
TNSP SportsNet
Aug 11, 2010 Oct 23, 2010 20 2
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Wolfpack Sting Jackets at Home
One puzzling situation is the use of Tech running back Orwin Smith on offense. Smith has touched the ball one time in each of the last two games, scoring on both plays (one run of 73 yards against North Carolina and a 10 yard scamper against NC State). If I were Paul Johnson, I’d think about getting the ball in the hands of the guy who is averaging 14 yards per carry and has shown a nose for the endzone. One carry per game isn’t enough for a guy who.......
Mallet was clearly the star of the show, but Georgia’s red shirt quarterback Aaron Murray came to play. The guy just makes...
Why Can't Some Falcons Fans Move Past Mike Vick?
This year marks year 3 of the Matt Ryan era in Atlanta and expectations are high. The Falcons are coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in team history. Michael Turner is healthy, and significant upgrades have been made to the defense, most notably the addition CB Dunta Robinson. However, there is another unseen pressure that rests on the shoulders of Matt Ryan this year, a pressure that sparks arguments quicker than a match, a pressure that has managed to divide the Falcons fan base – the Ghost of Michael Vick.
It has been 4 years since Michael Vick played his last down with the Atlanta Falcons; however, to this day if you mention Vick’s name in this town, a conversation of anger and disdain is sure to follow that would rival any political or religious argument. The conversation is not all anger...
Kobe Should Send LeBron a Bottle of Champagne
Why? … you might ask. Well, there are two reasons. Here is the first. In the generational battle of who is the best player in the world, we usually get the results on the floor. Because of the Cavs’ management’s ineptitude or LeBron’s shortcomings, we have not yet seen this matchup in a playoff series. This is also the first time we have witnessed one of the players waving a white flag without a fight. LeBron didn’t just leave Cleveland; he willingly removed himself from the debate. This isn’t comparable to the freak injury that removed Grant Hill from the discussion after he left Detroit. It is still hard to believe, even after watching the awful press conference, that LeBron is taking his talents to South Beach instead of staying in Cleveland to carry...
Can Josh Nesbitt Bring the Heisman to Georgia Tech?
Last year Josh passed for 1701 yards and 10 touchdowns, he also rushed for 1037 yards and 18 touchdowns. Nesbitt is the captain of Paul Johnsons’ ship and his understanding of this offense makes him extremely dangerous. As a triple threat QB (run, pass and pitch), Josh will have defenses on their heels this coming season. He’ll be very instrumental...
This might be our Cockiest Episode yet. ;A Bull goes ham, Favre shows his ham, Tyreke's golf swing is worse than Sir Charles', plus much more. Nice Towel Ocho!
Tarnished Bronze: Selig's Undeserved Statue
A few days ago Roger Clemens was indicted by the US Government for lying under oath regarding his use of performance enhancing drugs. While it has yet to be proven that Clemens actually used PED’s, the indictment is just another sad chapter in baseball’s steroid era. Meanwhile, while Clemens was being indicted, the man who presided over Baseball during the steroid era was being praised and honored. If you haven’t heard, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that they would be erecting a giant 7-foot bronze statue of Bud Selig in front of Miller Park. Now I understand Milwaukee citizens’ love for the baseball Czar, but is this really the man that we should be celebrating and honoring with a statue?
Bud Selig is arguably the worst commissioner in Baseball history and is undoubtedly the worst commissioner in pro sports today. Let’s just look at the resume he has...
A Bud Selig Statue: Seriously?
A few days ago Roger Clemens was indicted by the US Government for lying under oath regarding his use of performance enhancing drugs. While it has yet to be proven that Clemens actually used PED’s, the indictment is just another sad chapter in baseball’s steroid era. Meanwhile, while Clemens was being indicted, the man who presided over Baseball during the steroid era was being praised and honored. If you haven’t heard, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that they would be erecting a giant 7-foot bronze statue of Bud Selig in front of Miller Park. Now I understand Milwaukee citizens’ love for the baseball Czar, but is this really the man that we should be celebrating and honoring with a statue?
Bud Selig is arguably the worst commissioner in Baseball history and is undoubtedly the worst commissioner in pro sports today. Let’s just look...
2 Live Stews Crown Royal Entertainment Report
Comedian Benjo Brown and his "Friend Girl" Keke step into the Doghouse.
LeBron Speaks in 3rd Person: Idiot Status Achieved
I wrote a nice little article a couple weeks ago in defense of LeBron James. The column theorized on all the reasons LBJ was really not at fault for leaving Cleveland. For the most part, I stuck up for the guy. I wish I had read the newest GQ magazine article prior to writing that piece (though it didn’t exist).
In the article, LeBron commits what I consider to be the cardinal sin of...
"Home Team" Brandon Leak sits in on the Round Table with Notty Dred.
EXTRA BASES: Derrek Lee's Impact on the Braves
Frank Wren swung a deal for Derrek Lee and, in doing so, put the Braves in the driver’s seat to the NL pennant. In a creative move that indirectly solved the loss of Chipper Jones, we acquired the middle-of-the-order right-handed bat that we have craved since losing Andrew Jones, a gold glove winner, and a guy who is one of baseball’s finest ambassadors.
Wren was able to pull it off without giving up much. I do think Robinson Lopez may turn into a fine player. There is a lot to like about the reports on him. But I don’t know how much of a future he ever had with,,,
Note to LeBron: Only Rickey Henderson Can Speak in the 3rd Person
In the article, LeBron commits what I consider to be the cardinal sin of athletics. It wasn’t an admission of steroid use, nor did he gamble on NBA games. He didn’t start a riot in Detroit or commit a felony in the offseason. No, instead it was revealed that LeBron is currently engaged in the most heinous act of egotistical nonsense known to all of mankind.
LeBron James spoke in the third person. Not during...
Note to LeBron: Only Rickey Henderson Can Speak in the 3rd Person
In the article, LeBron commits what I consider to be the cardinal sin of athletics. It wasn’t an admission of steroid use, nor did he gamble on NBA games. He didn’t start a riot in Detroit or commit a felony in the offseason. No, instead it was revealed that LeBron is currently engaged in the most heinous act of egotistical nonsense known to all of mankind.
LeBron James spoke in the third person. Not during...-
Passionate Pride: Why Raider Fans Will NEVER Leave the Nation
Being the consummate Raiders fan, I also succumb to these preseason rituals, throwing out all common sense and making predictions based on my heart and the silver and black blood that runs through my veins. However, in the back...-
Herpes Links: The Story of Tigers Women
Last week porn star Devon James paraded into court to demand another DNA test on her illegitimate, half-bred son that she claims is Tiger’s. Fellow porn star Joslyn James has been following Tiger Woods around the globe in her porn bus dancing at strip clubs in the towns where Tiger is playing. She also has been working on a new "flick" that will depict her having sexual relations with multiple men dressed up like Tiger Woods. Classy. And then of ...-
NFL Holdouts: Who Has the Power?
In many situations around the NFL, whether a player is on board or not can affect a franchise and, thus, a head coach’s job. In San Diego, the Chargers have 3 pivotal players holding out of training camp and perhaps the season hoping to get what’s "due to them". Wide receiver Vincent Jackson has led the league the past 2 seasons in yards per catch, having 1000 yards both years. Linebacker Shawne Merriman is a difference maker on defense, and he’s supposedly 100% after coming back from injury last year. Perhaps the most critical hold out is Phillip Rivers’ protection on the left side, two-time pro bowler Marcus McNeill. With these players holding out, the Chargers can go from Super Bowl contender to being out of the playoffs to Norv Turner being fired. Guess who is secretly tugging at the owner to cut the check?
So where is the power? How about the fans? The consumer? They are the entity that actually pumps...-
NFL Holdouts: Who Has the Power?
They say money makes the world go ‘round. Ok, maybe it doesn’t, but it definitely makes the NFL go ‘round. The owners want to make as much money as they can while spending as little money as possible. The players want to make as much as they can as quick as they can for as long as they can. Everyone else just feeds off the two entities – owners and players. So who has the true power when it comes to the money and making the NFL revolve?
Let’s start with the owners because as a single entity they have the most mula. They hold the checkbook that the players want to get into deeply, badly. Some owners pay any expense in hopes...
What To Do About Chipper
Chris DiMino of 790 the Zone was the first to report that Chipper Jones will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Obviously, this was very bad news. The Bravos are in the middle of a close playoff race and Chip was hitting .307 with 4 HR’s and 13 RBI’s over the last 30 days.
Now the front-office is forced to make some decisions. There are really only 3 choices.
Not a Minor Debut
I write a weekly blog for TNSP SportsNet called EXTRA BASES. This article is my blog for this week. Enjoy
Not a Minor Debut
No, his stat line wasn’t the best thing ever seen (6IP, 5H, 3ER, BB, 5K is still pretty good). And no, he didn’t get the win.
None of that matters though. Mike Minor’s debut was reason for celebration. Consider that the only other 2009 draftees to make it to the big leagues so far are Stephen Strasburg (#1 overall), Mike Leake (#8 overall), and Drew Storen (#10 overall).
His ascent through the minor leagues was exceptional. He was dominant in 4 starts with the Rome Braves last year and made a strong impression in the Arizona Fall League. He started off 2010 in Mississippi and pitched well, averaging 11.3 K’s/9. He quickly showed he was too good for Gwinnett, sporting a 1.89 ERA, 37 K’s, 19 H and 12 BB through 33.1 innings. His peripheral stats were excellent, and he was leading the minor leagues in strikeouts at the time of his call up.
Atlanta’s selection of Mike Minor with the 7th pick of the 2009 draft was met with much ridicule. Analysts said he was only a fifth starter, at best, and his upside didn’t warrant such a high selection. The guy got no respect despite his track record. He was unhittable in high school and was selected by Tampa in the 13th Round of the 2006 draft. He chose to attend Vanderbilt instead, honoring his prior commitment to the school, and made the SEC All Freshman team in 2007. He led the team in wins and strikeouts as a sophomore and then carried the USA National Team that summer going 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA (while overshadowing teammate Stephen Strasburg on the team) in route to being named Baseball America’s Summer Player of the Year. He finished a solid senior season off and headed to the draft as one of the best college arms available. Why he was considered such a reach at seven remains unknown. Mike Minor was a winner.
So just one year and three days after signing his first professional contract, Mike Minor made his Major League debut; and as quickly as he showed he was one the best prospects in the minors, he established himself as one of the better young lefties in the game.
He showed the poise that convinced the Braves to take him with their first round selection in the 2009 draft. He displayed the increased velocity on his fastball that had scouts projecting him more like a #3 SP, rather than the #5 he was viewed as last summer. Most importantly, he proved he has the guts to throw his fastball often, inside and out, while attacking with first pitch strikes. He challenged hitters, trusted in his stuff, and mixed in his best pitch, a plus change-up, to keep hitters on their toes.
Granted, he wasn’t perfect. He threw a few mistakes. Brett Wallace taught him what happens when you serve up fastballs on a platter, so maybe he learned that lesson. He relied on his fastball maybe too much and could probably rely on the change as an out pitch more often. His curveball could use some refining, and he needs to make sure he keeps the change down. But let’s be honest, he did very, very well for himself.
With Medlen out, we needed him to step up. Minor is a much better option than Kawakami with a playoff spot on the line. Having a lefty present in the rotation will help, and who knows, that could be even more valuable with 6 games left against the Phillies. He’ll be a reliable starter the last two months, and his development will be better after having spent time pitching important ball games in September, and hopefully October, too.
He’s proven he belongs and established himself as an important piece to the rotation down the stretch and for years to come. Welcome Mike Minor, soon enough you’ll start winning games – lots of ‘em.
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