McCarroll21
08-24-2008, 07:25 PM
Has Tommy reached the end?
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_glavine.jpgA little more than a year ago, I kicked off our off-season coverage by saying the Braves should bring back Tom Glavine (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7069). It doesn't take a smart person to tell me that that didn't work out as anyone would have hoped.
Was adding a 42 year old pitcher to a pitching staff already anchored by a 40 year old starter a risk? You bet it was and the Braves have the 2008 season to prove it wasn't a wise one to make. However, the Braves magnified the risk by neglecting the rotation after adding Glavine to the staff.
Now, as the 2008 season is coming to a close, the Braves have another decision to make on Glavine. Will he pitch for the team in 2009? Personally, I'm here to learn from my mistake of bringing him back in the first place and can only hope the Braves front office will do the same.
Glavine was brought back to give the Braves a solid piece in the middle of their rotation and to give him a chance to retire as an Atlanta Brave. Glavine didn't live up to his end of the bargain for the first part of the equation, but still has a chance to make good on the second. If Glavine hopes to pitch again next season, to me, he forfeits the right to retire as a Brave because he shouldn't be brought back for the 2009 season.
Glavine returned to the team and gave the Braves two good starts to open the season, while taking a no decision in each of them. His first start was the Braves home opener, he pitched five innings, allowing just one earned run. He followed that start with 6.1 scoreless innings in Colorado, only to get outlasted by Aaron Cook on his way to another no decision. It was his third start where things began to unravel for Glavine as he faced four Nationals without recording an out before having to leave the game due to an injury. The injury landed Glavine on the disabled list for the first time in his career.
After returning from the disabled list, Glavine had a 2-2 record with a 5.44 ERA in nine starts with the Braves before heading to the disabled list for the second time in his lenghty career. He didn't bounce back from the second stint as quickly, not returning until just over two months later. While it may have taken longer for him to come back but this time he was only able to hang around for four more innings before heading back to the disabled list and undergoing season ending surgery.
Prior to coming back from his second stay on the disabled list, Glavine admitted that he would be auditioning himself for the 2009 season (http://www.ajc.com/services/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/08/13/braves_glavine_start.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=21) with his play through the end of the year, saying that the time from his August 14 start to the end of the year would be important.
Glavine's six weeks to finish the year lasted just four innings in which he gave up seven runs. He walked four batters and allowed two homers in the four innings of work. If those four innings are an open audition, I think it's time to skip over his name in the callbacks for the final cut.
The feel good story about bringing Glavine back to give him a chance to retire as a Brave needs to end now. Glavine received $11 million for the 2008 season from two teams ($3 million buyout from the Mets, $8 million contract from the Braves). Needless to say, his performance for 2008 didn't live up to the billing and he hasn't left anyone thinking that bringing him back would be a good option.
As I stated earlier, if I'm making the calls, if Glavine wants to pitch again in 2009, he's going to have to do it for another team. He has been given his chance to retire as a Brave, now it's up to him to take it.
What does everyone else think about Glavine's career? Would you bring him back to the Braves in 2009 if you were calling the punches? Do you think he comes back next year? If he does come back next year, will it be with the Braves or another team?
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_glavine.jpgA little more than a year ago, I kicked off our off-season coverage by saying the Braves should bring back Tom Glavine (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7069). It doesn't take a smart person to tell me that that didn't work out as anyone would have hoped.
Was adding a 42 year old pitcher to a pitching staff already anchored by a 40 year old starter a risk? You bet it was and the Braves have the 2008 season to prove it wasn't a wise one to make. However, the Braves magnified the risk by neglecting the rotation after adding Glavine to the staff.
Now, as the 2008 season is coming to a close, the Braves have another decision to make on Glavine. Will he pitch for the team in 2009? Personally, I'm here to learn from my mistake of bringing him back in the first place and can only hope the Braves front office will do the same.
Glavine was brought back to give the Braves a solid piece in the middle of their rotation and to give him a chance to retire as an Atlanta Brave. Glavine didn't live up to his end of the bargain for the first part of the equation, but still has a chance to make good on the second. If Glavine hopes to pitch again next season, to me, he forfeits the right to retire as a Brave because he shouldn't be brought back for the 2009 season.
Glavine returned to the team and gave the Braves two good starts to open the season, while taking a no decision in each of them. His first start was the Braves home opener, he pitched five innings, allowing just one earned run. He followed that start with 6.1 scoreless innings in Colorado, only to get outlasted by Aaron Cook on his way to another no decision. It was his third start where things began to unravel for Glavine as he faced four Nationals without recording an out before having to leave the game due to an injury. The injury landed Glavine on the disabled list for the first time in his career.
After returning from the disabled list, Glavine had a 2-2 record with a 5.44 ERA in nine starts with the Braves before heading to the disabled list for the second time in his lenghty career. He didn't bounce back from the second stint as quickly, not returning until just over two months later. While it may have taken longer for him to come back but this time he was only able to hang around for four more innings before heading back to the disabled list and undergoing season ending surgery.
Prior to coming back from his second stay on the disabled list, Glavine admitted that he would be auditioning himself for the 2009 season (http://www.ajc.com/services/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/08/13/braves_glavine_start.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=21) with his play through the end of the year, saying that the time from his August 14 start to the end of the year would be important.
Glavine's six weeks to finish the year lasted just four innings in which he gave up seven runs. He walked four batters and allowed two homers in the four innings of work. If those four innings are an open audition, I think it's time to skip over his name in the callbacks for the final cut.
The feel good story about bringing Glavine back to give him a chance to retire as a Brave needs to end now. Glavine received $11 million for the 2008 season from two teams ($3 million buyout from the Mets, $8 million contract from the Braves). Needless to say, his performance for 2008 didn't live up to the billing and he hasn't left anyone thinking that bringing him back would be a good option.
As I stated earlier, if I'm making the calls, if Glavine wants to pitch again in 2009, he's going to have to do it for another team. He has been given his chance to retire as a Brave, now it's up to him to take it.
What does everyone else think about Glavine's career? Would you bring him back to the Braves in 2009 if you were calling the punches? Do you think he comes back next year? If he does come back next year, will it be with the Braves or another team?