The Major League Baseball season has reached its midway point and as a lifelong fan of the Atlanta Braves I'm understandably disappointed, though not necessarily surprised. Any time you go into a season with a starting rotation that includes two geriatrics and a guy who hasn't pitched in two years because of injuries -- not to mention a starting centerfielder with a chronic bad back -- you're asking for trouble.
And the Braves have got plenty of it.
John Smoltz is through, probably for good. Tom Glavine is, too, even though he hasn't yet come to grips with the obvious. As for Mike Hampton, I'd like to find job that pays you millions of dollars for doing absolutely nothing but rehabbing. Hell, at this point, I'd settle for any job (for those of you out there who are hiring). But I digress ...
With the trading deadline rapidly approaching, the time is coming for the Braves to make some major decisions. Do they make a longshot run at getting into the postseason this year by trading some of their prospects for starting pitching (C.C. Sabathia, Erik Bedard, Rich Harden and Bronson Arroyo are among those rumored to be available) and an outfield bat (like the Pirates' Jason Bay or Xavier Nady)? Or do they move free-agent-to-be first baseman Mark Teixeira and perhaps even Tim Hudson for prospects that will help them return to prominence in the future?
My guess is that the latter is the more prudent course. But I doubt Bobby Cox and GM Frank Wren are going to admit that their amazing run is officially over.
By the way, with Smoltz recovering from surgery, Glavine struggling to stay healthy and get anybody out, and fellow 40-something former teammate Greg Maddux only a shadow of his former Cy Young self, I would love to see all three announce their retirements at the end of the season so that five years from now, they can all be inducted into the Hall of Fame together -- as they should be given what they accomplished together during the 1990s.
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2 comments:
As a Braves season ticket holder (section 425 row 1) I'm pretty pissed as well Brett. I haven't looked at the stats that much but even though trouble with Glavine-Smoltz-Hampton-etc. the pitching is still 2nd (ERA 3.7something) in NL.
The 20something 1 run road losing streak is painful. Having 7 different closers with saves hurts.
I'm thinking MarkTex is gone. I think Huddy likes ATL/Cox etc. I like the idea of Glavine-Smoltz-Maddux going into the Hall together, just please let all three take the mound on Turner Field just once more (not to throw out the 1st pitch either).
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. Have you seen the giant chickfila cow that does the chop? AWESOME! and the all you can eat/drink (includes beer) seats can't be beat!
Wow, season tickets! I knew I liked you! Let me know if you ever need someone to go with you to a game at Turner Field. I'll take out a mortgage and buy the beer!
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