Atlanta Braves Sunday Report

Well I don't think the season could have started off any worst for the Braves as they were swept by the Mets in New York. The story of each game was the Braves lack of offense which continued a trend from last September's collapse. The Braves totaled just 7 runs and 14 hits in the 3-game series but the underlying numbers were ugly. The Braves were a dismal 0-for-6 with 7 LOB in game 1. In game 2 they were 0-for-4 with 7 LOB and in game 3 they were 1-for-4 with RISP with 3 LOB. Those kinds of numbers aren't going to win very many games.

THURSDAY
---Mets
---Loss 1-0
---WP: Ramon Ramirez (1-0)
---LP: Tommy Hanson (0-1)
---S: Frank Francisco (1)

The Braves opened the season with a tough luck 1-0 loss. It goes down as the first 1-0 loss in a season opener in Atlanta Braves history. Tommy Hanson pitched well as he cruised through 5 innings before running into trouble in the 6th inning. After a leadoff walk Hanson gave up back-to-back singles including a RBI single to David Wright to give the Mets the 1-0 lead that would stand up. Johan Santana went 5 innings getting out of a 2-out bases loaded jam in the 5th inning by striking out Michael Bourn to end the inning. Braves rookie Tyler Pastornicky hit a triple in the 7th inning for his first ML hit. The Braves finished with a lousy 4 hits.

SATURDAY
---Mets
---Loss 4-2
---WP: R.A. Dickey (1-0)
---LP: Jair Jurrjens (0-1)
---S: Frank Francisco (2)

On Saturday it was more of the same for the Braves as the offense struggled to get anything going against the knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Dickey's only mistake of the game came in the 5th inning when with 2-outs he walked Michael Bourn and then Martin Prado hit a screaming 2-run homerun down the left-field line just inside the foul pole. It briefly tied the game before the Mets reclaimed the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the 5th. The Mets hit 3 solo homeruns, 1 for David Wright and 2 for Lucas Duda. For Duda it was his first career multi-homerun game. Jair Jurrjens struggled with his command in the strike zone and failed to make it out of the 5th inning before running up a pitch count over 100 pitches. Jurrjens final line was 4 1/3 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. Jason Heyward looked good as he had 2 walks and a triple in 4 plate appearances. Juan Francisco in his Braves debut was 0-4 but hit 2 liners that were caught. Freddie Freeman had 2 singles.

SUNDAY
---Mets
---Loss 7-5
---WP: Jonathon Niese (1-0)
---LP: Mike Minor (0-1)
---S: Frank Francisco (3)

Sunday was an up and down game for the Braves. The good was the Braves took advantage of a huge error by Mets outfielder Lucas Duda and turned that into a 4-run 7th inning. The bad was that the Braves managed just 3 hits in scoring 5 runs. The good was that Mike Minor for 4 2/3 innings was really, really good. The bad was he gave up a 2-out single to opposing pitcher Jonathon Niese and then the wheels just fell off as the Mets ended up scoring 2 runs in the 5th inning to make it 4-0 at the time. Minor then returned to the hill to start the 6th inning and didn't record an out as the Mets scored 3 more runs to take a 7-0 lead. Minor was eventually charged with giving up 6 runs (all earned) on 6 hits in 5 innings with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts.

The upcoming schedule sees the Braves taking on the Astros and then returning home as the Brewers come into town on Friday.

GAME 1 - MONDAY APRIL 9TH - 8:05 PM - FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Brandon Beachy vs. J.A. Happ

GAME 2 - TUESDAY APRIL 10TH - 8:05 PM - FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Tommy Hanson vs. Kyle Weiland

GAME 3 - WEDNESDAY APRIL 11TH - 8:05 PM - FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Randall Delgado vs. Wandy Rodriguez

GAME 1 - FRIDAY APRIL 13TH - 7:35 PM - PEACHTREE TV, FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Randy Wolf vs. Jair Jurrjens

GAME 2 - SATURDAY APRIL 14TH - 7:10 PM - PEACHTREE TV, FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Shaun Marcum vs. Mike Minor

GAME 3 - SUNDAY APRIL 15TH - 1:35 PM - SPORTSSOUTH
Chris Narveson vs. Brandon Beachy

Atlanta Braves Season Preview

The Atlanta Braves get their season kicked off tomorrow against the Mets in New York. Tommy Hanson toes the rubber against Johan Santana. Both pitchers are working their way back from injuries.

Hanson didn't pitch after August 6th of last season coincidentally also against the Mets in New York. Santana last pitched in a regular season major league game in September of 2010. Both had shoulder injuries. Hanson used rest and rehab to recover from his injury while Santana had surgery to fix his aliment.

The Braves final 25-man roster under went several changes as the season approached. With injuries to some pitchers and under performance of other pitchers the Braves signed veteran pitchers Livan Hernandez and Chad Durbin who had been cut during spring camp by the Astros and Nationals respectively. Both pitchers will work out of the bullpen.

With Chipper Jones slated to begin the season on the DL (he's excepted to be activated and eligible to play in the home opener on April 13th) the Braves went out and traded for 3rd baseman Juan Francisco from the Cincinnati Reds. Francisco will sever as the Braves starting 3rd baseman till Chipper returns.

Tim Hudson had back surgery in November and will miss the first month of the season. Randall Delgado will take Hudson's spot in the starting rotation till he returns in May.

The big talk during the spring was who would win the starting shortstop battle, Tyler Pastornicky or Andrelton Simmons? Pastornicky ended up winning the job over Simmons simply because Simmons just wasn't quite ready. But don't be surprised if Simmons appears in Atlanta sometime this season but for now he'll start the season at Double-A Mississippi.

Here are the pitching matchups for this weekend in New York.

GAME 1 - THURSDAY APRIL 5TH - 1:10 PM - SportsSouth
Tommy Hanson vs. Johan Santana

GAME 2 - SATURDAY APRIL 7TH - 1:10 PM - SportsSouth
Jair Jurrjens vs. R.A. Dickey

GAME 3 - SUNDAY APRIL 8TH - 1:10 PM - SportsSouth
Mike Minor vs. Jonathon Niese

*All times Eastern.
**Remember to check back this Sunday and every Sunday for my Atlanta Braves Sunday Report articles.

Chipper Jones Announces Retirement

On Thursday Atlanta Braves 3rd baseman Chipper Jones announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2012 Major League Baseball season. For Jones this season marks his 19th MLB season and his 23rd in professional baseball.

The Atlanta Braves made Chipper Jones, a high school shortstop, the first overall pick of the 1990 amateur draft.

Jones made his MLB debut on September 11, 1993. He was slated to be the Braves starting left-fielder in 1994 but in late spring training he tore the ACL in his left knee and missed the entire season.

Jones came back strong in 1995 and led all major league rookies in games played (140), games started (123), runs batted in (86), homeruns (23), plate appearances (602), at-bats (524) and runs scored (87). He finished 2nd in the Baseball Writers' Rookie of the Year voting.

The Braves benefited greatly from Jones as they defeated the Cleveland Indians 4-2 to win the World Series in 1995.

Chipper Jones quickly became a dangerous force for any pitcher. He would finish in the top 10 of Most Valuable Player voting 6 times. He won the MVP in 1999 with a .319 batting average, 45 homeruns, 110 RBIs, 41 doubles. Jones even showcased his speed racking up 25 stolen bases.

Jones is a 7-time All-Star selection (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2008). He is a 2-time Silver Slugger award winner (1999, 2000).

Jones currently sports a .304 career average with 454 homeruns and 1,561 runs batted in. The only switch-hitters in MLB history with more homeruns is Mickie Mantle (536) and Eddie Murray (503). Murray is the only switch-hitter with more runs batted in.

Chipper has the most homeruns in Braves franchise history since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966. The only Braves player with more homeruns in franchise history is Hank Aaron.

Chipper Jones is the only switch-hitter in the history of baseball to sport a career average of .300 with more than 450 homeruns.

Jones won the NL batting title with a .364 average in 2008 at the age of 36. Jones who turns 40 on April 24th has still managed to be a very productive major league player as he's coming off a 2011 season which saw hit hit .275 with 18 homeruns and 70 runs batted in. While far off his career peak numbers still very solid.

Jones is undoubtedly a first ballot Hall of Famer. He will be standing on stage in Cooperstown, New York come the summer of 2017.

Speaking of New York. If there is one team that won't miss seeing Jones it's the New York Mets.

Chipper Jones wreaked havoc on the Mets his entire career. His first MLB homerun in 1995 was a 9th inning tie-breaking homerun which ultimately ended up winning the game for the Braves. It was from that day forward that Met fans grew to develop the "Larry" chant mocking Chipper's given name.

Jones most signature moment against the Mets came in September of 1999. With the Mets trying to overtake the Braves and win the NL East division Chipper hit 4 homeruns in a 3-game sweep of the Mets that eventually sealed his winning of the MVP award that year. The Braves ended up beating the Mets in the NLCS that year before falling to the New York Yankees.

Jones even has a son named Shea after Shea Stadium where the Mets played their home games until moving to Citi Field in 2009. Jones has hit 48 homeruns against the Mets in his career his most against any team.

The Braves open the 2012 season by playing the Mets in New York at Citi Field on April 5th. If Jones stays healthy he will end the season by playing against the Mets in Atlanta. Hopefully a playoff run will follow.

Being born in 1987 and growing up in the 1990s Chipper Jones has always been the Atlanta Braves in my eyes. I don't know an Atlanta Braves team without Chipper Jones. Come spring of 2013 the Atlanta Braves will take the field without Chipper Jones sporting his No. 10 over at 3rd base. That day will be very sad for me.

Carrying On A Tradition

In late 2010 it was announced that Brad Keselowski had been nabbed to take over the famous No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge from Kurt Busch. To understand the history of the No. 2 NASCAR Sprint Cup car you have to go back to the 1990s and Rusty Wallace.

Rusty Wallace in 1990 was the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion (previously known as the Winston Cup Series) and uncertain of his future past 1990. Wallace was driving for the Blue Max Racing team owned by Raymond Beadle. Wallace and Beadle constantly collided off the track so the fact that Wallace and Beadle were able to put their differences aside and win the Winston Cup Series Championship in 1989 was truly remarkable. Wallace wanted to leave the team after the 1989 season because sponsor Kodiak was leaving to go to the Hendrick Motorsports' No. 25 car.

Wallace was stuck where he was because of his contract which didn't end till after the 1990 season. For the 1990 season Miller Brewing Company's Miller Genuine Draft beer signed on to sponsor Wallace in the No. 27 car. The contract was a personal service contract with Wallace, meaning that it was tied to Wallace and not the Blue Max Racing team.

By June of 1990 it was announced that Wallace would be leaving the Blue Max Racing team. Wallace eventually hooked up with legendary car owner Roger Penske. Penske had become a champion car owner in Indy cars with multiple drivers and had won the Indianapolis 500 multiple times. His most famous driver was Rick Mears.

Wallace and Penske previous had a history in the Winston Cup series as Penske fielded a car for Wallace for 2 races in 1980, the first 2 races of Wallace's Winston Cup career. Wallace finished 2nd and 14th in those 2 races for Penske. Penske had previous fielded a Winston Cup car during the 1970s, most noticeable with driver Bobby Allison. Allison won 4 races driving for Penske. Penske would not field another Winston Cup car till he hooked back up with Wallace in 1991.

Wallace signed to drive with Penske in 1991 and brought his Miller Genuine Draft sponsorship with him and they choose to use the No. 2. The car make was Pontiac which Wallace had driven with the Blue Max Racing team, which ceased operations after the 1990 season. Wallace struggled through much of the 1991 and 1992 seasons winning just 3 races including finishing a disappointing 13th in the final drivers standings of 1992.

In 1993 everything came together for Wallace and Penske as Wallace won a career high 10 races in route to finishing 2nd to Dale Earnhardt in the final drivers points standings by just 80 points. But all wasn't well for Wallace during the season. Wallace suffered 2 violent crashes, one at the season opening Daytona 500 and the other at Talladega. In both crashes Wallace's car got airborne and flipped violently several times. He was officially credited as flying in the final running order at Talladega after his crash left him with an 8th place finish.

After Penske Racing made the switch to field Fords, Wallace was nearly as good in 1994 winning 8 races and finishing 3rd in the final drivers standings. Wallace won twice more in 95 and 5 more times in 1996. In the 4 years from 1993-1996 Wallace won 25 races, had 59 top 5's and 78 top 10's in 123 races. It was in that 4 year stretch that Wallace became known for being the short track king. As of Wallace's retirement after the 2005 season he holds the Sprint Cup record with 34 short track victories.

Wallace drove the No. 2 for Penske Racing from 1991 till his retirement after the 2005 season. In 494 races in the No. 2 car Wallace had 37 wins, 143 top 5's, 244 top 10's and 28 poles.

After Rusty Wallace announced his retirement Kurt Busch, after a long contract battle between Roger Penske and Busch's then current team owner Jack Roush, was tabbed to take over the No. 2 car.

Busch won in just his 5th start of 2006 at Bristol. It was fitting that his first win in the No. 2 car came at Bristol as Wallace made Bristol his most famous track by winning there 9 times including 7 times in the No. 2 car. Wallace won his 1st career race at Bristol in 1986 and his 50th career race at Bristol in 2000.

Busch would drive the No. 2 from 2006 till 2010. Busch won 8 races in the No. 2 car while racking up 37 top 5's, 74 top 10's and 9 poles. Busch's run the No. 2 car was marred by inconsistencies that saw him finish with a best drivers points finish of 4th in 2009 and disappointments of 16th in 2006 and 18th in 2008.

This brings us back to Brad Keselowski. Keselowski got off to a slow start in 2011 but then in the summer time heat Keselowski turned up the heat and rallied off 3 wins and made The Chase finishing the season 5th in the final drivers points standings. One of Keselowski's wins was at the famous Bristol night race in August. For the No. 2 car it was the first time it had visited Victory Lane since Busch won there at 2006.

On Sunday Brad Keselowski visited Victory Lane again at Bristol after leading a race high and career high 232 laps in a dominating win. It was the first time the No. 2 car won back-to-back races at Bristol since Wallace swept the Bristol races in 2000.

Brad Keselowski has picked up the tradition of winning in the No. 2 car and more importantly winning at Bristol. But Keselowski has a his sights on doing something that not even the legendary Rusty Wallace was able to do, and that's take the No. 2 car to a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship victory.

2012 MLB Predictions

Well spring training is underway. The games are 3 weeks old and we've got a better understanding of what certain teams will look like come April. With that being said it's time for my 2012 MLB season predictions. Here goes.

NL EAST
1. *Atlanta Braves
2. *Philadelphia Phillies
3. *Washington Nationals
4. Miami Marlins
5. New York Mets

NL CENTRAL
1. *Cincinnati Reds
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Houston Astros

NL WEST
1. *Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

AL EAST
1. *New York Yankees
2. *Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

AL CENTRAL
1. *Detroit Tigers
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox

AL WEST
1. *Los Angeles Angels
2. *Texas Rangers
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics

MLB PLAYOFFS
NLWC - Phillies over Nationals
ALWC - Rays over Rangers

NLDS - Braves over Reds
NLDS - Phillies over Diamondbacks
ALDS - Tigers over Rays
ALDS - Angels over Yankees

NLCS - Braves over Phillies
ALCS - Tigers over Angels

WS - Tigers over Braves

MLB AWARDS
NL MVP
Dan Uggla, Braves

NL CY YOUNG
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Yonder Alonzo, Padres

NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Fredi Gonzalez, Braves

AL MVP
Evan Longoria, Rays

AL CY YOUNG
Jered Weaver, Angels

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Matt Moore, Rays

AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Jim Leyland, Tigers

Well those are my predictions for the 2012 MLB season. Come September we'll revisit this post to see how I did.

I'm Back!

I have been away for a long time! Much too long! Well now I'm back and better than ever! Hope you all enjoy my blog where we'll talk about all kinds of things but mostly sports and life. So I hope you all enjoy reading my blog.

Thank you, Big T