< Back Extra Article: The Braves have Committed Baseball Malpractice with Didier Fuentes Hudson Webb Jul 10, 2025 In this article we will detail how the Braves mishandled the Didier Fuentes situation. In the world of professional sports, there is a fine line between opportunity and obligation. Between trusting a young talent and protecting him from premature exposure. In 2025, the Atlanta Braves didn’t just cross that line, they bulldozed over it with reckless disregard. The way they handled 20-year-old pitching prospect Didier Fuentes is not just a misstep in player development, it’s an indictment of a franchise that prioritized short-term solutions over long-term growth. In short, the Braves committed baseball malpractice. Didier Fuentes, a flame-throwing right-hander from Colombia, wasn’t just the youngest pitcher in Major League Baseball when he debuted in June, he was the youngest Braves starter since 1970. That’s no small footnote. What made it worse was how little professional experience he had under his belt when the Braves thrust him into the spotlight. Prior to his debut, Fuentes had made just one start at the Triple-A level. One. A brief 4.2-inning outing for Gwinnett served as the last checkpoint before the Braves made the baffling decision to toss him into the fire of a playoff-contending rotation. Predictably, and tragically, Fuentes struggled mightily. In four starts, he gave up 23 hits, 6 home runs, and 6 walks across just 13 innings pitched. His ERA ballooned to an unsightly 13.85, and his WHIP climbed to near-incalculable levels. The low point came in his fourth start, a disaster against the lowly Oakland A’s in which he recorded just three outs while surrendering eight earned runs. The performance was painful to watch, not because of a lack of talent, but because of the overwhelming evidence that this young man was not ready mentally, physically, or emotionally, for this stage. Even more frustrating is how preventable this was. The Braves’ front office knew that Fuentes was raw. He entered the season as a high-ceiling arm with electric stuff but with plenty of rough edges to smooth out. In fact, most evaluators had him pegged for a full season in the minors, working on sequencing, developing a secondary pitch, and adjusting to upper-level hitting. Instead, the Braves chose to elevate him, reportedly out of desperation following injuries to key starters, hoping lightning would strike in a bottle. It didn’t. Let’s be clear: this isn’t a knock on Fuentes. The kid has the tools. His fastball touches the upper 90s, his mechanics are fluid, and his mound presence,when unshaken, is impressive. But player development is a marathon, not a sprint. You don’t ask a 20-year-old, fresh off Tommy John surgery with fewer than 10 starts above A-ball, to save your season. Not unless you want to break something fragile and precious. And that’s exactly what the Braves have done: broken confidence, broken rhythm, broken trust in the process. Baseball is as much mental as it is physical, and Fuentes’ deer-in-the-headlights expression after every gopher ball told the story. He wasn’t just getting hit, he was getting overwhelmed. And instead of pulling the plug early and protecting their asset, Atlanta let the experiment run far too long. It’s malpractice because it was entirely avoidable. The Braves had other options, veteran swingmen, bullpen games, waiver pickups. They chose the path that looked bold on paper but in reality bordered on negligent. Even Braves manager Brian Snitker admitted after the fact, “He’s not mature enough to do this yet.” That quote alone should ring through the halls of the Braves’ front office like an alarm. Because this wasn’t a learning opportunity. This was a crash course with the landing gear ripped off. In early July, after four rough outings, the Braves finally did what should have happened weeks earlier: they sent Fuentes back to Triple-A. But the damage was already done. It’s unknown how long it will take for him to recover, both in terms of mechanics and mental fortitude. Some young pitchers never do. Others need years. And while Fuentes may still blossom into the ace many projected, there’s no question that his development now carries a scar from this mismanaged stretch. In the end, the Braves’ handling of Didier Fuentes was not bold. It was not visionary. It was irresponsible. They took a 20-year-old arm and gambled with it like it was house money. And in doing so, they not only lost games—they may have compromised a career. Baseball is a sport that rewards patience. The Braves showed none. Now, they must live with the consequences of their rush job. If Fuentes overcomes this rocky start and becomes the star he’s capable of being, it will be a testament to his resilience—not their planning. Because make no mistake: the Braves didn’t build him up. They nearly broke him. Previous Next

< Back Grizzlies: Desmond Bane traded to Orlando in Blockbuster Deal Hudson Webb Jun 14, 2025 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Before we could even write a Memphis Grizzlies Offseason Guide the first major domino has fallen! At 10:13 AM on a June 15 Sunday morning Shams Charania reported that in a blockbuster trade Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies 5 year, franchise shooting guard, has been traded to the Orlando Magic for: let me get my breath…. Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and FOUR first round picks, and here's the best part: they are all unprotected. One of these picks also happens to be Phoenix’s 2026 selection which is sure to be a good one as Phoenix looks to trade star player Kevin Durant and maybe even Devin Booker. From Orlando’s side, this deal was done to capitalize on what many NBA executives and fans think to be a down 2026 Eastern Conference due to injuries like Jayson Tatum’s. In 2024-25, the Orlando Magic ranked dead last in all stats related to three point shooting. They now add Desmond Bane who is a career 41% three point shooter and good ball handler, also a point of need for Orlando. Although he is a good ball handler, he is no point guard, which is the Magic’s biggest need. With this move, the Magic have solidified a starting 5 of Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paulo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr.. Ultimately they made this move to build around their young stars of Paulo and Franz thus believing their future fist won’t be worth much. All things considered, I believe Bane will compliment Orlando nicely, but will at best get them a second round exit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But with runs like the Heat, Mavericks, and Pacers to the finals in the three two years, you never know. Alternatively, on the Memphis side of things, this is nothing short of a franchise-altering maneuver, and a bold one at that. While losing Desmond Bane, the team’s heart-and-soul shooting guard and a fan favorite, is a tough pill to swallow, this move signals a clear shift in organizational strategy: Memphis is going all-in on the long game. Let’s break it down. The Grizzlies, who were plagued by injuries and bad play down the stretch in the 2024-25 season and met their season’s end in a disappointing first round sweep to the Thunder, now enter the 2025-26 campaign with an enviable war chest of assets. Cole Anthony brings a spark plug scoring presence off the bench or even as a short-term starter, an underrated playmaker with room to grow. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a proven two-way veteran with championship pedigree, ideal for a young locker room and a potential trade chip come February. One thing is evident: Building around Ja and JJJ is priority number 1. But make no mistake, the centerpiece of this deal isn’t a player. It’s the four unprotected first-round picks. Four. Unprotected. Picks. That kind of return simply doesn’t happen in today’s NBA, not without a superstar-level player going the other way. And while Bane is extremely good, he’s not that tier. So for Memphis to get this haul is staggering. And the real gem? Phoenix’s 2026 unprotected pick. With Durant aging out, Booker’s future uncertain, and the Suns barreling toward a rebuild, that selection could very well land in the top 10, maybe even top 5. Add that to Memphis’s own pick and suddenly, the Grizz have two legitimate shots at blue-chip talent in what’s expected to be a loaded draft in 2026. This is only the beginning for the Grizzlies mysterious offseason, however. Many analysts seem to believe this is the first step towards a rebuild while on the other hand, many see it as an opportunity the Grizzlies couldn’t pass up for the future. But what if this is a move setting up something bigger? Across the league, the winds are already shifting. Whispers of unrest and impending superstar movement are getting louder with each passing day. Kevin Durant is reportedly unhappy in Phoenix, Devin Booker may be next if the Suns pivot toward a rebuild, and you can’t forget the Giannis of it all. Each of these names represents a seismic shift in the NBA landscape. And now, Memphis may be holding just the right cards, it all just comes down to what polarizing GM Zach Kleiman does. With the four unprotected first-round picks from Orlando, including the crown jewel in Phoenix’s 2026 unprotected selection, the Grizzlies are armed with the kind of draft capital that can bring a superstar to the table. Add in young, ascending talent like GG Jackson, Vince Williams, or even Santi Aldama, and Memphis has the outline of a deal most teams simply can’t match. Picture it: Ja Morant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jaren Jackson Jr. anchoring a fearsome trio: defense, explosiveness, and unrelenting pace. Or imagine Kevin Durant returning closer to home, leading a fast, switchable Grizzlies roster built around spacing and IQ. Even Devin Booker, whose off-ball scoring and shot creation would be a dream fit next to a fully healthy Ja. These aren’t pipe dreams anymore. These are real possibilities — the kind of headline-grabbing swings a team only considers when it has the assets, the infrastructure, and the vision to win now and later. So while the Bane trade may have felt like the end of something in Memphis, it just might be the beginning of something much, much bigger. The Grizzlies aren’t rebuilding. They’re reloading. Previous Next

< Back This is a Title 02 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. You can create as many collections as you need. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own, or import content from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, videos and more. You can also collect and store information from your site visitors using input elements like custom forms and fields. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Preview your site to check that all your elements are displaying content from the right collection fields. Previous Next

< Back Team Crossover: Comparing Players across teams Hudson Webb Jul 7, 2024 In this article we will find comparisons between players across the Titans, Grizzlies, and Braves. The Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Braves, and Memphis Grizzlies are obviously all in three different cities. This causes interaction between the three to be at a minimum which causes player link-ups and comparisons to also be rare. So in this article we are going to be finding some out-of-the-box comparisons with two players for each team! Braves - Titans Ozzie Albies - Jeffrey Simmons This one seems pretty jarring at first glance, and understandably so. Ozzie Albies is a 5’8 165 lb soft spoken and smiley guy, while Jeffrey Simmons is a 6’4 310 lb behemoth who is known for being terrifying and a loud trash talker. So why the comparison? Well if you look a little closer, there is a lot there. Both men started there pro careers on their respective teams right before a period of prolonged success. In Ozzie’s case, he started as the young second baseman right as the Braves 6 year division streak would begin and Big Jeff started as a rookie on the Titans first year from their 3 year stretch of being a force in the AFC. Both men entered the period as young athletes with a long future ahead of them and left as veterans of the team in the blink of an eye. Seemingly out of nowhere both men are now considered ‘veterans’ with the rest of the roster being unrecognizable from their rookie year. Both men are held at a high regard in the locker room and seen as every player’s keeper. Additionally, both men are known for their charity work in their team’s community. Both men are not natives of their areas, Ozzie especially, and still have become a mainstay in the community. Ozzie runs a notable Atlanta dog rescue foundation and Simmons was recognized as the Titan’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for his service with the Boys and Girls Club of America in Nashville. All in all, despite their seemingly polar opposite physics and demeanors, they hold the same role on their teams. Jurickson Profar - L’Jarius Sneed Although this list is supposed to be optimistic, the reasons for this comparison don’t shed the best light on either of the two men. Jurickson Profar was brought in as the Braves shiny new toy in the 2025 offseason and fans were psyched . . . for about a month. 6 games into the season Profar was suspended for PED use which cost him 81 games and a 1 year playoff ban. On the other hand, L’Jarius Sneed was brought in the 2024 offseason in a trade from the Chiefs and a subsequent big money extension that not one Titans fan was negative on. He was seen as the Titans new lock down cornerback that we have been lacking for some years. Sadly, injuries plagued his season and after a mid-year tweak in his knee that was intentionally thought to be a week-week issue, he never played again. On top of this, many Titans insiders accused him of not having a drive to return. In both cases these men were heralded as their franchises new all-star level player and both disappointed due to missed time. This led to massive disappointment, but that is what leads to the next comparison, they both have the rest of their tenure to turn that around and make their early struggles nothing but a speed bump in their time on their teams. Titans - Grizzlies Jaylen Wells- Jarvis Brownlee Jr. I didn’t say some of these wouldn’t be obvious. It’s not hard to see why these two men are being compared; both are slept on rookies who proved why they belong in the NBA and NFL. Jaylen Wells was drafted as an afterthought in the second round of the NBA draft, a place where most players are stranded in the G-league their rookie year. Because of early injuries, Wells got an opportunity at bench minutes and quickly showed who he was. After only a few games, Jaylen Wells earned the spot at starting shooting guard/small forward, a spot he would never relinquish until a late injury. A rookie starting for a playoff contending team like Memphis was expected, but not from Wells. Zach Edey was seen as the Grizzlies best rookie, but Jaylen Wells earned his spot starting along with him and joined him on All Rookie first team, being the only second rounder to do so. On the other hand, Jarvis Brownlee Jr. was drafted in the 5th round of the 2024 draft, another place rookie year starters do not traditionally originate from. In the limited snaps he got early on, the coaches saw his energy, hustle, and what he calls ‘gorilla’ mentality on full display. Despite starting as cornerback four in week one, he earned the cornerback 1 spot when Lajarius Sneed went out for the year. In his time starting, his energy was infectious and his demeanor brought morale up across the defense. Both men weren’t meant to contribute immediately, but they earned their spot as soon as they hit the scene and became immediate fan favorites. Tyler Lockett - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Here is another seemingly obvious, yet still very interesting comparison. Tyler Lockett was drafted in the 3rd round by the Seattle Seahawks in 2015 and quickly cemented himself as top receiver in this league. He put up consistent 900-1150 yards seasons for 6 years in a row and proved himself to be one of the most reliable wide receivers in the league. He was the quintessential wide receiver two while in Seattle and always elevated his teams throughout the regular season and playoffs, as he was a part of 7 playoff games. In the 2025 offseason Tyler Lockett signed a new deal to join the Titans. Similarly, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a valuable contributor to many playoff and championship winning teams. KCP started his career in Detroit in 2013 before joining the Lakers in 2017. While on the team, he started on the 2020 championship winning squad and was perhaps their most valuable role player. Just three years later he started for the 2023 NBA Champion Denver Nuggets. In the 2025 offseason KCP was a part of the massive Desmond Bane trade in which he was shipped off to Memphis. Both of these players have been essential for their team’s playoff success in the last decade and our bringing their veteran and winning mentality to the Titans and Grizzlies respectively. Although both are not at all the players they once were, they will bring a leadership and winning culture to these teams that is priceless. Grizzlies - Braves Ja Morant - Ronald Acuña These two are the faces of their franchises; simple as that. Ronald Acuña Jr. entered the majors just over 7 years ago and from the start we knew he was special. He made a splash onto the scene quickly becoming one of the most entertaining players to watch in baseball. He took home the NL Rookie of the Year and also hit a playoff grand slam to cap off an excellent rookie campaign. Sadly, he tore his ACL at the mid-year points of both 2021 and 2023 which kept him out of postseason play as well as the first half of the next year. Despite being a great postseason player, he has missed two of the ones his team has been in since he entered the league. He is undoubtedly the face of the Atlanta Braves but sadly he struggles to stay on the field. And then there’s Ja Morant, who entered the NBA 6 years ago and immediately made an impact, winning rookie of the year. He quickly asserted himself as one of the most impressive players in basketball with his seemingly endless dunk highlights. Upon entering his first postseason in 2021, he showed he was a 4th quarter player. He has hit multiple playoff game winners in his small sample size as well as 3 40 point games. Sadly, he has gotten injured twice in the playoffs that took him out the remainder of that season. On top of postseason injuries, Ja consistently struggles to stay on the court during the season, continually facing multiple week long injuries and even once a season ending one. Both men are undisputedly their franchises crown jewel as well as one of their league’s most marketable players, but one thing is always holding them back, staying on the court. GG Jackson - Didier Fuentes The final comparison is definitely two players not as mainstream as the others, but just as interesting. GG Jackson is entering his third year in the NBA at 20, yes 20, years old. HE was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies and immediately became the league's youngest player upon entering the league. He initially started out on the Grizzlies’ G-league roster, but because his rookie year was the nightmare 2023-24 season, he quickly saw playing time. Due to an embarrassingly long list of injuries, GG Jackson quickly entered into a starting role at only a few days over 19! This obviously gave him good reps and experience, but overexposure is a real thing. In his sophomore year fans saw a regression as he struggled with being thrusted into the scene too early in 2023. Similarly, Didier Fuentes started his career as the youngest player in the whole MLB. Fuentes started his first MLB game as a pitcher at only 19! Similar to Jackson, he was playing because of stockpiled injuries. He showed flashes but admittedly struggled in his first 3 starts before a disastrous 4th start that got him sent back to the minors to develop. To tell the truth, the Braves massively misplayed the Didier situation, as he should never have thrown an MLB pitch in 2025. He needed more time and this early overexposure could have ripples throughout the rest of his career. In both cases, we see a player who has all the tools to be a star in their league, but due to overexposure early on, has faced hardship. Previous Next

< Back Braves: The rest of the team is insulting the Starting Pitching Staff Hudson Webb Jun 16, 2025 Braves Are Insulting Their Pitching Staff Let’s be clear: the Braves’ starting rotation has shown up this June. They’ve been composed, dominant, and consistent. The problem? The bats and bullpen have not. It’s hard to overstate how frustrating it must be to toss a gem, only to watch it evaporate in the late innings or go unrewarded by lifeless offensive support. That’s been the reality for Atlanta’s starters all month. Chris Sale: All-Star Caliber, No Help to Show for It Chris Sale has looked like a man possessed. At 35, he’s pitching his best baseball in years, regularly giving the Braves six or more innings of strong, low-ERA work. His command is sharp, his fastball has bite again, and he’s racking up strikeouts with ease. After a slower start, his June ERA is sitting near 1.00, and yet the Braves have squandered several of his best outings. Sale has been everything the Braves hoped for and more, a workhorse lefty who can dominate any lineup, but without offense or bullpen support, his performances feel like wasted masterpieces. Spencer Strider: Back to Ace Form After a few up-and-down starts early in the season, Strider appears to have recalibrated. His latest outing: 13 strikeouts over six shutout innings was vintage Strider. His fastball is explosive, and his slider continues to generate whiffs at an elite rate. But what’s most impressive is his focus. He’s attacking hitters early in counts and not letting walks creep up. Still, the Braves offense backed him with just three runs, and the bullpen nearly let it slip. When your ace delivers like this, you’re supposed to win comfortably, not hold your breath in the ninth. Spencer Schwellenbach: Quietly Effective The sophomore has been calm, collected, and efficient. Schwellenbach doesn’t overpower hitters, but he keeps the ball on the ground and gets quick outs. He’s pitched into the sixth inning multiple times this month and done everything the Braves could ask of a young rotation arm. Despite his strong starts, the offense has provided him with minimal support. In fact, in two of his better outings, the Braves scored one combined run. It’s not a recipe for building confidence in a young arm. Grant Holmes: Better Than the Box Score Don’t be fooled by the record, Holmes has pitched well. In a recent start, he struck out nine over 5.1 innings and 15 over 6.0 Innings showing sharp stuff and a fearless approach. His ERA doesn’t tell the full story because the bullpen has repeatedly let inherited runners score or collapsed right after he exits. Holmes, who has been fighting for a rotation spot all season, has shown he can be trusted to eat innings and miss bats, now he just needs the team to support him like they would a top-3 starter. The Bullpen: A Tire Fire The Braves bullpen has been a mess. Whether it’s late-inning walks, blown saves, or flat-out meltdowns, it’s clear this group is in disarray. Key arms like Raisel Iglesias have lost command. Setup men have failed to hold slim leads. Closers have been unreliable. It feels like no lead is safe once the ball leaves the starter’s hand. In multiple games this month, the bullpen has surrendered multi-run leads in the eighth or ninth, erasing what were shaping up to be signature wins for the rotation. It’s not just demoralizing, it’s unsustainable. The Offense: In a Deep Freeze Even more troubling than the bullpen might be the lineup. In June, the Braves rank near the bottom of the league in runs scored. Outside of Ronald Acuña Jr. no one has seemed to want to win. Slumps from key hitters, a lack of timely hitting, and a shocking drop-off in home run production have left this offense looking toothless. Some nights it’s strikeout after strikeout. Other nights, they string together hits but can’t bring runners home. Either way, it’s the same result: wasted starts and empty innings. The Braves are too talented to be this quiet at the plate, but right now, they are. Final Word The Braves starting rotation has held up its end of the bargain… and then some. They’ve put together quality starts, mowed through lineups, and kept this team in games. But with the offense dragging and the bullpen coughing up leads, their efforts are being flushed down the drain. If the Braves want to stop sliding, it won’t be on the arms of Chris Sale or Spencer Strider, they’ve done more than enough. It’ll be on the bats waking up and the bullpen finally slamming the door shut. Until then, this team is insulting its most valuable asset: the starting rotation. So bottom line: Pull them together Snitker! Previous Next

< Back Braves: All Star Break Braves Awards Hudson Webb Jul 15, 2025 In this article we will be giving out mid-season awards for the 2025 Atlanta Braves. Well the Atlanta Braves and the rest of the MLB have reached the designated midpoint of the 2025 season in a season the Braves have not been treated nicely by thus far. It has been no secret: this year has been a massive disappointment for the team. Atlanta looked to pick up where injuries took them off in the latter half of 2024 back to their division winning dominant selves. Sadly, as all Braves fans know, they did anything but. Injuries have been a factor, especially recently, but make no mistake, they have played awfully. Despite their incompetence, we will be handing out some mid-season awards for the team, some good, some bad. 2024 Marcell Ozuna Award for most Surprising player: Sean Murphy Sure recency bias could be playing a part in this, but how could it not? Despite being slowed early by a fractured rib, Murphy has erupted since returning, putting up 16 homers and a .824 OPS over 60 games, with a career-best .281 ISO and 126 wRC+. In just the past week, he hit two homers and drove in three runs, then followed it up the next night with a go-ahead three-run blast in the 8th inning, directly delivering two clutch wins against St. Louis . A catcher putting up middle-of-the-order power and showing up in high-leverage spots? That’s not just unexpected, it’s been a genuine game-changer. Michael Soroka Award for most Disappointing player: Tie — Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies I could have easily handed this coveted award to Jurickson Profar and no would have batted an eye, but we have something for him earlier. Not to be negative, but I seriously could not think of who has been a bigger disappointment, Harris or Albies. Let’s start with Harris. Michael Harris II won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2022 and has shown himself to be one of the most exciting outfielders in the game. His clutchness on top of his defensive prowess has made him a massive asset for Atlanta as well as a fan favorite. Although his batting average has never blasted off the page, fans still expected competency out of him. Harris has slashed a career-low .212/.246/.331 with a .558 OPS. His chase rate sits at a sky-high 42.3%, reflecting a complete loss of strike‑zone discipline, while his launch angle and hard-hit metrics have cratered (groundball rate up to 52.5%, hard-hit down to 40.2%, barrel rate plunging to 6.1%). Even against favorable pitching, he’s been benched—once sat out an entire weekend series against the Phillies, while lineup alternatives outperformed him. These sharp declines offensively, despite elite defense, underscore why Harris has so far been one of Atlanta’s most underwhelming 2025 contributors. Next there is Ozzie Albies. Since entering the big leagues in 2017, Ozzie has been one of the premier second baseman in the game. Throughout all of the Snitker-era, Albies has been the consistent force . . . until this year. Through mid‑July he’s slashing just .220/.290/.606, with only 7 home runs and 29 RBI in over 360 plate appearances—a far cry from his usual power output. His barrel rate, hard‑hit rate, bat speed and contact quality have all cratered to historic lows, and he’s been especially ineffective against left‑handed pitchers (just 31 wRC+). To put it short, he hasn’t been able to make any kind of valuable contact, and he might have hit a wall way faster than we would have wanted. Andrew McKirahan Award for PED User of the Year: Jurickson Profar I know, I know, how shocking he gets this award. I am aware Profar claims he made an “honest mistake.” Which although sounds silly, is very well probably true, as no MLB player wants the risk of being suspended. Despite this, it still derailed us and set the tone for our season. On top of that, it is just embarrassing and makes us an easy target for jokes. Profar, I sincerely hope this is only a footnote in the story of a great Braves tenure, but for now, congratulations on PED user of the year. 2024 Chris Sale Award for Pitcher: Chris Sale Yes he did it, he claimed the award of his namesake. The reigning NL Cy Young came into 2025 with a lot of expectations, and besides some injuries, I think he has lived up to the hype. Over 89⅓ innings, he's posted a stellar 2.52 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, while fanning 114 batters and walking just 26, an elite strikeout-to-walk ratio that ranks among MLB’s top starters. In June alone, Sale was nearly untouchable: 38⅓ innings pitched to a 1.17 ERA with 50 strikeouts, anchoring the rotation’s resurgence. Highlights include a dominant 11‑K, 7‑IP outing that snapped the Braves’ seven-game losing streak and an 8 2⁄3‑scoreless‑inning gem, almost completing a shutout, both emblematic of ace-level dominance. And don't forget, on May 29 he became the fastest pitcher ever to reach 2,500 strikeouts, doing so in just 2,026 innings. Simply put, Sale has combined overwhelming consistency, elite control, and big-game impact to head the Braves' rotation in 2025. 2023 Ronald Acuña Jr. Award for Best Batter: Ronald Acuña Jr. I promise I’m not being lazy, Ronald Acuña Jr. really has been the best batter on the team this year. I was going to try to find an alternative choice due to Acuña missing time, but to put it kindly, no one on this team deserves to undermine what Acuña’s done since returning from injury. . His slash line through mid‐July stands at a scorching .333/.446/.595, a 1.040 OPS and an OPS+ of 190, demonstrating elite hitting on both a per‐plate‐appearance and park‐adjusted basis. That average is the highest among regulars, and his on‑base plus slugging metrics significantly top his teammates, Matt Olson trails with a .838 OPS in comparison . His combination of contact ability, power, and discipline has produced league‑leading offensive value—making Acuña’s 2025 campaign the most outstanding Braves batting season this year. 2022 Spencer Strider Award for best Newcomer: Drake Baldwin I guess with the Strider being the namesake for the award and Baldwin winning it you could also call this the rookie award, but there are not enough of them to constitute that. Anyway, Drake Baldwin has by-far been the best new face on the squad. From game 1 he’s been needed as a contributor and he’s answered the call. Despite Atlanta woes, make no mistake, this kid can play. He’s slashed .279/.351/.479 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in just 190 at-bats, translating to a robust .830 OPS and 131 OPS+, signaling elite performance across the league. His Statcast metrics add further weight: 92 mph average exit velocity, 50% hard-hit rate, and a .362 wOBA, all landing among the top 16–20% of MLB hitters. Baldwin’s timing under pressure has also been undeniable—he launched a three-run homer to secure a 7–0 win over Miami in late June, and MLB.com 's first-half awards even named him the top NL Rookie, underscoring his impact amid Braves expectations. From debut to midseason, Baldwin has melded advanced metrics, power, and situational heroics, making him the most impressive newcomer in Atlanta this year. Here’s to Baldwin keeping it up and taking home NL Rookie of the Year! Jesse Chavez Award for Best Pitcher out of the Bullpen: Dylan Lee Lee may not be the flashy pick, but we think he’s the right one. The 2021 World Series Starting pitcher has had a 2.06 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 59.2 innings, Lee has been a cornerstone of the Braves' bullpen, which ranks eighth in MLB with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.205 WHIP . His ability to consistently perform under pressure has been instrumental in stabilizing the bullpen, especially in the absence of key relievers like Joe Jiménez and A.J. Minter. While Raisel Iglesias has recorded nine saves, his ERA has been higher than expected, leading to questions about his consistency . In contrast, Lee's steady performance has made him a standout figure in the Braves' bullpen this season. Previous Next

< Back Player Profile: Cam Ward Hudson Webb Jun 12, 2025 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. In the year 2025 Cam Ward is seen standing above all NFL rookie prospects as the crown jewel, the coveted prize, the sought-after 1st overall pick. However, this has not always been the case. Cam Ward being drafted 1st overall April 24th 2025 Cam Ward was born on May, 25 2002 as the youngest of four siblings in West Columbia, Texas. His mother was the physical education teacher and head girls basketball coach at the local high school for over 25 years and all of Cam Ward’s childhood and like Bart Simpson, his father worked in classified work in a nuclear power plant. He attended his local high school, Columbia High School, where he would not start at quarterback until his junior year. His mother ended up stepping down as coach to watch him play. She said: "I let it go in 2016 because I wanted to watch Cameron." Columbia High School played under the Wing T offense which does not allow much if not no passing whatsoever which heavily hindered Cam Ward in his high school career. This resulted in minimal passing stats: around 1,000 yards junior year, 948 yards senior year. This directly resulted in him being a zero star high school recruit with no colleges looking at him. Cam Ward in high school Through relentless emails, communication, and hard work, Ward would earn a scholarship from the FCS Texas University, Incarnate Word. In a covid shortened true freshman season, Cam Ward would earn the starting job and throw for an impressive 2,260 yards and 24 TDs in just six games. This would earn him the high honors of Jerry Rice Award winner as the top freshman in FCS. However, Ward knew there was still plenty of work to be done until he can get where he wanted. In his sophomore year he exploded with 4,648 passing yards and 47 touchdowns, earning Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year. This gave Incarnate Ward national attention and earned him as well as his head coach, Eric Morris, a place at Washington State in 2022 Cam Ward in his sophmore season at Incarnate Ward Cam Ward took over as WSU’s starting quarterback and immediately brought a new dynamic to the Cougars’ offense. He utilized his well-known mobility and improvisational ability to extend plays with his legs and created downfield opportunities out of broken plays. Cam Ward in his junior season at Washington State He displayed strong pocket awareness but also showed tendencies to hold the ball too long, occasionally leading to sacks or turnovers. Despite that, Ward helped lead the Cougars to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl with 3700 yards and 25 passing touchdowns. His next season he would improve on his woes from the previous year and his mechanics greatly improved, his decision-making became sharper, and he demonstrated greater poise in high-pressure situations. He increased his completion percentage and reduced his turnovers, all while taking on a larger offensive load. Though the Cougars went 5-7 and missed a bowl game, Ward’s personal development was evident. He had multiple 300+ yard passing games, including a standout performance against Oregon State where he tossed for 404 yards and 4 TDs. After his two years in Washington state and 4 years at college overall he was still scrutinized by the general public however. In his time at Washington State Cam Ward would graduate with a bachelor's degree in economics. Cam Ward graduating from Washington State University Despite his success, The general consensus was that his success could be attributed to his coaching and that he doesn’t have what it takes to lead a successful team or be a pro. However, being looked over was something that Cam Ward had gotten used to. He decided to spend his last year in college as a transfer at Miami FL. where he would hope to prove his doubters wrong. Upon arriving in Coral Gables, he exploded onto the scene, throwing for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns while breaking several school records. He improved his accuracy and his leadership lifted the Hurricanes back into the national spotlight, earning him ACC Player of the Year and placing him firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Cam wasn’t just playing to impress anymore — he was playing to lead, and this time, everyone had to take notice. Throughout the 2025 season it became evident that Cam Ward was the #1 overall draft prospect, a remarkable achievement considering where he started. From a zero-star recruit overlooked by every major program to the crown jewel of the draft, his rise is a testament to relentless hard work, resilience, and the refusal to be defined by anyone else’s expectations. Ward at the 2025 Heisman Trophy Presentation Cam Ward has already shown who he is as a leader before the Titans have even hit training camp. Senior NFL Insider Albert Breer has reported that Cam Ward was struggling with articulating what he needs to do in a given play to coaches during the pre-draft process. Upon being drafted, he took it upon himself to start having 5 AM meetings with every rookie during rookie mini-camp and continuing into OTAs where he detailed and articulated the plan for the day and the exact plays that were to be run. This not only strengthens his ability, but helps out his whole team. Cam Ward at Titan's OTAs `In the end, Cam Ward’s story is not simply about football; it’s about conviction, grit, and self-belief in the face of doubt. From being overlooked in high school, to carving out his own path in the FCS, to silencing critics on the Power Five stage, and finally becoming the unquestioned leader of an NFL franchise, Ward has never let circumstance dictate his ceiling. Every setback only sharpened his resolve. Every doubt became fuel. And now, as the face of the Tennessee Titans and the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, he is no longer the overlooked underdog. He is the standard. Warren Moon can attest to this, being honored to let him wear his retired number 1 jersey. What Cam Ward has built cannot be measured in stars or stats, it’s the legacy of a player who refused to be ignored, and who turned every “no” into a louder “yes.” If you're a Tennessee Titans fan, there is no reason your optimism shouldn’t be off the roof; because, Cam Ward is here to stay. Previous Next

< Back Player Profile: Meet Grizzlies Rookie Cedric Coward Hudson Webb Jul 15, 2025 In this article we will give a player profile on Grizzlies' 2025 draft lottery selection, Cedric Coward! The Grizzlies traded up to the number 11 pick in the 2025 NBA draft to take Cedric Coward out of Washington State. The Grizzlies as well as 99% of NBA media has fell in love with Coward during the draft process, but who is he? In this article we will detail Coward’s life and how he got himself to the NBA Draft Lottery. Cedric Coward’s story is one of grit, perseverance, and unwavering determination. Growing up in a small town in Washington State, Cedric was no stranger to hardship. Raised by a single mother who juggled multiple jobs to keep the family afloat, Cedric quickly learned the value of hard work and sacrifice. Basketball was more than just a game for him, it was a way out, a beacon of hope amid uncertainty. Despite limited resources and few local role models who had made it to the big leagues, Cedric’s passion for the sport burned brighter than ever. He spent countless hours practicing on outdoor courts, often with worn-out shoes and a tattered ball, driven by a dream that felt bigger than his surroundings. His journey to the NBA Draft Lottery wasn’t linear or easy. In high school, Cedric was initially overlooked by major college programs due to his slender frame and raw skills. But what he lacked in polish, he made up for with relentless work ethic and a coachable mindset. Washington State eventually took a chance on him, and Cedric seized the opportunity with everything he had. Cedric started his collegiate career at a small division III school called Willamette university where he immediately impressed. He then compounded that success to an opportunity at Eastern Washington University where he once again put up impressive stats. This finally landed him at his final stop, Washington State. Over the course of his college career, he transformed into a versatile forward known for his defensive tenacity, high basketball IQ, and surprising scoring ability. His senior season was a breakout campaign, averaging a double-double, showcasing improved shooting range, and demonstrating leadership both on and off the court. What truly sets Cedric apart is his character. Teammates speak of his humility and willingness to put the team first, while coaches praise his dedication to continual improvement. Off the court, Cedric is deeply involved in community outreach programs, often volunteering at youth basketball camps and mentoring underprivileged kids. His journey from a challenging upbringing to the bright lights of the NBA Draft Lottery is a testament to what can be achieved through resilience, focus, and heart. As the Memphis Grizzlies selected him at number 11, fans and analysts alike saw not just a promising talent, but a young man ready to defy the odds and leave a lasting mark on the league. Cedric Coward’s story reminds us all that no matter where you start, with enough passion and perseverance, you can reach heights once thought impossible. The Grizzlies didn’t just draft a player, they welcomed a symbol of hope and hard-earned success. And for Cedric, the journey is only just beginning. Previous Next

< Back This is a Title 03 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. You can create as many collections as you need. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own, or import content from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, videos and more. You can also collect and store information from your site visitors using input elements like custom forms and fields. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Preview your site to check that all your elements are displaying content from the right collection fields. Previous Next

< Back Titans: Win Loss Prediction before training camp Part 1 Hudson Webb Jul 16, 2025 In this article, we will be going through the first half of the Titans' season and predicting each game. If you can believe it, training camp is all but here! Titan’s players report on Tuesday, July 22 and play their first preseason game two and a half weeks later on August 9. As we all know, last season was not at all what fans were hoping to see. The keys to the Franchise were handed to second year quarterback Will Levis who proved he was not someone who should have possessed said keys to put it nicely. Brian Callahan also emerged as first year head coach and didn’t show much for Titan’s fans to be excited about. On the bright side, the Titan’s woes were awarded with the number one overall draft pick which they used to take Cam Ward, quarterback from the University of Miami FL. Despite many analysts ignoring Ward’s existence, he has created great optimism amongst the Titans’ fanbase for not necessarily this year, but the many years to come. You would be hard pressed to find a Titans fan who wouldn’t be pleased with a 5-9 win year in which Cam Ward demonstrates great potential. But what does TriZone TN think? In this article I’m going to be going through each game week by week and telling you my predicted result as well as a score. Here we go: Week 1: @ Denver Broncos 3:05 PM Sunday, September 7 Prediction: TItans 20 Broncos 30 Titans Record: 0-1 The Titans haven’t won a week 1 contest since 2020 when they won in Denver, ironically enough. But this is not 2020. The Titans are not as talented as they were 5 years ago and the Broncos are way more talented than they were 5 years ago. Don’t kid yourself though, winning in Denver is never easy, especially in week 1. Number 1 overall quarterbacks almost never win their first game, and it is not hard to see why. I believe Cam Ward is beyond pro-ready, but your first game is still a major shift from the collegiate level. On top of the first game disadvantages, Denver has one of if not the best secondary in the NFL and a top ten defense surrounding them. Not only will Cam be tested, but also all of our young skill position players. Hopefully veterans like Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Lockett can step up. The Broncos offense is by no means one of the top offenses Tennessee will see, but don’t let that deceive you, they have serious talent. Between Bo Nix, Cortland Sutton, and free agent acquisition J.K. Dobbins they aren’t no slouch. Beating a Sean Payton team is also never easy. My prediction is that the offense starts slow and picks up in the second half, but by that time it’s too late and Denver rings in 2025 with a home victory. Week 2: vs Los Angeles Rams 12:00 PM Sunday, September 14. Prediction: Rams 27 Titans 26 Titans Record: 0-2 The Titans get their home opener the very next week against one of the NFC’s favorites: the Los Angeles Rams. Titans fans will not only get to see the much awaited debut of one Cam Ward, but also a great opponent. The Ram’s young defensive line picked up right where Aaron Donald left off with Jared Verse and Byron Young leading the pack. They will give the Titans revamped offensive line a massive test. Beyond them, the Rams boast a very capable defense that will be another test for our offense. The Rams offense is possibly the main event however. They are led by veteran and legend Matthew Stafford. Additionally, they have Kyren Wiliams in the backfield with Puka Nacua and Davante leading possibly the best wide receiver core in the league. I believe in this contest Cam Ward will show very fast progression and feel for the game and lead the offense to a great effort. Don’t let the loss deter you from enthusiasm, this is a great team and my Super Bowl favorite. I believe our offense's performance will create great optimism and hope. On the other side of the ball, I believe our lack of edge depth will hurt our chances at forcing the Rams into uncomfortable situations which will ultimately cost us the game. All things considered, a good performance, but not enough. Week 3: vs Indianapolis Colts 12:00 PM Sunday, September 21 Prediction: Colts 19 Titans 23 Titans Record: 1-2 Here is the first divisional game! The Titans get to start their divisional games at home in possibly their biggest rivalry. The Colts are actively in a Training Camp quarterback battle between 3rd year player and former 4th overall pick Anthony Richardson and veteran Daniel Jones who was signed from the Giants. Remember Titans’ fans, it can always be worse! We don’t truly know who will get the nod in this game, but I predict Richardson will get the start in Week 1 due to the upside the Colts believe he has. However, I believe during this game he will prove why he’s not a NFL quarterback and Jones will come in. Beyond the quarterbacks the Colts have had one of the more consistent talent groups all around the last few years which has been held back by poor quarterback play. Their offense is led by running back Jonathan Taylor and the always quality o-line, but is all around solid. In the receiving room they have Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs, and rookie 1st round pick Tyler Warren, tight end from Penn State. Their defense is an average, but still solid unit as well. I predict in this game the Titans will get out all of their anger from the previous two close Ls and show some serious grit. As previously mentioned, a Anthony Richardson poor performance which leads to a benching will pay dividends for their victory chances. Ultimately I believe Cam Ward, Tony Pollard, and the offense does just enough to get the first Titan’s W of 2025. Week 4: @ Houston Texans 12:00 PM Sunday, September 28 Prediction: Titans 17 Texans 25 Titans Record: 1-3 The very next week the Titans get their second divisional opponent this time on the road and vs Houston. Last year the 2-8 Titans stole a victory in Houston which was their biggest win of the year. This year the Texans will be sure to want to correct that, as well as win the necessary division games on their quest to three-peat the division. The Texans did their best to reload this offseason, but still lost some key players like Stefon Diggs and Laremy Tunsil. Additionally, they will be without young standout wide receiver Tank Dell who experienced a brutal leg injury late in the season. Going into this year their defense will be the same formidable unit we have seen in year’s past with the front 7 being one of the scariest in the league. On the other hand, the offense will not. C.J. Stroud demonstrated a sophomore slump last year that I believe he will bounce back from, but he will never reach the player they once thought he was going to be after his rookie campaign. Although Nico Collins is one of the best receivers in this league, he is not enough to save their awful offensive line. Sadly, I don’t think these woes will be enough for the Titans to overcome this defense. I believe Ward and the receivers will admittedly struggle to make plays vs this defense as well as the rushing attack being stifled. If I had more confidence in the Titans pass rush off the edge I could see us potentially stealing a game on the road, but I don’t believe we have a capable enough edge group to capitalize off sub par tackles which will result in a game that is neck and neck until Houston pulls away late. Week 5: @ Cardinals 3:05 PM Sunday, October 5 My Prediction: Titans 20 Cardinals 33 Titans Record: 1-4 Tennessee continues their road trip this time venturing all the way to Phoenix for the first time since 2017. The Cardinals are my biggest sleeper team heading into 2025 with a unit I believe will shock many people. I believe they addressed the defense very nicely in the offseason which will set them up to contend. Kyler Murray will finally see a good skill position group around him with young players like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride only getting better and veterans like James Conner continuing to contribute. Quarterbacks like Kyler Murray are a bad matchup for Tennessee’s defense, an admittedly weak linebacker and edge group, which will result in the Arizona offense flourishing. I believe the long trip will show in the offense and Ward could struggle. This season it is imperative Ridley plays well in every game we play due to an unproven group around him and in this game I might not. In the end I think we will never really feel in this game which will leave many fans unsatisfied and disappointed in the teams first 5 games. Brian Callahan will be under fire from the whole NFL world and in desperate need of a W. Week 6: @ Raiders 3:05 PM Sunday, October 12 My Prediction: Titans 30 Raiders 24 Titans Record: 2-4 The Titans finish their west coast trip in the deserts of Las Vegas, their first time visiting the city for a regular season game. The Raiders, like Arizona, are also one of my biggest sleeper squads and a team I believe will be knocking on the postseason door. They added quarterback Geno Smith via trade with Seattle as well as drafting standout running back and fellow Heisman finalist with Cam Ward Ashton Jeanty from Boise State 6th overall. Their defense, while not adding many players, will be much improved as they suffered from many injuries last season. Maxx Crosby and Chistian Wilkins on the line is a scary duo that will terrorize offenses all year. Despite all these things, I believe Tennessee will score the upset and make a statement. It being the third game in the road trip will hopefully mean they are fully adjusted and at 100%. Additionally, I believe Calvin Ridley will bounce back in a big way and not only provide production for himself, but open up lanes for Tyler Lockett and Elic Ayomanor. On defense, I see our ferocious d-line of Jeffrey Simmons, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and T’Vondre Sweat stopping any kind of Ashton Jeanty production, something I believe the Raiders will be reliant on. This will cause the Raiders to turn their focus into feeding second year tight end Brock Bowers which I believe our secondary honing in on. All in all, I think our offense will look the best it has looked all year with Ward tossing his career best up to this point 3 touchdown passes. Week 7: vs Patriots 12:00 PM Sunday October 19 My Prediction: Patriots 16 Titans 19 Titans Record: 3-4 The Titans get their first game back home in 2 days shy of a month in a possibly their biggest game of the season. It is no secret why this a big contest, in the offseason the Patriots hired former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who the Titans fired at the end of the 2023 season after his second consecutive under .500 campaign. In the moment and still to this day many people think we made a massive mistake in doing so. Vrabel was a long time Patriot and won three championships with the team. Even while he was Tennessee’s head coach, many people believed he was more interested in being Belichick's heir. Beyond the head coach, the Patriots are many people’s darling in 2025, but not mine. They are coming off a disastrous 4-13 campaign where one of their losses came to us. The hope associated with this team comes from the potential of 2024 third overall pick Drake Maye who showed flashes in his 2024 starts. In the offseason the Patriots added veteran receiver Stefon Diggs and Titans legend Harold Landry III. I am in the camp that believes Vrabel is a great head coach when he already has a capable roster, as he walked into a Titans team coming off a playoff victory. We saw when the roster got worse he struggled. I believe he will face great growing pains this year and Brian Callahan will deliver the win Titans’ fans want the most this year. I believe Tony Pollard will see possibly his best game and the Secondary will pick off Maye multiple times. This will get Tennessee their second consecutive win and the media will cool off on Callahan ever so slightly. Week 8: @ Indianapolis Colts 3:25 PM October 26 Prediction: Titans 16 Colts 24 Titans Record: 3-5 The Titans immediately the road again after only one home game and this time we go to Indianapolis for a rematch with the Colts! By this point I believe Daniel Jones will have completely taken over and to Titans’ fans dismay, actually doing pretty well leading the unit. I see Jones being like a 2023 Joe Flacco or a 2024 Sam Darnold. I see the whole Colts team running together way more effectively and the team seeing much success. I see the Colts attacking the hashes with Jonathan Taylor and controlling the game. I believe the Titans offense will start slow which will lead to our demise and an eight point loss. Week 9: vs Los Angeles Chargers 12:00 PM Sunday, November 2 Prediction: Chargers 21 Titans 17 Titans Record: 3-6 The Titans kick off their November with a home clash against the Los Angeles Chargers. Besides last year when the Titans got boat raced in LA, these teams always provide a back and forth contest that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The Chargers are bringing back largely the same supporting cast this season on the offensive side of the ball everywhere but at running back. They let 1 year standout J.K. Dobbins walk, but signed Steelers running back Najee Harris, who is very consistent, and drafted media darling running back Omarion Hampton from North Carolina in the first round. At receiver Ladd Mcconkey is only going to get better in his sophomore year, but other than that, they don’t have the most impressive group catching passes from Justin Herbert. This has never deterred Herbert however from having great seasons and willing his team to victory. The defense was very strong last year, but they did lose the aging, but still effective Joey Bosa off the edge. I believe Jim Harbaugh will make sure this team is just as good as last year, but beyond that, I don’t think they will get much better. Their division has only gotten better around them and the same quality squad from last year might not be as capable this season. I still think Herbert’s playmaking and Harbaugh’s experience will get them a playoff berth however. I see Cam Ward facing one of his toughest defenses in this game and it showing. Last year we never got anything going on the ground against the Chargers and I see a similar thing happening here. This game will be on the shoulders of the receiving core and I just think this is one of those games they can’t do enough. On the other hand, I see our defense playing a great game and holding the Chargers to only 21. Ultimately, the offensive woes prove too much and we fall in a frustrating home game. Previous Next

< Back Team Crossover: Morant and Acuña are exploding! Hudson Webb Jun 13, 2025 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. In the modern world there is nothing fans eat up more than when their favorite pieces of media crossover. Afterall, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made tens of billions over the last two decades on this very thing. The sports world equivalent of this is when your two favorite teams directly and publicly acknowledge each other and who doesn’t love seeing that? Although seeing two of your favorite pro-sports teams connect is a treat only teams that share a city or sometimes even state get to experience, the Braves and Grizzlies just had a pretty cool crossover moment with no one else but their two biggest stars, Ronald Acuña Jr and Ja Morant. Let's set the stage, both stars have had a rocky few years in two very different ways: Ronald Acuña Jr with season ending injuries and Ja Morant with a public image and work-load criticisms from the media and outside fans. On May 26, 2024 in Game 3 of a Memorial Day series in Pittsburgh Ronald Acuña Jr tore his ACL while leading off second. This was coming off of his historic 40-70 MVP season and his second torn ACL in three years, which made it an even harder pill to swallow. On the other hand, Ja Morant has been suspended by the NBA two times in the last 2 years for flashing weapons on Instagram Live posts but the less said about that the better. These incidents created and, in my opinion, reaffirmed a previously held stereotype about the player and man: he’s a thug who doesn’t care about basketball as much as money and partying. I could go on about how these things all derive from the team playing in Memphis and that they wouldn’t occur in any other market but we’ll move on. During a back and forth April 1, 2025 game against the Warriors Ja Morant reciprocated a finger gun celebration he had been getting all night from the Warriors at the Warriors bench after a three. Nothing came of the moment and it wasn’t even acknowledged by the officials during the contest as this celebration is one of the most common in the NBA. However, the NBA and Adam Silver took problem with this and made a show of publicly embarrassing Ja Morant by “warning him” and fining him 25,000 dollars. Morant doing the finger gun celebration after hitting a three against Golden State One week after the noise and fuss about Ja Morant’s commonplace action he debuted his newest three point celebration. After a three against the Charlotte Hornets Ja mimicked throwing a grenade and covering his ears for cover: This is clever on so many levels. For one, Morant showed how fickle the NBA truly is because a grenade being thrown is 10x as dangerous as a gun but they don’t bat an eye at it. And two, as Ja Morant says, "I’m taking my words, and I’m throwing them out there, and then blocking out the noise.” Morant debuting his grenade celebration 2 months later, Ronald Acuña Jr was set to make his long awaited return in a Friday night duel with the San Diego Padres and his comeback couldn’t have been more perfect. In just his first swing since returning from that brutal ACL tear, he damn-near demolished the stadium roof by blasting a 467 foot bomb out of the park, and then dropped Morant’s grenade celebration like a mic drop. It wasn’t just homage; it was a statement: “I’m taking my words, I’m throwing them out there, and then blocking out the noise.” Ronald Acuña using Ja Morant's grenade celebration in his return. That sentiment, originally Morant’s, hits different coming from Acuña. In a world where athletes are constantly under the spotlight, where every injury or misstep becomes a national headline, here’s Acuña, rising from the ashes and saying, “yeah, I heard it all, and I’m still swinging, metaphorically and literally.” What makes this crossover even sweeter? Two elite players in very different sports, both dealing with mountains of external pressure. For Morant, it was incidents on Instagram Live and public image headaches. For Acuña? Back-to-back ACL tears, media questions, even drama with his manager early this season. Yet here they both are, rewriting their narratives in real time. Morant's reaction to Ronald Acuña's homage via X And the celebration itself, Morant’s grenade, was pure genius. Critics were all over him for showing the “finger gun” celebration, but apparently pointing a grenade at your opponents is just okey-dokey with the league. Now it’s a global symbol of resilience and mental toughness, words thrown out there, noise blocked out. Then Acuña stepped up with that rocket of a home run on May 23, 2025, and BOOM: grenade, ears covered, message loud and clear. The story made its way across platforms and landed right back at SI: “Ronald Acuña Jr. marked his 467-foot shot by doing Ja Morant’s grenade celebration.” Media outlets exploded. Socials lit up with praise, memes, takes—but most importantly, Acuña reclaimed the narrative. He accidentally (or maybe very deliberately) synced with Morant, creating a rare two-way bridge between baseball and basketball, Atlanta and Memphis, triumph over tragedy. This isn’t just crossover fluff, it’s cultural currency. It’s narrative alchemy: blending two separate stories into one. Acuña borrowed Morant’s moment, Morant lent it meaning, and together they turned a celebration into a statement on perseverance and owning your comeback. At a time when leagues are policing celebrations, image is everything, and players are spelling every move for hidden meanings, these two flipped the script. They didn’t just acknowledge each other—they amplified each other, proving that crossover isn’t just a fun Easter egg for fans. It can be a powerful message: your story isn’t over, your body isn’t broken, and your reputation can always be redefined, but most importantly, we got to see the epic crossover of the Braves and Grizzlies, two of TriZoneTN’s favorites. Previous Next

< Back Braves: It is official Braves' Fans: The Season's Over! Hudson Webb Jul 9, 2025 In this article we will discuss how the Braves found themselves playing meaningless baseball in July. It has been no secret that this year has been a rough one for Atlanta. They currently sit a staggering 10 games under .500 and in a stacked NL, only some of the best play we’ve ever seen could get them out of this. I don’t even think a 2021 type turn around would get this team a playoff spot come October. So that makes it official, the Braves will be playing meaningless regular season baseball games for the first time since August of the 2017 season. Sure the injuries that lingered from last year, Ronald Acuña and Spencer Strider, and the ones we picked up along the way, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach, and AJ Smith-Sawver (to name a few), held us back, but they are no excuse for the utter crap show our offense and bullpen has been. So let's get to the bottom of this, what is to blame for the Braves miraculous fall from grace? Foreshadowing Jurrickson Profar being suspended 81 games for PED use really set the tone for the season ahead, didn’t it? In the midst of the Braves 0-7 start it was announced the aforementioned Profar had tested positive for PEDS. Jurrickson Profar was the only notable addition general manager Alex Anthopoulos made and many fans were very excited. Profar being removed from half the season and all postseason play near immediately into the season completely foreshadowed the team's future woes and embodies the 2025 Atlanta Braves. The Offense Collapse Once the heartbeat of this team, the Braves’ offense has cratered. Over the past month, key bats: Harris, Albies, Ozuna, Riley have slumped into the bottom 20 in OPS since June 1. They rank a middling 10th in Barrel %, 12th in Hard‑Hit %, 19th in HR and 24th in ISO, a far cry from the crushing offense of 2022–24. They’re swinging less frequently when it counts—especially in the zone—and have neutralized the aggressive, pull-heavy swing that made them elite. Mechanically, they’re less explosive; pulled flyballs have dwindled, hard-hit balls are down across the board—Olson, Riley, Harris, Albies all showing declines. Tough to watch. The Injury Toll The returnees haven’t carried the load. Acuña and Strider are back, but injuries to Sale (fractured rib), López (shoulder), Smith‑Shawver (Tommy John), Schwellenbach (elbow) decimated rotation depth. And Profar’s 80‑game PED suspension knocked out a veteran bat early on. Even with the big names healthy, the blueprint they followed before isn’t working. Pitching Struggles Despite punchy starts—Holmes fanning 10 in June—the pen can’t hold leads. Seven shutouts already this year. Iglesias, De Los Santos, Lee—they’re bleeding innings. Nobody’s shutting the door. With offense stagnant, any hiccup from the pitchers and it’s over. Organizational Offense Decline This isn’t just the MLB roster, it’s systemic. The minor leagues are hitting .243/.318/.379. Triple‑A Gwinnett is at .228/.308/.343, Columbus .207/.298/.309, no one is performing. They’ve drafted pitchers six years in a row, left hitters on the back shelf. When star bats underperform, there’s nobody to plug the gap. Mentality and Coaching Shift New hitting coach Tim Hyers was brought in to instill patience and discipline. But the results show a failure in execution. The team’s newfound plate discipline has yielded little – they’re swinging less but not better. The aggressive mindset that brought success has been replaced by hesitation. Swinging slower, pulling less—that isn’t a strategic shift; it's regression. Road Woes Atlanta is significantly worse away than at Truist Park—batting average down 50 points, slug .069 lower. Confidence matters: this team built on home dominance is now mentally beaten on the road. Trade Deadline Timing As the calendar flips to July, talk of sellers grows louder . Production from shortstop (Allen, Arcia) has been nonexistent, prompting talk of shopping names like Bo Bichette. If the offense doesn’t stabilize, they’ll blow it up to restock. Bottom line: This collapse isn’t about one or two flaws, it’s a cascading failure. Ran out of gas at the plate. Injuries exposed thin pitching. Minor-league offense is dry. Coaching philosophy misfired. Mental fatigue. With all cylinders failing, you don’t need miraculous health to make the playoffs, you need evolutionary whole-system repair. At this rate, a “2021-type” turnaround won’t crack October. What needs to be fixed? Reignite aggressive, middle-middle hitting. Redistribute batting development down to Gwinnett. Bolster depth at shortstop and the bullpen at the deadline. And get Tim Hyers, Snitker, and Anthopoulos rowing in the same direction before they discover this dumpster fire is systemic, not just circumstantial. Previous Next