Blogging About Baseball

Tom Glavine won’t be pitching in 2009.

In a text message to an Atlanta television station (when did text messaging the media become acceptable?), Glavine stated, “I’m not going to pitch or do anything baseball related until at least next year.” He went on to say he’ll become a “full-time dad.”

Earlier this month, the 43-year-old lefty was unceremoniously released by the Atlanta Braves during his recovery from left elbow and shoulder surgery. The move came as a shock to Glavine and his teammates and also to the Atlanta fanbase. Atlanta management continues to draw the ire of fans because of its poor treatment of Glavine and priorly, John Smoltz.

During his 17 year career with Atlanta, Glavine won 244 games, two Cy Young awards, and eight All-Star nods. He’s fourth on the team’s all-time wins list and he, along with Smoltz and Greg Maddux, comprise a very special period in Brave’s history.

Glavine’s time with the New York Mets wasn’t without event, however. While with the team, Glavine won his 300th game in 2008 and earned All-Star appearances in 2004 and 2006.

There’s conflicting reports regarding other teams’ interest in Glavine. The pitcher has told media outlets that he’d received offers to pitch in the MLB in 2009, but according to some baseball analysts, he drew little attention.

Clint Hurdle’s going to be fired within the week.

Before the Rockies just lost three-in-a-row against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hurdle was already on the hotseat. The latest sweep leaves the club at a dismal 18-28 and has players privately speculating he won’t make it through the weekend. If the move happens, I would expect it to happen before the end of today or on Monday when the team heads to Houston.

There is a rumor that Hurdle will have the chance to lead the club through the team’s next series against the San Diego Padres. Apparently, management wants to make sure that Hurdle can manage against a usually-miserable opponent and therefore maintain the team’s recent status-quo, another lackluster season.

I feel a little bad for Hurdle; it’s really hard to forget the team’s wondrous and inspiring run in 2007. A part of me believes that the team’s failure isn’t so much a product of bad managing as it is of a team that simply hasn’t living up to its billing.

The team’s ace, lefty Jeff Francis, went down for the season with a shoulder injury before even throwing a pitch in 2009. Taylor Buccholz, the bullpen’s saving grace last season, missed the first part of the season and will be out for a bit longer following elbow surgery.

The rest of the roster has also disappeared though. Third baseman Garrett Atkins and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki have been completely miserable as middle-of-the-order bats. Atkins, the team’s “power,” is hovering near the Mendoza line and has a measly three dingers while Tulowitzki is batting .079 with runners in scoring position (3-38). Huston Street has done an able job as closer, but Manny Corpas and the rest of the bullpen has been wretched.

Hurdle’s failure to utilize players like utilityman Ian Stewart and outfielder Ryan Spillborghs could ultimately spell his undoing. There’s also mutterings that players are simply no longer responding to his style of managing.

It’s only a matter of time before the clamoring rings true…

It’s a good day for firing.

UPDATE: Sure enough, Hurdle was fired at 3:30 p.m. eastern time today!

Oakland’s third baseman Eric Chavez has dealt with injury after injury since signing a six-year, $66 million contract in 2004.

First it was an ailing right shoulder. Then it was his left shoulder. Next came the back problems. Then it was the right shoulder again. And when things didn’t look like they could get any worse, Chavez hit the disabled list with nerve inflammation in his right elbow and forearm early this season.

News broke today that the six-time Gold Glover’s career is effectively over if his back goes out once more. California doctors notified Chavez that he would need a spinal fusion the next time and would not be given any more temporary remedies.

When asked about the severity of the injury, Chavez responded, “Pretty much game, set, match.”

Obviously, the amount of activity he’ll be able to do during a rehab assignment is going to be extremely limited. Coaches are going to have their fingers crossed everytime Chavez lifts a weight, throws a ball, fields a grounder, swings a bat, picks up a bag of groceries, bends down to get into his car, or whacks off. The likelihood of a comeback seems bleak.

This news can best be described as sad and unfortunate. Chavez holds a small, albeit special, place in baseball history.

Chavez was one of baseball’s first “moneyball” players. The term, coined in Michael Lewis’ book of the same name, characterized Oakland General Manager Billy Beane’s new breed of player that focused on on-base percentage rather than traditional statistics. Beane was so impressed with Chavez’s dedication to taking walks and playing conservative baseball that he signed Chavez to the now-infamous deal, a rare leap of faith from the usually cautious, use ‘em-then-lose ‘em GM.

While Chavez will never be remembered as nothing more than an “average” offensive third baseman by today’s standards, he will be remembered as a premier defensive player who controlled the hot corner whenever he was healthy enough to.