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
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 5th, 2009
10:26 am
Mark, you may set a new record for comments on this one.
Disappointed Braves Fan
June 5th, 2009
10:27 am
After reading some of these posts I am truly ashamed to be in the company of some of you so-called Braves fans. John Smoltz and Tom Glavine are Braves legends and they deserve some degree of respect from their fans. Yes, they took more money to go elsewhere, but which of you would not take more money if you’ve been treated poorly by your boss. Which of you haven’t bitched about a former workplace? The Braves organization complained in the off season that players used Atlanta as a bargaining chip or a stepping stone to get better deals. I believe the Braves brought this on themselves with their shoddy treatment of their players. I think it’s also, in part, due to the fans. Seriously people, a city the size of Atlanta that isn’t selling out all or even most of their games leads people to question the devotion of the fans. Who would want to play in front of disinterested fans when they have a chance to play in front of a packed house? Yes, the risks of going to Boston were great because they are more fanatical about baseball, but the rewards seem to be greater as well. Why would you play in front of a group of people that don’t care until you’re gone? Then it’s not, thanks for your years of hard work, they’re greatly appreciated. No, it’s screw you, I hope your arm falls off, shut your mouth you don’t count any more.
I liken this to Michael Adams sorry treatment of Vince Dooley. The only difference is this time Smoltzie isn’t keeping quiet about the poor treatment he received. Mark Bradley, I didn’t know a blog written by someone other than Terrence Moore could make me so angry, but congratulations your childish strike on a Braves icon means there’s now two AJC bloggers I won’t read.
Pete
June 5th, 2009
10:27 am
This article is about Mark Bradley or should I say MB?
You aren’t the story Mark and you never will be. Keep writing stories but don’t write about Mark Bradley, he isn’t an athlete.
yogi2
June 5th, 2009
10:27 am
SMOLTZ and GLAVINE were great Pitchers. THey were paid as such (ZILLIONS) Frank Wren did the right thing. Both are washed up The braves need pitching now and in the future. Pitchers like Hanson and Medlin need to pitch now
mj
June 5th, 2009
10:27 am
The Braves probably could have sat down with Glavine and stated the known. Hey this is our direction based on your rehab and we would love to send you out the proper way. However, active roster over a period of time is out of the cards because of our commitment is going to be Hanson in our rotation. Can we have your support with this including the exemption of the million active roster bonus? I would guess based on past Glavine antics, that he said no. Just a guess. The Braves aren’t classless and in no way did they mean to dishonor Glavine. My guess, just as with Smoltz this late in their career, its the ole dollar.
TDWII
June 5th, 2009
10:28 am
I get a kick out of the fact that for 12 seasons, you pretty much alienated yourself from the figure that became the identity of the Braves over a column and now that he’s not longer around to intimidate you, you can talk tough (like you did on Cleveland radio ). So while other outlets were able to have an open communication line with not only a major figure in Braves history, but one I thought to be frank and open with his organizational assessments, you at least could say ‘good game’. Wonderful way to do your job…why don’t you compare the ‘95 Braves to the ‘27 Yankees while the Series is ongoing again.
I only shudder at the number of other athletes you are improperly covering due to your need to also be stubborn.
Jakester
June 5th, 2009
10:29 am
I personally know Smoltz, and he is an ASS. No way around it. He treated his exwife like shiot, and looks at the working class as inferior. Damn good pitcher though. As for Glavine, nice guy, but he made his bed. Shouldn’t have left the Braves in the first place, especially to our main rivalry. He doesn’t deserve to be treated any differently that any other player.
unweaned lil pup
June 5th, 2009
10:29 am
Well said MB …. wah wah …. your garage is casting a shadow
over my pool … wah
TUPAC EARNHART JR.
June 5th, 2009
10:29 am
Look I loved both these pitchers…HOWEVER, BOTH LEFT THE BRAVES, GLAVINE 1ST…MY OPINION TRAITOR! THEN SMOLTZ, TRAITOR! AND AS FOR SMOLTZ, NOT MUCH INTESTINAL FORTITUDE…..YALL REMEMBER THE TIME THE RUNNER OBVIOUSLY PLOWED OVER OUR CATCHER (SADLY I CANT EVEN REMEMBER WHO IT WAS, BUT, THE CATCHER WAS NEVER THE SAME….(I BELIEVE IT WAS AGAINST THE ANGELS TOO….SMOLTZ ON THE MOUND……PAYBACK TIME RIGHT? NOPE! NOT OLE SMOLTZ, HE SAID HE THOUGT IT WAS A GOOD PLAY…….MY GOODNESS….LOST ALOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM THEN…..YALL HELP OLE TUPAUC REMEMBER WHO THE PLAYERS WERE THAT WERE INVOLVED…….HAPPY FRIDAY
BigPapaT18
June 5th, 2009
10:30 am
Just a thought. We had a difficult time signing veteran free agents this offseason. Because of the way the Smaoltz and Glavine situations were handled, I predict that more veteran free agents are going to be reluctant to sign with the Braves.
AGTFan
June 5th, 2009
10:31 am
Way to go Mark. you’re now the favorite columnist of the losers and whiners who claim to be fans but are jealous of the players. When the Braves treat Chipper like dirt in a couple of years, these losers will take whoever the GM at the time’s side. And then a few years later when they treat McCann like trash, it’ll be McCann’s fault. Some people say Atlanta fans are the worst. You can see why reading your blog.
BigPapaT18
June 5th, 2009
10:31 am
Sorry (sp) SMOLTZ
Ryan
June 5th, 2009
10:32 am
Blueway? What the **** does Smoltz’s opinion of gay marriage have to do with anything? Polls show majority of americans agree with him anyway. You disgust me.
Mike
June 5th, 2009
10:32 am
Glavine to Braves in 2002, “baseball is a business, they offered more.” Smoltz to Braves in 2009, “baseball is a business, they offered more.” Hampton to Braves in 2008, “baseball is a business, they offered more.”
Did anyone hear Braves management complain (publicly) about the millions they threw away on aging pitchers on the DL? Any thank you — from Hampton in particular?
When players leave it’s always, “baseball is a business.” When the team ditches them they’re “treated badly”.
I suspect Glavine will handle this better than Smoltz or Hampton in the long run. Deep down he has more class.
Smoltz can officially shut his yap from here on out as far as I’m concerned. I’d love to see the Braves tag him for a dozen runs to start his season.
TC
June 5th, 2009
10:32 am
It might be the minority opinion here but it’s things such as this that make me love Smoltzy even more. He’s good for baseball. He does not always say what’s popular and he has a personality unlike the bland robots the Braves usually employ (See Chipper, Maddox and the list goes on). Is that what we really want as fans? I don’t know about any of you but it drives me crazy to hear athletes thanking God and having their “anything to help the ballclub” speeches! FOr the love of God, have an opinion and voice it!
Having said all that, I cannot wait to see Smoltzy in a Sox uni striking out the side over and over when they come to Turner this month! GO SOX!
Atlanta Dead Sox
June 5th, 2009
10:33 am
How quickly we forget… Do we really expect that a friend wouldn’t speak up if we were getting shafted by the very organization that brought us into the game? John Smoltz is a baseball player, he isn’t a wordsmith sitting in a room pretending what it’s like to be a major league pitcher. He saw something similar when he was looked over only to land in Boston. Fact is, Who knows what the Wren and the Braves told Tommy at the start of the season, but it was enough to make him work to get to another start as a Brave. And now, that won’t happen and yet again we have an idiot GM who thinks that we won’t notice that he had to shaft a hero to make his sh1tty team work. Another Atlanta great has a reason to never want to have anything to do with this organization. Chipper is next, Bobby Cox has a few more years left and as soon as Larry’s contract is up. They’ll deal him away to the Padres or another bottom feeding National League team where they don’t have to pay the man who was the ONLY run production in the last 3 years of division titles. What message are you sending to our franchise guys? Hey we’ll pay you for now, use you up, and dump you onto whomever will take you when we’re finished. Bottom line, I’m glad John spoke up. What they did to Tommy is a shame and yet another reason why this team will get worse before it gets any better. And as far as wishing his name comes up in steroid talks? Go to hell buddy, blueway is another one of these losers who think they know the game. Gay marriage?? He’s a pitcher, who cares what he thinks about gay marriage? You and your boyfriend can get married one day and it won’t matter what John Smoltz thinks about it. Until then I’d like to hear what the HOF pitcher thinks about what his old organization did to a friend and another HOF pitcher. This is why you have more Sox/Cubs jerseys in the stands than Braves. How far we have fallen…..
Dr. Freud
June 5th, 2009
10:33 am
Mr. Bradley,
Does it make you feel well-endowed to use your keyboard to belittle a beloved Atlanta icon who is not in the room with you and cannot confront you over your childish comments?
Atl Born Atl Bred
June 5th, 2009
10:33 am
Mr. Bradley you like so many other Atlantans obviously has forgot how dismal the Braves were prior to Smoltz and Glavine arrival. The teams and pitching staff were horrible. My point is it’s very rare to have hall of fame pitchers in your rotation for 10 plus years. Sure when they departed they were not dominant anymore but their body of work warranted a better exit.
Poorbrave
June 5th, 2009
10:34 am
Ever dog has his day,Today is Mark’s. There’s always two side to every story. Now lets see who’s next?
Mark Bradley
June 5th, 2009
10:34 am
Folks, I appreciate every comment on here, even the ones that tweak me. But I have to say P. Rose’s song styling on Page 2 is an all-timer. Kudos, PR.
Jakester
June 5th, 2009
10:35 am
One other thing….Glavine is a union thug. He would sell out is first born to appease the MLB union.
Ryan
June 5th, 2009
10:37 am
Tupac you’re referring to Darin Erstad plowing over Johnny Estrada. After he got hurt is when they called up Brian. There was also the Greg Olson Barry Larkin incident several years ago.
Kenny
June 5th, 2009
10:37 am
Hey Tom……….The Mets are still a major league organization. Have your agent give them a ring…..maybe they’ll give you a look, now that your rehab is in order. Or better yet….have JS put-in a good word for you to the Red Sox’s organization. Maye they have a extra 4 million to throw at you. Good Luck.
Melanie
June 5th, 2009
10:39 am
Atlanta will always miss John Smoltz and Tom Glavine.
Will Mark Bradley ever be missed by this city?
Uh,….. NOPE!
Since it was before Roe v. Wade in 1973, your mother should have just used a wire coat hanger on your, Mark Bradley.
Dr.R
June 5th, 2009
10:39 am
Ballplayers don’t get it, at least while they’re still playing. The team doesn’t owe THEM loyalty, it owes it to the fans. Their responsibility is to put a winning team on the field every day, every year. And if the longtime icon of the franchise can’t get it done any more, too bad. That’s the way it works for the rest of us in the working world, too, by the way. Smoltz has always been Mr. Sensitive and needs to get over himself. The Braves were great with those guys, but now they’re better off without both of them. You fans can whine about loyalty all you want but I want a team that has a chance to win today, not 10 years ago.
GT
June 5th, 2009
10:39 am
I think Bradley gets better with time or I am getting worse, he makes perfect sense more often than not. A lot of players have passed through this team roster during those 14 pennants. I think that has been the amazing story, no one team did all that winning it was several, but the management stayed the same. Before this management I wouldn’t have recognized a player in a bar and I had season tickets. Their names were not known in Atlanta more less around the league. Not only was the team a success I would say the organization is one of the best run and most professional sports teams in this country not just baseball but of all sports. This team is about today always has been. You got players in the farm system, the pitcher coming up, Hanson, is the number one prospect in all baseball. We needed a center fielder not a warm and fizzy moment remembering the past. The guy says he went through three rehabs like it did it voluntary and never mentions the team paid him a million dollars to never produce. Now Glavine want to forget about winning and it is all about Glavine, the same Glavine that was washed out in NY and came running home only when no one else wanted the 43 year old. The Braves gave him a chance which will be a lot more than he will receive from anyone else, what they did for the fans is make a hard decision and put winning over a immature has been. As for Smoltz now that he is in Boston he doesn’t have the Braves covering his back when he makes these comments. We are not living in the past we are about winning today.
Atlanta Dead Sox
June 5th, 2009
10:40 am
Brutal Mel, simply brutal.
Melanie
June 5th, 2009
10:40 am
Atlanta will always miss John Smoltz and Tom Glavine.
Will Mark Bradley ever be missed by this city?
Uh,….. NOPE!
Since it was before Roe v. Wade in 1973, your mother should have just used a wire coat hanger on your waste-of-carbon fetus, Mark Bradley.
TC
June 5th, 2009
10:41 am
Quite frankly I’m happy to see some passion from Braves fans. It’s about time. From what I have seen there’s not enough! There should be more voices that heard by this ownership group before they run this organization into the ground. Come off the hip with some $$$ so we can be competitive again!
It’s irritating the crap out of me that this chicken sh– blog is getting this much activity for being a piece about the release of Glavine and other things, BRaves and not for actual intent of which it was written. Oh well, take these numbers to your editor Bradley and maybe you’ll get a raise.
best1andonly
June 5th, 2009
10:42 am
Why do we take professional athletes seriously? Companies are laying off valuable employees daily, yet these grossly overpaid mercenaries think they are entitled to some sort of company and fan loyalty. We should require athletes work a real job for two years prior to going pro. Having a real life experience instead of the fantasy world they live in might help them become the heroes little kids think they are; like the rest of us already are.
bill
June 5th, 2009
10:42 am
Mark — Excellent column! What I can’t figure out is why anyone would find anything Smoltz has to say as being newsworthy! Regardless of what he did for this organization in the PAST, and I emphasize past, he is one of the most selfish athletes ever to put on a Braves uniform.
Atlanta Dead Sox
June 5th, 2009
10:42 am
God I hope not, any moron with an opinion could have written that article.
Justafan
June 5th, 2009
10:44 am
Melanie…you are sick! You need help.
BigPapaT18
June 5th, 2009
10:44 am
Well said Dead Sox.
Dan Brennan
June 5th, 2009
10:45 am
Smoltz, Glavine..2 pitchers that served Atlanta well and earned their paychecks..that’s right Paychecks..what a employer pays you to perform up to the standards of your job description. Smolyz was offered a contract extension but like Glavine, went with the higher bidder. That is their right. But please back off the “whoa is me crap”. When Glavine left for the MEts he said it wasn’t about the money. PLEEEAASEE. If he had simply stated it was all would be good. Now that the Braves might or might not have wanted to pay him the Million bucks, if I were the BRaves I would say “its not about the money”. Payback is hell huh Tommy. As for you John, you’ve been paid pretty darn well yourself for doing your job (once every 4-5 day)now just move on and shut up. Whining like you both do is going to put in the same league as Brett Favre, legends who didn;t know how to be respectful and grateful for all that has been given them.
Mark, kuddos from a gratefully employed non whining non millionaire!!
Gen Neyland
June 5th, 2009
10:45 am
Is Smoltz not to be allowed an opportunity to vent his opinion toward the Braves organization..? One can acccept it or refute it. That is YOUR choice. I agree with the Glavine move. How it was handled isn’t my concern. Options were given and options were taken. Done deal. It’s time to play 1990 all over again. Mix in some youth with some veterans and play for tomorrow. Glavine knows this as he was a part of the good things that came from those moves of the 1990’s. All said and done, Glavine has my respect as a ball player and so does Smoltz…
Reno
June 5th, 2009
10:45 am
Mr. Bradley,
Your insight into Mr. Smoltz’ “personality” would appear to be quite accurate. He has time and time again in his public life, and in his private life, as well (judging from the scattered details that eventually become “public” – eg. his divorce dealings, his protracted squabble with a neighbor over the height of a fence, his angry dispute with the Christian school he originally help found and then his subsequent founding of a second school) demonstrated a very, very “thin skin.” I think that the DSM III might classify his behavior as evidence of a “persecution complex.” We all have our “bad days.” We all do and say things that we later regret. To admit this to ourselves and others is a mark of “sanity,” as much as it is of anything else. I am aware of no public examples of Mr. Schmoltz ever making such an admission in any situation or set of circumstances. Anecdotally, I personally attended a fundraiser some years ago at which Mr. Smoltz was the featured speaker. While everyone in attendance, I am sure, was anxious to be entertained by upbeat and engaging tales of “The Show” from a real life future “Hall of Famer,” or even with the details of how his “fungally-challenged” fingernail was coming along, Smoltz droned on and on about how he had been mistreated by the local sports media. I don’t recall if he specifically mentioned you, Mr. Bradley, but I do remember that Jeff Hullinger was in attendance as a guest and that he, Hullinger, was dutifully “called out” by Smoltz. Smoltz went on to entertain the audience with stories of how “people” over on St. Simons Island were “saying awful, untrue things” about his “then”-wife. Among other rants, he went on to disparage Jack Lewellen (sp?), the “sports pscychology” guy who had worked with Smoltz early in his Braves tenure, concluding with the angry statement, “Jack Lewellen didn’t make John Smoltz, John Smoltz made John Smoltz.” Needless to say, the audience in general was made quite uncomfortable by this hour-plus childish “carrying-on,” and eventually one of the organizers was merciful enough to find some excuse to “get out the hook.”
Don’t get me wrong. Like you, I admire John Smoltz’ accomplishments as a baseball player. The term, “amazing,” doesn’t even come close to justly describing his career accomplishments. Like so many here in Atlanta, I am sincerely grateful to him for all that he has contributed to the well-being of our fair city, both on and off the field. Bravo, John Smoltz! Bravo! Further, I respect Mr. Smoltz as a person, and I believe that his “heart” is clearly “in the right place.” Like you, however, I am seriously concerned in regards to the “whereabouts” of Mr. Smoltz’ “head.” Most assuredly, if Mr. Smoltz persists on in his pattern of “looking for fights and personal slights,” he will certainly find them; indeed more of them than he bargained for or that he can handle in one lifetime!
Reno
Braves Fan NC
June 5th, 2009
10:46 am
I have been a die hard Braves fan all my life, and I have respect for what Smoltz and Glavine have done for the Braves. The Braves have given both the benefit of the doubt for years, and I am behind the move. Smoltz can you actually still pitch a game at this point? I have not seen one all year. Good for Boston. As far as I am concerned Glavine is in the same boat. I do not see anyone beating the door down to sign him. Do you?
Atlanta Dead Sox
June 5th, 2009
10:46 am
Fair-weather Fans with short-term memory loss, that’s why we get jerked around when Wren tries to make deals to get ball players. No one takes him seriously or Mark “I’ll lose my job to bloggers” Bradley
Smoltz & Glavine Fan
June 5th, 2009
10:47 am
RE:
Jakester
June 5th, 2009
10:35 am
One other thing….Glavine is a union thug. He would sell out is first born to appease the MLB union.
——————————————————–
Is the self-rigtheous, arrogant and condescending hypocrite known as “Mark Bradley” going to delete JAKESTER’s comment for using the word ” THUG ” like he does with everyone else’s ?
Bradley = Buffoon
fieldofdreams
June 5th, 2009
10:47 am
Letter to John Smoltz: Braves fan still love you. Don’t risk dashing our good-will, however, by lobbing pot-shots at us from Fenway.Both you and Glavine did extremely well by the Braves last year, while contributing nothing to our club. When your mid-life crisis is over, however, we want you back as part of this organization. I’d be thrilled to see you as our Skipper, Chipper as the Batting Coach, and Mad-dog as the Pitching Coach. If Liberty can figure that out, it’s going to be the first time in history that fans came to a ballpark to see the coaches, as much as the players. See you at The Ted.
Gen Neyland
June 5th, 2009
10:49 am
…and Grasshopper, rest in peace.
Hamad Meander
June 5th, 2009
10:49 am
Melanie – you can criticize Mark’s column and you can praise Smoltz and Glavine, but your comments suggesting that Mark should have been aborted are inappropriate, sick, and stupid. Please do not post here again.
TC
June 5th, 2009
10:49 am
A.D.S.
“I’ll lose my job to bloggers”. I don’t use this often but I “LOL’ed” at that. Exactly what I was thinking. How are any (well, most) responses here any worse than the piece he wrote?
I gotta go, my phone’s ringing and it’s the AJC!
lagnamor
June 5th, 2009
10:50 am
Time now to finish the job and Fire Bobby Cox.
GT Falcon
June 5th, 2009
10:50 am
MB,
You are by far my favorite AJC writer. I agree with every word you said. This is a business and of all people smoltz should know. He did leave the braves over a few million dollars so he has no room to talk.
Atlanta Dead Sox
June 5th, 2009
10:50 am
Respect, anyone? Who thinks these guys would actually come back to work with these clowns? You talk about egos? What about the one running the team from his office? Does Bobby even speak up anymore or do they simply cage him after the games?
Atlanta Dead Sox
June 5th, 2009
10:53 am
Much love to TC and BigPapa, and we will all miss the grasshopper
Brown-Eyed Girl!
June 5th, 2009
10:57 am
For those of you who choose to bash MB over his article, I offer this tidbit of information. No one is disputing the phenominal careers that both Glavine and Smoltz have had. During the 90’s, they along with Maddox brought more than a little excitement to our summers. Everyone didn’t always like the Braves and the attendance at the games were evidence. Growing up in Macon, I saw all of the empty seats and even got to pick amongst those seats one summer they played a double header against the Padres in the late 70s (by the way, I was overzealous. I sat in Ted Turner’s seats for a little while before security came and escorted me out. They were so bad, HE wasn’t even there!LOL) I digress. These guys helped turn this team around along with an exception farm system and a very talented GM that seemed to never make a mistake.
Tom Glavine chose to leave and go, of all places, to the Mets. The Braves didn’t roll up the Brinks truck to him, but they offered him a respectable contract…given his age. They also let him know that he would always have a job with the organization when his career ended. He left for the money. Where was his loyalty? Smoltzie left for the same reason. Coming off off season surgery, he expected a contract that would be given to someone half his age with no guarantee that he would even be able to pitch. I am inclined to believe that the team was going to do the same for him that they offered Glavine. He bolted for Boston who is paying him now and don’t even know when he will pitch or if he will be able to pitch this season. I personally think that is ridiculous! If my back is bad, I really don’t think I will get many jobs in construction.
When its all said and done, I think these guys, more than the organization, made “business” decisions. Releasing Glavine was just plain using good sense. The man has had elbow and shoulder surgery in less than a two year period. It’s June. If the team is going to make a run, we’ve gotta get people in here that can contribute NOW!
We will always have the 90’s, but this is 2009 and the Braves need to build for now and the future!
Bob Horner
June 5th, 2009
10:57 am
Ha ha ha – Bradley, you crack me up! You’re kind of right about Smoltz though. We loved the guy, but he tends to talk too much to the media about his opinions. Pipe down, bearded icon – we’re 5 games out with a young STUD in the wings; like it or not, Tommy Hanson is going to help us win more games that Tommy Glavine. It could’ve been handled a little better, but just because he’s Tom Glavine doesn’t mean he should be guaranteed a spot on the roster if his fastball is 80mph.
Cutting him will allow him to sign with another team that needs a veteran prescence on the mound. He’ll be okay, and so will the Braves after these recent GREAT moves by Frank Wren.
Rub some dirt on it, and move on. GO BRAVES!