Tonight might seem like just another regular season game between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium in New York, but, for those of us who are baseball fans, and especially fans of the Mets or Braves, we know that tonight, while seemingly just a July game on a Friday night, is about so much more.
If anyone has checked the pitching matchup for tonight's game between the Mets and Braves, they will see that tonight Tom Glavine is pitching for the Mets, and John Smoltz is pitching for the Braves. As most baseball fans know, these two gentlemen were teammates from Smoltz's arrival in the majors in July 1988, until Glavine's departure from Atlanta after the 2002 season. In fact, Smoltz pitched his first big league game in 1988 at Shea against the Mets, and won the game.
Tonight will be about fun and friendly competition between two former teammates, but one is sure, having been on the same pitching staff for so many years, and often following each other in the pitching rotation, as manager Bobby Cox for many years had Smoltz's spot in the rotation scheduled the day after Glavine would pitch, there would also have to be a degree of emotion for both guys as they face each other as starting pitching opponents for the very first time. Two years ago, after Glavine left Atlanta, he faced Greg Maddux, his former teammate for 10 years, in a game at Shea Stadium, and both claimed afterwards that pitching against each other was both fun, but also emotional.
Since Glavine left Atlanta, I have held bad feelings against him for going to New York, as I feel he made the mistake of his life. Atlanta offered Glavine four one year 9 million dollar contracts after the 2002 season, and Glavine turned them down, opting instead to go to New York for about 2 million a year more. Since then, Smoltz has signed a deal for less money than he could have gotten on the free agent market to stay in Atlanta, he and the Braves have prospered, and Glavine and the Mets have struggled. Glavine's decision to go to New York may well cost him a chance to win 300 games, and a spot in the Hall of Fame, or it will take him much longer to get to Cooperstown, and he will have to pitch for more years than he would have had he stayed in Atlanta, to get to 300 wins. Since Glavine has left the Braves, he has beaten them only once, while losing 7 times. I get a sense of satisfaction every time Atlanta beats him. I also think Smoltz made the right decision to stay in Atlanta for the rest of his career. Both the Braves and he have been successful, so why fiddle with success?
So, bring it on. John Vs Tom. Another Friday night game? I dont think so. It may only be July, but this is about more. Unfortunately, the game is not on TBS tonight, so I wont be able to watch it. Luckily, I have a handy little radio given to me by a friend which can get WFAN in New York, so I can usually hear the game. It should be fun, and very interesting to see what happens when these two fine pitchers who were teammates for 15 years in Atlanta face each other as opposing starters.
Mitch
If anyone has checked the pitching matchup for tonight's game between the Mets and Braves, they will see that tonight Tom Glavine is pitching for the Mets, and John Smoltz is pitching for the Braves. As most baseball fans know, these two gentlemen were teammates from Smoltz's arrival in the majors in July 1988, until Glavine's departure from Atlanta after the 2002 season. In fact, Smoltz pitched his first big league game in 1988 at Shea against the Mets, and won the game.
Tonight will be about fun and friendly competition between two former teammates, but one is sure, having been on the same pitching staff for so many years, and often following each other in the pitching rotation, as manager Bobby Cox for many years had Smoltz's spot in the rotation scheduled the day after Glavine would pitch, there would also have to be a degree of emotion for both guys as they face each other as starting pitching opponents for the very first time. Two years ago, after Glavine left Atlanta, he faced Greg Maddux, his former teammate for 10 years, in a game at Shea Stadium, and both claimed afterwards that pitching against each other was both fun, but also emotional.
Since Glavine left Atlanta, I have held bad feelings against him for going to New York, as I feel he made the mistake of his life. Atlanta offered Glavine four one year 9 million dollar contracts after the 2002 season, and Glavine turned them down, opting instead to go to New York for about 2 million a year more. Since then, Smoltz has signed a deal for less money than he could have gotten on the free agent market to stay in Atlanta, he and the Braves have prospered, and Glavine and the Mets have struggled. Glavine's decision to go to New York may well cost him a chance to win 300 games, and a spot in the Hall of Fame, or it will take him much longer to get to Cooperstown, and he will have to pitch for more years than he would have had he stayed in Atlanta, to get to 300 wins. Since Glavine has left the Braves, he has beaten them only once, while losing 7 times. I get a sense of satisfaction every time Atlanta beats him. I also think Smoltz made the right decision to stay in Atlanta for the rest of his career. Both the Braves and he have been successful, so why fiddle with success?
So, bring it on. John Vs Tom. Another Friday night game? I dont think so. It may only be July, but this is about more. Unfortunately, the game is not on TBS tonight, so I wont be able to watch it. Luckily, I have a handy little radio given to me by a friend which can get WFAN in New York, so I can usually hear the game. It should be fun, and very interesting to see what happens when these two fine pitchers who were teammates for 15 years in Atlanta face each other as opposing starters.
Mitch
