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Bad News For Braves’ Elder Statesmen
Written by Colin on June 11, 2008 – 7:11 amJohn Smoltz has a torn labrum – significantly more damage than they hoped to find during surgery yesterday. His future with the club is “uncertain” at this point. He’s a fierce competitor, but can he come back from this surgery? It took the spry Blaine Boyer nearly two years to recover from similar surgery.
Meanwhile, Tom Glavine strained his elbow and was placed on the DL. Apparently from the first pitch last night his elbow hurt, but he pitched through the pain only to be pulled with the elbow strain.
So there’s the Braves’ two elder statesmen having health issues. Glavine is on the DL for the second time this season – and the second time in his long career. Smoltzie is gone for at least this season, maybe for good. And the Braves are back below .500, trying to figure out how to win on the road and where they can find some pitching.
This time, more than ever, we’ve got to figure out where we’re going to get some starting pitching, and fast. I maintain that Charlie Morton is ready – the traditional measure for minor league pitchers is innings pitched, and he’s thrown just under 600 innings. He’s also 5-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 72 K’s to 27 walks. Bring him up and give him a shot – he impressed in spring training.
We also likely should trade for another solid arm. Even if we bring Morton up, we’re pitching Hudson, Jurrjens, Campillo, Morton, and Reyes. If we want to win and go into the post season, we need another solid arm. Jonathan’s a big proponent of trading Mark Teixeira for a young arm with some life left on the contract. I’m not sure what he said Tex is supposed to ask for at the end of the season, but supposedly we may not be able to afford it even without Hampton, Smoltz, and Glavine’s contracts. I’ll let him explain that more here.
What do you think we should do? Should we let Jo-Jo Reyes fight it out for that fifth spot? Can he make it at the big league level? Is Morton ready, or am I just talking out of the seat of my pants?
Tags: Charlie Morton, Jair Jurrjens, Jo-Jo Reyes, John Smoltz, Jorge Campillo, Tim Hudson, Tom Glavine
Posted in Injuries | 13 Comments »
By Josh on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
I think it’s about time to look into what we can get for TEX too.
This team is just showing an ability to lose games at this point.
The losing on the road, the lack of clutch hitting, and Cox making some
very questionable decisions are a perfect storm of failure right now. I
think the Braves confidence is hurting after being swept twice in three
series. It had no chance to recover after Johnson dropped the game
winner last Friday. We now embark on another road trip (that obviously sucks) playing some very
hot teams with the Cubs, Angels, and Rangers. My disappointment and anger might be a
little overdone, but I am not seeing things getting any better right now.
By Sheryl on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Josh, I agree with you on everything but possibly trading Tex. With him on the team, Chipper has gotten better pitches to swing at..even though Tex hadn’t been a “real threat” they still pitched to Chipper as if he was. But somehow, we do need to get some starting pitching. I wonder however, how well our pitchers would do and what it would do for their confidence, if our guys could pull through in the clutch and get some run support. Mostly they are having to play catch-up ball–In my humble opinion, our guys are not giving these young guys the opportunity to build up their confidence level. They need to all pitch “perfect” games because of the lack of run support or hitting with RISP.
Everyone asked me at the beginning of the season how do I think the Braves will do this season…my response was “It depends on how our ‘old men’ [I hate using that euphimism--how old does that make me lol] do’”. Well, we see how they are “doing”–not so well.
I do hope this isn’t the end of John’s career–I’d rather see him go out in a blaze of glory than a wounded soldier.
Sheryl
By Ashley on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
I love the Charlie Morton talk, of course. I believe he’s ready, and while thoughts of bringing pitchers up from the Farm League bring back the nightmares I had during Joey Devine’s debut, I think this kid has earned a chance. What’s he going to do? Lose the game for us? I think all of the other players on the team are contributing to that right now. . .
By Shaun on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
I think we’ll see Charlie Morton fill in for a couple if Glav’s got a short stint, but we’ll need to make a move for a grownup if he’s out for more than a couple starts.
Josh, I don’t think you can talk about our lack of clutch hitting AND getting rid of Tex who is leading the team in BA late and close by almost 40 points:
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/wJDR
By Josh on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Shaun,
That’s a great stat and I was not putting blame on Tex. The question is would trading him help the team in the long run? We are only 6.5 games out right now and sliding fast. I was just wondering what all the options are and things to consider. We all know the possibility of signing him is bleak. If we get to the point of no return before the break! Wouldn’t you want something for him?
That is what the article and I were making reference too.
By Shaun on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Josh,
Yeah, I understand. I just think when clutch hitting is probably our biggest problem trading one of the two guys who is actually hitting in the clutch is probably going to be detrimental no matter who we get in return. Especially since trading Tex is going to be detrimental to Chipper’s bat, too, as Sheryl pointed out.
I hear Tex is looking for 10 years $200mil and that he turned down 8/$140 from the Rangers last year. So, on the other hand, if we do give up on the season before July 31, send that MoFo packing!
By Josh on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
WOW LMAO!!! ITS COOL, ITS COOL!!
By Josh on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I think its about time to look into what we can get for TEX too.
This team is just showing an ability to lose games at this point.
The losing on the road, the lack of clutch hitting, and Cox making some
very questionable decisions are a perfect storm of failure right now. I
think the Braves confidence is hurting after being swept twice in three
series. It had no chance to recover after Johnson dropped the game
winner last Friday. We now embark on another road trip (that obviously sucks) playing some very
hot teams with the Cubs, Angels, and Rangers. My disappointment and anger might be a
little overdone, but I am not seeing things getting any better right now.
By Sheryl on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Josh, I agree with you on everything but possibly trading Tex. With him on the team, Chipper has gotten better pitches to swing at..even though Tex hadn't been a "real threat" they still pitched to Chipper as if he was. But somehow, we do need to get some starting pitching. I wonder however, how well our pitchers would do and what it would do for their confidence, if our guys could pull through in the clutch and get some run support. Mostly they are having to play catch-up ball–In my humble opinion, our guys are not giving these young guys the opportunity to build up their confidence level. They need to all pitch "perfect" games because of the lack of run support or hitting with RISP.
Everyone asked me at the beginning of the season how do I think the Braves will do this season…my response was "It depends on how our 'old men' [I hate using that euphimism--how old does that make me lol] do'". Well, we see how they are "doing"–not so well.
I do hope this isn't the end of John's career–I'd rather see him go out in a blaze of glory than a wounded soldier.
Sheryl
By Ashley on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I love the Charlie Morton talk, of course. I believe he's ready, and while thoughts of bringing pitchers up from the Farm League bring back the nightmares I had during Joey Devine's debut, I think this kid has earned a chance. What's he going to do? Lose the game for us? I think all of the other players on the team are contributing to that right now. . .
By Shaun on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I think we'll see Charlie Morton fill in for a couple if Glav's got a short stint, but we'll need to make a move for a grownup if he's out for more than a couple starts.
Josh, I don't think you can talk about our lack of clutch hitting AND getting rid of Tex who is leading the team in BA late and close by almost 40 points:
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/wJDR
By Josh on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Shaun,
Thats a great stat and I was not putting blame on Tex. The question is would trading him help the team in the long run? We are only 6.5 games out right now and sliding fast. I was just wondering what all the options are and things to consider. We all know the possibility of signing him is bleak. If we get to the point of no return before the break! Wouldnt you want something for him?
That is what the article and I were making reference too.
By Shaun on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Josh,
Yeah, I understand. I just think when clutch hitting is probably our biggest problem trading one of the two guys who is actually hitting in the clutch is probably going to be detrimental no matter who we get in return. Especially since trading Tex is going to be detrimental to Chipper's bat, too, as Sheryl pointed out.
I hear Tex is looking for 10 years $200mil and that he turned down 8/$140 from the Rangers last year. So, on the other hand, if we do give up on the season before July 31, send that MoFo packing!