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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > December > 18
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wren selling hope, but so far few are buying
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Once you get past that the general manager in San Diego might be a kook, and that A.J. Burnett says he wanted to be closer to his wife, who doesn’t like to fly, and that Rafael Furcal’s agent acted in a “despicable” and “disgusting” and “unprofessional” manner (source: John Schuerholz), there is one inescapable fact: The Braves went 0-for-3.
They used to be everybody’s destination.
Now they are everybody’s pawn.
They were used by the Padres’ Kevin Towers, who solicited the Braves’ best offer for pitcher Jake Peavy and then tried to weave a better deal with Chicago. They were used by Burnett, who probably would’ve pitched for the Braves if there were a significant difference in salary but preferred New York, which is closer to his Maryland home. They certainly were used by Rafael Furcal’s three-card-Monte playing agent, who only wanted to get comparable money in Los Angeles.
But you know what nobody’s talking about?
Furcal could’ve said, “Forget the Dodgers. I’m signing with the Braves.” He didn’t.
By Braves’ standards, this hasn’t been merely an off offseason. It has been a disaster. If one more general manager or player or agent says no to Frank Wren, I swear Turner Field is dropping into a sinkhole.
Asked about perceptions that everything has gone wrong this winter, Wren said: “I really don’t have that feeling. There are still a lot of things we can do. There are a lot of players out there. A lot of possibilities. We’re not at the finish line yet.”
Yes. There is still time. There are still players. There remains all of that unused payroll. If Wren finds it any consolation, he could really clean up in a three-day sale at Kohl’s with what’s left in his budget.
Do they carry pitchers there?
The Braves have a big problem. They are no longer the remarkable team of 14 consecutive postseasons, five pennants and a World Series. They are the team that has missed the playoffs three consecutive years.
They are the team that lost 90 games last season. They are the team with a thin lineup whose best player (Chipper Jones) will be 37 next season and whose once-sure-gold-prospect (Jeff Francoeur) is struggling to relocate his career.
Yesterday’s starting rotation: Maddux-Glavine-Smoltz-Doesn’t Matter-Who Cares.
Today’s starting rotation: Vazquez-Jurrjens-Good Luck-Still Developing-Pray.
The Braves used to be the product that sold itself. Players have left money on the table to be here. Now, they’re the hard sale.
Wren disputes the characterization. It’s what you would expect him to say. John Schuerholz, the team president, disputes this, though to a point. After praising all facets of the organization, he said: “There might be a few players who say they want to play for a World Series-bound team, and then scratch us off for that. But there are still a lot of good things about playing here.”
The anger over the Furcal non-signing remains palpable. Wren can’t quite believe it. Schuerholz vented, saying he told agent Arn Tellem (Paul Kinzer’s more-powerful partner) that the Braves never will sign another one of their clients.
“We’re a proud organization and we won’t allow ourselves to be treated that way,” he said. “I advised Arn Tellem that whatever players he represents, just scratch us off the list. Take the name of the Atlanta Braves off their speed dial. They can deal with the other 29 clubs and we’ll deal with the other hundred agents.”
Deals fall apart all the time. But these collapses have been high profile and public. The Braves aren’t used to that.
Wren said of the protracted Peavy trade talks, “That went on for six weeks. It was almost like the Florida ballot counting.”
Postscript: Peavy is still in San Diego. Could those talks be reignited?
Wren laughed. “No comment,” he said.
This isn’t Wren’s fault. He is a solid baseball man. He isn’t gullible. He has been aggressive. He simply isn’t dealing from a position of strength.
He says he isn’t feeling extraordinary pressure, adding, “I’d feel pressure if there weren’t still a lot of good players out there. I’d feel pressure if we didn’t have a solid foundation.”
He is selling hope. He has to. Right now, that’s all the Braves have.
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