Dec 22 2008
Braves’ acquision of Ross probably means more seasoning for Sammons
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — On the final night of July, with the trade of Mark Teixeira and the realization that the Atlanta Braves would spend the next two months playing out the string, Clint Sammons gave us all reason to smile.
The former Parkview High quarterback and one-time University of Georgia standout blasted his first major-league homer and drove in three runs, leading the Braves to victory over St. Louis at Turner Field. For Sammons, it was a dream come true.
But like most dreams, the alarm clock soon sounds and you’re roused back to reality. And that reality for Sammons in 2009 most likely will be another season in Triple-A, albeit this time, instead of Richmond, Va., he’ll ply his craft in Gwinnett, the county where he quarterbacked Parkview to the Class AAAAA state title in 2000.
(For what it’s worth, Sammons had a sophomore wide receiver on that state title team named Jeff Francoeur.)
The signing of veteran David Ross to serve as Brian McCann’s backup next season probably doesn’t leave room on the opening-day roster for Sammons, who finished with a .148 average, just the one homer, and four RBIs in 23 games for the Braves in 2008. He didn’t get much of a chance to play last season until the Braves were out of the race, and only when Atlanta decided to designate for assignment backup catcher Corky Miller – the worst player in the majors.
The Braves remain high on Sammons, though, and want him catching every day at Gwinnett. And he’ll be just a phone call away should something happen to either McCann or Ross.
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