Author: jcalvert

In the end, adding a “face of the franchise” and merchandise mover won out.  Time will tell if this is a good move, but the kid sure looks happy to be with the Falcons.  For Ryan, life is good.

The rest of the Falcons draft is up in the air.  There should not be any reason for them to trade back into the first round, so those three second round selections are key to what happens next.  Rebuild the offensive and defensive line with those picks.

I have mixed emotions on Ryan.  On the one hand, we do need a QB of the future.  On the other, Ryan cannot win without a competent team around him.  What if he is a bust?  What if he talks Atlanta to the Super Bowl in two or three years?

Now that Jake Long has been signed by Miami, the focus (and suspense) is squarely on the Rams and what they will do – Chris Long or Glenn Dorsey. I have read a lot of rumors that St. Luis are trying to get the Falcons to trade up one pick in order for the Falcons to secure Dorsey. As much as I think Dorsey would be a great fit for the Falcons, I do not want them to give up any picks to move up a position.

So what do I want from the Falcons? I was kind of resigned to the Falcons taking Matt Ryan, because I thought J. Long and Dorsey would be off the board. Besides, as I have written before, A. Blank wants character players, the Falcons need a “face of the franchise” and they need someone to move merchandise. The only reason not to take Ryan is because of the bust potential – no one can say if Ryan is the next great QB or the next Ryan Leaf.

The Falcons need help all over the place – offensive line, defensive line, quarterback, secondary – you name it, the Falcons need it. The best scenario for Atlanta is to use their first pick is to grab a can’t miss impact player on either side of the line, and in the second round, grab a QB of the future, continue to build out the line, and work on the secondary. Three picks in the second should allow Atlanta to follow this path. With their two third round picks they can focus on depth at receiver, running back, or offensive/defensive line.

Of course this is all predicated on the Falcons not trading down and not trading second round picks to get back into the first round. Trading down may be viable if there is a way to still land an impact player and get a starting offensive lineman and/or an additional pick. I hate the idea of trading up because the Falcons need all the picks they have to rebuild their roster.

Should be a fun day, with only 6.5 hours until 3PM.

My new Dualshock 3 Sixaxis controller arrived today from amazon.com. I connected the controller to the PS3 USB cable (to charge it up) and started a game of Super Star Dust HD. Buzz. Buzz. Vibration is back. I then put MLB 08 in to give it a go with some RTTS action. Buzz. Buzz. At least on guessing a pitch.

I just put in F1 CE and I was immediately told that v1.10 was available, so I am waiting (no so patiently) while the patch is downloading. Not sure if anything else was done besides adding in Dualshock control.

It is a Sixaxis with some added buzz, so I am not sure what else I can write. The Dualshock 3 is heavier than the standard Sixaxis, so that is a big plus for me, but that is really just a personal preference; your mileage may vary. Time will tell if the battery life is significantly different than the Sixaxis.

The F1 CE v1.10 patch just finished downloading and installing in time for me to get in a few F1 comments for this post. It looks like vibration is only used under heavy breaking or acceleration when your tires may be spinning, and when you are almost over the edge when turning. So vibration during not so optimal tire wear conditions. Interestingly putting my car into a wall did not cause any controller vibrations, and running into another car did not cause the controller to shake, rattle, and role. I will have to spend more than a few minutes with the game to see if there are any options that I am missing, or if vibration is only used based on tire feedback.

My initial thoughts are that I have missed the Dualshock type controllers, but it is hard to say that the Dualshock 3 is worth $54.99. I doubt I can dump my Sixaxis controllers for more that $10 each.

This may be old news to some of you, but this weekend I ran across the following about the F2007 in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (GT5):

“first, this is indeed the Scuderia Ferrari F2007; second, that is the actual Ferrari red as sanctioned by the Ferrari team; and last but not least, the Ferrari F2007 will be available at all Gran Turismo Ferrari dealerships for 2 million game credits.”

I am not normally one for cheat codes and the like, but I doubt I will unlock the F2007 with conventional methods. I guess I am growing softer in my old age. There was a time when I would say that cheat codes were stupid or that you should have to unlock F2007 goodness. But not now. With a limited schedule of PS3 gaming time, I need to maximize my gaming time. I am probably not alone thinking that if I buy the game, the developers (and publishers) should give me everything in it, instead of having to play countless hours to earn the game’s main attraction. OK, I am a candy ass.

The same article also had this gem:

“you won’t be seeing GT5 full game for awhile, definitely not this year.”

If GT5P is decent, then this does not bother me that much because I will have to play forever if I want to drive the F2007. Besides, I am still waiting for a PSP version of GT. By the time GT5 is actually ready, they will probably just give it a new moniker.

I put together a decent run at my first set of goals, but my plate discipline sucks, which is really a generous description. I started off on the bench, but after one of the starting pitchers went on the DL, I was promoted to the starting lineup as the Macon Braves CF. Not sure how that works, but I will take what I can get.

18G, 55AB, 25H, .454AVG, 6HR, 8RBI, 2D, 0BB, 4K

+Increase your bunting ability over the next 4 series.
+Increase your contact vs. LHP over the next 4 series.
+Increase your plate discipline over the next 4 series.
-Over the next 4 series, draw 5 or more base on balls. [This was set to 2 walks, but the goal was adjusted. Either way, I did not walk once, so it did not matter.]
+Over the next 4 series, collect 6 or more total bases. [45]
+Over the next 4 series, have an on base percentage of .400 or higher. [.446]

If I could have drawn 2-5 walks I would be sitting pretty at AAA Richmond. Not sure how I can get better because I have a lifetime of swinging at first pitches and everything under the sun. Not just in videogames; real life as well.

Sundays are always special when Ferrari runs out front. When they finish one-two, then you just know that you are in for a special day.

Bahrain Grand Prix
The Bahrain Grand Prix featured Massa taking the top of the podium followed by a decent second place run for Raikkonen, who just paced outpaced Kubica. Felipe gained a measure of redemption, Kimi is now in front of the Drivers Championship, and BMW holds a surprising 1 point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors Championship.

Massa’s mistake will infuriate the Scuderia as the team looked set for a one-two finish with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen

March Madness Picks Lacking
My bracket was busted when Texas went down to Memphis. Other than that miss, I had the other three picks correct, but unfortunately for my prognostication skills (or lack there of), I had Texas winning it all. I know. Homer.

WoW Goes Down
As of April 13, 2008 4:04 AM PDT, I will no longer have a World of Warcraft subscription. As much as I enjoyed the game, I think I wasted a ton of money on this one because I just never got in consistent play time. To me, WoW is really more of a social experience; it does not measure up as a single player game. I had the most fun with the game when I joined up with a few random anonymous like-minded games, but I do not have any friends that do the WoW crack thing.

So I say goodbye to Tuldar (dwarf hunter), Kaldur (dwarf priest), and Faltutin (gnome mage). Fond farewell. Take a nice slumber. Maybe one day I will revisit what you have to offer if Blizzard goes to a pay-as-you-go system.

Road To The Show
Newest form of gaming crack. Best sports game that I have played in a long time. Addicting. Fun. Pure baseball goodness. What else is there to say?

And that’s a wrap. Happy Sunday!

I ran across an interesting article about GT5 Prologue and how lack of damage is going to make for some interesting cheating, or at the very least, some dishonest track records.

“While I had been shaving milliseconds off my time by following Hamilton-beating racing lines around the track, and perfecting my technique over the course of two hours, the bastard who leads the online leaderboard just bounces off the frickin’ walls!

GT5 Prologue’s lack of car damage means that dodgy players can use the metal barriers on two of the corners in the course to bounce round faster than any racing line you or I can take. It’s a joke.”

More interesting GT5 Prologue discussion about pretty graphics vs. realistic damage can be found over at the Digitalsports Page Forums.

To be young again. Thanks to MLB 08, a 21 year old me is trying to make the Atlanta Braves as a CF. I also picked 1B/3B for my secondary positions. The game, and in particular Road To The Show mode, is extremely addicting. Unfortunately I made a couple of mistakes.

While I played MLB last year on the PSP, but I have not played a console version in a while. Instead of spending a lot of time learning the game, I played a couple of exhibition games and jumped right into RTTS. This has been a problem because I stink at hitting and I cannot run the bases. If I were a pitcher, I would be in trouble because my pitching ability is somewhat suspect.

During Spring Training I did not get anytime in the infield, but started plenty of games. The Braves have me ranked 4/5 at CF, with CF being a moderately set position. Much like real baseball, it is frustrating when I get my hits; a lot of times when it does not matter. I guess I am not very clutch at the plate. It sucks for me when I have a goal to achieve and blow it, and then the next at bat I get a single. Very much like real baseball.

After my undisciplined spring at the plate, I considered myself lucky to land a 1 year contract for $30K to warm the bench for the AA Mississippi Braves.

Final Spring Training statistics:

27G, 85AB, 26H, .305AVG, 1HR, 6RBI, 2SB, 5CS, 3R, 1BB, 15K

The strikeouts and blunders on the bases hurt, but this goes back to two problems. Not have much experience with the game, and not having any discipline at the plate (I like to swing early and often).

My Scouting Report is not very encouraging; makes me wonder if I should try to give this baseball thing a go.

Overall D
Contact D
Power F
Fielding D
Speed C
Potential A

• A clear step below average at the plate.
• Not your man if you’re looking for a good average.
• Not a long ball threat.
• Solidly below average glove, keeps the official scorer busy.
• His speed is nothing special, maybe less so.
• As close to being a sure thing as you can get.

I was surprised that I quickly moved from warming the bench into starting in center. I guess the guy in front of me was not really much better. I will do some periodic updates until I progress further, or abandon this career and start over (after I actually know how to play the game).

RTTS mode is completely addicting. I am not sure when I last played a baseball game where I had that “just one more game” feeling, as I struggled to stay awake. Still early days, but MLB 08 looks to be a superb game.

After Hudson, where else can the Braves turn for quality starts?  Sure there is Smoltz, but he is on the DL and likely injury prone.  If he does stay healthy, he will put up innings.  That would give us last year – Hudson, Smoltz, and pray for rain.

Glavine looks decent; he managed 5 innings in his first start.  Jair Jurrjens looks very impressive, and has a lot of upside, but he only managed to go 5.1 innings in his first start before tiring out in the sixth inning.

Last night Hampton was scratched before the game and is now on the 15-day DL.  Chuck James will replace Hampton, but guess what?  James is coming off the DL, and before the latest Hampton injury, James was going to be sent to AAA.

Jeff Bennett did a nice job as an emergency starter, going 6 innings, and only giving up 3 runs.

I know the season is young, but if the starters cannot stay healthy and provide quality starts, it will be an extremely long, frustrating, and ultimately disappointing season.

Mine shipped today from Amazon.com. Not sure why I had to have one, and why it cost $54.99. Nevertheless, it will be good to rumble again, and I cannot wait to try this puppy with MLB 08 The Show, Formula One Championship Edition, and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (in a couple of weeks).

The Braves lost their home opener to the Pirates in 12 innings, 12-11.  Glavine managed a decent game (5IP, 7H, 1ER, 2BB, 3SO), but he needs to provide some quality starts to protect the middle of the bullpen.  Glavine had a high pitch count (97 pitches), which probably contributed to Cox pulling the plug early.  No point in pushing things two games into the season.

Cox threw the kitchen sink at the Pirates; 8 relievers tried to keep things under control, but Acosta was awful (.2IP, 3H, 4ER, 1BB, 1SO, 2HR).  Boyer ended up being the goat, pitching the final two innings (2IP, 2H, 3ER, 1BB, 3SO, 1HR).  I hope this is not a sign of things to come.  Still early days, so reason to panic.

I am still not sold on Johnson as the leadoff hitter, but as I mentioned yesterday, options are very limited.

The Braves are off today, so everyone gets a rest from my Braves ramblings.

The Falcons now have 6 of the first 98 selections in the 2008 draft. So far, the new Falcons brass has stockpiled 11 picks.

The extra third round pick is a big deal. Hopefully the Falcons can scout well and end up with at least four starters and two quality backups with their first six selections. If two or three of the other five stick, then this will be a great draft.

Last night the Braves wasted a good performance by Hudson (7IP, 3H, 2R, 3K, 0BB), going down 3-2 to the Nationals.  The Braves only collected 5 hits, while the Nationals were limited to 4.  Moylan only gave up a single hit in 1 1-3 innings; unfortunately it was the winning HR to Zimmerman (3B).

I do not think we can learn a lot from the first game, but I think leadoff may be a problem.  Johnson (2B) filled the role last night.  Not sure who else Cox can turn too; maybe Escobar (SS), but he seems better suited to the second slot.  Certainly not Diaz (LF) or Kotsay (C); options are limited.

So tonight we get to watch Glavine’s return at home vs. the Pirates.  Should be a fun one, but I have no idea why Atlanta only stayed in Washington for a single game, return home, and will get Wednesday off.

Tomorrow Atlanta will find out what sort of compensatory pick it will get for the loss of Patrick Kerney.

It appears that Atlanta will probably get either a 3rd round compensation pick, if Marcus Wilkins does NOT count as a “qualified” free agent signing, or a 7th round pick if Marcus Wilkins does count as a qualified free agent.

Obviously an extra 3rd round selection is worth a whole lot more than an extra 7th round pick. The Falcons need draft picks, so hopefully like the coin toss draft tie breaker, the compensatory formula will also go in our favor. Getting an extra 3rd round pick would make the potential for this draft even more bright, while an extra 7th is just a more expensive version of a undrafted free agent.

Friday on the way to work, Peter Gammons was on ESPN Radio predicting the Atlanta Braves to take the NL East and represent the NL in the World Series. Gammons said that the Braves were the most impressive team (in the NL) that he saw this spring, they go six deep in the rotation, and the combination of switch hitters Chipper and Teixeira in the middle of the lineup would be hard for most teams to overcome. He also mentioned the young lineup, top-to-bottom, being better than most teams. Escobar, Kelly Johnson, and Francoeur all were mentioned.

I guess the season and this team snuck up on me. I am probably being very obvious, but for the Braves to stand half a chance, here are my keys to success:

• Smoltz and Hampton have to stay healthy. 14+ wins from Smoltz, and 10+ from Hampton.
• Glavine does not have to be spectacular, but he has to put up quality starts, and needs to manufacture 10 wins.
• Hudson has to be the staff ace.
• Soriano and the bullpen need to be brilliant. Gonzalez needs to come back healthy from the DL.
• The lineup should be solid, but Chipper has to stay healthy.

Hopefully Gammons is right. Go Braves!