Notes from Spring Training

Written by Colin on February 19, 2008 – 10:21 am

Since we’re not on-site yet (full time jobs and classes are regrettably taking up most of our time), we have to report everything second-hand for now, but here’s a bit of a digest of the goings-on at Disney’s Wide World of Sports from major news outlets.

• Tom Glavine is fitting in - and everyone loves having him back.  His wife and kids are down in Florida with him, and today even USA Today ran an article on him being back. I appreciate even guys who haven’t played with him like Hudson giving him the respect he deserves.  That said, I have spoken to a few fans who don’t want to see him in a Braves uniform since he dirtied himself by playing with the Mets.  But that opinion is only shared by a small minority.

• Mike Hampton is healthy and has thrown a few batting practice sessions.  This is good news, and Bobby reportedly has faith that Hampton will be good to go for the rotation.  If Bobby is planning on it, he must know something we don’t.

• Jair Jurrjens is bringing his A game.  He nibbles at the bottom half of the strike zone and doesn’t give batters much to hit.

• The battle for the backup catcher position is in motion.  Javy, Pena, and Corky Miller all want a crack at the job.  No clear leader yet.

Despite Glavine making the front page of USA Today with a small blurb pointing to the Braves preview, the Mets and their “savior” Johan Santana made the main sports story.  Now I know I’ve picked my fair share of fights with pesky Mets fans and bloggers, but for this edition of “Poke the Mets Fans,” I’ll simply quote ESPN’s Jayson Stark, who beautifully illustrated my point about Santana’s long-term contract with the following information:

Maybe the most fascinating development in this whole poll was that the Mets’ trade for Santana got universal raves — but the contract they gave him took a major whomping from our panel. How risky is a six-year guarantee, even for a 28-year-old horse who hasn’t spent a day on the disabled list since 2001? Here’s how risky: In the division-play era (1969-present), we could only find six non-knuckleballers, Santana’s age or older, who have ever strung together seven straight seasons of double-digit wins and more than 30 starts.

There ya go guys.  I’m not some uneducated redneck Braves fan who irrationally hates the Mets and discounts everything they do.   I simply share the same concerns that some of Baseball’s best analysts have when it comes to his ridiculous contract.

More to come as it comes.  We’re keeping ESPN on, newspapers open, and our ears to the ground for your latest in Braves news from Spring Training.

Tags: Jair Jurrjens, Javy Lopez, Johan Santana, Mike Hampton, New York Mets, Spring Training, Tom Glavine
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