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
J K
June 5th, 2009
6:57 pm
Did anyone read SAV A BUCK on the first page? What a carpet-bagging bigot with an anti-south vendetta!
fordcobra
June 5th, 2009
7:05 pm
In most situations they could be handled better. How do you guys think you will react when the plug is pulled on Chipper? Sit down and count up the games missed and visits to the IR for Chipper, Smoltz and Glavine. If I was in business any business when I hire people to do a job I expect them to be there and do it, granted sports have a lot more potential for injuries but when you spend as much time out as Smoltz, Chipper has over the last several years…. I just have to wonder. Just My Opinion.
Mark Bradley
June 5th, 2009
7:07 pm
Sunday’s column on Tom Glavine and the problem of finding a proper exit strategy for a legend is now online for your perusal. And thanks to one and all for the continuing patronage.
Skeezix
June 5th, 2009
7:07 pm
Mark: Were you feeling okay when you wrote this piece on Glavine’s release? From a PR perspective, this was handled extremely badly by Braves management. There were far better ways to handle this. It was so bush league for Wren to speak publicly like he did last night on PTV about the Braves’ performance appraisal on Tommy. I mean Glavine, of all his many hall of fame credentials, is best remembered by me as the guy who pitched that incredible game to win the 1995 World Series. The man deserved better. It just confirms my opinion about Wren being over his head in this job. It is worse than the handling of Furcal (where Wren couldn’t wait to hand over millions to a player we didn’t even need and who is a lying jerk) and the John Smoltz fiasco. Smoltz and Glavine mean a lot to Atlanta and most Braves fans. JS realizes that now and how poorly this was handled and has done the right thing to apologize. I bet JS is fed up with Wren getting him and the Braves in these PR messes. Wren should be given his release today!
fordcobra
June 5th, 2009
7:08 pm
Bye the way, A Big Thumbs Up Mark!
Mark Bradley
June 5th, 2009
7:11 pm
Thanks, FordCobra.
And Skeezix, I’m OK now but last week I was in rough shape. Rough, I tell you. (Rodney Dangerfield steal. Sorry.)
bigmacattack
June 5th, 2009
7:33 pm
Justified Release: Yeah
Wrong Way to Do It?: Yep
Makes Me sad
June 5th, 2009
8:10 pm
This is a city full of dummies. We whine when people write or say we are a horrible sports town and continue to prove them right!
I watched the retirement of Mike Schmidt t-a guy who laid it on the line and brought a city a title- He couldn’t do it anymore and it was time to move on.- ThePhillies organization treated him with class..
If they didn’t want him, the should’ve said so. Then to throw him out and treat him like some jerk who just showed up is pathetic. Great sports towns honor their heroes when it is time for them to go.
Tommy Hanson (the next Francoeur) will not make the Braves a world series contender and neither will Frank Wren.
Show some respect you losers. You are probably the same Cro-Magnons that booed Glavine on his return to Atlanta when he came with the Mets.
The Braves suck and so does management. Go Hawks and Go Falcons. You deserved better Tom. Thank you for your work and our World Series title.
tashunka
June 5th, 2009
8:23 pm
Just posted how Mark Bradley could exit gracefully: it had something to do with eating recyclables and finishing off his life cycle. The post went away. Guess the AJC has to protect the fragile ego of the idiot writers.
Lara
June 5th, 2009
8:43 pm
Why are Braves fans so bitter over 1 million bucks? Huh? It is because it’s the kind of money average Georgia people can’t make? Sox gave Schilling 8 million bucks last year and he never even once pitched. But Sox let Schill have it. So Braves fans, please stop whining about $1 million. I know your state is in a dire economic situation. But one million is not that much for athletes. Stop whining.
Chris in Marietta
June 5th, 2009
9:39 pm
F.U. Bradley. You must have your entire head up the a-holes of the Braves front office to make such stupid comments. When the AJC cans your ass I’ll be the first to congratulate them on letting go a has-been (actually a never was!).
Tom Glavine was – and is – a first class person who was mistreated by the Braves, like Smoltz. That jerk of a GM is the face of corporate America today. I’m shocked he doesn’t want to outsource the pitching to India. This team bites, and once Chipper retires it will be like the pre-Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux days. That sucking sound is both the AJC sports writers and the Braves front office fighting for 1st place in the worst of Atlanta competition.
Bradley…do us all a favor and SHUT UP.
Chris in Marietta
June 5th, 2009
9:41 pm
PS – I cancelled my AJC subscription. The paper, like you, SUCK.
jgon
June 5th, 2009
11:01 pm
When Jim Kelley for the Bills retired they give him 1 million so he would retire. Thats what i call class. I’m quite sure T.G. has brought in plenty of fans over the years to watch him pitch. They trade Josh Anderson so they don’t have to sign him and play a rookie that should have never been brought up that quick.They sign a right fielder with a nice contract that didn’t do anything last year and is doing nothing this year. Last year I’m watching this crap.
Rick Marcin
June 5th, 2009
11:04 pm
Totally disagree with this article. People can say all they want about Glavine going to the Mets, etc., but the Braves organization has been doing a poor job of handling some of their star players the fans have come to love as members if the community. Sometimes the dollars and cents are more about heart and soul than wins and losses. I have no doubt Smoltz gave everything and more yet some fans question his release based on performance. C’mon now. Smoltz epitomizes what a great pitcher.athlete should be. Glavine, a great multi-sport athlete in his own right, similarly displayed the same traits by consistently “pitching”. It’s not all about 95 MPH fastballs. Most fans who have the ability to evaluate talent all know Hanson is the real deal but the Braves made the conscious decision to wait until June before they made a decision to bring him up or not, most of this being based on not really needing a 5 man rotation. They should have told Glavine when he hurt his shoulder 4-6 weeks ago they wanted to go in another direction. Glavine was already “on the fence” and may have welcomed the “finality” . Instead, they played him like a fiddle. We all knew what we were getting with Glavine and the Braves are now trying to sell us on it being a performance issue. Right, and Barry Bonds never used steroids. I hope they make amends as they’ve already screwed up with Smoltz….
Rick Marcin
June 5th, 2009
11:09 pm
Also, 90% of the time the word “dis-service” comes up when I read a column by Mark Bradley. Is he for real? I can not believe how little some journalist know not only about “x” and “o’s” but about life in general. The AJC is very subpar for a major city.
John Michaels
June 5th, 2009
11:20 pm
Thanks for a great blog. Interesting comments on Glavine and in the article about Smoltz. I have been a big Brave’s fan for many years and enjoyed Smoltz and Glavine and their many victories but I am glad to see the whining spoiled self-centered brats gone from Atlanta.Suits me to see them in the Hall of Fame as Mets and Red Sox.
scottbravesfan
June 6th, 2009
1:35 am
Tell him to go see if the Mets will retire his number and put a statue up of him.
scottbravesfan
June 6th, 2009
1:38 am
Greg Maddux said it best, why would I be mad at an organization that made me a millionaire, when the Braves didn’t offer him a contract in 2003. He’s right, why should they be mad. Just move onto something else.
Bark Madley
June 6th, 2009
1:53 am
Glavine, YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!! Glavine is one of my favorite Braves of all-time and I fully appreciate and respect all that he’s done. However, it’s clear to everyone except him, apparently, that he just can’t get the job done anymore. It’s clear to everyone except him, apparently, that it’s time for him to retire. If he had retired, things would’ve been a whole lot easier for everyone involved.
Poopy Pants
June 6th, 2009
2:01 am
I can’t believe my poop in my pants that I’m saying this but I agree with Mark Bradley on this one. I saw Glavine pitch last week on May 28 in AAA Gwinnett before he made his last start in A Rome, and let’s just say those 78-80 mph pitches were not going to cut it in the big leagues. He might not have given up any runs, but he gave up a ton of hits and got out of a lot of innings on lucky double play balls. If he ever made it to the majors, the big leaguers would have knocked those underhand pitches out of the park all night.
Signing Glavine over Spring Training was obviously a ploy by management to get the fans from totally revolting on the team after they got cheap with Smoltz and he walked. They signed the wrong guy and the Braves know it.
jfayiii
June 6th, 2009
2:16 am
Gee, a man is misled and fired; said man is upset. This is unacceptable and is news? BTW your disclaimer that Glavine is your “all-time-favorite Brave” is a phony and oft-used way to deflect it being an attack piece for your gain.
Eric
June 6th, 2009
3:13 am
Mark- I totally agree with you, none of the other media outlets even mention that Glavine got $1 million to rehab. Everybody else feels sorry for him, I am glad the Braves made the move they did, its time to move on.
SER2007
June 6th, 2009
7:36 am
MB, Smoltz & Glavine are Hall of Famers…your just a washed up hack of a writer that is obviously bitter that your best days are further behind you(if you ever had better days)than either of theirs!
Ken Malone
June 6th, 2009
8:52 am
The thing that gets me is that he was mad about being “paraded” to the Rome sold out crowd. I thought he was getting paid to pitch and entertain the fans. It is a small way he could at least earn some of the money he made. These guys are out of touch.
Michael F
June 6th, 2009
10:06 am
And MLB wonders why ratings are down and they cant put people in seats for “America’s sport”??? The saddest part about this whole mess is that its not just a Glavine vs. Braves thing… It’s a modern baseball thing. Wont be long before baseball is literally be America’s “Pastime” and the only experience our kids will have with it is through the history books….
Jim Perkins
June 6th, 2009
10:28 am
Rex hit the nail right on the head! GOOD RIDDANCE GLAVINE! HOW ABOUT THE STRIKE YEAR AND ALL THESE YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY?
GET LOST SO THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO HEAR YOUR NAME AGAIN. I HAVE A BETTER IDEA. IF YOU HATE THE BRAVES SO MUCH, WHY DON’T YOU JUST MOVE TO NEW YORK!
brent
June 6th, 2009
10:56 am
I think Scherhoultz havign to appologize is covering up for Wren cowardness…Wren is a joke of a GM…this team is in disarray because we cant be a destination place liek the Atlanta of Old…Yes the rehab start was just to get him to pitch and help attendance at a minor league game and they made money off TOM…finaancially driven..
just a guy tried his guts out and then was told you arent good enough..that is a slap in the face to any person trying to compete in their job. The Barves need a housecleaning and GM and mayeb time for Bobby to get out of the circus..Time for Terry pendelton to go bye bye he cant be an effective hitting coach.
we have problems and we are setting ourselves back as an organization
yes Lowe has been a help and so has Vasquez…but you see Andrus,Salty,Tex, and others producing
Kotchman is so so..Yunnel is up and down…we didnt get peavy…Franceour is done stick a fork in him and ship him soemwhere so he can right himself away from thsi organization..
when will the Braves get out of their tale spin..if we shed contracts and have huge money again..who wants to play in Atlanta after this..hmmm should have thought about the dollars as you did but also about the future and your reputataion with current and future players you hope to acquire Mr. Dork GM wren and Mr. Scherhoultz you are a class act but if you were on thsi hatchet and messing up also..time for you to go into the sunset with Bobby Cox and let Frank Wren be on your coatails running out of Atlanta
Pace
June 6th, 2009
11:42 am
Tom Glavine is a ‘class act’…….and represents this community with great passion and respect.
The Braves will eventually make amends with him and offer him some degree of ‘redemption’….
Why did Scheurfholz make some ‘apology’ to Glavine?? For PUBLIC RELATIONS REASONS…
Remember the Yankees and their ongoing feud with Yogi Berra and George Steinbrenner ?? He
finally returned to the Bronx….but it took many years of bitterness to erode….
‘
Bobby
June 6th, 2009
11:52 am
There’s no easy way to handle a situation like this. Frank’s job is to put the best team, as he sees it, on the field. Too many people want GM’s to make decisions based upon emotion and it can’t be that way. I always will remember when Tom Landry was fired by the Dallas Cowboys new owner, Jerry Jones. He had a tough decision, but you can’t allow emotions to prevent what you feel is for the betterment of the franchise. If the decision was financial, then so be it. I don’t think they decided to send Glavine to rehab knowing from day 1 that McLouth could be had. New situations arise all the time. Frank had to react to it. I love Tommy & Smoltzie, and hate that they’ll end their careers elsewhere, but they’ll have a Braves logo on their cap for the HOF plaque, and that’s a wonderful thing.
Jeff R
June 6th, 2009
12:50 pm
Glavine’s been in decline since the latter part of his last season with the Mets. I thought he should have hung it after the 2007 season.
From a PR standpoint, management did blow it. They should have communicated their concerns a little early, then made Glavine aware that he wasn’t coming back, but allow him the option to retire. Wren and Glavine could have held a joint press conference; Glavine could have offered that retirement was his decision.
Then Wren could have thanked Glavine for his great years as a Brave and announced (upon pre-agreement) that Glavine would be part of the organization as a roving pitching instructor.
Glavine saves face, and management avoids egg on theirs.
Maybe Glavine would have agreed, maybe not, but it would have given JS and Wren a better counter.
jofske
June 6th, 2009
12:54 pm
Chris, you think Glavine is a first class person?? Player rep who had a hand in the ‘94 season? Greedy boy who fled to NY when $10M wasn’t enough for him? Whining big time now about his mistreatment? Give me a break. Nothing first class about him.
Kamac
June 6th, 2009
1:10 pm
Glavine and Smoltz both need to just grow up. OK so they did a lot for the Braves, but they were well compensated for their efforts. The Braves gave Tom Glavine 1 million dollars just for signing. The paid both money for over a year to sit on their respective backsides and do nothing. Guess what, fellas, when the rest of us get hurt and can’t work, we go home and draw unemployment, which doesn’t come anywhere near what you were paid. And, when we set out to get a job we had to prove we could actually do the job before they paid us. No one on this board, I’m willing to bet, was given a gigantic salary with the hope that they could do their job. They had to earn it. People all over this country are losing jobs and homes, and you two overpaid cry babies are whining because you only got 1 million guranteed instead of more. You pitch every 5th day, when you are healthy. That comes out to 32.4 days a year if you make all your starts. A game usually lasts 3 to 4 hours, but half of that time your sitting in the dugout., but to give you the benefit of the doubt I’ll say you pitch 2 hours. That comes out to about 65 hours a year. Divide that by 8 hours in a typical work day and you work a little over 8 days a year. ( And, don’t give me that crap about how much off the field time you spend, we all work away from the office to get work done and prepare). Hey, Frank, I’ll take the job and you can disrespect me all you want. I went to college and earned a master’s degree and I have to go back periodically to get refresher courses at my own expense to keep a job where I earn no where near what you guys make, and I’m happy to have a job, many people don’t. Still, I struggle just to pay bills each month and to keep a roof over my family’s head, and to keep food on the table, and to send my kids to school. You play a child’s game as grown men, you get paid more than well for what you do, you nor your family want for anything, and you cry that you were treated badly. Cry me a freakin’ river.
RJ
June 6th, 2009
1:12 pm
Mark
I am huge atl sports fan win or lose (too much of that I must say). I find it amazing how this town reacts to Tom.
He has given back to this city, even after he left for NY. He is a great teammate and a tremendous father along with given this city a world series and victory after victory. The Braves mishandled the situation this week and JS was right to apologize. Tom is one of the greatest athletes to ever play in this city (maybe Waddell will sign him up) and even a better person. He had every right to speak his mind. I appreciate his honesty in a dishonest world and he did nothing to taint his great image!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU TOM GLAVINE
Mike in Hiram
June 6th, 2009
2:24 pm
The fact Braves senior leadership apologized tells it all.
All the Braves GM had to do was ask…Tommy, we have concerns about your ability to compete after this rehab stint. How do you want to proceed, and if it doesn’t work out how can we make a decision that is best for the Braves and you ?
If it doesn’t work out, how can we do this with dignity ?
johnny rebel
June 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
mb if your entitiled to your opinion, then so is glavine and or smoltz. at least they earned their stripes in a braves uniform, all you ever did was sit on the sidelines and offer your oh so valuable opinion.
Barnes
June 6th, 2009
3:21 pm
I wish Glavine would just retire and be with his wife and kids. I am tiring of hearing his “oh woe is me” schtick. Really. He left years ago for a few million more and then wanted to come back to Atlanta to be with his family. They gave him that chance. Then in the off season he talked about going elsewhere – again – away from the family he wanted to be near. Tired…so very tired of it. He, of all people, should understand the money issue. Now he has his feelings hurt because the Braves weren’t honest with him. If they were, he would have had his feelings hurt about them not paying him what he is “worth.” And now he might not attend Maddux’s retirement celebration? Nice. What does Greg have to do with anything?
bravesfan32
June 6th, 2009
3:25 pm
I just think it’s funny that six years ago, Glavine decided to leave the Braves for more money and for the rival Mets, yet Glavine has the audacity to run his mouth saying the Braves are making a decision based on monetary reasons. If he wasn’t interested in the money, why did he leave the Braves six years ago, just to get more money? I think Glavine should go sit in a room with Jay Cutler. They could cry on each other’s shoulders and complain about how aweful they’ve been treated, then each head to a private jet while the general public is having issues filling their gas tank. Don’t ruin a good thing Tom, you were an icon in Atlanta and you’re doing a great job of destroying your own legacy.
Pace
June 7th, 2009
1:06 pm
In commemorating D-DAY, —-the movie , ‘Saving Private Ryan depicted
a group of U.S Army Rangers looking for —1—-soldier in combat to
’send back home to the U.S.’…..per orders from Washington.
There is a parallel here to Tom Glavine and the Braves…Frank Wren
made a decision (so he says) based on a team of 25 players….
Well, if we as fans accept that rationale–then let this 2 edged sword
remain —-where it belongs—-Tom Glavine going into the Hall of Fame
wearing a Braves hat—and the 2009 Brave team going forward to win
a playoff berth in their division….There are much bigger issues—
And eventually, Glavine will need the Braves (maybe for some charity cause
or new school in Johns Creek) and the Braves will need Tommy to fill the
stadium one Sunday afternoon during one of their PR efforts to fill the bleachers.
bill
June 8th, 2009
11:17 am
Why is it always just “business” when the atlete leaves, holds out, trashes management during a labor dispute etc but becomes “personal” when they don’t get their way. Glavine as a big league pitcher is a business, he and his agent made his deal, he already pocketed a million$ this year, and a business decision was made. There is a human side to this, of course, but all those feeling sorry for Glavine now will forget when in 3 years Hanson does well and glavine charges the $25 for an autograph.
Dick Smith
June 8th, 2009
9:00 pm
Mark: Could have saved yourself alot of column effort.. “Hey folks, it’s a business and nothing else!” Does anyone really think John lay awake at night worrying that he had mistreated Tommy?
RealCobra
June 9th, 2009
11:47 am
Tom Glavine should get counsel from Pete Rose and Brett Farve on how to tell the truth. Rose: Yeah, I never gambled on baseball in my life; right. Tom Glavine knows in his mind that he can’t pitch a lick any more. Tom Glavine also knows that he is older than dirt. Why must Glavs keep the gloves on and continue on with this charade of look, “I still have cy young stuff”. Forget it man, just sit down and retire. Other players have done it, what makes you better than them. Brett Farve: The only guy I know who will play until he is 100 is Brett Farve. That guy will NEVER retire. He will play football to his grave. Brett Farve tells the media he will not unretire this year and he will not play football this season. The very next day he mails his x-rays to the Vikings for their examination. Brett Farve, Pete Rose and now Tommy Glavine. They can’t face the truth and they must lie to cover up their pathetic lives.
RodneyRichards
June 9th, 2009
12:06 pm
I tell you, Glavine got a real raw deal from the Braves. I still can’t quite believe it. Glavine should be a starting pitcher for the Braves. Glavine’s stuff is unbelievable. His last outing in the minors consisted of 11 scoreless innings. Glavine is probably ready to pitch a shutout in the majors. Unfortunately it doesnt appear it will be with the Braves. Tommy Hansen may stumble, get cut and Glavine may replace him. I know that is wishful thinking on my part, but I still say Glavine is the best pitcher in baseball, in both leagues right now. In fact if Glavine finds a job soon, I’m expecting him to be the starting pitcher in the All-Star game this year. Glavine can still pitch great, but the Braves feel that Glavins pilot light has gone out and therefore released him from the team. When Glavine goes into the hall of fame, he should go in as a New York Met. That would be the best thing for Glavine to do to rid himself of the Braves organization.
Lee
June 9th, 2009
4:43 pm
Your 43…what more need to be said? Steo aside gracefully and shut-up, you’ve had your 15 minues of fame and a good run at that.
DK
June 15th, 2009
1:39 pm
Grow up people! The man is paid MILLIONS to pitch a damn little ball. By his own admission he was given a million dollars without the team even confirming that he could still pitch, even though he is 43 years old and coming off major pitching shoulder surgery, yet the Braves are treating him bad, gesh.
Of course it was about money; we’re talking about business here. Glavine had no problem walking away from the Braves for money. What is the big deal when the Braves walk away from him for money? I’m sick of seeing us regular Joes carrying the water for people who are paid WAY TOO MUCH for playing a game. If the Braves want to give me a million dollars to confirm that I don’t have what it takes, I’ll take the money and kiss their butts on TV and radio after they release me.
Bradley's Buzz: Glavine tells WAGA he won't pitch in 2009 | Mark Bradley
June 18th, 2009
10:53 pm
[...] was, you’ll recall, only two weeks ago that Glavine ripped the Braves for releasing him and said he believed, contrary to Frank Wren’s bleak evaluation, he could still pitch in the [...]