Glaus gets first start at third base of the 2010 season
Troy Glaus made his first start of the season at third base in what could have been the Braves final game of the year.
He was pressed into emergency duty for Game 4 Monday night, after Brooks Conrad committed three errors in Game 3 and manager Bobby Cox had little choice but to pencil Glaus in at third base and move Omar Infante to second.
Glaus had played third base for the first 12 years of his career but this season he’d played only four innings – two as a defensive replacement on Sept. 8 at Pittsburgh and two in extra innings on Friday night in Game 2 in San Francisco after entering the game in a double-switch.
Glaus was signed to play first base and played first for the first 4 ½ months of the season before offensive struggles and injuries to his knees and ankles prompted the Braves to trade for first baseman Derrek Lee.
“He has played third,” said Cox, whose only other options were Eric Hinske who hasn’t played third base all season or rookie Diory Hernandez, a natural shortstop, who has played only twice in the past three weeks and sparingly at that. “He played third at Gwinnett for a week, two weeks…and did OK over there.”
Glaus played eight games at third base for Triple-A Gwinnett while on the disabled list recovering from a knee injury, but the Braves weren’t confident he could physically make the plays required at third base.
When Chipper Jones was lost for the season to a knee injury in August, the Braves moved Martin Prado to third instead. When Prado went down the last week of the season with a hip pointer and torn oblique, the Braves put Conrad there.
Glaus showed his rust Friday night stumbling as he tried to field a bunt by Edgar Renteria in the 10th inning. He also showed some old instincts making a decisive throw to second base to start a double play that saved the 5-4 win for the Braves later in that inning.
“I’m not concerned about making any of the plays it’s just getting into the rhythm of the game,” Glaus said before the game.
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7 comments Add your comment
billy
October 11th, 2010
7:26 pm
My best case scenario: Glaus fields his position and provides offense and Conrad hits game winner
jmart
October 11th, 2010
7:35 pm
It makes no sense replacing one defensive liability with another. If Cox was going to replace Conrad, and I think that he should, he should have replaced him with Diory Hernandez at 3rd and Infante back to 2nd.
In fact, and not retrospect, he should have made the same defensive move last night as he did in game 2 when in the last inning he put in Diory for Conrad. Had he done that the bottom of the 9th would have been a tied score and the Braves would have been back in extra innings.
John Nail
October 11th, 2010
7:37 pm
Last night should be blamed on JHey too, he admitted today that he was woozy for 3-4 innings (just heard on TBS). He should have been truthful w/ Booby and come out.
Another RF would have gotten to the pop fly “Bruce” dropped and might even have gotten a hit and saved Brooksy that error and liekly his overall confidence.
Glaus will hit tonite ad Brooksy will come thru as always!!.
JC Boscan III
October 11th, 2010
7:52 pm
Glad to see Glaus in the lineup FINALLY. I had hoped he would have been in there from the beginning of this series, because we knew that our offense would struggle to score runs. Glaus is the only former World Series MVP on our roster. Even if he makes an error at 3rd, his potential to provide a game-changing hit is there, even if buried deep within Glaus’ wounded body!!! Hope Conrad also gets a chance to get a clutch pinch hit. Go Braves!!
count_schemula
October 12th, 2010
1:59 am
Glaus’ knees were shot. His stance was upright, no drive with his legs and with an all arm swing, he looked slow with the bat. I feel better for having seen that live, because, I was REALLY wondering why we did not see him at third before tonight. Now I know why.
Brava
October 12th, 2010
7:07 pm
He got the job done, count_schemula. It wasn’t pretty, but he did. Had he been used a little more, rather than rotting on the bench for two months, he may not have looked so stiff out there.
Gumbylovespokey
October 12th, 2010
9:37 pm
Well said Brava and JC Boscan, I was there on the third base line, field level and he looked fine to me. I don’t recall any errors charged to third base last night (that’s because there were none). Perhaps if he had been used to spell Prado or Conrad occasionally, Prado would have still been available for the post season, and Conrad would have been so mentally exhausted, or a better asset as intended as a late inning bat off the bench. Instead they were used to exhaustion or injury, just like Glaus was, coming back for the first full year after an injury. (Glad Venters’ arm didn’t fall off, bet he won’t pick up a baseball for a month, just hope he can comb his hair). Thank you Troy Glaus and all the other Braves for a great season and the most excitement in years. You were my Seabiscuit of baseball this year. And thank you Bobby Cox for many memorable years, laying the foundation and building the superstructure of a baseball legacy for Atlanta. Thankful you will still be around helping out with your encyclopedic knowledge and outstanding baseball judgement. Here is wishing you all the best in transition to your next role. Retirement?, who said anything about retiring, you have too much to continue to contribute to baseball to retire. For one thing, we could use a Commisioner who actually respects the game and would protect its integrity and virtue.
My fantasy picks for next season, Bobby Cox, Baseball Commisioner, Roger McDowell Braves Manager, Steve Avery Braves Pitching Coach!