Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 12/17
By Jeff Schafer
7 Best Major League Baseball Managers
With the retirements of Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa, and Jim Leyland in recent years, Major LeagueBaseball lost three of its all-time great managers. However, their replacements proved to be more than worthy of the position. In fact, there are several great young managers along with the old-school names who excel at the job. Here are the seven best active MLB managers.
7. Mike Matheny, St. Louis Cardinals
6. Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles
5. Fredi Gonzalez, Atlanta Braves
4. Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians
3. Joe Girardi, New York Yankees
2. Clint Hurdle, Pittsburgh Pirates
1. Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays
Braves agree to one-year deal with righty Floyd
Floyd, 30, is recovering from surgery in May to repair the ulnar collateral ligament and a torn flexor muscle in his right elbow. That ended his seventh season with theWhite Sox.
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
He passed a physical in Atlanta on Monday before completing the deal, which also includes roster and performance bonuses.
Floyd said his arm ”feels tremendous.”
”It’s nice to start over, create the right mechanics … all the simple things to become more natural,” he said.
Floyd, who spoke at Turner Field on Monday, said he already has recovered his arm speed and is just working on endurance. He said he has been cleared to throw from 55 feet.
Braves general manager Frank Wren said he hopes Floyd can be ready in May. Despite his optimistic update on his recovery, Floyd said ”I have no idea” when he’ll be ready to pitch.
Floyd said he liked the Braves, who won the NL East in 2013, for their consistent success.
”It just seemed like all the arrows were pointing to Atlanta,” he said.
Wren said he expects Floyd to be a ”solid, middle of the rotation starter.”
Atlanta Braves to Play Exhibition Game in Rome on March 29th
The Rome Braves will host the Atlanta Braves in a special exhibition game at State Mutual Stadium on Saturday, March 29, 2014 against the Braves Future Stars. The Future Stars team will be made up of players from the Rome, Mississippi and Gwinnett Braves. The game is presented by River City Bank and State Mutual Insurance Company.
This preseason game will be the last one for the Atlanta Braves before they travel to Philadelphia to open the 2014 season.
“We are honored to host the Atlanta Braves at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, GA,” says Rome General Manager Michael Dunn. “The fact that our fans will be able to see former Rome Braves and current Atlanta Braves play in their hometown stadium will be a thrill of a lifetime. We’re excited to welcome them to our city.”
Many current members of the Atlanta team played in Rome during their careers including: Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Craig Kimbrel, Mike Minor, and Kris Medlen.
Pro-stadium group paints an incomplete picture
If you think Cobb County should spend more money on schools, not a taxpayer-funded home for the Atlanta Braves, a pro-stadium organization wants you to think again.
A glossy mailer funded by Revitalize Cobb, a nonprofit interest group, says that a new stadium will bring more education dollars. Just do the math.
“9,241 New Jobs + $295,000,000 in Wages + $0 Tax Increase for Homeowners + $3,000,000 Annually for Cobb Schools = 1 Great Deal for Cobb Residents,” the ad said.
Put this way, bringing the Braves to Cobb does seem like a no-brainer. But we here at PolitiFact Georgia know enough to question any number we meet. We asked the Truth-O-Meter to check Revitalize Cobb’s arithmetic.