Good morning. This is Leadoff, the early buzz in Atlanta sports.
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com points out some cool things about new Braves pitcher Bartolo Colon's 2016 season … as a hitter.
In a column posted yesterday on strange but true feats of the season, Stark begins with Colon’s home run for the Mets against the Padres on May 7.
He puts the blast into perspective, writing:
“Hank Aaron hit his last home run — No. 755 — when he was 42 years, 166 days old. Bartolo hit his FIRST home run when he was 42 years, 349 days old. Nobody in history had ever waited until they had logged that many years on earth to hit their first home run. But this guy was pretty much the perfect candidate for that feat, right?”
Stark also notes that on Aug. 15 Colon became the oldest player to draw the first walk of his major-league career and that on Aug. 26 he had his first multi-hit game since 2002.
It also should be noted, as Stark does, that Colon struck out 40 times in 65 plate appearances last season.
Check out the other strange but true feats of the 2016 season here.
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NFL.com writer Chris Wesseling makes a strong case for Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan as the league's Most Valuable Player.
In a new article listing 10 MVP candidates, Wesseling ranks Ryan No. 1, writing:
“… Distributing the ball like Steph Curry in Kyle Shanahan’s spread-the-wealth offense, Ryan is the first player in history to throw touchdowns to 13 different players. Per Football Outsiders’ metrics, he has been the season’s best passer on short throws as well as bombs.
“… Not convinced that Ryan should run away with the award? The Falcons lead the league in points per game (33.5), yards per play (6.6) and big plays (115). They are one of three teams since 1991 to score on more than half of their drives. Ryan’s average of 9.26 yards per attempt is the highest in history for any player with 400 or more pass attempts. He’s on pace to become just the fourth quarterback ever to average 300 or more passing yards per game with a passer rating over 115. The other three members of that exclusive club (2013 Peyton Manning, 2011 Aaron Rodgers and 2007 Tom Brady) were all honored with the MVP award.
“… By any fair measure, Ryan is the NFL’s most valuable player of 2016.”
Check out the full article (and the other nine MVP candidates) here.
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What arguably is the biggest college football game in Georgia Dome history also will be the last.
Saturday’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Washington — a College Football Playoff semifinal — will cap the prominent role the Dome has played in the sport since its opening in 1992.
While best known as the home of the Falcons, the Dome will host its 152nd college football game, its 25th Peach Bowl.
The building is scheduled to be demolished next year and replaced by the $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium, under construction next door and now slated to open by August.
The Dome will be the site of at least two more Falcons games — the team’s regular-season finale against the Saints on Sunday and at least one playoff game. The building is scheduled to close in March, when a Monster Jam trucks show is currently its last booked event.
But one big part of Georgia Dome history ends Saturday, one that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Read the full story here.
