ATL AM: Atlanta Sports News 5/9

May 7, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann (16) singles during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning everyone, and welcome to another edition of ATL AM. This is probably going to start being an everyday thing here on the site, so let us know what  you like about it and what can be improved in the comments below. Let’s jump right into all the news around Atlanta sports:

MLB–Tony Meale reports that Jason Heyward will be traveling to Gwinnett to play at least two games with the Braves Triple-A team:

"Heyward, who has not played since undergoing an emergency appendectomy on April 22, will play in a rehab game for Triple-A Gwinnett at 10:35 a.m. ET on Thursday. He will then travel with Gwinnett to Scranton, Pa., for a weekend series, though it has not been decided how long Heyward’s rehab assignment will last."

Tomahawk Take–Chris Headrick discusses Brian McCann‘s future with the Atlanta Braves:

"Despite Brian McCann’s obvious value, I hear many fans and reporters assuming that this is probably the last year with the Braves for Brian McCann.  Jon Heyman of CBS Sportsbelieves “the handwriting is on the wall”, that Evan Gattis will be the starting catcher for the Atlanta Braves in 2014.  Jon makes a valid point, and fans seem to love Evan Gattis.  Evan is playing well, is considerably cheaper than the $12 Million the Braves are currently paying McCann, and the Braves year-end, year-out desire to keep their budget around the $90s in millions are definite arguments for making the assumption that Brian may have seen his last year with the Braves.  I’m just not sure we can yet make such an assumption."

AtlantaFalcons.com–Jay Adams and Daniel Cox talk about the Falcons draft in their latest FalconCast:

"AtlantaFalcons.com’s Jay Adams and Daniel Cox recap the 2013 NFL Draft and the Falcons’ Rookie Club, as well as give their thoughts on last weekend’s rookie minicamp in this week’s edition of the FalconCast podcast"

RamblinWreck.com— The ACC has announced the 2013 football bowl schedule:

"-The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the dates, networks and game times for its 2013 Football Bowl Games. In all, the ACC will have eight guaranteed bowl slots, with one additional conditional contract.The ACC Champion, if it is not in the Vizio BCS National Championship Game played in the Rose Bowl Stadium, will play in the Discover Orange Bowl, which will be played on Friday, January 3, 2014, at 8 p.m. at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN."

GeorgiaStateSports.com–The Panthers baseball team had their 5 game winning streak end yesterday after a 6-5 loss to Kennesaw State University. If you want to get even more about this game be sure to ask our writer Nick Brat, who attended the game (I believe it was his 100th GSU sporting event this year. kudos for that.):

"Georgia State had its five-game winning streak snapped with a 6-5 loss to Kennesaw State Wednesday at the GSU Baseball Complex.Georgia State (32-18), which had already clinched the season series with its Atlanta-area rival with a pair of wins in April, lost for just the fifth time in 21 games. Three of the five losses in that stretch have been by one run."

 AJC–Michael Cervell writes that freshman high school football player Broadarius Hamm could potentially have a scholarship offer from UGA:

"Broadarius Hamm, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman from Spalding High School who wears a size 18 shoe, made national headlines this week when it was reported that he got an early offer from UGA. Hamm’s story was featured by ESPN and on local TV stations because it’s rare when a college offers a freshman."

AJC–Mark Bradley disagrees with Brian Fremeau of Football Outsiders, who says the Georgia Tech football team will finish in fourth place in the ACC Coastal division:

"I say again: I admire Football Outsiders and the data and opinions presented therein very much. But I do believe Georgia will win the SEC East, and I’d be surprised if Tech finished as low as fourth. But maybe that’s just the homer in me talking."