The Braves lead in the N.L. east is disappearing about as fast as Lindsay Lohan’s acting career. Atlanta’s latest slip up was Thursday’s 5-3 loss at last place Washington. That is the team’s fourth loss in the past six games.
Meanwhile, the Phillies just keep right on winning. They took down Arizona in extra innings last night to win their eighth straight. The Braves lead in the N.L. East standings is now just 2 ½ games. This time last week they had a seven game lead.
The Mets are 6 ½ back and aren’t a factor yet. But, as we’ve seen, that could change in a week’s time. I’m still not sold on the Mets though.
It looks like it is going to be a two horse race between the Braves and the two time defending N.L. champions. Atlanta’s task got a lot tougher when the Phillies made a move to land Houston ace Roy Oswalt Tuesday. Oswalt, combined with Halladay and Hamels makes for a pretty strong starting rotation in Philly.
The schedule is also working against the Braves. They open a series at N.L. Central leading Cincinnati tonight. The Phillies, fresh off a series at N.L. West cellar dweller Arizona, head to D.C. to face the N.L. East basement feeder Washington Nationals. They won’t have to face Nat’s ace Stephen Strasburg either. The rookie sensation is on the 15 day disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
It may be tough for the Braves to keep that lead from shrinking further or even disappearing completely this weekend.
SportsTalk continues through another stellar night as camp opens for the Panthers at Wofford. The Braves lose another series to a divisional opponent and some recruiting news to wet your appetite.
- The Braves drop an afternoon game in D.C. but Mike Morgan says there is no reason to push the panic button.
Mike Morgan in tonight’s Braves Report.
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- Recruiting has some juicy nuggets for all of you recruit-nicks out there.
Thursday night’s Recruiting Report
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Details on Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney’s new contract were released Wednesday by the University.
Swinney’s annual salary more than doubled from last season’s $800,000 to now stand at $1.75 million guaranteed for each of the next 5 seasons. His first contract included incentives that would automatically boost his contract if the Tigers were to reach the ACC Championship Game. This time around it will take an ACC Championship game victory for his contract to be altered. His salary would reach close to $2 million if the Tigers win the ACC.
Clemson announced that the new contract will increase “to an amount not less than the average total compensation for the seven most highly” paid ACC football coaches if they win the title. Swinney can accumulate other bonuses throughout the season though, earning $20,000 for a 10 win regular season, $30,000 for 11 wins, and $40,000 if the Tigers win 12. The old contract gave bonuses for eight or nine win seasons, but the new one does not. Swinney would also collect $37,500 for playing in the ACC title game, whereas he earned $75,000 in the old agreement.
Swinney’s assistant coaches also received raises this off-season, cumulatively earning an additional $495,000. His assistants currently earn a combined $2.3 million.
Swinney led the Tigers to a 9-5 record during his first full year as Head Coach, winning their first Atlantic division title along the way. The Tigers lost to rival Georgia Tech 39-34 in the ACC championship game, but went on to defeat Kentucky 21-13 in the Music City Bowl, their first bowl victory since 2005. Clemson’s 2010 season starts September 4 against North Texas at Death Valley.
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