Comments on: Maybe you believe, but Griffey shows nobody else does

By: PTBNL

PTBNL — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:41:43 +0000

Says a lot about not only how the Braves are perceived but also how Griffey perceives himself. He is not a difference maker. He has great stats, but he is not a winner.

Why do so many make so much out of what Smoltz gave the Braves and never mention that he got a lot FROM the Braves. The Braves made him into what people perceive him to be today. If he had not played for the Braves, who at the time had a good bit of money to toss around, he would not be known as the best post-season pitcher in MLB history (debatable, but sometimes given). Without TBS, without being on a winning team, who would Smoltz be? Who knows? If he “deserves” a gold watch, what do the Braves “deserve”?

Jeff, your article has some validity, but as is often the case it is certainly speculation. Griffey has not seemed to have been a ring chaser at any point. He has not mentioned anything about a ring. Personally, I think it is crazy to chase the ring as a primary goal. Many have tried and it can be illusive. You would have thought that A-Rod would have had one by now… but alas….. Some say that is what Smoltz has done. Again, if that is so, to me, it is sad. That certainly is the minority sentiment, but it not a majority rules issue.

In regard to perception, do you really want to base your life and decisions based on fan, ballplayers, or media perception? If anyone has followed baseball very long they and are honest about what they have perceived as opposed to what actually has taken place, they most certainly know that perceptions are blinding to the truth. IF your supposition is correct. And IF Griffey was thinking about chasing a ring, the thought that is set before him is “Am I enough of a difference maker to make this team a post-season contender.” IF then his answer to that is “NO”. Then I am glad he did not come to Atlanta.

IF you are trying to discourage our players from believing they are good enough to compete for the post-season, you have done something that might help. But I hope you do not succeed. Their perception of themselves could be important to how they play. Thanks for doing what you can to erode that.

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:46:36 +0000

Ted—-You must be the Cliff Clavin of Atlanta. Not only do you pontificate on every subject known to mankind, but you seem to have established your barstool territory. But quit drooling over the barmaids, tell Norm goodbye, and go home. Jeff, write another column soon. You see what we have resorted to writing about here, having exhausted Junior’s decision to locate in the northwest land of nerds, geeks, and liberals.

By: CTRob

CTRob — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:58:54 +0000

I’m a relocated Georgian living here in Connecticut. Most of the baseball talk up here is either about A-Rod’s performance enhancing or if the Mets can finally avoid choking at the end of the season. As late as 2004, the Braves would come up in coversations involving the Met’s chances for the playoffs. Now, the Braves are viewed as having overpaid for Lowe and as pawns used by other free agents to get better deals elsewhere. The Red Sox would have welcomed Lowe back for his value as an innings eater but wouldn’t have paid that much for him…and they wouldn’t have had to. I’m looking forward to seeing Smoltz try to make a difference against the Yankees this year and am also hoping the Braves can do damage against Philly and the Mets. It’s not the 1990s anymore and those are my realistic goals as a Braves fan this year.

By: Wondering

Wondering — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:16:14 +0000

I wonder if they still negotiate with free agents as if they are still perpetual winners. There seems to be a disconnect from the front office.

By: ChopShop860

ChopShop860 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:46:10 +0000

I wish Braves fans were a little more concerned with how the Braves are going to perform this season than some beat writer’s looks. Plus, you are all going to leave this guy with body image issues. Go Braves in ‘09.

By: MA

MA — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:30:36 +0000

Here’s what I wonder about: It was only *after* Griffey’s signing with Seattle that we finalized contracts with Glavine and avoided arbitration with Francoeur. Was what we were offering Griffey equal to the Glavine contract plus the diffference in what we’d originally offered Francoeur (and were likely to win in arbitration) and for what amount he signed? If so, then we’re *really* up against the internal budget cap.

By: Ted Striker

Ted Striker — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:22:54 +0000

Jeff — For a second I thought you were talking about ALL drunks on a barstool. Then I realized you were just talking about the OB/GYNoxious ones. (Whew) I almost ordered another double — before the latest one left my barmaid’s supple fingertips.

By: Jeff Schultz

Jeff Schultz — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:11:36 +0000

PMC — I’m with you on Teixeira. I kept waiting for him to show that he could be a difference maker last year — or, at least that he WANTED to be a difference-maker — and I never saw it. But I think he’ll thrive on a team (yankees) where he doesn’t have to be the centerpiece. ….. Webhead: You’re welcome. …. TommyP: Not sure if everybody for more money, or just always intended on using the Braves. Also not certain that Furcal got more. Also, Hampton took less in Houston — but who really wanted him anyway? … Jan: If I took things personally, I’d be in therapy 17 hours a day. It’s just people venting — like drunks on a barstool. Doesn’t pay to get upset. … ET: not sure how the Braves could make a liar out of me since I haven’t predicted anything about them this year. And even if I did predict that they would win, like 84 games, and they won 94, that wouldn’t make me a liar. It would just make me wrong. …. On Furcal: I think he would’ve preferred to stay two (three?) years ago. But the Dodgers offered him ridiculous money. So obviously he was going to take it.

By: ET

ET — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:55:00 +0000

About Furcal…

If my fading memory serves me correctly, didn’t Furcal want to stay in Atlanta when his contract ended with us, but we wouldn’t pay him what his agent wanted for his services? I remember Furcal getting his feelings hurt when he learned Atlanta wanted to spend their dollars elsewhere.

I think what Furcal did to us this off season was partly pay back for what happened back then. The other part, of course, was to jack up LA’s offer in bidding for him. This notion that these players would have taken less to play here if we some how could return to 1996 status is far fetched to me.

Money talks…Smoltz, Furcal, Burnett & Junior walks.

By: ET

ET — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:33:20 +0000

Jeff,

So it must be easy to say the Braves should have “GIVEN” Smoltz 5 Million just because he was Smoltz when it isn’t your money. The fact that you think the Braves owed it to him makes me think you could be a tad insane. Didn’t we just “GIVE” him 8 Million last year for a cheer leading gig? If you think Smoltz deserves another 5 mil then I suggest you pay the man out of your deep pockets. Obviously you think this is chump change to the Braves…It would be chump change if it ended up in Smoltz pocket.

The greed of the players today makes me want to puke in my Sugar Smacks. Smoltz was handed 8 mil last year and wanted more where that came from. He got it in Boston. + I’ve followed the Braves since 1964. This team is only a year away from being good again. They just might make a liar out of you this year if the stars align Jeffery.