Glavine makes debut as Braves “coach,” etc.

Dark Star, Fla. – Tom Glavine’s making his debut as analyst on SportSouth right now as most of you read this, but the iconic Braves lefty already made his debut as coach.

That came late this morning on a backfield here at Dark Star (aka Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports, aka Cash Cow Ballpark).

I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now....

Yes, there was Glav in his familiar No. 47, looking the same as he did in the latter years of his career, but leaning on a fungo bat like a veteran coach.

“Trying to make my mark,” Glavine quipped about his first day in a Braves uniform as anything but a pitcher.

Maybe he’ll be a pitching coach someday. Or even a manager. But for now he’s not sure which direction he wants to head in his second full-time baseball career. So he’s dabbling in a little of just about everything he can.

He’s got one of the more unusual, custom-designed roles you’ll find a former playing – or anyone else — filling, with a title that sounds fairly specific — special assistant to Braves president John Schuerholz – but a role that is not.

His wide-ranging duties include on-field instruction, which he was doing right away this morning, working with lefty Billy Wagner on the release point of the veteran closer’s changeup.

Yes, watching the 305-game winner work with the 385-save closer was a treat, and pitching coach Roger McDowell was there with them, the pitcher and two ex-pitchers in shallow left field, on the backfield behind the main stadium’s big scoreboard.

After Scott Proctor threw batting practice for a second consecutive day in preparation for his Grapefruit League debut Friday against Detroit (more on that in a moment), manager Bobby Cox got a ride back to the stadium with clubhouse attendant Josh Hall.

“Josh, you gonna come back and get me,” Glavine joked as they pulled away.

Then Glavine said, “I’m gonna walk back with the players,” and started walking over with Wagner, Proctor and Peter Moylan.

Coaching hockey is about the only thing Glavine's not doing for Braves. This was him this winter, coaching his son's team in a tourney in Canada.

It was almost noon now, and Glavine was asked if he was going to go directly to change into his broadcaster attire – polo shirt, slacks – for his analyst debut on the 1:05 p.m. game. “Yeah, like Superman,” he said.

A minute later as Glavine and the pitchers approached the opening in the right-field fence at the stadium, a SportSouth producer approach Glavine and said they were almost ready to do the pregame show with Glavine, who still had to change.

We’re doing it at 12:15, the guy told Glavine.

“What time is it now?” Glavine said. “About 12,” the producer answered.

“Oh [bleep],” Glavine said. “Better get going.”

And as he started a speed-walk to the clubhouse, Glavine smiled and said, “I’m wearing too many hats.”

These were just two of the many he’ll wear in his new role, which also includes front-office work, community appearances, special scouting and other projects for GM Frank Wren and the baseball operations side, and traveling to Braves minor league affiliates to consult with pitchers and coaches on the farm.

This is what the future Hall-of-Famer wanted, because Glavine said he’s just not sure which direction he wants to go for the next full-time baseball job. So instead of taking one and being unhappy in it six months from now, he preferred to work with the Braves and Schuerholz to design a multi-faced position in which he could try a little of everything and figure out what works best for him and how he might best help the organization going forward.

The Braves are just glad to finally have him in camp, available to help pitchers and anyone else.

“Tommy can do whatever he wants,” manager Bobby Cox said.

♣ Proctor’s getting antsy: After facing hitters Monday and Tuesday, his first back-to-back BP sessions since May 5 ligament-transplant surgery, Scott Proctor is ready for the real thing.

Or at least the spring-training version of the real thing.

The veteran reliever is set to pitch an inning in Friday night’s game against the Detroit, the Braves debut for Proctor. It’ll come at least 1-1/2 months sooner than most pitchers return from Tommy John surgery, which typically takes 12-13 months for a pitcher to return to games.

“Each time out, getting a little closer,” Proctor said. “I felt really, really good out there.”

Proctor's Grapefruit League debut is Friday

The 33-year-old right-hander has talked frequently with Moylan, Wagner and Tim Hudson, all 30-something pitchers who returned last year from Tommy John surgery.

Moylan made it back in 11 months and was on the Braves’ opening day roster in 2009, then made a franchise-record 87 appearances. Proctor’s listening to him closely.

Although Proctor might not be on the opening day roster, a mid-April return sounds reasonable, barring any setbacks.

He could be a key piece of a reworked Braves bullpen if he’s anywhere near the pitcher he was before two elbow surgeries in the past two years, including a flexor-tendon procedure in 2008.

Proctor made back-to-back 83-appearance seasons in 2006-2007 with the Yankees and Dodgers, including a whopping 102-1/3 innings in 2007 with the Yankees, when he posted a 3.52 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 33 walks.

Braves lineup

1. Cabrera, CF
2. Heyward, RF
3. Chipper, 3B
4. Glaus, 1B
5. Diaz, LF
6. Infante, 2B
7. Ross, C
8. Hicks, SS
9. Jurrjens RHP

Marlins split-squad lineup

1. Chris Coghlan, LF
2. Bryan Peterson, CF
3. Hanley Ramirez, SS
4. Gaby Sanchez, 1B
5. Ronny Paulino, C
6. Wes Helms, 3B
7. Scott Cousins, RF
8. Emilio Bonifacio, 2B
9. Josh Johnson, RHP

Let’s close with a classic by the mighty Drive-By Truckers, whose new album is officially out today. And here’s a link to a live bootleg of the song.

“CARL PERKINS’ CADILLAC” by Mike Cooley (Drive-By Truckers)

Life ain’t nothing but a blending up of all the ups and downs

Dammit Elvis, don’t you know

You made your Mama so proud

Before you ever made that record, before there ever was a Sun

Before you ever lost that Cadillac that Carl Perkins won

♦

Mr. Phillips found old Johnny Cash and he was high

High before he ever took those pills and he’s still too proud to die

Mr. Phillips never said anything behind nobody’s back

Like “Dammit Elvis, don’t he know, he ain’t no Johnny Cash”

♦

If Mr. Phillips was the only man that Jerry Lee still would call sir

Then I guess Mr. Phillips did all of Y’all about as good as you deserve

He did just what he said he was gonna do and the money came in sacks

New contracts and Carl Perkins’ Cadillac

♦

I got friends in Nashville, or at least they’re folks I know

Nashville is where you go to see if what they said is so

Carl drove his brand new Cadillac to Nashville and he went downtown

This time they promised him a Grammy

He turned his Cadillac around

♦

Mr. Phillips never blew enough hot air to need a little gold plated paperweight

He promised him a Cadillac and put the wind in Carl’s face

He did just what he said he was gonna do and the money came in sacks

New contracts and Carl Perkins’ Cadillac

♦

Dammit Elvis, I swear son I think it’s time you came around

Making money you can’t spend ain’t what being dead’s about

You gave me all but one good reason not to do all the things you did

Now Cadillacs are fiberglass, if you were me you’d call it quits