Connect with us

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Braves 2023 Season Review: Nicky Lopez

Published

on

Atlanta Braves 2023 Season Review: Nicky Lopez


At the 2023 trade deadline, the Atlanta Braves were exploring ways to improve their squad in preparation for the playoffs. Since Brian Snitker was notorious for sticking with the same lineup every night, Atlanta needed some bench depth. They landed Nicky Lopez who did exactly what he was asked to do. 

When Lopez came to the Braves, he knew he would not be an everyday player. With his ability to play multiple infield positions, Nicky Lopez was available to give multiple players well-earned days of rest or ready to jump in in the event of an injury. 

He appeared in 25 games, produced well in that short time, and had one of the best debuts with a team you could imagine. The former Royal was 4-for-4 in game 1 of a doubleheader against the Mets where the Braves put up 21 runs. Lopez even pitched in the bottom of the 9th inning. You couldn’t write a better script.

Lopez posted a .277 batting average with 1 home run and 12 runs batted in during his time with Atlanta. Over this stretch, he played shortstop, second base, third base, first base, and even pitched 2.1 innings during blowouts when the Braves needed an innings eater. 

Advertisement

In the world of complicated analytics, we can’t help but point out Nicky Lopez’ “Hard Hit %.” This statistic is the percentage of balls put in play at 95 miles per hour or more. While he was with the Braves, 34.5% of balls Lopez put in play were 95 mph or harder. To put into perspective how impressive this was, his next highest career percentage was in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals at 27%. 

Lopez quickly became a fan favorite and many were disappointed he was dealt to the Chicago White Sox in the Aaron Bummer trade. Currently, the Braves have David Fletcher in the organization who will likely serve as Atlanta’s super utility man. This has become a position the Braves like to keep but Fletcher may have big shoes to fill after seeing what Nicky Lopez did in his 25 games. 

The Braves could have brought him back for 2024 but decided to use him in a package deal for Aaron Bummer instead. Lopez will get the chance to play with the team he grew up watching in 2024 and we wish him all of the best.



Source link

Advertisement

Atlanta, GA

Midtown Atlanta sewer work to close part of 10th Street

Published

on

Midtown Atlanta sewer work to close part of 10th Street


Drivers in Midtown Atlanta should prepare for traffic changes this week as a new roadwork project begins along 10th Street.

What we know:

Advertisement

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said part of 10th Street will close starting Wednesday for sewer repairs.

The construction will impact the eastbound lane between Charles Allen Drive and Monroe Drive.

Officials said the repair project is expected to continue for about four weeks.

Advertisement

Crews will work overnight on weekdays from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. Construction activity will continue around the clock on weekends until the project is complete.

What you can do:

Advertisement

Motorists traveling through Midtown are encouraged to plan ahead and expect delays in the area during the closure.

AtlantaNews



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Atlanta, GA

Three Biggest Questions Facing the Atlanta Hawks Following the NBA Draft Lottery Results

Published

on

Three Biggest Questions Facing the Atlanta Hawks Following the NBA Draft Lottery Results


The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, and while the results did not go the way that the Atlanta Hawks had hoped, landing at No. 8 overall, but they are still getting a top-eight pick in a deep draft when they are coming off a season in which they won 46 games and made the playoffs. Atlanta had hoped that having the most favorable selection from the Pelicans and Bucks would turn into a top-four pick, but they are going to get a chance to add to their young core with a high-level talent.

Now that the NBA Draft Lottery is over, what are some questions facing the Hawks?

1. Who could they take with the pick?

Advertisement

We will get into other scenarios later, but for this exercise, let’s just assume that the Hawks are going to stick at No. 8 and make a selection.

While the top four picks are likely going to be (in some order) AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson, the rest of the draft does not seem to be as certain.

There is a popular sentiment that the quarter of guards consisting of Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, and Mikel Brown Jr are going to be picks 5-8, but that is not as much of a certainity as the top four.

The Clippers are picking 5th, but they just made a big trade for Darius Garland. Brooklyn just took four guards in last year’s draft, and the Kings are always a wild card, though of these teams, they have the biggest need at guard and don’t seem likely to veer from that.

Advertisement

In the NBA, needs is usually ignored in the draft and the best player available is taken most of the time, but it will be interesting to see which players the Clippers, Nets, and Kings decide on.

Advertisement

If those teams do take three of those guards, the Hawks would have their choice of whoever is left over from that group or players such as Michigan center Aday Mara, Arizona guard Brayden Burries, or Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.

2. Could the Hawks move up or down in the draft?

While I think as of right now that the most likely scenario is that the Hawks stay put at No. 8, they do have some interesting options to potentially move up or down depending on how things fall.

Advertisement

As I mentioned earlier, the Clippers just traded for Darius Garland and if the Hawks wanted to get ahead of the Kings and Nets to land the guard of their choice, they could try and put together an attractive package to try and make a trade with Los Angeles.

Advertisement

The Nets seem less likely to move down, but after taking four guards in last year’s draft, could they move down and try to target another position?

What about a trade down? If the Hawks had been at No. 7 or in the top four, I would say a trade down is unlikely, but at No. 8, there could be an opportunity there for Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh. Would Oklahoma City be interested in moving No. 12 and No. 17 for No. 8? That would give the Hawks three first round picks and if they like a player that could be in that range, that would be a possibility, though all of this is just hypothetical at the moment.

Advertisement

3. Do the Hawks attempt to move the No. 8 pick for an established star?

Saleh has been adamnat that the team is not one player away and that the Hawks wanted to add through the draft, but even in a draft as deep as this one, the odds of getting a star player at No. 8 are long.

Advertisement

It is tough to really gauge the trade market for this offseason right now, but the No. 8 pick is an attractive asset. Could the Hawks try to trade for Celtics star Jaylen Brown? Again, it is tough to know who else could be available this summer and I would bet against the Hawks moving this pick for a veteran player, but never say never in the NBA.

Add us as a preferred source on Google



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Atlanta, GA

Braves News: Remembering Bobby Cox, strides from Spencer Strider, more

Published

on

Braves News: Remembering Bobby Cox, strides from Spencer Strider, more


On a sad day overall for Braves Country, due to the passing of the legendary Bobby Cox, Spencer Strider gave Atlanta fans something to be happy and hopeful about with a stellar outing, shutting down the Dodgers potent offense for 6.0 innings with 8 strikeouts and 15 whiffs. He looked as good as he has in a long time. His fastball averaged 96.4 MPH, with 17 inches of induced vertical break and he had four pitches working nicely together. Even if Strider doesn’t quite return to his Jacob deGrom levels of dominance, having him as a true #1 or #2 quality starter would make a huge difference for this Braves team to pair with Chris Sale. Bryce Elder has been great this season, but shouldn’t be the second best starter in the rotation of a World Series contender. If Strider can keep something like Saturday night’s version of himself moving forward, that’s a huge development for him and this team.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending