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Friday, January 19, 2007
LaRoche’s trade a loss to club, fans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
After seasons of patchwork first basemen — remember Robert Fick, the elderly Julio Franco, even a tryout of Chipper Jones — the Braves had finally found their man. Adam LaRoche had taken a solid grip on the job, a position looked to for power and run production, and he had fulfilled on all counts. A classic swing, sound defense — how does a .996 average read to you? — long ball and run production, 32 home runs and 90 RBIs, all packaged in a .285 batting average. We had our man at last, and still in his 20s.
Or, we had.
Well, he’s gone, for one of those one-inning whizzes, Mike Gonzalez, who comes to you by way of Pittsburgh. Got in 54 games, pitched 54 innings and became celebrated as one of those “closers.” The roadside is littered with the wreckage of a lot of those guys who gleamed, then dimmed out. Another one came from Seattle, Rafael Soriano, in exchange for Horacio Ramirez, a winner as a starter. Already in stock was Bob Wickman, who has one of the most impressive bellies in the major leagues, and an equally impressive “closing” record to go with it. But what do you do with three “closers”?
John Schuerholz has applied the wrecking ball to the right side of the infield as we knew it. Marcus Giles was set adrift, a guy with fire in his belly. He might have cost $5 million for the season. Maybe not. He went home to San Diego. Now, it’s LaRoche, whose departure should be a lesson to any salaried observer who becomes heartily attached to any athlete. It was just that I thought the Braves at last had a first baseman to be lived with for seasons ahead.
Money is the culprit, if I read it right. LaRoche probably would have cost the Braves $3 million, so I’ve read. In his place, they picked up a free agent, Craig Wilson, a former Pirate and a sort of utilityman who’ll cost $2 million. In other words, for a million more they could have had LaRoche, who had a fan base. Instead, you could see Wilson platooning at first base with Scott Thorman, who hit .234 his rookie season. (A year ago, James Jurries was a glint in the eye, a good hitter but still schooling with the glove, and I don’t know if he has fallen from grace.)
On the subject of money, we are to understand that the Braves’ payroll limit is $80 million. That being the case, then over half of that will be tied up in Mike Hampton, Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones, and just below them comes Tim Hudson, in whom $8 million will be invested this year, and it’s about time he produced. John Smoltz is on the same level, but he’s worth every bit of it. Hampton has been a drag on the payroll while he recovers from arm surgery, and that means the Braves have to face a dilemma next season: How could they possibly afford Andruw Jones at $14 million, if it’s possible to reel him in for that?
Just recently, Schuerholz was quoted in Sports Weekly as saying, “I think our rotation will be one of our strengths.” Which begs the question then, of why overload on the bullpen at the expense of unloading LaRoche? Behind the three “closers,” they have Oscar Villarreal, Macay McBride, Tyler Yates, Chad Paronto, Joey Devine, Lance Cormier and Blaine Boyer. Somewhere among them might there not have been an undiscovered gem as an alternative to sacrificing a homebred, as they say in horse racing, such as LaRoche?
As you can plainly see, this squandering of an attractive talent disturbs me to no end. Surely I have no license to be so disturbed, but from the first time I saw Adam LaRoche’s swing, I saw a major league star on the way. Of course, I felt the same way when I first saw Adrian Garrett’s swing. “Ah, another Ted Williams,” I chortled. But that’s another story, and very ancient history.
Permalink | Comments (69) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
Vick and Petrino must step forward
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Instead of where’s Waldo, where’s the coach and where’s the player?
Courtesy of another absolutely ludicrous incident involving Michael Vick, quickly becoming the Atlanta quarterback of the past instead of the future or even the present, the Falcons continue to show a lack of public relations savvy.
The coach has to say something sooner than later about this latest Vick Thing that occurred at Miami International Airport, and so does the quarterback.
They’ve said nothing.
According to Falcons spokesperson Reggie Roberts, it was “an organizational decision” to have only team guru Rich McKay address this latest Vick Thing, which means the Falcons still don’t get it. Earlier this season, after Vick flashed his one-fingered salute in anger at those jeering in the home crowd, he apologized quickly and often to anybody who’d listen. That was good.
This wasn’t: Former Falcons coach Jim Mora was the only coach, management or ownership type to speak on the issue. Since Vick is the face of the franchise (for better or worse), these Vick Things should produce an immediate response from all of those with a fancy office in Flowery Branch, along with Vick himself.
That is, until the Falcons get tired of these Vick Things and tell him to sprint left while they sprint right.
Although Bobby Petrino has spent less than two weeks with the Falcons, you can’t have a rookie or veteran NFL coach sitting in the shadows when his starting quarterback is under investigation for stuff like this: TSA agents said Vick allegedly tried to stroll by security at the Miami International Airport with a water bottle containing a secret compartment that held an undetermined trace substance and smelled of marijuana. The coach has to tell us his overall thoughts on the matter, along with his answers to the following: Since you have a no-nonsense reputation, how sizzling was your tongue during your first meeting with Vick on Thursday? Is he still your undisputed starter, or does this bring backup Matt Schaub into the picture?
Are you thinking about returning to Louisville?
Mostly, the quarterback has to tell his thoughts on everything. Vick hasn’t a choice for so many reasons, and let’s start with this: He has become the worst nightmare for a franchise that has been obsessed with its image for five seasons under owner Arthur Blank. You had that Vick Thing involving the disappearance of a security screener’s watch at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. You had that Vick Thing involving his alleged use of the alias Ron Mexico for a lawsuit that accused Vick of giving a woman genital herpes. You also had those other Vick Things — ranging from an Internet picture describing Vick as holding a marijuana “blunt”, to a $45 million lawsuit by a sports agent claiming that Vick reneged on an endorsement deal.
Vick has to speak about this latest Vick Thing because of all of those other Vick Things.
Then there is that leadership question: Is Vick one? He likes to claim as much. If so, he has to speak to show as much. Consider that quarterbacks traditionally are the kings of their locker rooms, and they stay visible no matter what their plight. Just look at the NFL’s Final Four this weekend of the New Orleans Saints (Drew Brees), Chicago Bears (Rex Grossman), New England Patriots (Tom Brady) and Indianapolis Colts (Peyton Manning). Only the erratic Grossman isn’t the clear leader of his team. Such a distinction comes from what quarterbacks do on and off the field, especially in adversity.
Adversity such as Brady continuing his magic despite new receivers. Adversity such as Brees overcoming career-threatening shoulder surgery to join the elite passers. Adversity such as Manning trying to win the Big One. Adversity such as Grossman trying to overcome himself.
All of that is in contrast to Vick’s self-imposed adversity, which needs to be discussed. By everybody, including the coach and the player.
Permalink | | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
