TURNER FIELD-Another made for TV trading deadline has come and gone in Major League Baseball, and one could say that the Braves made as much news for what they didn't do as what they did do.

Most of us expected to see reliever Will Ohman go elsewhere, but he is still on the roster. If the Braves fail to sign Ohman next season they would get a compensatory draft pick. A pick they would have lost had Ohman been traded. So keeping the solid lefthander was the right thing to do seeing that the return this year would not have been much.

The Braves were also in the hunt for Pittsburgh outfielder Jason Bay, but he earlier in the day went to the Red Sox in the same deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers from Boston.

So what now? The trade of Teixeira puts up all the signs that the team has given up on this season. And if you look at what is left of the starting rotation, the possibilities of making a run seem remote.

However, call me an eternal optimist, or even call me clueless, but this is baseball and anything can happen. There is talent on this team, and if any of these guys (Chipper, Glavine, Diaz) can get off the DL, and if Brian McCann can come back, then the pace of winning games may quicken.

For those of you who don't know the big deals on Thursday at the deadline, here's what happened:

The Chicago White Sox pick up Ken Griffey, Junior from the Cincinnati Reds. In return, the Reds get pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar.

The Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates work out a three way deal that give both Boston and LA new life and leaves Pittsburgh being Pittsburgh. Manny Ramirez heads to the Dodgers, Jason Bay goes to the Red Sox and Pittsburgh gets four minor leaguers including Andy LaRoche, brother of former Brave and current Pirate Adam.

The Marlins make a move to strengthen their bullpen by picking up reliever Arthur Rhodes from the Mariners for righthander Gabby Hernandez

TURNER FIELD--Times being what they are for the Atlanta Braves, the trade to send Mark Teixeira seems to be a pretty good one. Most will view the trade as the Braves "waiving the white flag," and that is probably so, but still Casey Kotchman will be with this team for a few years and the Braves couldn't be happier.

The lefthander is a solid player who in his fifth year in the majors is hitting at a 274 clip. He also has been regarded as one of the top prospects in the Angels system for the past few years.

But are the Braves done making deals? Will Ohman is being shopped around, that we know. But we have also heard Mark Kotsay, Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur as possible Braves to hit the market. I would like to see the Braves keep Kotsay. When he is healthy, he is a solid centerfielder and a great lefthanded bat. Johnson is a good player, but the Braves have plenty waiting in the wings that could take over at second. That brings us to Francoeur. It's tough to watch Frenchy struggle at the plate the way he has this season. He looks so lost at time that it is affecting his play in the field as well. Sometimes, I think leaving this city would do him good. Let's face it, when he got the call-up in 2005 he was a sensation. And then two full years of 100 RBIs means he can play at this level. But those numbers, the fact he was a legend at Parkview High School, and the fact that he is a likeable kids with a great smile all addes up to tremedous pressure to perform in his hometown. And the fact the had to go to the minors to "find his swing" tells me there is no one in Atlanta that can help him out right now.

TURNER FIELD--The Braves have made the trade everyone expected here on Tuesday as they deal first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Los Angeles Angels for first baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Steve Marek.

Kotchman is batting 287 for the Angels with 12 homers and 54 RBI's. Marek, a 24 year old righthander is currently pitching for the Angels AA team in Arkansas.

TURNER FIELD--Monday, July 28th may go down as the lowest point of the season for the Atlanta Braves. The day opened with the announcement that both Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson would go on the DL. A quick check with Jones before the game, and he seemed to think he was going to be able to comeback soon. But Hudson, we would find out later, would be a different story.

So the game begins with no Chipper, no McCann, former UGA catcher Clint Sammons behind the plate and Charlie Morton on the mound.

The Cardinals put up two runs in the second and four in the third. The four-run third was horrible to watch. The low-light...a double off the wall in center by Yadir Molina that, thanks to a throwing error by Yunel Escobar, enabled Molina to come all the away around to score. The Braves fans booed. The large contingent of Cardinal fans cheered. And we all wondered if things could get any worse.

They did.

A few innings later, Braves GM Frank Wren addressed the media. He told us that earlier in the day, Tim Hudson had an MRI on this right elbow. The MRI showed ligament damage. Wren mentioned that Hudson would see Dr. James Andrews later in the week.

I have been doing this long enough to know that when we hear the words "ligament damage" and "Dr. James Andrews" in the same sentence then it usually adds up to Tommy John Surgery.

Of course, that is not confirmed and is only speculation. But this is not good. Hudson probably will miss an extended period. If it is Tommy John, then we wont see him until next year at this time.

So, the list of Braves injuries is nothing less than incredible. John Smoltz: out for the year. Tom Glavine: still on the DL. Mike Hampton: Just off the DL, but not 100 percent. Chipper Jones: on the DL. Brian McCann; out with a mild concussion.

So this makeshift team tries to do it's best. The Cardinals have scored more than 10 runs and punched out---sorry---blasted out---more than 10 hits on the night. Things seemed to be falling apart for the team. But as they say there is a lot more baseball to be played.

Some times that is not a good thing.

No as far as the trade deadline is concerned. It's coming up Thursday and most feel Mark Teixeira will be gone. But what will the Braves do? Trade for some pitching help seems to be the logical way to go. But will that be for a young arm or two, or an established pitcher?

The next few days will be interesting for Braves fans and media members alike. Stay tuned.

Hoover, AL--Bobby Petrino has yet to arrive at our Radio/Internet location, but he did make a stop in the "TV 3" room to field questions. That was the room with members of the Atlanta TV media. This was the first chance many got to talk to him and ask him questions since he bolted from the Falcons. I must say in the face of some pretty tough questions, Petrino did not blink and answered as best he could. I am going to post this one at http://wsbradio.com/bulldogsradio/

It will be up in a few minutes, it is worth a listen.

Hoover, AL---As expected the media has voted the Florida Gators as the overall favorite to win the 2008 SEC Football Title. I don't know about you, but I love this. Remember 2004? That was the senior season for David Greene and David Pollack; the Dawgs were the overwhelming choice by the media to win it all, and ended up in the Outback Bowl. So, two things to consider here...1.) It's always better to be picked to finish high in the standings but not first and 2.) the media really doesn't know anything, and that's me included. The Gators did not get the unamious nod. They got 45 votes to win the East followed by the Dawgs with 23 votes. The Gators got 36 votes to win the SEC Title followed by the Dawgs with 18. In the West, Auburn is the choice to finish first with 48 votes, LSU second with 21 votes and Ole Miss got one vote. Ole Miss? Someone must really believe in Houston Nutt! Only a handful of interviews are left with Bobby Petrino waiting in the wings.

The Steve Spurrier and Rich Brooks are now available on line at http://wsbradio.com/bulldogsradio/

HOOVER, AL--We have talked with every head coach in the League except four: Steve Spurrier; Rich Brooks; Tommy Tuberville and Bobby Petrino.

Petrino will close the three day session tomorrow afternoon, and sure, I am confident he will be asked about the Falcons, but like the talk of the UGA on field celebration in Jacksonville, Petrino and the Falcons are OLD NEWS.

So far, here's how I would rank the coaches who have spoken so far. This ranking is based purely on how they handle themselves with the Media: 1.) Mark Richt (duh! You knew I was going to do that, but I still know it to be true); 2.) Houston Nutt; 3.) Sylvester Croom; 4.) Les Miles; 5.) Nick Saban; 6.) Urban Meyer; 7.) Bobby Johnson and finally 8.) Phillip Fulmer.

That doesn't mean Johnson and Fulmer came off badly. Actually all the coaches did very well. It is some was better than others.

So feel free to comment on any coaches comments. You can access them on http://wsbradio.com/bulldogsradio/

Tomorrow...

HOOVER, AL--The Houston Nutt interview is posted. I will take a break and then give a recap of the day in a few hours.

HOOVER, AL--It has occured to me that many of the questions from us--the members of the media--are designed to show everyone else in the room how much we know.

For example; "Coach, last season you went 9-and-3 and scored an average of 22 points a game. That is much less than you scored the previous season when you averaged 30.6. Based on the fact that you have the tougest schedule in the past ten years at the school, and the fact that you lost 22 seniors to graduation, and the fact that of those 22, 14 are now in jail..What kind of season do you think you will have?'

A simple...What kind of season do you think you will have? Would have worked...but then what fun would that be for the blogs? Mo Mass is on his way!

Hoover, AL--The Jeff Owens Interview from Day Two is now posted. You can access it at http://wsbradio.com/bulldogsradio/

Mohammed Massaquoi will speak in a few moments.

HOOVER, AL---Day two begin officially at 8:10 A.M. (CDT) this morning. Here's who will speak and field question. ALABAMA: Coach Nick Saban, Offensive Lineman Antoine Caldwell and Safety Rashad Johnson. OLE MISS: Coach Houston Nutt, Offensive Tackle Michael Oher and Defensive Tackle Peria Jerry. TENNESSEE: Coach Phillip Fulmer, Defensive End Robert Ayers and Running Back Arian Foster. GEORGIA: Coach Mark Richt, Defensive Tackle Jeff Owens and Wide Receiver Mohammad Massaquoi.

It will interesting to hear what Michael Oher of Ole Miss has to say. He is the subject of the book The Blind Side. His developement into one of the top left tackles in the country and his social skills as a kid growing up in Memphis make for a great read. He also declared for the NFL Draft in January but reconsidered and will play his senior season in Oxford.

I will post many of the entire interviews on www.wsbradio.com/bulldogsradio at times during the day. Send me a note!

Hoover, AL-SEC Commissioner Mike Slive is addressing the media. He mentions this is the largest contingent of media ever assembled for the SEC Media Days. Over 850. He also mentions that there is only one sports team on probation in the SEC at this time. it's the Arkansas track program, which if you don't know, is one of the top, if not the top program in the nation.

Also, they have handed out the ballot to pick the Preseason All SEC First and Second teams. You are welcome to respond to this blog with suggestions for the ballots. I am sure Knowshon and Tebow are a lock for first team, but after that give me some suggestions!

Hello World!