It's no secret. I like zombie shows. My wife laughs at me for loving any drama or comedy featuring the un-dead. Walking Dead? Love it. Zombieland? Woody Harrelson should have won an Oscar. Dawn of the Dead? I bet I watched the original version a dozen times on late shows at Eastgate Theater growing up.
With that said, I have a new favorite zombie reality show. It features the Atlanta Braves' bullpen. And what's not to like? There's potential for disaster with every decision by Fredi Gonzalez (who at least HAS to be half-dead) and each pitch could be fatal.
We'll call it Dawn of the Dead Arms. And just like all zombie-related shows there is no cure short of total annihilation.
Still, can the Braves' world be saved? Apparently, there is no help in the minors or it would have been called upon by now. We've already determined the front office will not mortgage the future for the present.
It is a desperate situation, to be sure. What stinks is the lineup has produced the third-most runs in the National League and the NL East is there to be had.
John Hart hasn't been afraid to try, but signing retreads like Dana Eveland and David Aardsma isn't the answer. Here's a suggestion: move a power arm like Mike Foltynewicz to the pen and let him air it out for an inning. It would lower his innings, which the team wants to do anyway, and it might restore his confidence.
Folty has two very good pitches, a perfect resume for a reliever, and batters seem to wear him down the second and third times through the order. It doesn't mean he's a reliever for the long run, but he wouldn't be the first pitcher to start in the pen before having a long starting career.
Matt Wisler could be brought up to take his rotation spot. Sure, this doesn't fix the entire pen, but it would be a nice starting spot in ridding Turner Field of its dead-arm problem.
Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, right, fouls Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith during the first half of Game 6 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Hawks facing major decisions
Some huge decisions await the Atlanta Hawks' new ownership group and they need to be made soon.
Atop that list is what to do with Danny Ferry. The GM has been in self-imposed banishment since he made national headlines for reading a scout's racist remarks regarding Luol Deng on a conference call nearly a year ago.
It's hard to believe the new group, which includes the well-respected Grant Hill, would retain Ferry, even though Hill and Ferry have worked together before. Ferry doesn't have a history of being a racist and he stepped away last year before the NBA said a word. However, he likely will never live the incident down, even though the words he said were not his own.
Bottom line is how can an NBA GM negotiate contracts with that on his record? But if he's gone it needs to happen. A little thing called the NBA Draft is coming soon and an even bigger deal, free agency, starts soon after.
What hurts Hawks fans is that after so many years of utter incompetence in the front office, the team finally had someone with a solid game plan who wasn't afraid to make gutsy moves. A 60-win season doesn't happen if Ferry hadn't rid the team of Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, et all.
As for the roster, the big decisions are what to do with free agents Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll? The Hawks have $23 million in cap space, but that's likely not enough to keep both, so what to do?
After watching the Hawks get manhandled inside against good teams it's finally time to get a true center into the rotation. Unless 2013 draftee Eddy Taveres, he of the 7-foot-3 height and 7-9 wingspan, is ready after playing in Spain, free agency is the only hope since this year's draft has few difference makers inside.
Here's where it gets interesting. If the Hawks let Millsap walk and re-sign Carroll (he will cost less), then dump the contracts of guys like Mike Scott and Pero Antic, there would be enough to sign a max free agent.
And there are some nice big men to be had. OK, Marc Gasol isn't leaving Memphis and Tim Duncan will retire a Spur, but DeAndre Jordan and Brook Lopez could be available. Lopez can opt out of his deal in Brooklyn and why wouldn't he? He's got a great offensive game (17.2 points) and averaged 7.4 rebounds. Numbers that would look pretty strong in Atlanta.
Jordan, who is an unrestricted free agent, isn't an offensive threat, but he wouldn't have to be. All you need to know is he averaged 15 rebounds for the Clippers to go with 2.2 blocks. Imagine a front court with Jordan and Al Horford, who could finally get to play his natural position.
The team would go from being an inside weakling to a monster with this signing. Do it and get ready to hoist the championship banner.
There are other options, like Detroit's Greg Monroe, a player the Hawks have liked for some time, or veteran Al Jefferson, a low-post nightmare for defenses. If they want to go cheaper, the other Lopez, Robin, has a lot of upside, and Omer Asik would provide rim protection and rebounding.
Millsap helped transform the Hawks and his all-around excellence would be missed, but Carroll is the starting small forward and the draft is loaded with guys who could provide frontcourt help.
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Jake Matthews, left, greets Falcons coach Mike Smith today during an NFL news conference at the team's headquarters in Flowery Branch, Ga. Matthews, an offensive lineman from Texas A&M, was the selected 6th overall in Thursday's NFL draft.PFF thinks Falcons roster stinks
Pro Football Focus released its rankings of roster strength among NFL teams and the Falcons are third from worst. Of course it's based on what happened under Mike Smith and it doesn't include recent draft picks, but let's hope they're wrong.
Of particular concern for the PFF folks is the offensive line. Can't argue there. However, if Jake Matthews returns to good health and surprising Ryan Schreader keeps improving, the line is only a competent center from being, well, decent.
It will also help that new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is stressing technique over power, which should bring out the best in Matthews. The team will also run the ball more, which hopefully will help them avoid the third-and-long situations that we've seen too often in the past two years.
As for the rest of the roster, the defensive line and linebackers should be improved and the secondary is already a strength. Offensively, the skill positions are above average and let's hope the coaching staff is as well.