We're getting into the lull between the hotstove and spring training, so naturally, things will pick up, right? There are still tons of free agents unsigned, and the Braves still have that glaring hole in the middle of their order and in left field (calling Adam Dunn, Adam Dunn, would you accept a one-year $12 million deal?)
About all those Tom-Glavine-signing-with-the-Nationals stories that pop up every couple of days, here is a Nationals beat writer on the topic:
Bowden was asked whether the Nats might take interest in a veteran pitcher like Tom Glavine, whose friendship with Stan Kasten has raised speculation about a match. Bowden didn't entirely shoot down the idea, but he came close, explaining that you don't want to sign a vet like that if doing so blocks and/or retards the development of the younger arms. "If he replaces the 12th man on a staff, it makes sense" [...]
Glavine's going Atlanta or bust. Of course, he may also go Atlanta and bust. I'm fine with giving Glavine a shot for nostalgia sake (though I don't think he'll be ready for the start of the season), but I don't think he was very effective the last two years, and he's only aged since then. Much like Bowden said, I wouldn't want Glavine to block any of the younger Braves starters from developing at the major league level (i.e., I'd rather have Morton or Reyes in the rotation).
On a personal note, I'll be heading up to New York on business until Monday. Posting may be sporadic during the day, but as usual if there are well crafted FanPosts or FanShots they will be promoted to the front page. Make sure you use the blockquote button on content from other sites, and make sure to put a link to the page that content came from -- I'm a stickler for how stuff looks on the front page.
0 recs | 36 comments
Nice link about Diamond. When I did my little WBC thing I said I thought he’d make the team since they were thin on starting pitching; then, this morning, I saw an article where the manager of Canada’s team thinks they’re short on starting pitching. Needless to say, I felt like a genius.
cbwilk - January 27, 2009
It’s the little things in life…
Smoltz's Beard - January 27, 2009
sdp - January 27, 2009
Why do you keep putting this up?
gondeee - January 27, 2009
haha
Smoltz's Beard - January 27, 2009
Those are some large tatas.
bbxxj - January 28, 2009
Pretty sure those are her arms.
cbwilk - January 28, 2009
Her?
Yakker - January 28, 2009
Oh yeah, she’s got middle school PE teacher written all over that doughy face of hers.
cbwilk - January 28, 2009
She almost looks paraplegic.
royhobbs - January 28, 2009
Why didn’t FAN APPREICATION get promoted to the front page?
TradeAndruw - January 27, 2009
It almost got promoted to the trash can… buuuut, the guy had posted the same thing like two or three other times, and I figured I’d let the commenters let him know it was a silly idea.
gondeee - January 27, 2009
Reyes over Glavine???
OK…usually I really stand by the stuff you blog and check the front page of TalkingChop nearly every day, often several times during the day. However, you said that you would prefer to have either Morton or Reyes in the rotation over Glavine. Sorry, but I can’t stand by you on that one.
Jo Jo Reyes was horrible last year. His bad outings, especially as the year progressed, grew worse and his good outings were few and far between. Granted, Glavine is an unknown right now, but if he can hold opposing teams to under 5 runs a game, he’ll be an improvement on what Reyes offered us.
opoverlord - January 28, 2009
Reyes’s first half numbers were better than Glavine’s, FYI.
bigjoe - January 28, 2009
Nice
After all that sh!t you gave me over supporting JoJo…
bwellnjonesco - January 28, 2009
Its like choosing between a charred steak and a charred crabcake. They’re both gonna suck, but at least you’re getting something that has a little flavor with the crabcake.
bigjoe - January 28, 2009
mattdiaz4life - January 28, 2009
Also on the first page of hits for “charred steak”
mattdiaz4life - January 28, 2009
That thing is nothing compared to those camel spiders…those things are fucking scary.
Smoltz's Beard - January 28, 2009
Dude, that thing is a brown recluse.. with a missing leg, so it’s likely really pissed. I hope you like your own flesh rotting off in chunks!
royhobbs - January 28, 2009
IAN ROTTEN BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER BITE!!!!!
bigjoe - January 28, 2009
HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE CAMEL SPIDERS! THEY ARE THE THINGS NIGHTMARES ARE MADE OF
Smoltz's Beard - January 28, 2009
royhobbs - January 28, 2009
…I hate you so much right now.
Smoltz's Beard - January 28, 2009
lol
royhobbs - January 28, 2009
Because, obviously, no pitcher has ever had a bad first 30 or so starts to his career and then improved in subsequent seasons . . .
Lennox - January 28, 2009
You know, one problem with Reyes’ season was that Bobby never let him work through any problems. I usually don’t second guess the living legend, but every time Jo-Jo got in the slightest bit of a problem, Bobby would yank him. I’m not sure how he expects him to get any better if he can’t work out his problems.
cbwilk - January 28, 2009
It was obviously because Bennett needed some innings.
Smoltz's Beard - January 28, 2009
Bobby always pulls the young guys too early and leaves the vets in too long. But I have nothing to back this up.
someguy917 - January 28, 2009
Say what you like…Galvine’s numbers were indeed poor, thus the reason for his trips to the DL and subsequent surgery. Reyes had no excuse. Time and again he would go out and get shelled. And in Bobby’s defense, enough was enough. Watching Reyes continue to groove fastballs right down the middle was enough to make just about anyone sick.
Further, I’m not sure that Jo Jo ever showed the awesome potential that a guy like Hanson is showing. He wasn’t even stellar in the minors. I think he got promoted because we had no choice.
Finally, to me, either you’ve got it, or you don’t. Jurrjens had some rough outings, but by and large, he was a strong pitcher. In Jo Jo Reyes’ last 10 starts, he posted just one quality outing. And 3-11 with a 5.81 era and you want this guy to be a solid part of our rotation? But wait…while you’re here, lets throw in his 2007 stats…2-2 with a 6.22 era. I think Reyes has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he is NOT a major league quality pitcher.
opoverlord - January 28, 2009
Someone needs to bust out that Greg Maddux comparison again, that was pretty funny.
bigjoe - January 28, 2009
that was me ;)
I was just proving the point that good pitchers just might have poor beginnings…Maddux was a perfect example (thier stats were nearly identical)…
I explained that ( ^ ) to you once, but I understand that you don’t get it..its ok Joe, you don’t have to be smart, or even a worthwhile person, to be my Talking Chop friend…I’m too nice sometimes.
bwellnjonesco - January 28, 2009
Your ignorance is baffling.
cbwilk - January 28, 2009
I say no to Glavine as well
But I would rather see him than JoJo Reyes out there. Period. Morton or Campillo? Perhaps. Reyes? Not quite. I actually just wrote a piece on Glavine on my blog, but I may have to update it with the new Nats info.
TheSportsIdiot - January 28, 2009
Tommy and his 81 MPH fastball need to go riding off into the sunset.
Pitching “depth” doesn’t mean a thing when the “depth” sucks.
get swoll yunel - January 28, 2009
Big ups on the ’95 World Series, though.
We’ll always be indebted to you for that one.
get swoll yunel - January 28, 2009
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