Jason Heyward freaks out the Stanford Tree

((espn))

We've gone on record about not always liking the things that our friends at the 4-letter (ESPN) say and do. But we've gotta say, we absolutely "LOVE" their promotions department. The "This is SportsCenter" spots are some of the funniest things on TV...subtle...and funny.

Here's the latest spot featuring Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward and the Stanford Tree:

Braves Saved...by Brooks Conrad....

Today's game was simple. The blowoff game of a 2-game set between the Braves and the Reds in Atlanta. The Braves won the 1st one on a Jason Heyward double Wednesday night. That put their record at 20-20.

The Reds have been on a different path. Leading the NL Central, winning 6 of their last 7 and playing some of the best baseball in the league including leading the league in fielding.

That changed today.

((Brooks Conrad celebrates//Courtesy: FOSG Curtis Compton and ajc.com))

The Reds dropped an 8 spot in the second inning against Atlanta's best pitcher, Tommy Hanson. After 8 innings, the score was Cincinnati 9, Atlanta 3. That didn't hold up.

The Reds could have gotten out of it. The Braves loaded the bases and scored 2. Martin Prado hit a rocket to Reds 3rd baseman Miguel Cairo, that should have been a double play. Only he couldn't get it out of his glove. A run scores and the bases are still loaded, 1-out.

That set-up the next two batters, bases loaded, nobody out and young Mr. Heyward at the plate. Heyward, who leads the NL in game-winning hits, would strike out.

So the Reds brought in their closer, Francisco Cordero to face Brooks Conrad. Conrad, a journeyman bench player, brought his .222 average to the plate. Cordero works the count to 2-2 and Conrad fouls a couple of pitches off.

On the 8th pitch of the at-bat, Cordero throws a 97-mile per hour fastball, low and away from Conrad. Conrad gets a good cut and launches the ball to left-center. Somehow, the ball carries...to the wall and off the glove of left-fielder Laynce Nix over the wall...Game Winner. Yeah, that's right. Conrad hits a Game-Winning Grand Slam.

Watch the HQ video from MLB.com RIGHT HERE and pay attention to Conrad as he rounds 1st base...he thought it was caught.

Or watch this video from dooksucks24 on You Tube:

Friend of the OSG Nubyjas Wilborn was in the Braves Locker room and spoke with Manager Bobby Cox. Check out his re-cap RIGHT HERE

Jason Heyward is the second coming....

Ok, we here at the satellite office have made no secret about our life-long fanship of the Atlanta Braves. And for the 1st time in a very...very long time, we have not been able to watch games on a regular basis, either in person or on TV. Last night was a treat.

By now, most baseball fans are beginning to find out about the legend of Jason Heyward. The OSG have been keeping tabs on the prodigious youngster from McDonough for several years. And as much as we thought that he would end up a star one day, nobody could have forseen this.

20-years old, he hits a 3-run homer on his 1st official MLB at-bat. He wins a game last week against Colorado with a 2-run single with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth. He ties Tuesday's game with Philadelphia on a low outside pitch, one that he merely pulls and deposits in the Right-Center field seats.

Trust us when we say that everything that you've heard about the young man is true: it is. He's one of the guys who is going to change the game of baseball. Really. We are very sure that all of this talk about him isn't going to go to his head, he's not that type.

Heck, he's gotten the city of Atlanta and his Braves teammates riled up like they haven't been in years. Last night, to top his game tying HR, Centerfielder Nate McLouth, who was hitting .138, wins the game on the 1st at-bat in the bottom of the 10th inning. He circles the bases only to find the time emptied the dugout, there was nobody to celebrate with until he went into the tunnel.

You'll have to go to the Braves website to see the video. You can find it HERE

For anyone not familiar with Mr. Heyward, check this out: Thanks You Tube

The Jay-Hey Kid Is Off And Running...

Everyone has heard the hype machine for local kid-Braves uber prospect Jason Heyward.

It started up in earnest Monday afternoon as he took Carlos Zambrano deep for home run number one. The Braves were down 3-0 after the first half-inning, then jumped on Zambrano for 8 in 1-and 2/3rds...

How very Francoeur of you, Heyward...

((HT: ESPN/MLB))


What is it about Braves right fielders anyway...???

Francoeur homers in his first game...
((not pictured, but this will suffice...))


And with a very Chipper Jones-like swing, it's Heyward's turn...
Let the Legend commence...

Here's Opening Day coverage from our friends at WAGA-TV
FOSG Ken Rodriguez was in the plaza for the 7th Inning Stretch...
((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))