Cardinals OF Oscar Taveras Dies

The hype has been all over the 22 year old phenom OF Oscar Taveras all around Cardinal Nation for many years, and rightfully so. The kid finally got his shot at the big leagues this year, and didn’t disappoint. He showed he belongs with powerful home runs and clutch hitting. We all knew the outfielder was special when he tied the game up this past week against the Giants in the NLCS, and once again Cardinal Nation was abuzz. Eventually, the Giants went on to clinch the series, which may have meant more than a potential championship.

We recently received the news that Taveras along with his girlfriend had passed away in a car accident on the night of October 26 in his hometown in the Dominican Republic. All of baseball is certainly in shock as the news broke of the young player passing. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said, “I simply can’t believe it.” Mozeliak along with any others from Major League Baseball are also voicing similar reactions.

Source: NBC News

Prayers are certainly with the Cardinals organization, the Taveras family, and others affected by the tragic loss of this special player, who certainly had a very bright future.

SEC Blog: Georgia at Arkansas Preview

The upset-minded Arkansas Razorbacks are looking to shock the world at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas tomorrow afternoon, with their potent rushing attack. The Razorbacks (3-3, 0-3 SEC) have come very close to SEC wins over formidable top 10 opponents in Texas A&M and Alabama, but just coming up short in the final minutes. Many of the experts have predicted Arkansas to finally have their conference win against #10 Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC).

On the other hand, the Dawgs are coming off of their best performance of the season. The absence of RB Todd Gurley did not seem to phase them in the 34-0 annihilation of Missouri. Georgia will certainly need to come out with the same mindset, as they are still without the star back due to the ongoing investigation of NCAA violations.

Offensively, the Dawgs will look for freshman Nick Chubb to carry them along with two impact receivers in Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Conley. I would also look for converted DB JJ Green to make a difference in the backfield for the Dawgs. QB Hutson Mason also needs to have a solid performance with minimal miscues for the Dawgs to come out on top against a very good defense on Saturday.

Defensively, the Dawgs showed they can still be dominant despite a depleted defensive secondary. I would look for star LB Leonard Floyd to have a big impact with putting pressure on Arkansas QB Brandon Allen and possibly forcing turnovers. In the secondary, senior leader and CB Damian Swann needs to continue to step up for the Dawgs to be able to win in Little Rock. Georgia’s defense seems to improve immensely from week to week under 1st year DC Jeremy Pruitt, and I look for that to continue.

Leonard Floyd with pressure on Missouri QB Maty Mauk (Source: Columbia Tribune)

I think the Dawgs squeak out a win against the Razorbacks in a game very exciting and full of action until the bitter end. I look for RB Nick Chubb to once again be explosive and stay composed throughout the game in order to give the Dawgs some key touches. Also, the run defense should continue to be as good as advertised in order to contain the explosive backs of Arkansas. Lastly, QB Hutson Mason will be efficient in managing the game, minimize turnovers and make accurate passes for the Dawgs to pull it out in a hostile environment.

Prep Sports Blog: Buford Softball Advances to Round 2

The Wolves cruised along once again to impressive wins vs. Pickens County on Wednesday evening. Buford’s ace and Tennessee commit Bria Bush battled her way through Game 1 of the set only allowing 2 runs on solo shots. Offensively, the lineup produced in every slot. At the top, OF Sydney Stavro (Georgia Tech) and 3B Baylee Sexton (Georgia State) used their weapons of contact and speed to set it up for the middle of the order. Player of the Week nominee and 1B Tessa Daniels (Florida State) once again showed she can produce, as she hit a solo home run. Bush’s pitching dominance throughout the game and the potent offense gave the Wolves a 8-2 win with a chance to clinch the set and advance.

In Game 2, the Wolves sent out Kennedy Kotula to pitch and send the team on past Pickens County. The offense came out swinging early, as once again the top of the lineup set it up for the power hitters as they put up a 4 spot in the top of the first. Surprisingly, Kotula began to struggle a bit as Pickens County took a 6-4 lead after 2. That claimed to be no worry for the Wolves as they picked up Kotula to put up 10 runs in the fourth and it seems as if the offense would not stop stringing hits together no matter the circumstance. The offensive blast was highlighted by a 3 run inside the park home run by SS Drew Puckett (Georgia Tech). Kotula then settled down and dazzled with very deceptive stuff for the rest of the game. The Wolves would end up beating Pickens County 14-6, run ruling them after 5 innings.

The Wolves will face St. Pius next week at home after they swept the double header against Woodward Academy by the score of 2-0 and 5-1. I definitely see the Wolves continuing their dominance against St. Pius as their offense can’t be stopped and their pitching staff is definitely one of the best in the state of Georgia. I expect the team to stay focused throughout and head to Columbus for the final half of AAAA State Playoffs.

SEC Blog: Georgia’s JJ Green Temporarily Moves from DB to RB

Georgia’s talented athlete in JJ Green is in fact making another move from defense back to offense. Green has definitely shown he can produce in many ways at the tailback position as he filled in a large role last season after Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall were injured. The move should take some of the load off of freshman Nick Chubb and bridge a speed gap between Chubb and sophomore Brendan Douglas. Green was the Dawgs second leading rusher last year.

Green in action against Tennessee in 2013 — Source: Athens-Banner Herald

Mike Bobo stated after today’s practice that the offensive move is temporary move until the talents of Sony Michel return. Green will then return to his role as a defensive back.

The change in Green’s position sets in doubt if Gurley will return for the Dawgs this season, if at all. The NCAA investigation has not concluded in the “likeness” case. Mark Richt stated today that he is “not sure” if the Heisman hopeful will return this season.

The Dawgs will travel to Little Rock for this weekend’s clash versus Arkansas. I believe the game comes down to the end of the fourth quarter, but the Dawgs should be able to squeak it out. The gain in speed at the tailback position should fill the void until the return of phenom Sony Michel.

Prep Sports Blog: Buford Softball’s Tessa Daniels Nominated for Gwinnett Daily Post Player of the Week & Round 1 Playoff Preview

Buford’s powerhouse softball program moved to 29-1 on the year and claimed yet another region championship after squeaking by Madison County by a score of 4-3 in extra innings last Thursday night. An instrumental player in the win was Florida State commit and 1B Tessa Daniels. She battled through many injuries throughout the game, also making a spectacular play at the plate which saved a run and possibly the game for Buford. To cap it off, Daniels hit a walk off sacrifice fly with OF Samantha Thomas at 3rd to win the game in dramatic fashion.

Source: Buford Softball

Due to her heroics, she has been nominated by the Gwinnett Daily Post for Player of the Week. In my opinion, she is definitely deserving due to the fact she has made great plays the entire year and has the potential to break the game open at any given moment. You can vote for Daniels by clicking here.

After being a key piece on Buford’s championship dominant squad, the Seminoles will definitely be lucky to have her on their team which includes a rich history of many championships as well. I believe her amazing leadership along with her skills on the field will help the ‘Noles immensely.

On the other hand, Buford looks to continue their quest to an eighth straight state championship as they face Pickens County at home on Wednesday in a two game set beginning at 4:30. The Wolves should look to use Tennessee commit and ace Bria Bush to carry them to a victory, along with offensive talent all throughout the lineup. The lineup is ideal for the Wolves as they feature speed at the top with OF Sydney Stavro and 3B Baylee Sexton, power in the heart of the lineup in 2B Jordan Deep, OF Bree Gutierrez and OF Remington Hasty and run producers in the back of the lineup in 1B Tessa Daniels, SS Drew Puckett and C Alexus Murray. I look for the Wolves to beat Pickens County, even though they may face a bit of a challenge. The winner of this series will face the winner of St. Pius/Woodward Academy the following week.

SEC Blog: Bulldogs Prepare to Continue for Arkansas Without Gurley

As we all know, Georgia RB Todd Gurley was suspended indefinitely last Thursday for allegedly receiving benefits for multiple autographs. The Heisman Trophy front runner did not make the trip to Columbia, MO in the team’s 34-0 rout of Missouri.

However, it has been reported by Macon Telegraph’s Seth Emerson and others that he would be practicing with the team before the key matchup at Arkansas. However, Richt repeatedly declines to answer questions on Gurley’s eligibility for future games by saying, “My answer is I don’t know.”

The Bulldogs certainly gave a bulk of the duties to true freshman RB Nick Chubb, and he will have to continue to carry the load until Gurley returns. There should be some help returning, as junior RB Keith Marshall is reported to return after suffering ankle and knee injuries in the game vs. Troy a few weeks back.

Georgia fans, coaches and players are anxiously awaiting the verdict of the NCAA investigation, as they want the star player back as soon as possible. Gurley’s spark and potential for big plays is certainly missed in his absence, as he leads the SEC in rushing yards with 773.

Gurley’s “Heisman Hurdle” vs. Tennessee. Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hours after the suspension of Gurley was announced, reports started flying about the length of the suspension. Chip Towers of the AJC reported that Gurley is “likely done for the year”. The NCAA bylaws however state that any earnings over $1000 only result in suspension for 30% of the season, and the player cannot be stripped of his eligibility. Therefore, Bulldog fans can continue to cling to a bit of hope that he may return. The results of the NCAA investigation should be revealed in the coming days.

The team must continue to battle for a SEC East title in his absence. The Dawgs are in the midst of a long road trip as they face Arkansas this Saturday in a crucial conference matchup (10/18 4pm, SECN). The schedule is packed with top tier opponents as they have an off week before the game in Jacksonville against Florida, then a potential division deciding game against a surprisingly very good Kentucky team in Lexington the following week. All of these games should be very challenging for Georgia as they must persevere and stay focused to get out of the trip unscathed to have a shot to get to Atlanta.

Orioles Advance to ALCS

Baltimore surely did not disappoint in their short beat down of the ace-filled Tigers pitching rotation. It seems as if every Orioles hitter made contributions as they never stopped scoring in Game 1, came back from three runs back against a horrendous Tigers bullpen in Game 2 and the home run heroics by Nelson Cruz cap off the sweep. This team proved many people along with my self wrong as they showed they can simply dominate.

Along with the offense performing, their pitching surely did not disappoint. Closer Zach Britton came into each game and slammed the door, which has proven him to be one of the best relievers in the league. Starting pitcher Bud Norris also had possibly the best start of his career, as he unexpectedly shut down the Tigers offense to close it out and advance to the ALCS. Baltimore surely hopes the offensive and pitching dominance continue and carry them to the Fall Classic.

Beginning Friday, the Orioles will begin the ALCS series on Friday night against the winner of the Royals/Angels series. The championship series will be televised on TBS.

SEC Blog: Florida’s QB Controversy

The Gators have not had a very successful season to this point. Even though they have a 3-1 record, they have experienced a few close matchups including the nail biter this past weekend at rebuilding Tennessee. The team came back in the second half after being down most of the game, mainly due to their quarterback change.

Junior QB Jeff Driskel has had hype surrounding him ever since joining the Gators a few years back. The hype however has not lived up, the supposed star has had a debacle of a 2014 campaign after coming back from his injury. Driskel has a tendency to turn the ball over multiple times a game and is simply has poor game management. The Gators will have no shot at much of a postseason unless head coach Will Muschamp loses his faith in Driskel.

In the opinions of many, the Gators should turn to the talents of true freshman QB Treon Harris. The potential star brings much more athleticism to the quarterback position and much better management than Driskel, despite fewer years in the Gators system. The Florida offense simply has much better flow when Harris behind center, as the offensive line, running backs and receivers seem to preform much better. Much doubt can be removed with this Gators team with the quarterback change, and possibly become a contender in the weak SEC East division.

Harris leading the comeback at Neyland last Saturday. (Source: Fox Sports)

At every other position than quarterback, the Gators have a pretty solid team. Their strengths consist of a stout run defense, All-American secondary led by Vernon Hargreaves and star WR DeMarcus Robinson. If the Gators make the simple change at QB, there is a good chance they could make their way to Atlanta, brush all of the criticism away and again become the powerhouse they once were.

NLDS Preview: Nationals vs. Giants

In a year of many intriguing match ups, we have yet another intriguing one. The Nationals feature multiple aces and a potent offense, while the Giants feature two of the best hitters in baseball, Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey.

Series Probables:
Game 1 (10/3)- Strasburg (14-11 3.14 ERA) vs. Peavy (1-9, 4.72 ERA) (3:07** FS1)
Game 2 (10/4)- Zimmermann (14-5 2.66 ERA) vs. Hudson (9-13, 3.57 ERA) (5:37** FS1)
Game 3 (10/6)- Fister (16-6, 2.41 ERA) vs. TBD (TBD, MLBN)
Game 4* (10/7)- TBD vs. TBD (TBD, FS1)
Game 5* (10/9)- TBD vs. TBD (TBD, FS1)

The starting rotations for both San Francisco and Washington have much experience. For Washington, they have the advantage due to the fact they have multiple aces in Strasburg, Zimmermann and a shockingly stellar Doug Fister. Even though their bullpen is somewhat shaky with a struggling closer in Rafael Soriano, they should be able to receive enough innings from their starters for the strong relief pitchers to finish it out.

San Francisco showed how Madison Bumgarner can take over a game in their Wild Card matchup vs. the Pirates on Wednesday night. I expect him to carry the team in his lone start, but I don’t see anyone past him who can throw a 7-8 inning gem on any given day. The lack of stellar starters in their rotation will reveal the weaknesses of their relief core, in my opinion.

Offensively, I also give the advantage to Washington. They are a team who can use power or string hits together and manufacture runs. The usual offensive producers such as Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth should carry them to a series win. Also, look for Ryan Zimmerman to have an impact off the bench for Washington.

San Francisco’s offense differentiates due to the fact that they are riddled by injuries. CF Angel Pagan is the key to their offense as the win differential is drastic from the difference making outfielder being in the lineup than out of the lineup. Buster Posey will be their usual MVP to maybe give them a win or two. Also, look for SS Brandon Crawford to make a difference, as he did in the Wild Card game.

I believe Washington to win the series in 4 games. The pitching and offenses are both mismatches, with both advantages going to the team who dominated through the regular season. I look for the dominance to continue, and possibly for a very deep playoff run.

Braves Announce Coaching Changes

Doug Dascenzo Fired
After one full season with the team, the Braves decide to dismiss Doug Dascenzo and pursue a different approach at the 3B coaching position.

Bo Porter Replaces Dascenzo
The Braves officially decide to hire Bo Porter to replace Doug Dascenzo as third base, outfield, and base running coach. Porter was recently fired as the Houston Astros manager after having two losing seasons with the rebuilding club. A new position in a winning organization will benefit him as a coach, as he takes on a lesser role. However, his leadership, fire and ability to assist players constructively will not be lost.

Photo Source: Associated Press

Fredi Gonzalez Retained as Manager
Despite much of the rumors and hope of manager Fredi Gonzalez being fired, the Braves plan to keep him for at least the 2015 campaign. It is believed by many in the Braves revamped front office that he will change his approach with a moderately altered roster. Gonzalez will certainly be placed on one of baseball’s biggest hot seats throughout the season

Hitting Coach Search to Begin Immediately
Due to the resignation of former Braves hitting coach Greg Walker and firing of assistant hitting coach Greg Walker, the search for a new tandem of coaches will begin immediately. It is believed the Braves will again search from outside the organization for a new coach, rather than looking at the Braves minor league levels.

What do the coaching announcements mean for the GM search?
The announcements of coach firings and new acquisitions, it is almost certain the Braves have a GM decided. Rather than searching outside of the organization as they have with 3B coach Bo Porter and special assistant Gordon Blakeley, the Braves should promote assistant GM John Coppolella to the full time GM position.