Glavine reaction round-up
June 5, 2009 at 6:08 pm by Asher Smith in NewsThe abrupt release of 300-game winner Tom Glavine by the Atlanta Braves, which the former World Series MVP said left him “blindsided,” has had a similar impact among the local fan blogs, all of whom have come to terms with the news in different — and in some instances conflicting — ways.
Alex Remington, over at Chop-n-Change, calls this “an ugly ending to a long, complicated, often brilliant career” and refuses to fully let go of his former idol:
It’s a ruthless business, and sometimes it really is all about the money. Tom Glavine, the consummate professional, the longtime players’ union representative, the free agent who went to the highest bidder, knows that as well as anyone. I’ll always love you, Tom, even though I’m happy you won’t be pitching for us this year. You were my first favorite player. I hope you stay with the organization as a coach, as a broadcaster, as anything. You’re as smart a baseball man as there is in the game. You’ll be wearing an A cap to the Hall of Fame in a few years. I hope there are no hard feelings.
BravesBlast places the blame squarely on the Braves organization, but has little sympathy for the former ace:
The bottom line is that Wren shouldn’t have given Glavine a contract without seeing him pitch. That’s a lot of risk to put on the shoulder and elbow of Glavine. And it didn’t pay off – not financially, not in the game of baseball, and certainly not as far as public relations goes.
There’s another side of me that says we owe Glavine no loyalty because he ditched us for the effing Mets. It was about money for you then, Glavine, so shut up and stop whining. You’re coming off as a bitter has-been who can’t admit when his best days are behind him.
Talking Chop, on the other hand, argues that retaining Glavine simply wasn’t worth the effort and that the front office made the right call:
The money and the younger pitchers both made Tom Glavine unnecessary for the Braves. Not only unnecessary, but as a club that is trying to build long term and is set to try and compete with the majority of the personnel is has for several more years, the right move was to put someone else into that fifth-starter role who could grow with the club. It’s unfortunate for Glavine and all those who like him, but the Braves made the right decision.
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