Phils fans angry, Braves have hope for Glavine

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:36:04 -0500

Phillies fans were incensed when they learned manager Charlie Manuel has decided not to move Cole Hamels up one day in the rotation to face the Mets next week at Citizens Bank Park.

Glavine does not require Tommy John surgery

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:50:27 -0500

Those of us who were wondering about the status of Tom Glavines career can breathe a little easier tonight. Test show that Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine has no ligament damage in his left elbow, leaving open the possibility he could return next season. Glavine was examined by Dr. James Andrews and while test showed that the [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Glavine does not require Tommy John surgery", url: "http://www.tireball.com/behindthedugout/2008/08/20/glavine-does-not-require-tommy-john-surgery/" });

Glavine does not require Tommy John surgery

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:15:10 -0500

Those of us who were wondering about the status of Tom Glavines career can breathe a little easier tonight. Test show that Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine has no ligament damage in his left elbow, leaving open the possibility he could return next season. Glavine was examined by Dr. James Andrews and while test showed that the 42-year-old pitcher has a partial tear in the flexor tendon of his left elbow they also showed that the ligament was intact and showed only normal wear. On Thursday the 300-game winner will have surgery to repair the tendon. He faces four to five months of recovery time but barring any setbacks could be available for the start of the 2009 season if he chooses to continue pitching.

Glavine News Better Than Expected

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:50:47 -0500

With Age Comes Ending

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:07:49 -0500

The bad year for legendary Braves starting pitchers from the 1990s continued this weekend, as Tom Glavine seems to have torn ligaments. Combine this with his less than encouraging numbers before the snap (2-4, 5.54 ERA), and you've got the ingredients for Later Stew.

One hopes that he really is done, is only for the nice numerical poetry that is 304-203 (career won-loss record), and the idea that he could go into the HOF in the same year as stablemate John Smoltz. That'd be sure to get all 38 Atlanta Braves fans nice and pleased... but if anyone is thinking that they are going to be joined by the third horse in the dynasty, Greg Maddux has other ideas.

For the year, the man is 6-9 with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, which is to say, he's still a very reasonable back end of the rotation starter. You also get the feeling that when he goes into the HOF, he'll want to do it all by himself, as the greatest right-handed pitcher of his half century... at least, now that we know that Roger Clemens was a low down dirty cheater. 353 up, 223 down, and he's still got an outside shot at 400...

With Age Comes Ending

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:07:49 -0500

NL East Round Up: Phillies hold on by a thread, Fish Flounder and Everyone else loses....

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:35:09 -0500

The Phillies came into last night trailing by 1 game in the National League East. They Started the ageless one, Jamie Moyer against San Diego and Greg Maddux. This had to be one of the oldest pitching matchups in major League History. Each dueled to the 7th as Maddux caved in giving up a Homer to Pat "The Bat" Burrell. Phillies Won 1-0.

It was a different story in Marlin Land, as the Cubs came back against the Fish in the top of the ninth. Daryle Ward hit a pinch hit 3-run Homer off closer Kevin Gregg to put them past the floundering fish, 6-5. The Marlins are now 3.5 games back and have lost 3 in a row!

The Braves are looking pathetic as they lost to the Giants 5-1. The Giants had 15 hits against Braves pitchers! By the way, Our good friend, Tom Glavine is back on the 15 day DL...Sorry Tom, should of stayed retired!
They fall 11 games back....and have lost 5 in a row!

The Nationals continue the losing trend. They have lost 8 in a row as they lose to the Rockies 4-3. They are now 22.5 games back. Maybe Lastings Milledge can make good Hip/Hop song about his Washington experience? Call it, Losing Ways!

All is good in Mets land! - Go Mets!

The Bump and The Grind

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:18:34 -0500

This might be a random collection of events, but taking the mound against the Cubs has had it's risks. It dawned on me that we've seen some season ending injuries happen to our opponents pitchers. Coincidence? Or Death Cab for Cutie?

Follow the link to the pitchers who've risked entering the valley of shadows:

Tom Glavine -- He's had two rough starts against the Cubs and immediately landed on the DL each time. His diagnosis is a strained left pitching elbow, supposedly a tear in flexor tendon origin. This second episode occurred after two months of attempted nonsurgical rehab. It almost definitely ends his season and possible starts his 5 year clock to make it to the Hall of Fame. If he ops for surgery at age 42, who knows what else will break down. Glavine had never been on the DL before this season. Father time has finally caught up with him.

Chris Carpenter -- Reinjured his pitching arm last sunday (video link) and is again on the DL. He was matching pitches (with his signature low pitch count) through 5 innings against Ryan Dempster (with his signature high pitch count). The diagnosis is triceps strain which is the muscle/tendon on the back side of the arm. Basically, it's not his reconstructed collateral ligament but all the anatomy around the elbow is closely related. Given his history the Cardinals need to be very worried about a quick return with only 6 weeks left in the season. This was his third start back after a 1-1/2 years of rehabbing two elbow surgeries including an elbow scope for arthritis followed by a "Tommy John" ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction procedure when it was clear the first surgery had not helped. The Cardinals were counting on their one time "ace" to give them the boost to make the playoffs after the team has played incredibly well given that everyone had written their season off in preseason polls. Now back on the DL, it looks like the redbirds last pitching hope is limited to Adam Wainright's recovery as Carpenter, Mulder and Matt Clement are ticketed for the land of #22 and perpetual rehab.

Yovani Gallardo -- Ripped his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) on this play during the game May 1st, it was a major blow to the Brewers rotation for at least May and June. The injury subsequently cost the Brewers last years first round draft pick, Matt LaPorta, to replace him with someone even bigger than Prince Fielder. Prince has said that he is Sabathia's "mini-me". Or Fielder at least thinks of Sabathia as one very big potato. Gallardo's injury was a significant timeline change, thus Capt Kirk and Mr. Spock are still looking for McCoy and Joan Collins to rectify things. Gallardo just started light tossing and won't resurface until next spring.

To be honest, this hit list is based on a fairly flimsy argument since Carpenter and Glavine's aging arms were hanging on with duct tape, but still it begs the question: Who's Next?

Glavines sore elbow could end career

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:06:45 -0500

Glavines sore elbow could end career

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:06:45 -0500

Glavines sore elbow could end career

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:52:02 -0500

Tom Glavine went back to the disabled list on Friday, just a day after making his first start since June 10. Glavine was pounded to the tune of seven runs, seven hits while walking four in the Braves 11-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Today it appears his season has ended and while there has been no reports on how this will effect his availability for 2009, one has to wonder if Glavine will even be throwing next season. With 305 career victories under his belt the 42-year-old left hander had hinted that he would retire following last season if he didn't return to Atlanta. A torn flexor tendon in his left elbow caused him to sit out two months of this season. Glavine complained of discomfort in his elbow during Thursday nights start. Glavine has made only three trips to the disabled list in his 22-year career — all this season. He spent two weeks on the disabled list in April with a hamstring injury. It's something I hate to admit but fear to say. Aging pitchers with arm troubles don't stay around very long. Even those with the career success that Glavine has experienced. If "Tommy" never takes to the hill again this would probably rank as the most depressing baseball retirement of my lifetime. Unlike many of the starts who have retired in the last few years Glavine is one I can say I've watched his whole career. I remember when Glavine was just a youngster on the Braves. A left hander trying to find his grove. I remember my father saying "Grapevine. That kid is going to be good" It's one of the few times my father has been so right about baseball.

Cubs at Braves open game thread

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:50:01 -0500

B-REF PREVIEW | GAMEDAY | WEATHER | ACB CHAT ROOM Tom Glavine vs. Cubs hitters: .287/.364/.475 in 223 at-bats Ted Lilly vs. Braves hitters: 11-49, HR, 19 K's When and Where: 6:00 on CSN

Game 121 Thread / Cubs @ Braves (3 of 3)

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:02:19 -0500

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	*Ted Lilly	SP	*Tom Glavine
	11-16, 4.26, 133 K, 52 BB, 148 IP		2-3, 4.85, 34 K, 33 BB, 59.1 IP
LF	Alfonso Soriano	SS	Yunel Escobar
RF	*Kosuke Fukudome	2B	Martin Prado
1B	Derrek Lee	3B	#Chipper Jones
3B	Aramis Ramirez	LF	Omar Infante
CF	Reed Johnson	1B	*Casey Kotchmann
C	Geovany Soto	RF	Jeff Francoeur
2B	Mark DeRosa	CF	*Mark Kotsay
SS	Ryan Theriot	C	Clint Sammons
P	*Ted Lilly	P	*Tom Glavine

The Cubs go for the sweep and hopefully gain some ground on the Brewers, who are losing 3-2 in the ninth in San Diego as I write this. The Cubs doubleheader sweep last night was their first since 2003 over the Pirates (I'm sure you remember the day) and first road sweep since 1992 over the Cardinals.

It'll be Lilly for the Cubs, the proud owner of a 2.53 ERA on the road this season. For the Braves, it's the return of Tom Glavine off the disabled list, his first start since facing the Cubs in early June.

How The Mighty Braves Have Fallen

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:16:05 -0500

The best franchise in the N.L. for 15 years is falling pretty hard. Much of it is not their fault, and some of it is. I don't think there is another team in 2008 that has had as many injuries, several of which have been catastrophic. Then again, when you count on 40 year old starters to anchor your staff, whether they are HOF'ers or not, you have to expect problems.

HOORAY FOR SATURDAY!

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:51:31 -0500

by Jesus Melendez, Hall of Very Good

A lot of kids growing up get excited for the normal made up holidays…Valentine's Day, Halloween, the last day of school. Me…I always got jazzed up about the day the Hall of Fame announcement was made.

Sure, it doesn't have some fancy name or some wing at the Hallmark store dedicated to it, but it was, for a couple hours in January…my Christmas.

Well, TECHNICALLY, Christmas was Christmas…but you get the idea.

Then, after six months of thinking about it, we get what amounts to New Years Eve, a relative's wedding or basically any other "holiday" where someone stands up and makes some clichéd speech about what an honor it is and how they never thought they would make it.

This weekend, we get the pleasure of hearing what I am sure is going to be another in a long line of self indulgent speeches when Rich "Goose" Gossage takes center stage.

Gossage is a guy who went from 33% of the vote to close to 86% in eight years. Somehow he convinced 300 votes that all of a sudden he was good enough to become the next great reliever to be inducted into the Hall. Apparently he wasn't only a top notch closer…he's a wizard! Heck, he's not even the lone "Goose" to be elected into Baseball's hallowed halls!

In my estimation, he was on the right ballot at the right time.

For some reason, voters don't seem to want to enshrine Jim Rice or Andre Dawson and they live by some wacky code that SOMEONE needs to be voted in. But in an age of "did he" or "didn't he"…the Hall wasn't about to open its doors to the likes of Mark McGwire or Tim Raines. I get it.

Which brings me to what I saw recently on ESPN. Buster Olney and Buck Showalter were given five names of current Major Leaguers and were asked what they thought about their chances.

The names were no-brainers…Mike Mussina, Billy Wagner, Jim Thome, Omar Vizquel and Gary Sheffield. Let's break 'em down.

MIKE MUSSINA

To me, "Moose" is an interesting case. On paper, you see a HUGE winning percentage (.637), a brilliant 263 and 150 record and close to 2800 Ks. His career ERA is 3.69 and one could argue that had he not toiled for more than half of his career in Baltimore…he would be as much of a Hall candidate as Tom Glavine. HOWEVER, Glavine had five seasons with more than 20 wins. Mussina, while he's hit double digits in wins seventeen straight years, has yet to eclipse 20. The Cy Young award has eluded Mussina as well. Unfortunately, six top five finishes and no hardware doesn't make for the best Hall of Fame case. Showalter, said Mussina is a Hall of Famer…Olney disagreed. I'm with Olney on this one. Outside of wins and consistency, and this sounds stupid to say, Mussina just hasn't SHOWN me anything spectacular.

BILLY WAGNER

Wagner should eclipse Eckersley on the all-time saves list this season and enter next year's campaign firmly in fifth place all-time, third on the active list. That being said, he's still WELL behind Trevor Hoffman, Mariano Rivera and Lee Smith AND is a guy who has never led the league in saves. By comparison, Hoffman has only led the National League twice, but he has nine seasons with more than 40 saves. Rivera has led the American League three times and has six seasons with more than 40 saves. Wagner has two. I'm not saying that Wagner isn't a premier closer…I'm just saying that if Lee Smith can't get a sniff at a time when Bruce Sutter, Eckersley and Gossage are…Billy Wagner is going to have a rough time competing for the writer's affection with the likes of Hoffman and Rivera still out there. As for Olney and Showalter…they split again. Showalter was a "maybe", while Olney "agrees" with me.

JIM THOME

I've made the case for Thome and over the last year…he hasn't done anything to make me feel otherwise. He's got 526 home runs and barely 2000 hits. He's going to have to do PLENTY more to sway me. Again, Olney and I are "no" votes…Showalter, predictably, was a "yes".

OMAR VIZQUEL

Again, this is a drum I've beaten before and is one of those guys that I LOVE to bring into the conversation when it presents itself. Not surprisingly, Olney, Showalter and I agree across the board with "Sheik Omar". As much as I would hate to see him hang it up…I think Omar needs to ride off into the sunset before he ruins his storied career.

GARY SHEFFIELD

Now…here's a guy who, in all honesty, deserves his own column. Does he pass the smell test? Not sure…he plays alongside some FANTASTIC players. Matter of fact, he's been overshadowed by plenty of them, but has put up some amazing numbers. A .294 career average, 2570 hits, 487 home runs and 1600 RBI puts him in a similar league as Willie McCovey, Mike Schmidt, Willie Stargell and Ernie Banks. HOWEVER…that's where some of the similarities end unfortunately since each of the afore mentioned have bettered Sheff's three top five MVP finishes by taking home the award at least once. I could go on and on about Sheffield (and I might just do that in the near future), but it is interesting to note that the nine time All-Star only once led the league in a major statistical category…he batted an NL best .330 in 1992. So…what did the ESPN experts think? Olney said "yes" and Showalter, for some reason, disagreed. Me? I agree with Buster…not Buck.

So what about you? I'll put each up for vote over at the Hall…and you tell me what you think!

Yardbarker: Tom Glavine

Phils fans angry, Braves have hope for Glavine

Glavine does not require Tommy John surgery

Glavine does not require Tommy John surgery

Glavine News Better Than Expected

With Age Comes Ending

With Age Comes Ending

NL East Round Up: Phillies hold on by a thread, Fish Flounder and Everyone else loses....

The Bump and The Grind

Glavines sore elbow could end career

Glavines sore elbow could end career

Glavines sore elbow could end career

Cubs at Braves open game thread

Game 121 Thread / Cubs @ Braves (3 of 3)

How The Mighty Braves Have Fallen

HOORAY FOR SATURDAY!