It hurts to say it, but it was time for Tom Glavine to go
When Tom Glavine was allowed to leave for the Mets in December 2002, I was outraged. (At the Braves, not at him.) The same Braves released the same Glavine on Wednesday, and here’s what I say now:
Good move.
Tom Glavine is my favorite Brave ever, but it was time — past time — for him to go. I didn’t cheer when they brought him back two winters ago, and I was against giving him another chance in 2009. A 43-year-old coming off shoulder and elbow surgery? With Tommy Hanson waiting in the minors? Was this a big-league baseball season or a sentimental journey?
“This was not a business decision,” Frank Wren told the media Wednesday. “This was a performance decision.” And there should be no arguing with that.
Tom Glavine gave the Braves a lot. He gave them the greatest night of professional sports this city has known. (Game 6, 1995 World Series, eight innings, one hit.) But he has, sad to say, nothing left to give. Wren again: “Our evaluation [of Glavine's rehab starts in the minors] was that he would not be successful at the major-league level.”
It was a grim and defensive Wren who faced the press, and sure enough the question arose: Given that John Smoltz was allowed to sign elsewhere and that Glavine has been cut, was he worried about appearances? “Obviously you’re concerned about everything,” Wren said, “but at the end of the day fans want to win, to be in the playoff hunt … If we have to deal with the consequences of a public-relations backlash, that’s part of doing business.”
Loading ...Then this: “My duty is to give the 25 players in that clubhouse the best chance to win and the best chance to be playing in October.”
And he has. Hanson is en route to the bigs, where he surely belongs. (He’ll start here Saturday night against Milwaukee.) At this point in their careers, is there any doubt a heat-bringing 22-year-old stands to help more than a 43-year-old soft-tosser? Shouldn’t that consideration trump all else?
The belief here is that there will be no massive outcry. (Glavine, as we know, was pilloried locally — and wrongly — for his role as a players’ representative during the 1994 strike.) The belief here is that the Braves will sell more tickets for Hanson’s first big-league start than they would have for Glavine’s 683rd. The belief here is that Wren deserves no grief for this move, none whatsoever.
The Braves hoped Glavine would be ready by April 17, the first time they’d need a No. 5 starter to bring the gap until Hanson was primed. Glavine couldn’t go in April (or May), and now no such gap exists with Hanson. And just because Glavine threw six shutout innings in a Rome rehab start Tuesday cut no ice. Said Wren: “Our view over the course of the last month was that he has not improved.
This wasn’t a hairline call, not for a team that has designs on winning the NL East. Toward that end, Wren traded three big-time prospects to Pittsburgh for center fielder Nate McLouth an hour after announcing Glavine’s release. This general manager is being as aggressive as is financially possible, and we should applaud him for that. Even if Wednesday didn’t seem a time for applause.
Said Wren: “It’s not a pleasant day,” and it wasn’t. Bobby Cox, a man’s man, spoke after the game with reddened eyes. And Chipper Jones, as he invariably does, sounded the exact proper note: “Sentimentally, [the day] stunk. But if you look at it in terms of this organization going forward, you have to hope it’s a step in the right direction.”
Tom Glavine is among the most distinguished Braves ever to wear the uniform. But time waits for no man, and it was time for the team he ennobled to move on.
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518 comments Add your comment
B-Tank
June 3rd, 2009
9:22 pm
Aw, come on, Wes, Matt Diaz is a decent outfielder…
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:22 pm
B-Tank: another good call. That’s what the phillies need- an over the hill, slow throwing lefty. They don’t have any of those…..
Dennis
June 3rd, 2009
9:23 pm
Let me add my two cents worth. I read the comments on AJC daily and there is a constant carping about Wren’s failure to add players that can move the Braves forward. Today he did just that. To get someone of McLouth’s ability required giving up a bit. I just read on another site that rated the trade B+ for the Braves and Pirates C-. The rating would have been higher for the Braves if McLouth had been a right handed hitter, with the team being very left handed. Releasing Glavine is a business move…and the right one to make. Glavine left for business reasons, just as Smoltz did. Why should a team not make business decisions. If they don’t make the right decisions, fans don’t show up at the ball park. Get over it. Glavine might catch on with some team for the remainder of the year and I hope he does. I value his contributions to the Braves over the years, but ultimately we all have to understand that baseball is a business..not just for the team, but the players as well.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:23 pm
Diaz is a “DECENT” once or twice a week outfielder. Not even close to a true “Decent” outfielder. Not to mention, he can’t play the field.
edward
June 3rd, 2009
9:24 pm
Thats the only thing they did right..Sign Chipper for the next 3 years or so. I like Chipper but him not being there hurts us and he goes on the DL alot. So in everyones argument for letting Glavine go, why not the same for him? Not that I want him gone. I really would quit caring they ever did.
Again, Dl stints do go that long. Or is Hudson on the roster?? If I remember it correctly he has been Dl’d since August last year. Or was he moved to the minors? I guess i do know something about baseball. I also know we gave up our farm the last couple of years for who? Oh yea, players on other teams. Where did that get us? Same place we are now. And guess what??? We are going there again soon. We still need a big bat in right.
And if Vazquez is so good why is it the big rumor he is going once Hudson comes back? We have to make room for Hudson soon. Oh yea, he is in the minors according to OBGYN not on the DL. We can just call him up in September right?
THE OBGYN
June 3rd, 2009
9:24 pm
Didn’t even see who was complaining about Lowe and Vazquez.
I’ll not repeat the stats but seriously?
I’ll start with Lowe.
Did you not read the article just yesterday. It compared Lowe, Peavy, and two others. Basically Lowe is pitching better than all of them for either the same or less money. Lowe would have an even better record if he received the run support that some of these other guys get. Thats true for all the braves starters.
Lowe isn’t Maddawg or Smoltzie during their Cy years but who is really? Some of these comments make me wonder if those people even watch games or just blog randomly about stuff they have no clue about.
Vazquez. He has been extremely good. The guy is a #3 starter. He’s pitched like a #2 and at times a low end #1. We’ve been in dang near every game he’s been in. Can’t help it if our offense is anemic and our bullpen has had major issues at times earlier in the year.
Not sure about Frenchy… 3.75 isn’t much for a great defensive OF with the 2nd or 3rd best arm in the majors. His batting… Heck if he hits 250 or 260 for 10-15hr and 75 rbi’s then I’m ok with keeping him. Too much quirkiness in his swing… Too slow right now. But what are you going to get for him… Nothing major league ready… thats for sure.
brewdawg
June 3rd, 2009
9:25 pm
Glavine didn’t deserve a chance to show he has something left or not? Not even one start? Or the Braves couldn’t have made this decision a month ago to give him an early start to look elsewhere? Whatever. Do me a favor Mark, next time you talk to Glavine, tell him his fans apologize for the way he was treated at the end. And tell him we appreciate everything he gave this organization and city. Love ya Tom.
Reid Adair
June 3rd, 2009
9:25 pm
Paul Lentz, I have disagreed with much of what you said, but this takes the proverbial cake:
“I would rather overpay for a starter who goes 7 innings pretty much every start, never gets hurt, and pitches like a number 1 starter….than give good money to an injured bum.”
Tom Glavine has done NOTHING to this organization or this franchise to be called a “bum.” PERIOD.
WestPalmDawg
June 3rd, 2009
9:26 pm
WES-thank you-
Does anyone remember when he turned to the Braves and lifted his middle finger in 2002?
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:26 pm
If Wren can package French and Medlen and pick up a right hand hitting right fielder, I’d consider his during the season run quite successful.
You people who all love Gorkys—Where were you going to play him? Shaffer would get every chance to start for the next 10 years…..so CF is a no go. Heyward will be playing left……..so LF is a no go. And, unless they lose their hard on for Francoeur, he’ll be in RF for the next 10 years. SO………how is giving up Gorkys a bad thing?
Pretend Hero
June 3rd, 2009
9:27 pm
Wes, they gave up a future all star center fielder to bring in that outfielder. And for fun they through in a possible number 2 or 3 starter. For a guy who only made the all star team because he played for Pittsburg. He would not even be a starter in NY, Boston, TX, etc. So yes, nice move. Give up two pieces of the future for a slightly above average outfielder? Gorkys was not a top Braves prospect. He IS one of the top outfield prospects in all of MLB.
Yes, Glavine looked good against a bunch of minor league players. If you did not care how he did, why send him at all. Let him know up front there is no room for him and give him the chance to retire or sign with someone else in the spring, not in June. Again, it looks to me like Wren was just trying to show Glavine up.
Bad trade, and horrible treatment of a first ballot hall of famer.
Paul Lentz
June 3rd, 2009
9:28 pm
Edward……..the Pirates made this move because they wanted younger, cheaper players. The Pirates do not want to pay their players, even if they are good. The Pirates (nor any other team) wants Jeff Franceour. Do you think that any team wants to give up anything decent for Jeff Franceour, knowing that he is going to get anywhere between $5-6 mil in salary arbitration next year? Bottom line, the Braves gave up some prospects for a really good major league player who is under contract the next 4 years, at very reasonable prices. It isnt like McClouth is a rent a player. Dude isnt a prospect. How many “prospects” turn out to be just that, prospects? By the way….whatever happen to that Flowers kid that we sent to the White Sox for Vazquez. If he could hit, dont you think that the White Sox would have him hitting right now in the Majors? The McClouth trade will turn out to be a steal.
I didnt mention Hudson because he actually pitched 22 starts last year for an 11-7 record. His $15.5 mil salary last year wasnt a total waste. However this year is a different story. Still, you brought up the Braves letting Hampton, Smoltz, and Glavine going. I was stating the obvious as to how much money they made last year, compared to how little they produced.
Speaking of Hudson, the Braves would be smart to not re-sign him this off season. Paying good money for an injured starter, when the Braves have healthy starters, is not the smart thing to do. I’m not saying that Hudson cant be effective. It just isnt worth the risk. If he is able to come back in August like they say he will…then I would like to see him try to pitch the last part of the season as a closer. Reason being, how long can he be realistically be expect to pitch into games? He has to build up arm strength. However he has that bulldog mentality that could do well when it comes to closing games (like Smoltz did years ago). If there were some injuries in the rotation come August, then I see the logic in giving Hudson a chance to start when he comes back.
Reid Adair
June 3rd, 2009
9:28 pm
“Wes,” if you read what I said, Wren has been a disappointment from practically the time he was put in the general manager decision. Did you follow the Braves’ fiasco that was off-season free-agent negotiations? That was Wren, plain and simple.
As far as your statement that the Braves gave him a chance to retire, why should he retire if he honestly believes he can still pitch in the Major Leagues? That is a decision for Tom Glavine to make, not Frank Wren and Liberty Media. He said when he decided to try and come back that if he could not pitch at the level he wanted, he would retire. For Glavine to have “retired” today would be publicly saying he thought it was over.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:29 pm
I guess you weren’t in the outfield when he flipped off the BRAVES FANS IN ATLANTA, were you, Reid??
Reid Adair
June 3rd, 2009
9:29 pm
“WestPalmDawg,” I remember in 2002 when the Mets were willing to make a solid commitment to Tom Glavine that was more LONG TERM (his primary concern) than what the Braves were willing to offer.
edward
June 3rd, 2009
9:31 pm
All i am saying is is they had to wait till NOW to give him this decision to make? They could have done it in the offseason and it would have been fine. But to wait till he says he is ready is just wrong. If he was insurance they should have kept Smoltz too. I know Smoltz was going for more money though.
But its over and done. Now lets move towards firing TP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bart
June 3rd, 2009
9:31 pm
Frank Wren’s spin is lame, and Mark I’m usually defending you to the water cooler crowd, but you’re showing some real ignorance in buying it.
Frank Wren go home and DJ Anderson make the key points above . . . it was about nothing BUT the money. He was sharp in his rehab starts. What, exactly, was it he needed to go out and do in those in order to get a shot? Strike out every batter faced?
A team that has started Jo-Jo Reyes can give Tom Glavine the ball once or twice before kicking him to the curb. Frank Wren is a jerk, and the Braves have devolved into something I don’t really recognize.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:31 pm
Pretend- Gorkys was NEVER going to play for the Atlanta BRaves. Bobby would never have put him ahead of Shafer for any reason. He was nothing but trade bait, and we used him to get an all-star, gold glove center fielder who is under team control till 2012.
Yeah, that sucks.
Reid Adair
June 3rd, 2009
9:31 pm
“Wes,” no, I wasn’t. That doesn’t lessen my interest as a fan in this organization. I’m sure you’re probably not willing to share what the “fans” were saying to him on that particular day either.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:32 pm
And, Reid- Glavine pitched against high school drop outs and guys who werent good enough to catch on at any COLLEGE. Yeah, I’d SURE be bragging about his stats against them.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:33 pm
And whoever it was that said, “Glavine still believe he is big league level.”
The guy hasn’t pitched in a year and couldn’t break 81. You want him on your team? PLEASE, I beg you, go get the GM job for the Mets.
Atl Resident
June 3rd, 2009
9:33 pm
MB is right about that these cheap Braves don’t really need Glavine. But for someone who’s a veteran and have been pitching too long, this was dirty to just release him. They could have shown him more respect. I don’t blame Glavine either for not deciding to retire yet, when it seems like he’s starting to get little better. Damn, I would at least let him keep playing, finish the season, then talk about retiring. But knowing how it works here in Atl with any sport, someone will signed him, they will make the playoffs and Braves will end up watching him.
Mark Bradley
June 3rd, 2009
9:34 pm
For as much as you might admire Tom Glavine — and I yield to no one in my admiration for the guy — can you honestly say you’re not excited about Hanson? More excited than if the Braves had simply put Glavine in the No. 5 hole?
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:34 pm
Not to mention the 8 Mill we gave him last year for the 5 ERA and the 8 starts.
I heard the Kings might need a fill in Goalie in the fall of ‘09
Reid Adair
June 3rd, 2009
9:34 pm
“Bart,” that’s a very good point. All of this praise for Frank Wren on getting rid of Tom Glavine and bringing in this outfielder.
This is the same GM who left Jo-Jo Reyes in the starting rotation for nearly two years. This is the same GM who was the primary factor in the numerous off-season free-agent negotiation failures between last year and this year.
This is the same GM who made numerous decisions in Baltimore that are still hurting that organization.
But, hey, he got rid of Glavine. That makes up for all of his past mistakes – to some people, at least.
THE OBGYN
June 3rd, 2009
9:34 pm
No Edward DL stints DONT go that long. If a player like Hudson has to be on the DL for a season and into the next he is placed on the DL at the start of the season on day 1. While his need for the DL hasn’t changed his actual DL status is refreshed at the start of the year.
Glavine wasn’t expected to be on the DL to start the year. He was expected to come up on April the 17th to make the first start needed for a 5th starter. Meaning he had some extra spring training to help get into condition for the majors. He just never reached said conditioning.
Ignorance while attempting to be smart is silly. When did I state Hudson was in the minors?
Rumors are exactly that. Hudson will likely replace Kawakami unless he starts throwing better. Sadly that was the only real crap move of the offseason that actually happened. Guy is barely a 5th starter. Maybe he’ll adjust…
Agree with you on the trades… Tex would have been great if we had been able to keep him but I like Kotchman pretty good too. Much better defensive 1st. The bad unfortunately is lacking though. Then again doubles hitters are always needed as well. Then again where would we put Salty? He was a poor defensive catcher and had no desire to play first. Hind sight is always 20/20 though with trades. Hope we don’t regret letting Gorky go
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:36 pm
Bobby Cox left Reyes in the rotation. Bobby and Bobby alone. Haha, you glavine lovers REALLY are idiots. Lowe, Vasquez, Jurrgens, Hanson, Hudson, Medlen, Kowakami……….and GLAVINE. Seems one of those names doesn’t fit. You tell me which one it is
LAC
June 3rd, 2009
9:36 pm
Looks like frank wren went to the don waddell GM school of how to SCREW a team up !
Reid Adair
June 3rd, 2009
9:37 pm
“Wes,” I’m not sure what you’re referring to as far as your comment about stats and pitching against “high school dropouts.” If you’re referring to Glavine’s minor-league rehab starts, I’ve said nothing about those, positive or negative.
I do feel that it should be up to Tom Glavine when he retires. If he feels like he can pitch at the Major League level (and I never said I thought he could), then I’m all for him giving it a shot.
He said publicly that when he finished his rehab, if he couldn’t pitch effectively, he would retire. I still believe that will be the case.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:39 pm
What one of the 5 or 6 All Star Caliber/Salary starters the Braves have are u skipping for Glavine? Just curious. Put Hanson in long relief? Sounds great….
Former Braves fan
June 3rd, 2009
9:39 pm
From a business standpoint, yes, Tommy Hanson makes more sense. The way this was handled highlights again Wren’s incompetence. You say all winter long and through the spring how much you want Glavine back. He does everything you ask of him to gear up for the season. After his last rehab start, he shows up at the stadium thinking he’s about to rejoin the team but gets told, “thanks but no thanks. Retire or we’ll release you”. How about some honesty? I agree that Hanson is the better choice, but how about telling Glavine all along that it’s always possible he won’t make the team, that you have several other options. This decision would be much easier to stomach had Wren and Cox been upfront all along instead of being pussies and stringing him along all winter and spring.
Speaking of incompetence… you think Glavine isn’t capable of performing at the major league level? How do you justify Cox and Pendleton still drawing a paycheck? Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur speak volumes about Pendleton’s ability (or lack thereof). When one of your players goes outside the organization for help during the off-season, shouldn’t that tell you something?
As for Cox, here’s a guy who was handed a once in a generation, perhaps a once in a lifetime starting rotation. 3 out of 5 games, there was a Hall of Famer standing on the mound. Another Hall of Famer at 3rd base, a center fielder who at the time looked to be on a Hall of Fame trajectory. All of that supported by some VERY good players over the years (McGriff, Galaragga, Justice….) and we have one World Series to show for it. 14 straight division titles? They should’ve won 14 straight. Many of those years, the NL East was not that tough. The Braves beat up on the teams they were supposed to (Rockies and Marlins in their expansion years, Cubs in their bad years) but were just average against top flight teams.
What might that team of the 90’s have been with a real manager (Torre, perhaps LaRussa… any decent Little League manager)?
Reid Adair
June 3rd, 2009
9:39 pm
“Lowe, Vasquez, Jurrgens, Hanson, Hudson, Medlen, Kowakami……….and GLAVINE. Seems one of those names doesn’t fit. You tell me which one it is”
That’s too easy, “Wes.” The one that doesn’t belong is “Jurrgens”, because that is not how you spell Jair’s last name.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:40 pm
This is a BUSINESS not a Hallmark card. Bye, Tom. You gave us the finger. Now we get the chance to give it back.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:41 pm
Ok, once we get to spelling errors on the Braves’ blog the discussion with you is over.
H.S. Coach
June 3rd, 2009
9:41 pm
Thank you Tom for all the hard work and excitement you brought to the Braves. I hate to see you go under these terms. Enjoy life after baseball.
Hal Vernon
June 3rd, 2009
9:44 pm
I’m not sure how you could have been outraged at the Braves when Glavine elected to go to NY for roughly the same money AND the Braves promised him a job in the organization for the rest of his life. He made the decision, not the Braves.
edward
June 3rd, 2009
9:45 pm
Paul, trust me, I live here and know McClouth is good. I was just thinking it would have been nice to let Franchy go here then stay with my team. The Pirates would have traded him anyway or cut him. I know all about them not paying players..That’s why I walk up to the window on gameday and get $27 front row seats to any game I want to see!! God bless their cheap owner!
And they never said Hudson would be in the majors in August I know, but starting rehab then. they expect him for september. If we are in it. Actually it would make better sense to keep him and have it be Lowe, Hudson, Hanson, Medlen, Kawakami. That way we have 2 proven number one starters and 2 very near future number ones. Hudson is only an option year pitcher and we don’t have to sign him after. Heck, we could even trade him for whatever we need next year.
Ok, Flowers was a good loss for us, but what about the others? Salty and Elvis are everyday starters for Texas. Tex is in New York now. That really sucked as a trade.
Again, it wouldn’t have hurt the Pirates to have gotten frenchy. Heck, they are already out of it…
YoungerThanThatNow
June 3rd, 2009
9:45 pm
The newspaper and PR reports said that Glavine was in the 83-86 MPH range last night in Rome. From a fulltime, paid professional scout who was in Rome last night… “he never broke 80 MPH”.
As much as I love Tom Glavine and all the good he has done for the Braves… HE’S FINISHED! He WILL NOT get another opportunity to pitch at the major league level and justifiably so. If he does he will be embarassed and retire immediately, realizing that he no longer has what it takes to pitch at the major league level.
THE OBGYN
June 3rd, 2009
9:45 pm
Edward – But its over and done. Now lets move towards firing TP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now we are starting to see eye to eye…
Other than a few good years with the braves when did that guy ever freaking hit.
I have never been impressed with him as a hitter. He had a few good years for average but .319 I think the year he got that batting title…
Job interview – Hitting Coach – MLB Level
Resume 1 batting title .319.
So Mr. Pendlton what was your career average…
Hysterical laughter ensues when he states. I hit a well rounded .270 for my career…
Mr Pendleton unfortunately you don’t qualify as a hitting coach. However we do have a position open on the grounds crew.
Jury’s out on this trade. The guy is at least proven so there is that…
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:45 pm
Thank you, Hal! Game, set and match.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
9:47 pm
Younger – they didn’t have a radar gun in the ballpark. Not since Steve Urkel have I seen speed guessing like that.
Paul Lentz
June 3rd, 2009
9:48 pm
Edward….the reason why the Braves would be willing to potentially part with Vazquez if Hudson were to come back….would be with the idea of acquiring a really good offensive right handed power bat….not because he isnt any good. Sometimes you have to give up quality to get quality. Many of you guys want GOLD for Zirconium. The other team has to feel that they are getting gold in return for their gold.
THE OBGYN…..the problem with Franceour is that if the Braves offer Franceour arbitration next year, he will end up getting $5-7 mil, and other teams know this. That is when his contract becomes a big problem. That is why I would love to see the Braves get rid of him NOW. The Braves would get out of paying him the remaining $2 mil this year (which could be used to get a right handed bat)…also they wouldnt have to be “tempted” to cave in to public sentiment and offer him salary arbitration.
Reid Adair….when it comes to a player’s ability now…Glavine is a BUM. I’m not attacking him personally nor his past accomplishments. I’m strictly talking about his ability now. He isnt worth the risk, not when the Braves have a healthy rotation. Also, when Frank Wren took over for the Braves, the Braves were paying tens of millions to old, injured, over the hill players. In the past year, the health, talent and the payroll flexibility has drastically improved.
I just dont understand how you guys can continue to bash Frank Wren. Unlike most of you, I pay to subscribe to the MLB Extra Innings package, mainly so I can watch EVERY Braves game (I live in San Francisco). Last year was so frustrating, seeing Bobby having to go to the bullpen in the 5th inning (Jair Jurrgens was the exception) pretty much every ball game. Fixing the starting rotation is much harder than fixing the offense. And Frank Wren is working on the offense. After this season, there will be NO bad contracts on this team. Why cant you guys see that?
Many of you can keep yearning for over the hill, past their prime players play. I’ll enjoy watching the Braves WIN some games this summer. Let’s see what you guys have to say come September.
tim hall
June 3rd, 2009
9:49 pm
The Braves owed Tom Glavine nothing more than they owe any other player. Tommy G didn’t owe the Braves anything when he decided to leave for the Mets. It’s a business. The Braves gave Glavine an opportunity to prove his worthiness in the minor leagues, and they determined he wasn’t the best option. I am disappointed that Glavine would insinuate that the Braves owed him more than he received the second time around – surely he can see that the team has better, cheaper options at this point. He was a tremendous player and he gave us many great moments, but it is time to move on.
edward
June 3rd, 2009
9:51 pm
OBGYN…yes ignorance while trying to look smart is silly. he was Dl’d last season and has been all year so far. So he has been on the DL since August of last year. How hard is that to see? As to the minors thing..you hinted Glavine was a minor leaguer and not on the DL. DL rehab start is different from being on a minor league team. So i was making light of what you said.
salty recently made a start at first for Texas and did pretty good. So you can’t say he would have been against it.
Pretend Hero
June 3rd, 2009
9:52 pm
Wes, you dont get it. Gorkys is one of the top 100 prospects in all of MLB. The Braves just traded him away, and threw in a very good pitching prospect for a career .260 hitter. Mclouth was an All Star because he played for the Pirates. Thats it. We are not talking about Jason Bay or even Xavier Nady.
Bobby Cox is DONE!!!!!!
June 3rd, 2009
9:52 pm
What the hell is he doing?
Leadoff single in the bottom of the 9th and he does not bunt the guy to 2nd?
Cox is a lost, scenile old man at this point. I am not sure that if we had the 1990’s rotation and Crime Dog that we could be winning. Bobby has simply forgotten how the game should be played.
SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
9:53 pm
Wren Report Card:
Smoltz Move: A+
Glavine Move A+
Next…..
edward
June 3rd, 2009
9:53 pm
Paul, I doubt there will be much public sentiment if he keeps playing this bad! I wouldn’t mind seeing frenchy go at all.
More than that I wanna see Pendleton go. Chipper is going to be a great hitting coach when he retires. I just hope TP isn’t here that long though..
Mark Bradley
June 3rd, 2009
9:55 pm
You know, I think I’d have bunted there, too. (Not with Garret Anderson, but with somebody.)
Reid Adair
June 3rd, 2009
9:55 pm
Paul Lentz, did you not follow Frank Wren’s off-season free-agent negotiations this past year?
Do you not remember that he lied publicly about the offer that was made to Smoltz? If he felt he made an appropriate offer to Smoltz, that’s all he had to say. I’m not arguing whether he should have been kept or not (we’ve seen enough childishness with the exchanges about Glavine). But don’t lie to the fans.
At the same time, it may not be all his fault. No one truly knows how committed Liberty Media is to returning the Braves to a consistently successful level.
Time will tell. I don’t think we’ll see consistent winning this year. The offense is far too shaky. The key will be the upcoming off-season and free agency. If it goes as poorly as this past year did for the Braves, any and all belief in Wren’s general-management ability should be done.