Georgia sports for Wednesday, July 30th

Atlanta Braves/Mark Teixeira trade--

In a move that signals the Braves don't expect to compete for the postseason down the stretch in the 2008 season, the team traded slugging 1st baseman Mark Teixeira on Tuesday. He was sent to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim--in return, Atlanta received 1st baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Steve Marek. The Braves felt the need to make the deal as they're falling out of the race, and with Teixeira set to become a free agent at season's end. Teixeira is expected to command around 20-million dollars per year in a new contract. The Braves were not expecting to get into a bidding war for Teixeira. In Kotchman, Atlanta gets a replacement at 1st base, and a player under contract through the 2011 season. The Braves for the first time since 1990 are acknowledging they are on some level in a rebuilding mode.
Additional trades could be made by 4pm tomorrow, the deadline for non-waiver trades.

On the field for the Braves Tuesday, the team suffered its 4th-straight loss, 8-3 to the Cardinals. Atlanta has fallen to a season-high 8-and-a-half games out of first in the NL-East.

Georgia sports for Monday, July 21st

The Atlanta Braves stumbled out of their weekend series at home at Turner Field with losses in 2-of-3 games to the last-place Washington Nationals. The visitors roughed-up the Braves 15-6 Sunday afternoon. Atlanta-pitching was lighted for 17 hits, while the Atlanta-defense contributed 4 errors in the field. The bright spot from the Braves-offense included a pair of home runs from 1st baseman Mark Teixeira. The Braves have lost 11 of their past 17 games. They stand 6-and-a-half games out of first in the NL-East division. Now they head to the road to play two of the three teams ahead of them—they’re in Florida tonight to face the Marlins.

Georgia sports for Monday, June 23rd

Georgia Bulldogs/College World Series--

The Georgia Bulldogs are two wins away from the college baseball championship. Georgia will face Fresno State tonight in the first of a best-of-3-games championship series in Omaha,Nebraska, the culmination of the College World Series. Over the weekend, Georgia beat Stanford a second time to get to this final championship round.

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves ripped the Seattle Mariners 8-3 in Atlanta--the Braves winning 2-of-3 from the team with the worst record in baseball. 1st baseman Mark Teixeira knocked 3 home runs in the game, his first home runs in 12 games. Tim Hudson threw a solid 7 scoreless innings for the pitching win. With the victory, the Braves moved to within 4 games of 1st place in the National League’s East Division. They’ll begin a series against the Milwaukee Brewers in Atlanta tonight.

Georgia sports for Monday, April 7th

The Atlanta Braves scored 2 wins in 2 games with the New York Mets over the weekend at Turner Field. Sunday afternoon, the Braves posted a 3-1 victory behind the first start of the season by veteran pitcher John Smoltz. Smoltz threw 5 innings, and allowed only 2 hits while recording 6 strikeouts. He left the contest after 78 pitches in 5 innings as a precaution with tightness in his right shoulder. Smoltz said after the game he expects to be fine for his next start--Saturday at Washington. Offensively, the Braves got a Yunel Escobar RBI-double off Mets pitcher Johan Santana. Later off the New York bullpen, the Braves added a 2-run homer from Mark Teixeira. The Braves hold a 3-3 record through the season's opening week, tied for 1st in the NL-East. They begin a 10-game road trip tonight with the opener of 4 games in Denver to face the Colorado Rockies.

Georgia sports for Thursday, April 3rd

The Braves scored their first win of the season, crushing the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-2 at Turner Field in Atlanta. Leading 3-2 in the last of the 8th inning, the Braves broke things open with 7 runs—Mark Teixeira and Yunel Escobar belted home runs in the inning. Atlanta rookie pitcher Jair Jurrjens got the win with a good 5-plus innings of work. Jurrjens allowed 7 hits and 2 runs in his time on the hill. The Braves and Pirates wrap the series tonight. It will mark the first pitching start for oft-injured Mike Hampton since August of 2005.

From pro basketball, the Atlanta Hawks continue their push to the playoffs with their 5th straight win, a 127-120 decision over the Toronto Raptors. The Hawks increased their lead to 4 games for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Georgia Tech’s football program is losing receiver James Johnson for the 2008 season. Johnson announced he will skip his final year of eligibility on the football field, but remain enrolled in school. The senior missed last weekend’s scrimmage with tendonitis in his knee. The news comes as two fellow receivers announced plans to transfer. Tech under new head coach Paul Johnson is expected to focus more on its running game within a revamped offense. Johnson in 2007 had 25 catches for 447 yards.

Georgia sports for Wednesday, September 12th

Trying to keep their faint postseason hopes alive, the Braves came up with a big 13-5 win over the Mets in New York last night. Mark Teixeira knocked a 3-run homer, while Yunel Escobar added a 2-run shot. Willie Harris contributed 3 RBI's to the Atlanta offensive effort. With 17 games to go, the Braves are 5 games behind San Diego for the wild card playoff ticket. The Braves and Mets wrap their series tonight--John Smoltz gets the Braves' pitching start.

Georgia sports for Tuesday, August 21st

Warner Robins' little league team was rained-out from action in the Little League World Series up in Williamsport, Pennsylvania Monday. All five games in the tournament yesterday were rained-out, so the entire schedule moves to today. Warner Robins has split their first two games, and must win this evening in order to stay alive.

To major league baseball, the Braves opened a long 10-game road trip in fine fashion last night, blasting the Reds 14-4 in Cincinnati to commence a 4-game series. For a 2nd-straight game, 1st baseman Mark Teixeira hit a pair of home runs--he had 3 of the Braves' 17 hits on the night, and accounted for 6 RBI's. Atlanta cracked 4 homers overall, including a grand slam from Brian McCann and a homer from Andruw Jones. The offense was more than enough to support the pitching of Tim Hudson, who earned his 5th-straight win, and is the first pitcher in the National League to reach the 15-win plateau.

Georgia sports for Friday, August 10th

The Braves survived a 9th inning rally by the homestanding Mets Thursday afternoon, winning at New York 7-6. Leading 7-3 into the last of the 9th inning, the Mets scored 3 runs off reliever Tyler Yates. Oscar Villareal was called upon to get the final 2 outs for the save, earning the pitching win for Tim Hudson. Offensively, the Braves had home runs from Chipper Jones and Mark Teixeira. The Braves are back to within 3-and-a-half games of the Mets for 1st in the NL-East—-it’s now a series in Philidelphia opening tonight.

To the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons are in New York for their 1st exhibition game of the preseason, facing the Jets this evening. It marks the first game for new head coach Bobby Petrino, and the debut of Joey Harrington as starting quarterback, who stands in for the banished Michael Vick.

Preseason practice continues for the college teams of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia Southern. Bulldogs' head coach Mark Richt had the perfect remedy to help his players beat the heat yesterday in Athens. Following a morning practice, he took the Bulldogs to the campus swimming center for some fun and relaxation in the afternoon. Coach Richt led the way, performing a backflip dive off the high board into the pool.

Georgia sports for Thursday, August 2nd

For a third straight game, the Braves scored double-digit runs in pounding the Houston Astros again, 12-3 at Turner Field in Atlanta. It was a third straight win for the Braves, taking the first 2 games in this series. The Braves have scored 38 runs in the 3 victories.

The contest had the debut of three new Braves. Mark Teixeira started at 1st base, and ripped a 3-run homer in the 6th inning. He finished with 4 RBI's on a 1-for-4 night which included a walk and 2 strikeouts. Pitchers Ron Mahay and Octavio Dotel made their Braves-debuts as well. Mahay threw a scoreless 8th inning with a walk and strikeout. Dotel tossed a perfect 9th with a strikeout. Offensively for the team, the Braves erupted against Wandy Rodriguez in the 1st inning for 7 runs. Braves-starter Buddy Carlyle got the pitching win, although he left the game before the 6th inning with a hyperextended elbow. Reports from the clubhouse afterward said it wasn't serious, and he's probably good to go for his next start.

Before Wednesday's game, the Braves had to make roster moves to accomodate the new arrivals. Veteran Julio Franco was designated for assignment, although if he clears waivers, the Braves would like to bring the 48-year-old back in September as a player, and perhaps a player-coach. Pitcher Jose Ascanio was also sent down to the minors. On Tuesday, reliver Chad Paronto was optioned to the minors to make way for Teixeira on the roster.


From the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons are a week into training camp workouts in Flowery Branch. It's also a week into practice with Joey Harrington as 1st-string quarterback. He's the new number-1, as Michael Vick has been banned from the team by the league because of federal dog fighting charges against him.


Wednesday marked the 1st official day of practice for high school football teams across the state. Most schools open their season schedules on August 31st.

Georgia sports for Wednesday, August 1st

The Braves opened their 6-game homestand in grand style last night, blasting the Astros 12-4 in the 1st of 3 games from Turner Field.

There were 4 Atlanta home runs--2 from Kelly Johnson along with 5 RBI's. Brian McCann and Jeff Francouer also went deep. Chuck James earned the pitching win, his 9th of the season.

Earlier Tuesday, the Braves finalized three trades, which bolstered the lineup and bullpen. Slugging 1st baseman Mark Teixeira and reliever Ron Mahay come over from Texas. The Braves acquired closer Octavio Dotel from Kansas City, along with pitcher Royce Ring from San Diego. Of the players traded away yesterday, that included young catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia going to the Rangers. For the Braves tonight, Teixeira is expected to make his Atlanta debut at 1st base.

Go to GPB Sports Insider for more on the Braves' trades.

Georgia sports for Tuesday, July 31st

The Braves will start a 6-game homestand tonight with the 1st of 3 against the Houston Astros at Turner Field. As action begins, the Braves stand 4-and-a-half games behind 1st place New York in the NL-East division.

The Braves however finalized a pair of trades right before the 4pm trading deadline to improve their roster. In a mega-deal with the Texas Rangers, the Braves significantly boosted their lineup and bullpen. The Braves acquired slugging 1st baseman Mark Teixeira, along with lefthanded reliever Ron Mahay from the Texas Rangers. In return, Atlanta gave up some highly-touted prospects. Those names include catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and shortstop Elvis Andrus. Saltalamacchia had been up with the big league club already this season and had performed well, batting .284 with 4 homers and 12 RBI's in 47 games. Three other minor leaguers are also headed to Texas in the deal--all pitchers: Matt Harrison, Neftali Feliz, and Beau Jones.

In another deal announced Tuesday afternoon, the Braves dealt pitcher Kyle Davies to the Kansas City Royals, in exchange for closer Octavio Dotel.


From the NFL, it's another day of training camp workouts for the Atlanta Falcons in Flowery Branch.