Braves somewhere under the rainbow
Judy Garland used to sing about “The man that got away.”
The Braves can relate.
They need a bunch of things to end a three-year skid out of the playoffs. Instead, the list of those coming to the Braves this season before going (or staying) elsewhere is long and ridiculous.
In reverse order of significance, here is that list.
Andruw Jones (7): The Braves are young throughout the outfield. By going back to the future, they would have acquired a veteran backup in Jones. His Gold Gloves haven’t suffered much with time. His Louisville Sluggers? Ouch. He eventually signed with the Texas Rangers, and they’ve spent the spring watching Jones threaten to obliterate the Grapefruit League record for striking out.
Mike Hampton (6): You can’t get enough pitching. That said, you can get enough of Mike Hampton’s aches and pains. With the Braves, his injuries ranged from his chest to his forearm to his elbow. He decided to skip a return to the Braves to sign with the Houston Astros.
Ken Griffey Jr. (5): Who wouldn’t want a guy with 611 home runs? He was perfect as the left-handed-hitting platoon in left field with Matt Diaz. Then again, so is Garret Anderson, the free agent that the Braves signed after Griffey chose Seattle over Atlanta. In fact, Anderson’s recent hitting numbers are better than Griffey’s, and Anderson has had fewer injuries.
A.J. Burnett (4): Did I say you can’t get enough pitching? This was a tough loss. In addition to Burnett’s 18 victories last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, he led the American League in strikeouts. You need strikeout pitchers in the playoffs (just thinking ahead). Worse, the dollar-friendly New York Yankees didn’t spend that much more to get him.
Jake Peavy (3): The Braves just had to get Peavy, who also strikes folks out, and he throws a lot of innings. Better yet, his ERA was 2.88 or lower in four of the past five years. Chipper Jones said he was “a perfect fit” for the Braves. The San Diego Padres tried to give Peavy away, but the Braves were one move from making it happen. Which brings us to …
Rafael Furcal (2): If the Braves have Furcal for a second time, they have two things: A leadoff hitter and Peavy. They’ve lacked a prolific leadoff hitter since Furcal bolted after the 2005 season. Plus, with Furcal back at shortstop, the Braves place Yunel Escobar in a package deal for Peavy and actually get the pitcher. So much for dreaming. Furcal opted to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
John Smoltz (1): You just can’t lose Smoltz, prolific as a starter and as a closer through the years. He spent 21 seasons in the franchise as a Hall of Famer on and off the field. Now, after a contract dispute or something, he is with the Boston Red Sox. Then again, this is the same Braves franchise that didn’t keep the following for their entire major league careers — Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, Phil Niekro, Eddie Mathews. Warren Spahn, etc.
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51 comments Add your comment
Get over it!
March 3rd, 2009
11:23 am
Please stop! Am I one of the few that like the direction the Braves have taken and look forward to moving on?
ArkyTech
March 3rd, 2009
11:36 am
What does Furcal not coming have to do with getting Peavy? The Braves had already offered Escobar to San Diego but Peavy wouldn’t approve the trade. What is the supposed point of this column?
fire terence moore
March 3rd, 2009
11:57 am
wow you can’t write a sports article, slow day huh? how about you make up another braves signing.
YOU SUCK
March 3rd, 2009
11:59 am
Once again I ask…how do you still have a job in Atlanta? Everyone hate you here and please stay of ESPN. No one wants you to represent our town.
welikebaseball2
March 3rd, 2009
12:02 pm
ArkyTech: FYI…rumor has it that Peavy might not have approved the trade. Anything beyond that is pure speculation. He never actually disapproved.
I’m starting to think some of you disagree with T. Moore just for the sake of doing so. No, I don’t agree with all of his views (there’s no journalist with whom I always agree anyway.) Regarding this article, there are indeed tons of Braves fans (myself included) that can’t help but to wonder what might have been. That doesn’t mean we’re not moving on…well the true fans at least…
Jim
March 3rd, 2009
12:06 pm
The picture for Mr. Moore’s story featured Smoltz, Griffey, and Furcal. You’re talking about 3 players who are a combined 112 years old, coming off subpar or injury-plagued seasons. I don’t think anyone needs to be upset about not having them on the 2009 Braves.
Rick in Dallas
March 3rd, 2009
12:07 pm
Wrong but I love your Skip Bayless approach. By the way Andruw would lead the Cactus League in strikeouts since the Rangers train in Surprise , Az.
welikebaseball2
March 3rd, 2009
12:08 pm
Better yet, if you all are so much better at writing columns…how about you apply for a journalist job with the AJC? What’s the matter, not qualified?
Columnists are entitled to opinions & views…get over it. Exercise your right to not read the articles. Exercise your right to not your waste time commenting on someone’s work which you claim to hate. Geez, I wish there was this same distaste for the opinionated poo poo that Jeff Schultz puts out…
bigdon85
March 3rd, 2009
12:27 pm
Once again you cry fowl about Ken Griffey. F Ken Griffey. F John Smoltz. F Furcal. F Peavey. And most importantly: F YOU.
Chief Nock A Homa
March 3rd, 2009
12:31 pm
welikebaseball2:
And, readers are entitled to expressing their opinions, as well – don’t forget that! You’re doing it right there…
The article has nothing to it other than a recap of everything that everyone has already pointed out a hundred times – form Dave O’Brien to Joe Schmoe on the street…
Just like fire terence moore wrote: it must be a slow day for him….
Chief Nock A Homa
March 3rd, 2009
12:40 pm
BTW – great blog…
It has attracted so much readership that it has eleven whole comments in an hour and a half since it was posted…
If that doesn’t speak for itself about the writing, blah, blah, blah, blah….
Dunce Cap
March 3rd, 2009
1:14 pm
Why does anyone care about the offseason anymore? We’re in the midst of Spring Training, the WBC is starting, and we get some bitter column from a tired old columnist. Next week I’m sure we’ll be hearing about how Manny Ramirez signed with the Braves says a source who may or may not be his pet cat.
And Smoltz? You wrote this column two weeks ago and nobody cared for it.
Eddie K
March 3rd, 2009
1:29 pm
Good lord, please write something worthwhile more than a couple of times a year! The Braves are headed in the right direction and if a couple of things go right, they’re back in the playoff hunt. Just as if they had signed an injury plagued Jones, Hampton, Griffey, Furcal, and Smoltz. GO BRAVES!!!
Jim H
March 3rd, 2009
1:30 pm
First of all, I love John Smoltz as much as anybody that grew up a Braves fan, but the fact of the matter is that the guy just simply has not finished a season healthy in 4 or 5 years. If he got mad because the Braves were doing their due diligence and making sure he is actually healthy for once, then that’s his prerogative and you can’t fault Braves management for that. Tommy G went about this in a much more professional manner than Smoltz did. I also predict that by the time September rolls around, Glavine will have more Ws than Smoltzie will!
TheAntiMe
March 3rd, 2009
1:39 pm
If the Padres were so generously giving Jake Peavy away, Terence, then why is he still a member of the Padres?
Do the Friars only feel charitible to the Bravos, because no other teams in MLB have accepted their Peavy donation?
DMBJAMS
March 3rd, 2009
1:52 pm
Mr. Moore, please stop.
Thanks,
Atlanta
TheAntiMe
March 3rd, 2009
1:57 pm
I don’t think that anyone else in the galaxy (other than the Astros, of course) is going to be shedding any crocodile tears over Mike Hampton returning to Houston to pitch.
More than any other player that I can remember, Mike Hampton maintains a constant state of evolving infirmiry.
Biren
March 3rd, 2009
2:01 pm
Dude, shut up man! Get over it! We are a better team. I know you have nothing else to talk about. I say good riddance to all those people who left and a welcome to Atlanta to those who decided to come.
topgun101
March 3rd, 2009
2:30 pm
why do you even attempt to write? You once again just repeat what everyone knows, but you manage to sound like a complete idiot. I would say don’t quit your day job because everything you write is worthless, but wait somehow this is your day job.
Downtowner
March 3rd, 2009
2:47 pm
It’s no wonder newspapers are a fading institution….I don’t know what’s sadder. That you get paid for drivel like that or that I actually read it after knowing better than to click on your column…
Bo
March 3rd, 2009
3:06 pm
Terence’s M.O. to writing:
1. What outlandish thing can I say (e.g., “GT swimmers cheat because they wear Speedo suits.”)?
2. How stupidly can I say it (e.g., “The Braves just had to get Peavy, who also strikes folks out, and he throws a lot of innings.”)?
His material wouldn’t make it past most middle school newspaper editors. That he writes for the AJC completely tarnishes the reputation of that publication, and undermines the prestige of his capable colleagues Bradley and Bisher (I’m no Schultz fan).
welikebaseball2, to answer your question, I find Terence’s boundless display of ignorance entertaining. Enlightening? No. Entertaining? In a very strange way, yes.
Cameron
March 3rd, 2009
3:11 pm
Of course Terrance Moore would put up a column like this. Hey, let’s focus on what could have been. Here is an idea, we have a pretty good team. We might make it to the playoffs. Why don’t you talk about that? Why this paper still employs you is beyond me. Quote Terrance, “Should we bring back Vick? How about MeAngelo?” I bet you want us to sign Bonds to, idiot.
Cameron
March 3rd, 2009
3:20 pm
What might have been? If we signed Burnett, then we wouldn’t have signed Lowe. You trade Burnett for Lowe. I would not do that. Smoltz, of course everyone would have liked to have back. But, Frank Wren himself said that we couldn’t sign him and wait til June for him to pitch. Boston can, and are. Furcal never wanted to play second. If we signed him, then we would have Furcal at second and an unhappy Kelly johnson in left field. No Garret Anderson, and maybe no Kawakami because of financial constraints. More speed, less power. Unhappy Furcal and unhappy Johnson. If Andruw turns himself around and we need help scoring runs, then I can see us trading for him. I think him going to Texas is a good thing, because he gets to work with the hitting coach out there. Griffey would have been nice for attendance purposes and leadership. But, Anderson offers that same leadership. Less power, more situational hitting and for higher average. I will take that. What do we learn? The moves we missed were a blessing in disguise. We are better with Lowe, Kawakami, Vazquez and Anderson. More reliable. Come up with something else, probably about racism.
Cameron
March 3rd, 2009
3:38 pm
Wow, my comments got deleted. Anyways, quit crying. We are better with the moves we made then we would have been if we had gotten these people. Except for Smoltz, but that was his decision. He wants wo win, and at the time he had a better chance of doing that in Boston. Probably still does.
T-Bone
March 3rd, 2009
3:42 pm
I like TMoore.
cheld
March 3rd, 2009
4:02 pm
Wasn’t the Peavy deal held up on Hanson, not Escobar? At least, that’s what I remember seeing reported. The Padres wouldn’t do a deal unless Hanson was included somehow.
Will
March 3rd, 2009
4:56 pm
Again, TM stop writing about the braves. Look we could have had alot of talent but that would have meant that we were going to give up alot of prospects. Im sorry Id rather have the prospects than have guys that will probably be injured or out of here by the end of the year. Congrats Braves Organization, Id have to say you made the perfect decisions for this ball club.
Doug B
March 3rd, 2009
5:11 pm
I like what we got instead of those guys.
RcB13
March 3rd, 2009
5:37 pm
TM: You should stick with writing about the hawks or falcons or do some more drop ins on PTI. You show time and again that you don’t know anything about baseball. The AJC has some good braves reporters in Bowman and DOB…we certainly dont need you and your ever-present negativity.
Tyler
March 3rd, 2009
5:42 pm
DUDE GET OVER IT…………..THIS IS GETTING REALLLLY OLD!!!!
LivininAL
March 3rd, 2009
6:11 pm
Tsis is a bunch of old old old old stuff. We are playing spring games with the chosen team. For every player the Braves did not sign there are pluses.Play Ball!
welikebaseball2
March 3rd, 2009
6:14 pm
Chief Nock A Homa:
You’re right, the readers are entitled to their reactions. I never said anything to the contrary. I just think that it’s a little contradictory to say “you’re an awful writer! stop wasting our time!” Yet you guys, knowing how much you despise his writing, spend so much of your time on the blog critiquing his work. If he’s so off in his views, let us know your brilliant/refreshing/relevant take on the subject.
welikebaseball2
March 3rd, 2009
6:16 pm
RcB13: “we certainly dont need you and your…negativity.”
welikebaseball2
March 3rd, 2009
6:19 pm
Don’t mean to be defensive about T. Moore’s work. Like I said, I don’t agree with all his views…but you guys are going a bit overboard with the bashing. If you don’t like his writing…stop reading it! I know you have the right to voice your opinion but why would you spend so much energy tearing down someone you don’t deem worthy of you reading time?
Terence Moore
March 3rd, 2009
8:00 pm
Jim H,
The Boston Red Sox acquired John Smoltz for his brilliant postseason record as much as anything else. Whatever they get from Smoltz during the regular season is gravy.
Mark B (MEB)
March 3rd, 2009
8:01 pm
Say what TM… are you paying attention at all? Do you just make this stuff up? Is there an editor at the AJC that has any supervision over what you write? I should have known better than to read this column because what you write just flat ticks me off. The Braves have done an admirable job this summer and you can’t see it because of the blinders you always wear.
Braves#1
March 3rd, 2009
9:12 pm
In retrospect I’m glad non of these moves fell through….besides Smoltz. Would have liked to see him stay. I like the team how it is.
Poorbrave
March 3rd, 2009
9:37 pm
Come on TM you can do better than this. I thought you had something to say?
jgon
March 3rd, 2009
9:57 pm
Watch out tm the economy is bad you could be the first one out the door.
grahzny bratchny
March 3rd, 2009
10:15 pm
The problem with you “Terry”, is that you never stand up for what you say and are not available for comment without compensation. On this message board your comment about Andruw leading the Grapefruit league in strikeouts was factually wrong and you can’t even stand up for your inaccuracy and give that “blogger” credit. That has as much to do with the problem people have with you as anything.
The AJC must need you, ESPN…they hired Michael Irvin and the 2 Live Stews. The Stews are not collectively as bright as you, but may actually do more research.
Get some balls and respond to Rick in Dallas with a thanks/mention for the correction.
tlj
March 3rd, 2009
10:18 pm
Everyone of the players you mentioned suffered from injuries last year OR is an injury waiting to happen. No thanks, we’ve been down that road. Let Griffey DH for the Mariners, Smoltz pitch for the sox and Furcal do whatever he does for LA, etc. At some point in time in the season they will all be on the DL.
JP
March 3rd, 2009
10:56 pm
Does anyone else that has read TM’s recent work feel like they’re watching a train wreck?
As to the actual content of the column, there is nothing in it that hasn’t been hashed out in the blogs both at the AJC and elsewhere over the past few week. I think we ended up with a pretty decent offseason, and I’m lookikng forward to reading columns about the team we have – not the one we could have had.
CWE
March 4th, 2009
7:31 am
The past is past,looking forward I see the Braves contending for the division this year,next year I see them winning the division and possibly the National League pennant…Young pitching and defense and timely hitting is the key this year….How long before they bring up Hanson?Go Braves
PTBNL
March 4th, 2009
9:14 am
T. Moore, where did Smoltz get that postseason reputation? You have expressed before that the Braves owe Smoltz because Smoltz has “given” so much. Look what he got! If it was not for the Braves, he would not even have had the opportunities that he has had in the postseason. There is so much more that Smoltz “got” from the Braves, but I won’t mention it. All you have to do is look a little deeper. So again I ask, what does he owe the Braves? But you even mentioned that the reason the Sox want him is because of his postseason reputation. So it seems that he even owes them the opportunity to play for the Sox. Hmmm.
Old Blue
March 4th, 2009
9:17 am
Old age and treachery wins over youth and vigor in most instances, but not baseball. The good times will shortly roll for the Braves and the old boys will bask in their millions and memories.
Keeping It Real
March 4th, 2009
9:57 am
Terrence,once again you have broken up the doldrums of the day by writing an article that entices the local yahoos to attack you with their dumb ass remarks. Some guy even suggests that the Braves are set to win the division and the NL pennant. Wow!!!! Keep up the good work.
Dorothy Davis
March 4th, 2009
10:51 am
So we didn’t get a bunch of injury prone players, re: Smoltz, Hampton, Griffey, how is that going to hurt the team? I look forward to a great season with some “much younger” and talented players. Go Braves!!!!!
Nate Hogan
March 4th, 2009
11:14 am
Peavy is a great but thank god we did not bring back the sloth Andryw Jones and the gutless mike Hampton.
Plus Escobar is th eonly everyday player that can actually play baseball.
Reality Time
March 4th, 2009
12:14 pm
Dear God man, get over Smoltz. Please do not write another word about him until he throws a meaningful pitch somewhere.
jwb
March 4th, 2009
11:47 pm
“Plus Escobar is th eonly everyday player that can actually play baseball.”
That Larry something fellow seems to know what he’s doing on the ballfield.
CulvDawg79
March 9th, 2009
8:55 pm
Why would you want Peavy to come to the Braves when we would have to give up great young talent in Escobar and Hanson. Hanson will be the next Peavy and Burnett rolled into one superstar of a young pitcher. Wren and the Braves have made some good moves and I am excited about where the club is heading.