Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 3B
Diamond Talk
Key to Braves' success for 2008 season
I see where some sports writ
ers are predicting the Braves
to take their division this
year. As much as I wish that were
true, I just don’t see it. My crystal
ball tells me the Phillies are the
team to beat. I have done an in
depth study of the whole affair,
and I submit for your reading
pleasure my analysis of Atlanta’s
status for the 2008 season.
Starting Rotation: C+
Yes, I know - we now have
Glavine back. Unfortunately, he
is a mere shadow of himself back
during the glory years. Half of the
Braves’ starting rotation nearly
qualify for membership in AARP:
Glavine will be 42 years old in
late March, and Smoltz turned 40
back in May of ‘07.
The $15-million-dollar-a
year-no-matter-what man, Mike
Hampton, has not pitched in
roughly two and a half years, and
at 35, he’s no spring chicken.
His body seems as fragile as a
Haviland teacup.
Even as I write this, he was
pulled from a spring training
game with a pulled groin. Tim
Hudson, 32, is, perhaps, the only
sure bet on the starting staff. The
Braves are hoping the new kid,
Jair Jurrjens, will prove to be the
fifth starter.
If not, Atlanta will have to
endure the likes of Buddy
Carlisle, Chuck James or Jo-Jo
Reyes again. These three gave up
so many home runs last year that
Spalding had to put on a third
shift to keep up with the demand
for baseballs.
Starting pitchers are the key to
the Braves success in 2008.
Bullpen:
B
What
can be said
about the
Braves’
bullpen
last year
was that it
was much
better than
the year
before. The
shining lights here are Soriano
(3.00 ERA and 3-3 [2007]), Mike
Gonzalez (out injured most of
the year-- 1.59 ERA and 2-0),
and Peter Moylan (1.80 ERA and
5-3). Tyler Yates (5.18 ERA and
2-3) will have to look a great deal
better than last year or the Braves
will see an early end to the sea
son.
Defense: B+
Atlanta usually has a good
defensive network. Last year was
no exception, and I think that
2008 will prove the same. The
loss of Andruw Jones is serious
here. I always figured he was
good for one run on the defensive
side each game.
Offense: A
Four starters in 2007 had bat
ting averages well into the 300s:
C. Jones .337; Teixeira .317; Diaz
.338; Escobar .326. Francoeur
just missed the mark with .293.
Overall batting is not the problem
here. Clutch hitting is the issue. If
I see the Braves come up with a
goose egg at the end of the inning
again when the bases were loaded
with one or no one out, I will pro
claim the year DOA.
Consistency: C-
One trouble the Braves have
had in recent years has been
consistency, especially in offense
(although lately their pitching
has consistently been rotten). For
some time I could not figure out
why the Braves could score 15
runs in Monday’s game but could
only eke out 1 run on Tuesday. I
started to do a little research on
this enigma and found that Braves
players feast on lousy pitching
but have a difficult time when
facing better-then-average pitch
ers. While this discovery is not
revolutionary, Atlanta’s batters
will have to figure out the likes of
Carlos Zambrano and Jake Peavy
and consistently score runs off of
them.
Other than needing much bet
ter pitching and more consistent
offense, several wild cards will
influence the success of the 2008
Atlanta Braves. Bobby Cox is a
terrific trump card. His ability to
consistently build and maintain a
professional but congenial rela
tionship with his players makes
the city too busy to hate a coveted
destination for many ballplay
ers. Perhaps the best thing to
come out of Glavine’s return is
the chance for the Braves’ young
pitchers to learn from possibly the
best hurler ever.With some help
from the Almighty, the Braves
will take second in their divi
sion this year. Long-term injuries
to one or two key players could
make it ugly. Ugly indeed.
Banks County resident John
Rieken is an avid baseball fan.
E-mail comments about this col
umn to jrieken@alltel.net.
john w.
rieken
Baseball ... continued from page 1B
"We’ve got to cut down runners and not give them any
extra runs or extra help and come through ourselves with
two outs,” Lord said. "That’s something we have to do
especially with runners on base.”
While the home loss was not what Lord wanted going
into this week, the BCHS coach said the season is still
young.
"It’s early and nothing’s been decided at all,” the coach
said after the game. "We still feel like we have just as
good of a chance as anyone. We just have to keep work
ing and staying up and getting better.”
The Leopards will return to subregion play Thursday
when they travel to East Jackson High School for a 5:30
p.m. contest. The team will return home Friday for a
contest against Lakeview at 5:30 p.m. before traveling
to Dawson County Monday.
SUCCESSFUL SEASON
The 7-8-year-old Lynx basketball team recently completed a successful recreation season. Team
members include, front row, from left, Taylor Speed, Madison Rogers, Lauren Shubert, Maggie
Dyer and Katie Wilhelm, back row, from left, Melinda Garrison, Allison Smith, Jennifer Sheppard,
Priyanka Ranchod and Brittany Nevels. The team was coached by Eric and Misty Rogers.
Tennis ... continued from page 1B
"It was a good wake up
call for us,” the coach said.
"We played hard, but the
inexperience played a fac
tor. It was a good learning
experience for our young
players.”
Overall, Ruth said he was
not disappointed in the set
back considering the circum
stances.
"We just ran into a buzz-
saw,” the coach saiod. "We
just faced a very good tennis
team with several seniors.
Their experience made the
difference.”
The BCHS boys will
compete in a tri-match
at Commerce with East
Jackson Wednesday at 5
p.m. and then host East
Jackson High School
Thursday at 4 p.m.
RETURNING SERVE
The Banks County High School tennis team rebounded to defeat
Dawson County last week. Photo by Randy Crump/Rudeseal Photo
E,
Now Open
Sarah's Restaurant
In Maysville
Old Maysville Fish House
706-652-0070
Hours:
Mon. through Fri. 6:00 - 2:00 • Sat. 6:30 - 12:00 • Sun. 11:30 - 2:30 Brunch
Daily Specials
Southern Hot Plates
includes drink
Monday - Pan Fried Chicken
Mashed potatoes, pepper pan gravy, choice of one side item,
dinner salad and bread
Tuesday - Pot Roast
With roasted potatoes, vegetables & gravy, dinner salad and bread
Wednesday - Meat loaf
Mashed potatoes and choice of one side item,
dinner salad and bread
Thursday - Chicken Fried Steak
Mashed potatoes with sawmill gravy, choice of one side item, dinner
salad and bread
Friday - Choice of Fried Whole Catfish or
Fried Trout Fillets
With French fries, cole slaw and Nora Mills hush puppies
Monday through Friday
Vegetable Plate ~ any three or four sides and a roll
We also have a full Breakfast and Lunch Menu