Around The Diamond: 2011 Atlanta Braves Preview

When you talk about the 2011 Atlanta Braves two things come to mind right away Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones. This will be the first time in a long time the Braves will be led by someone besides Bobby Cox. The Braves have hired Fredi Gonzalez to take over for Bobby Cox. Getting Chipper Jones back is also something many people will be watching very closely. The Braves have lost quite a feel people from last years team.

Manager Bobby Cox (Retired)
RP Billy Wagner (Retired)
RP Takashi Saito (Released)
RP Michael Dunn (Traded)
RP Kyle Farnsworth (Released)
OF Matt Diaz (Released)
OF Melky Cabrera (Released)
OF Rick Ankiel (Released)
1B Derrek Lee (Released)
1B Troy Glaus (Released)
UT Omar Infante (Traded)

That is a lot of players for the Braves to lose and the list additions is much shorter and nothing really earth shattering either.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez
2B Dan Uggla (Trade)
RP Scott Linebrink (Trade)
RP George Sherrill (Free Agent)
RP Anthony Varvaro (Waivers)
OF Joe Mather (Waivers)

Picking up Dan Uggla was a good move as he is a player that I really like and the Braves had an issue at second base last season. The starting pitching for the Braves have been in the past their strong suit and they have a nice rotation for this coming season as well. Tim Hudson,Tommy Hanson, and Derek Lowe are three good ones to build around for the Braves. The bullpen was good last season, but will take a hit in 2011. Gone are Billy Wagner, and the departure of Takashi Saito will hurt them.

The projected lineup below is what the Braves will probably go with barring and injuries or setbacks in spring training. I like their starting lineup and if Chipper Jones can stay healthy they should be fine. I think for the Braves it will come down to their pitching and how well the bullpen performs. Do not count this team out as they have enough talent to contend.

CF Nate McLouth
LF Martin Prado
3B Chipper Jones
2B Dan Uggla
C Brian McCann
RF Jason Heyward
SS Alex Gonzalez
1B Freddie Freeman

Jeff Fisher Out As Titans Coach Does This Open The Door For Vince Young

It came as a shock to many people yesterday when Jeff Fischer and the Tennessee Titans parted ways. I guess we all should have seen this coming. Bud Adams the owner did not really stand up for his coach a lot in the Vince Young turmoil, so this maybe is not as big as a shock as we think. Fisher was not given a contract extension, so that could have had something to do with it as well. Does this open the door for Vince Young?

Bud Adams said he was getting rid of Vince Young, but that could have changed now. I think Adams all along wanted to keep Young and now with Fisher leaving it opens the door back up for Vince Young. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the end. No matter how you look at it this soap opera did not end well.

College Basketball Scores January 27, 2011

Michigan 61
25 Michigan St 57
Final

Maryland 66
Virginia 42
Final

19 Vanderbilt 81
Miss St 74
Final

Boston Coll 68
3 Duke 84
Final

USC 63
Arizona St 61
Final

DePaul 60
S Florida 71
Final

20 Illinois 49
Indiana 52
Final

UCLA 74
Arizona 85
Final

Oregon 67
Stanford 59
Final

Oregon St 57
California 85
Final

Womens College Basketball Scores January 27, 2011

20 Georgia 48
S Carolina 57
Final

21 Florida St 102
Boston Coll 93
Final

N.C. St 77
16 Miami (FL) 84
Final

25 GA Tech 78
VA Tech 57
Final

Michigan 69
24 Ohio St 66
Final

Miss St 55
5 Tennessee 81
Final

22 WI Green Bay 66
Butler 62
Final

10 Michigan St 64
18 Iowa 66
Final

4 Stanford 91
Oregon 56
Final

17 Kentucky 74
Mississippi 68
Final

Arizona St 60
11 UCLA 70

NBA Schedule January 28, 2011

Memphis
Philadelphia
7:00pm ET Add to Calendar TV: SS, CSP
Milwaukee
Toronto
7:00pm ET

New Jersey
Indiana
7:00pm ET

New York
Atlanta
7:30pm ET

Detroit
Miami
7:30pm ET

Denver
Cleveland
7:30pm ET

Orlando
Chicago
8:00pm ET

Washington
Oklahoma City
8:00pm ET

Minnesota
Utah
9:00pm ET

Sacramento
LA Lakers
10:30pm ET

Boston
Phoenix
10:30pm ET

Charlotte
Golden State
10:30pm ET

NBA Scores January 27, 2011

Miami 88
New York 93
Final

Houston 106
Dallas 111
Final

Boston 88
Portland 78
Final

The Super Bowl Hair Show Troy Polamalu vs Clay Matthews

It seems hair is the main subject early in this Super Bowl as Troy Polamalu and Clay Matthews have plenty of it. Polamalu hair is sponsored, and reportedly insured for $1 million, by Head & Shoulders. Matthews for his part has signed a one-year deal with Unilever’s Suave brand. The deal includes media appearances before and after the Super Bowl and a production day should the company want to film a commercial with him. All of this from their hair, but luckily for both players they have much more going for themselves.

Both attended USC and both are All-Pros on defense for their respective teams and each one can have a big impact on this years Super Bowl. Many people may talk about their hair, but the truth is both are excellent football players. In fact they may be two of the best defensive players in the NFL. Each one brings a special talent to the table and that includes a great set of hair. No matter who wins the Super Bowl the one thing that is for sure we have never had hair talk before.