John Smoltz gets his wittle feelings hurt. Imagine that.
We all but had a stopwatch on it in the press box Wednesday night. How long would it take for John Smoltz to rip the Braves for releasing Tom Glavine? If you had four hours, you won the pool.
After reading Smoltz’s latest rant, I thought, “Par for the course.” (Par. Course. Golf. Smoltz. Funny, huh?) Because that’s what John Smoltz does: He takes every slight, real or imagined, and personalizes it and stews over it and nurtures his resentment. I know.
It was 1997, the year after Smoltz won his Cy Young award, and he was pitching badly by his lofty standards. I wrote as much. The next day he stomped through the clubhouse and glowered but didn’t say a word to me. Because part of being John Smoltz is to smolder from afar.
I told one of the Braves’ announcers — I won’t say who — that Mr. Smoltz appeared to be displeased with my printed appraisal. And the announcer said, “The truth hurts.”
Not long afterward, Smoltz worked a good game — even I would never suggest he’s anything less than a Hall of Fame pitcher — and was surrounded by the usual media throng. Casting his glance across the clubhouse, he saw yours truly interviewing someone else. And he told the throng, “There’s Mark Bradley. If he comes over here I’ll have to stop talking to all of you. Because that guy dogged me out.”
(Dogged? Hmm. In his early days with the Braves, Smoltz’s nickname was Marmaduke. I have no idea if this is apropos of anything.)
Naturally, my colleagues were happy to inform me of Smoltz’s anti-MB stance, and I, not wanting to deprive my brother and sister journalists of the torrent of insight that is Smoltz, simply stopped going near him. And you know who found it all hilarious? Glavine, who dubbed me, “Smoltzie’s favorite journalist.” (Have I mentioned that Glavine is my all-time favorite Brave?)
Never mind that I’d written 10 gushing Smoltz columns over the previous decade. Those were eradicated by my one egregious sin. Since he didn’t want to talk with me, I mostly stopped writing about him. When he did something great, I’d say he did something great — fair’s fair — but I kept my distance.
Loading ...We wouldn’t even say hello when we passed in the hall. (I know, saying hello is a two-way street. But I can be stubborn, too.) I did break my moratorium to shake his hand and say, “Congratulations,” after he won his 200th game. And he did say, “Thanks.” And that, to this day, is the extent of our contact over the past dozen years.
Having been on the end of a Smoltz grudge, I wasn’t surprised by the vitriol he hurled at Frank Wren after negotiations with the Braves broke down. (I’d have been surprised if he’d done anything else.) And for Smoltz to pile on regarding Glavine is simply another chapter in a lengthening tome.
Because that’s John Smoltz, who has apparently convinced himself the team that employed him for two decades, the team that essentially let him decide whether he wanted to start games or close them, was out to get him — and his little pal Tom, too. You might think he has point. I think he’s just being petty.
But I’ve got a history with Marmaduke. I’m the guy who dogged him out back in 1997. And oops, I did it again.
Rip-A-Hall-Of-Famer Friday: In case you missed it, here’s what I thought of Tom Glavine’s appearance on 790 the Zone this morning.
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337 comments Add your comment
MC
June 5th, 2009
9:09 am
Sounds like you got your wittle feelings hurt and have been stewing about it for 12 years.
Jason
June 5th, 2009
9:12 am
What the Braves did to Glavine was wrong. They signed him before the season for $1M, which is a lot to you and I, but one of the lowest salaries in baseball for a starting pitcher. Glavine busted his butt in the minors to get with the club. Then they drop him to get out of the $1M. Smoltz is right. This organization is rapidly losing its class. Will it all be gone when Bobby retires?
Mac
June 5th, 2009
9:12 am
I agree with you, Bradley, that Glavine was done. However, this is the same team that brought Phil Neikro back for one final start after his successful American League sojourn. It would have hurt nothing to run him out there once and prove he can or cannot get big league hitters out.
As for Smoltz? Oh yeah, he’s more Petty than King Richard.
Jimmy Gilmer
June 5th, 2009
9:12 am
Who cares what somebody playing for the Red Sox thinks anyway?
Smoltz Fan
June 5th, 2009
9:13 am
I think someone has already said it best…You’re an A$$!
Floyd
June 5th, 2009
9:13 am
Let’s face it, guys…there are a lot of baseball players out there who are quick to say “it’s a business” when it behooves them to do so. Say, when they leave their long-time club in the lurch and join a rival team for a few extra million. And I don’t hold that against them – fair is fair. Money talks, right?
But it occurs to me that an alarming number of players are prone to crying “foul” when the business shoe of baseball is squarely on the other foot. Like, for instance, when they’re held accountable for a poor performance or when a franchise makes a personnel decision that isn’t in the player’s favor.
I’ll always be a huge fan of both Glavine and Smoltz…but these guys want to have it both ways. Life doesn’t work that way and baseball doesn’t either.
jermaine's dye
June 5th, 2009
9:13 am
MB,
Did you have a similar relationship with Terry Forster?
Smoltz Fan
June 5th, 2009
9:14 am
And if anyone had the 1 day in the How long will it take Bradley to rip Smoltz in the pool….guess what, you’re a winner!
Mark Bradley
June 5th, 2009
9:14 am
No. Tub of Goo and I got along OK.
PMC
June 5th, 2009
9:15 am
Meh, this is much ado about nothing Mark. Stick a microphone in a guys face and ask his opinion and that’s what you should get.
Frank did handle it poorly. He did essentially sit him in a room after he worked for 4 months to rehab and say…. Tom we hope you do the right thing and retire… and Tom said…. no you can release me because I can still pitch. He couldn’t have handled it more poorly. Tom Glavine was retained for insurance purposes… it’s part of the buisness, but it’s still a lame way to treat a guy who has been an employee for 18 years… It is business, but no one has to like it and when you stick a mic in someones face why should they give you some fluffy nice comment when it’s not what they really think?
Why is a reporter chastising a guy who actually told him what he thinks?
Frank Wren spent the last day trying to justify all of this when he could have not resigned Glavine at all in the first place and Hanson could well have pitched out of spring training if they wanted him too. Medlin and Hanson were always better options. They strung Glavine along incase one of them failed. The reality is they just don’t think he’s worth a million+ dollars. That’s fine but it doesn’t mean Smoltz has to like it.
Michael Sousa
June 5th, 2009
9:15 am
Bradley, You are such a loser and a hater.
Who is stewing now?? Looks like you do a pretty decent job of harboring resentments as well Look in the mirror. Typical hypocritical critic.
Brian
June 5th, 2009
9:16 am
For the Braves to be successful in the future, they have to stop being the place where 40+ year old pitchers come to retire. Glavine and Smoltz both left Atlanta for more money, and its likely both cited the ‘business’ nature of the game when they did. It’s no different now — just business.
Andrew
June 5th, 2009
9:16 am
People, get a grip. Bradley didn’t say Smoltz sucked or that he didn’t mean a lot to the Braves and the city of Atlanta. He said that he can be a crybaby. I agree. Notice that Glavine hasn’t said anything to the media other than the statement released through his lawyer. I highly doubt that he appointed John as his spokesman, either. And months and years down the road, you won’t hear Tommy taking cheapshots from afar like Smoltz, either. That’s what professionalism is all about. I like Smoltz as much as anyone, but he flew to Boston on a jet like everyone else, not with his own set of angel’s wings.
Mac
June 5th, 2009
9:17 am
Watch Smolz go into the Hall of Fame as a Detroit Tiger now. Could he do that? I know he would, but can he?
The Real Gumby
June 5th, 2009
9:18 am
Another reason I like your columns is that you have better spellers here. That other AJC blog is full of misspelled words and the thoughts there do not run deep like the ones here. “Apropos”, for instance . . . you would never find apropos on the other blog. Imagine an AJC writer that doesn’t deify a Baves player or assign him a cute little nickname! Yes, Bradley, such is the stuff of Pulitzer prize winning journalism. Tell Luckovich there is a new sheriff in town. Better yet, draw him a picture. Keep up the good work!
Sorry, The Murf...
June 5th, 2009
9:20 am
…neither Smoltz nor Mark mean much to this city – both have performed well in their chosen fields, but, as others have said, Smoltz just needs to STFU since he chose to leave.
And, Atlanta baseball fans (of which I am not one, nor a fan of any major league baseball team) should not have had to endure the second round of Glavine in a Braves uniform – talk about who should have been treated better – it is the people who cheer for the Braves!
AJC
June 5th, 2009
9:20 am
You know darn good and well, that Smoltz, like myself went to Dictioary.com to look up apropos.
For all the others out there, that are IQ challenged like myself. Here ya go.
ap⋅ro⋅pos Show Spelled Pronunciation [ap-ruh-poh]
–adverb 1. fitting; at the right time; to the purpose; opportunely.
2. Obsolete. by the way.
–adjective 3. opportune; pertinent: apropos remarks.
—Idiom4. apropos of, with reference to; in respect or regard to: apropos of the preceding statement.
Bob
June 5th, 2009
9:23 am
Are you sure Smoltzie stopped talking to you because you ripped him, or that your columns are so embarrassing that he didn’t want any of his quotes on there?
Mark Bradley
June 5th, 2009
9:23 am
Thanks, RG. But Mike Luckovich has Pulitzers. Me, I’ve just got a few pullover sweaters.
Lochinvar54
June 5th, 2009
9:23 am
Good column, Mark. I don’t blog much, but this one bothers me. I remember reading an article on Smoltz a couple of years ago, talking about how baseball has been so good to him, that he has never had to “work” in his life. Now, from my perspective, after having served in the military for 26 years (with eight overseas), and having now taught school for 15 years, this is a little hard to take, as I was just caught up in all of the layoffs. I’d love to work just one year for the league minimum! Oh, and I’ve been a Brave fan since 1965, and prior to that, was an Atlanta Cracker fan.
AJC
June 5th, 2009
9:23 am
Err err I misspelled dictionary. You can see now that I wasn’t joking about my low IQ.
Sneds
June 5th, 2009
9:24 am
Mr. Bradley for Guvna!!!!!!
siskel_god
June 5th, 2009
9:24 am
Mark
I like most Braves fans love the teams of the 90’s I grew up watching those guys so there is a fondness that will always be there. However if those guys didn’t win I wouldn’t have liked them nearly as much, so the point is if your not winning I don’t really like you. The Braves owe me and the rest of the fans more than they owe Smoltz and Glavine, and here it is June and neither of these guys have pitched one inning in the bigs. The Braves made the right choice and for me Smoltz is leaving a bitter taste in my mouth by acting like a baby.
Paul W
June 5th, 2009
9:25 am
Smoltz forgets that he was paid MILLIONS of dollars for rehab and recovery time; he left Atlanta because he could get more money. He thinks loyalty is a one-way emotion, I suppose. I hope the current Braves realize that he wants the Braves to pay money to him and Glavine for sitting and watching instead of paying it to them or to teammates who can contribute.
I guess if you play a child’s game your whole life you run the risk of never growing up.
Dave
June 5th, 2009
9:26 am
I like MB, but I find this a little classless. I’m not so sure Smoltz is the one who gets his feelings easily hurt.
Jonny B
June 5th, 2009
9:27 am
Great column. I’ve been telling people for years that John Smoltz is a thumb-sucking cry-baby. Glavine may be whining somewhat over this whole thing, but at least he’s a professional, as he’s always been. Smoltz pitched some wars for the Braves and as a fan, I’ll always respect that. But he really needs to get over himself.
mike
June 5th, 2009
9:28 am
I will never understand why some of these people read your articles, Mark. They seem to read your stuff just to spite themselves.
I enjoy your writing. I think this piece shows a personal side of Smoltzie that not everyone sees.
And for the record; I will always appreciate what the great trio did for Atlanta in the 90’s. But it’s 2009. Let the rebuilding continue.
Joe Bltsfk
June 5th, 2009
9:29 am
I remember when a young Mark Bradley asked Braves’ manager Chuck Tanner about poor attendance at home games. Mr. Sunshine blamed the problem on road construction near and around Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. MB accepted the answer and never questioned the on-field product that went on to lose 100+ games that season. I wasn’t impressed with MB’s efforts then or now.
Mark Bradley
June 5th, 2009
9:30 am
Thanks, Mike.
db
June 5th, 2009
9:30 am
Smoltz has always been a great player for Atlanta. Not sure who remembers but he took less money, yes LESS money, to stay in Atlanta years ago when the Yankees were courting him. Can’t say the same for Glavine. If it were up to me, Smoltz would still be a Brave. We owe him that much.
Ted Striker
June 5th, 2009
9:30 am
Willy: 1) What Aaron said about Cox and Chipper was true, based on Aaron’s personal knowledge. What Smoltz said about Glavine and the Braves was the opinion of a (currently) overpaid minor league pitcher in a different organization in a different city who had nothing to do with the decision.
2) One phone call in forever is not actually “annual.” It’s one call during ALL the ages of time, from the era where dinosaurs walked the earth till gladiators fought in ancient Rome to the time we actually live in now.
3) If you knew Hank Aaron, you’d know the man simply doesn’t ‘whine.’ I’ve interacted with him in situations where less gracious people would have complained to the high heavens and he was cool as a cucumber.
4) I too dig the frequency of Mark’s writing. While you and I may disagree on the point of Aaron, it ain’t no big deal. I’d buy ya’ a drink but it’s hard to email a martini.
Nopigs21
June 5th, 2009
9:30 am
Thanks Mr. Bradley. I’ve been around Mr. Smoltz and he’s not the most likable guy at all and this situation doesn’t surprise me at all. I appreciate someone actually being honest about him and not always kissing his @$$ all the time.
Born2Buzz
June 5th, 2009
9:31 am
I didn’t count up all of the comments but it seemed pretty even in favor of MB or Smoltz.
A super competitive athlete of the highest caliber, which Smoltz and Glavine both are, always has a hard time coming to grips with the end of their careers (just ask Brett Favre). Was the release of Glavine a performance based decision? Yes…I think we can all agree that having either Hanson or Medlen in the rotation over Glavine was better for the the team. Was it a financial decision? Of course it was, that $1M pays half of McLouth’s salary this year. Was it handled properly by FW? Absolutely not. There has to be a better way to treat one of the icons of the Braves. I’m just not sure how you do it.
Besides, the Braves tried the old guy rotation last year and it burned them. I think Wren was secretly hoping both Glavine and Smoltz would have called it a career after their failed efforts last year so he didn’t have to deal with these PR headaches. And they really should have so they could have gone into the HOF the same year with Maddux.
TC
June 5th, 2009
9:32 am
Bradley, how are YOU any better? You’ve chosen to take a tiny comment from a FORMER Brave that you have obviously had problems with and use that as your platform for airing your past problems with that individual? You finally got your chance to once again stick it to him, huh Mark? Congratulations.
AJC
June 5th, 2009
9:32 am
“The next time I heard of a sports psychiatrist was in 1991. Atlanta Braves’ pitcher John Smoltz would require his doctor to be seated behind home plate, where Smoltz could see him every pitch. The story was Smoltz couldn’t pitch unless he had a visual on his human security blanket. It worked; he helped pitch the Braves into several World Series during the ’90s and is a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame.”
Hey Braves fans, I’m for whatever works…But you gotta admit that our boy Smoltz is very fragile emotionally, and pretty much of a creepy weirdo.
Mike Jones
June 5th, 2009
9:33 am
Buuuuuuuuuuuuurnn…
Johnny Red Balls
June 5th, 2009
9:34 am
Bradley – Great column! So nice to read an original sports column. Weren’t you concerned your lack of communication with Smoltz would affect your ability to do your job? He was a Hall of Fame pitcher with the team you covered, but you only had limited access?
the real OLD GOLD
June 5th, 2009
9:34 am
Smoltzy has earned the right to say whatever he wants about the team he gave so much success to, and was a devoted member of when the big bucks came calling. Glavin, a little less due to his traitorous years with the Mets, but he was back in the fold and bottom line, they wasted his time.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 5th, 2009
9:35 am
Clearly Bradley has a quota to fill in terms of print columns and blog postings as this one was petty and unnecessary. Your history with Smoltz is irrelevant and inconsequential. Why don’t you do what most sportswriters do and keep your grudge to yourself until its time to cast a Hall of Fame ballot in which case (if you get to vote) you would have your chance to leave him off and exact your revenge.
While baseball is a business and the leaders can do whatever they want, Glavine did not need or warrant being treated the way he was and Smoltz is simply being a friend by saying what he said. If the Braves changed their minds and decided to move on without Glavine despite him doing everything they contractually mandated, that’s fine and that’s all they needed to say. But to throw things out there about his performance during his minor league rehabs being insufficient or his speed on the radar gun was too low and that’s why they decided not to bring him to the majors—that is baloney and anyone reading that with an ounce of sense knows it. At that point, it became Wren and company trying to cover their behinds from a p.r. standpoint. Wren and company looked stupid and petty—-just like Bradley does for writing this posting.
Legend of Len Barker
June 5th, 2009
9:36 am
I seem to remember an incident around 1991 or 1992 when either Lemke wanted Smoltz’s number or vice-versa. Either way, it didn’t happen and Smoltzie went bananas.
John Smoltz’s ranting over giving the team a discount always reflected poorly in my mind. Just how much money do you need to live? Unless Mr. Smoltz lived like Joe Louis, I would think anything over $1 would be enough to keep him going.
I like Tom Glavine. I didn’t like that he abandoned us for a lousy two million, but understand that New York was closer to Massachusetts. I think Frank Wren and others were hoping that Glavine would retire on his own so they didn’t have to make a decision. If you love the game as much as he does, it has to be difficult to accept that the tank is empty. But sometimes animals and athletes have to be put down to ease your and their suffering.
AJC, Please Fire Mark Bradley
June 5th, 2009
9:37 am
Mark,
Why is it that after I read one of your articles, I feel dumber having done so? Maybe it’s because your asinine comments don’t resonate with true Braves fans. But enough about you Mark, let’s discuss this article. Tom Glavine and John Smoltz are class acts. However, you sir, are an asshole. In my opinion, this fact precludes you from making judgment calls about individuals that brought this town its only world championship. Right move or not, this move was handled with a complete lack of sensitivity by the Braves. Tom Glavine won 2 Cy Young awards for this team and was essential to the ‘95 Championship. The Braves should have handled this with more class. As a fan, I’m disappointed in the front office (McClouth trade excluded).
NCBravesFan
June 5th, 2009
9:37 am
I think you guys who are advocating “the farewell start” approach to saying goodbye to Glav are missing the point. The Braves think he’s done and Glavine thinks he is not.
Neikro WAS DONE. Apples and oranges.
The farewell start would not have happened in this case.
AWayBackFan
June 5th, 2009
9:38 am
I think in 1993 when the baseball strike happened, Tom Glavine said it was just business. Well, I guess you can say this was just business too.
Phil McCrotch
June 5th, 2009
9:38 am
Old Fart says-Tom hasn’t blasted anyone … yet. I would be surprised if he did. He was always a class act.
If you were being sarcastic then I say”funny comment”
If not then I give you one line of what Glavine said during the strike:
“The fans don’t pay me, television does.”
Class act I think not.
Good riddance to both Smoltz and Glav. Thanks for the memories d bags!
Steve
June 5th, 2009
9:39 am
Now that all the golden boys are gone, the Braves can finally move on. For all their wins the Braves still only had one WS championship. Now the Braves need to retire Cox, and bring in a new batting coach.
TC
June 5th, 2009
9:39 am
I’d like to say more to you, Bradley but I’ll wait until you quit this sorry paper, move to Cheyenne to write for the Cheyenne Daily News and then write on your successor’s blogs, how much I disagree with you.
Oh Smoltzie where art thou??
June 5th, 2009
9:39 am
Quite honestly Smoltz has always been my favorite Brave and I have to admit there is some validity to his anger towards the team. They could have handled things differently. I am not saying the team is wrong for going with the youth movement and working away from the old work horses of the past. I mean they have to retire some time!
However…Smoltz was upset because the Braves didn’t offer him what he thought he was worth so he left. That I don’t have a problem with…it happens all the time in MLB. But the way they treated Glavine is what I take issue with. I mean he busted his hump to get rehabbed and was finally ready according to himself. And they just cut him. To me that just isn’t right and that is not the way you treat a hall of fame legend. Especially one that is just an all around great guy.
rotomeister
June 5th, 2009
9:41 am
It would seem that Smoltz and Glavine would laud the decision since they are experts on using their freedom to make baseball business decisions that are in their own best interest: Glavine to NY; Smoltz to Boston. They are using a double standard in their criticism of Wren.
The Real Gumby
June 5th, 2009
9:42 am
Smoltz owned the town for a time. Now, he is in beantown. He should enjoy the beans and focus his energies there.
And now, Francoeur . . . Chipper said Schafer had a hole in his game- by that definition what would Francoeur have? And why hasn’t Chipper pointed it out? The last at-bat with the bases loaded pretty much tells the Francoeur story. Wild, undisciplined and out-smarted again and again by the pitcher. If the pitcher works to beat the batter, shouldn’t the batter work to beat the pitcher? Matching wits is not Frenchy’s strong suit. That suit is at the cleaners.
blueway
June 5th, 2009
9:44 am
totally agree with you MB. i will never be able to understand why smoltx is held in such high regard off the field likt he is. he is a moron (he once said about gay marriage, “what’s next – people wanting to marry a goat?” he uses incorrect grammer all the time when he speaks yet people seem to think he is some insightful genius. i wish his name would come up in these steriod talks.