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 Wednesday, December 5th

The Atlanta Braves fortified a couple of needs in a trade with the Chicago Cubs Tuesday. The Braves sent reliever Jose Ascanio to Chicago--in return, Atlanta got reliever Will Ohman and utility infielder Omar Infante. The trade satisfies a pair of needs for the Braves--filling the gap for a left-handed reliever, and getting a backup infielder. Braves' officials are with those from other teams at baseball's winter meetings in Nashville.

Pro basketball out of Tuesday--the Atlanta Hawks were losers at home to Detroit, 106-95.

Georgia sports for Tuesday, December 4th

Men's college basketball last night included wins for Georgia and Mercer. Georgia's Bulldogs were home in Athens, scoring the 81-74 decision over Augusta State. Sundiata Gaines led scorers with 24 points. Georgia improves its record to 5-1. Mercer tripped-up Charleston-Southern in the final second. James Florence hit the winner with :01 showing on the clock. He finished with 28 points.

From pro basketball, the Atlanta Hawks were winners on the road at Philidelphia 88-79. Josh Smith paced the Hawks with 22 points--Atlanta improves its season record to 7-9.

Off-season news from the Atlanta Braves. The team has announced a deal with the Chicago Cubs. The Braves send reliever Jose Ascanio to Chicago--in return, Atlanta gets reliever Will Ohman and utility infielder Omar Infante. The trade satisfies a pair of needs for the Braves--filling the gap for a left-handed reliever, and getting a backup infielder. Braves' officials are with those from other teams this week at baseball's winter meetings in Nashville.