Atlanta Braves

Well there's no doubt that this has been an up-and-down season for the Atlanta Braves. Where one facet of the game has been stellar, another area would breakdown.

Young phenom, Tommy Hanson is apparently immune to his team's struggles, however.

Hanson burst onto the scene in the Arizona Fall League this past off season when he won the hitting dominated league's MVP. He won five of seven starts, and had 28.2 innings pitched, 49 strikeouts, and a 0.63 ERA.

That came on the heels of throwing a no-hitter at AA-Mississippi last season.

The legend was born.

I finally had an opportunity to watch Tommy Hanson’s last start, which was against the New York Yankees on June 23. His line was not an overly impressive.

5.1 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, 4 K

This past week the Braves played a three-game series against the Yankees in Atlanta. As expected, the stands where split about 50-50. After all, New York has a large following.

The amount of visiting team fans is not my complaint. It's the unbelievable lack of respect that the fans showed during the games that upset me. 

It is important to point out that I do not wish to pin this on just Yankees fans. I know these people are all over and no team is exempt from a variety of disgraceful followers.

It's over. It's done. Forget about it Braves fans. This team is the most dysfunctional, mentally deficient Braves team I have witnessed since 1989.

Sure, the record doesn't indicate that, but the stats surely do.

For that reason alone General Manager Frank Wren should wave the white flag on this season and sell off valuable, veteran pieces that could net the Braves a serious influx of young, talented players for 2010.

Now I know what some of you will say.

"You're an idiot! We're only four games out!?!" or "You aren't a true Braves fan!"

When New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain hit a liner right at Atlanta Braves pitcher Kenshin Kawakami Wednesday night, everyone at Turner Field collectively held their breath.

While the primary concern was about Kawakami's safety (luckily, he only suffered a neck contusion and is day-to-day), the Braves also worried about losing their solid new starter.

If you read my stories very often you know my history. I've been a diehard Atlanta Braves fan for 20-plus years. But I am first and foremost a baseball fan. I love the game of baseball.

I've watched many of the greats play this wonderful game.

That said, I decided to compile a starting lineup of my favorite non-Braves of all time. The players included are guys that stand out in my mind as guys who played the game the right way, were professional, and guys that I just enjoyed watching play.

The Dad.

In a conventional role, he is the provider of the household, the teacher of his children, and the molder of his son's character.

I am proud to say that my dad has been successful in all of the above, but I feel that he has gone beyond that when it comes to sports.

No, he's never been a really big "sports guy," but he has always recognized that I am one and was always one to further stoke my passion.

Kenshin Kawakami quietly won the match-up between the former Japanese aces at Fenway Park on Friday night, leading the Braves to an 8-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.

It was quiet from Kawakami's perspective as he recorded his first four outs of the game on strikeouts of Dustin Pedroia, J. D. Drew, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.

It was anything but quiet while Daisuke Matsuzaka was on the mound.

I'm sure many of you were captivated by the 2008 presidential election. I sure was. In December of '07 there were many contenders for the highest seat in the free world. As time went along, however, the numbers continually dwindled until there were only a few legitimate candidates.

Usually in a presidential election cycle, Super Tuesday, in February, is the culmination of the process. On Super Tuesday in 2008, Republican primary contender Ron Paul thought he had a real chance against the likes of John McCain, Mike Huckabee, and Mitt Romney.