Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman, right, is congratulated at home plate by Tommy La Stella after Freeman's two-run homer against the Washington Nationals during their game Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, in Atlanta.The June Swoon finally hit the Atlanta Braves and it's no coincidence it came on the heels of losing Freddie Freeman to injury.
While it's hard to believe a Major League baseball team could be affected so adversely by the loss of one player, you could almost see it coming with the Braves. On a team that so severely lacks power, Freeman is the one player every opposing team has to worry about. When he's out of the lineup, which he hadn't been in nearly three seasons, it creates way too many holes.
It also didn't help that leadoff man Jace Peterson, who we praised so profusely a week ago, went into a hitting funk, as did recently-acquired Juan Uribe and anyone the team tried in left field. Add to it another uneven week by Julio Teheran, more bad work from middle relief and the awful base-running mistake by Joey Terdoslavich that likely cost the team a game and you have a bad streak.
Making it worse is the loss of impressive rookie pitcher Williams Perez, who was hit by a line drive and ended up on the DL. If there's good news it's that we might see what ex-Yankee Manny Banuelos has to offer as he's likely the next prospect call-up to get a start.
The bad week combined with the Nationals' hot streak, again clouds which direction the Braves will take at the trade deadline. It's no secret the team would love to rid itself of Chris Johnson's contract, but that's all moving him would provide because he's had so little playing time.
The guess here is there's not enough reason to make any big moves and risk any of what should be a bright future. That being said, if one of the near-ready starting pitching prospects could be moved for a near-ready outfielder, why not?
The Braves are going to have to move a pitcher or two in the near future for bats, so if the opportunity opens up they should jump on it. If not, a surplus of quality starting pitching always is the best way to build.
Can Tim Hardaway, Jr., blossom in the Atlanta Hawks' pass-happy system?Yo, Bud, what's the plan?
The anxiety that preceded the Hawks' draft effort last Thursday was, it seems, well founded.
With the man who rebuilt the team, Danny Ferry, now a GM free agent, and with head coach Mike Budenholzer and former assistant GM Wes Wilcox now heading the front office, many were worried what the team would do with the 15th overall pick inherited from Ferry's brilliant Joe Johnson deal with the Nets.
To say that leaving the draft with Knicks' leftover Tim Hardaway, Jr., and two European players who few had heard of left the Hawks' nation shaking its collective head is an understatement.
I spent five hours watching the ESPN telecast Thursday and was close to beating my head against the wall wondering why. Look, Hardaway might just be the missing piece to the puzzle, but it's hard to get excited about a guy who: 1) shot around 30 percent from 3-point range a year ago and, 2) is regarded as a horrible defender.
Trying to be positive, I slept on it and Friday at least found a silver lining or two. Hardaway, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, was lost in Phil Jackson's triangle offense (not the first guard to be so). Just look at what J.R. Smith did when he left the Knicks for the Cavs at midseason.
He does fill a need. OK, it's not the rim-protecting, rebounding machine the team needs, but he at least might be the answer behind Kyle Korver. He's also cheap and he won't cost anything beyond next season when the NBA salary cap goes way up.
So maybe there is a plan. Maybe that big man is coming via free agency, and maybe the money the team is saving will be spent on keeping DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap.
Either way, the draft was uninspiring, especially when you get the feeling there was more to be had. Arkansas big man Bobby Portis, to me, would have been a great fit. I did not like Kelly Oubre, the team's pick at 15 that was sent to Washington, but compared to Hardaway he seems like a bonanza.
The Hawks did get two future second-round draft picks, but given the way they treated them last week that seems like a throwaway.
Free agency starts next week and if the team gets some help inside the draft might soon be forgotten. Or maybe Hardaway blossoms in Bud's system the way Korver did.
We can dream.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) is shoved out of bounds by Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Ahmad Black (43) during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday in Tampa, Fla. Jones was ruled out of bounds.He's no Diva
The wide receiver position in the NFL is Diva Central, but it seems you can leave the Falcons' Julio Jones out of that fraternity.
From T.O. to Randy Moss to Brandon Marshall and many lesser knowns, the NFL receiver is never short on showing off the "me-first" personality. So it comes with a breath of fresh air that Atlanta star Jones will not hold out over stalled contract talks.
The former Alabama stud, whom the Falcons hope to lock up long term with a new deal, can be a free agent after the coming season. Given his future earnings potential few would have been surprised if he had told the Falcons to sign him or he's sitting.
Instead, he's attended mini camps and is planning to report on time for training camp as he, his agent and the team try to come to terms. You probably won't hear much about it until he signs, but let's hope the Falcons' management takes it into account when trying to determine his worth.
He's obviously a rare talent and with this subtle decision he's proven he's well worth locking up.