This blog has moved! Yes, already!
As of Thursday, Feb. 12, this little blog has relocated to a new home on AJC.com. It’s the same newspaper, the same Web site and the same writer (feel free to groan) — there’s just a new URL.
New features: Bigger type, more graphics, comments that load 10 times faster and a larger and more recent photo that makes me look pretty doggone old. I think you’ll like it (the blog, not the photo). But I am, as we know too well, often wrong.
Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > July > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USReality throws Glavine a curve
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don’t make the mistake this correspondent did. Don’t refer to this season as Tom Glavine’s farewell tour. “It’s not a ‘farewell tour,’ ” Glavine said, his voice rising. “It was never supposed to be a ‘farewell tour.’ “
OK, then. But however we label the prodigal’s ballyhooed return, it has fallen short. Back with the Braves after five Flushing-based seasons, Glavine hasn’t worked since June 10. “I came here to pitch and provide stability to the club,” he said Friday. “But you can’t eat up innings if you’re not out there eating up innings.”
Here’s how messed up this season has gotten: Glavine spent two decades in the big leagues without going on the disabled list but has landed on it twice in 2008 — first with a tender hamstring, now with elbow tendinitis. He’s scheduled to throw off a mound today for the first time in 5 1/2 weeks — his elbow feels OK, he said, but he lacks arm strength — and he targets mid-August as a possible return.
Glavine came here to share a rotation with John Smoltz and Mike Hampton. Instead the three occupy space on the same overstuffed DL. Think about that: Glavine, who never gets hurt, missing at the same time as Hampton, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since August 2005 and who this week tweaked his groin in yet another rehab.
“Certainly nobody feels worse than Mike,” Glavine said, “but invariably something happens. If you weren’t watching it, you’d be frustrated or skeptical. But if Mike had his way, he’d be out there pitching.”
So would Glavine. “Thank God I haven’t had to deal with the disabled list before,” he said. “It’s not a lot of fun.”
If nothing else, this frazzled season has given him new appreciation for all those seasons that ran so smoothly. “From the early to the mid ’90s, we had some years where we didn’t make a move with our pitching staff because we didn’t have to make any moves,” he said. “The whole team was that way. I remember thinking, ‘We’ve been really fortunate.’ “
And in 2008? “Every other day something goes wrong.”
This wasn’t a concession speech. Glavine still believes the Braves can make a race of it. “On the one hand, you think of all the people we’ve had injured,” he said. “But you look at our statistics, and we’re high on the list in hitting and we’re first in ERA. That’s the part that makes you scratch your head and say, ‘Why aren’t we winning more?’ “
The Braves reported for duty after their All-Star hiatus 6 1/2 games out of first place and five out of third. The second part concerns Glavine as much as the first. “If you’re in fourth place, you could go on a 10-game winning streak and you might not gain ground on a certain team. It’s a lot easier to put pressure on one team. Back in the day, we were pretty good at doing that.”
Back in the day, things were different. The Braves were mostly healthy and roundly irresistible, at least over 162 games, and famous pitchers weren’t wondering if the end was nigh. Does Glavine want his Hall of Fame career to end on the DL? “I don’t. But I don’t want to pitch another year just to pitch another year … If I’m healthy, I’m more inclined to come back [in 2009]. If I’m not or if I have to have surgery, the likelihood goes way down.”
Some crummy homecoming, huh? “It hasn’t gone the way I had scripted or the organization had scripted,” Glavine said. “But real life sometimes throws you a curve.”
Then, smiling wryly: “So to speak.”
Permalink | Comments (48) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
Services »
Comments
By VAROADRUNNER
July 18, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
I feel sorry for Smoltz and Glavine. I believe that Glavine wanted to come back to Atlanta to be with Smoltz and Bobby. I cannot determione how I feel now about Hampton. I mean , DAM, firs the pulls a pec and cannot play and now it’s his grion. Is it that he ia afraid to pitch in the majors? It’s beginning to look that way. Let’s see if he gives the Braves a bargin after these years of NO USE or will he retire so he never has to pitch in the majors? Am I being too harsh?
By Taylor
July 18, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
I am beginning to wonder if Roger McDowell has something to do with all of our pitcher’s injuries. How many pitchers were injured under Leo? Just sayin.
By TPM
July 18, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
The Braves have the best ERA in the national league when hometown discount Glavine is out. They do not miss his 4.85 ERA and his 4 2/3 innings a start. He is stealing money.
Mike Hampton has not pitched 200+ innings in seven years so why are we surprised that he is inactive. Osma Bin Laden makes more appearances on TV than that bum. He is also stealing money.
By Bob
July 18, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
Our pitchers were a lot younger when Leo was here. Besides, McDowell’s pitchers are leading the league in ERA, so what’s the problem? We actually need Hampton’s bat more than his arm.
By Mark Bradley
July 18, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
I think the truth is closer to the sentiment Glavine expressed above: The Braves, especially their pitchers, were really lucky, health-wise, for an unbelievably long time in the ’90s. And there is, as Bob suggested, a difference between coaching 28-year-olds and 40-year-olds. As McDowell said back in May, the arm only has so many pitches in it.
By Jeff R
July 18, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
I agree. When players start to hit their late thirties/early forties, anything goes. From my point of view, Glavine started to show signs of deterioration late last season. That his arm went this season… is that a huge surprise?
By Kashi
July 18, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
Yeah I agree “arm only has so many pitches in it” but why we go out there and get reliever/pitcher with past injuries? Is it cuz we got a big bargain? Yep sure those bargins are showing up crystal clear now. If we have invested all those money on a quality arm at least we would be above .500 today. By the way I am not talking about Glavin. It was a good move $8M for someone who could easily give you 10 WIN. He just had a bad year and I don’t know if I should be blaming condition/strength coach for it.
Tonigh’s game. What the heck is this? A last place team who is struggling to score a run, scored 5 runs aginst Huddy and threating to win in 9th innning. O lord… give us some break. We are not a contender team anymore…plain and simple. I don’t know what is missing in our team. Does anyone?
By TPM
July 18, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
Kashi - Somebody needs to explain to me how Glavine could easily give Atlanta 10 wins. He does not average 15 outs a game and therefore does not fit the criteria to win games. 4 2/3 innings a start is not a bargain at 8 million.
By mikey
July 18, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Mike Hampton is a bum & a thief, I wonder if we need a new hitting coach and the all star game needs to be just 9 innings.
By fearless fosdik
July 18, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
I could see this one coming a mile away!
Glavine like Smoltz needs to give it a rest..It’s time! Their youth has passed them by.
I remember watching Mantle, Mays and a host of hall of famers try to do it ONE more time…and how pitiful it was!
Tommy..John, we know you got the HEART, but unfortunately not the arms…Both of you should have PLENTY of money. So what’s the point?
It’s time to retire with your dignity intact!
By Lawrence
July 18, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
No Mike Hampton is not a bum or a thief.He is simply a major league baseball pitcher who got injured doing his job.He did’nt ask to be hurt.Mike has worked his butt off to get back to his job.None of us jocks will ever know what all he has had to endure trying to get back.Yes he has had setback after setback.But he had these setbacks working hard to return to the Braves.I can’t imagine the torment and the turmoil he has had to contend with.I have seen lesser guys give up after experiencing no where near the flustration that Hampton has.Most guys would have taken the money and retired long ago.But Hampton has tried to give something back for the money he is making.But because of the big contract he signed the fans who are always right continue to crucify him.The man is fighting with all he has got to get back and help his team.Yet some less than knowledgible bloggers and fans give him he!!.The man may not make it back but one thing is for sure,it won’t be for lack of effort.If this team had more players who worked as hard as Mike Hampton it would not be 6.5 games behind tonight.I may be the only one but,i salute Mike Hampton because of the effort he has made to return to the job he has always loved.
By Lou Vales
July 18, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this
Dear Mark, As I have said so many times—The little lefthander from Billerica will see his ultimate life’s goal accomplished if he could venture up to Detroit and help the UAW broker a contract with GM that will cause the stock price to go from the 12 dollar mark to 2 dollars the next day, resulting in a call by all the analysts across the globe that GM will have no other choice but to declare bankruptcy. Next day GM petitions the court and then it is all over except for distribution of the assets.
What a way for someone who sees himself in the mode of some of the great union organizers of the last 100 years to go out. It would be a transcendent moment. AND especially for someone who had the temerity to compare Independent Contractors(Baseball Players) with the tool and dye workers of Ford, Chrysler and GM and the baggage handlers of Delta.
Yes Sir—that should be Tom’s Swan Song, a tour of the Rust Belt and the former Automobile Capital and the deserted towns of the Midwest. Just must get people to understand that the ability to drive a baseball or catch a corner equates with usual perceived activity requiring unionization. Everybody else just has it wrong. Wouldn’t it be great if a welder who hasn’t been able to work on an assembly line got paid for nearly 3 years for nursing an injury??
By Lou Vales
July 18, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this
Dear Lawrence, I just wish that Michael would do his rehab in Morocco. I’m sure the deal signed with the Rockies afforded him the opportunity to make a bid on Grace Kelly’s former palace.
In the history of ALL pro sports try to name the most money paid for NOTHING.
I can think of Ryan Leaf, Jon Koncak—But He Played—-, Carl Pavano, Darren Dreifort. I believe for the most part the most GALLING deals involve someone who just CAN’T play and those who don’t have the decency to stick with just ONE defining injury instead of requiring all the departments at Johns Hopkins to ultimately all get involved.
By Check this out
July 19, 2008 3:34 AM | Link to this
More Braves stuff here
By Rick
July 19, 2008 3:36 AM | Link to this
I don’t have anything personal against Mike Hampton- I’m sure nobody feels worse than he does that he can’t pitch anymore ( I don’t think he will ever pitch in the majors again ). But he has to feel a little strange ( guilty ? ) that he has earned millions of dollars since he last won a game for the Braves . The only case similar to it ws Bruce Sutter who signed with the Braves and had a torn rotater cuff . He tried for years to come back but was never effective . But Hampton has never even appeared in a major league game since his injuries began in 2005 .
One thing no one has mentioned much is that you probably can’t take 3 years off from baseball and expect to regain your touch , regardless of the reason . People say that they are amazed that Josh Hamilton could come back after being away from baseball for 3 years because of drug problems . But he has youth on his side - Hampton is on the downside of his career .
Maybe we should have known that his case was hopeless . Maybe he should have known too and retired ( saving the Braves how many millions of dollars? ) .
Rick
By Sophie
July 19, 2008 6:42 AM | Link to this
Lou Vales Wrote:
In the history of ALL pro sports try to name the most money paid for NOTHING.
I’m thinking back to the 1980’s and the Braves signing of Bruce Sutter. Sutter was damaged goods upon arrival in Atlanta.
By Sophie
July 19, 2008 6:43 AM | Link to this
Lou Vales Wrote:
In the history of ALL pro sports try to name the most money paid for NOTHING.
I’m thinking back to the 1980’s and the Braves signing of Bruce Sutter. Sutter was damaged goods upon arrival in Atlanta.
By Sophie
July 19, 2008 6:44 AM | Link to this
Lou Vales Wrote:
In the history of ALL pro sports try to name the most money paid for NOTHING.
I’m thinking back to the 1980’s and the Braves signing of Bruce Sutter. Sutter was damaged goods upon arrival in Atlanta.
By Bonehead
July 19, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
The amazing thing is that the Braves have $40 million in 2008 pitching salary on the DL and are still talking about being in contention. THAT is an amazing accomplishment. It doesn’t change the facts, but show me any team that can write-off $40 M in production and still finish first. Bobby should be bald by now with all the hair he could be pulling out.
By Ronald Millsaps
July 19, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Amidst the shuffle of Mark Teixeira trade talks, I offer the following two comments: I’d strongly consider not trading him, even at the huge possibility that we won’t be able to re-sign him (although Mike Hampton’s $15 million would cover a large percentage of his would-be offer). This team is poised for a huge second-half run, and he would be huge for us in the playoffs. If we can land a championship with him (which would help us to re-sign him) but never seen him in a Braves uniform again, I could live with that. If the Braves do trade him, I, first of all, wouldn’t trade him for Kevin Youkilis; though Boston would offer more than just him, I wouldn’t go that route. IF Atlanta trades Teixeira, who would I like to see in return? Ready for a surprise? Barry Zito. Why? Why not? Zito’s once-high stock is now low, and the Giants would love to have Teixeira, who could wear out right field in that home run-friendly stadium. Atlanta could not only acquire this once-well-respected pitcher but solid talent/good prospects as well. I think Zito’s stock would skyrocket again if he were to come to Atlanta, as a change in scenery might do him a world of good. It wouldn’t be the first time the Braves took a risk on a guy whose stock had fallen temporarily (J.D. Drew, Edgar Renteria). Furthermore, Zito’s likely not getting nearly the quality of support that he would get from Bobby Cox and Roger McDowell, not to mention John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, etc.. I think his problems are more mechanical than anything else, and let’s not forget: He DOES have playoff experience and could be a major asset in the stretch run against the Phillies, Mets, and Marlins, not to mention the subsequent postseason, as well as just another guy Jo-Jo Reyes, Jair Jurrjens, Charlie Morton, etc. could learn from. Furthermore, team camaraderie could benefit from having Zito reunite with former teammate Tim Hudson, and Hudson might pitch even better with having a familiar face as a teammate again. He’s also a southpaw, which would be a disadvantage for the likes of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Delgado, etc., AND, since the Mets, Phillies, and Marlins love to steal bases, his being a southpaw would be a disadvantage toward the likes of Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins, and Hanley Ramirez. Yes, Zito is a risk, but he’s a huge payoff if the balance scale indeed tips in the opposite direction, and this risk is a healthy one, in contrast to the contributions of Youkilis. On a different note, the Braves had a good foundational win last night, as they won a one-run game against the team who got the one-run losses rolling for them on Opening Night, and Chipper might or might not bat .400 this season, but I say he’s not finished with making a serious run for it. How quickly people give up at the drop of a hat, or in this case, the drop of an average. I’m standing by my prediction in April that he’ll do it. I pray that Glavine and Smoltz will return and have prolonged careers.
By George
July 19, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
It is time to remember the past with fondness but move on to the future. The young players are the future; let them pitch and yesterday’s stars ride off into the sunset.
By TheAntiMe
July 19, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Not to pile on, because I really don’t doubt that Hampton is sincere about wanting to pitch. It’s just that it seems that he has forgotten to do the first and most basic thing an athlete needs to do to perform i.e. start by getting one’s self in proper physical condition. In all of the photo’s that I have seen recently of Hampton, Smoltz, and Glavine - Mike Hampton is the only one of the 3 that even remotely resembles the Pilsbury Doughboy. It would seem to be a no-brainer that if you are an athlete that to perform at your highest level it is imperative that you start by being physically in shape. Not everyone can be Babe Ruth, after all.
By Farm System
July 19, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Someone (Frank Wren, please?) tell me again why we spent 8MM on a guy already on the decline, who left the Braves for a few bucks to go to the hated Mets, and helped orchestrate the biggest player walkout in our generation? Even at 10 wins, do we think we couldn’t have gotten >1 win per $million from someone else out there? Remember the song, you can’t go back..time to start over with new blood and invest the time in development.
By Farm System
July 19, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Someone (Frank Wren, please?) tell me again why we spent 8MM on a guy already on the decline, who left the Braves for a few bucks to go to the hated Mets, and helped orchestrate the biggest player walkout in our generation? Even at 10 wins, do we think we couldn’t have gotten >1 win per $million from someone else out there? Remember the song, you can’t go back..time to start over with new blood and invest the time in development.
By Bob
July 19, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Umm…Ronald, I hate to tell you this but the Braves don’t need Barry Zito. Pitching isn’t the problem. And, you called San Francisco’s ballpark home run friendly??? Are you kidding? Their power alley in right-center field falls away quickly to 420 feet!! Yeah, it’s short down the line, so pitchers just don’t throw inside or off-speed to leftys. If you miss jerking it down the line, you’re out!! The park gives up 38% fewer homers than average, which means that unless you’re Barry Bonds, you’re numbers are going down.
By Tomy Fournier
July 19, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
LOOK AT THIS…THE ATLANTA FANS WANT TO MAKE THE ATLANTA PARK IN A NURSING HOME….WITH GLAVINE,SMOLTZ,HAMPTON,MR.”MORON”COX,THE STAFF COACH WITH MR.MORON MCDOWELL…AND NOW THEY WANT BARRY(TRASH)ZITO…(THEY ARE CRAZY) I HOPE THEY DON’T RECOMEND MR BOND EITHER. YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE NOTICE???…THE ATLANTA FANS ARE RUNNING BACKWARD…LIKE MR. MORON COX…THAT’S CONTAGIOUS…YEAAAAH!!!!!!!
By Hillbilly Deluxe
July 19, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
My take on Mike Hampton. You got to give the guy credit. Many would have given it up a long time ago. I admire him for his persistance. People also forget he was a pretty effective pitcher here for a couple years before he got hurt. And if by some chance he makes it back and wins 3 or 4 games in a row. You’ll all love him again.
As for Smoltz and Glavine, they were great pitchers and whether it is now or sometime in the future everything eventually has to end. Be thankful for what they gave you.
As Harry Caray once said, “When you see a great ballplayer, enjoy it, for all too soon they will be gone.”
And on a slightly different note how can Andre Dawson not be in the Hall of Fame. The guy was a true 5 tool player and racked up those numbers even though he had terrible knees the last half of his career. His numbers are far better than his self promoting ex-teammate Gary Carter. (Dale Murphy had better numbers than Carter too by the way). And Andre was every bit as good a defensive player as he was an offensive player.
By fieldofdreams
July 19, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Dear Tom, enough already with the frustrated nice-guy act. When you left to play with the Queens, you flipped Atlanta the virtual finger, and five years later, virtually nobody wanted you back, except for that dunce we call a GM. What the fans really want back is the $8 million wasted on your “homecoming”, money that could - and should have - been spent on an enthusiastic youngster who really wants to a Brave. It’s nice that you’re driving the kids to school, but you and your agent have taken us Braves fans for a ride.
By JackP
July 19, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Glavine is a whimp, always has been always will be. He is about as tough as soft boiled eggs. In his career, he has pitched 42 complete games. Warren Spahn pitched 382 complete games in his career. Glavine’s 300+ wins are tainted with weakness and lack of guts. The Braves need to unload him.
By Mark Bradley
July 19, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Money for nothing? Nick Esasky signed with the Braves in November 1989 for $5.6 million over three seasons. He played nine games.
By charles
July 19, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
One thing I don’t understand, how can Mike Hampton pulled his groin when he has no balls.
By Lou Vales
July 19, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Dear Mark, In the last 3 years Esasky looks like Lou Gehrig compared to the little left hander from Blountstown.
By Desperado Dave
July 19, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
Nick Esasky? I had totally forgotten that name. THAT was a waste of money.
By raindawg722
July 19, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
JackP, was Glavine as tough as soft-boiled eggs the night he pitched eight shutout innings against one of the premier offensive teams of the 90s to clinch Atlanta’s only World Series championship?
By texasboy28
July 19, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
I agree with Lawrence. It is way harsh and uncalled for to question Mike Hampton. As noted we were way to fortunate in the mid 90’s to be as injury free as we were. I would rather have all these injuries in a season where we aren’t really that good than in the heat of a pennant race.
Also, everyone who pays attention knows that pitching has been excellent considering all the injuries, except for late in games, and the sleeping bats are what has us stinking up the place. Thank God Chipper and McCann are hitting lights out. I just wish Tex and Frenchy would realize that Chipper’s and McCann’s legs are getting tired.
By Lou Vales
July 19, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley WILL VERIFY that Hampton gets NOTHING if he retires. I’m getting pretty tired of the perception being perpetuated that Hampton WOULD BE PAID even if he quits. AU CONTRAIRE—-He quits, money quits, that put a different tint on it??
NOW if he was to be paid even if he shut down rehab—THEN I would be very impressed. Now—in the lexicon of the day—-Not So Much!!
By Dick
July 20, 2008 1:06 AM | Link to this
I am incredibly queer!
By Ronald Millsaps
July 20, 2008 5:16 AM | Link to this
Bob—Don’t “ummm” me, son.
I didn’t say pitching was the problem; kindly re-read. I said trading for Zito made a lot more sense than trading for Youkilis if we indeed do part ways with Teixeira, an idea I’m not necessarily for.
As for Pac Bell park, it IS a home run-friendly park, and as for your misleading usage of statistics, there aren’t many Teixeiras in that division, as none of those teams really hit homers. All five teams in the NL West play small ball, and don’t expect the Dodgers to step out from the crowd as long as Joe Torre refuses to bat Andruw in the “three” hole.
“farm system”—Don’t insult Glavine. By the way, he didn’t sell the team out when he left for New York. He CLEARLY wanted to stay, but John Schuerholz clearly put him on the backburner and showed partiality to the idea of acquiring Mike Hampton. Glavine was treated as an outcast, so he left. Honestly, I can’t say I blame him. Otherwise, aside from trading David Justice, Schuerholz generally has made outstanding decisions.
As for the strike itself, players were getting exploited percentage-wise, and they made valid points to Selig and co.. By the way, Selig’s a horrible commissioner. Roger Goodell’s actually a lot worse, and David Stern’s actually a lot worse than Goodell. (The NBA has lost credibility, thanks to Stern and Rod Thorn, and now it’s getting exposed as what it is.)
Let’s not point the finger solely or mainly, if at all, at players for previous strikes or rumored strikes.
Back to Selig, he has hurt the game in many ways, such as his promoting this Questec system and overall making the game harder on pitchers. About the only feather in his hat has been his elimination of turf; I’ll give him that.
Has anyone else noticed the irony? Players get harassed for stepping out of the batter’s box. Cranky announcers gripe if pitchers take an extra moment. Questec is downright insane. Stadiums are built to accommodate offensive prowess, as pitchers generally are given an unfair playing field, literally and figuratively. Then Selig and co. want the game to proceed more quickly, in an effort to appeal more to 13-year-olds with no attention spans.
I wonder if it ever occurred to Selig that baseball is naturally a pitcher’s game, not a hitter’s game, and if he wouldn’t meddle with it, THE GAME WOULD MOVE FASTER BUT IN A NATURAL WAY, NOT IN A WAY THAT AFFECTS THE GAME’S INTEGRITY.
By the way, I guess these blogs don’t have moderators, huh? A lot of comments need to be deleted, including several against Furman Bisher recently.
By Hillbilly Deluxe
July 20, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
A 2-1 game usually proceeds more quickly than a 9-8 game. Raise the mound back to the Pre-Bob Gibson height.
By Ralph
July 20, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
What different does it make at this point if the Brave keep Teixeira or trade him. They weren’t winning with him, and they won’t win without him, so let the man go to a better club. It take 9 players to play the game, 9 player who don’t give up, after 3 innings, if they are behind. The obvious truth is that the Braves need to have a new manager, one that uses different tactics, and is not so readable, one who would take his pitchers, out when they fall back 3 runs. Excuses, is the Brave best weapon, use, everyone from the announcers to the manage to the general manager, which is plain nonsense. There is a lot missing with the Braves, such as team-work, motivation, they look like they are stress out. If it’s true what Bobby Cox said, that the Braves are buyers, not sellers, they should making room for all the new player who the Braves are going to get what’s coming, and get rid of the players, who haven’t contribute, they know who to let go. They are either a Baseball team, or a good old boys club, that don’t care, if they win or lose. The Braves are blowing their changes, the tomorrows are getting less. The Brave, aren’t going to do a thing this year or next year, they might as well use a replay recording, because it’s the same thing every year, and it won’t change next year. Let’s face it the Braves are the biggest procrastinates in Baseball.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2009)
July 22, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
Tom Glavine asked: “On the one hand, you think of all the people we’ve had injured,” he said. “But you look at our statistics, and we’re high on the list in hitting and we’re first in ERA. That’s the part that makes you scratch your head and say, ‘Why aren’t we winning more?’ “
The answer: The Braves DO NOT PLAY ENOUGH SMALL BALL. See the Braves 6-22 record in one run games as stark evidence of that fact.
Why? Bobby Cox. His offense lives and dies with the three run bomb. Then , when considering that the Braves are ranked 10th out of 16 teams in HR’s and 13 th in stolen bases, the problem is crystal clear.
Then we have the whole soap opera surrounding Jeff Francoeur. Any manager worth his salt would have demoted frenchy two months ago. Meanwhile, Cox is still looking for the pepper shaker.
By chinmusic
July 23, 2008 1:07 AM | Link to this
Groin Pull=jakeing=buying time=screwing the team!
By justafan
July 23, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Time for Glavine to hang it up! Why do some players keep trying to hand on? Man go spend time with the family.
By justafan
July 23, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Time for Glavine to hang it up! Why do some players keep trying to hang on? Man go spend time with the family.
By Jack and Coke
July 25, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this
What does the inept McGuirk have to say now? His silence and incompetence is incredible! He is the reason we have retreads and expect them to perform like they did 10 plus yeas ago. It’s not Glavine or Cox… it’s the McGuirk… the MASTER OF THIS DISASTER. New owners needed and McGuirk sent packing! He is the Liberty poster boy of FAILURE! And this McGuirk wanted A Jones to stay! WAke up people!
By Mike Kenn.
July 25, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
Remember People it is just a game. The pure enjoyment Glav,Smoltzie,And Hampton have given the Atlanta fans over the years. You should be gratefull.Not many teams have had this quality of pitchers. These people are professonial athletes and future Hall of Famers, My Hats off to you Tom,Smoltz, Hampton. Wish you were all in Boston. Kick some butt in August….
By JRDbraves
July 25, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
By Check this out
July 29, 2008 3:27 AM | Link to this
Braves minor league news