Eight months ago, when Tom Glavine made his return to Atlanta, I, along with millions of other Braves fans, had dreams of at least a wild card dancing in our heads. We had Smoltz, and Hudson, to go along with Glavine, a thirteen game winner, and the hopeful return of Mike Hampton. Our lineup included Chipper, Texiara, Mccann, and a host of good young players. If it wasnt the combination for a division title, then, at least, one had to figure, one that had 85 to 90 wins, and a wild card. Now, as the end of July approaches, all I can say for the Braves is... See them in 2009,. maybe.
Baseball fans know the story. Smoltz, gone for the year, shoulder surgery. Hampton, out until just this past Saturday. Glavine, out for much of the season with shoulder issues. Chipper, on the DL for stretches due to leg injuries. Now, what might be the cruelest blow of them all, Monday night, Tim Hudson is said to have ligament damage in his elbow, and has to see Dr James Andrews in Birmingham this week. The only Braves starter to have been healthy this year so far might have the worst news of them all, Tommy John Surgery, and gone until late 2009 or early 2010.
Never, have I ever seen so many pitchers go down for one team in one season. Well, not since the 1987 New York Mets, when at one point all five starters were on the DL at one point in the season or another.
The Braves are likely going to trade first baseman Texiara in the next 48 hours. Management states they have given up for 2008. All we can hope for now, is for the injured pitchers to come back next year, and to get the best possible deal for Tex that we can. However, it might be a process of real rebuilding for a while for the Braves, because, at 42, Glavine may retire after the season, and at age 42 in 2009, whose to say Smoltz can ever come back?
This has been a nightmare season for the Braves with injuries. I really believe if we had been healthy, even without Hampton, the rotation of Hudson, Smoltz, Glavine, and rookie sensation Jurrengs, could have won us a wild card. Now, it will be a fight to stay out of last place.
48 hours from now, Texiara will likely no longer be a Brave. It will be nice to see this nightmare season end, and to look to 2009, when hopefully Braves health and fortunes will get better.
Mitch
Baseball fans know the story. Smoltz, gone for the year, shoulder surgery. Hampton, out until just this past Saturday. Glavine, out for much of the season with shoulder issues. Chipper, on the DL for stretches due to leg injuries. Now, what might be the cruelest blow of them all, Monday night, Tim Hudson is said to have ligament damage in his elbow, and has to see Dr James Andrews in Birmingham this week. The only Braves starter to have been healthy this year so far might have the worst news of them all, Tommy John Surgery, and gone until late 2009 or early 2010.
Never, have I ever seen so many pitchers go down for one team in one season. Well, not since the 1987 New York Mets, when at one point all five starters were on the DL at one point in the season or another.
The Braves are likely going to trade first baseman Texiara in the next 48 hours. Management states they have given up for 2008. All we can hope for now, is for the injured pitchers to come back next year, and to get the best possible deal for Tex that we can. However, it might be a process of real rebuilding for a while for the Braves, because, at 42, Glavine may retire after the season, and at age 42 in 2009, whose to say Smoltz can ever come back?
This has been a nightmare season for the Braves with injuries. I really believe if we had been healthy, even without Hampton, the rotation of Hudson, Smoltz, Glavine, and rookie sensation Jurrengs, could have won us a wild card. Now, it will be a fight to stay out of last place.
48 hours from now, Texiara will likely no longer be a Brave. It will be nice to see this nightmare season end, and to look to 2009, when hopefully Braves health and fortunes will get better.
Mitch
