around the horn

A few quick comments on various topics:
Good move by the Mississippi Braves, switching their radio affiliation to WYAB-103.9 FM. On WZRX-1590 AM last season, the signal could not be picked up in many parts of the metro area. Ben Ingram does a fine job as the play-by-play man, but you had to wonder during last year’s championship season how many people ever actually heard him. On the FM dial, that shouldn’t be a problem anymore.
An update: Selwyn Langaigne, the former Jackson Senators outfielder with the lyrical name, recently signed with the independent Shreveport-Bossier Captains (formerly the Shreveport Sports) of the American Association. Former Senators GM Craig Brasfield is now the Captains’ GM. Langaigne will play on at least one more summer. Good for him.
Weir resident and former Holmes Community College star Roy Oswalt, current ace of the Houston Astros, is on the tentative roster for Team USA in this spring’s World Baseball Classic. So is former M-Braves catcher Brian McCann. Former Jackson Mets skipper Davey Johnson will manage to club. This tournament, awkwardly jammed into the schedule though it may be, has the potential to develop into something pretty cool. The MLB Network will televise a slew of the games, which will greatly enhance the event’s exposure. Can’t hardly wait.
Here’s a sleeper who could have an impact in Atlanta this season: infielder Diory Hernandez. No one talks much about him, but it was evident during the brief time Hernandez spent with the M-Braves in 2007 and ’08 that he’s got some skills. Check out his numbers in the Dominican Winter League: .329, 7 homers, 27 RBIs. He can play second, short and third, maybe even the outfield. Also worthy of note: Former M-Braves center fielder Gregor Blanco is hitting .349 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 22 RBIs and 39 runs through 48 games of the Venezuelan Winter League. He could blossom in Atlanta this season given regular duty.