Is anything sacred?

by Bmacbandwagon on Dec 10, 2008 6:42 PM EST

I remain unphased by the rumors that the Red Sox and Tigers may be interested in John Smoltz. I assume this is a ploy by Smoltzie's agents to drive up his price or get the Braves to move faster.

On the other hand, I recently had a discussion with a fellow Braves fan-lifer, who doesn't like the franchise's history with regard to career Braves players. He cites that Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, Eddie Matthews, Phil Neikro, etc. have all finished their careers with other teams. It seems like any player who begins his career with the Braves inevitably is let go in the final years of his career. (I welcome anyone who can find a player in history who has spent the entirety of his carrer with the Braves.)

All that being said, I realize management is much different than it was while these players were active, but the trend still leaves me uneasy. Should we be concerned in the least? Could the unthinkable happen? Could John Smoltz end his career in another uniform?

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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i just wanted to add to the list

warren spahn finsihed with the giants and mets

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Dec 10, 2008 6:51 PM EST reply actions

he'll stays

the only way this will happen is if the Braves don’t give him a contract, and the Braves will give him a contract
Smoltzie is smart and loves the Braves he’ll be here

by bravesfan1047 on Dec 10, 2008 6:54 PM EST reply actions

I hope so

But he has to know that we are a long shot to contend next year, which could well be his last. Why not sign with Boston/NY to get a sure shot at reaching the postseason again before you retire? Depends on his priorities, but his hyper-competitive nature makes me worry.

by TradeAndruw on Dec 10, 2008 6:59 PM EST reply actions

Playoffs

The only reason we didn’t make the playoffs last season, or the one before is because of injuries.

Fey1

by Fey1 on Dec 10, 2008 7:30 PM EST reply actions

yeah, not because we had a black hole of suck in the outfield or anything silly like that

I probably care about sports way too much. Like, waaaaaaaaay too much.

by bigjoe on Dec 10, 2008 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

Injuries + Black hole of suck in the outfield = 90 losses

by buzzdeadwax on Dec 10, 2008 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

he said the ONLY reason. if no one got hurt, we still would have lost 80 games

I probably care about sports way too much. Like, waaaaaaaaay too much.

by bigjoe on Dec 10, 2008 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

eh… idk… i think its hard to predict that sort of thing… but ur probably right

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Dec 10, 2008 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

I thought it was Tex’s fault?

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 11, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

What kind of contract do you think Smoltz is looking for????

by That a boy on Dec 10, 2008 8:26 PM EST reply actions

Is anyone else concerned that Wren is building another team with patches like last year? If we don’t get a frontline starter, can we really compete? Is Wren going to feel forced to trade more valuable prospects for a potential frontline starter? I am very concerned we may trade more prospects and watch another mediocre team next year struggle to stay at .500. I’m losing faith in Schuerholz and Wren (Dumb and Dumber).

by BravesFan on Dec 10, 2008 8:33 PM EST reply actions

No I think Wren has done a good job his trades have worked for our best interest in every one of them and Schuerholz made one bad move to try to make it to the postseason in his last year, big deal he just made great acquisitions for more than a decade geez. The what have you done for me lately attitude just gets on my nerves; but back to the questions Wren has made it clear the Hanson and Heyward for sure and most likely Schafer/Gorkys and Freeman are untouchable. So I don’t worry with trading the main prospects but we still have solid prospects like Cody Johnson and so on.

by H0SS on Dec 10, 2008 9:13 PM EST up reply actions

BRUCE BENEDICT

12 seasons w/ the Bravos. Here are his stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/benedbr01.shtml.

Back in the day, when the former Braves catcher would come to bat, fans would yell “Bruuuuuuuuuuuuce!” Which made people unfamiliar w/ the Braves think the fans were booing him. Homeboy played some good defense too.

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."

by FrankyWren on Dec 10, 2008 9:57 PM EST reply actions

Of course, he later ended up coaching for the Mets.

by cbwilk on Dec 11, 2008 1:18 AM EST up reply actions

Thank you so much!

by Bmacbandwagon on Dec 11, 2008 9:43 AM EST up reply actions

Am I wrong?

Or have I not read in numerous articles about how Smoltz didn’t even want to discuss a contract until after the winter when he was more aware of how he stood from a physical standpoint. Is he renigging on this? Is he now suddenly worried about getting a contract ASAP? I don’t blame him if true, but why act one way a month ago and now do something totally opposite.

by Bobby Cocks on Dec 11, 2008 1:37 AM EST reply actions

I would say..

…he now feels more aware of how he stands from a physical standpoint, and feels pretty confident in his ability to pitch.

by sddbaker on Dec 11, 2008 9:44 AM EST up reply actions

he's a douche

whatever happened to team loyalty?

by son.of.sourman on Dec 11, 2008 3:32 AM EST reply actions

What an ugly and unfounded way to talk about a man who has never done anything but play his heart out for the Braves, and represented the team and baseball with as much integrity as anyone ever has. We don’t know what’s going on. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say no one on this board could possibly be more disappointed, no devastated than me if Smoltzie played anywhere but Atlanta, but I cannot imagine ever attacking him personally because made a decision based on factors I am not, nor ever will be, privy to.

by sddbaker on Dec 11, 2008 9:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

…unless we get married.

by sddbaker on Dec 11, 2008 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

"I would never attack Smoltz personally...unless we get married."

That sounds like my step-mom’s philosophy.

by buzzdeadwax on Dec 11, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

No fair...

mixing things up like that. The “unless we get married” was a continuation of the last part of the sentence —

“based on factors I am not, nor ever will be, privy to … unless we get married.”

I see how it could be read the other way, though. Actually it makes some sense that way as well.

All of you would be invited to the wedding, by the way. Except son.of.sourman. ;-)

by sddbaker on Dec 11, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

Reminds me of a song (Oh God, I'm having a DOB moment)

“Shoot you dead” by Slobberbone. Just change the lyrics slightly for gender:

‘And, yeah, I’m getting married, so just let me clear the air
Hell no, you’re not invited, but I know that you don’t care
And you’ll be there with guns and goofy ribbons in your hair
So I made me a big ol’ sign says: “Crazy, jilted hag! Beware!”’

by buzzdeadwax on Dec 11, 2008 2:49 PM EST up reply actions