Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves’ News 11/23
Sep 25, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder
Carlos Gomez(27) reacts with Atlanta Braves catcher
Brian McCann(16) after hitting a home run during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Morning Chop: A Summary of Braves News
A toast to the 2013 Atlanta Braves
Oh, the Atlanta Braves, where do we start? Of all the thing the Braves might have been called this year, it’s important to remember this: They were in first place in the NL all but one day. That’s something to toast your glasses to. Beyond that, let’s just say the Braves kept things interesting.
To the Braves, for making sure we know when its’ OK to admire home runs (hint: never). To the Braves, for reminding us that the crossing home plate after hitting a homer is a privilege not a right. To the Braves, forfighting even yourselves. To the Braves, for bringing Waffle House to baseball and for giving Kate Upton another reason to be on a baseball blog. To the Braves for being all tough, but still having the game’s best hugger.
How the Loss of Brian McCann Could Impact the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves saw Tim Hudson sign with the San Francisco Giants a few days ago, and catcherBrian McCann also looks to have one foot out the door.
The bidding for the 29-year-old catcher should heat up in the upcoming days and weeks.
"Brian McCann expected to start visiting teams he’s talking with in the next 2 weeks;NYY/TEX/BOS among more than half-dozen teams interested.— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 20, 2013"
While fans knew losing McCann was likely to happen at the end of the 2013 season, that doesn’t mean the loss of a seven-time All-Star won’t be felt.
And his loss will likely be felt more in the clubhouse than on the field.
Are the Braves leaving Atlanta because of crime? Because of race?
[Editorial Note: I came within a hair of writing an article about my personal thoughts on this subject, but decided instead to just post the article in our chop, and let the fans debate the issue. So, make our server timeout with your comments, pro or con on this issue!]
People have been talking around this since the announcement of the Braves move to Cobb County last week, but today Neil deMause of Field of Schemes asks the question directly: are the Braves leaving Atlanta because their primarily white fans hate going to the predominantly black and, allegedly, crime-infested neighborhood in which Turner Field sits?
It’s the sort of thing no one would ever cop to. And the sort of thing where merely asking the question is likely to be looked at as needlessly provocative. But it’s also a fair question given how frequently one sees comments, tweets, etc. from Braves fans that — perhaps even subconsciously — evince a greater comfort with being in the burbs than the city.
The Braves Battle: Lee has learned lessons from TSPLOST defeat
COBB Commission Chairman Tim Lee struck out last year with the TSPLOST. But he’s on the verge of hitting a home run with his effort to woo the Atlanta Braves to Cobb. Give him credit for not making the same mistakes twice.
Lee was the highest-profile Cobb advocate for that transportation sales tax referendum, the Cobb centerpiece of which originally was to be a $1 billion light rail line from the Cumberland area to a Midtown Atlanta MARTA station. It was overwhelmingly unpopular with the public as soon as it was unveiled and things went downhill from there both for him and for the TSPLOST. Opponents emerged from every corner and grew stronger as the summer of 2012 wore on.
The measure ultimately got hammered by a 2-to-1 margin at the ballot box. Lee’s support for the controversial tax hike also nearly cost him his chairmanship. He narrowly held off challenger Bill Byrne, a TSPLOST foe, in a runoff election.