Atlanta Braves shakeup: Glavine released, Schafer sent down, Hanson called up, McLouth moves to CF
Nate McLouth
Braves — and Pirates — fans may be calling it What The Heck Wednesday.
For Atlanta fans, it was a day that saw veteran pitcher Tom Glavine, 43, released after a comeback bid with his original, longtime MLB team and one day after outfield prospect Jordan Schafer was sent down to AAA Gwinnett after two months of floundering at the major league level. Then Wednesday took another stunning turn when Pittsburgh’s Nate McLouth was traded to the Braves for three prospects. Oh, and lest we forget, top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson was called up to the bigs. Got all that?
For Pirates fans, Wednesday arguably marked another strange chapter in the club’s recent losing history. If Braves fans were stunned by Glavine’s release, Bucs fans had to be speechless after their All-Star outfielder was sent packing at the quarter-point of a season when Pittsburgh is 24-28 and McLouth, a fan favorite, is leading the team with nine home runs and 34 RBIs. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Pirates players were none too happy with the trade and that GM Neal Huntington is braced for fan backlash, telling the paper, “I know how it’s going to be received back home. Believe me, it was the most difficult move I’ve made.”
YOU TELL US: We’re asking Braves AND Pirates fans to weigh in on the big moves made by both clubs Wednesday. Atlanta fans, share your thoughts on the Glavine release, McLouth deal, Hanson call-up and Schafer send-down (or just whichever move you think was best or worst). And Bucs fans, how will the loss of McLouth affect your team? Tell us what Braves fans will learn to like about Nate McLouth.
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229 comments Add your comment
Time is now
June 4th, 2009
4:03 pm
Have been reading a lot about Glavine and seems like the sport pages all consider Glavine an ACE. Well hes not. Over the last 6 years he has a 63/60 record and let me tell you, thats not ACE status. I dont see that a lot of the Braves fans even wanted him in the first place. He left for the Mets and then wants to come back when hes injured. Oh well. He is not a life Brave. Yes I appreciate what he did but its been a long time since he did it and remember, once again he left on his own for more money.
Now its Hansons turn and he just might be that ACE. You dont keep a ACE in the minors becuase of a rusty old pitcher who wants to go out his way. I am glad Hanson is coming and I welcome McLough to the Braves. We still need someone in left field though. Anderson is not the power hitter we need and hes not that good defensively either. Fix that one spot and we are back at the top. Our pitching is great.
mouchster
June 4th, 2009
4:06 pm
i’ve got Blanco on my team and was wondering how this will effect his playing time??
will the keep him up or send him back down?
Skip & Pete Fan
June 4th, 2009
4:06 pm
Does anyone know where I can save a copy of the “Remembering Skip” Tribute Show by WGST?
Paul Lentz
June 4th, 2009
4:08 pm
Chris…..well put. Trying to get some of these sentimental so called Braves fans to realize that is asking for too much. The Braves cannot improve their offense if they are throwing away $3.5 mil on Tom Glavine. In essence, the Braves dumped Glavine’s salary and took in McClouth’s for this year. Hum, let’s do the math. Glavine = $3.5 for rest of the year……McClouth = $1.8 (prorated portion of his $2.5 mil salary for 2009). Who will help the Braves win more this year? Tom “throws 100 pitches while barely getting into the 5th inning” Glavine…or….Nate “lead-off hitter who can get on base, run, hit for power, draw a walk while playing defense” McClouth? A no brainer to me. Even when you factor in Hanson’s prorated portion of 400k, the Braves still made out big time as far as salary flexibility. The Braves will be able to add a right handed power bat without blowing up the budget.
ABravesFan
June 4th, 2009
4:10 pm
Great trade for McLouth but the Glavine release is hard to swallow. The Braves should have just come out and say that it’s a money thing (maybe again that the economics of baseball stinks) than dissing Glavine. Truth be told, Tommy Hanson is a better fit right now than Glavine (and a move that’s better for the long haul). I don’t know if the front office try to persuade Glavine to retire when he had that first set back or not but they shouldn’t have treated the deal that Glavine signed with the Braves this offseason as a mere audition, out of respect to him. I hope Chipper never had to suffer this kind of fate.
Get over it.
June 4th, 2009
4:16 pm
Its not a money thing, think about it. He is throwing 83 fastballs in A ball, and they are hitting him. Come on, do you really think hes going to get back to the minors and the major league hitters are not going to clean him out of the park. They did that the last two years. Come on. We are trying to win games here and do you think its fair to put Glavine at the end of a rotation and just project to lose. He hasnt been a good pitcher for several years now. The Braves owe it to the players to put the best on the field and Glavine is no longer even considered good. Hanson however is our projected future ACE. How long are we going to play with old players?
As for loyalty, where was Glavines loyalty when he left for the Mets because the Union told him he had to. What, you call that loyalty. The loyalty was that the Braves even brought him back to allow him to retire a brave. Move on will ya.
TXDawg
June 4th, 2009
4:17 pm
Can someone tell me what is this teams goal ? To win am I right! Well listen here all of you so called Brave fans. I really liked Glavine too, but Wren is doing what is needed to be done to get this team back into the playoffs. This is not just a team, but also a business that he is running and for them to make money they need to win. QUESTION for all you disgruntled fans If you owned a company and had an employee that was under achieving and not worth the money you are giving him, would you replace him/her with someone? You don’t even have to answer, cause I know what the answer is.
Dan511
June 4th, 2009
4:19 pm
First of all i am very sad to see glav go, and i think that Frank Wren and the Braves just did it the wrong way. Glav deserved better, he deserved some respect. But what i dont understand is why everyone is all the sudden falling in love with glavine. When he DECIDED to sign with the mets OVER the braves, everyone hated him. And then when he came back last year everyone hated that we brought him back. but now that he’s gone for good everyone’s crying about it. Now i was one of the few people who still liked glavine after he left for the mets, yea i was mad that he went to the mets but i still liked him. But i think that the braves were smart to realse him. Cuz now that makes room for Hanson, and is a BIG move towards the future for the braves. A future that is very Bright. I just wish Frank Wren and the Braves Organization would have handled it better. O and for those of you that are hating on frank wren your crazy, all the guy has done is get us Jurrjens, Lowe, Vazquez, Kenshin, Ross, and now mclouth all without giving up Heyward, Hanson, Jurrjens, freemen, schafer or medlen. So he’s kept the farm intact and gotten guys who are ALL improvements over what we had before.
Sarah
June 4th, 2009
4:19 pm
Let Glavine move to another club and let him get rocked and then come back and say it was about money. It was about winning and the Braves want Hanson and not Glavine. They could no longer aford to wait for what they knew was not going to happen. That being Glavine coming back strong and winning games for the Braves. I cant wait to see how long it takes him to retire after he finds a team to take him. It will not look good for Glavine. He should just go ahead and accept the Braves response and call it career. He only has himself to blame when he bolmbs and goes down with another team. After all, I thought he wanted to retire a Brave.
VoiceOfReason
June 4th, 2009
4:25 pm
I love the Braves. I sat in Fulton County Stadium year after year when the star pitchers were named Capra, Devine, and Bradford. The most popular autographs were Rod Gilbreath and Jeff Burroughs. I love the Braves. But have all of you whiners forgotten the way Glavine sold the Braves out for a few million that didn’t mean that much to him? He had no problem sticking to the Braves as a union rep. He had no problem sticking it to the Braves to pick up a suitcase full of money in New York. So who gives a rip that he is “stunned, hurt, and surprised” about realizing he can’t pitch in the majors anymore. Frank Wren is a smart business man who made a great trade for McClouth. Thanks for the memories, Tommy, now stop whining and try to be as good of a Braves ambassador as Henry……………..
Irate Pirate
June 4th, 2009
4:31 pm
We have one good player left, and now we ship him off to ATL for what? A pitch that couldn’t hack it in the majors, another that is in his 2nd tour in A ball, and A kid that may turn out to be pretty good, in a few years. I’d say the Braves got one on us with this deal. The raves shouldn’t expect him to hit 25 homers in their park, but he hits well and runs like a deer. You guys will like him a lot. Thanks for not sending us Franceur, or however you spell it. He sucks guys! Why don’t the Braves send him down with your center fielder? You guys must not have much on the farm in the outfield. Good luck, and please stop sending us your trash!
VERMONT 39
June 4th, 2009
4:35 pm
Glavine is no big loss…besides he left us for the $$$. McClouth on the other hand is definitely an upgrade. So will spiteful Union Man Glavine not wear a Braves Hat to the HALL?
Someone will sign him…MLB is desperate for pitching. If someone does sign him, he has to thank the Braves for letting him tune up on their dime!!!!
Old Man
June 4th, 2009
4:36 pm
Great trade! Very wise release! Now release Pendelton, he is clueless!!!
Falcon 3107
June 4th, 2009
4:39 pm
I am a BIG FAN of Tom Glavine , but I also understand the pressure Frank Wren is under to win. So I am ok with the move , I would like to see some of Frank Wren in Bobby Cox. So what if make a few players mad , make some changes I want to win I don’t care about being someones buddy.
johnny bravo
June 4th, 2009
4:41 pm
so many fair weather fans out there, this was a great pickup for atlanta, he’s not a rental thats the best part, he’s a hitter, basestealer and goldglover. the glavine decision was best for the team, and he left this team for a few million more to the mets, so when fans scream about wren remember this, everyone wanted jordan and got em then anderson was gone, then he struggles, wanted hanson up, now he’s up here, there’s plenty of pitching depth and huddie coming back too, needed a bat, went and got an all star, it’s up to the players, all falls on them now, the pitching is there, so no more excuses
joe
June 4th, 2009
4:42 pm
I dont know who you Braves fans think Mclouth is but he hasnt even been in the majors that long i hope he turns out alright. time will tell!
crispy
June 4th, 2009
4:44 pm
Glavine dogged us in 02 so I am fine with this.
John from Illinois
June 4th, 2009
4:48 pm
Glavine was a pro and did his job. However, I don’t think he can do it over the long haul and it’s time to bring up the kid. Tommie Hanson will a be a stud and will be the anchor of the staff for years to come just like Tommie Glavine was. Time to pass the baton. As for McLouth, great move. I am no major league manager obviously, but he brings talents this roster does not possess, speed, power, patience and defensive prowess. He has to bat leadoff, I’d bat Kotchman second because he is patient, not going to hit for HR power but can let McLouth run. I don’t think Escobar can do that. Chipper bats third, McCann, Escobar, Johnson, Anderson/Diaz and then Francouer. Unless we can get a better outfielder for Frenchy I think this lineup would pose a threat every night. Good week for Mr. Wren.
BravesFanLostInOhio
June 4th, 2009
4:54 pm
I think the Wren haters on here need to chill. The Braves have been VERY patient with Glavine during his injuries last year and this year, but at the end of the day, once he was “ready,” he still didn’t bring to the Major League club what Hanson does.
Everyone wants to see the Braves as contenders again, but you can’t do that if you are not putting your best possible team on the field. Glavine would have been a very expensive #5 pitcher who the club didn’t seem to be impressed with. So, its time to move on (even if it hurts a little).
You think JS wouldn’t have let a player go who was too old to perform at the same level, even though he was an icon? You’re mistaken.
And, btw, since the Braves stuck with Glavine this long, he is ready to pitch if someone else wants him. Without the Braves’ patience and rehab help, that wouldn’t have happened…
Victor Lee
June 4th, 2009
4:58 pm
Wren is willing to make the hard calls, knows talent, and is making the right moves. He dealt from organizatoin excess to get what was needed. None of the players dealt was going to be a key for the Braves in the future, though all should be quality big leaguers.
johnny bravo
June 4th, 2009
5:00 pm
well joe from what we see his 9 hr and 34 rbi project out some where around 27 and 100+ and a 90 percent career sb avg 100 percent this yr and a.997 fielding percentage so I think he’ll turn out fine
Marc
June 4th, 2009
5:02 pm
Emotions aside Wren is doing a good job thus far, and has been for all practical purposes. I do have concerns though, as Medlen and Hanson are both prospects and could lose it at anytime this season. I guess it’s a good thing we might get Hudson back later this year. I think we’ve been rushing kids to the majors for a few years and with the exception of McCann have really been paying the price for it. I just hope Hanson and/or Medlen prove to be the exceptions.
Bennet sucks btw, seriously he is just awful and I want to shoot someone every time he gets called into a game. Someone take his kneecaps out so I don’t have to see him embarrass us anymore.
Paul W
June 4th, 2009
5:02 pm
For those who think Glavine should have been given another shot- how many of you think that he would have dropped the $1 million roster bonus in exchange for a start or two?
The Braves would have been stupid to give him $1 million out of “sentiment”. Both Glavine and Smoltz placed $$ over loyalty, but think that The team should be loyal unilaterally. Wren did the right thing and they can both just kiss my grits.
johnny bravo
June 4th, 2009
5:03 pm
on the team page it has mclouth hitting 3rd tonight, also his former team beat the mets earlier today.
Goldenglove002
June 4th, 2009
5:11 pm
[b]Braves point of view:[/b]
McClouth is a great addition for this team. In all of my “fantasy” GM-ing, I never thought he would be available as a trade chip, so the fact that Wren got him was a complete surprise. He should probably fit in well in the top of the order to really help this team compete. I just don’t want to see him in the middle of the lineup unless chipper is out. We gave up nothing for him. Morton and Locke were extremely expendable since they did not have a place on this roster any time in the near future. Gorkys is a loss but McClouth could be around for a while and we still have Heyward/Scafer/Francouer to fill OF spots for a while.
Glavine: Poorly handled deal in my opinion, but there wasn’t much else that could be done. Wren made the mistake of signing him and had to cut his losses, so I can’t complain. Just wish we’d never signed him so we wouldn’t have to deal with Glavine ever being an issue.
Hanson: Finally, the future ace is on his way! He was easily the best option for the 5th starter spot, and I actually think he could pass by atleast Kawakami before the season ends.
Medlen: He was destined to the bullpen anyway, but it was nice to see that he has the abilty to start incase he is ever needed. He has a future, it’s just not going to be in the rotation. Does he have the stuff to be a future closer?
[b]From a Pirates point of view[/b]
It’s understandable to be upset about losing McCLouth, but really, does anyone expect the Pirates to compete this year and even possibly next? Huntington did not pick up junk,Gorkys Hernandez is a future star and Morton and Locke will both be more than capable pitchers at some point in their career. And now the Andrew McCutchen gets his chance in the OF, he could be quite good also. It was a move towards the future that will probably look good for the Pirates a few years down the road. Pirates fans are just going to need patience for a little bit longer.
JD
June 4th, 2009
5:21 pm
Glavine wasn’t so dedicated to the Braves when he left for the Mets, so what do they really owe him? Besides it’s time Atlanta had an identity without Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine. What has trying to re-live the 90’s gotten us the last 4 years? When it was Smoltz and Glavine in Tommy Hanson’s place nobody sat around crying over Phil Niekro, eventually the time comes to move on. Somebody commented that it was Steinbrenner like, is that bad? As much as I hate the Yankees atleast they haven’t lost 90 games anytime recently.
McLouth
June 4th, 2009
5:22 pm
To reiterate a point earlier, starting center fielder for the Atlanta Braves the next few years:
Nate McLouth
NOT
Nate McClouth (Used 20 times in posts above)
the real OLD GOLD
June 4th, 2009
5:26 pm
Frank Wren called me today and was asking for Dale Murphy’s phone number so he could prank call him. He said after that he was going to take the 1995 World Series trophy out of the case and tie it to the car using one of Hank Aaron’s jerseys ripped and tied into a rope and ride by Phil Neikro’s house and throw dog poop at him.
Ricky Young
June 4th, 2009
5:26 pm
GREAT MOVE! Now dont get me wrong, I love Glavine, but i think it would just be embarrassing if he came back. His stuff is just not major league quality anymore. Mclouth will be a huge help in the putfield and offense for the braves. Great move Braves!
Mike from Pittsburgh
June 4th, 2009
5:27 pm
Nate is over-rated. Every team has to have an all-star representative. He was lucky to be named “king of the loosers”. As for the gold glove – yes he had a ton of spectacular catches – out of position and bad jumps on many of them. He is currently hitting .256. The Pirates paid him nicely with a new contract to complete the illusion prior to dealing him. I think it was a good move for the Pirates.
tashunka
June 4th, 2009
5:30 pm
When I hear McClouth my ears hear Ken Oberfell. When I hear Hanson my ears hear Craig McMurtry. Hello 1980s–nothing like assured mediocrity.
NORRIS
June 4th, 2009
5:37 pm
we got a great outfielder and didnt have to give anything for it.
Gorky had no homeruns and his average wasnt good either and that was in double A.
Morton showed what he had which was nothing and Locked was just a nobody.
so show me where we gave something to get him.
Mike from Pittsburgh
June 4th, 2009
5:42 pm
Wren did Glavine a favor. Likely saved him from the embarrasment of getting smacked all over the diamond. Too bad Glavine’s ego or greed or both blinded his judgement and he had to be saved from himself. It’s like going back to your old girlfriend for one last one when you;ve been rejected by you last one…hoping for pity and one last good time. It never happens – so I hear.
Charlie B.
June 4th, 2009
6:05 pm
For all of you that are crying foul as it pertains to Glavine, you fail to remember when he bailed out to play for the Mets. He came back to the Braves on his own accord with no one holding a gun to his head. He just did not fit into the plans of the team and he had to go. No big deal. How long would you think he would stay if the money was greater some where else. We badly needed a CF, well we got one so no gripe there. Now in my opinion all Wren has to do is trade for a RF, and another long releiver. We will be O.K. just everyone quit griping and get behind the Braves.
vabrave
June 4th, 2009
6:14 pm
Growing up in the ’90s Maddux and Glavine were my heroes and they always will be, so needless to say I’m taking the entire thing personal in that “Oh dear god you just punched my grandma in the face,” type way. It’s not the way I would treat the only person that delivered you a World Series (not counting ‘14 Boston and ‘57 Milwaukee) But after letting my emotions die down it probably is a good decision; it just proves you can’t have a soul in baseball, especially when your chasing after an elusive pennant. I’m not on the Hanson bandwagon yet, but I hope he can help me jump onto it. If he has what everybody says he’s got then we’ll be in good shape.
As for the McLouth deal I think it was brilliant, especially since his contract is through to 2012. Having him in the lineup with Francoeur (whenever he shows up to the Ted with his bat) and then having Anderson/Diaz in left (with Heyward next year?) I think the team is in good shape, provided everyone can stay healthy past a stretch of more than ten games at a time.
bill johnson
June 4th, 2009
6:18 pm
The McLouth deal was OK but the way the Braves handled the Tom Glavine situation stinks. He should have at least been given a chance to see if he could still cut it. He couldn’t have been any worse than Buddy Carlyle. Tommy Hanson may be a great prospect, but that’s what he is. Hope that he works out.
jerry
June 4th, 2009
6:30 pm
So Smoltz wanted the Braves to give a washed up Glavine a million dollars? Thank God Wren didn’t give in to the sentimentalists and baseball groupies. Which is what has happened too often in Atlanta sports, a la Dale Murphy, who had stats worse than Frenchy’s his last 3 years in Atlanta.
Johnny Rocco
June 4th, 2009
6:51 pm
why’s it always hotter at night than in the day?
vasquez
June 4th, 2009
6:57 pm
let’s go and get cory hart from the brew crew
vasquez
June 4th, 2009
6:58 pm
is Mclouth playing tonight?
Paul Lentz
June 4th, 2009
7:25 pm
Jerry…….Murphy’s average was down his last 3 years, however his walks, homers and RBI’s were way better than Franceour’s numbers the past year and a half.
The Murph’s stats in 1989……..20 homers, 84 RBI’s, 65 walks.
1990……..24 homers, 83 RBI’s, 61 walks.
1991……..18 homers, 81 RBI’s, 48 walks.
Franceour’s stats in 2008……..11 homers, 71 RBI’s, 39 walks
(projected) 2009……..12 homers, 77 RBI’s, 19 walks
The Murph was at the tale end of his career. Franceour is 25 years old. So comparing a PROVEN superstar’s tail end of his career numbers to a baseball player who is supposed to be in his prime is laughable.
I see that during the rain delay FoxSportsSouth is showing the “Jeff Franceour life story”. Trying to get people to “feel good” about seeing Franceour out there, hoping that he can live up to his “potential”. However, he just doesnt have the ability to produce in the manner that the Braves need from a right fielder. Plus he will be asking for $5-7 mil in arbitration next year. I think that Braves management is so afraid of taking the public relations hit that many of the so-called Braves fans will be dishing out if they were to get rid of him. But Damn, how much longer can the Braves afford to keep putting his “easy out” bat in the line-up.
Just because someone is a nice guy who is from the hometown, does not mean that just throwing him out there is going to “make” him the superstar you want him to be. I am a BRAVES fan. I want to see us win. I could careless about hurting the feelings of people that I dont think are TRUE Braves fans. Many of you are more loyal to certain players than you are to the team.
Jason
June 4th, 2009
7:31 pm
Well lets see, they got rid of a 43 year old for a 23 year old stud in the works. They traded three guys of decent value. Motan, bye bye. Gorkys is the only one I see ever being that good.. But for the Braves to get a Nate McClouth in return? Well done!! The best trade since Fred McGriff!!! That was a future/present building trade!!
Greek Dawg
June 4th, 2009
7:40 pm
As far as the trade for McClouth and the moves with Shafer, Hanson and Medlin, I think they’ve covered. The best part of all these moves is that they took place now, not on July 31 when it may have been too late. Timing is everything and this was perfect timeing.
As for the Glavine situation, I’m not “diappointed” or anything worse that John Smoltz referred to in his latest bashing of the Braves. I find it annoying that players make moves for their “families” and take the money and run; that’s ok. But if the Braves make a decision that is best for the team it’s not. Excuse me guys, but you cannot have it both ways.
A lot of this has to do with the fact that these great Braves cannot hang it up, let it go. They do what’s best for themselves without considering if its best for the team. They have diminished their legacy by their actions. Mad Dog had the class, the vision of his place in life and in the game and saw it was time to leave the game. Too bad his mates don’t follow his lead.
OldTimer
June 4th, 2009
7:41 pm
Glavine was the game winner in the final game of the Atlanta Braves ONLY World Series championship. Wren is a basket case. He’s not qualified to be a GM.
jared
June 4th, 2009
7:51 pm
I love the Mclouth deal becuase the Braves only had to give up 3 prospects and 2 were pitchers, which the Braves have plenty of. The Braves were right to release Glavine. After all, he was only resigned to be a temporary fifth starter until the Braves decided that Hanson was ready. The Braves determined that he is ready, so Glavine was of no use to them. It didn’t make sense to give Glavine a shot and pay him $1 million for him to play in the MLB. It was a good move by the Braves. Good luck elsewhere Glavine!!!!!!!!!
bravesfansince57
June 4th, 2009
7:57 pm
Greek Dawg couldn’t have said it any better…GO Braves!!!!
Joshua
June 4th, 2009
8:00 pm
“What exactly is going to happen when all of our starting pitchers are healthy? Even with the release of Glavine we still have a total excess of pitching. 1. Lowe 2. Hudson 3. JJ 4. Javy 5. Hanson ? I know we’re not going to give up on KK that easily and I believe they’d like to keep Medlin pitching. Campillo I assume will go to the Bullpen. Any thoughts on that?”
The Braves aren’t done beefing up their line-up. If our winning percentage increases like logic dictates it should, the Braves have plenty of trade bait to play with. Expect to see another blockbuster move before the deadline, though perhaps this time they might seek to replenish some of the young talent they have recently traded away.
varodrunner
June 4th, 2009
8:17 pm
I have absolutely no problem with the Glavine release. I wish he had chosen to retire a Brave, but I’m that Tommy’s days of contributing to a Braves team have ended. He might win a few games with another club, but he is history and not the present or future. He was paid well for his services. Maybe I would feel different if he had not taken the Met’s offer and had always been a Brave. But the fact was, he looked at what was best for him and it wasn’t the Braves…. The Braves see their best chances of winning with their youth and I cannot disagree.
Shafer is and was not Major League ready. I hope his morale is not negatively affected in the long run, but his performance dictated is demotion. He has the skills, apparently they need to mature a bit more.
Nate McClout — I hope he is all he is made out to be. I read where the Pirates lost their BEST player and if that’s the case then good job. We do need a true leadoff hitter and the fact that his position is Cf is a bonus. Blanco and Shafer were not our answer if we have any chance of competing.
Now the question is how do we handle the Francoeur situation. either hire a true hitting coach that stays on his a$$ or trade him and find another RF that can hit above 250. Ironic that there is a rain delay and they put the Francoeur piece on. Clearly he was a high School phenom. But apparently it went righ tot his head. He came to the majors before teams idnetified his weaknesses. But this is Major League Baseball – they find your holes and you MUST adjust. IMHO Frenchy doesn’t have to discipline to adjust…meaning he must hit the ball where it is pitched. He tried an open stance and it seemed to work early, but slowly he has closed it moer and more. A hitting coach would correct that on each at bat. What has Pendleton done?
Ok I vented….. Good Luck Braves . You affect how well I sleep each night, so I am really rooting for you. lol
Love to all
Drixie
June 4th, 2009
8:18 pm
This was a very good trade that instantly improves The Braves. As far as Smoltz’s bitterness towards The Braves goes, he needs to move on with his life – Glavine has had a great career, but would most people want Glavine or Hanson as the fifth starter this year? Smoltz, who was my favorite Brave, might also want to remember when he started 1-11 early in his career and the “heartless” Braves ownership stuck with him. Have a Sam Adams and a lobster roll and chill Smoltzie.
varodrunner
June 4th, 2009
8:20 pm
sry, should have spell checked