Braves have gone from the standard to a sideshow
That's Frank Wren on the left, and the skeleton remains of Tom Glavine and John Smoltz hanging on the right. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com.)
For as much fun as it was to poke fun at the pomposity exuded by John Schuerholz throughout the 1990s — particularly every time he referred to the Braves as a “great, grand organization” — the dapper general manager generally was on point.
The Braves were great. And they were grand. And they were organized.
I’m not sure what’s happened over the last several months. But great and grand have morphed into insignificant and infamous. This is your disorganization now. The Braves aren’t the standard. They’re a sideshow.
They tell Tom Glavine to rehab. But they don’t tell him that they’ve kind of changed their mind about bringing him back.
They tell the public it’s not about the $1 million roster guarantee. But we’ve seen too much evidence to the contrary — declining revenues, declining payroll, the John Smoltz decision — and understand it is about the guaranteed money.
Is it just me, or does Chipper Jones look like he's not buying what John Schuerholz is selling? (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
They claim their reason for Glavine being dropkicked is performance based. But that’s so unbelievably illogical because the man never was given a chance to perform, unless you count his rehab starts in the minors, where, by the way, he had thrown 11 straight shutout innings.
I’m sorry. Was 12 the cutoff?
Braves executive Terry McGuirk, who emerges any time there’s a fire, was asked the obvious question: Why not allow Glavine to pitch even one game and re-evaluate him then? Did the veteran pitcher not deserve that opportunity after months of rehab?
McGuirk’s answer to our David O’Brien: “We’re sort of at the point where every win counts.”
If you looked up disingenuous, you would find Terry McGuirk’s picture.
I’m not disputing that every win counts. But organizations make decisions every day with an eye on tomorrow. Example: The Braves called up Kris Medlen from Gwinnett instead of Tommy Hanson last month because it figured Medlen eventually would be sent back down, and they didn’t want Hanson on a yo-yo. There was never a thought that Medlen was better than Hanson or gave the Braves a better chance to win.
And by the way, how could anybody be certain that Glavine’s arm would fall off in his first start and Hanson will debut with a six-hit shutout . . . and that would be the difference in this year’s pennant race?
I didn’t think anything could top Frank Wren’s mishandling of Smoltz. Then came this latest dumping on a franchise legend.
One reader put it best. “I heard he [Wren] wants to sign Dale Murphy just so he can release him,” wrote Antonio Gramsci.
It has been that kind of year for Wren. This follows a winter of failures, fizzles and soap operas.
Pick your headache. Jake Peavy. A.J. Burnett. Rafael Furcal. Ken Griffey, Jr. A $23 million contract for Kenshin Kawakami (File that one under, “Every game counts.”)
I’ll just say this: Wren had better be right about a lot of things. If the Braves turn back into winners, it justifies a lot (though not everything).
Tom Glavine said he felt blindsided and betrayed. Pretty sure we never heard those words in the 1990s (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com.)
But right now this franchise is in the process of undoing a lot of the goodwill it built up in the 1990s. It has lost cache and class. It makes strange decisions, miscalculates the backlash, and then scrambles to explain itself.
Does this sound like the Braves of 14 straight division titles, five pennants and a World Series?
Schuerholz actually made a public apology Friday about the way Glavine’s release was handled. This came a day after he said: “That was a big organizational moment. It was appropriate and respectful of Tom that we were all there.”
I’m not sure what would be worse: 1) That Schuerholz was just spinning to take some of the heat off Wren; or, 2) That for as long as he, Wren and McGuirk thought about this decision and calculated its delivery, they now admit they just botched it.
Talk about losing a foot off your fastball.
Maybe Tom Glavine pitches again. Maybe not.
Maybe John Smoltz pitches again. Maybe not.
Either way, it doesn’t excuse the way either was handled. It doesn’t excuse a lot of what this organization has become.
It’s hard to say which franchise is now the standard in major league baseball. It’s not hard to determine which isn’t.
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280 comments Add your comment
hollywould
June 6th, 2009
10:38 pm
One other thing, I have said this all the time but the Braves realize
it is not 1995 anymore. Glavine nor any pitcher gets the 6 inch outside strike. It was great being a Braves fan in those days but they are gone.
80mph will not get it done. The only thing worse was Eric Gregg in the series. Man, I kinda felt like all the other teams felt when they faced the Braves. Let the young bucks play.
TPM
June 6th, 2009
10:41 pm
David Woleslagle – I wonder if The Braves can file a grievance against Smolt and Glavine for stealing money last year.
hollywould
June 6th, 2009
10:41 pm
You can say what you want about Wren but I guarantee Schuerholz was in on the decision.
Skeezix
June 6th, 2009
10:48 pm
This article is right on target. Braves management stinks and has stunk ever since Ted sold the team. They lack class and the way they treat long time hall of fame Braves players is despicable (imagine how the others must get treated). Look at how this team has been playing, especially since the Glavine debacle–the players have to be demoralized. Also, why would any quality free agent come to ATL after seeing the way this bunch of goons treat people like Smoltz and Glavine?
Paul Lentz
June 6th, 2009
10:50 pm
I was just looking at contending teams who have plenty of offense, yet could use some starting pitching. If the Texas Rangers were to be serious about wanting to upgrade their starting pitching, they could be someone the Braves could deal with. If I was Frank Wren, I’d contact the Rangers and express an interest in working out a trade involving their right fielder Nelson Cruz and the Braves’s Javier Vazquez. A package of Javier Vazquez and Jeff Franceour might entice them to give up Nelson Cruz. I say “might” because Nelson Cruz is a fantastic power hitting right handed right fielder. Dude can flat out hit, has speed, and a good throwing arm. However, they need some starting pitching. Vazquez would give them a really good arm to join Kevin Millwood in the rotation.
Giving up Vazquez would be a steep price, however in order to get quality, you need to give up quality. Cruz is eligible for salary arbitration next year, meaning the Braves will have him under contract for at least the next 3 years. I know that it would drastically increase the Rangers payroll. However they are in first place in the AL West. They need starting pitching. Plus their owner Tom Hicks has shown a willingness to spend money on acquiring players if he feels that they can help them win. If the Braves could somehow swing that deal, that would give the Braves even more financial flexibility to improve the team. Imagine Nelson Cruz in this line-up:
1. Nate McLouth CF
2. Yunel Escobar SS
3. Chipper Jones 3rd
4. Nelson Cruz RF
5. Brian McCann C
6. Anderson/Diaz LF
7. Kelly Johnson 2nd
8. Casey Kotchman 1st.
9. pitcher P
That has the makings of a potent line-up. Plus it would add some much needed balance to the line-up.
chipdip
June 6th, 2009
10:50 pm
BRAVES F–KING BLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
marshall
June 6th, 2009
10:51 pm
As a braves fan I am in support of the guys on the field and wish them the best. I hope we can start winning soon. That being said I think this goes deeper than management…WE have team that is owned by people who could careless about our braves. Jeff correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the current ownership not even from GA. And the only reason they bought the braves was for a tax write off. Jeff i agree that we have lost the respect of baseball from a management stand point. We have great players but in the future guys won’t come here because of the things management is doing. Just look at pittsburg. No one wants to go there cause they trade away everybody, Poor LaRoche I feel for ya man. Frank wren needs to be the first to go…If he was so good why didn’t the nationals win when wren was there.
ronald
June 6th, 2009
10:52 pm
I’ll tell you when this Glavin thing was botched. It was botched the day he was offered a contract. Since he was signed for a second tour of duty with the Braves what has he contributed? This off season was a disaster. $23 million for Kawakami does not make any sense. At this point he has not proven to be a $3 million pitcher. Wren needs to go today. There is another point begging to be made. When is somone going to take a good hard look at the manager and coaching staff? There is no fire on this team, or at least none that is visible. There is no evidence of any leadership. The offense is pathetic. Sooner or later the buck must be made to stop with Terry Pendleton. Roger McDowell is a joke. When I see him make a walk to the mound I ask myself “what does he have to say about pitching that anyone would care to hear?” Cox is absolutely incapable of kicking this team in the seat of the pants. He’s too busy trying to be a “players manager.” Clean out the whole lot starting at the very top. This is not a good ball team. It is ludicrous to talk in terms of competing for the division title with the team we put on the field night after night. The glory days are long gone.
chipdip
June 6th, 2009
10:53 pm
MCLOUTH IS A BUST…251 BA….THIS IS THE ANSWER?
chipdip
June 6th, 2009
10:54 pm
NATE MCLOUTH…251 BA.??????????????????????
J williams
June 6th, 2009
10:55 pm
The Braves made a mistake bringing Glavine back in 2008, and giving him $8 million on top of that. It was as though they did not even watch his performance with the Mets. It’s good to see that the GM is learning from his mistakes.
The conracts offered to both Smoltz & Glavine were fair, considering how 2008 unfolded for them. The Braves simply could not go into another season relying on them as two fifths of the starting rortaion. It just didn’t make good baseball or business sense.
As it stands, neither of them have thrown a single pitch in a major league game this season, and the season is a third over. Glavine’s release could have been handled a little better, but it had to be done.
The Braves have improved their pitching staff tremedously over last season, and now they have to work on the offense. This team can be good, but some tough decisions still have to be made.
In this economy, you must earn every dollar of your salary, there are no more golden parachutes available.
L.D.
June 6th, 2009
11:13 pm
I wonder if these Atlanta ‘fans’ who are posting this ‘Screw Glavine’ nonsense would be as indifferent to his release if you changed his name to ‘Hank Aaron’ who like it or not did more for the franchise when it was in MILWAUKEE! At least Glavine’s success came in Atlanta.
The only thing between Atlanta having 1 World Championship and no World Championships are the 8 scoreless 1-hit innings Glavine threw in 1995 to win the title. It wasn’t Maddux’s 8 innings, not Smoltz’s, not Phil Niekro’s, and yet you ‘fans’ can’t wait to throw dirt on Glavine. Who cares who Glavine left for 5 years ago or the reasons why, since in negotiations it takes 2 to tango and obviously Scherholtz had 2 left feet that day. If he had never been here, would the Braves have had half the success they did in the 90’s? And yet the ‘fans’ posting here act like Glavine gave them just as much to celebrate as some no name pitcher like Zane Smith or Denny Nagle.
He deserved better than what he got from the Braves, and apparently he deserves better than what he gets from the Braves ‘fans’ who seem to forget what life was like prior to Glavine’s arrival….and actually, what life is like since he was shown the door. What is it now, 26-28? Yeah, that Kawakami signing has REALLY been worth the money, who needs a hall of famer as a fifth starter, ESPECIALLY one who once left for a better deal…now who among us has ever done that?!?!?!
Ridiculous. That’s why ESPN makes jokes about Atlanta ‘Fans’. You earn it with crap like what’s posted here. Yeah, good luck with your team now.
Ken Stallings
June 6th, 2009
11:14 pm
Wow, Furman was just wrong. But, this column is just plain stupid!
The GM says “every win counts,” and to this you reply it’s “disingenuous!” Precisely, Jeff, when did wins in baseball become disingenuous? In keeping with your thrust, Jeff, beside the word “fool” in the dictionary is your picture!
You imply the team was wrong to keep an “eye on tomorrow,” yet show me a team that has not? Bringing up Medlin was wise. Putting him in the bullpen was wise. Bringing up Hanson only after the Braves scouts concluded Glavine didn’t have it any more was most wise of all. Hanson’s the prize starter prospect. You don’t put him in the bullpen. You only bring him up to fill a starter slot.
You missed the obvious indication the Braves gave Glavine every chance to fill that fifth slot. They avoiding bringing up Hanson even as they brought up Medlin. A blind man could connect the dots on that one! What’s your excuse?
I disagreed with the Smoltz release, but Smoltz hasn’t pitched a single inning of baseball yet and we’re near the halfway point of the season. The more the clock ticks without Smoltz on the mound, the more that release starts to make sense also.
The organization delivers a public apology to a HOF pitcher, and you call it “spinning.” You couldn’t recognize truth if it bit you!
Then, you engage in a schoolyard taunt to a reader in your very first blog reply. Schultz, you really are a loser. There are thousands of reasons to justifiably point out the Braves are on the ebb. However, you managed to miss about every one of them for a series of flawed attributions.
That takes talent, but not the kind of talent that makes for good journalism. Care to take a schoolyard shot at that one?
trey
June 6th, 2009
11:21 pm
The only mistake the Braves made was to allow Wren to become General Manager and to keep Reyes longer than what he deserves and to have signed Kawakami.
Will
June 6th, 2009
11:41 pm
Get Ready! This trend will continue. Since the Braves organization is now mainly a business, there is no loyalty. The Braves were loyal back in the 90’s and early 00’s and supported their players. Now, the Management acts like Steve Spurrier does to his QB’s. Mess up and I’ll replace you, there is no team unity. And this all started after Turner sold the Club…
wolf
June 6th, 2009
11:42 pm
The Atlanta franchise has been falling apart for a good while now. They have been below .500 over the last 260 games and, frankly, are have become a BORING team to watch. The “management” has assembled a team with no power, no speed, and no capability to manufacture runs. In addition, they continue to make bonehead plays–Escobat probably leads the league in this category and doesn’t seem to be bothered by it. Smoltz should be happy the Braves cut him loose. Would he want to pitch for this batch and be losing 2-0 and 3-1 all the time? The team needs a new president asnd a new general manager, because the personnel decisions in recent years have been awful.
ProfFish
June 6th, 2009
11:49 pm
One of the big problems with all of those winning seasons is a loss of perspective. The Braves sucked big time last year. They were bad in every way possible: pitching, hitting, defense, and management.
This year they’re mediocre because their biggest problem was fixed. This pitching staff is good enough to win a lot of games. The bullpen is still mismanaged, but until Bobby retires, that’s going to happen. Still, overall, a solid B.
Now the Braves need a least two more offensive players, preferably one with a high OBP who can score runs and one with power who can drive in runs. Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward will be here by 2011, so all we need next off season to improve is a middle infielder with speed. And FF and JH to continue to develop.
Lots of talk on these blogs about how bad a hitting coach TP is. I don’t disagree, and he was never that great a hitter anyway. He was a great leader and he will be for the Braves when Bobby decides to hang up his cleats. If the Braves finish around .500 this year, given the pain he’s been through physically and mentally these past four years, I think that will happen.
We waited for the Hawks and it seems to be paying off. Maybe the same thing will happen with the Braves. Suck to mediocre to contender. The Braves were never consistent champions, but they were challengers for a long, long time.
Paul Lentz
June 6th, 2009
11:50 pm
The Braves started the year with a $97 million dollar payroll (not including the $3.5 mil that they had budgeted for Tom Glavine making the roster). A $100 million dollar payroll is not “cheap”. Bashing Liberty as being “cheap” shows how little some of you really know about baseball.
While Kawakami has not set the world on fire with his pitching…he has been healthy, regularly pitches into the 6-7 innings (10 starts, 58 innings…which averages to almost 6 innings per start). Plus he is still adjusting to the Major League strike zone. I’m willing to give Kawakami some more time before I declare him a “bust”. Unlike most of you, I pay $179 to subscribe to the MLB Extra Innings package on Direct T.V. Reason being, I want to watch EVERY Braves game (I live in San Francisco). I’ve seen flashes from Kawakami where he has good command and goes after hitters and gets them out. He just needs to be more consistent. I feel that he has it in him to develop that consistently. And besides, the Braves are getting a MUCH BETTER RETURN on the $8.3 mil that they are paying Kawakami this year…then they got on the $8 mil that they gave Tom Glavine last year.
Let’s look at the differences between the starting rotation of last year and this year. Beginning of 2008 season: 1. Tim Hudson $13 mil. 2. John Smoltz $14 mil. 3. Mike Hampton (he got hurt while warming up before his first start) $15 mil. 4. Tom Glavine $8 mil. 5. Jair Jurrgens $400K. When Hampton got hurt, the Braves called up Jo Jo Reyes, $400K. Now what did the Braves get for the $51 mil that they invested in the original starting 5? 52 starts for a combined record of 33-27. When you factor in Jo Jo Reyes, it jumps to 74 starts for a combined record of 36-38.
Projected staring rotation in Spring Training: 1. Derek Lowe $15 mil. 2. Javier Vazquez $11.5 mil 3. Jair Jurrgens $450K 4. Kenshin Kawakami $8.3 mil. 5. Tom Glavine $1 mil (plus $3.5 mil in incentives). When Glavine had shoulder problems towards the end of spring training, the Braves added Jo Jo Reyes, $400K, to the rotation. Now what have the Braves gotten in return for their $36 mil (a savings of $15 mil over what the Braves paid last year’s opening day starting rotation so far this year? 46 starts for a combined record of 18-17. When Jo Jo Reyes is included, then that jumps to 51 starts for a combined record of 18-19. If you look at the numbers, this years opening day starting 5 has only 6 FEWER starts with 108 games still left to go in the season than last year’s opening day starting five had during all of 2008……for $15 mil less.
Yet many of you guys will complain about the job that Frank Wren has done. I just dont get it. I watch EVERY game last year and EVERY game this year (with the exception of Braves games that are played on Saturday’s during the Fox telecasts). I have a VIVID memory of last years debacle that was called the Braves starting rotation. With the exception of Jair Jurrgens, Frank Wren retooled the starting rotation. As a TRUE Braves fan, I am very pleased with how our starting rotation has performed.
If Braves management can get a power hitting right handed right fielder to plug into the 4th hole in the starting line-up……then the Braves can make a real run at the Division title. Just like the Braves did when they traded for Fred McGriff in 1993. Most of you have no idea how close the Braves are to really turning the corner.
Mitch
June 6th, 2009
11:58 pm
Jeff, I agree with part of what you said, but not all of it.
I dont like the way that either the Glavine or Smoltz situations were handled. I think that Smoltz should have been re signed, and that Glavine, after all the rehab he did, should have been given at least one major league start. If he got rocked, at least he would have left the Braves, due to the poor performance in a major league game. I dont quite understand having Glavine pitch shutout ball in the minors, only to release him before giving him a start in the bigs.
That being said, while the Braves certainly arent playing well now, and while there are fans that are angry at both Frank Wren and John S, we can’t say that Wren didn’t try to rebuild this team with solid pitching. Derek Lowe and Javy Vazquez have been everything we could have asked of them, and Jair has pitched well also. Yes, Kenshin hasnt done too good, but when you can say that two of your three free agent pitcher signings have performed as good, or better than you expected, that is hardly cause to blame the GM.
Hopefully, Nate Mcclatchy will begin to hit. This team is in very serious trouble right now, and needs a long winning streak to get back in the division and wild card races, but I cant fault Frank W for not trying to improve the team, even if I dont like how the Glavine and Smoltz situations were handled.
Mitch
Jeff
June 7th, 2009
12:48 am
Well said. The Braves are low class. They have lost alot of the fans who have been here for the losing years to the Division Titles of the 90’s and beyond. Even in all those bad years of the 70’s and the 6 80’s they still knew how to treat people. Except for the Neikro mess. Good bye Braves.
Paul Lentz
June 7th, 2009
12:52 am
Jeff……….BYE, dont let the door hit you in the arse. You wont be missed.
waterstim
June 7th, 2009
1:01 am
Schultz: This was just posted on Mark Bradley’s blog. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I was a Braves season ticket from 1991-2008, and I have a say in this. Tom Glavine is one of my Atlanta Braves, and I love him, but you and he are dead wrong here. Period.
Lou Vales
June 7th, 2009
12:34 am
Because I have a genius wife who helped take a company public during the halycon days of the 90’s when IPO’s were the rage and everybody made money–those crazy 90’s–I got to retire early. Still never had anywhere near the money of a Tommy Glavine , but had a great life and always realized I was very lucky–as were many others because of circumstances. Therefore when I read of the ABJECT GREED of people who have made enough money(Is over 75 million enough) to assure their daughter’s daughter’s daughter’s daughter’s daughter will NEVER have to work and yet they still bitch and moan even when they get into their 40’s with a pension that most Americans would give their left arm for if it meant feeding their kids–What kind of people are these?
AND I understand that you are entitled to make all you can, BUT at least have the decency to not be a flaunting, obnoxious, douche bag when the time finally arrives to move on with your life’s work.
Frank from KS
June 7th, 2009
1:08 am
Skeezix
I mentioned this on one past blog of DOB’s. Look at these teams that used to have great owners who would do what was needed to stay competitive and spent some money.
For example…the Braves and Ted Turner, the Royals and Ewing Kauffman, the Dodgers and the O’Malley’s, the Reds and Marge Schott (who I didn’t particularly care for off-the field antics, etc), and even tho he’s still kinda sorta the owner because I think his son’s are in the day-to-day running of them now…the Yankees and George Steinbrenner.
The Royals have sucked ever since Ewing Kauffman’s death in 94 and have been owned by Wal-Mart CEO David Glass (and can I say…cheap David Glass). The Dodgers haven’t done crap (up til last season and this season) since the O’Malley’s sold the team to Fox….same thing with the Reds and Marge Schott and the Yanks and Steinbrenner…..and of course, the Braves have been going downhill ever since Ted sold them to Time-Warner.
They’re owners (or were owners) who did what was needed to win/stay competitve. It’s really sad when ya think about it but that’s what ya get when big coporations take over big-time sports organizations.
UGA75
June 7th, 2009
1:29 am
I am not a Tom Glavine Fan. I quit being a fan of Tom’s when he became the face of the Union during Baseball’s last strike. His going to NY didn’t make me any fonder of him. I have attended one Braves game since the Strike the first time Tom pitched for the Mets just to boo him.
Now here is the shocker, I think the Braves have lost their way, I believe Wren is so anti superstars he enjoys demeaning them, see his handling of Cal Ripken if you think Smoltz and Glavine is something new about his behavior. I dislike Tom as I stated above, but the bottom line is I respect him. He has tried and accomplished a rehab in a shorter time than most Major league pitchers, doing so through a lot of pain, hoping to get back out on the mound and help the Braves win any way he could.
Let us ask ourselves why Tom Glavine, a certain hall of famer, would go to such extremes in his rehab? Does anyone think it was for the $1,000,000 Roster Bonus? Get serious, Tom’s family won’t be able to waste all the money he’s made for the next 4 generations, A Million bucks is huge money to us, not so to someone like Tom, Smoltz, or Chipper. I think all any of us have to do is look at the effort Tom has made, the pain he’s put himself through, and recognize that he was doing it because he loves the Braves.
Frank Wren is just doing a job, he has no emotional involvement with the Braves. He learned nothing from John Schuerholz, who never made waves. Clearly if you watched all the Braves moves and attempted moves this past off season, Frank Wren’s name has been front and center, much more so than any player. Shouldn’t we as fans look at that behavior much closer than we have. It isn’t the Braves as much as Frank Wren getting the ink.
One last comment, the Braves have been shutout twice since Glavine was treated so unprofessionally and uncourteously. The Team looks like it has no heart at all, and that has to be understandable to we fans. How can a team or its individual players give their all when it is clear that management doesn’t appreciate the effort? During the 14 year run the Braves were better than their individual parts. That can no longer be said. I believe with all my heart that Frank Wren is a cancer on the organization, and the Organization will not be healthy again until they remove the Cancer.
Atlanta Journal Constitution » Blog Archive » Braves have gone from the standard to a sideshow
June 7th, 2009
1:36 am
[...] Jeff Schultz | ajc.com – [...]
Ken Stallings
June 7th, 2009
1:52 am
Wow! I wish someone would be “heartless” enough to give me $1 million to try to make a MLB roster, and then release me when it was demonstrated I could not!
Mighty strange points of view in this blog. There are hard working people all across America at this time and folks are actually torn up inside because a man who’s made well over $250 million is a MLB career, was given a $1 million parting gift and a honest shot to make the roster.
The Braves gave him an option of retirement or release. Release isn’t being heartless. It’s basically the team putting its money where its mouth is. If Glavine still “had it” then he’d be signing a contract with another team right now. It took less time than this for Phil Neikro to sign with the Yankees after the Braves released him.
At least no one in the organization said Tom Glavine would have to be “hauled off the mound after falling flat on his face.” Who said that about HOF’er Neikro? Well, none other than Ted Turner, the “mouth of the south,” just before Phil won 16 games with the Yankees. And yet, some want to say Turner was a great owner in comparison to the current Braves staff they want to tarnish over giving Glavine his release and then apologizing for having to do it.
waterstim
June 7th, 2009
2:13 am
Ken Stallings…..I totally agree. One antedote about Niekro. I distinctly remember pitching in his 300th win, that he and the catcher agreed that he would throw nothing but fastballs. If memory serves me right, he put up goose eggs that night.
John
June 7th, 2009
3:54 am
The major leagues, actually any job, is a job you have to earn, not a lifetime achievement award. Awww…Tommy Glavine had to drive an hour and a half to pitch in Rome? Tom, there are people who look up to you and idolize you who drive farther than that just to pay your salary and watch you play. Getting told you’re not good enough is a crappy feeling, but most of us experience it plenty of times before we’re 43. And you wouldn’t have come back if you were told you had to “audition for a spot?” Do you tell that to the hockey teams you coach in the atlanta area? Great sportsmanship, great example these athletes set for our youth. Maybe Tom and Lebron and Andy Roddick can go have a little whiney party while the other 99% of the country get up and go to work so we can spend our hard earned money on these guys…
Ken Stallings
June 7th, 2009
4:48 am
One final point. Any player who intimates his position is “guaranteed” is an idiot! All positions in life are earned. Even Chipper Jones (our current best hitter) has to earn his position. If he cannot perform, he gets benched. We give him more latitude than other players only because right now we believe his potential to snap out of a slump is better than average.
Glavine didn’t exactly tear it up his last two seasons pitching in MLB. He didn’t do particularly well his last season with the Mets and that’s why the Mets didn’t try to resign him. His last season with the Braves was ineffective and the reason stated was injury. Scouts agreed in Rome he didn’t have MLB quality stuff.
This is “no-brainer” territory, folks!
Even Hank Aaron and Willy Mays had to hang ‘em up, folks! Same for Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. Ted hung ‘em up after belting a line-drive homer and no one heard a discouraging word from him.
Frankly, I would have earnestly hoped for Tommy to show more class in this end to his career. He’s been a stubborn warrior his whole career and that’s part of what made him great. But sometimes old warriors cannot accept the obvious. I hope Tommy settles down a year or so from now and reflects upon his actions and words. Perhaps he will.
But, he’s not helping his image one lick right now. And I’ve always thought the world of the man.
Alan
June 7th, 2009
7:01 am
I wouldn’t call them a sideshow. I’d call them THE SHOW, because everyone likes watching a train wreck.
Mikeyg
June 7th, 2009
7:10 am
Memo to Chipper. Any doubts on how you will treated when they don’t think you can hit the fastball anymore? And where was the “player’s” manager in this fiasco.? Could be his repugtation is tarnished too.
varodrunner
June 7th, 2009
7:25 am
Schultz is clearly out of touch with reality. Clearly the most ignorant guy on the staff. Why is Glavine to be handled any differently than anyone else? He came back to Atlanta after bolting to the Mets only because he wanted to be withhis family Nothing to do with the Braves. His fastball is now in the 70 mph range and true, he had 11 shutoout innings AGAINST 18-20 year old minor leaguers. C’mon, it this written just for the shock value or are you being serious? If this is meant to be a serious column, then please hang up your cleats and computer Jeff. This was a waste of my time.
Outside Robber
June 7th, 2009
7:42 am
If money is a key issue what with diminished revenue streams being realized at present, then set up the tables and phone banks because I see a fire sale before the trade deadline. If salary dumping starts, then we can all be realistic about the new Atlanta Nationals, or is that Atlanta Royals?
These are the dark ages for the Braves and won’t improve until a LOCAL ownership is in place along with fresh new eyes running the show at most every level.
Greg
June 7th, 2009
7:45 am
Morons…it’s not that he was released….it’s how it was handled.
Ted Striker
June 7th, 2009
7:51 am
Last night I dreamed none of this had ever happened. Instead — in my dream — Frank Wren traded Glavine to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Japan) for an order of stir fry beef with fried rice.
Even awake, I still think that deal would be taking advantage of the Toyo Carp.
brewdawg
June 7th, 2009
8:14 am
N8,
As usual, I disagree whole-heartedly with you. And, as usual, I couldn’t care less. Your passion is unmatched, and I respect the hell out of that.
Jeff,
Can you go beat some sense into Bradley, or do you guys only work from home now?
Falcon 3107
June 7th, 2009
8:18 am
I am going to get off the subject somewhat. Am I the only one tired to Chipper Jones always pulling himsef out of a game or missing several starts. He is suppose to be the strenght of our lineup, he needs to start showing it. i knwo if I called my boss and told him I could not work because my BIG TOE was hurting , he would tell me I hope it doesn’t hurt to much standing in the unemployment line.
Robert Cagle
June 7th, 2009
8:21 am
If this is the worst thing that ever happens to Tom Glavine, then he can show up at Cooperstown wearing a Mets uniform if he wants. Otherwise, you people better be minding your 401Ks.
PN
June 7th, 2009
8:21 am
I completely disagree with the tone and intent of this article. Is Frank Wren fairly moronic with his handling of players? No question, with evidence to support it. But, that said, you claim that this is to be filed under his long list of headaches? And you mention Jake Peavy…he turned down the Braves trade offer. AJ Burnett??? Are you kidding me? We were going to pay him ace money for a #3 pitcher? Give me a break, AJ Burnett spurning the Braves was probably the BEST offseason move. I was ecstatic when he turned the Braves down. Derek Lowe is no shut-down dominant ace pitcher like a Johan or Peavy but he is consistently good, and I’ll take that over AJ’s 12K potential in 5 of his 30 starts. Rafael Furcal? That never even made any sense for this team, again, probably helped more than hurt the Braves. Ken Griffey Jr? HAHA. Another thank goodness he spurned us. Yeah, Garrett Anderson is no Godsend, but honestly, Griffey was the answer to nothing and the ONLY reason anyone even cared about that situation was because of the Griffey name-brand. Well the Griffey name brand died 9 years ago. Could the Braves have handling this better? Likely. Was that ill will toward Glavine? Doubtful. Did the Braves anticipate dropping Glavine weeks ago? Doubtful again. Why? If the Braves knew they were gonna drop Glav would they not have called up Hanson 1 month ago instead of Medlen?
zorba
June 7th, 2009
8:31 am
Schultzie, you usually write better than this. You must be running out of stories that have meat and style. Move ond…
Alan
June 7th, 2009
8:54 am
Can’t see the writing on the wall or just don’t care enough to recognize it.
The team management has no idea how to fix the problems on the field, last year it was injuries to the pitching staff for the most part that has been fixed so why don’t our offensive players know how to play thier positions and how to play smart ball when they are at bat.
Its gut check time in the dugout from the head coach down, they should be ashamed to go on the field if they can’t play better than this and do it on a more consistent basis.
WilliamG
June 7th, 2009
9:23 am
I was getting my usual Tuesday massage from Bernice, down at the Oil & Smoke Parlor. And since I knew she moonlighted as Natasha the European Psychic, I took the opportunity to ask about the Braves.
She told me that Glavine had applied a curse on the team that puts the Chief Noc-A-Homa curse in the shade. Bernice isn’t a baseball fan so she had no real opinion about the fairness of all that but said she stood in awe of the mystic powers of this new curse.
bull-gator
June 7th, 2009
10:09 am
You watch too much ESPN. I think the Braves are finally on the right track after so many years of kicking the can down the road. Cox needs to retire after this year and Pendleton needs to be replaced NOW! What a pathetic display of “offensive” offense the last few games. Those players need to be coached up and kicked in the ass. Oh, I forgot, they’re professionals. You gotta treat them with kid gloves because they’re gonna do what they want anyway. Overpaid prima donnas…
theriddler
June 7th, 2009
10:32 am
Right on the money JS.
turkey
June 7th, 2009
10:45 am
It all starts with the owner. Remember the Braves prior to Ted Turner and because Turner was willing to make the Braves winners, it happened. Anyone who thinks Liberty Media is concerned about the Braves winning is delusional. When ticket sales finally hit a low point and Liberty is willing to sell to Arthur Blank this team will turn around and all the whining and crying is not going to change a thing.
Sad Braves Fan
June 7th, 2009
10:58 am
Great article, Jeff. It’s obvious that opinions exist on both sides of the release of Glavine, but I think if research was done, Wren and his ego is really the story. (Check with Cal Ripken and the Orioles who ate part of his contract just to get rid of him) To have Schuerholz issue a public apology and in effect undermine his current GM says that this article is right on the money. We live in a world of instant gratification where intregity and character matter less each day and it’s just sad to watch a class organization be destroyed from the inside out. Too bad for Atlanta and too bad for baseball.
bvillebaron
June 7th, 2009
11:25 am
Jeff:
Why don’t you buy some cheese to go along with whatever w[h]ine you will be sharing at your next pity party with John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Good thing for these two guys that MLB has guaranteed contracts unlike the NFL. Enough already. The first responsibility of any GM is to put the best players on the field. Can you seriously tell me that Glavine is a better choice than Hanson at this stage of their careers? Should Wren build his staff again this year around Smoltz and Glavine because of sentimentality and have them both be unable to pitch (thereby ruining any chance of being competitive only a few months into the season)? Give it a rest man.
N8
June 7th, 2009
11:30 am
brewdawg, and I respect that you respect that, and also don’t care that you disagree with me. LOL!
DCBrave
June 7th, 2009
11:43 am
Spot on, Jeff. Im not sure what the threshold of pain is for the Braves organization, which I suspect really comes down to the President, Mr. Schuerholz, or what the tipping point would be to put Frank Wren’s job in jeopardy, but I sincerely hope we have crossed it.
An honest assessment of Mr. Wren would reveal that he has improved the rotation–Lowe, Jurjjens, Vazquez, Kawakami, and Hanson is much better than last year’s. He has brought in McClouth and kept Chipper Jones around, which are net positives in my mind.
Other than that, though, he has not done much to enhance this team or more importantly this club’s reputation. The Smoltz and Glavine decisions are defensable from a baseball point of view, but the way they were carried out is pretty much indefensible. Its almost as if they wanted to poke these guys in the eye on the way out the door and I cannot imagine why we would want to do that to either of those guys. Neither one is perfect and both have had interesting relationships with the club, but they have provided a lot of very good moments to this club and to this city and dealing with them in any way other than with respect is wrong. They didnt have to do it this way, but I suspect Wren doesnt understand that or doesnt know any other way of operating.
Getting used by Furcal was another big PR blunder and then losing Burnett and Griffey were two more. And dont forget that we rushed Shaffer up and shipped a legit major league center fielder to Detroit.
This guy was a bust in Baltimore and has shown very little to suggest he learned from his tenure there or is ready for this role now. Lets hope the Braves can find a way to score today–just one–and that Hanson can throw a shutout in his major league debut. Thats the recipe that Frank Wren his decided to build his club around, apparently, ninety 1-0 wins. Sounds good to me.
a series of decisions and missteps that have both
Christy
June 7th, 2009
11:46 am
UGA75 – nice post.
As for others on this blog – I don’t get it. I really don’t. All of you are offended at the idea of the $1Million. It doesn’t matter if it was $1M, or $10M or just a single dollar. God forbid, I actually agreed with Kincade the other day, which made me ill. You should not ask a H of F pitcher to go to a single A rehab assignment at Rome, after pitching well in AAA Gwinnett if you are planning to release him.
And none of you on this board can tell me that they were not already planning to release Glavine before his Rome outing. They knew it, and they sent him anyway. I think they did so they could sell gate tickets in Rome. There’s your mercenary interest at work.
Those of us who are upset with Glavine’s release aren’t mad because we think he has his Cy Young stuff on hand to rescue the Brave’s dismal season. We’re upset because in the old days, Glavine or any player would have come out of that meeting announcing his retirement and JS would be talking about Glavine’s future role in the organization.
It’s not about the money, it’s about how you treat people. And it doesn’t matter who you are or the amount of money you make. I get just as upset when I see people treated poorly and “released” at my own job as I do this. If you put in the effort, to help your team, your company, whatever, don’t you expect recognition and apretiation? Or are all of you so jaded and bitter that you are willing to put up with being treated like slop by your company?
Replace Glavine’s name with anyone else, and it would be worth commenting. Because Glavine helped give us our only World Series, has won Cy Young’s for the Braves and will go into the H of F he deserves more than just a passing reference on his release.
I think I’m done with the Braves this year. Too many negative vibes. No Skip, no Pete, or Smoltz and now no Glavine. Maybe I am just too tied to the good old days, but that’s what baseball is supposed to be. Or it used to be – an afternoon at the park, with your family or friends, watching your favorite team and players you could root for and building up memories for a long winter. I’m not into this new business model for baseball. For that, I may as well stick to the NFL who do it better. And for respect of players and fans, I’ll stay with hockey.