't sure what he is going to do. He talks through a potential switch with Sergio and Kerri and asking who they'd vote out. "Avery. Clearly!" Kerri says. "And you'd play the idol?" Nash asks.
"We have to," Sergio counters. Only way it could work, especially with the numbers. Who are they voting for? Kerri asks.
"They think you because they don't think Sergio will give it up." Nash says. Sergio tries to get a commitment from Nash, but Nash says he has to think about it.
"I don't know what to do on that one," Nash confesses in a confessional.
Nash tells the Crew that he couldn't determine who was going to use it, but it would be used. Ichiro says that two vote for Kerri, two for Sergio and make them battle it out in a tiebreaker. "But they will vote for one of us too."
"So, make fire!" Ichiro says.
Probst welcomes the Survivors and the jury to the council. He asks Sergio and Kerri about being the last two members of an alliance going against an alliance 4-strong. Sergio lets slip that may not be the case. "Is someone going to switch tonight?" Jeff asks and Kerri says that the BPs aren't dead yet.
Probst reminds everyone that tonight is the final night for the hidden idol and Tebow answers that everyone knows that too well. "Does that affect your voting?"
"Of course Jeff. You don't know who is going to use it."
Well let's get to the voting. Tim, you are immune, unless you want to give up the honor. Tebow declines and he is sent to vote. Everyone votes and Jeff goes to tally the votes. He returns and asks if anyone wants to use the hidden immunity idol. Yes. Kerri and Sergio both stand up as the Crew looks nervious. Sergio hands Jeff the idol and he is immune. His votes won't count. Tebow leans over and whispers to Ichiro that their votes won't matter. Avery and Nash sound have voted for Kerri. Nash turns and looks at Kerri. Kerri tilts her head and Nash turns away.
First vote: Sergio. Jeff throws it into the fire. Second vote: Sean Avery. Third Vote: Avery. That's two for Avery. Fourth: Kerri. Fifth vote: Sergio, into the fire. That's 2 for Avery, one for Kerri. Sixth vote....a shot of Nash is shown....Kerri.
Two votes Sean, Two votes Kerri. Guys, come up. Sergio looks at Nash, who gives Avery a knucklebump.
Kerri and Sean will compete to see who can build a fire first to burn through a thread and raise a flag. Winner stays. Ready, go!
Avery starts and has little luck, but Kerri gets sparks first and a little flame. She tries to build on it but it is slowly dying. Sergio is telling her to go back to the flint, but she is being stubborn. Avery finally gets a spark and it starts with the little leaves he has placed. He starts to build a tepee-like structure. Avery has his fire up high now while Kerri has lost her flame. Avery's flag goes up and he is declared the winner. Kerri brings her torch to Jeff and he sends her off with the jury. TO and Dancia look disappointed that the BPs are down to just Sergio. Brandi has a smile on her face.
Avery rejoins Nash, Ichiro and Tebow and Sean gives Sergio a throatslashing gesture. Probst sends everyone back to camp.
Next time ON Survivor. Sergio is all alone. "It feels like even camp is exile island." Nash and Tebow are continuing to buddy up and this is alarming to Avery. Meanwhile Ichiro is starting to get homesick.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, oh delay oh delay, ahhh e a-ahhhh
Tribe Quest...Tim Tebow, Sean Avery, Ichiro, Kerri Walsh, Steve Nash, Sergio Garcia. The Jury: Danica Patrick, Brandi Chastain, TO.
Day 31. The Crew is walking back to camp all smiles while Sergio and Kerri Walsh seem down. Sean Avery asks Walsh what's wrong and then cracks up laughing. Kerri ignores him but Avery keeps prodding. "Maybe you shouldn't have jumped ship?"
Sergio turns around to defend Kerri. "She made a move. It doesn't look like it will work out but she was 5th in your four person clique. At least here she would have been in the final three and then who knows?"
"Whoa Sergio. Don't say too much! I think that's the most you've ever said to us!" Avery remarks before laughing again.
In confessional Kerri and Sergio admit that they fear that they are going home now that TO is gone. Our only hope is somehow we win immunity and use the other idol and one of them goes home. But even then we still need a miracle to make it through the next vote. The numbers are not good.
Back in camp, the Crew is seen laughing and playing around the fire. Sergio and Kerri think hope is gone.
Commercial...Did you hear that Tom Hanson got called up to pitch for Atlanta. NOT TOMMY, but Tom Hanson. I am making it my person quest to get Atlanta to call him Tom. Join me Sundays on 790 from 2-4 and on this blog and my twitter to voice your support. Thank you!
Jeff Probst welcomes the Survivors to the rewards challenge. Everyone will be playing QUEST (like Horse, but spelling Quest, the name of the tribe). You will throw the ball into a basket. Last one standing gets to not only send someone to Exile, but also gets to pick another person to go on a helicopter ride where you will get a steak dinner, shower and a massage before spending the night in Fidel's summer home. Sounds pretty good, right? Let's go. Sergio goes first and hits a deep three pointer. Ichiro makes it and Avery swishes. Kerri misses Q. Tebow is up next and he drains a behind-the-back shot from the free throw line. Nash makes it then Sergio misses Q. Ichiro makes a lefty free throw but Avery misses Q. Kerri misses and Tebow tries a dunk but misses. Nash slams home an easy dunk, which Sergio cannot do QU. Ichiro goes with a lefthanded layup and Avery makes one as well. Kerri misses QU. Tebow misses a behind the backboard shot. Nash drains a 3 and Sergio hits as well. Ichiro misses Q. Avery makes an underhanded free throw and Kerri misses QUE. Tebow makes a lefthanded layup, which Nash makes and Sergio misses QUE. Ichiro makes a 3 that Avery makes as well. Kerri is well short QUES. Tebow makes a free throw that Nash crushes as well. Sergio misses to get QUES. Ichiro misses a layup and Avery nails a 16 footer from the baseline. Kerri misses and is out. Tebow delivers on a three that Nash hits. Sergio misses and is out as well. Ichiro connects on a bounce shot that Avery misses QU. Tebow tries the bounce shot and misses. Nash dunks which Ichiro does as well. Avery is rejected by the rim, QUE. Tebow dunks and Nash easily does as well. Ichiro takes off wrong and misses QU. Avery misses a three which Tebow makes, as does Nash. Ichiro misses the three point attempt, QUE. Avery misses a reverse layup and Tebow misses a behind the basket shot. Nash dunks again, much to Jeff's chagrin and Ichiro makes as well. Avery misses, QUES. Tebow hits a 12 footer that Nash makes but Ichiro misses. QUES. Avery misses a dunk. Tebow makes a free throw, as does Nash but not Ichiro, and he is out. Avery tries an 8 footer but Tebow misses, Q. Nash dunks and when Avery misses, he is out. Tebow tries a half court shot and misses. Nash calls for an opposite hand free throw and makes, but Tebow misses the right-handed shot, QU. Nash dunks and Tebow misses, QUE. Nash attempts a three and misses. tebow drills a half court shot that Nash misses, Q. Tebow goes with the backwards shot and misses. Nash attempts the same shot and makes. Tebow misses his second attempt, QUES. Nash goes to 3/4 court and drains the LeBron underhanded shot. Then Tebow MAKES his. Probst almost loses his head. Nash tries a free throw line dunk and misses. Tebow goes about 80 feet out and football passes the ball INTO THE BASKET! Nash misses and it is QU to QUES. Tebow bounces one, but it misses. Nash brings Ichiro out and leaps over him, Knowshon style for a dunk. Tebow tries it but misses and is out. Tebow is NO KNOWSHON! Nash wins, sends Kerri to exile and selects Tebow to go on the rewards challenge. Everyone else heads back to camp
Commercial. Did you catch Rush Propst on last week's Score Atlanta's Official Visit with Fletcher and Scott on 790 the Zone? NO? Visit Southernpigskin.com and you can listen to the entire show. Fletcher is going GLOBAL, Baby! 790, Hooters, GA's NPR affiliate, Score Atlanta, now Southernpigskin....where will he turn up next?
Tebow and Nash are shown heading to Fidel's retreat. The Helicopter lands and they get out and immediately are shown to the bedrooms. The guys take a shower and shave and dress in clean clothes. They head out and get massaged before settling in for a steak dinner. They discuss strategy a bit, both quite happy with The Crew's standing in the game. Knock out Sergio and Kerri then its Tebow and Ichiro against Avery and Nash. Or is it? Tebow and Nash talk about potentially switching that now that they are getting along better.
On Exile island, Kerri is struggling to make a fire and it is starting to rain. She isn't having much fun. Back at camp Avery is lauging about how miserable Kerri probably is and Sergio leaves the hut rather than hear Avery bash his partner. "Ahhh, come back Gio, I'll stop," Avery promises. Garcia returns and barely sits down when Avery laughs that he bets "the b!tch is COLD!" Garcia leaves the hut again.
Nash and Tebow finish the steak dinner and dessert before retiring for the night.
The next morning they return to camp to find Sergio sleeping under a tree in the rain. They wake him up and bring him back to the hut. Avery is laughing about how Kerri must be doing and Nash tells him to stop. Sergio quietly thanks Nash. Nash said that Avery was out of line with all of that. Sergio says that he did it all night.
In confessional, Sergio wonders if maybe there is one more miracle out there.
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Probst welcomes the Survivors, including Kerri to the Immunity challenge. Everyone is taken up to a platform high above the water where they will play a game similar to musical chairs. There are various bases separated by thin balance beams. Probst has welcomed in a local band to play and once they stop, get to a base or you are out. Be careful though because the balance beams are thin. Ready? GO! The band begins to play and everyone starts circling around the outer ring. The band stops and everyone scampers. Sergio falls before he can get to a base, and Nash slowly walks to a base. Everyone moves to the second ring. The music starts, then stops and Ichiro and Avery near a base when the music stops. Avery hipchecks Ichiro out of the way and reaches base. Once again they move in. The music starts then stops and Tebow beats out Kerri to the final base. Tebow, Nash and Avery are left. Nash and Tebow reach base the next time. In the finals, Tebow is one step away from the base when the music stops and wins immunity! Nash is disappointed but he congratulates Tebow.
On the way back to camp, Sergio and Kerri make one final play for Nash. They push that his turning on the Crew would give him the ultimate "outwit" card in the final jury vote. "You can say that you played hard, won a few challenges and then flipped the game in its head," Sergio offers. Nash seems to buy what they are saying.
At camp Avery is pushing for Kerri to go. Tebow ponders about voting out Sergio because he is sneakier. "But he still has the idol. It expires after tonight, so you know he will use it," Ichiro reasons.
"Unless he gives it to Kerri and one of us goes," Tebow counters. Avery exhales. That is one thing he is worried about. "We've got to figure out who is going to use it. Nash, you still have any pull?"
"Maybe some," Nash says.
"Go check it out," Tebow asks.
Nash makes his way over to the BPs and at this point, Nash reveals in a confessional, he isn't sure what he is going to do. He talks through a potential switch with Sergio and Kerri and asking who they'd vote out. "Avery. Clearly!" Kerri says. "And you'd play the idol?" Nash asks.
"We have to," Sergio counters. Only way it could work, especially with the numbers. Who are they voting for? Kerri asks.
"They think you because they don't think Sergio will give it up." Nash says. Sergio tries to get a commitment from Nash, but Nash says he has to think about it.
"I don't know what to do on that one," Nash confesses in a confessional.
Nash tells the Crew that he couldn't determine who was going to use it, but it would be used. Ichiro says that two vote for Kerri, two for Sergio and make them battle it out in a tiebreaker. "But they will vote for one of us too."
"So, make fire!" Ichiro says.
Probst welcomes the Survivors and the jury to the council. He asks Sergio and Kerri about being the last two members of an alliance going against an alliance 4-strong. Sergio lets slip that may not be the case. "Is someone going to switch tonight?" Jeff asks and Kerri says that the BPs aren't dead yet.
Probst reminds everyone that tonight is the final night for the hidden idol and Tebow answers that everyone knows that too well. "Does that affect your voting?"
"Of course Jeff. You don't know who is going to use it."
Well let's get to the voting. Tim, you are immune, unless you want to give up the honor. Tebow declines and he is sent to vote. Everyone votes and Jeff goes to tally the votes. He returns and asks if anyone wants to use the hidden immunity idol. Yes. Kerri and Sergio both stand up as the Crew looks nervious. Sergio hands Jeff the idol and he is immune. His votes won't count. Tebow leans over and whispers to Ichiro that their votes won't matter. Avery and Nash sound have voted for Kerri. Nash turns and looks at Kerri. Kerri tilts her head and Nash turns away.
First vote: Sergio. Jeff throws it into the fire. Second vote: Sean Avery. Third Vote: Avery. That's two for Avery. Fourth: Kerri. Fifth vote: Sergio, into the fire. That's 2 for Avery, one for Kerri. Sixth vote....a shot of Nash is shown....Kerri.
Two votes Sean, Two votes Kerri. Guys, come up. Sergio looks at Nash, who gives Avery a knucklebump.
Kerri and Sean will compete to see who can build a fire first to burn through a thread and raise a flag. Winner stays. Ready, go!
Avery starts and has little luck, but Kerri gets sparks first and a little flame. She tries to build on it but it is slowly dying. Sergio is telling her to go back to the flint, but she is being stubborn. Avery finally gets a spark and it starts with the little leaves he has placed. He starts to build a tepee-like structure. Avery has his fire up high now while Kerri has lost her flame. Avery's flag goes up and he is declared the winner. Kerri brings her torch to Jeff and he sends her off with the jury. TO and Dancia look disappointed that the BPs are down to just Sergio. Brandi has a smile on her face.
Avery rejoins Nash, Ichiro and Tebow and Sean gives Sergio a throatslashing gesture. Probst sends everyone back to camp.
Next time ON Survivor. Sergio is all alone. "It feels like even camp is exile island." Nash and Tebow are continuing to buddy up and this is alarming to Avery. Meanwhile Ichiro is starting to get homesick.
Paul Mac applauds Frank Wren.
What a turn of events in the last 24 hours for our Atlanta Braves. Moves days weeks months perhaps even years in the making have just come to pass on JUNE 3rd no less. The future of this ball club has come into much better view with both of these moves.
As much as this move annoys me as a fan and I find it distasteful to say the least…the right move has been made with Tom Glavine. The Braves essentially refuse to state publically that many of their moves are about money but subtly Frank Wren will admit it as he told a radio show this morning… “Of course everyone knows about the roster bonus and if we were to bring him up for nostalgic reasons that just wouldn’t make sense.” The Braves essentially have made a business decision and it’s the right one… my issue is… it was the right decision 4 months ago before he did all this rehabbing. If it’s about winning now… why not bring up Tommy Hanson and Medlin a month ago? Why did we even see Jo Jo Reyes? The answer yet again is the money. Specifically the super 2 money even though they stayed away from that too. They stand to save perhaps 5 million bucks if Tommy Hanson is everything they believe he is. Medlin and Jo Jo are being shopped of course.
The distastefulness of all of this being that they cast off both Smoltz and Glavine two sure fire hall of famers and two of the best players in club history in short order not to mention Glavine might as well be a talking duck saying Aflac because he was nothing more than an insurance policy this year in case Medlin or Hanson didn’t pan out. This happens, I get it.. it’s business, but the bulk of his 305 wins were with this team including a WS victory and he was sent off for a measly 1 million dollars which means the Braves again are quite tight with the money. In the long run Tommy Glavine wasn’t really in their plans long term and instead of giving him another couple weeks of rehab they just decided to be future oriented now. Frank Wren has not deviated from the plan it seems that was begun last fall in earnest and even though I hate this for Tom Glavine it is the right move for the team. People upset with the way this was handled or the way Smoltz was handled will be back when the Braves start winning in bulk again and the way it’s setup that could be as early as this fall, but probably next year because of the way Frank Wren has handled this team.
Releasing Glavine, calling up Hanson and sending down Schaffer would be Ok, so all that done the braves sit at .500 and 5.5 back with still a whopping talent gap in the outfield are they really going to have enough to get out of the 3rd spot in the East? The answer of course without modification is no but it’s June 3rd no moves usually get made for another month so this year is done right? Not so fast my friend. Being the trend setters we were on EVHEI show we’ve been following the better outfielders in baseball for the last several years with hopes the Braves might fill the gaping holes they have in the outfield sooner rather than later. Jason Bay was the biggest target, but they wanted Hanson for Bay so Bay ended up going to Boston and we saw how that played out. Xavier Nady was another excellent Pirate outfielder but he was snagged up by New York. The guy I personally never thought we had a chance at getting was Nate McClouth who is an All Star and one of the better young (Gold Glove last year) center fielders in baseball. The Braves have dealt their future potential stud CF in Gorkys Hernandez along with a decent potential 4th or 5th starter (not on this team) in Charlie Morton and up and coming lefty Jeff Locke from the Mississippi AA squad. This is tremendous for this year’s club and in the years to come as he is signed to a very reasonable deal 15 million over 3 years. It also likely in my mind spells the end of Jordan Schaffer’s tenure with the big league club unless he moves to left and he could be expendable should he find his hitting stroke. Perhaps he’s good enough to find us a future third baseman when Chipper is unable to perform to the same level.
All in all, I love the forward thinking from the Braves and Frank Wren. They are making sound financial decisions along with good sound club decisions it’s just as a fan it hurts my heart to cast out a guy who won a world series and cy young for you but as a GM you have to know when to let them go and youth is going to win out over age most of the time. If the stuff isn’t there, it’s not there and hopefully Hanson is lights out.
The new question of the year. What will they do in Left Field and how soon will they have to make the call on Francouer with Heyward waiting in the wings. That said, having two gold glove outfielders and a pretty nice Garrett Anderson and Matt Diaz platoon if all is well gives them a much better chance to compete this year especially with McClouth’s lead off ability, power, and speed on the base paths.
This was a spectacular move for Wren. He didn’t fleece the Pirates by any means, but he found an All Star Centerfielder who no one really dreamed was available, and he got an extra month and a half out of the deal doing it on June 3rd. Well done with this one FW.
Braves fan for life, Paul Mac was the former co-host of Extra Innings on Sports Radio 790 the Zone.
As much as this move annoys me as a fan and I find it distasteful to say the least…the right move has been made with Tom Glavine. The Braves essentially refuse to state publically that many of their moves are about money but subtly Frank Wren will admit it as he told a radio show this morning… “Of course everyone knows about the roster bonus and if we were to bring him up for nostalgic reasons that just wouldn’t make sense.” The Braves essentially have made a business decision and it’s the right one… my issue is… it was the right decision 4 months ago before he did all this rehabbing. If it’s about winning now… why not bring up Tommy Hanson and Medlin a month ago? Why did we even see Jo Jo Reyes? The answer yet again is the money. Specifically the super 2 money even though they stayed away from that too. They stand to save perhaps 5 million bucks if Tommy Hanson is everything they believe he is. Medlin and Jo Jo are being shopped of course.
The distastefulness of all of this being that they cast off both Smoltz and Glavine two sure fire hall of famers and two of the best players in club history in short order not to mention Glavine might as well be a talking duck saying Aflac because he was nothing more than an insurance policy this year in case Medlin or Hanson didn’t pan out. This happens, I get it.. it’s business, but the bulk of his 305 wins were with this team including a WS victory and he was sent off for a measly 1 million dollars which means the Braves again are quite tight with the money. In the long run Tommy Glavine wasn’t really in their plans long term and instead of giving him another couple weeks of rehab they just decided to be future oriented now. Frank Wren has not deviated from the plan it seems that was begun last fall in earnest and even though I hate this for Tom Glavine it is the right move for the team. People upset with the way this was handled or the way Smoltz was handled will be back when the Braves start winning in bulk again and the way it’s setup that could be as early as this fall, but probably next year because of the way Frank Wren has handled this team.
Releasing Glavine, calling up Hanson and sending down Schaffer would be Ok, so all that done the braves sit at .500 and 5.5 back with still a whopping talent gap in the outfield are they really going to have enough to get out of the 3rd spot in the East? The answer of course without modification is no but it’s June 3rd no moves usually get made for another month so this year is done right? Not so fast my friend. Being the trend setters we were on EVHEI show we’ve been following the better outfielders in baseball for the last several years with hopes the Braves might fill the gaping holes they have in the outfield sooner rather than later. Jason Bay was the biggest target, but they wanted Hanson for Bay so Bay ended up going to Boston and we saw how that played out. Xavier Nady was another excellent Pirate outfielder but he was snagged up by New York. The guy I personally never thought we had a chance at getting was Nate McClouth who is an All Star and one of the better young (Gold Glove last year) center fielders in baseball. The Braves have dealt their future potential stud CF in Gorkys Hernandez along with a decent potential 4th or 5th starter (not on this team) in Charlie Morton and up and coming lefty Jeff Locke from the Mississippi AA squad. This is tremendous for this year’s club and in the years to come as he is signed to a very reasonable deal 15 million over 3 years. It also likely in my mind spells the end of Jordan Schaffer’s tenure with the big league club unless he moves to left and he could be expendable should he find his hitting stroke. Perhaps he’s good enough to find us a future third baseman when Chipper is unable to perform to the same level.
All in all, I love the forward thinking from the Braves and Frank Wren. They are making sound financial decisions along with good sound club decisions it’s just as a fan it hurts my heart to cast out a guy who won a world series and cy young for you but as a GM you have to know when to let them go and youth is going to win out over age most of the time. If the stuff isn’t there, it’s not there and hopefully Hanson is lights out.
The new question of the year. What will they do in Left Field and how soon will they have to make the call on Francouer with Heyward waiting in the wings. That said, having two gold glove outfielders and a pretty nice Garrett Anderson and Matt Diaz platoon if all is well gives them a much better chance to compete this year especially with McClouth’s lead off ability, power, and speed on the base paths.
This was a spectacular move for Wren. He didn’t fleece the Pirates by any means, but he found an All Star Centerfielder who no one really dreamed was available, and he got an extra month and a half out of the deal doing it on June 3rd. Well done with this one FW.
Braves fan for life, Paul Mac was the former co-host of Extra Innings on Sports Radio 790 the Zone.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Nate McClouth in, Tom Glavine out. Hanson up?
Today, June 3 marks a big day in the present and future of the Atlanta Braves. The first action of the day took place this afternoon when the Braves decided to release 300 game winner Tom Glavine. The lefty was attempting to come back from arm surgery and the team reportedly wanted him to make another rehab start, which Glavine seemingly wasn't willing to do. Glavine was released before being added to the roster which saves the team $1M immediately and an additional 1.5 after 31 days. This move and GM Frank Wren's comments (about the scouts not believing the rehab was going well, opposite of what Glavine was saying) also gives me the feeling that perhaps Wren didn't want Glavine to return this past off-season, but was perhaps outvoted, especially on the heels of losing Smoltz.
But now with the money saved from Glavine and since it is after the June 1 Super 2 Arbitration date, Tommy Hanson perhaps is just a week away from being called up to the show. Nothing will block the path now and Medlin can be moved to the bullpen or back to Gwinnett with some confidence after getting a win over the weekend.
Finally, the biggest news of the day is Nate McClouth being acquired from Pittsburgh. The Braves gave up Gorkys Hernandez, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke to get the 26 year old McClouth, who is under contract this season for 2.6 and the next three years at 5M per. This is bad news for Jordan Schafer, who is likely now trade bait...unless he gets back on track and McClouth is moved to left next season for Schafer to take over in center in 2010.
What will the future hold for Jeff Francoeur? He sticks until maybe 2010 or 2011 when Cody Johnson arrives to play left and Jason Heyward can play in right. When Frenchy turned down that contract in 2006 or 07 (sorry, can't remember) the team made Heyward its corner outfielder of the future and Cody Johnson can rake, as evidenced by his 18 HR this season.
As far as Schafer, if he doesn't turn it around, look for him to be moved. McClouth is good enough to stay in center for the next 8 years if the Braves can resign him. He would have been a perfect place holder for Gorkys Hernandez and you KNOW Wren tried to include Schafer in the deal, but his struggles likely kept him out of the deal.
To make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs. Gorkys in this case is the egg. I know what McClouth can do, not sure what Hernandez COULD DO. And if you think about it, Gorkys was part of the Renteria/Jurrjens deal, so Renteria got you Jurrjens AND McClouth. A good deal there, considering Jeff Locke would never have been more than likely a third starter AT BEST for Atlanta and Morton, who didn't hack it last season with Atlanta.
For Pittsburgh, GHernandez takes McClouth's spot in two seasons and Morton could be a 4th for them RIGHT now and a 2 in several years. Jeff Locke could be a #3 in two years for them. Really spare parts for Atlanta for a potential all-star and Pittsburgh gets good pieces it can build with.
As far as McClouth, he hit 26 HR last year with 94 RBI and a .276 average. This season he has 9HR and a .256 average. He will hit leadoff immediately. He might be the second best power hitter for Atlanta, behind Chipper, but his speed should put him right at the top of the lineup.
CF McClouth, SS Yunel, 3b Chipper, C McCann, LF Anderson 2b Kelly Johnson 1b Casey Kotchman (when healthy), Rf Frency
Wow when Frenchy, a potential 21 HR guy hits 8th. McClouth puts the Braves right back in this thing.
So with a rotation of Lowe, JJ, Vazquez (Who could be traded to restock the farm system), KK and Hanson, this team could really make a move. That is a lot to ask for with McClouth (who could be penciled in at 4, if you wanted to with KJ, YE, CJ, NM, BMac, GA, CK and Frenchy), but hey, time to step up bro. They traded away the future CF for you. BE WORTH IT!
But now with the money saved from Glavine and since it is after the June 1 Super 2 Arbitration date, Tommy Hanson perhaps is just a week away from being called up to the show. Nothing will block the path now and Medlin can be moved to the bullpen or back to Gwinnett with some confidence after getting a win over the weekend.
Finally, the biggest news of the day is Nate McClouth being acquired from Pittsburgh. The Braves gave up Gorkys Hernandez, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke to get the 26 year old McClouth, who is under contract this season for 2.6 and the next three years at 5M per. This is bad news for Jordan Schafer, who is likely now trade bait...unless he gets back on track and McClouth is moved to left next season for Schafer to take over in center in 2010.
What will the future hold for Jeff Francoeur? He sticks until maybe 2010 or 2011 when Cody Johnson arrives to play left and Jason Heyward can play in right. When Frenchy turned down that contract in 2006 or 07 (sorry, can't remember) the team made Heyward its corner outfielder of the future and Cody Johnson can rake, as evidenced by his 18 HR this season.
As far as Schafer, if he doesn't turn it around, look for him to be moved. McClouth is good enough to stay in center for the next 8 years if the Braves can resign him. He would have been a perfect place holder for Gorkys Hernandez and you KNOW Wren tried to include Schafer in the deal, but his struggles likely kept him out of the deal.
To make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs. Gorkys in this case is the egg. I know what McClouth can do, not sure what Hernandez COULD DO. And if you think about it, Gorkys was part of the Renteria/Jurrjens deal, so Renteria got you Jurrjens AND McClouth. A good deal there, considering Jeff Locke would never have been more than likely a third starter AT BEST for Atlanta and Morton, who didn't hack it last season with Atlanta.
For Pittsburgh, GHernandez takes McClouth's spot in two seasons and Morton could be a 4th for them RIGHT now and a 2 in several years. Jeff Locke could be a #3 in two years for them. Really spare parts for Atlanta for a potential all-star and Pittsburgh gets good pieces it can build with.
As far as McClouth, he hit 26 HR last year with 94 RBI and a .276 average. This season he has 9HR and a .256 average. He will hit leadoff immediately. He might be the second best power hitter for Atlanta, behind Chipper, but his speed should put him right at the top of the lineup.
CF McClouth, SS Yunel, 3b Chipper, C McCann, LF Anderson 2b Kelly Johnson 1b Casey Kotchman (when healthy), Rf Frency
Wow when Frenchy, a potential 21 HR guy hits 8th. McClouth puts the Braves right back in this thing.
So with a rotation of Lowe, JJ, Vazquez (Who could be traded to restock the farm system), KK and Hanson, this team could really make a move. That is a lot to ask for with McClouth (who could be penciled in at 4, if you wanted to with KJ, YE, CJ, NM, BMac, GA, CK and Frenchy), but hey, time to step up bro. They traded away the future CF for you. BE WORTH IT!
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