Tom Glavine speaks and does himself a disservice

And you forget that he changed his mind and tried to undo it. The only reason Glavine pitched for the Mets for those years was because the Braves were being petty. Just like today, and just like these last two columns and their responses.

BTW, how have the Orioles faired since Wren’s one year in charge? Welcome to that scenario, folks.

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I dont think the Braves were being petty 5 years ago. Because of Glavine’s position in the players union he needed to go where he was going to get the most money. Now he wants favors from the Braves. I just think he is wrong on this one.

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GOOD RIDDANCE !!! Tom “The fans don’t pay my salary” Glavine is bitter….Who cares…How bout the cancellation of the World Series you orchestrated in 94 Tommy Boy ? I am bitter..I went to 14 games that year…drove way over an hour & a half doing so. Bought overpriced beer & food and then had those games rendered usesless. And I was’nt making millions to drive tot he stadium like you, & I worked 5 days a week, not every 5th day. Cry me a river Glavine…my only regret is that your left arm did’nt peter aout BEFORE you won 300. You will be the LEAST DESERVING HOF player in MLB history. Good Riddance !
Rex

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Got really mixed feelings about this one. I really wish all the ATL sports franchises respected legends more, i.e., Aaron, Niekro, Wilkins, et al, but it is still a business, and the Braves made a business move. Who was going to help the Braves more? Where is the future? The future is Hanson and he was going to waste time at Gwinnett for Glavine to victory lap around The Ted? On the other hand, I don’t think this year is the year for the Braves anyway unless they pull a Fred McGriff level trade soon, and I don’t think the Pirates deal was it. So if we’re looking at ‘10 as our year with Hudson back at full strength with Lowe and the others, would it been too terrible to give Glavine, who won the biggest game in Atlanta Braves history, his due? I’m glad I didn’t have to make that call.

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Glavine whines that this was all done for money and not about the fact that his fastball was in the upper 70s.

You know what else was about money? When he left for the New York Mess. Oh, and don’t forget 1994.

Glavine is a scumbag. I’m glad that we’ve had someone like Maddux step out with the upmost class. I can’t wait to be there when we honor him next month.

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You are a loser MB and just trying to stir the pot with your crap $$$ articles about these 2 great pitchers. Whose your favorite pitcher now? Kawawhatever?

SHOW SOME CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!

Are your wittle feelings going to be hurt if the AJC fires you!!!!

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Thanks for the truth, Mark. It needed to be said. Glavine has been a shadow of his former self for several years and is now obviously not major league material. Why can’t these athletes thank God for the talent He allowed them to use for the great careers they had? Why not graciously admit it is time to move on? Why not show some class? With all the economic misery in our country today, it is hard to feel anything but contempt for rich athletes who are wallowing in their wounded pride.

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Mark, I listed to almost the entire interview and I don’t think that on the whole Glavine sounded petty. It’s easy to pick one or two quotes from an interview that lasted more than an hour and make it appear that way in print. I noticed that you didn’t put the word “liars” in quotes. Sure, that was implied when he said he was misled by the Braves, but that’s a lot more subtle and appropriate to say than outright calling the Braves liars.

Besides, the reason given by Wren for Glavine’s release, that his velocity was down and the committee deciding that he didn’t have good enough stuff to get major league hitters out, is complete nonsense. If the decision to let Glavine go was made to put what the Braves think is a better team on the field (as Glavine said he thought it was so they could free up salary for the McLouth trade) then, for everything that Glavine did for this franchise, the Braves should have been up front about it.

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I do wish the Braves would have offered him a job as a “pitching consultant or something”. This dude knows how to pitch, how to win and go out there every fifth day even if you don’t have your best stuff. He brings that to offer even if he isn’t our choice for the MLB roster anymore.

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MLB is a business. Both owners and players are making huge bucks. Dropping him was a business decision just as Glavine leaving for the Mets a few years ago was a business(money) decision. So quit whining Tom and enjoy your money that you made. The loyality that the Braves showed you equals what you showed them when you went on strike and left for the Mets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Nice Mark. Let’s just say this, the Braves made the right choice, but didn’t handled it very well.

I agree with the people that say Glavine can no longer be able to perform at a high level. An 80mph fastball isn’t exactly eye popping. Not that he can’t be succesful with an 80mph(look at Moyer), but Glavine used to throw 86-90mph with perfect control on the outside corner(and I mean an inch of the plate, which he doesn’t get the call anymore).

Look at John Smoltz. He says the Braves made an awful offer, and that the way they bussines is pathetic. It turned out to be the right call, he’s been a paid 5 million, it’s half way through the season and he hasn’t thrown a single pitch.

He can say all he wants about the way Braves do bussines, but it’s the right call.

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Hey Tom, welcome to the real world, people are being released daily from jobs they have worked at for a lot longer than you have been in baseball, that is the nature of the game. Get in the soup line with the rest of us…..

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Suck it, Glav.

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…learn that they are over the hill and that is the reason the Braves (and Mets, for Glavine) do not want them? Smoltz got Boston to go out on a limb for him when the Braves offered him a good option, and how has that worked out for Boston? Smoltz has not thrown a pitch this year.

Both of them received gazillions of dollars from the Braves and/or Mets; and when it is time for them to step aside, what do they do but whine about being “shoved aside”. If they had showed a little class then we would not be having “this” discussion. But, both will be back to have their jersey’s retired. I will not be there to watch, however.

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I still say he should’ve gotten at least a chance. He’s owed that much. The guy wants to pitch. He wants to pitch for the Braves. Yes, he’s made millions, bla bla bla. But he worked his butt off for months to get back in shape to pitch for this team and then at the moment he became ready, he was shown the door before getting that debut. For someone who has meant so much to this organization, I still say he deserved better.

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All the greats eventually get released and its happened in every major sport that i can think of – let’s see Jerry Rice was basically told to retire or leave by the 49ers. Dominique got the boot when he was the Hawk team himself. Heck, recently, the Green Bay Packers told Favre to retire or leave and he ended up playing with the Jets and to this day he’s still whining like a ________.

While I think the Braves handled this poorly this eventually happen to the “legends”. They have to be sent away or they will hold the organization hostage. I can’t blame the Braves because they have appeared to be ready to move on for a while now but have been afraid to pull the trigger. All of sudden this team has grown a pair of balls and making moves. I still think a few more moves are up the organization sleeve that I’d like to see them pull off (another trade maybe).

I wouldn’t be shocked if at the end of the year more moves, like this glavine gate move, is made at the end of the year if this team is not competing for the wild card or division.

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They (Braves brass) gave him an out and offered to allow him to retire and he declined. His ego got in the way of that. How about Smoltz and Glavine STFU and file a union grievance in MA where it will play better. You guys were made multi-millionaires by this organization and all you can do now is cry little school girls.

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Unfortunately, Glavine has followed the footsteps of many great athletes: trying to play past his time. Aaron and Mays did it as well. After he broke the HR record, Aaron faced a pretty steep decline, but kept playing – mostly mediocre. Same with Mays. Fame and ego drive most athletes more than money. Tommy didn’t need the cash; he needed to be needed. MB, you’re right – there’s not much of a market for over 40 pitchers. The Big Unit and Jamie Moyer will probably hang it up after this year because they’ve either reached a milestone or have become ineffective. If they continue on, fans will be calling for their heads. If Tommy came back and stunk up the Ted in 3-4 outings with a 6.50 ERA and more walks than SO, there would be a different tone to these posts. The Braves have to start winning games and taking the chance that Glav could give them 1 good start out of 5 is crazy. As much as I loved the 90s, it’s almost a decade removed and we haven’t done much since…let’s turn our eyes to the future!

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There is an enjoyment in watching great players play. I enjoyed watching Murphy, Horner & Neikro even though the teams were bad. Neikro was not done when the Braves indicated he should retire. He won a lot more games in NYC. We suffered though watching Jo-Jo this year & last. I for one would much rather see Glavine pitch than Jo-Jo.

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it seems to me like the Braves already took a chance on Smoltz and Glavine – last year. Tommy made a lot of money sitting on the DL, as did Smoltz. And he got a mil this year just to rehab – Tom has always had trouble realizng the difference between a real labor grievance and “the business of baseball”

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Mark, I have to commend you on your willingness to stand up and call it like you see it. It would be easy for you to take the high road and do what seemingly everybody else around the country is doing, and jump on the “The Braves dissed Tom Glavine” bandwagon.

While I suppose this could have been handled a bit better. They could have NOT sent him to Rome (though I suppose they were hoping their scouts were wrong), but in the end, they made the right call.

All spring, I was pissed that they didn’t just bring Hanson up right away. But upon having a better understanding of the “super 2″ rule, I commend Wren for basically giving us one more “year” of Hanson at the end of his arbitration years.

I believe this was the plan all along. Which was to have Glavine “help” until they were able to get Hanson past the Super 2 status, then assess from there. If Glavine was producing, then reassess. If not, release him and call up Tommy.

Only problem was that Glavine wasn’t ready to “help” until Hanson was ready. Now Hanson’s ready, and Glavine (with the roster bonus money) was going to have to REALLY be able to produce to outpitch the younger, cheaper, more dynamic (at this point of their careers), Tommy Hanson.

Odd man out, is how I see it. It’s too bad. But I agree with many bloggers who have stated that Tommy can’t cry “business” in 2002, and now cry “loyalty”.

Which is it Tommy? (9 million dollars for 2 wins the past two seasons wasn’t enough for you?)

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Ironic….the player most apt to remind fans throughout his career that “baseball is a business” (most notably during the ‘94 strike and after his departure to Atlanta’s rival in 2002) is now the one complaining most loudly about baseball being a business.

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I am actually glad the braves made the tough decision to let Glavine go. If they thought he couldn’t pitch in the majors then why give him one start? It is there job to pick the best players and they didn’t think he was one of 25. It is tough to let an icon go and it is never clean. Kudos to the Braves for making a decision and going with it. I will miss him and I was looking forward to Glavine pitching last year. Times change. This isn’t 1995 or even 2005 anymore. We need to move forward as a team….

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The decision was financial AND performance-based. All of these decisions involve both elements. They go together. Glavine’s performance does not match his financial contract.

Hypothetically, if he would not have received any additional bonuses for making the roster or anything else, he probably would have made the 25-man roster. His performance would have matched his financial situation at that time. In the end, his performance was not worth the $1M plus he could have made under his current contract.

Both parties are mistaken if they say it is one or the other.

If Glavine was playing for the league minimum this year, then he would possibly still have a job.

I am right.

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I am in total shock and disbelief. I agree with not just one but TWO MB articles in one day. Glavine and Smoltz are disappointing me in a huge way and chipping away at the esteem I have held them.

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KUDO’s to you Mark. Tell it like it is and you are spot on. Glavine sounds like the spoiled “kid” he is and has been. At first, I felt bad for Glavine but after this, he should drive not to Rome Ga, but back to New York – the city he left Atlanta for wayyyyyy back then.

Your point on a “guaranteed spot” on the roster rings loud. Who is their right mind would have offered a 43 year old coming off of shoulder surgery a guaranteed position? NO ONE and no one did. Other than Atlanta, who was knocking on his door this past off-season?

Sorry, got my blood pressure up – Good column

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where’s Ted Striker when we need him?

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I like you, Mark Bradley. Don’t listen to all the naysayers. As a lifelong Braves fan, I think the right move was made. As mentioned before, right now every game counts, and if we were to let Glav come back for one game and he bit it, all these people would be complaining that we kept him on. Glav’s just mad he didn’t get to go out the way HE wanted. But, that would’ve been about three years ago. I love him, but I don’t feel sorry for him.

P.S. Smoltz is dead to me.

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How about Tom Glavine offering to refund part of his 8,000,000.00 salary to the Braves for winning just 2 games last year? What a crybaby – Grow up Tom this is the big leagues you are not trying out for a high school team. How many major league hitters do you think you are going to fool with your 75 mph fastball? Cryed and let us for the Mets, but doesn’t like it when the shoe is on the other foot. Good bye and good luck somewhere else.

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I agree that the situation could have been handled better. I do not agree that it was a financial decision. In the big picture, what is a million dollars to the Braves? If Tom is strapped for cash I am sure the Braves could give him a million and save the negative publicity.I have been an admirer of Tom for many years, even as a Met. But I am glad that the powers that be are making decisions based on the improvement of the team. I am hoping that the next decisions will be in the managerial and coaching area. It is time to replace outdated individuals. I know it is tough to turn your back on old familiar faces…but.

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I understand the hurt pride of Tom Glavine. But, I also think it wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world to give him a start and then break the news to him, as a reward for putting in the rehab work and his long, Hall of Fame service. That’s what I would have done. I co-own a business and run another that’s a division of a larger corporation, so I understand bottom lines.

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Hey Tommy!It’s about performance and winning not what you do/did in the community. What did you do in NYC when you bolted for the bigger bucks?I don’t think sporting goods companies make a cap big enough for your inflated head!!!

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This is a sad day and a sad event, but the scenario was set in motion a long time ago. This is a story of cold – hard business and a player’s pride clashing. BTW, the business became increasingly “cold” while Tom represented the player’s interests. I can’t imagine this scenario ending well. Tom wanted to pitch. Tom could no longer pitch at the major league level, at least in the estimation of the Braves and some unbiased sources (Six shutout innings in A-ball is not evidence of anything.). Tom’s pride is hurt, but his return to the Braves would have only been a ceremonial return. He represents the past, not the future, probably not even the present. This may well be about money, but why do the Braves “owe” Tom any more money…doesn’t he have enough? If the Braves decide that that money is not well spent to have someone occupy a roster spot, well that is a business decision, which they must make. When a player wants to hang on and the team thinks otherwise, it never ends well, and this is a classic example.

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There are five Autoplants in St Louis closed, hundreds of small businesses closed this past month. Many of those thousands of unemployed workers still find time to drive many miles to pay outrageous sums for ticketsay $9 for “sometimes cold” beer, $5 for hotdogs, $15 to park and Glavine feels “slighted” for only getting $8 million last year for nothing and a million this year for nothing. What a MAN!!!!!!!!!

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Paul H… I agree with you. TG did bust his butt to get in shape to pitch. After he got in pitching shape he was deemed not able to help the team. It has happened like this since Christ was a carpenter. The first day you put on the uniform you know there will come a time to take it off. Players make you tear the uniform off their back before they eventually leave. It is the competitive nature of professionals. Not a really big story to me.

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I’m a Braves fan because as a kid I wanted to be like Hank Aaron.

However, my All-Time Favorite Brave is and will always be DALE MURPHY.
For many long-time Braves fans I do not need to get into why…they know Murph.

And I know that Glavine and Smoltz both learned a lot about being a Big League player from Murph.

Gentlemen – take a dip back into your memory bank….please.

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In retrospect the Braves should never have offered Glavine a contract for this season. They had plenty of arms [reyes, morton, carlyle] that could hold down the 5 spot until Hanson was ready. It was going to end badly no matter what.

What happened to Glavine isn’t what you want to see happen to one of the two greatest lefties in Braves history [along with Spahn], but part of the blame has to be laid at Glavine’s feet. He can no longer pitch at the major league level. Moving down South Atlantic League hitters is a bit different from dealing with Pujols, Wright, Utley, Howard, etc. The guys in the Braves front office scout and analyze for a living. They knew a pending disaster when they saw it, and as close as the NL is this year, two or three disasterous starts by Glavine could have cost them the wild card.

Glavine and Smoltz are doing serious harm to their legacies because of their stubborn refusals to admit they are done. How cool would it have been if they had retired last year, and we may have seen Glavine, Smoltz and Greg Maddux all go into the Hall of Fame in the same year. But it won’t happen now. What a shame.

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Once again, you put a microphone in front of a guy who just got fired…. what do you expect?

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For what the Braves received from Glavine in 2008 for $8M, he should have paid the Braves to pitch in 2009.

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Boo frickin hoo! Go home and cry in your pillow Glavine. I’d like to buy you for what you’re worth and sell you for what you think you’re worth. Jerk!

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The Braves suck ….get used to it. With this type of management the Thrashers will do better than the Braves.

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Tom Glavine is probably one of my favorite Braves. I have an autographed 1995 WS baseball as well as an autographed copy of his autobiography (which sadly is titled “None but the Braves”). That being said, I think the Braves made the smart move. A lot of comments on here suggest that the Braves should have done something different. I haven’t read specifically WHAT they should have done. It is a lot of emotional comments yelling at the Braves. Would you want him out there struggling not giving the Braves a chance to win? Did you want him to retire as a Brave? As someone already mentioned, the Braves gave him that chance. He retires as a Brave, we honor him and everybody gets to feel warm and fuzzy. He blew that by asking to be released.
I didn’t used to think so when I was growing up in Atlanta, but baseball is indeed a business. Sadly, I learned that last year when the local Richmond Braves left town. Still hurts. Good blog MB.

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This just goes to prove money does not buy CLASS. Greg Maddux is a Class Act. .

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They are liars and cheapskates. That’s business.

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Tom Glavine was an excellent pitcher for Atlanta for a lot of years, but make no mistake, it was not a charitable effort – he was paid many millions of dollars for his efforts. His view that the organization owes him something other than the 100’s of millions they already paid him is absurd. Yes, he HELPED bring Atlanta’s only world championship to town (I do believe there were some other players that contributed that year too) and he made more that year than I have made in my lifetime (so far). Baseball (as is the case with ALL pro sports) is a business – pitch lights-out at 43 and get millions.

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He’s just a ballplayer. Let him have his say and let him fall into obscurity. This Braves organization is not the one he grew up in. This is no more the same Braves organization than Bank of America is C&S Bank. Old times not forgotten . . . look away Tommy G.

Glavine and Smoltz could throw a ball better than most adult males in the population. Great, throw the ball. I don’t look for anything more from either of them. No philosophers there from what I can tell. Not likely to cure cancer or even save the life of a little animal. Just ballplayers. Rich, spoiled ballplayers. Deeper thoughts in middle school. Please let them fade into obscurity. Tommy G is no longer news. Smoltz soon to follow.

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Mark – how would you have handle this situation? Being your favorite player don’t you think they could have come to some agreement rather than just release him. Shouldn’t the Braves try to make a hard decision better or more understanding for the fans. The fact we are talking about this is negative for the organization. Also, what has Bobby Cox said to you about this, your a reporter – you had to ask?

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Glavine and Smoltz have been playing for 20 plus years-they know the business of baseball. Glavine and Smolze both made business decisions in the past 5 years to leave ATL but it’s not ok if the franchise makes business decisions? Grow up, shut up, and throw the ball!

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Come on people lets get past this cry babby.The Braves did the the right thing. he’s washed up.Its time to move on.i do wish Glavine the best but his days are over.It happens to all of us.The one thing i will miss though is those 25mp fastballs on the outside corner of the plate

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Tom Glavine should have been given the keys to the city the way he has treated the Braves organization. Tommy pitched an absolutely breathtaking ballgame which literally GAVE THE BRAVES THEIR WORLD SERIES championship in 1995. Without Tommy’s spectacular performance, the Cleveland Indians would have won that world series. The only time that I can recall when Tommy was somewhat obnoxious was when he was the player representative for major league baseball. I didnt like some of Tommy’s talks with respect to player issues. Buts thats about it. Ive always felt that Tommy has given the Braves far more than they ever gave him. And how do the Braves show their appreciation to Tommy by throwing him under the bus and then off the cliff without a parachute. The Braves are reckless fools for the way they have treated Tommy and I hope that the Braves have 15 straight years of losing and go back to their losing ways of the ’70s when they were the worst franchise in ALL MAJOR sports. The Braves suck!

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Oh, yeah, a little zip on his pitches and maybe the organization wouldn’t be so terrible. No one takes accountability for shortcomings/failures anymore. It’s always the fault of someone else. Sign of the times. Another sign of the times . . . the Braves may be again focused on putting the best players on the roster. Will Bobby put the best players on the field? How long will Francoeur be allowed to throw away precious at-bats?

Tommy G is old hat. Tell us about Hanson. Never speak again of Smoltz. That is for Boston and the chowder heads.

One more thing, Mark . . . do you have a pet name for Chipper? Do you call him, “Hoss”? Your answer may gain you new respect in the world of AJC blogdom.

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Talk about kicking a guy while he’s down. You sound a little bitter yourself, Bradley.

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It’s working out fine, pup. Neither the Braves, nor Liberty Media are your corner Mini-mart. Bad PR and perceived insensitive treatment can hurt your business. Paying Glavine $1 million and giving him a final bow would be a small price for the Braves or Liberty Media … if the way it was actually handled makes acquiring quality free agents next season more difficult. We’ve already seen Peavy (not a free agent), Burnett, Furcal and others rebuff the Braves. Did Smoltz’ treatment have anything to do with that? Maybe. If so, Glavine’s situation will add to it. Anyway, the roster bonus is not an astronomical PR price for a major league baseball team.

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Spot on, Bradley. Very well balanced and accurate article. Just as coaches can never be objective with their son’s talent…..seldom can a legend know when the career is done. Glav says it wasn’t about performance. Uh, dah!!! How many times does he actually think he could get through the 2nd with a 70 ish mph “fastball”? And what would that make the infamous outside corner changeup…..60?

Thanks for your wonderful career, Glav. Now go about the biz of being a great ambassador, hall of famer, and legendary former Brave!

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The Braves did offer Glavine a chance to go out smoothly but he turned it down. Save a Buck obviously is a union organizer of sorts who thinks the business world owes us something. Nobody owes anybody anything. You work for a paycheck, and when you can’t get the job done any more, you go somewhere else. It’s got nothing to do with north-south. It’s got to do with being a man and taking responsibility for yourself instead of looking for Big Brother to take care of you. Go back your villa in Havana and preach to the revolutionary choir (by the way, they have some pretty good ballplayers down there who aren’t allowed to earn a big-league salary because of the leftist policies of their government.)

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I think Tom dumped the braves a while ago – and I vaguely remember Tom being way “pro-union / pro-strike” a few years ago… I used to like to watch him pitch, but after the shenanigans, to be honest I was disappointed the braves welcomed him back…ancient and all, arm surgery and all. Sort of stinks that the braves are out the $ they could spent on some young-buck I’d like to watch more.

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I agree. He’s just mad. But, WHO or WHAT to be mad at – now that’s the question. I’m a year and a half older than Tom, and it’s still hard to believe that at this age we can be considered “too old” for anything. But, the realization of time and age can sometimes surprise and even shock most folks, mainly due to the rapidity by which we’ve reached that age. The fact that the Braves management offered to retire Tom tells me that they agonized over this decision. They may have even allowed him to continue in rehab longer than they would have allowed many other ball players simply because he is Tom Glavine. When Tom has cooled down a bit, perhaps he will find that he’s just mad because time & age finally caught up to him, disallowing the exit from his playing career the way he likely imagined & dreamed he might go out. He’d make a great color analyst for some MLB team (preferably for the Braves) if coaching isn’t something he’s leaning towards. Whatever he decides, I wish him all the best.

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Glavine has every right to be bitter and voice his opinion about how the Braves lied. It’s called 1st amendment rights. And as far as “doing himself a disservice” by not making waves and running the risk of hurting the poor Braves’ image? Shame on you. It’s his right – especially because the Braves weren’t honest with HIM.

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mark, so how do you think bobby will feel when he hears what glavine’s been saying, that he wants to “shove it up their…”?

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The Braves organizational loyalties should be first and foremost to the fans. They have the obligation to put the best, most competitive team on the field. Wren made a hard decision and fufilled that obligation.

I am a Glavine fan because of what he did for the Braves not because he is Tom Glavine. The fact of the matter is Hanson, by all coaches estimation, is better than Glavine.

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Tom Glavine should sue the Braves organization for fraud. They tricked him into joining their team just so they could slam the door in his face! OOuch!

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We usta have bums like this back in my day. Didn’t wanna retire…thought we owed ‘em somethin’. We’d hafta take em out to th docks and retire ‘em for good. Those were the days in Chicago. We usta go to this restaurant afterwards…they served up pompano in a brown paper bag. Served it with champagne. Ahh…champagne and pampano…nothin like it.

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As I posted yesterday, Glav hasd earned $128,000,000 over his career, most of it wearing a Braves uni.

Glavine should have taken the high road.

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I’d like to take Glavine, Smoltz AND Brett Favre and ship their spoiled asses to Afghanistan so they can get a reality check on life. Spend a week with some of our GIs, perhaps. For most of their adult lives they’ve heard that they’re great people, wonderful human beings with magical talents and gifts – and it’s ALL about them. Now they believe it. Good riddance. Let’s move on.

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TO: SOME GUYS SHOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY: YES, All stars should be treated differently. Most TOP NOTCH ORGANIZATIONS TREAT THEM THIS WAY.

There aren’t too many all star hall-of-famers on any given team. Plus, Smoltz, Maddux and HIM were the ones who put the franchise on the map.

Yes – there are a few who deserve to be treated differently than all the rest. Think before you write.

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You think anybody cud turn a 6-1-8 double play NOW?? They got nuthin’ but BUMS now!!

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The Franciscan friar, William of Ockham rates high in my book, slightly behind John Montagu, Fourth Earl of Sandwich. Both dudes simplified my life with their contributions. Of course I’m high on Frank Capra, Sinatra, and whoever invented the martini and the wonderbra.

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That’s “Damn” Yankee. “Dam is something on the south end of Lake Lanier, you uneducated hick!

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I still stand by what I wrote, but Glavine and Smoltz are both being babies. Glavine should retire, make nice with the Braves and become an elder statesman/ambassador for the team a la The Hammer.

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Of course we know there is no collective bargaining in baseball . . . but a union guy that wants to be “treated differently” is kinda refreshing. I hope Tom’s cold ring finger warms up now that he has time to work in the yard at home. Yesterday’s news.

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Flash Gordon, you are delusional.

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Glavine is showing his true colors. He is holding a grudge that affects the fans and his friends. By stating that he wasnt going to come to see Maddox honored is very childish. The fans still love him.
But he admitted that the move to let him go was financial. He understood that the only way to get the trade done was to release him.
so he is selfish enought that he would rather have his glory and ego stroked and not improve the team with what it needed and that was an outfielder and not another pitcher. I have always enjoyed watching the man play ball but these guys egos are ridiculous. Its about putting a winning team on the field. We are not owned by ted turner anymore. We cant just throw money out there to everyone and anyone. We are owned by a company and we have to work within the budget.
GROW UP GLAVINE and recognize that although it would have been nice to have you. They had to make the tuff love decision and decide what was best for the team.

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Tom Glavine, meet Brett Favre, Brett Favre, Tom Glavine.

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Flash,
That’s a joke, right?

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Nice article, Mark.
Again, MEMO TO JOHN SMOLTZ: You are in Boston. Don’t worry about the Braves, NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

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Its true that Smoltz and Glavine are ancient and are too old to pitch. But because both have done so much for the Braves organization, they should be given a pass and be made an exception for. In other words, if Smoltz and Glavine were in wheelchairs, they should still be allowed to pitch for the Braves. Both of those guys should continue to be paid by the Braves for the remainder of their lives as far as I’m concerned.

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glavine says he wont come to see maddox honored. what does that say he is? he doesnt care about his friends or the fans. Its all about his ego.

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Glavine may have done himself a disservice, but it is not like the results he got in his rehab starts suggested this release. That’s the problem, that’s a fact missing in this article’s analysis of the situation.

If he had continued to pitch and attain the results of his first rehab start, then no one would question this move. But he didn’t, he got better results with each start. We are also told, or it is implied, that the radar readings were faulty. Well if they were false for Glavine, they’re faulty for every pitcher including Hanson.

Lastly, the idea that putting Hanson in the 5th spot gives the Braves a better chance to win, is a hope. As great as Hanson has been and looked from Spring Training on, we still don’t know if the guy can win at the big league level. So that rationale is bumkus too.

Again, he did sound bitter to some, but it is not as if there are any circumstances that support what he says about the Braves’ handling of his situation. I hope for the Braves that he is wrong because karma is a ….well, you know.

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Once again- just when I think you can’t appear more ridiculous – I see this headline. Bradley go back to whatever it was before you tried to be a sports writer… you have no clue.
The Braves organization is totally classless, cold and this situation – along with a string of others – could have and SHOULD have been handled much more appropriately. Tommy has every right to call them out on how this was handled -as does everyone else – it was mishandled in the most inappropriate manner.

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AMEN to Dr. R. I AGREE!!

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Baby beater turns crybaby. The man fashioned a Hall of Fame career out of umpires that would call strikes as if the plate were 20 inches wide and babybeating those weak Pittsburg, Phildelphia, Montreal, and Florida teams all those years. When the chips were down this loser was only 14-16 in the post season. I remember my 10 year old daughter waiting 45 minutes through batting practice only to be told “I don’t sign on days when I’m pitching” by this wonderful role model. It’s perfect justice to see him old and worthless and whining like my daughter did that day!

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FlashGordon_ Please let me borrow your time machine as I have some unfinished prom business in the back seat of my parent’s car.

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I’d never heard of Ambrose Burnside. When I was little, my mom always told me to learn something new each day, so this meets the quota! I may have a martini now, as a salute to Frank, Dean, Sammy, Pete & Joey. (Yeah, and you too. I know you probably stick to your diet coke but hang out with me one afternoon or evening and you’ll be writing columns in sanskrit.)

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I personally lost respect for Glavine when he bolted Atlanta for the Mets. I always thought he was arrogant but no doubt he was a very good pitcher in his prime for the Braves. Yes, he was the player rep and thus felt he had or maybe was pressured to take the higher offer. I can get that to a point and my memory fails me but I am thinking there other teams besides the Mets and Braves bidding for his services back in 2002-Mark you might know this better than I. My problem was, why pick a divisional rival? Also, the standard of living in NYC is so much higher than in the ATL, not to mention having to have another home up there during the season, being away from his young children?? So, greed/business decision was the reason for him leaving back in 2002.

Fast forward to 2009, there is NO DOUBT the decision to release Glavine at least partially was financially driven-I actually agree with him on that. Just as the decision to call up Reyes and Medlin were stop gaps for the Braves to keep Hanson in the minors until after June 1st. Wren can say this is not true but this ownership group has proven to be very tight with money. But, back to Glavine, the Braves decided that Tommy Hanson was a better 5th starter than Tommy Glavine-a business decision and the correct move. The Braves have scouts that know what they are doing and those scouts advised them that Glavine could not get out hitters at the big league level. So, they told Tommy and he got huffy about it. I actually understand his reaction because any top level athlete is a fierce competitior and does not like to be told he can’t do something. He also doesn’t want to go out of baseball like this. But, I will be surprised if many teams line up for his services now. If he plays somewhere else, his reasons will be strictly for spite because he has publicly stated he would pitch in Atlanta or nowhere citing his family and knowing this would be his last year to play. Let’s just see what happens next.

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Mr. Glavine, I knew Dale Murphy and you’re no Dale Murphy!

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“Absolutely, they were hoping I got hurt, no question in my mind,” Glavine said.

Ya know, in all honesty, there are just some people in this world that could use a good bu++ Wh00p1n. Really, it would positively do them wonders in terms of bringing their outlook back into balance. But alas, lawyers. This is what they’ve created.

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From the reports I saw Glavine was only throwing in the 70’s. At that speed I could hit him and I’m past retirement. The Braves should have never resigned him. You never go backwards.

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mark you are right, can we please stop the madness of crying crocodile tears for a guy who has made over 100 mil playin baseball. glavine talking about loyalty is rich, he walked away in a tizzy to the hated mets cuz the braves wouldnt guarantee a 3rd yr for 10 or 11 mil and says its just business, now the braves decide he cant hack it anymore and suddenly their the bad guys, hey tom the braves would have you out there sat if they thought you could help, they dont, its just business tom. its was good enought for you 5 yrs ago, now take your medicine, thanks for the memories and stop crying. and mark if henson does well the braves fan will be singing the praises of letting tom go, its a business, right tom

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Tommy, it is just like what the doctor tells my mother at age 94. Some of the pains and strains and inabilities are just because of age. You were let go because there is a young 95+ mph arm in waiting. I agree it was handled wrong, but appears to be how Frank Wren handles things-last minute with no thought of the individual. What did you expect from management-look at what business are doing to their employees. Some just shut the doors and don’t even notify their employees. When was the last time you call and consoled one of them for being mistreated.

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Hey, Tommy it’s just baseball, not rocket science. It’s not like you lost you little old job at GM. I hope you saved a few dollars to pay the power bill and buy food for the kids. It’s not like you lost a REAL JOB.

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I Am Glavine

by Tom Glavine

I am Glavine, hear me roar

With numbers too big to ignore

And I’ve done too much to be kept off the team

Though I’ve won 300 games

Yet I still need more acclaim

Now the Braves have tried to hurt my self esteem

Whoa, yes, I am old

And my elbow feels the pain

The Braves have paid the price

For all the weight I’ve gained

For my ego, I will do anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am Glavine

They can bend but never break us

‘Cause it only serves to make us

More determined to achieve our sad revolts

And we’ll come back even stronger

We’re not rookies any longer

They’ll be sorry that they messed with me and Smoltz

Whoa, yes, I’m a jerk

Yes, and Smoltzie’s half-insane

And the Braves have made me rich

So why do I complain?

‘Cause I’m stupid, I don’t know anything

I am dumb (dumb)

I am irascible (iracible)

I am Glavine

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$8,000,000 for 63 innings last year. $1,000,000 fo zero innings this year. The mistake the Braves made was ever bringing him back. Glavine has been a shell of a pitcher for several years.

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Tom Glavine-another spoiled, over-paid ball player. Cry us a river you POOR mistreated rich kid. By the way, who made you such a rich kid. The fans, the braves or maybe both. But mainly the BRAVES.

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[...] Friday: In case you missed it, here’s what I thought of Tom Glavine’s appearance on 790 the Zone this [...]

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Smoltz and Glavine STAYED HURT and lived off of their legacy they built with the Braves. If Smoltz really loved the braves he would have stayed. Glavine left for greener pastures and got BLASTED everytime he faced Atlanta.
These guys were faithful to a certain extent and I feel the Braves have been faithful to a point. However, how to you tell a Smoltzy and a Glavy they are finished and not piss them off? They ran the joint forever and they they have to relinquish their reign.
So good luck Smoltz getting blasted in Boston, and good luck to Glavine who if he was good enough he would have be called to pitch. WE TRADED PLAYERS FOR YEARS BECAUSE YOU WERE HOLDING THEM UP BECAUSE OF YOUR STATURE WITH THE CLUB! WHEN YOU LEFT US FOR THE METS YOU SHOWED WHAT YOU WERE ALL ABOUT… GOOD RIDDANCE!
We have payed players like Mike Hampton, Paul Byrd, Smoltz and others who stayed on the DL and then bolted! Atlanta has to let the Hanson’s get their chance or they will end up getting traded and Atl regretting it like Adam Wainright and others… Glavine was only successful because umpires gave him the corners….

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Mark Bradley, am I reading too much into Frank Wren’s comment that “moves need to be made” to boost the offense? That seemed to imply that others are coming. Do you agree with my post earlier about dealing a pitcher later?

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Baseball is a business and the leaders can do whatever they want, Glavine did not warrant being treated the way he was (and Smoltz, whether you like him or not, is simply being a friend by saying what he said). If the Braves changed their minds after signing Glavine and decided to move on without him 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 or that the radar gun did not work right and that’s why they decided not to bring him to the majors——come on people, everyone knows that all that is baloney and anyone reading it with an ounce of sense knows its crap. Obviously, at that point, it became Wren and company trying to cover their behinds from a P.R. standpoint.

Wren and company now look stupid and petty and its not for what they did — we all know Tom Glavine has very little left in the tank — but for how they did it.

All Wren and Company had to do was say “We think the world of Tom, he was a key member of our championship team but given where we are in the 2009 pennant race, we changed our minds, decided the future is now and that we could better use our financial resources to strengthen our offense, and that it was best to cut ties with Tom at this point enabling him to sign with any other team of his choosing”. That’s it. No need to bad mouth Glavine and no need to explain away anything else.

This ain’t rocket science, people (with props to Stan Kasten).

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Bottom line is that the Braves do not deserve Glavine. They don’t deserve Chipper or Brian either. They WERE a “Class” team and that obviously is totally gone. From a management perspective, we have gone
“from first to worst”.

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The right decision but handled poorly. Wren just doesn’t seem to understand PR. Mark you need to coach him.

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Bradley, you do yourself a disservice every time you open your mouth.

You just can’t handle it because big stars like Glavine and Smoltz don’t know you from the man on the moon and could care less about what you have to say about them!

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I agree that there is no need to rip Tom Glavine or John Smoltz that were great bseball players and great people in the Braves organization. I will not ever do that. They feel the way they feel. I don’t think it’s a good idea to rip the Braves organization either if you’re a player. At this point, Glavine’s feelings are raw. It would probably have been best to say that he would have no comment until he had time to reflect on things. I’ve been where he is- not in baseball but in other organizations- and be told you’re no longer needed never feels good. So, I understand his expressing his feelings the way he did.

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Again, “results” on a rehab start aren’t just about getting out children.

The game is played to win so it is a result-oriented business. The Braves decided to send him to go pitch to “children” and he got them out.

But like the Braves, you Dr.R, want it both ways. You want to discount his results because he was pitching to “children”, yet you would have us believe that a child who also has only pitched to “children” (and done well) should be given a chance over the “adult”.

And as far as the velocity excuse goes, you folks using it along with the Braves need to get your stories straight. It was reported that he was hitting 86 mph which is plenty for Glavine. Highly touted Kris Medlen seems to top out at 88, so the velocity excuse doesn’t jibe. This is especially the case as his velocity (after surgery mind you) continued to slowly increased with each start. Again, that doesn’t suggest a guy who shouldn’t be given a chance to see if he actually could get major league hitter out.

He deserved, based on his results in Spring Training(remember that,curiously no one mentions his starts this Spring-when he wasn’t pitching only to “children” then) and rehab starts, to have his fate decided on the field and not in some backroom.

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Hey Smoltz, quit tampering with our team or I’ll call the commish. You’re in Boston now. mind your own business.

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Dead on accurate. Tommy G is one of my all-time favorites, and it pains me to see him go. Still hurt that his 300th win was in a Mets uniform. I was hoping that they would bring him back for one game like they did for Phil Niekro, but I guess that bridge is burned. It was all about money, but the smart money is on an all-star centerfielder and not a fifth starting who hopes to go 6 innings a start.

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Well, Mark…at least this article is about sports and not about your childish resentment for a man. I have to give you credit for righting the ship and getting back to actual journalism.

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Cutting Glavine and seeing what Hanson can do, $1 million + Hanson’s pro-rated minimum.

Blog respondents calling others classless by using name-calling and disguised cursing, priceless.

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The AJC should fire-up a comedy/poetry blog and make P Rose the blogmeister!

Really funny stuff…

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I read by a recent bLogger that Tom Glavine wanted to be treated like ROYALTY. Tom Glavine is royalty. Guys you all have short memories. Who do you think pitched the clinching game in the world series in 1995 that gave the Braves their lone world series in their run of 14 division titles? TOM GLAVINE SAVED THE CITY FROM UTTER EMBARRASSMENT. THINK ABOUT IT. IF TOM GLAVINE DOESNT PITCH A SHUTOUT IN THAT WORLD SERIES GAME AGAINST THE CLEVELAND INDIANS, IT IS CLEVELAND WHO WOULD HAVE WON THAT WORLD SERIES. PLEASE DONT EVER FORGET THAT. TOM GLAVINE IS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BRAVES NOT BEING THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. REWIND TO 1995 FOR A MINUTE. LETS SAY GLAVINE GETS ROCKED IN THAT CLINCHING WORLD SERIES GAME AGAINST THE INDIANS AND THE BRAVES LOSE THAT WORLD SERIES TO THE INDIANS. HOW DO YOU THINK THE CITY OF ATLANTA WOULD HAVE BEEN REMEMBERED FOR 14 STRAIGHT DIVISIONAL TITLES AND 14 STRAIGHT FAILURES OF NOT WINNING ANY CHAMPIONSHIPS. TO MY WAY OF THINKING, THE BRAVES WOULD NOT HAVE WON ANY WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS AT ALL DURING THAT 14 YEAR DIVISIONAL TITLE RUN. HOW EMBARRASING WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN. EVERY TIME SOMEONE TALKS ABOUT ATLANTA THEY WOULD SAY OK YEAH THATS THE CITY THAT WON 14 STRAIGNT DIVISIONAL TITLES AND CAME UP WITH ZILCH, NADA, NOTHING. DONT YOU KNOW THAT THE ONLY PERSON ON THIS PLANET WHO SAVED ATLANTA FROM BEING THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF THE WORLD. THAT MAN WHO DID THAT IS TOMMY “Terrific” Glavine. Folks, Dont ever forget it.

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This is coming from a guy who left us high and try a few years ago to chase the money the Mets were throwing at him. The Mets realized he was washed up but still commanding millions of dollars so they let him come back here.

Smoltz and Glavine were very big parts of our championship year and playoff era, but they’re has beens now who are getting pissed because the Braves are telling them enough is enough. Did Smoltz return all those millions he received a few years ago even though he only played a few games… no. Did Glavine come here and only play in a few games… yes. Did he make money… yes.

It’s embarrassing to watch grown, millionaires cry when someone else ‘gets’ them. They should have retired this past offseason and gone into the Hall with Maddox in a few years.

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Mark, you may be in for a raise. You are adding 2-3 blogs per day with who knows how many hits/comments thus keeping a LOT of fans talking about those subjects. Add to that, you also comment on some of the postings. Keep up the good work!

Could it have been handled better? Perhaps but it is hard to deny the Braves made the right decision for the team and fans. As fans we have great memories what Tommy G did for the Braves during that great stretch during the 90’s. As a fan, I will not forget. That was almost 10 years ago not and a new generation of players are here. It’s time to move on and cheer today’s Braves team to victory.

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Chris: “And you forget that he changed his mind and tried to undo it. The only reason Glavine pitched for the Mets for those years was because the Braves were being petty.”
Thats totally inaccurate. Loyalty runs both ways, and TG definitely turned his back on the Braves 6 years ago for a relatively modest pay difference. After he left, he lied about John Scheurholz not returning phone calls during negotiations. So JS took the unprecedented step of calling a news conference with Stan Kasten to dispute Glavine’s lies, even bringing his cell phone records to prove it was Glavine’s agent who didnt return the calls.
In JS book “Built to Win” (great book), Stan Kasten states he ran into Glavine at a Hawks game, and Glavine asked why they embarassed him with that news conference. Kasten replied it was because Glavine lied about him and the Braves, and Kasten would not stand for it.
Go do some homework to get the facts.

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The Braves paid him EIGHT MILLION cool ones for TWO wins last year. That’s FOUR MILLION per win. Who owes who here??? Get over it and go back to the Mets. I am for the name on the FRONT of the uniform, not the back.

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Baseball is a business. Some businesses consider their employees as valued members of the family. Some businesses consider their employees to be nameless, faceless comodities and could care less whether they live or die. There is always another nameless, faceless piece to take their place at a lower wage so management can pocket an unearned bonus. The Braves organization used to be the first type of business. Now they are the latter. I’m tired of supporting businesses like that. They take and take and never give back. The fact that something is business in no way excuses bad behavior.

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So Mighty Quinn, you think this season is OVER and TG should have been allowed to pitch? which means Hanson and probably Medlen would both have been at Gwinnett the whole year? Braves are 4 or 5 out. It wouldn’t take any more than a say 14-6 run, and they would be right in the mix. Phillies pitching and Mets team as a whole are not all that good.

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The Braves handled this poorly. If they were candid w/ Tom and the media, this would have all blown over. Guess what i LOVE Tom Glavine, but if the choice is a) upgrade the terrible outfield and use a minor leaguer in the 5 hole (which is what we’re already doing….) or (b) keep Tom Glavine in the 5th spot…. 90% + of fans are going to say upgrade the outfield.

This has been a really poor last 6 months for the Braves front office and this is another example of how they are blatantly trying to mislead their consumers about business decisions. It is 2009 you can’t manipulate public opinion based on relationships with Sports page writers anymore. The information will come out, and people are smart enough to dissect the publicly available facts.

Glavine maybe didnt do himself any favors, but he got screwed by the Braves who lost some credibility with their fans as a result. Will it be a permanent injury to any party no? But Frank Wren is not an executive who has demonstrated he can handle his organization’s media image in any way shape or form. He is doing some good things on getting some personnel pieces in place, so give credit where credit is due.

It is a new marketplace ladies and gentlemen. Brands that are transparent and honest with their customers will suceed at the expense of those who don’t. The Braves missed an opportunity here, and it may be a little smudge on Tommy Hanson’s debut – who is the next big thing for them.

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Excellent article; I couldn’t agree more.

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Great job Mark…excellent couple of the stories the past few days…really enjoy your articles…you don’t mix words…

On another note….

C’mon guys are we looking over our shoulder here at the past…wake up we’re not that team that won 14 Division titles not even close…its time keep our heads straight and look to the future, to the present…Tom Glavine is not going to help make this team a play-off club and you know what Tommy Hanson may not either…but then again, maybe he will…

And if he at least helps up stay in play-off contention…Nobody and I mean NOBODY will regret the move Frank Wren made to release a 43 year old pitcher to bring up a possible ace in the hole.

Wren did what he had to do to try and help this team win and win now…you can’t blame him cause he’s trying to make all of us happy by putting a winning team on the field. At least he’s trying!!!!

Steve

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Bobby got a little teary eyed when he discussed Glavine being released…probably because he knows Wren will be giving him the same treatment, in the not too distant future.

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Not after he got a one year extension. A GM gets rid of players quicker than he will get rid of a coach. I thought Bobby was gone last year when we didn’t go to the playoffs.

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I agree with what others have said that his seems awfully fishy. While the I agree that we have a much better team with Tommy Hanson in the rotation and Kris Medlen in the bullpen (a big wow here), things could have been handled better.

This argument that the Braves say Glavine was released because he didn’t have the velocity is only half the story. They should have simply said that the team is far better off with Hanson in the rotation now.

How about if Braves management said this:

“If things were different and we were in the bottom of the league in wins and we had no rotation to speak of, clearly, Tom Glavine would have made the team. As it is, we have a great pitching rotation and Hanson makes it that much better. We are in a tight pennant race and we cannot afford to give away even one game if it appears that we are not putting out our 100% best chance of winning on the field. You can all consider this a matter of circumstances. Tommy Hanson has been lights out in AAA. We feel that there is a big difference between the two pitchers and we do not have room for both at this time.”

“We respect Tom Glavine for what he has done for this organization and he will be a hall of famer for sure. We all wish him the best of luck should he decide to sign with another team or he ultimately decides to retire. In my book, Tom Glavine was one of the best and I hope that at some point the City of Atlanta and this organization we will honor that service. I am truly sorry Mr. Glavine that we have to make this decision. It was not an easy one–and may rank up there with the most difficult decisions we have ever had to make.”

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The Braves did Glavine a favor by releasing him because they could have just keep pitching him in minor league games for the rest of the season. At least now he has a chance to sign with another team. It’s sad that these multi-millionaire players have this sense of entitlement about them. I remember in 1988 the Dodgers released Don Sutton during the season and Sutton bad-mouthed the Dodgers just like Glavine did here. Apparently, the Dodgers knew what they were doing because they went on to win the WS. I hope the Braves do the same.

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Mr. Bradley, you are on a roll. I don’t know if Schultz is on vacation or if he ticked off Tim Hudson or something, but you’ve been popping out 2-3 great articles a day and it’s much appreciated.

This time last year (heck…this time 6 months ago) I was a huge fan of Glavine and Smoltz. I’m liking them less and less. For Smoltz, I’d like to point to the fact that when Trevor Hoffman was dumped by the Padres, he took out an ad in the paper thanking the fans and Pads for all the great years. Smoltz complained and pointed fingers. Now he’s still complaining.

And Glavine, well….2008 showed us that injuries can ruin a pitching staff (THREE of our starters were lost for the season and one of the remaining two was Mike Hampton). He was signed this offseason as an insurance. But it was an insurance it turns out that we didn’t need. What were the Braves supposed to do? Cancel his rehab a month ago because they absolutely KNEW that they wouldn’t need him now?

I wish aging athletes would get over themselves and realize that teams, even teams they’ve been loyal to for most of their careers, are very cautious and sometimes unenthusiastic about keeping them.

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Anyone would be bitter about being treated this way. Anyone. So get over it Bradley.

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Again, shut up Tom Glavine – you got your retirement package last year when the Braves spent EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS for your TWO wins. You lied to them before you bolted for the mets. How can you accuse them of the same behavior you taught?

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Are we that pathetic of an organization – so broke that we decided to cut a Brave Hall Of Famer who wasn’t given the opportunity he was promised – to rehab and see if he could still fit in at the major league level – all for a wopping one mill? Jeez – it’s embarassing when you compare our approach to that of teams like the Yankees, Cardinals (which also have a small/medium payroll), etc. Teams that try to do what’s right to their special players, rather than show them the door for a buck.

Too bad – I thought the Braves were better than that.

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Mark is unhinged! And I mean that in a positive way. First Smoltz then Glavine, you have really taken the gloves off and are writing what these guys what they don’t want to read. The Braves may not have handled the situation very well, but whining is not worthy of either of these two greats. Keep up the good work Mark.

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So, why did the Braves go down this road in the first place? Velocity was a problem? Who do they think they are kidding. The Braves knew what they were going to get when they signed him. His signing was a PR move in the wake of the Smoltz debacle. So, it was a “business” decsion. Tell you what, I will start watching CNBC instead of the Braves. If I am going to watch “business” decisions, I might as well watch actual professionals.

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So what if Glavin joins a rival team and out pitches whoever the Braves have as a fifth starter? At the end of the day and the season, the Braves will be a better team for having released him.

To my knowledge, Maddux has not opened his mouth spewing bitterness and hurt feelings. Perhaps, he is the true classy professional. Joe DiMaggio —- now there is a true legend with class. Too bad Glavin and Smoltz have not been such classy legends.

Their contracts have been fulfilled otherwise they would be filing grievances with the player’s union.

Glavin and Smoltz ought to buy the team from LIberty. Then they could run it the way they see fit.

So guys, let the fans love you, remember you and honor you for all you did as legends in your own minds and time, but let the TEAM move on!

By the way, are you as weary of the Jeff Francouer TV Spotlight on Sports South rain delay or postponement programming as I am?

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MB, I admire your courage in speaking the truth. I am sure it is hard to face the music of retirement at age 43, but it is time. Forty three in baseball certainly equals at least 65 in the real world.

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All for one mill. dollars??? And I thought the Braves were somewhat of a classy organization like my Yanks, and the stinking Red Sox. ((LOL)) You’re small time, Atlanta!!

- Yankee Bob

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Tom, go back to New York. You forgot about “loyalty” to family and Braves when you left last time – for money. And, don’t presume to judge other’s intentions; you are not a mind reader.

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One more thing, thanks to Mark Bradley for getting after both Smoltz and Glavine. The boys on 790TheZone took turns spooning Tommy G in between softball questions.

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I doubt Glavine would have complained if it had been any other team, but he seems to think the Braves owe him special treatment. I’m glad Wren isn’t sacrificing the Braves potential success over sentimentality.

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Chris said, “Glavine maybe didnt do himself any favors, but he got screwed by the Braves who lost some credibility with their fans as a result. Will it be a permanent injury to any party no?”

However Chris… We are living in a different time when things move fast. What is in today’s news will be forgotten tomorrow. People are generally quite greedy and selfish nowadays–I’m talking about everyone including fans. It’s not like it used to be. Frankly, I don’t think people will remember this event at all given that the team will be improved. That’s all people care about. Screw the individuals and the personalities, they say.

You can just tell this is a different world by visiting any blog or chat room. There is very little respect for others. All that matters is “ME” and in this case MY TEAM.

Personally, I think the situation could have been handled differently even though I still believe that the team is better off with Hanson in the rotation.

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Last time I checked the Braves were in the baseball business and that business is to win games. As fans that is what we all want, right????? I have a hard time feeling bad for someone who has been paid quite well to play a child’s game. I got over the sentimental part of my views of professional athletes when free agency came around. Players follow the money and management decides if that player is a prudent use of that money or not.

It seems that a few think that the Braves should be in the “Gold Watch” business. Tom got his watch. It was called $1M to make a comeback. I did not realize the cost of “gold watches” these days is $2M. Again, I prefer the Braves being in the baseball business. It is obvious with Liberty Media owning the team that the purse strings are pulled a little tighter than when Turner owned them. Let’s face facts too that the economy stinks and attendance is down. I can’t say I blame the Braves. I would rather see us spend our resources on young talent, see Nick McClouth, rather than write checks to stroke the egos of aging arms. Tommy Hanson is the better pitcher today. Please Mr. Glavine, don’t take offense. You are a legit Hall of Famer and will be given your due for a tremendous career. Whining at the end of it just belittles your accomplishments.

I believe Tom was playing a bit of poker with the Braves too. Suppose he knew he didn’t have it. You could make a case that he keeps quiet and hope the Braves keep him and he collects. If they don’t and release you then you get to play the millionaire victim. If I was his agent, that is how I would have advised my client.

If he still has the stuff, then we will see him sign with one of the four supposed teams interested in his services which was also thrown out there by his agent.

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The question I have is, how bad was he at Gwinnett? He certainly didn’t seem to think he was unable to pitch, but then again, what athlete ever does? Are we talking about a guy who was absolutely going to get completely raked once he got back to the bigs? Or are we talking about a guy who was borderline? If is the former, you’ve got to cut him. If it’s the latter? Maybe we owed him a shot. Either way, it’s natural that Glavine would be upset on the day after. As one poster said, putting a microphone in front of a guy who just got fired is going to have a predictable result. But my guess is that a week or two from now he’ll see it differently.

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The Braves should have kept it simple instead of bad mouthing Glavine. Just say “We think we have a better chance to win with Hanson over Glavine”. People respect honesty as long as you don’t kick him when he is down. No need to say that fastball was only 80mph even though the gun lied and said 84 mph. It makes you look like you are reaching for reasons not to make the fan base mad. With Smoltz say that we can’t afford to guarantee money like the red sox can. The decisions were both right but the statements were awful.

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Where was all this whining when the Braves organization disbanded healthy young black player after player because they made a little noise.

“”Glavine said Braves officials sometimes “don’t look at players and take into account what they’ve done on the field, what they’ve done off the field, what they’ve meant to the organization, what they’ve meant to the city, and say, ‘wait, these guys deserve to be treated a little bit differently than this business model we have.’”

Geez these guys needed to be treated well also but they weren’t

Justice, Gant, Jordan, Lofton, Willie Harris,etc. etc. were all dismissed from the club when they were contributing EVERYDAY! They have one thing in common. They are black men playing baseball for an organization that doesn’t want them. Check out the current roster. Why do you think the Heyward kid is languishing in the minors – he’s better than the current crop of outfielders including the new guy.

Cry me a river Glavine…you blew it with me during the strike season. As for Smoltz grow up!
Keep it up Bradley that’s why I follow you on twitter. Good stuff.

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Mark:
How should the Brave’s have handled the Smoltz and Glavine situation? They should have realized (and probably did) that having both of them on the roster last year was a risky gamble, that they lost. They should have committed to signing free agents, making trades for starting pitching, or using some of their young arms to fill the holes in the rotation. Since this is what they ended up doing anyway, it begs the question: why screw around with Smoltz or Glavine at all in the offseason? The answer is that either you want an inexpensive insurance policy if you can’t execute your plan, or you want to treat your certain hall of famers in a respectful way,at the end of their career.

I doubt that either Smoltz or Glavine would have had a problem if the Brave’s simply stated at the end of last season…”we’ve decided to go in another direction.” But trying to structure, and structuring incentive deals that the team could “afford” and then essentially reneging on the deal is really bad form for an organization that is generally considered to be quite classy by most in the baseball fraternity. The only reason we avoided a similar soap opera with Mad Dog is because he didn’t even consider going down this road. Memo to Chipper, and any other potential Brave’s hall of famer…don’t hold your breath on being shown respect with the Brave’s in the twilight of your career.

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Glavine is just another in a long line of selfish, egocentric, selfish, acrid, selfish, over-paid, selfish pro athletes! Did I mention selfish also?

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For everyone that says we mishandled this Glavine fiasco.. I’ll say it again even though its been said a thousand times over again. He dogged us and went to the freakin’ Mets for more money.

Always remember the classic Tom Hank’s quote: “There’s no crying in baseball..”

Tommy, you were my favorite Brave.. but enough is enough.

Good Luck on Sunday, Mr. Hanson. Go Braves!

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Tom Glavine has made over $130 million playing baseball, most of it from the Atlanta Braves. When it was to HIS benefit to go elsewhere, to the Mets, he left. Now, it is probably to the Braves benefit that he GO, so he is gone, with, of course, all the tens of millions he received. Should the Braves let a talented rookie like Tommy Hanson sit down in the minor leagues just so Glavine can use Turner Field as his personal little playground? Would HE have been willing to remain in the minors at Hanson’s age so that a faded veteran could occupy a roster spot? Most of these star athletes live in a dream world where a million bucks is like a dime, while the rest of us know that, no matter how hard we work and how competent we might be, most companies will show us the door if they can save a dollar by hiring somebody who’ll get the job done for less money. Smoltz and Glavine were top-notch pitchers, but they are also overgrown babies.

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About time the truth comes out.

Smoltz & Glavine = old, NEVER healthy. I repeat: These two CANNOT STAY HEALTHY. They had their fun here, winning the world series and a million division titles. This isn’t 1995–it’s 2009. These two guys stink nowadays and we shouldn’t have to waste our moeny in this economy on 45 year old bums.

Smoltz, on the other hand, plays golf all summer and gives cute interviews on teh radio. Then when it’s time to play, he gets hurt.

What class acts.

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Mr. Bradley,

To answer your question: it would have been more acceptable, or at least understandable, if the Braves had either not re-signed Glavine in the spring, or not raised such hopes over the rehab assignments. I can’t speak for what Glavine himself thought, but as someone who has been a fan of his for 20 years now, I had been telling people for weeks that my plan was to go to Turner Field to see him start again.

Not wanting to spend $1m on a 43-year-old coming off of shoulder surgery makes perfect sense… so why sign the contract back in the spring? Wasn’t Glavine a more dubious investment after the rehab starts than before? Why not structure things more cautiously at the outset, and be more careful as to how the rehab is publicized? Certainly as of earlier this week Jim Powell and Lemke were talking as if they expected Glavine to be promoted.

I agree that Glavine is doing himself no favors by speaking while he’s still upset. (It’s the sports-talk-radio equivalent of waiting 24 hours before sending an angry email.) And I have not regarded Smoltz the Homophobe as having much class for a while now. But it does seem to me that the Braves would have a lot less bitterness and disappointment on their hands now if they hadn’t raised expectations earlier.

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Bradley, I hate you and every article you write. In my journalism classes I use your op/ed’s to show how far the AJC has fallen as a paper. But DAMMIT YOU ARE RIGHT! From this day forward I am a reformed Mark Bradley fan. Never have wrote two more acurate articles about these two guys than you did today. My group of friends and I have discussed for several years now that Smoltz is an egomaniac who always thinks somebody is out to get him, that’s how he does great. The Glavine situation we have, well hell the fact of the matter is Frank Wren has a job and it’s not to appease a bunch of old veteran pitchers but to win ball games. He looked at the facts and said you know what, Tommy Hanson gives us the best chance to do that so we’re going with him. Sorry guys, you were great pitchers but the time has come for us to win, something this team couldn’t do last year with a pitching duo of Smoltz and Glavine.

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Should have said “life”.

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Pittsburgh Pirates fan here, just checking the AJC for any article on Nate McLouth when I ran across this. You guys got a good one in Nate, all class, all hustle – perfect example of what you want in a ballplayer. On the other hand, you have to read articles like this and the Smoltz article from this horse’s butt. Glad I don’t live in Atlanta

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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. He should have known it was past time to retire. I hate seeing guys hang on too long after their skills / bodies start to fade. After all these years Glavine should know it’s a BUSINESS. Get over it !

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Wolf – there’s a larger picture here. Yes Glavine made that much money as a Brave. However, the benefit is always reciprocal – lame comment, Wolf. How much did the Braves profit from him too over that time? The fannies in the seats, merchandising, tv coverage, etc? So, it’s not about how much he made. What it is about is how an organization treats those few that they call – their hall-of-famers. Big picture, Wolf.

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Glavine seems to forget the most important thing of all: he was paid to pitch. The Braves do not owe him anything. I don’t blame them for cutting him. Most high school pitchers can bring it faster than high 70’s to low 80’s. So go somewhere else and cry! I hope he signs with a NL team and he pitches against the Braves. They owned him when he pitched for the Mets.

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You think Tom Glavine did himself a disservice by speaking ?!?!?!?

Have you ever heard MIKE VICK or one of his brain-numb, chest-thumping, inarticulate, foul-mouthed “Supporters” speak?

MO – Rons !

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I would rather have McClouth and Hanson over Glavine and Morton.The hell with Glavine he signed with our rival 5 years ago.He is a punk you can see it on his face.No wonder his 1st wife left him for a bartender.

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wolf:
a couple points to keep in mind: 1) Glavine was going to make the $130MM somewhere, because of the pitcher he is. 2) He has stated publicly that when he was a free agent, he provided the Brave’s with a salary number that he considered fair. The Met’s trumped that number. Glavine then came back to the Brave’s and said all he wanted from them was his initial offer. He did not demand that they match the Met’s offer. When the Brave’s refused to pay him what he thought was fair (and below what the Met’s were willing to pay him)he concluded that the Brave’s really didn’t want him. What would you, or any other Brave’s fan have done in a similar situation? 3)If the situation were reversed between him and Hanson what would he have done? Not a whole helluva lot because there is nothing you can do except wait your turn!

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Please view the following link and enjoy a proper farewell to Smoltz and Glavine. See ya boys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQA49NZAyls

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Hey Mark – great column, as always. You hit upon the real – but hard to accept – truth….. that Tom Glavine is probably past his prime as a MLB pitcher, and that the Braves have finally hit upon the time where they have to move on from the “glory days” of the 1990s and move on. As they say, all good things must come to an end…. it’s just hard for fans when those “things” are the careers of great, legendary Braves that meant so much to this team and this city like Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux, Javy Lopez, Terry Pendleton, Sid Bream, Andres Gallaraga, David Justice, Ron Gant, Steve Avery, Fred McGriff, etc.

I don’t know who’s really right in this weeks’ scenario (personally, I think both parties share blame – Glavine IS acting like a bitter athlete who doesn’t realize he’s 43 and out of gas, and the Braves did NOT handle this with much tact), but I will say this, from a fan’s perspective: When I was 21 and in college, the 1991 Braves electrified this city and this region unlike any other team (except the early 1980s UGA football team). And I think in the minds of many fans (myself included), I went into the 2008 season last spring with the excitement of “Hey, we’ve got Tommy Glavine and John Smoltz back in the rotation!” Only, this was NOT the Glavine and Smoltz of 1991 or 1992 or 1995 or even 1998 or 1999… these were almost-mid-40s guys who have thrown thousands of innings and who are starting to break down. I’m almost as old as Tom Glavine, and I know my body is not as sharp as it was 10 years ago… but it’s hard for us guys to accept. And I guess it’s hard for us fans to accept that these guys probably ARE past their prime… I just hope we all let some time go by, heal the wounds, and in 5 or 6 or 8 or 10 years, when we have some reunions to honor the great Braves teams of the 90s, or Cox’s retirement, or the opening of a new stadium, or the 20th or 25th anniversary of the 1995 World Series championship…. well, I hope we all can cheer these guys one more time and I hope they will be proud to be called Atlanta Braves.

Good luck, Tom…. don’t be bitter, don’t be mad, don’t shun the Braves forever…. and good luck Braves…. you’d better make this look like the right decision! I hope this will work out for everyone…. but only time will tell.

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Glavine is another one of the spoiled players that thinks he can still play.

Come on man. The guy has pitced 10 years too long and is lucky for that long of a career. When was the last winning season he had with the Braves ? 1999 ?

He has made about 100 million over his time with the Braves. They should have traded him a long time ago. Enough is enough. There are so many more young pictures with good arms that can pitch.

Stop crying Glavine and retire will ya.

Greedy million dollar athletes are something to behold.

Chipper jones should be next to go.

Remember Andrew Jones – another guy that collected millions from the Braves and hardly showed up when needed. Is he still with the Dodgers after they paid him another 20 million ? what the holy geez Louise

GO BRAVES !

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Good job Mark. He left us for the Mets so he doesn’t get points. He got a million dollars to try. It didn’t work. They cut him. Same as any job where you can’t perform. Also same the Galvine comments are the same as any fired ex-employee would make. Get over it folks. It isn’t 1991. That was a long time ago. The Braves are trying to win games not run an aging superstar retirement home.

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Tom Glavine should just go home and count his money. It’s gotta be rough earning ONLY 1 million dollars to try and make the team

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Glavine said “certain players deserve to be treated differently”. Whatever dude. I want to see the Braves put the best team out there and win TODAY.

The Braves played it right. If one of our starters had gotten hurt….or…..if Hanson and Medlen werent ready to step in…..then having Glavine has a back-up option was there. However, when none of those things happened, then it was time to let the “insurance policy” lapse (Tom Glavine). After last year’s debacle that was called our starting pitching……I applaud the Braves for “hedging their bets”.

Because of the Braves need for OFFENSE, throwing money at Tom Glavine, when we do not need starting pitching, is foolish and shows a weak minded approach to caving in to sentimental fans. Braves management do not owe you “anything”. The fans (paying customers who either pay by buying a ticket…or..who “pay” by watching the commercials during telecasts..or..as in my case, pay for the MLB Extra Innings package. I paid $179 for a full season so I could watch EVERY Braves game. I didnt pay that kind of money to watch the Braves not make every effort to put the BEST team they can out there.

Glavine, the Braves owe it to fans like ME, to put the best team out there. They dont owe anything to you. Catering to you, in fact, lessens the return on my investment (enjoying the best product the Braves can put out there). I appreciate what you did for the Braves in the past. You were compensated handsomely in the past for it. However, your accomplishments were in the PAST. I’m paying to watch the Braves of TODAY put the best product out there. I want to see Tommy Hanson pitch in the 5th spot of the rotation (not because I like him personally….not because I have anything against you……but because I want to see the better pitcher TODAY help the Braves win).

Thank you Frank Wren for having the courage to do the right things for the Braves team. Now if you can muster up the courage to cut loose of Jeff Franceour, then the Braves will truly be putting forth the best lineup they can (playing Franceour in right field while keeping Matt Diaz on the bench does not give the Braves the best chance to win right now). Again, I’m not saying that Matt Diaz is the “answer”. I’m saying that as the roster is set now, Jeff Franceour is a big time liability at the plate. We need to put him behind us and move on.

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Glavine: you made a zillion dollars pitching a baseball during the same time most Americans made less than one million, and now you’re pissed because you weren’t fired in a special way? Grow up, kid. You don’t deserve any more than any other spoiled baseball player. I remember when you were quoted in this very newspaper that you had no idea who Warren Spahn was.

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Braves 70: I love the way people make statements about things of which they know so little. Number 1, you cannot know what the Braves knew when they signed the contract with Tom Glavine other than they were willing to pay $1 million to rehab his arm and try to make the team. The roster bonus indicates that everyone knew there was the possibility that Glavine would not make it back, that is why the contract was structured as it was. The more he pitched, the more he made. If he didn’t pitch, he still got the $1 million. Sounds fair to me.

In your other statement I assume that you mean the Braves were not “respectful” of players who had been a part of their success. As to David Justice, I am confused, I thought everyone was saying that the Braves won the World Series because of Glavine, now its Justice. David Justice was not happy in Atlanta. He made that clear. He was traded. Stuff happens. Ron Gant violated a provision of his contract with the Atlanta Braves when he chose to ride a motorcycle. He got paid anyway. Who was not respectful to who?

As to Maddux, his contract ran its course. Neither party was obligated to enter into another contract. Being fired is being term before your specified term of employment ends. That did not happen. The Braves made a decision that Maddux no longer possessed the skills that they required at that time. Are you saying that because someone at one time had a contract with the Braves, the Braves have to keep resigning them until the player leaves or dies of old age?

This is a business. Tom Glavine said when he left for the Mets that “This is business, I am doing this for my family.” The Braves showed him any respect due him by signing him for $8,000,000.00 last year, for which they got no return. This is business, Frank Wren is doing this for the team and the other players on it. Get over it.

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braves70: “Ron Gant provided years of great service and was dumped when he got injured on that motorcycle”
Are you kidding me? Dumped rightfully so, as it was a clear breach of his contract. What good is a baseball player with a broken leg? Can you imagine what Gant and the union would have done had the Braves violated that contract? Cmon man

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ESPN just reported Braves looking at Brad Penney from Red Sox; no other details.

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It has been noted that Atlanta may wait and see what Nate McLouth does before making any more outfield moves. That is likely so. IF the Braves do determine that they need more punch from their outfield- which I think they will- I can see them looking in two different directions. ESPN’s Rob Neyer says that he could see Atlanta talking to the Colorado Rockies about Ryan Spilborghs (.328 OBP, .263 AVG, 5 HR, 25 RBI). I also read on FoxSports.com that Atlanta had talked to the Florida Marlins about Cody Ross (.309 OBP, .259 AVG, 8 HR, 33 RBI). Spilborghs is now the Rox fifth outfielder. Atlanta was said to have talked to the Fish about Ross, but Florda called it off. Florida is now said to be willing to listen. I think that Ross may have been a discussion prior to McLouth because the Marlins were said to be interested in young pitching. Spilborghs may be a name to watch as the season wears on. Both these teams, however, would likely want young prospects and I don’t think either of these two players make the kind of impact that would dictate trading above average prospects for. The Braves will likely dangle established veterans when and if they make another trade for a bat.

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If it was just Glavine calling the Braves liars – but it isnt

In the past few months alone Furcal, Smoltz, and Glavine have all basically said the franchise mouthpieces lie – are all those players mean nasty and evil? or are they RIGHT

Methinks the latter

Braves have become one of the most classless organizations in pro sports

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Atlanta “fans” deserve your reputation. Look at how you treat one of the greatest players in your team’s history. Some of you are still holding grudges from years past even though he came back home on the cheap. Maybe the fans in Miami are worse, but you Atlanta fans have to be the worst in the country. Loserville indeed!

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“They’re trying to win games”

If they’re so damn serious about winning games, then why not get rid of Cox, who loses more of them every year than any 5 of his pklayers combined

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Enter your comments here

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I 100% agree with Wren’s decision, I’m glad the Braves are moving on from the past. It’s time to start looking toward the future and I commend Frank for having the beans to make this kind of decision. Tom Glavine needs to realize that he’s not the Glavine of 15 years ago, he’s 43 and coming off two surgeries while his fastball maxes out at 80 mph. I only hope that he comes to the realization that it’s time to hang em’ up. I would much rather watch Tommy Hanson than Tommy Glavine at this point.

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Reality Time: “Braves 70: I love the way people make statements about things of which they know so little……..”
Thanks for the REALITY check…great post!

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I know more about Braves baseball form the last 39 years than you jerks could ever know. Grow up you little twits.

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Once again Bradley has it wrong. If the Braves weren’t going to let him pitch then they should have been done with it before the season. To get him to this point and then dump him is classless any way you cut it. This is another in a long line of backstabbibgs-Niekro, Murphy, Justice,etc.. I wonder if Chipper is looking over his shoulder now. The Braves have always prided themselves as being a first class organization. A first class organization does not treat someone like that-business or not. Glavine went to the Mets and many seem to think that this is his commupence for that. How soon we forget. Without Glavine I doubt we win the World Series in 1995. At least give him a chance to prove he could no longer pitch. If he couldn’t he would have been the first one to say so. Smoltz saw the writing on the wall as did Furcal. I am still a fan but this has tainted my view of how they do things.

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BringonHanson, Robert is a pathetic loser who haunts AJC baseball blogs doing nothing but saying Bobby Cox should be fired. Robert should be a first-ballot selection for the loser hall of fame.

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braves70 – I’m sorry you’re not a good enough fan retire or you’re fired…

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braves70: “I know more about Braves baseball form the last 39 years than you jerks could ever know. Grow up you little twits”
Rule #1 when frustrated due to losing the debate: resort to name calling.

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ok so Atlanta is interested in Brad Penny??? First Question is why? Second question is who are they going to give up Francouer? Then Who plays RF? And that means possibly bumb Kenshin to the Bullpen which mean we may have a guy with a $23 M dollar contract in the bullpen?

I’m so confused

PS

The pic of Glavine on the front page is absolutely hilarious

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Braves70…………..so what if all of what you said is true? As a Braves fan who wants to see the team put the best team out there that they can……I realize that economics and budgets play a big part in fielding a team.

Signing Tom Glavine to the contract that they signed him to did not legally “obligate” them to put him on the roster. He had to “make the team”. They gave him $1 mil to sign while he rehabilitated his arm. A couple of days ago, they decided that adding him to the roster was not necessary. So they cut him. Again, I applaud the Braves for “hedging their bets”.

For you to say that Braves management is cheap is foolish. Do you realize how much the Braves paid out in salaries last year to players who were hurt? Mike Hampton $18 mil (was basically a 5 inning guy for the 13 starts he made). John Smoltz $13 mil (for 5 starts), Tom Glavine $8 mil (another 5 inning guy for 13 starts), Tim Hudson $13 mil (22 starts). Basically the Braves forked out $52 mil for 53 starts…out of 162 games. So tell me, how is that being cheap?

The Braves are willing to spend money. However, they cannot afford to pay precious payroll dollars to injured, over the hill, past their prime players who take too long to come back from injury. So the Braves did not resign those injured players (Hudson’s $13 mil comes off the books after this year). What the Braves did was go out and pay good money to starting pitchers who have a HISTORY of being durable. Derek Lowe $15 mil, Javier Vazquez $11.5 mil, Kenshin Kawakami $8.3 mil. How is that being cheap, MORON? Plus those guys consistently go 6-7 innings pretty much every start.

The Braves resigned Chipper Jones to an extension averaging approximately $13 mil a year. If that is “cheap”, then I’d like to know what “expensive” is then.

I was a Ron Gant fan. However he choose to partake in an activity (riding a motorcycle) that put his career at risk. The Braves could not afford to pay him good money that he surely would have been awarded in arbitration to be hurt for the whole year. His actions hurt the Braves. The Braves were depending on him to hit home runs while playing the outfield. The Braves had no choice but to let him go.

David Justice had his best years with the Braves. If you were to take time to remember what led up to him being traded…Justice was hurt during the 1996 season. He played in only 40 games that year. The Braves didnt know what they were going to get in 1997. Plus his contract demands were too high for the Braves to meet.

Tom Glavine was not worth the money that the Mets paid him. 61-56 with an ERA over 4 are not numbers that I would consider worth the $51 mil that the Mets paid him during those 5 years. The Braves did right in not signing him back in 2003. Actually he helped us because we ended pounding him pretty much every time he pitched against us.

Greg Maddux accepting arbitration and getting awarded $15 mil basically busted the Braves budget that year. I understand why the Braves offered him arbitration. They wanted the draft picks that would come from another team signing him. However when he realized that the market was not there for him, he accepted their offer. That forced them to basically give away Kevin Millwood. After that, the Braves wisely quit offering arbitration to free agent players that they didnt want to resign. Imagine the uproar if the Braves had offered arbitration to Andruw Jones last year and he had accepted? Notice that when the Braves let Greg Maddux go after the 2003 season, the Cubs only offered him $6 mil for the 2004 season. After that 2004 season, he was no better than a journeyman pitcher.

If the Braves had given Glavine and Maddux big contracts back in 2003….then there is no way the Braves win the division in 2004 and 2005. And we would have been far worse off in the subsequent years.

After this year, the Braves will be rid of big contracts from injured players. If the Braves are smart, they can improve the team, and still have financial flexibility to acquire a good player should a significant injury occur in the future (which will because injuries do happen). However if a player has a history of significant injuries, it is not wise to sign him to big money for a lot of years.

Again, I wish that some of you so-called Braves fans would actually take the time to use some reasoning and logic when making posts. Some of you morons have short memories. Or maybe some of you are simply unable to think without emotion (kind of like how Jeff Franceour is unable to quit swinging through pitches).

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Great article Mark. This release was one of the smartest moves I’ve seen by Wren yet. Glavine’s pride is hurt but he’s made a gazillion dollars over his career that should easily assuage his hurt feelies. If he were a $6.50/hour worker, he’d be canned in the same way if he weren’t what the company wanted. Here today, gone tomorrow. That’s life Glavine OLD boy when you don’t cut the mustard.

If another team seriously wants to pick his worn out body up and give him another gazillion bucks to ride the pine with “sore shoulder” or “sore elbow” then I say great. Great for them, great for him. I’m just glad the Glavine era is finally ending here so we can let go of the past and continue to build to the future.

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Mark, to answer your question, I do not think the Braves mishandled things with Glavine and/or Smoltz. Its business period. A lot of money was on the table and the organization had to make a decision. It didn’t really bother Glavine or Smoltz too much to leave and go to another team for more money. Its Major League Baseball and its a business not the local baseball little league that meets on Saturday mornings for a game. I liked these guys a lot more when it was the early 90’s and their pockets weren’t so heavy with the cash. They were more humble then and not so whiney.

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Enough of the 75 MPH “blazing” fastballs from Glavine, the sore shoulders, and “rehab starts”. Give me a break.

You WERE a great pitcher, but your time is over. Go play golf.

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“Robert, Bobby Cox loses more games a year than any five players combined? That’s pretty stern stuff about a Hall of Famer.”

Voting Bobby Cox into the Hall Of Fame would be the equivalent of taking a dump on the Mona Lisa

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This would all be different if Glavine’s stats for last year WERE NOT: W-L 2-4 with a 5.54 era, 37BB’s/37K’s and 11hr’s in 13 starts! Before he was hurt! He demanded a starting spot and WOULD NOT got to the bullpen to “help out the team”. His control is his MO… It wasn’t there last year, why would it come back after surgery? Loyalty? Where? Option 1: Tom Glavine or Option 2: Tommy Hanson AND Nate McLouth… Not really a decision. Thank you Glavine as a fan, but shut up!

Move on people it’s not the 90’s anymore! 81-83mph fastball is off for Glavine, I don’t care what he says! Oh, and Smoltz needs to shut up too… How many millions do you have for the 3 years you were injured and didn’t pitch??? Yea, the Braves aren’t loyal…

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Dave in Tampa……….I would love to see Glavine sign with the Mets or Phillies. What was Glavine’s record against the Braves while he was with the Mets? Something like 2-8 with an ERA over 5? I’m not exactly sure. Can someone please tell me what the precise stats were?

Robert…….Rafael Furcal’s agent is the one who lied and did the classless thing of having the Braves fax over and offer sheet for them to sign…only to take it to the Dodgers in an attempt for them to up the ante. Technically, they were within their legal rights to do that. Just like the Braves were well within their legal rights to cut Glavine. Smoltz not only got paid $13 mil last year while only making 5 starts last year….but he also wanted the Braves to fork over $10 mil for this year (even though he has yet to pitch). I said in the winter that I didnt want the Braves to pay him anything.

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Just a follow up: I believe that if Glavine had not hurt himself again in April that the Braves would have called him up to be the 5th starter. Once, he couldn’t go in April and the season wore on management was faced with situations that were different than the April scenario.

What’s the old adage – if you don’t like the weather, stick around 15 minutes and it will change. The same goes for baseball seasons. Team’s seasons often go down with an injured star or catapult forward on a strategic trade. Glavine received $1,000,000 for his rehab efforts. Its sad that he was hurt in April because after that things changed.

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Wah, wah, wah.

He’s lucky in that #1: over the years, the Braves scored runs for him. If they’d scored as many for Smoltz, he’d have won 30 games every year, and #2: the umpires decided to widen the strike zone by four feet.

Go away and spend that extra money you got from the Mets and be quiet.

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Okay, a poll. We are stacked with pitching, mostly young pitching, for the first time in years. With the moves that the front office is making to improve the offense, I want to know how many people think giving Glavine a handful of starts is worth the potential damage to the Braves playoff hopes, relative to pitching Hanson or Medlin.

For the record, I do think the Braves handled this badly. They certainly made it sound like Glavine would be rejoining the team any time. But that doesn’t change the question – would you risk missing the playoffs to provide Glavine with some feel-good starts?

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I 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.

And the easy argument is that if TG couldn’t get anyone out, then there is no reason to let him pitch, but if his mates knew that it was his last game, they would step up and play to get him the win. If Glavine knew it was his last game, then he would throw everything he had out there to get himself the win. The fans would be out in full force, and they would have 42000 fans cheering for him the way they did in the 95 world series, and it would have been a magical night.

Imagine the positive publicity from Wednesday to Sunday that they would have. Wednesday they announce that they are activating Glavine for his last game on Saturday against the Brewers, AND they announce the deal that they made to acquire McLouth. Thursday and Friday they have the build up to the game on the local channels, and they have Sportscenter talking about the storied career of Glavine and what he provided to the sport (as a benefit, they have the parallels between Randy Johnson and Glavine being the last two to win 300 games, and are able to equate the two best left-handed pitchers of this generation). On Saturday, you have the game and the celebration (regardless of the outcome). And on Sunday, you have the changing of the guard and Tommy Hanson’s first game. It would be worth the $1,000,000 it would have cost them to get him on the roster to have a 5 day period like that.

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Frank’s in a no win situation, even though he did the right thing. Maybe if Glavine had been in better shape last year (not looking like he was trying to get an endorsment deal with Golden Corral) he wouldn’t have gotten hurt, could have finished with class and not come off sounding like a 10 year old that didn’t make all stars.

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Can we just move on now? The Young Guns era is over. Time to look to the future.

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Plate Appearance……….morons like you are typical of phony Braves fans. You place loyalty to the player over the team. Tom Glavine was a very medicore pitcher since 2003. He came back last year and was 2-4 with an ERA over 5, barely pitching 5 innings a start. I see no problem with what the Braves did concerning him. They paid him $1 mil to get in shape, in case they needed him. They didnt so they cut him. Simple as that.

I, for one, was not looking forward to seeing Glavine pitch. I was dreading it. Not because I have anything against him. It is because I imagined him getting rocked and taxing the bullpen because it took him 100 pitches of nibbling the plate to get into the 5th inning. I want to see a starting pitcher who can go more than 5 innings, and keep us in the game.

Pete………thanks for the props. I choose to be logical because I want to see the Braves win. Growing up in the 80’s, the Braves SUCKED, particularly from 1985-1990. Then we turned it around in 1991 and made the play-offs for 14 STRAIGHT years. Now that we have missed the play-offs for the past 3 seasons, I am HUNGRY to see the Braves get back to the play-offs. I realize that thinking with emotion when trying to figure out how to best get the Braves back in the play-offs only accomplishes the opposite. Many of these so-called Braves fans are really jock sniffers for the players they root for. Their loyalty is to the player.

While there are players I have come to like and root for, my loyalty has always been to the Braves team. I want to see the TEAM win. I’d rather have a team full of A-HOLES and win…than to have a team full of nice guys and lose. Reason being, I will never know these players personally. And they could care less about knowing me. It’s just reality and I accept it.

Thinking logically = winning. Thinking with emotion = losing.

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Save A Buck…What you think we in the South need is a powerful union to tell us what to do, say, think, and live, right? I hate to tell you this puppet mouth but the powerful unions no longer exist, except in the minds of the old Nazi worshipers. Get over it and stay up north, or return there.. You wouldn’t fit in with real people who make their own decisions..

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SAM!!!: “BOTTOMLINE!!! Most of his pitches were off the plate …yet the umps called them strikes. He got over for years with help from the umps.”
So very true…Ive been saying that for over 10 years now (same with Maddux). If Koufax and Gibson had been allowed to pitch 4-6″ off the plate, Im not sure they would have ever lost a game….combined.

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I think that Buster Olney is full of crap sometimes. I see no logic whatsoever in the Braves even thinking about acquiring Brad Penny. Now if the Red Sox were willing to accept Kawakami and Franceour in exchange for Penny, I’d make that trade in a heartbeat. Penny could be the 4th starter while the Braves would have even more money to trade for a right handed power hitting right fielder.

However, I dont see the Red Sox being that foolish. That is wishful thinking on my part. So putting that “trade” to the side……I see no logic in acquiring Penny and then moving Kawakami to the bullpen. Paying a guy over $8 mil to pitch long relief is not a wise use of payroll dollars. Sure he can pitch better, however he is still making adjustments (after all, he pitched in Japan for his whole career). It is natural that he is going to have his struggles. Still, he goes 6 innings and is durable.

Again, the Braves need offense. Trading Franceour (I see the logic in “addition by subraction”) for Brad Penny does nothing to improve the offense. Paying more for pitching, while not addressing the lack of right handed power…does not make sense.

So the only logical conclusion is that Buster is indeed a “buster”. I do not put ANY stock in the “rumor” whatsoever.

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If Glavine doesnt watch his MOUTH he’ll have locked jaw pretty soon. Ha Ha Ha. Glavine, shut your BIG MOUTH and be quiet. You might get a job if you shut up. If you keep running your mouth, you’ll get the same interest as Jose Canseco and Barry Bonds. No one will be interested in your services. You were good in triple-A so just keep your trap shut.

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Glavine should have known. Was he actually thinking that the braves would let him go there and lose game after game. How many would they allow him to lose before they cut him? How fair is that to the rest of the team?

IMO all Glavine did was validate a reason why the braves will never again attempt to get him into a office or staff position. Why would they. He talked bad about them when he left for the Mets saying he had to leave because the organization was changing and was no longer winners. Anyone remember those conversations? I do. Then he wanted to come back and the braves took him. Then he got hurt and we stuck it up all year because him and his 40 year old sidekick couldnt cut it. The whole team paid dearly. Then the braves paid for his surgery and rehab. Finally they said he could not pitch in the rotation. Well its over. Glavine went to the media and his sidekick is mouthing off. Good luck Glavine. I think you just went down in history as the one pitcher who just cant quit, even when an entire baseball organization like the braves says “HEY TOM, ITS OVER” Seeing how they all took the time to go to the meeting with him, they were all very sorry it ended this way. Other wise it would have been done though his agent over the phone. Just another phony pitcher wanting to have the last word.

So other teams want him, well go Tom. And when he proves that its over, maybe then an appology to the braves and the organization and all the chances that were given to him, even though the fans ranted and raved against it in every post there was…….Oh never mind. Just another million dollar baseball player that thinks hes above GOD!

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one girl’s opinion……….if you believe that Glavine would have “truly” hung it up if he thought that he couldnt pitch anymore, then you are TRULY living in fantasy land. In fact, I’m hoping that he will sign with the Mets or Phillies. That would actually help the Braves. We rocked his ass when he pitched against the Braves while he was with the Mets. I see no reason to see why that wouldnt happen again if he were to pitch against us this year.

Glavine left for the Mets after the 2002 season over money. I see nothing wrong with the Braves cutting him now over money. Payback has nothing to do with it. It’s about prioritizing payroll dollars. The Braves need OFFENSE right now, not starting pitching.

Damn, it seems like many of you are so blinded by loyalty to the player. That loyalty is getting in the way of what it takes to win. We need to score RUNS morons.

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Oh, I get it. The union president now wants loyalty from his management. What a joke. This guy Glavine was never in it from the heart. Did you ever see any disappointment or emotion from him when we choked in the playoffs and World Series every year? He’s nothing more than a greedy mercenary. He’ll need an accountant to count all the money all the hard working baseball fans from Atlanta gave him to win the championships he never won. Good riddance–

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What in the world are we going to do with Brad Penny. Which one of our starters is going to the pen. Hanson back to the minors? Come on.

Lowe, Jurrjens, Vasquez, KK, Hanson, Medlen, Hudson due back in August. Dont you think we could use another hitter and not another pitcher. Man what a crock.

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Glavine has always been a jerk!! Thats why he was attracted to New York!!!

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O please Bradley, this tabloid journalism of yours is getting old, really quick.

Glavine has every right to complain. He did everything asked of him and then some.

Frank Wren is a hatchet man. I applaud the trade for McLouth but not the way he dumped Glavine out like the trash.

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Well done, Mark. I respect Glavine’s contributions, as well, but athletes can’t have it both ways. When an athlete leaves a team via free agency and doesn’t accept a hometown discount, they always say “It’s just business, it’s not personal, I have to do what’s best for me and my family” etc. Yet when the team makes a similar decision, suddenly the team is at fault for not being loyal.

At the end of the day, I wish Tommy had succeeded in his comeback in a Baraves uniform. But I wish more for another trip to the postseason, and the Braves are better suited to make a run with Hanson in the rotation.

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Maybe it wasn’t their first priority but what the Braves have done in this situation was save Tom Glavine some embarassment and grief. Because if he faces major league hitters with what he threw in Rome on Tuesday night, he’ll get shelled and then be totally embarassed. If another team picks him up, and I seriously doubt they will, we’ll all see, including Tom Glavine.

I hate this has happened, and as much as anyone might not believe it, most of the Braves brass were hurt by having to do it. But it was and is the right thing to do.

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Dude (Glavine),
It comes with the territory. I’m sure Tommy Boy feels for all the guys at GM being the union guy that he is, what disappointing BS coming from a guy that was always about the $$$. Perhaps he can tell us when the next time will be for someone to hand him a seven figure check for five months of work. Typical professional athlete feeling they deserve entitlement. If he had stuck around and turned the big NY money down and stuck around it would be different, but he left, this is the game and business he chose, he played both ends well, now deal with it.

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The Braves could have picked up Penny in the offseason, but didn’t. Why would they want to trade for him now?

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I have to agree with other posts. If it’s all about the business of winning, then my not get rid of all the other non-performing retards on this team? Start with Francouer, then Anderson, and finally get rid of Booby Cox– worst excuse for a HOF manager there ever was.

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I say good riddens. I had grown tired of Glavine back when he left in 2002 and that left a sour taste in my mouth. Remember, 2002 vs Giants, he was bombed in Game 1, and bombed in Game 4 when they could’ve clinched. At least Maddux put in a decent game against the Cubs in his final outing for the Braves in 2003.
Lets not forget 2001 game 5 vs Dbacks (though he was agianst Randy and he didn’t pitch that bad) but also in 2000 2+ innings vs Cards in Game 2 and 1999 WS vs Yankees giving up the lead.
Then he was the losing pitcher in Game 6 in ‘98 vs Padres and game 6 in ‘97 vs the Marlins (7 ER).
Post 1996 there had been fewer warm memories than bad ones with regard to Glavine.
Bottom line is he got paid $1M this year when he wouldn’t have gotten anything from another team. He shouldn’t be complaining.

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Press conference televised?

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A business decision is a business decision. How many times have you heard a player say that. These two cry babies ought to be ashamed of themselves. Money, money is what its all about with these two, Glavine and Smoltz.
what do they owe the braves. They have been paid very very well for their services over the years, but now their little feelings are hurt and feel they have been mistreated, because they believe they are better than other people. My heart cries for them.

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MARK, any ideas on 4:30 press conference?

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Mark:

I couldn’t agee with your thoughts about both Glavine and Smoltz more. No one is a bigger fan of both of these guys, but neither have handled their inevitable twilight (or end) of their careers with their usual class. Apparently both of these guys feel that they are “owed” something because of their long tenure and forget that this is PROFESSIONAL sports. God forbid that they were pro football players without guaranteed contracts for all these years. Wren’s first responsibility is to try to WIN games not make decisions based on sentimentality. Actually, he did that last year by counting on both Glavine and Smoltz which completely backfired and basically ended any chances the Braves had to be competitive a few short months into the season. I don’t know what Glavine was paid last year, but Smoltz made $14 million dollars to pitch a whopping 28 innings. I’ll let all those Smoltz/Glavine apologists do the math on that one. Given the foregoing, Wren properly went on and rebuilt his pitching staff for this season based upon two principal themes: (1) build a staff based upon the assumption that neither Smoltz or Glavine could pitch any more but keep the door open for them if they wanted to try to do so; and (2) sign/acquire pitchers with a history of durability. How any right thinking person could quibble with that position escapes me. I agree that the timing of the Glavine release was poor, but is there ever a good time? Smoltz is particularly disappointing because it is clear that he went with Boston for two reasons: (1) at his age, he had a better chance at one more World Series than with the rebuilding Braves; and (2) Boston paid him guaranteed money whereas the Braves’ offer was conditioned upon him earning his money based upon the innings he was able to pitch THIS year. I don’t begrudge him for his position on either front, but wish he would simply have been honest when he left about his true motivations or better yet said nothing. Smoltz’ critical comments about the handling of the Glavine situation was expected given his prior comments about his own circumstances, but disappointing. One final comment. Is anyone else excited about the fact that Tommy Hanson is about to start his big league career?

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MB, if only you were.5% the writer that he was a pitcher.

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Wasn’t Glavine one of those (during strike) that said that they were treated like slaves (bad word to use when you’re already make $Millions/per year and you want more. He took off to NY for glory and more money, and when nobody else wouldn’t sign him two years ago, the Braves gave him another bunch of money to spend another year not pitching due to injury. You’re right Glavine, just another example of the plantation mentality. Now you can get a real job and make the appropriate dollars and be a man.

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Trading Frenchy for Brad Penny ia a no-brainer. we don’t need Brad Penny but trading Fraqueor for anything would be better than keeping the BUM

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Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux, and Avery formed a rotation like none before or after. Funny thing is that only Avery is not headed to Cooperstown. Avery, to me, had the best stuff of all four of them. All of them are Braves icons. Everything being equal, all four were Braves longer than they should have been. With Tommy Hanson in the wings, the trade for Vasquez, the free agent signings of Lowe and Kawakami, and the plethora of young talented pitchers on the farm the Braves should never even have given a second thought to signing either Glavine or Smoltz this past off season. All four deserve special respect and
treatment as they’ve done more for the franchise then anybody else. At the same time it’s time to move on and let’s begin to dominate the next decade like we did the nineties. GO BRAVES!

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I for one will be glad, ever how long it will take, when this is all over. Everybody can put their hurt feelings away and we can go back to seeing what Glav. and Smoltz did for this org., team, city, and baseball in general. These are two of the best athletes, competitors, and winners this city has ever seen. And i for one will be glad when we can look back on their careers and greatness and see it for what it was. Hall of Fame careers. Thanks Tom and John, even if we’re not all ready to say it yet.

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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

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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.

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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.

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oops wrong blog. Sorry Mark.

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hey someone tell WREN braves got pitching quit looking for more and start looking for some hitters oh wee FIRE WREN

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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Schuerholz apologized to Glavine for the way “things ended.” Short statement with no real details about what was wrong, etc. that I heard.

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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….

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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 !

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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.

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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.

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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.

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NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT UNIONS…

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At least JS finally got it. Maybe Bradley will at some point.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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PS – I cancelled my AJC subscription. The paper, like you, SUCK.

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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….

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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….
‘

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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.

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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.

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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 ?

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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?

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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.

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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?

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