Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Drop And Roll
By Jeff Schafer
Alabama Sports
Hank Aaron-home burglar receives 50-year sentence
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: One of the best ball players to walk on an MLB field and an Atlanta Braves great, Hank Aaron’s home was broken into last year. The judge finished the trail with a sentence that will hopefully teach this “guy” a lesson.
"A Fulton County (Ga.) judge gave a defendant a 50-year sentence on Monday after he pleaded guilty to burglarizing the home of Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. TheAtlanta Journal-Constitution reported Isiah Slaton was sentenced to eight years in prison and 42 years on probation for breaking into the former Atlanta Braves star’s Atlanta home last year.Superior Court Judge Shawn LaGrua delivered the sentence after the 24-year-old admitted to stealing, among other objects, Aaron’s baseball award rings destined for the Hall of Fame and two BMW automobiles.In his victim-impact statement, the Mobile native said he felt “violated” by the crime. He termed the stolen items as “priceless.”"
Atlanta Braves at a crossroads with tough stretch ahead
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: After Monday’s off day, the Atlanta Braves take on the Seattle Mariners for a two game series then return home. But just because they are home, it doesn’t get any easier. This could be a strand that could put the Braves in 3rd place in the division and really dictate the 2014 season.
"The next homestand includes three games with the Nationals, four with the Dodgers and three interleague games with the Oakland A’s.That’s right, 10 straight games against division leaders — with the last seven of those against the two teams with the best records in the major leagues.“We’ve got to score runs,” said Braves catcher Gerald Laird after Braves were outscored 17-6 by the Padres. “We’ve got to get it going because it doesn’t get any easier.”"
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The Braves’ season could be done by Labor Day
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Swept by the Dodgers, swept by the Padres and now we face arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Felix Hernandez on Tuesday for game one of a two game series with a good baseball team…the Seattle Mariners. The road to October won’t be easy for the Braves, now 3 games out of first in the NL East.
"No team looks good when losing six in a row, but the cold truth is that the Braves haven’t looked very good since April. It’s August. School — at least in Cobb County, their future home — is again in session. And Baseball Prospectus, which 13 days ago assessed the Braves’ chances of making the playoffs at 51.5 percent, has slashed its estimate to 36.6 percent.The Braves awoke Monday 3 1/2 games out of first place in the National League East. They led the division by 3 1/2 games in April. Come the Fourth of July, they were still 1 1/2 games in front. Today they face the distinct possibility of falling out of realistic playoff contention before Labor Day.Braves fans are evincing standard-issue outrage over the plunge, but we should have seen it coming. The schedule from June 23 through July 28 offered 31 games against sub-.500 opposition; the Braves, alas, could gain only a game on Washington over those five weeks. Then the Braves went to L.A. and got swept. Then they were swept by a once-puny San Diego team that looked robust alongside the punchless visitors."
Fan loses foul ball to Freeman, gives out phone number in interview
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Freddie Freeman does it again…he made another great catch into the crowd on Sunday. That was entertaining enough but then the interview after by the kid he snagged the ball from was great! And it lead to a lot of text messages.
"During the sixth inning of Sunday’s series finale in San Diego, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman ran into foul territory and reached into the second row of seats to make the catch. He made that grab in front of fan Stephen Kondor, whose hand got caught into Freeman’s glove.Interviewed by FOX Sports South and SportSouth reporter Tom Hart moments later, Kondor proceeded to give out his phone number. Here was the exchange:"