The old lefty Tom Glavine made a start before a sellout crowd for the Rome Braves last night. He threw six strong innings, allowing 3 hits, no walks, and struck out two. Glavine had this to say about his start:
"It felt like early in the game I was struggling with my mechanics, with my tempo. My location wasn’t great. (But) it felt like as the game went along, everything got a little better. ... Physically, I felt good."
As good as Glav did and as good as he felt about the start he may have to wait another week before he gets the chance to step into the Atlanta rotation. After Kris Medlen put together the best start of his young major league career last week, the Braves are apparently going to give him one more start this Saturday against the Brewers to see if he can continue his good work.
Cox said the Braves are looking at three different scenarios for Glavine but won't decide which way to go until they talk to Glavine after his rehab outing.
From Glavine's comments above it seems he will want to get into the rotation as soon as possible, so this seems to present a problem if Medlen is given another start. If I had to guess, I would say that Glavine would throw a simulated game over the weekend and then take over for Medlen next week when his spot in the rotation comes up.
All of this has a lot of folks, including me, asking "what about Tommy Hanson." In 11 starts at triple-A Gwinnett, Hanson has a 1.49 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, a .169 batting average against, and has struck out 90 batters in 66.1 innings. I'll repeat that last part... he has struck out 90 batters in 66.1 innings. The only knock against him is that he has surrendered 5 homeruns, so he is mortal after all. There should be little doubt at this point that he is ready to give it a try in the major leagues.
But with Glavine in the rotation and Medlen with possibly two good major league starts under his belt, Hanson is left in the unenviable position of waiting for some type of injury in the Atlanta rotation to possibly get the call over Medlen. None of us want any injuries to any of these guys (even Glavine), especially after what we went through last year. That leaves us waiting to see what the team will do and how it will use perhaps the most promising major league ready pitcher in the minor leagues.
0 recs | 74 comments
Two things
First, we need to see if Medlen’s last start was a fluke or legit on the MLB level.
Second, Bobby can be very partial to his veteran pitchers.
And what happens in about a month in a half when Hanson comes back?
BeantownVol - June 3, 2009
where did hanson go for him to come back?
10-4 - June 3, 2009
I think he meant Hudson.
As for Hudson, I’m just not counting on a guy coming back from TJ to be sharp in his first month or two, and I’d prefer a very extended minor league rehab and maybe a recall just before the rosters are set, and then we can see how best to use him.
gondeee - June 3, 2009
i know, but it had to be done.
10-4 - June 3, 2009
I agree with you Gondee. Hudson should go to AA or AAA and get his game back. If he does fine in the minors then he should be a reliever.
Alvaro Andres Pizza Varela - June 3, 2009
What a nice problem to have!!!
bwellnjonesco - June 3, 2009
I was going to post this exact thing
My .02 – I think Glavine belongs in the ‘pen. I just don’t see him contributing more than Medlen or Hanson in the rotation right now. I think Glav should replace Bennett. I know this is not likely, nor would Glav want to be a middle-relief guy.
I think Medlen should continue to start at the MLB level. Hanson doesnt have much left to prove at the AAA level – other than that FB rate and that control issue – I know his BB/9 is down to a respectable level, but he has good stuff and is pitching against AAA batters. MLB batters are not going to let him get away with mistakes like AAA batters do.
Gosh…it is just a great feeling to have a problem where you ask “what am I going to do with all of these guys” rather than asking “where the hell can I find someone to pitch???”
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
I don’t want an 80mph finesse pitcher who takes an inning or two to get settled coming out of the bullpen.
TradeAndruw - June 3, 2009
+1
MichaelProcton - June 3, 2009
I don’t want him in the starting rotation anymore than you want him in the pen. It is a difficult situation for FW. I love Glavine and even got excited and defended the signing of him…but now, here it is June and he still isnt with the club. That tells me it is time to hang them up.
How do you tell one of the most successful pitchers in your franchise history that he is done?
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
By not activating him to the 25 man roster and hoping he gets the hint?
Rhyno18 - June 3, 2009
Kinda like that guy in Office Space who they just stopped paying? Lol…move him to the basement, take away his paycheck, and maybe he will leave? HAHA
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
Don’t Don’t take my stapler
Hanson-Ace - June 3, 2009
daths, daths, daths my thwingling thapler…dey said i could play my music at a reathonable volume…
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
Were gonna have to go ahead and ask you to take care of this pesky roach problem weve been having here
bravesguy311 - June 3, 2009
…I’m gonna light the building on fire
bigjoe - June 3, 2009
My personal favorite
“I’m doin’ the dry-wall down there at the new McDonalds”
Gets me everytime.
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
lol
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
Stephen Root.
everything he’s involved in is awesome. my favorite is king of the hill (he voices bill and mr. strickland)
Bravely going forward - June 3, 2009
That’s like…what…4 months in a row with an Office Space related comment? Maybe more?
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
they always go down smooth
bravesguy311 - June 3, 2009
Glavine Deserves
his last chance to pitch in the braves uniform in his last year. The kids can wait or FW will have to make a trade with the surplus of SP that would naturally opens a spot in the rotation. Til then Medlen/Hanson/Morton will be AAA till either glavine bombs it or someone else in the rotation has a injury. Plus it’s not like it would hurt any of the young guys if they sit in AAA till needed nor need to put someone in the rotation because they have nothing to prove…There has to be a baseball need for the team to call up someone and push some else away to make room. Right now we don’t have a need and is the reason why we have minor league options. It’s a good problem to have and we should go send Morton + Locke + Bjones/Canizares to the O’s for Luke and let everything else pitch it’s self out.
Hanson-Ace - June 3, 2009
So having said this yourself, what is the “baseball need” to bring up Glavine at the moment?
MichaelProcton - June 3, 2009
I like the term “baseball need”. It sounds like how a receiver has to make a “football move” after catching the ball to decide if it’s a fumble.
TradeAndruw - June 3, 2009
FW has Committed
to Glavine this year IF he came back healthy and was pitching effectively in Rehab assignments. You can now say sorry Tom Glavine Braves Icon/HOF to go fuck him self because everyone in the rotation and AAA has played well without any major injuries. Look at last year thinking that we had depth and had aton of injuries that happen and we where forced to throw out Morton/JoJo/Parr into the rotation.
The “baseball need” is that we don’t need to bring up Hanson/Morton right now and can move Medlen to the pen or back to AAA with what FW has already committed to Glavine to pitch at somepoint this season. There is no basebal need to bring up Hanson and than send back down rather just wait till we see what Tommy has and make moves/trades to sort things out in the rotation
Hanson-Ace - June 3, 2009
Strikes me...
he could have been the one making the demands. “If you don’t give me a rotation spot, release me; I won’t pitch in the minors any more, I’m ready for the bigs…”
MichaelProcton - June 3, 2009
Not to completely hijack this thread…
Obviously lowering his BB/9 is a great thing for Hanson, but has anyone noticed the supposed ace that is Neftali Feliz so far this season? He’s walking over 5 batters per 9…not good.
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
but, but…the Tex trade was bad! Feliz would be nice to have right now…so would Saltallamacchia and Andrus…Tex never did ANYTHING for us when he was with us!!!
/sarcasm
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
I’ll admit that Andrus looks better than I thought he would in the majors at such a young age, but the rest of the guys…yeah…
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
No doubt. But, he has nothing on Yunel.
I get to watch a lot of Rangers games (being only 2 hours from Arlington) on TV, and I gotta admit, they have a really talented team. I enjoy watching our former prospects when I can, and Andrus (more so his defense than anything else) has been pretty impressive…but yeah, no shot with Atlanta.
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
It's a nice problem to have if it's seized correctly
What is the point in having abundance in pitching if it’s not used the right way to WIN GAMES? The Braves have a nice (not great) starting rotation, but the bullpen is mediocre.
Why are Carlyle and Bennet still in the roster? Why isn’t Moylan demoted to recover and get his pitches back in a pressure free environment? It’s obvious Moylan is still recovering from the surgery, so why expose him in the big leagues?
Glavine should be a reliever, he is a 5 inning starter, and that’s going to be a tax for the bullpen. Hanson should be starting and the Medlen/Morton combo should fortify the bullpen while maturing in the big leagues.
The other option is trading either Vasquez (preferable because he is more valuable) or Kawakami for a bat and start the best between the Morton/Medlen/Campillo trio.
Alvaro Andres Pizza Varela - June 3, 2009
ummm...
it is a nice problem to have even if you don’t “seize” it correctly – it gives you quality pitching depth. That is something that we have lacked for the past several seasons.
You don’t have to trade away guys to “use” them correctly…harvesting arms in the minors is a great thing to do. Trading them all away would be foolish.
I also disagree that the rotation isn’t “Great”. I would take our rotation, top to bottom, over any rotation in the majors right now.
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
Glavine has always pitched terribly early in games...
So what would he need to do to relieve effectively? Just start throwing pitches in the 5th of every game?
MichaelProcton - June 3, 2009
Glavine is going to get a shot, theres no doubt about it. But WHEN do you make the call? Medlen has had 3 starts, and they’ve all been different. Personally, I think you give him one or two more and see what happens from there. If they’re anything like the Arizona start…we have an issue. Medlen might have to go to the bullpen when Glavine is ready…with him on a VERY short leash.
bigjoe - June 3, 2009
"When you look at the rotation," Glavine said about the Braves’ starting pitchers, "there’s not a whole lot of room there. The only logical spot for me is the fifth starter. That’s why I don’t see pitching beyond this year."
bigjoe - June 3, 2009
I am not sure if that even makes sense…
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
What the hell else is he supposed to say?
“I do not belong in this rotation. Therefore I will not fulfill my requirements in order to get paid. I should not be brought up altogether and not be paid money for playing base-ball.”
royhobbs - June 3, 2009
that would be nice.
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
“When you look at the rotation, there’s not a whole lot of sexy there. The only logical spot for me is to pitch in an alternate uniform. I will be teamming up with Michael Jordan and Hanes to promote the new Manothong line of sexthletic uniforms.”…Wait, Hanson is how tall?…6’6?!?!? He’s huge! That’s why I don’t see pitching beyond this year."
bwellnjonesco - June 3, 2009
hanson’s bringing sexy back
Bravely going forward - June 3, 2009
I think Bobby will give Glav a return to the rotation, but I think it won’t be long before we’ll know for certain if he’s capable of pitching effectively against batters at this level again.
I’d move Medlen to the bullpen temporarily to see how the thing with Glav plays out since he’s admitted that he needs innings to warm up his arm. He (Medlen) can’t be much worse than Bennett and it would give some rest to the guys we use a lot.
Hanson could wait a bit longer where he is. The dog days of summer may show some weaknesses in pitchers arms we’re not seeing yet.
If Glav proves to be something we can’t depend on, he and Medlen could tag-team the 5th spot?
(be kind – I know little compared to the rest of y’all about all this and just tossing out an idea)
NCChopper - June 3, 2009
Clarify: Tag-team of Hanson and Medlen.
NCChopper - June 3, 2009
It wouldn’t shock me if the Braves were trying to showcase Medlen for the possibility of a trade. With him looking so good last time out, makes sense to milk one more start out of him and hope that he stays hot.
For those who assume that expecting another good start out of Medlen means that he would then be the best to fill that spot and should therefore stay to make the Braves better now, I’m not sure it’s necessarily true. He’s still a rookie and is unlikely to be very consistent over the long haul, even with flashes of brilliance. That doesn’t mean that Tommy G will be, but he is going to get his shot so we might as well hope for the best.
Medlen looks like a good prospect but is not at the level of Hanson, and I could see us trading him to try and even the balance between our pitching and offense. If not, the extra start will still ride a hot hand, hopefully giving us a good chance to win as well as a good idea of what we have, which will be valuable even with Glavine’s return.
Sir Stealth - June 3, 2009
Why trade a great, young, cheap through 6 years prospect like Medlen? Why? That’s what really dumb general managers do.
Alvaro Andres Pizza Varela - June 3, 2009
I’d also add that I think that Glavine’s inevitability means that Braves fans should just make the best of it. It won’t do any good to bash him if there are hiccups along the way. People may have mixed feelings about Tom, just as some seem to about Bobby and now Smoltz, but it benefits a franchise to respect it’s legends to the greatest extent possible. Glavine will be up, hopefully he’ll pitch well and help us. If not, maybe his body won’t hold up, and if he just doesn’t have it, hopefully he’ll be satisfied that he gave it his best and call it a career.
Sir Stealth - June 3, 2009
I’ve had Hanson the bench of one of my fantasy teams all season now. It’s a deep league so it’s not killing me, but I really wish they would say something one way or another.
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
Same here…it just happens to be in my money league in which I also picked up Medlen and just spot-started bastardo (btw, I LOVE that name!) and Mazzaro last night…yes, yes, great managerial decision by me…
and no, I did not bring those same managerial skills to the TC league with me…I need some pitching help BADLY in that league…anyone wanna trade???
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
My pitching staff is a fucking garbage dump in that league…and there is NO ONE available on the waiver wire.
I put way too many roster spots in that league…
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
I have one closer in that league, so yeah…my offense is absolute dog shit.
bigjoe - June 3, 2009
remember my offense-heavy draft strategy?
well, it isnt working. In case you would like to know, in the other two leagues I am in, I now have no offensive subs and tons of SP. You were right.
And yeah, Alexei Ramirez, FYF, Getz and others that I drafted (thinking they were going to break out) are biting me in the ass. I should have never gotten HWSRN in the 7th round…worst draft pick ever (except for the one guy in my money league who paid for Ben Sheets)
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
haha
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
I drafted Garret Atkins in several leagues. Thats going real well…in the leagues that I haven’t cut him in.
And how about all that Ricky Nolasco nonsense? What a dick in the dick THAT was
bigjoe - June 3, 2009
Nolasco…good lord. I’ve actually still got him stashed away in the same deep league that I’ve got Hanson. He’s had two decent starts in AAA, so I’m hoping he isn’t a total fucking waste this season.
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
I am glad I lost out on him…I wanted him in just about every league…
Here is a fun fact: I own Edinson Volquez in every league I am in…that is working out great too!
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
I cut him in my shallow leagues, kept him in my deep leagues.
bigjoe - June 3, 2009
Do you make this stuff up?
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
Yeah, I’m good like that
bigjoe - June 3, 2009
Fail
Not because your theoretic strategy didn’t work, but conceding to Smoltz’s Beard. Considering you drag arguments out with everyone else, your job was to let this go on until you could see his final response be EOIRUEPOFI)(D*(3p4o2Mfldv,mekljrpo1903ilkmv,dm alskjr3l10igjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj from where his head slammed down into the keyboard, exasperated with dealing with you.
royhobbs - June 3, 2009
what can i say?
I admit when I am wrong. If I don’t think I am wrong, I keep going…
But, I didn’t concede to SB. I Conceded to LJ.
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
But I use the same theory, so I’m taking it as a victory.
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
take what you can while you can…lol
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
Justin and I are BFF now after all the arguing about Dunn this offseason.
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
pujols
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
quiet you
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
another example
of me admitting when I am wrong…
(for those of you who doubt)
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
It only took you like 87 comments
royhobbs - June 3, 2009
probably more…it also took the epic meltdown of our OF (if you can even call it a meltdown) to realize that ANYTHING (especially Dunn) would be better than what we have…
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
I think
that you are the only team that I have actually beaten in that league! lol
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
silence!
Smoltz's Beard - June 3, 2009
A much more complicated question than "what should happen"
You can’t realistically expect the Braves’ front office to give Glavine’s spot in the rotation up due to his history. Medlen is SOL regardless of how he does because Glavine is ahead of him for his history and Hanson is ahead of him in terms of a long-term rotation spot because he’s just plain more talented. Regardless of whether Glavine comes back successfully or Hanson ends up taking over the spot, I’d love to see Medlen take over a bullpen spot. The Braves will give every chance for Glavine to succeed but if that doesn’t happen, then Hanson is sitting in AAA — though it’s a shame that he is blocked.
was385 - June 3, 2009
and I was DEAD WRONG
was385 - June 3, 2009
Apparently
we don’t have to worry about this “problem” anymore…
this sucks IMO…not from a baseball perspective, but a human one.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4228623
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
Well then. Medlen or Hanson?
BigG1392 - June 3, 2009
Medlen
then Hanson…
justincredubil02 - June 3, 2009
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