Tom Glavine speaks and does himself a disservice
“The last thing I want to do was come in here and sound like a bitter athlete,” Tom Glavine said on 790 The Zone this morning.
Call that a swing and a miss.
My favorite Brave ever went on the radio (link requires registration) and did himself a massive disservice. He sounded like a bitter athlete. He called the Braves liars. He called them cheap. He said he’d been “misled and mistreated to a certain extent.”
And also this: “It could have been handled a whole lot better … This organization sometimes boxes itself in. They don’t ever take into account [that some] guys deserve to be treated a little bit differently.”
Tom Glavine was treated differently. He was handed a million dollars coming off shoulder surgery at the ancient age of 43. No other team would have given him a job — or a dime — without first seeing if he could pitch. The Braves gave him a million dollars. Then they took a long look and decided he couldn’t.
And now he’s mad. He’s mad because he had to drive (his estimation) “an hour and a half” to pitch in Rome on Tuesday. He’s mad because he worked hard to get into shape only to be told he wasn’t good enough to make the Braves’ 25-man roster. Had he been told, Glavine said, he was going to have to audition for a place on the team, he wouldn’t have signed the contract.
Loading ...So there it is: If he was going to try and make a comeback, Tom Glavine wanted a guaranteed roster spot. At age 43. After arm surgery.
Folks, this is not college. Athletes — even great athletes, which Glavine indisputably is — don’t get tenure. There comes a time when every athlete must realize he’s no longer the guy he was at 25 or 35 and step aside. And too many of them simply don’t grasp that. Too many of them walk away blaming somebody else for the inexorable march of time.
Glavine said on 790 he probably wouldn’t show up at Turner Field to honor Greg Maddux in July. Because he’s mad. But you know what else made him mad? That the lying, penny-pinching Braves didn’t offer him a job as a pitching consultant or something. Glavine is so mad he wants to have it both ways — or, more precisely, all his way.
But he’ll get over it. Guys invariably do. He’ll step back and realize he’s no longer a big-league pitcher, and the Braves will call and say, “We’re putting up a statue of you — will you come for the unveiling?” and he’ll say, “Yeah, sure.” And he’ll show up and smile and forget he ever called the Braves liars and cheapskates and he’ll join the broadcast team and forget how mad he felt in June 2009.
Rip-A-Hall-Of-Famer Friday: In case you missed it, here’s what I thought of John Smoltz’s criticism of the Braves for releasing Glavine.
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545 comments Add your comment
tip
June 5th, 2009
4:41 pm
I can’t believe how many people are agreeing with Glavine. He did what was best for him and joined the Mets 5 years ago. Fine, I do not begrudge that action. However, I do have a problem with him taking pot shots at the organization through the media. How exactly did they do him worng. They gave him a million dollars and time to come back from surgery. I sure wish I had an employer that nice. So, it was abvious weeks ago that he was not going to fit in to the rotation. Regardless of what everyone thinks, our pitching has been terrific. With Medlin coming through and Hanson waiting for a call up I wondered how they were going to handle this situation. You guys weren’t in the room with Glavine and the team. You don’t know just what they may have offered him. He sounds like a bitter, spoiled athlete. He wants to be treated differently. You can’t runa TEAM and treat individuals differently. He should know that! I was one of the few that considered it classless when fans booed him on his return to the Ted when with the Mets. I thought that he deserved much better from the fans and the city. However, in this case he is in the worng 100%. John Smoltz was also in the wrong completely. These guys want us to waste another year and lose by signing them when their risk factor is too high. If they were true to the organization then they would have done whatever it took to stay and help out. I’m sorry, but I refuse to feel sorry for earning millions while not perfroming for the team. These guys are spoiled and have played so long that they have forgotten that it’s about the TEAM and about winning with the TEAM. I’m sure I’ll get over my anger some day but as of today I hope they don’t put up any statues for Glavine. His actions in the end don’t merrit it.
Mitch
June 5th, 2009
4:41 pm
Mark, when Glavine left for the Mets in 2002, I was furious, even more so when I read John Scherholtz book, Built To Win, in which John described how he offered Tom a two year, 10 mil a year deal. Yes, the Mets gave him an extra year, and a million more a year, but, the Braves were coming off eleven straight division titles, and the Mets off a last place finish in 2002. I thought to myself: “Glavine is greedy”, and, I’ll admit, I loved when the Braves used to regularly kick his butt, especially in his first years with New York, as we were winning division titles, and the Mets were bad.
2009 is a different situation. While the Braves didnt “owe” Tom, an opportunity to pitch in a major league game, such would have been appro-po, and proper, even for one game, just so the fans could say goodbye. Jo-Jo Reyes has been awful, KK hasnt been good, and last year, the Braves kept Chuck James in the major leagues for a long time, and watched him get his brains beat in start after start. I went to see the Braves in Philly last May, and watched James get rocked, for three or four homers, in about four innings.
One thing I do think that would be totally wrong, is if Tom didnt show up to Greg’s ceremony in July. That day is about Greg Maddux, Hall of Famer pitcher, who went 194-88 for the Braves, and who pitched on a team with Tom, that won a championship. In my mind, it would be a slap in the face to Greg, if Tom didnt show up to that.
I’m not sure how I would feel, if I had been with a team for eighteen years, and was headed to the Hall of Fame, and then was released like this, without being given a chance to pitch against major league hitters. I was very critical of Tom with his union stance in 1994, and when he went to the Mets, but with this, I think the Braves made a misstep. I know some dont agree, but this is just how I see it.
Mitch
Paul From Milton
June 5th, 2009
4:43 pm
I have yet to hear either Smoltz or Glavine express any graditude towards the Braves organization for all they have done for them and for all the money that they paid them. Instead, when the money pipeline dries up they lash out at the Braves and complain about the way they were treated. It is the ultimate example of an “entitlement” mentality. It is disgusting, classless, shameful and disgusting again.
tip
June 5th, 2009
4:46 pm
I’m also tired of people begrudging Kawakami. He has looked quite good his last two starts. It takes time to adjust. I beleive he will be a solid pitcher for our organization.
Paul From Milton
June 5th, 2009
4:48 pm
I read that the reason the Braves want Penny is that the OBP against Kawakami soars after 45 pitches. The Braves probably believe he would be more effective coming out of the bullpen.
Braves Management
June 5th, 2009
4:52 pm
Dear Tom,
Proves us wrong. Sign the first available contract offered to you and pitch.
If you don’t receive a contract, donate your services to another team and pitch.
Prove to the world that our personnel organization is comprised of raving lunatics.
woogidy
June 5th, 2009
4:52 pm
hey DOB, you on twitter?
woogidy
June 5th, 2009
4:53 pm
oops wrong blog. Sorry Mark.
Tom Glavine
June 5th, 2009
4:56 pm
Dear Fans,
I apologize for being so rude. I’ve been training so hard for the Krystal sandwich eating contest that I’ve forgotten how to be a classy athlete.
jimmy a
June 5th, 2009
4:57 pm
hey someone tell WREN braves got pitching quit looking for more and start looking for some hitters oh wee FIRE WREN
CAL
June 5th, 2009
4:57 pm
Well BOO-HOO tom glavine… I wish I had your millions, sorry pal
but it is OVER, you were treated like millions of people are by companies every day and they don’t get on TV or Raidio and cry like a little baby.
Your time is OVER, retire and go away and count your millions OK ?
Turtsnap
June 5th, 2009
4:59 pm
Mark,
Another great bloggage. I don’t claim to be a scout, but I was at Tom’s Gwinnett outing on May 23, and all I can say is the guy was getting rocked all over the ball park. I turned to my wife, and she to me and we both said “He needs to retire”. It was an ugly scene, and a sad scene. Kinda reminded me of the game when the Braves brought back Knucksie (I was at that one too), and I almost came to tears watching a legend struggle so badly.
Not coincidentally, Knucksie was at that game on May 23 too… I am hearing he lives in the Flowery Branch area and commonly goes to the Gwinnett games.
Business Decision
June 5th, 2009
5:03 pm
I have made a business decision and decided NOT to spend my money on Braves tickets, merchandise, etc. The Braves need to learn how to treat their employees (including the players) with some respect. It’s sad to see a once “classy” organization that everyone wanted to play for go down the drain. Now I understand why Griffey and the others said “No” to the Braves.
PMC
June 5th, 2009
5:05 pm
Nicely articulated appology by John Scherholtz. Basically they just should have been more open and professional with the whole thing from January on and it never would have come to this.
Cole Train
June 5th, 2009
5:05 pm
Baseball is a TEAM sport. Getting rid of Glavine and adding a new CF was the best decision for the TEAM.
Tom, you left us high and dry for more money in 02. Get over it.
TheAntiMe
June 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
“Frankly, i’m tired of hearing about Tom Glavine and his sudden release from the Braves. He is 43 years old and washed up as a picture.”
I just may have to disagree with you on that, sir. Tommy G. should have many more years left as a perfectly fine picture, bless his heart.
RC
June 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
Mark, I feel like I don’t often agree with what you write, but you hit the nail on the head with this one. I just hope you are right about both sides getting over it in the future.
Pete
June 5th, 2009
5:08 pm
Schuerholz apologized to Glavine for the way “things ended.” Short statement with no real details about what was wrong, etc. that I heard.
AGTFan
June 5th, 2009
5:10 pm
Frank Wren is going to do for the Braves what he did for the Orioles. He’ll dismantle the farm system, treat the players so badly that no one wants to play for the team, and send them into a long downward spiral. And all the fair weather fans, who claim to love the team, but hate the players will get the team they deserve.
Phil in GA
June 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
MARK,
As a Braves fan, I’m excited about the McLouth trade and the Hanson call-up. We definitely have a stronger team now than we did three days ago. That said, as a LONGTIME Braves fan, it’s hard to be too giddy because of the way it happened with Glavine. I completely understand the “performance decision” – if that’s what it truly was – but the way it was handled leaves a really bad taste in the mouth.
I really did agree with the Braves’ decision in the offseason to pursue patient, modest contracts with Smoltz and Glavine when and if they proved healthy. I don’t really blame the Braves for Smoltz leaving – that was his decision. And I was glad to see how amicably the team and Glavine worked out a deal that made sense – and that everybody at the time SEEMED to understand.
To answer your question to the masses here, I wish – after all the time, effort and rehabs (and Glavine’s put in far more work and effort into coming back than a “one-and-a-half hour drive” to Rome so let’s not latch on to that comment too much) – I just would have preferred the Braves give him a start in the bigs. Just one. At least. That is not too much to ask – and not too much $ to risk.
Then, if it goes well, maybe we’ve got lightning in a bottle with Glavine in the 5 spot (or, maybe more appropriately, molasses in a jar, a la Jamie Moyer last year) and then we can just use Hanson down the road for the stretch run in some sort of role as needed.
And if it goes poorly, then Frank Wren would truly have the credibility to say, Glavine can’t get major league hitters out. I trust the scouts watching Glavine on rehab believe he can’t – but when you’ve got a veteran, crafty pitcher like Glavine, how can you rule out his ability on the big league level (85 mph, or not) when he hasn’t even been given the chance to show it? And I do believe Glavine IS a class act for the most part (Mutts time aside, ha!), and would have probably either hung up the spikes on his own – or if he’d had a heart-to-heart with Bobby, Frank, etc., at that point, could have been convinced to retire or decide – collectively – that he would either take a different position with the team, try resting and coming back with another team after a release, whatever.
AT THE VERY LEAST – if you don’t take that path – and do it the way Wren just did it, the Braves should have at least been more apologetic/appreciative of Glavine than they were. I mean, how much effort would it have required for Wren to go out of his way to talk about how painful the decision was, how much he appreciated Glavine, how it’s difficult to make the decision, etc. But he insisted too much, in my opinion, on how they didn’t think Glavine could get hitters out, etc. Even if true, that’s not what you say about an HOF’er while you’re kicking him out the door. Focus on Hanson and how you just can’t NOT bring him up at this point. Profess your love for Glavine – just don’t give another reason (in addition to the release) for Glavine/Braves fans to be upset with you.
And, geez, maybe hire a new P.R. person for the team. There has GOT to be a better way for these things to end (Smoltz, Glavine). I think the biggest thing is communication. Braves officials have to talk more frequently and directly with players about decisions coming up – seems like there is too often a disconnect between the two sides on what they think they know about plans, future, etc. Just talk people.
Anyways, thanks for the opportunity to vent. I rarely post on here, but on days like these – need to do so. (And, of course, if it comes out that the Glavine decision really WAS a financial one – or that they went back on a gentleman’s agreement with the southpaw to get a start if he’s healthy – then I’d have to reconsider my whole opinion!)
Best of luck Tommy. Still hope it goes out somewhere else and pitches if he wants to. And, if not, I hope he and the Braves will be able to patch up quickly – would be a shame for him, living in Atlanta, not to be a part of this franchise. He’d be valuable in many roles. Maybe even on the business side….
CT in AL
June 5th, 2009
5:24 pm
Another great article Mark. I had no idea that the Braves were honoring Maddux in July, guess I need to try and slot that game into my schedule. And while I love Tommy G and wish the end of him in a Braves uniform could have been different, I do hope he and Smoltzy take a step back from running their mouths and look at the situation from the organization’s perspective. We are a better team right now with Tommy Hanson in the 5th slot than Glavine. That being said, I would love for the Big 3 to come back in a few years and work with the organization in some capacity. I always thought both Glavine and Maddux would make for a heck of a pitching coach or instructor. Keep up the good work Mark
AppleCobbler
June 5th, 2009
5:27 pm
Best of luck to you Tommy. We cant help it that you and Smoltz are old farts now and unable to pitch anymore. It was a business decision to cut you and thats all it was. You should not take it personally because the Braves organization over the last 20 years have stuffed your bank accounts with money to the tune of over 100 million dollars. You will never have to work another day in your pathetic life so dont feel bad that you were cut. You were cut from the same cloth that Smoltz was cut from. So just rest in peace and move on and take it like a man. Your skill levels have eroded to mediocre levels. You are unable to pitch in the bigs anymore. What, were you expecting to pitch until you were in your 70s and break Cy Youngs record of 511 wins? Jerk, that wont happen, so will you and Brett Farve please just go away and disappear and give the talented youngsters their chance in the spotlight. Heck you’ve had over 20 years so be grateful for that and please just go away. Thanks so much.
Sir Stealth
June 5th, 2009
5:28 pm
Mark, couldn’t agree with you more about everything. Love Tom Glavine, am glad he’s earned all the money he has, don’t have a problem with union activity, don’t place all the blame on him for leaving in the first place, think his reaction and comments are wrong but somewhat understandable, think he’ll get over it and we’ll all be one big happy family again.
Love John Smoltz, all time Braves legend, also believe he has a big ego and big mouth, was devastated when we let him go, now believe it was nobody’s fault and both sides got what they want, think he sounds like an idiot mouthing off ever since, think he’ll get over it, we will too, and we’ll all be one big happy family again.
Sir Stealth
June 5th, 2009
5:29 pm
And I should make clear I absolutely think that letting Tom go was the right move. Buck stops with Frank Wren and he’s not afraid to be aggressive and make the moves that will help the Braves win.
Bravesfansince'91
June 5th, 2009
5:31 pm
I agree with Scott. Most other cities would still appreciate and revere a player that gave so much (our only World Championship!) to the city and fans as Tom Glavine—a Hall-of-Fame class act! Whether or not Tom can still be effective as a pitcher has to be determined by baseball cohorts, but why not show him the respect he deserves and offer him an opportunity within the Braves’ organization? He was always a winner–he still is—at a young 43. He could bring his championship drive/credentials and winning ways to the organization I believe he has cared most about in his career. That’s called a “win-win” for short-sighted management out there.
Yo Bravo
June 5th, 2009
5:37 pm
Mark-While there have been many a time I could’nt stomach some of your article’s (same goes for T/Moore),You’re spot on this one. Tommy G. sounded like a spoiled brat this am. The Braves made a business decision,simple. A popular decision-no,they knew it was’nt going to be. But calling the Braves cheap is weak considering he was paid exactly what his contract called for,no more,no less. Tommy G’s had a great career,he does’nt need to lessen it with this childlike behavior. Tommy G., Thanks for the memories! Enjoy your family.
Phil in GA
June 5th, 2009
5:39 pm
Should add, now that I’ve seen J.S.’ apology, I’m glad he said that. Seemed genuine and like he was biting his tongue a bit, wanting to say more (by the way, based on Schurholtz’s apology that meeting with Glavine is probably best evidence yet, if we needed it, that this team is truly Wren’s to run and it’s not J.S. pulling the puppet’s strings in the background).
Should have had the language from the apology in the initial statement!
Chuck Brady
June 5th, 2009
5:40 pm
I love Tommy Glavine, but the Braves felt that another Tommy gave them a better opportunity to win this year. I will miss Tom, but support the Braves decsion. It’s a business, and teams make moves that best suit their needs either for the right now or the future. I hope that Tom realizes this one day. Go Braves!
Yo Bravo
June 5th, 2009
5:43 pm
One more point-Who owes Glavine or Smoltz anything? When I decide to retire or am asked to leave my postion with the company I have worked for 13 years,I don’t expect or think I deserve a thing. Thats the problem today,society thinks we are owed something. Pathetic
Vincent
June 5th, 2009
5:43 pm
The Braves wanted Glavine back in February to shore up their rotation, and as possible insurance. Since they were completely overhauling their rotation, they figured Glavine could be very important to the stability of that rotation, so they signed him.
As the season has went on, and the main problem they’ve had has been hitting, not pitching, his worth to them became less and less. I don’t have a problem with them releasing him, HOWEVER, the agreement was Glavine would rehab and come back, he’d get some major league starts, and if he wasn’t effective, then there would be action taken to either give him his release or he’d retire. He never got his chance to pitch back at the major league level.
The bottome line is, Wren released Glavine b/c of the money ($1 million roster bonus) and he wasn’t needed b/c of the glut of pitching the Braves currently have. I don’t blame Glavine for being upset. But the Braves should’ve realized back in February it was probably best to sever all ties to the past and not pursue him in the first place. I loved Smoltzie, but didn’t care for his comments when he left town. Atlanta was not obligated at all to offer Smoltz a contract, let alone $5.5 million. Smoltz acted like he deserved as much as he wanted. Let’s face it, the Braves needed to let go of these legends eventually. Proud athletes like Smoltz and Glavine are usually the last ones to know they can’t do it anymore. They’re such competitors they refuse to believe it. The Braves did lie about why they let Glavine go, and could’ve handled the whole thing much differently. For that, I can’t blame Glavine.
John
June 5th, 2009
5:44 pm
You are incorrect. Tom is correct.
It is always about the money
Scott Anderson
June 5th, 2009
5:49 pm
won’t speak to Smoltz, but here is how I would have handled it for Glavine: Communicate to Glavine that they don’t feel that he is performing to the level that they feel will best serve the club. As such they have decided that they are going to give his roster spot to Tommy Hanson, but not before Glavine pitches one final game in Atlanta as a Brave. They would then market the game as Glavine’s final one in Atlanta, and allow for a celebration of sorts of his career. This would give Glavine the opportunity to go out from Atlanta and not Rome, and allow the fans to show the appreciation that they actually feel towards him, but weren’t able to show when he left the first time. The situation ends up the same (you could even have Hanson pitch on Sunday, the day after Glavine was cut from the team), but everyone is happy and the mood is completely different. As it is now, you have embarrassed Glavine, and made yourself a GM who has further alienated a portion of his fan-base, and on a day that he actually improved his team dramatically no less ….. TIM
…………………………………………………
If they did that they would have had to pay him another 2-3 million for being on the roster. Yeh bring him in for one game and watch him get rocked for 10 runs in 3 innings. That would be a good send off.
Glavine has been done for a long time. Just coasting making his millions for not little performance.
He had to drive 1.5 hours to Rome to pitch. What a freaking laugher spoiled touchole. Smoltz is another window washer soon to be.
GO BRAVES !
Reid Adair
June 5th, 2009
5:49 pm
So John Schuerholz has issued a public apology to Tom Glavine for how the organization handled things. How nice. I’m not sure why he’s apologizing for Frank Wren, but I’m not surprised.
Wren lied publicly after Smoltz left, and I’m convinced that he lied publicly about this. It would be helpful to be honest with the fans. I still wouldn’t have liked it, but I would have gained some semblance of respect for Wren.
It’s a little too late for that, John.
Inspector G
June 5th, 2009
5:50 pm
Mark, you either (1) Did not fully listen to the entire 20 minute interview with the Rude Awakening, or (2) Wouldn’t know bitter if you drank a liter of Vicks 44.
It is sad to see it go down this way, but I think the Braves will be better poised to make a run. I will be there to see Hanson start on Sunday.
Pete
June 5th, 2009
5:50 pm
Schuerholz Comments:
http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/06/05/schuerholz_apology_braves.html
WestPalmDawg
June 5th, 2009
5:54 pm
as a young professional, it seems that a handshake and a favor went a lot farther 25-30 years ago. That’s where Tom Glavine lives. In today’s world, baseball is a business and businesses are under an extreme amount of pressure to make money. To make money you win. To make money you bring up the number one pitching prospect in the world. To make money you make trades. You don’t make money by throwing a guy out there that throws a 78 mph fastball and let him get killed.
The Braves competition in the division are all hurting right now and the Braves made a sound baseball decision to kick them while they’re down. I can’t believe that this side show will be going on for the next few months and it’s going to be a huge distraction to a much improved team. Kudos to Wren to immediately making the Braves better, albeit while pissing off the person who helped construct your brand. When it all comes down to it, you just can’t trust anyone with a handshake. If Tom Glavine were such a team player and if it wasn’t about money, he wouldn’t have even tried to come back after traumatic arm surgey. Step aside and become that consultant/advisor in order to get paid.
Kevin
June 5th, 2009
5:57 pm
Mark,
Write your column, state your opinion and leave the sarcasm out! Your comments “wittle feelings” etc make you sound like a complete boob.
Glavine needed to be treated with more respect. For years he took the ball every five days and pitched his butt off, was never injured, and was a pillar of the community. If he completed his rehab he deserved the right to pitch, it’s not bitterness but the right thing to do.
Yo Bravo
June 5th, 2009
5:58 pm
Players just like management make business decisions on a daily basis. When Glavine & Smoltz left via free agency I did hear or read anywhere the Braves management called them Greedy,Spoiled Athletes!! But you sure heard how cheap the Braves were by the both of theses GREEDY,SPOILED BRATS!!! Now you know why we the public should never want Athletes to be role model’s for our youth.
Jack
June 5th, 2009
5:59 pm
It has been said, but I’ll say it, too. Glavine gets a great offer from the Braves, but for a less 10% more money (ok, and an extra year), he opts for the Mets. Now he complains the Braves made a *gasp* financial decision when he can’t throw 85 m/h?
Hello pot, I’m kettle. You’re black.
Smarts
June 5th, 2009
6:03 pm
NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT UNIONS…
KB
June 5th, 2009
6:13 pm
His best days were behind him when he left the first time….now he just needs to walk away gracefully like an old pro who has seen the sun set on his career. It’s just the nature f the business to let unproductive old stars go.
Bill
June 5th, 2009
6:14 pm
At least JS finally got it. Maybe Bradley will at some point.
Einstein
June 5th, 2009
6:18 pm
I agree with 90% of you posters. The Braves bent over backwards for Tommy. Unfortunately, a 68 mph fastball won’t cut it in the majors, especially when the umps don’t call strikes 6″ out of the zone on the corners. Glavine= Greed and stupidity. Time to move on with players who will actually improve. Peace.
P Rose
June 5th, 2009
6:32 pm
Hard To Say I’m Sorry
by John Schuerholz
Even though it sounds a bit cliche’
I gotta say, Tommy Glavine,
I’m gonna buy a big pink bouquet
To ease the pain
That you’re havin’
Holy cow
It’s hard for me to say, I’m sorry
You still think you can play
Holy cow
I really wanna tell you I’m sorry
I just don’t wanna pay
After all that we’ve been through
I’ll start kissin’ up to you, I promise to
And after all you said on The Zone
You’re just a thorn inside of my big toe
willie
June 5th, 2009
6:33 pm
You don’t think he should be bitter, Mark? Are you kidding me?!?! What an embarrassing way to handle a guy who always regretted going to the Mets and just wanted to come back. You are way off base on this one. Glavine is 100% right.
tip
June 5th, 2009
6:36 pm
Speaking of loyalty. I’ve been a fan since the mid 70’s. I watched alot of bad baseball growing up and have spent a kings ransom in attendance at games and merchandise. I’ve never once been offered a thank you or any heart felt sentiment for the team. So in return I expect them to win. Imagine that! But if they decide they want to be touchy feely with me and pay me some money for my years of loyalty then that would work just great. Basically though, do yur job, I’ll do mine and I’ll enjoy the entertainment. Tell you jerk athletes to keep their mouths shut and play fundamentally sound baseball.
Yo Bravo
June 5th, 2009
6:40 pm
tip-Well said!
Rick
June 5th, 2009
6:44 pm
Get over yourself Glavine. It didn’t seem to bother you much when you left the ATL high and dry for the mets, when the only difference in the contract offer was an option year. Go enjoy retirement, with your family, and be thankful for the career you have had. I will trade places with you if you can’t handle it. Last time I checked men in their early fortys still have to work their butt off to make ends meet and maybe every now and then come watch ya’ll spoiled brats play a game. get over yourself and be thankful the braves saw something in you when you couldn’t buy a win in 89 and 90.
jeff goldstein
June 5th, 2009
6:45 pm
Glavine, more than any other Brave was responsible for the Braves loss to the Giants in the 2002 first round of the playoffs. He was bombed out of the two games which he started, including the fifth and final game. It wasclear that he was on the downward end of his career.After the Mets signed him to a ridiculous 4 year contract, Glavine proved the Braves were right in not meeting such an absurd offer. Glavine basically bombed out with the Mets. His last five years were not even all-star, let alone Hall of Fame worthy. Yet the Braves took him back last year and he proved once and for all that he was washed up. Even if he returned to the Braves this week, isin’t it a good possibility that he would break down again sooner rather than later? Does it not make more sense to go with young arms like Hanson and Medlen than a 43 year old who was washed up at least two years ago?
Mark Bradley
June 5th, 2009
6:52 pm
P Rose, you are killing me!
And Glavine didn’t lose Game 5 against San Fran in 2002. Kevin Millwood did. Glavine lost Games 1 and 4.