2 3 4 in the Southeastern United States last consistently good for fewer starts week, that was the collective gasp/ (three, to be exact). groan/heart palpitations of the entirety One of those two young of Braves Country. would probably not garner Mercifully, he was only taken much of a second thought as the out due to precautionary measures (the postseason begins but the fact that Braves had clinched the East already). the Braves are relying on two such The Braves Cy Young candidate, the pitchers along with their ace barely he won undefeated Fried will prevent Brian being out of his own rookie season their thirdT straight NL East title and Snitker from having to run a rookie and nary a veteran in sight is cause are into the playoffs. with only five career starts out for for concern. Now this isn’t an unexpected Game 1 of the playoffs. Sure, the pitchers all have development, as the Braves were the That being said, let’s look at excellent stuff and are capable of favorites to win the East going into the rest of the rotation. shutting down any other team’s offense the season, but in practice it took a For four innings a week and a but with such small sample sizes, lot more work than many would have half ago, it seemed like Cole Hamels they’re simply still unknown quantities. thought. The road to the playoffs was would be taking the mound for a Which means Atlanta will a different route than it maybe should postseason start, but after making be leaning on its historically good have been. his one and only appearance for the offense, its exceptional defense, and In any case, the Braves will Braves this season, Hamels went right it’s excellent bullpen to help them win face off against the seventh seeded back to the Injured List and that was their first postseason series in nearly team at , with ace Max that. two decades and advance deep into Fried taking the mound, and thank So instead, is the playoffs. god for that. likely to start Game 2. He’s looked And those elements are all Fried, who will be the wily great in his short time in Atlanta terrific. If Atlanta had made it through veteran of the team’s postseason and there’s nothing inherently 2020 with the rotation they’d hoped rotation with about a year and a half concerning about having someone for way back in February, they might of being a rotation mainstay under his that inexperienced start in a playoff be unstoppable favorites to win the belt, left his last start of the regular game, but we also can’t pretend that World Series. season after the first inning because we know what to expect. As it stands right now, they’re he twisted his ankle fielding a ball. And really any concern about a team with question marks at the If you happened to feel a Anderson starting is compacted with most important place when it comes shockwave reverberated anywhere the fact that Game 3, if necessary, will to the postseason. be started by . He’s been

5 2816 when he came off the bench last September when he led a huge 4th quarter comeback against Kentucky in Lexington after went down with a season ending leg injury. Other than the 2018 classic seven overtime win over LSU, you haven’t seen that confidence in Kellen EC football junkies tune Mond in his entire Aggie career. into theS SEC network to soak up all Mond is a pretty good QB, of the information we can regarding don’t get me wrong, but when the big the upcoming season. games on the schedule roll around he The SEC Network talking just doesn’t seem like a confident QB heads are asked their opinion on a in those games. variety of topics and one of those Mond led the Aggies to an 8-5 record topics I heard recently was ‘who was in 2018 with a Texas Bowl win over the best returning in the Oklahoma State. SEC going into the 2020 season?’ Trask led Florida to an 11-2 That question has been raised record that included an Orange Bowl on the network and the answer given win over Virginia. by one of the talking heads was Kellen Even in the two losses against Mond of Texas A&M. LSU and Georgia, Trask handled the I raised up in my chair and pressure of those two games well. said ‘no way, can that be true’ because Yes, we know the SEC West the obvious answer to that question is a better division than the SEC East from my perspective is Kyle Trask currently. from the . Florida travels to Texas A&M Let’s do some stat comparisons on October 10th to play the Aggies. from 2019: This game will match up the two top returning QB’s from 2019. Kyle Trask: Kellen Mond: This will be a huge road game CMP: 237 CMP: 258 for Florida as the Gators deal with ATT: 354 ATT: 419 high expectations in the SEC East YDS: 2,941 YDS: 2,897 for the first time in 4 years. CMP%: 66.9 CMP%: 61.6 is building this TD: 25 TD: 20 thing back at UF and this game INT: 7 INT: 9 in College Station will be a huge measuring stick as to where they are. As you look at the stats on The Aggies have to take the paper you will see that the yards were next step in 2020 or the heat may similar between the two starting begin to build under Jimbo Fisher. I . expect this to be a classic game. You will notice that Trask had Let me leave you with this a much higher completion percentage question about this contest. With the than Mond. game on the line in the 4th quarter, The most glaring stat is that which QB do you want under center Trask threw for more touchdowns 25 Mond or Trask? Give me Kyle Trask to 20 on 65 less passing attempts. please. The thing that separates Trask Kyle Trask is the best returning right now from Mond, in my opinion, QB in the SEC. is confidence. Here come the Auburn fans Confidence is a quality at the whining about how I have disrespected QB position that brings calm to the Bo Nix. rest of the football team. You could see it in Trask

7 Playing Sports? Practice Extra Precaution During COVID-19 A new school year always brings anticipation and sometimes, a bit of apprehension. That is especially true this school year as we find ourselves coping with the coronavirus. School re-openings gained more attention than ever this year, but Beau Sasser, M.D., has been preparing all along to get athletes back in the game. Dr. Sasser is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon at Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery, and medical director of Southeast Georgia Health System Sports Medicine.

“I work with our local athletic directors and high schools and we follow CDC guidelines by encouraging hand washing, masks and distancing where possible. We advise staying home if an athlete or a family member feels ill. Every sport has inherent risks. Unfortunately, COVID-19 adds an extra risk,” Dr. Sasser says.

Taking proactive steps It may reassure parents and athletes to know what proactive, protective steps Dr. Sasser and local athletic directors are taking. Working with the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), they developed guidelines in addition to those suggested by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The steps include properly cleaning sports equipment between uses and limiting locker room time. “Athletes are encouraged to show up and leave in uniform, as they would do as part of a recreational sports team,” Dr. Sasser says. Water relief stations are cleaned regularly and placed apart from each other to allow for social distancing. Athletes are also discouraged from sharing water bottles.

With help from local health departments, Dr. Sasser and the athletic directors developed a contact tracing system. “We created an Excel spreadsheet that checks every player for their temperature and possible symptoms, when they arrive and when they leave.”

Concerned parents may want to minimize their child’s risk by directing them toward activities that require less person-to-person contact. Dr. Sasser suggests softball, baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, cross country running or the sailing team.

Playing sports is still essential Precautions aside, he believes that COVID-19 requires innovative thinking until a vaccine is introduced. “We need to find ways that allow us to function as people. The NFL is working on a filtration mask that allows people to work out while masked.”

Sports are essential to the health and well-being of young people. Even before the pandemic, Dr. Sasser’s goal as a sports medicine specialist was keeping athletes safe. In this current environment, he continues to minimize risk not only for athletes, but for their families as well. While acknowledging COVID concerns, Dr. Sasser, a father of four boys, recognizes the importance of sports. “They need to run and play to get their energy out.”

Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery has offices in Brunswick, St. Simons Island and St. Marys. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 912-466-7340 or visit sghs.org/ summit.

8 9 16 postseason. But for the sake of argument, let’s briefly look at how they’re going to

win their inevitable third Commissioner’s Trophy. It starts and ends with Miami’s

starting pitching. I’ve rambled on and on here Boys & Girls about Atlanta’s struggles with the starting he MLB Post Season has rotation and how the young pitchers Club of started.T they call up have struggled. Miami keeps Even with a massively expanded striking gold when it adds starters to the Southeast postseason this year, or possibly because roster. of that expansion, it’s pretty clear which For example, highly touted Georgia teams will be present during round 1 of prospect Sixto Sanchez has delivered in a a playoff that will look wildly different huge way for the fish, giving them innings After School for a lot of different reasons. and not giving up runs. He’s looked every Basically, with 16 teams making bit of what the Marlins hoped he’d be. Programs the cut, all of the decent teams and a He’s got help on the mound from couple of middling ones are in on the guys like Sandy Alcantara, who’s only hunt for the World Series Trophy. The made 5 starts but has gone six innings in Atlanta Braves and will all but one, giving up three earned runs Monday- Friday represent the NL East. or less in those 4 games (he gave up 5 in The Marlins are surely going to a 4-inning affair during his second start 2:30-6:30pm win the World Series. of the season). Now that might sound that a Pablo Lopez has looked good pretty bold prediction, but history backs too. me up here. Some of their starters haven’t Tut ing and Sure, Miami’s season-to-season been up to snuff, like Jose Urena, but track record has been underwhelming, looking at the more immediately future: Homew k help to say the least (they’ve never won the it doesn’t matter. You only need three division since coming into existence over starters in a three-game series. two and a half decades ago). However, Their bullpen is led by guys like they’ve made it to the postseason via the Brad Boxberger and James Hoyt. Snack and wild card twice and they’ve never lost a So, while picking the Marlins to postseason series. win the whole thing this year may seem That’s right, two trips to the like a foolish notion, it’s pitching that hot dinner playoffs; two World Series Championships. matters most in the playoffs, and they’ve It’s really as simple as that. They’re got a good crew on the mound. served daily poised to make the cut at the NL East’s The mere fact that they’ll be second-place team, and history tells us there is all the backup I need. that that means they won’t lose in the 9 locations in Glynn County

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12 13 24 He led the team to another AFC (1996-2000). Championship in the 1999 season. He was a three-time first team Jacksonville is the only expansion All-Pro (1997-99) and he’s on the NFL franchise to make a playoff appearance 1990’s All-Decade team. in three of their first four seasons. He was drafted by the Texans In 2013, Brunell was inducted in the expansion draft in 2002. In 2006, into the Pride of the Jaguars, the team’s he was the first player inducted into the Hall of Fame equivalent. Pride of the Jaguars. he Jacksonville Jaguars played Fred Taylor: Taylor is from Maurice Jones-Drew: As a rookie their firstT football game in 1995. Pahokee, FL and played at University of in 2006, he split carries with Fred Taylor. This franchise has not been Florida. He ran for 941 yards, 13 scores around very long, especially by NFL He was drafted ninth overall by and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. standards. the Jags in 1998. He went to three consecutive Pro They have not advanced to a As a rookie he rushed for 1,223 Bowls from 2009-2011 and he rushed for Super Bowl yet, but they have been very yards and 14 TD’s. He also caught 44 a minimum of 1,300 plus yards during close. passes for 421 yards and three scores. this stretch. Let’s take a look at some of the In 1999 he only played 10 regular His best season was 2011 when best players in franchise history. season games due to a hamstring injury. he had 1,606 yards on the ground. He Mark Brunell: We had to start He did have two 100-yard rushing has the franchise record for most career with him. In April of 1995 the Jags performances in the playoffs. touchdowns and rushing touchdowns. executed their first trade and sent their He has the longest run in playoff Jimmy Smith: He has nine seasons third round and fifth round picks to history, which was a 90-yard touchdown with 1,000 plus receiving yards. Green Bay for Brunell. run against the Dolphins. He went to five Pro Bowls He started in the team’s first In 2000 he missed three and a (1997-2001). He has 31 franchise records game and played well his first season. half games but still finished sixth in the including most receptions, both career In 1995 he started 13 games and passed league in rushing with 1,399 yards and and single season. for 2,168 yards 15 touchdowns and 7 12 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pride interceptions. He also rushed for 480 He had seven seasons with 1,000 of the Jaguars in 2016. yards. plus yards rushing in Jacksonville. In Keenan McCardell: He was the The next season he led the team 2012 he was inducted into the Pride of other half of the great receiving duo. to the AFC Championship game. They the Jaguars. In his six years in Jacksonville upset the top seed in the AFC, the Denver Tony Boselli: He was the team’s he had four seasons with 1,100 or more Broncos (13-3). first draft pick, selected second overall in receiving yards. Brunell was selected to the Pro the 1995 draft. As a Jaguar he has 499 receptions, Bowl three times in 1997, 1998 and 2000. The offensive tackle lived up 6,393 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was the Pro Bowl MVP in 1997. to the hype and went to five Pro Bowls

15 22 opportunity for Freddie to fill that Philadelphia Phillies have given chase. spot on the shelf. Freeman is also a team player. As with most seasons, Freeman The Braves third hitter for almost has hit for average and power, with his entire career, he responded well good RBI numbers as well as a great to being moved up to the two-hole OPS and WAR (for you sabermetric after leadoff man Ronald Acuna, Jr. fans out there). was hurt and kept out of the lineup But it also seems like every for a few games. It seems bonkers to be year he hovers just under the radar He responded so well that thinking about and talking about for serious award consideration. has kept him there after end of the year awards for the Major This year seemed to be shaping the young outfielder’s return. League Baseball season when not even up much in the same way, but Freeman Credit to where it’s due: two months have passed since the first has gotten incredibly hot, slugging his Freddie always thrives when someone pitch of the season was thrown, but first two career grand slams, tons of with some thunder hits behind him. here we are. multi-hit games, and a two-homerun Last season, Freeman was The pandemic-shortened 2020 game to boot. awarded the Silver Slugger after a year campaign will be over soon and things In that stretch, his batting of having Josh Donaldson batting in like Cy Young Awards, MVPs, Gold average skyrocketed over .330 and his the cleanup spot. Gloves, and Silver Sluggers must be OPS topped 1.000 (a whopping, and This year Marcel Ozuna given out. league leading, 1.075). He also is the has been a revelation, protecting So, with that in mind, I’d like top of the league in RBI’s, driving in Freddie and giving opposing pitchers to make a case for a player who should runs at a torrid clip. a veritable Sophie’s Choice of who to

But the case isn’t just made pitch for in any situation. be the Most Valuable because of his numbers alone. The In fact, for a while there it Player this season: Atlanta Braves first Braves, who have been favorites to looked like Ozuna would be the baseman . win the NL East all season, have Braves’ most likely MVP candidate. Freeman has long been seen their starting rotation decimated While Ozuna continued to respected as one of the most consistent over the course of the season, and Cy thrive in Atlanta, Freeman has jumped players in the game, if not the top Young candidate Max Fried hitting into the forefront of the conversation player at his position. the Injured List could very well have both in Atlanta and, I hope, the minds He’s had All Star appearances, been the straw that broke the camel’s of the MVP voters. won Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers, back. It’s time for Freddie to stop but the one thing (other than a World Short of taking the mound being the bridesmaid and get married. Series ring, of course) missing from himself, Freddie’s offensive explosion I now pronounce him the NL MVP. his trophy case is an MVP award. has seen him do everything he can You may win the World Series This year, for all its flaws to prevent Atlanta from slipping out now. and weirdness, presents the best of first place in the division, as the

17 1822 19

about their tournament chances I’d be ok with that for one season. being diminished due to games being Where the NCAA loses me cancelled because of covid. though, is arguing that the longer As we are seeing with football, season would be detrimental to the it’s almost a given that games will be athletes. cancelled. They ask students to play on In a year as unorthodox as this holidays, spring break, during exams, year has been, it was an interesting, as well as a myriad of other things that et me go ahead and begin outside the box idea, that had the take them away from their studies/ by statingL that I am not a fan of the potential to be a lot of fun; can families, but adding what amounts to NCAA, specifically it’s governing you imagine a single elimination an extra week of games is too much? board. tournament featuring 351 teams? I’m sure if you were to ask the Besides the whole student Obviously, the NCAA didn’t see it players how they felt about allowing athlete model being a bit archaic, that way. all teams into the tournament and and truthfully a sham, most of the There were two particular playing an extra week of game most decisions made by the board in regards issues the NCAA had when asked of them wouldn't mind. to the student athletes, they claim to about the proposal- making the Then again, the NCAA and care so much about, is a complete tournament is a special achievement most coaches don’t seem to want to contradiction to what is actually in and allowing everyone in would take listen to what the players have to say, the athlete’s best interest. away from that honor, and the extra except for when it supports their own Now that you’ve been privy 2-3 rounds it would take to include agendas. to my inner Jay Bilas, it should come everyone would be too taxing on the I say all this realizing it may as little surprise I think the NCAA athletes. come across as an “everyone gets a has squandered a perfect opportunity On one hand I understand the trophy” argument, which may or may make this upcoming basketball season first line of thinking, if you’re looking not rub you the wrong way. memorable, not because of Covid, but at it strictly from the viewpoint of However, with all the in spite of it. conference tournaments; for all the metaphorical garbage we have to Before the NCAA announced mid-major teams the regular season wade through on a daily basis it would the basketball season would begin doesn’t mean anything in terms of actually be nice to see something that on Nov. 25, the ACC coaches making the tournament. even fits everyone. (unanimously, I believe) proposed In a way, their regular season Unfortunately, with all the to expand the NCAA tournament has always been diminished because changes and adjustment we’ve had and allow all 351 Division I teams to they’re only making the tournament to endure over the past six months, participate. if they win their conference. when it comes to the betterment of The main idea behind it was I know the conference the NCAA athlete you can always that a team wouldn’t have to worry tournaments wouldn’t have as much count on the NCAA to take a look, at stake in this scenario, but personally, and then do the opposite.

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The inspiration for this article is, Jackson was the saving grace of in fact, because of Snitker’s sometimes the bullpen for the first two months of flabbergasting use of his relief corps. 2019, but it seems almost like Snit still Specifically that he brought in Charlie feels indebted to the righty when there Culberson, a position player, to pitch in are better arms available. the second game of a doubleheader when Moving away from the ‘pen, the Braves were down by just one run. there’s also the curious reliance on guys Charlie Clutch delivered, easily like . getting the one out he was tasked with Inciarte has played primarily ajor League managers are getting, but the question is still begged… when Acuna has been hurt. But Ender simultaneously M the most overrated and what? is so bad at the dish now that any start underrated members of a baseball team, Especially egregious was this he gets is a head-scratcher. depending on the team’s record. move in light of the fact that A.J. Minter, Even if the normal starting trio of If the team is winning, then the arguably the Braves’ best bullpen Acuna, Adam Duvall, and Nick Markakis is probably being over-credited. (in a veritable overflowing pot of good needs a day of rest, then isn’t even Marcel If the team is losing, then the manager ones) was wasted in Game 1 when the Ozuna’s sub-par defense overshadowed is probably getting over-blamed. Braves were up 7-1. by his bat? This isn’t to say that managers There seems to be some kind Ender should be a defensive don’t have an important role on a team’s of a disconnect between Snit and any replacement and nothing else at this success beyond simply penciling in a analytics or forethought in this regard. point. But Snit keeps running him out lineup, just that sometimes the role of Taking that same example as a there nonetheless. a guy who isn’t actually participating in for instance: he knew they had a whole All that being said, I still think the game can be overexaggerated in one second game to play that day, so why burn Snit is a good manager or maybe it’s more way or another. Minter and put yourself in a position to accurate to say that he’s a good leader, I bring this up because I want then use a position player on the mound since some of his actual managing leaves to discuss Atlanta Braves’ manager Brian in a tight game? Did the Phillies offense a little to be desired. Snitker. Specifically, I want to discuss worry him that much? Why do I say that? Well, two whether or not he’s actually a good The bullpen has been overused, primary reasons: one, his players absolutely manager for the team of which he is certainly, and that’s no fault of Snit’s; love him. currently at the helm. the starting rotation has got holes on Freddie Freeman has long I’ll go ahead and spoil the ending: holes on holes, but why use your talent advocated for Snitker to remain as the I think he is – which isn’t to say there is unnecessarily in a blowout when you have team’s skipper, and wanting to play for nothing to discuss, but there are ways in to play another game less than an hour your manager is not nothing. which he seems to be failing the team. after the first one ends? Two, his record pretty much Let’s talk about the obvious first: There’s also the constant, speaks for itself. He’s won two straight Bullpen Usage. All managers are unending use of in high- division titles and has a third in sight. judged most often and often most harshly leverage situations. And at the end of the day, winning is on how they implement their bullpen. Now, Jackson’s numbers at a what he’s supposed to do. It’s the easy thing to criticize, as glance aren’t awful (though they also I don’t know if Snitker is the it’s the primary way in which a manager don’t warrant how he’s often used), but manager in five years, but for now, so influences the game while it’s being he’s constantly getting himself into jams long as the team tries their hardest to win played. through walks or hits. for him, and do, then he’s still the guy.

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2014: Blake Bortles cut after a playoffs or bust directive from Khan five seasons; currently a free agent after the 2019 end of season, Caldwell 2015: Dante Fowler Jr traded would be addressing the team's needs. to the Rams in 2018; now with the Instead, he is gaining draft capital and Falcons salary cap relief. 2016: Jalen Ramsey traded to Let’s look at the brightside, the Rams in 2019 Caldwell is one of the best talent 2017: evaluators in the business. The Jaguars t was an offseason in which released after three seasons are stockpiling 2021 draft picks. They it looks Ilike the Jacksonville Jaguars Just three short years ago in currently have 11, including four in were trying to get rid of all of the 2017, the Jags were ten minutes away the first two rounds. talent they had. from the Super Bowl but With the Jags projected The Jaguars traded their best comeback ended those Jags’ dreams. to win three or four games, they defensive player in Yannick Ngakoue Caldwell had the NFL world by should be in perfect position to draft and they released their best offensive the tail, with an AFC Championship a franchise quarterback. Clemson’s player Leonard Fournette (who was Game and a team loaded with young Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s the fourth overall draft pick in 2017). talent on both sides of the ball. Justin Fields could be the quarterback Dave Caldwell is in his eighth Jag fans, Dave Caldwell isn’t the Jags have been searching for since year as the general manager of the going anywhere, his job is not at risk. Mark Brunell. Jaguars. Caldwell has drafted six Pro After unloading Calais Campbell, Also, Caldwell deserves credit Bowl players during his tenure with AJ Bouye, Marcell Dareus, Yannick for putting together the 2017 team the Jags, including DE Josh Allen and Ngakoue and Leonard Fournette, it that went 10-6. He either drafted DJ Chark Jr. is clear that the Jags are in complete or signed six defensive players who Let's look at Caldwell first rebuild mode. made the Pro Bowl or were All-Pro round draft choices: Since Shad Khan bought the that season. 2012: Justin Blackmon team and up to the start of this season, It is hard to win in the NFL (suspended for substance abuse, has the Jags are 38-90. Do you think Jerry when a team loses so much talent and not played since 2013 Jones or Robert Kraft would allow doesn’t replace it. The Jag’s are on the 2013: Luke Joeckel no longer this? HELL NO, they would clean “Tanking for Trevor” train. in the league last played with Seahawks house! The Jaguars have 11 picks in 2017 The direction of this franchise the 2021 draft. comes straight from the top. If it was

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