Schuerholz Will Leave Post As Braves' GM

(AP) - Braves president John Schuerholz has vowed to never again do business with Rafael Furcal's agents, whom Schuerholz has accused of conducting "despicable" dealings with the team, the AP reports. Schuerholz and Braves general manager Frank Wren were quoted as saying the Wasserman Media Group negotiated dishonestly by taking the team's signed terms of agreement sheet for Furcal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who then reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday to re-sign the shortstop. More»

Mighty Braves find themselves scrambling for wild-card for second straight year

(NEWSER) - After a 14-year reign at the top of the National League East, the Atlanta Braves have all but ceded the division to the Mets for the second straight season. ESPN cites poor performances from the back end of the rotation, but even stalwart No. 2 pitcher Tim Hudson was out-dueled by New York's Oliver Perez Monday in the 3-2 loss. More»

Five clubs sign sponsorship deals with distillers

(NEWSER) - Big-league baseball teams are hitting the hard stuff. After years of sponsorship from beer companies, five ball clubs this year have teamed up with liquor brands. The spirit of choice: tequila, which saw the biggest sales jump among spirits between 2001 and 2010. “Lots of people think of beer and hot days together, but we have a lot of fans who are interested in spirits,” an Atlanta Braves rep tells MarketWatch . “And for female fans, we can offer margaritas.” More»

Also, pitcher Derek Lowe is charged with DUI

(NEWSER) - This turned out to be a banner week for the Atlanta Braves pitching staff. In the most high-profile event, the team today placed pitching coach Roger McDowell on administrative leave after he allegedly hurled gay slurs at heckling Giants fans ("Are you a homo couple or a threesome?"), simulated a sex act with a bat, and used the same bat to threaten a man who asked him to tone down his language in front of kids. ("How much are your teeth worth?") More»

Minor league manager Luis Salazar will return to work this season

(NEWSER) - An Atlanta Braves coach has lost his left eye after a foul ball hit him in the face. Luis Salazar, a minor league manager, was watching a spring training game when a line drive off the bat of the Braves’ Brian McCann hit him in the dugout. He was knocked out and the game was paused while he was airlifted to a hospital. Doctors treated him for facial fractures, the AP reports. More»