Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Braves Defying More Odds Than You Think

Published

5 months ago

August 28, 2024

Atlanta Braves Defying More Odds Than You Think

Here is the breakdown of where the Atlanta Braves currently stand.

They have a 72-60 record and have won 12 of their last 17 games. They sit in second place in the National League East and possess the third NL wild card spot with a three-game cushion over the New York Mets.

They also quietly have one of the best records against teams over .500 this season at 48-34. Keep that in mind for October.

After last season when they tore up the league in the regular season, this sounds like a bit of a letdown. They’ve also been barely holding their head above water at times. However, the Atlanta Braves know as well as any team in baseball how meaningful a regular-season record is come playoff time.

Injuries have piled up with the need to keep finding replacement players to plug in. Come to think of it, the more we look at the situation, the more it’s impressive that they are in their current position.

Let’s look at who has been injured so far this season, both out for the season and who has missed significant time:

This doesn’t include guys who missed less than 30 days, such as starting pitchers Max Fried and Reynaldo Lopez. These are injuries that should have done a team in. How is being a playoff spot even possible?

It came down to good management and the eagerness to step up and prove your worth. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has played chess with the roster. He found guys whose careers have seen better days and revived their careers. How’s that Chris Sale acquisition looking?

Multiple guys who were released by their previous teams just this season have looked stellar in Atlanta. The second chance got some players eager to show they still got it.

Credit to manager Brian Snitker as well. Parts of the fan base have been throwing shade at him this season. While it’s not completely unwarranted, it takes a strong manager to hold things as well as he has together.

He had some moves that paid off for a time. Jarred Kelenic was put in the lead-off spot and the Braves went on a nice run for a bit. Putting Lopez in the rotation led to an All-Star selection. Even just on Tuesday night, he put Michael Harris in the sixth spot in the order and he had himself a night.

I’m not going to start saying that they should hand over the Manager of the Year Award to him. Let’s not get too crazy. But he should get some credit.

Also, not to be that guy, but the power-of-friendship argument can be made here too. This is a tight-knit group of players in this clubhouse – some of these guys have been together for a few seasons now. The recent additions have fit right in with that. That band-of-brothers mentality can help a group overcome quite a number of obstacles.

There’s still a month to play. A lot can happen. But despite the ups and downs, they still get to worry about September and possibly October. It’s quite a miracle taking place on the diamond.

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Atlanta, GA

4 passengers injured as hundreds evacuate Delta flight by emergency slide in Atlanta

Published

7 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

4 passengers injured as hundreds evacuate Delta flight by emergency slide in Atlanta

Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate a Delta airlines flight by emergency slides in snowy conditions Friday after an aborted takeoff in Atlanta — leading to at least four injuries and one hospitalization, authorities said.

Roughly 200 people hurriedly deplaned Minneapolis-bound flight 2668 on the tarmac at Atlanta International Airport at 9:10 a.m. due to an engine problem, airline officials said.

Footage posted on social media shows frazzled travelers, including children, running with their luggage from a Boeing 757-300 plane in several inches of snow, according to atlantanewsfirst.com.

Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate the flight by emergency slides in the snow. X/KarlenePetitt

Four passengers reported minor injuries and one was taken to the hospital, while the others were treated at the scene, the airport said.

Details about the engine problems were not immediately clear.

Delta apologized to passengers for the nerve-wracking experience.

delta plane — Passengers deplaned by slide after the aborted takeoff. X/KarlenePetitt

“Delta’s flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the takeoff of flight…after an indication of an engine issue,” Delta said in a statement.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers, and we apologize to our customers for their experience.”

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Atlanta, GA

Houston faces Atlanta on 3-game win streak

Published

16 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Houston Rockets (25-12, second in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (19-19, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Houston seeks to continue its three-game win streak with a victory over Atlanta.

The Hawks have gone 10-7 at home. Atlanta ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 17.5 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 3.6.

The Rockets have gone 12-6 away from home. Houston averages 113.1 points and has outscored opponents by 6.0 points per game.

The Hawks’ 13.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Rockets give up. The Hawks average 113.1 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 119.8 the Hawks give up to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals for the Hawks.

Alperen Sengun is averaging 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and five assists for the Rockets.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 5-5, averaging 119.2 points, 41.2 rebounds, 30.5 assists, 11.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.

Rockets: 7-3, averaging 113.7 points, 48.0 rebounds, 19.9 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.9 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Kobe Bufkin: out for season (shoulder), Larry Nance Jr.: out (hand), Jalen Johnson: day to day (shoulder), Cody Zeller: day to day (personal).

Rockets: Tari Eason: day to day (injury management), Jabari Smith Jr.: out (hand).

——

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Atlanta, GA

MLS apologizes for falsely announcing Atlanta United transfer

Published

24 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

MLS apologizes for falsely announcing Atlanta United transfer

Major League Soccer apologized Thursday for publishing a story on its website that identified the wrong player as having transferred to one of its clubs, Atlanta United.

The league’s website, MLSSoccer.com, published a story Wednesday that falsely reported that Celtic FC and Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi had been acquired by Atlanta. The article was quickly removed.

“Major League Soccer’s website mistakenly posted an article that named the wrong player as having signed with an MLS club,” the league said in a statement to The Athletic. “The article was immediately removed and corrected. MLS extends its sincere apologies to the impacted parties.”

The false report is no longer available, and the link now directs to an error message.

The mistake appears linked to Atlanta’s transfer hint for another player, US-born Cayman Togashi, a former Japanese youth international who spent his entire professional career in Japan. Atlanta teased on social media the arrival of a Japanese player, fueling those rumors even more.

The club later announced it signed Togashi through the 2025 season with an option for 2026. The 31-year-old signed on a free transfer from Sagan Tosu in Japan’s top flight.

Last month, the Daily Mail reported that Atlanta submitted a $12 million bid for Furuhashi. The club also recently named Ronny Delia, a former Celtic manager, as its head coach. Around the time of the false report by MLS, Furuhashi played in Celtic’s 2-0 win against Dundee United, coming on as a substitute for Adam Idah in the 62nd minute.

(Photo: Craig Foy / SNS Group via Getty Images)

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