Bishop Media Sports Network
Trade Temp on Matt Kemp
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Despite having no General Manager in place after the scandal that sent John Coppolella packing, the offseason has arrived and the Braves need to start planning for the 2018 season.
John Hart will be assuming the GM duties until a replacement is hired and assuming he keeps his job, he’s got a few things on his to-do list.
Now the nice thing for Hart or whoever takes over is that the Braves have a lot of pieces to play with.
No, they didn’t have a winning season, but they have young talent, a new ballpark, and a deep farm system to take advantage of during the offseason.
There are a few moves that the front office should make to improve the club if not to contention, then at least to .500 or just above.
One thing should be at the top of the list. The first thing to do is trade Matt Kemp.
Notice that I didn’t say “trade a corner outfielder?” Do not trade Nick Markakis. Trade Matt Kemp. It’s obvious that Ronald Acuna is going to be manning a corner outfield spot come first pitch next year, the question has been which corner?
Nick Markakis’s position in right field seems the obvious choice, given that he provided more value on the field in 2017 than Kemp did, plus he’s only got one year of $11 million left on his contract. He’ll be easier to move, that’s doubtless, but they should move Kemp instead.
It’s a tall order, especially if they hope to get anything of value in return for him. To that I say this: get what you can. Trade this veteran outfielder with some pop in his bat for a single A backup infielder if you have to and eat the contract if it comes to that. Beyond that, swallow the millions he’s owed and release him, if that’s the only option.
Kemp’s arrival in 2016 invigorated the offense and prior to getting hurt in 2017 he looked like he was hungry for a comeback player of the year award. All that dissipated upon his return. Even if he can return to some form, he’s an injury risk. He’s past his prime and Acuna is waiting.
Markakis, on the other hand, provides consistency. He’s not tearing the cover off the ball or making incredible plays in right, but he’s steady and that’s not nothing.
Markakis is past his prime too, but he’s aged much more gracefully than Kemp. At the very least is worth the money he’s being paid.
He plays hard and plays well and while he’s apparently the quiet-leader-type that the Braves annoyingly have only ever had, the young players certainly can learn from a guy who shows up and does his job day in and day out.
Again, these are all reasons that make him easier to trade but if the Braves truly want to improve their on-field product next season, Kemp’s salary will need to be sacrificed.
Acuna needs a position, under no circumstances should the Braves begin 2018 with both Kemp and Markakis patrolling the outfield.
However, that does not mean that the guy who is easier to trade should be the guy who gets a new uniform. Kemp is much more likely to get hurt and then the Braves will have to find someone to replace him anyway. Instead, give him a fresh start elsewhere. Even if it means releasing him and taking the monetary hit.
The Braves are still a few steps away from contending but they’ll no doubt want to see improvement next year.
Ronald Acuna is the future and nothing is going to prevent him from starting the season in Atlanta; but if the Braves want the best they can get, then he’ll be batting in a lineup with Nick Markakis in it.
Jason Bishop Show w Kipp Branch Nov 4
Glynn Academy Wins Share Of Region Title
By: Christian Goeckel
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Cancel those charter buses, dust off those red jerseys and tell Southern Soul to load up the concession stands.
We have playoff football in Glynn County Stadium. With a 45-14 win over Bradwell Institute, Glynn clinched a spot in the playoffs and thanks to a 40-26 Effingham win over Richmond Hill, they secured the number 1 seed in the region.
Glynn, Richmond Hill, and Brunswick all entered the week tied at the top of the region. Brunswick had already secured at least a share of the title and faced non-region Osbourne on Friday.
That meant one of four could happen on Friday night:
- Both teams, which were favored, could win, leaving everyone to discuss the brutal three way tie.
- Both teams could lose, giving the region solely to Brunswick.
- Richmond Hill could win, while Glynn falls. That would give Brunswick the 1 seed.
- What actually happened. Glynn took care of business, while Richmond Hill dropped their second region game in a row.
They would never admit thinking about it, but Glynn came into Friday night’s contest fully aware of all those possibilities above… well maybe not 2 and 3, Coach Rock never thinks about losing.
The Terrors have been consistently growing this year and have really started to find their stride. The Richmond Hill game withstanding, this team has been executing in all facets of the game much better than the team we saw fall to Benedictine to start the season.
Caine Crews has been a spark plug on offense for the Terrors. Originally, slated to start the year on defense, Crews has had to slide over to the running back position due to a rash of injuries.
He’s taken to it just like you’d expect a coach’s son to. With a big kickoff return to set up a score on Glynn’s first drive, Crews’ impact was felt from the jump.
Another huge sign for the offense was Nolan Grant coming along. Grant plunged into the endzone from 19 out to extend Glynn’s first half lead to 24-0. If both of the Grants can stay healthy, Glynn will have a formidable and fresh running back arsenal
The offense has really started to gel, putting up over 25 points in 5 out of the last 6 games, but what has carried this team is the defense.
Defensively, this team is good.. Really good. Since the start of the Brunswick game, featuring one of the best offenses in the region, Glynn’s defense has shined.
Big offense after big offense has rolled into town, only to leave with a fraction of the points they are used to scoring.
This is the perfect formula for winning playoff games: Run the ball. Check. Play nasty shutdown defense in the secondary. Check.
Moving to the playoffs, Glynn’s region 2-6A will matchup with 1-6A. That places 1 seed Glynn at home against 4 seed Valdosta.
Don’t let Valdosta’s record or seeding fool you, this is a good team. Much like Glynn, they have found their stride at the right time, finishing up the regular season with a 51-20 drubbing of Houston County.
This will be an absolute battle in Glynn County Stadium on Friday Night, but dang it’s nice to be able to watch the region champs come run out of that red smoke.
SSE Minute Nov 4
Terel Toomer Show Nov 1
Brandon Derrick Show Nov 1
Rocky Hidalgo Show Nov 1
Sean Pender Show Nov 1
McElwain Chomped
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When does a 22-12 overall record, with two division titles and conference championship appearances, not warrant you being able to finish out your third year as head coach?
Apparently when you’re Jim McElwain and you’re the head coach of the Florida Gators.
It’s been a strange tenure for the sea animal loving, former Gator football coach. What started out with all the bombast in aplomb you would expect in a Florida Gator head football coaching hire, it ended with a resounding thud, similar to that of a shark flopping around on the boat.
So, why did something that started out with so much promise and so abruptly? Oh, let me count the ways.
For starters, if you’re going to speak rhapsodic about how great of a quarterback coach you are you better be able to back it up. Essentially, running off the one halfway decent quarterback you had in Will Grier, leaving what seem to be a bunch of Les Miles rejects to run your team, isn’t exactly the best way to back up your claim.
And look, I know that in today’s political climate it’s nothing to hear someone in our government make some outlandish statements and not be held accountable whenever their accusations turn out to be false.
But, considering that most of America cares more about who their football head coaches are as opposed to who is running our country, if you are going to say that you’re an offense of genius you had better be able to prove it.
Secondly, if there’s any team within the SEC that expects you to put points on the board, it’s Florida. When McElwain was hired, almost three years ago, I wrote that Florida fans would rather score 40 points and lose, than score 14 and win.
That may be a bit of an exaggeration on my part, but not by much. If the Gators were one of the best offensive teams in the country, they would have fired Defensive Coordinator, Randy Shannon (who is now the interim coach) and McElwain would still have his job, despite the next reason I’m about to mention.
The theme of this article has been all about accountability and backing up what you say. So, with that in mind, when you say you and your family are receiving death threats, but don’t meet with administration to address those accusations, you’d be better believe you’ve lost all credibility.
When you take into account everything that has happened over the last year- the shark picture, difficulties at quarterback, an inept offense, death threat fiasco- there really isn’t any way you can justify McElwain keeping his job. I’m not normally in favor of a coach losing his job mid-season, but this decision was pretty inevitable.
The question now is, “Where do the Gators go from here”? I like Randy Shannon, but he’s definitely not the answer. Florida is a great enough job to get a big name, but I’m not sure there’s anyone out there they would be interested in.
Plus, bringing in a splashy name hasn’t exactly been the Florida way. (Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer didn’t carry the cache they do now when they arrived in Gainesville).
As for McElwain, it may take him a while to overcome this; specifically the death threat debacle.
Bill Parcells once famously said that “You are what your record says you are”. I bet if you asked Jim McElwain that question today, he’d have a different opinion.
Knights Gallop Into 2nd Round
By: Alex Mathis
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
One down and 3 to go.
That’s the message Brandon Derrick preached to his team after the game. The Knights were able to defeat Tiftarea Academy, 49-36. Frederica now advances to round two of the GISA state playoffs against Heritage High School.
The Knights were coming off of a difficult loss to Edmund Burke Academy. This loss might have been a blessing in disguise for the Knights. The 21-19 defeat got the Knights attention.
Coach Derrick used this moment as a great coaching moment. His Monday speech after the EBA game sparked a different attitude at practice for the last two weeks. Coach asked for more from his team and the Knights stepped up in practice.
The Knights came out of the locker room fired up and it showed on the field. The Knights defense forced a fumble on Tiftarea’s first possession. Isaiah Jackson was able to score a few plays later.
After a huge run inside the 10 by Spence Massey of Tiftarea, the Knights defense was able to keep them out of the endzone. Frederica’s next score came when Jaylin Simpson connected with Jashawn Sheffield for a 59-yard touchdown.
The Knight defense was able to hold Tiftarea’s offense once again on their next possession. Great plays by Rett Thompson, Santana Clark, Cole Hinson, Cameron Gardner, Deke Jernigan, and Harry Veal helped shut down the run. Isaiah Jackson was able to scamper for a 51-yard touchdown on the Knights next possession.
Tiftarea was able to score on their next possession but the Knights answered on the ensuing kickoff with a return for a touchdown by Isaiah Jackson. Tiftarea was able to tack on one more score before the half. The score at the half was 28-14.
The 3rd and 4th quarter saw a lot of offense from both teams. The Knights finished with 454 yards of offense with 363 of those yards coming from the ground.
The offensive line had an amazing game on Friday. They helped open up holes the entire night. This group hopes to do the same thing next week.
The Knights defense played great. They seem to be in position the entire night. A few missed tackles here and a few missed tackles there made this game way more interesting than it had to be. The Knights hope to make those corrections next week before the second round matchup.
Last year the Knights fell to Deerfield Windsor in the second round.
Before the second round matchup, the Knights faced Edmund Burke Academy and Bethlehem Christian. The Knights won both of those game convincingly and went into the second round matching relatively unchallenged.
This year will be a little different. The loss against Edmund Burke and the tough matchup against Tiftarea should keep the Knights focused going into the second round.
Frederica hopes to build off of this past week’s performance. The Knights have been challenged throughout the season. Next Friday will not be any different. The Heritage Hawks will bring their best game to the island. The Knights have to prepare with this in mind.
