Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Braves’ Whit Merrifield Blasts MLB After Hit By Pitch

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2024

Atlanta Braves’ Whit Merrifield Blasts MLB After Hit By Pitch

A positive update on Atlanta Braves second baseman Whit Merrifield after he took a hit by pitch to the head on Tuesday night is that he is OK.

“Yeah, he’s fine. No concussion or anything like that,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “If you ask him he’s ready to go tomorrow.

However, being all right isn’t going to cut it this time for Merrifield, and perhaps it shouldn’t.

He expressed his frustration about the lack of accountability for pitchers who are throwing heaters up and in to hitters with the consequences it can have. One of them is the injuries and close calls on injuries to his teammates.

“It’s ridiculous where the game is at right now,” Merrifield said. “We lost [Austin] Riley. We almost lost [Michael Harris II]. We almost lost [Travis] d’Arnaud in the span of two, three weeks.”

Third baseman Austin Riley is out for the rest of the regular season, with the postseason up in the air, due to a right hand fractured on a hit by pitch. While he only ended up missing part of a game, it looked like Harris would miss a week.

Merrifield added how the game has changed to allow for more of these type of injuries to happen.

“You can’t hit a guy back anymore,” Merrifield said. “That ‘oh if I hit this guy, my guy’s gonna get hit.’ That’s not in the game anymore…the teams are bringing pitchers up that don’t know where [their pitches are] going. They throw 100 miles an hour, and they’re like, ‘All right, we’ll see if you can get these guys out.’”

Merrifield said he would make sure this is addressed to the rules committee to address safety concerns.

“It is driving me nuts and I hate where the game is at right now with that, and I’m on the rules committee. We got a call tomorrow. And it’s gonna be a long conversation on what they gotta do to make pitchers think. I just took 95 off the back of the head. I’m very lucky I got hit in a good spot.”

If you saw your teammates get injured and then you took one off the head, you’d likely feel the same way.

We’ll have to wait and see how the rules committee addresses the state of pitching and the injuries it can lead to and if Merrifield is indeed back in the lineup on Wednesday.

The stats do back that hit-by-pitches are becoming an issue. It’s happening at its highest rate since the 1890s. According to Baseball Reference, there have been, on average, 0.42 hit by pitches per game in 2024. Between 1927 and 1992, the rate was never above 0.25 and rarely above 0.2 per game. It’s been ticking up gradually ever since and now happens twice as much as when your parents and grandparents watched baseball.

According to Baseball America, the average velocity on a four-seem fastball has gone from 91.9 in 2008 to 94.2 in 2023. There is a correlation to be made.

I ran the stats from 2008 to 2023 through a coefficient correlation calculator to test how strong of a correlation there is. The scale is between -1 and 1. The closer the r-value to either end, the stronger the correlation with a score close to zero meaning a weaker correlation. The r-value was 0.7973, indicating a strong correlation between increased velocity and increased hit by pitches.

Though the players at the rules committee might already know this.

The Braves continue their series with the Rockies on Wednesday and look to win the series. First pitch is set for 7:20 p.m. EDT.

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Atlanta, GA

Police increase presence across metro Atlanta amid teen takeover rumors

Published

12 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Police increase presence across metro Atlanta amid teen takeover rumors

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Popular gathering spots across metro Atlanta saw heightened law enforcement presence Saturday night following rumors of potential “teen takeovers.”

Authorities say a similar event last weekend led to more than a dozen teenagers and adults being taken into custody. In response, agencies across the metro area are stepping up patrols in several high-traffic areas, including the Beltline and the Cumberland Mall and Battery districts.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 9 juveniles, 8 adults charged after weekend ‘takeover’ event at The Battery

Along the Atlanta Beltline, Atlanta police confirmed they increased staffing levels as a precaution. An APD officer on scene told Atlanta News First that officers are maintaining an enhanced presence due to the takeover rumors. An Atlanta News First crew observed multiple people put in handcuffs and an APD officer at the Beltline said four guns had been confiscated.

Multiple patrol units were visible along the Beltline, with officers monitoring foot traffic and briefly detaining several individuals. Police said the show of force is intended to deter large, disruptive gatherings before they begin.

Cumberland Mall to have teen curfew Saturday after ‘takeover’ at The Battery

In Cobb County, law enforcement agencies are coordinating efforts around Cumberland Mall and The Battery Atlanta. The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office deployed its mounted patrol unit, with four deputies on horseback circling the mall. Units from the Cobb County Police Department, Marietta Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol were also seen monitoring traffic and pedestrian activity in the area.

Electronic message boards and posted signage between Cumberland and The Battery warned visitors of the increased law enforcement presence. Officers said the goal is to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s arrests and ensure public safety.

For now, officials say the evening remains calm, but they are prepared to respond quickly if large crowds begin to form.

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Atlanta, GA

Shooting causes lockdown at Mall of Stonecrest

Published

24 hours ago

February 28, 2026

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Shooting causes lockdown at Mall of Stonecrest

Police at the Mall of Stonecrest (FOX 5)

STONECREST, Ga. – The DeKalb County Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred at the Mall of Stonecrest on Saturday afternoon.

What we know:

The department was alerted to the shooting around 12:40 p.m. Officers responded to the mall and immediately began a search of the premises. In an early update, police stated the mall was on lockdown and that no victim had been found.

A few hours later, police confirmed a victim had been located and several people were detained after running away from the mall. The injured person was transported to a hospital and is expected to survive.

The mall remained on lockdown as of 3:45 p.m. as officers continued clearing the building. Police said the process could take several hours and requested that the public continue to avoid the area.

DeKalb police stated there is no further danger to the public.

What we don’t know:

At this time, it is unclear what led to the shooting or if any of the detained individuals have been charged.

The Source: Information in this article came from the DeKalb County Police Department via an email.

StonecrestNewsCrime and Public Safety

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Atlanta, GA

The Pulse: Are pajamas really banned at the airport?

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

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The Pulse: Are pajamas really banned at the airport?

The show highlights a tongue-in-cheek social media “ban” on pajamas and Crocs at Tampa International Airport that sparked national debate over travel etiquette. The crew also covers the Atlanta Hawks’ bold “Magic City Monday” promotion featuring famous lemon pepper wings and halftime performances by T.I.. Additionally, the segment dives into Gen Z’s “loud breakup” trend on TikTok and ends with a nostalgic defense of the Burger King Whopper.

Posted February 27, 2026 7:47pm EST

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