Rain Delay

Rocker takes pot shots at Glavine

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This is laughable at best. First of all, this is coming from the mouth of John Rocker, yes the one and the same. This time he opens his mouth, and takes a shot at Tom Glavine.

"He's had a few comments to make against myself that I thought were out of line and really sort of unnecessary and people took his side because he was the more mainstay Braves guy," Rocker said. "I just really thought as far as reaching out to younger players and reaching out to his teammates, somebody who could 'rah-rah' in the clubhouse, really kind of stayed to himself. ... You walk past him in the hall, he wouldn't even look at you.

Honestly I figured he'd fall of the face of the earth when get got released by that indy team. But no, it seems he was out shilling himself and his appearance on that new Spike TV show, "Pros vs Joes".

"You know, to go and get something to eat and sit down at a table with him for 10 minutes after a game and you grew up idolizing him and he won't even look at you, that's rude. Maybe that's just his personality and he's a quiet guy, but to me it was rude," Rocker said.

Oh, it gets even better. Then his famous comments that were in SI in 1999 got brought up, and then he was asked again if he'd play for either New York team.

"Oh yeah, it would be fun." That was in contrast to his quotes in the Metro newspaper yesterday in which he said he wouldn't play for the Mets because of Glavine.

I'm not sure exactly how to wrap this up. This guy just leaves me speechless because of his ineptitude. Hopefully once this episode airs, he'll once again crawl under the rock that he slithered out from. As much as I hate the Yankee's and the Met's, I wouldn't wish John Rocker on them, ever.

Grissom hangs up the spikes

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Fomer Brave among other teams OFer Marquis Grissom hangs up the spikes, after seventeen seasons.

Outfielder Marquis Grissom, a four- time Gold Glove winner, retired from Major League Baseball after 17 seasons, the Chicago Cubs said.

Grissom, 38, was in the spring-training camp of the Cubs, with whom he'd signed a minor-league contract in January.

He's one of six players in major-league history with 2,000 hits, 200 home runs and 400 stolen bases, joining Roberto Alomar, Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson, Paul Molitor and Joe Morgan.

The two-time All-Star was a member of the Atlanta Braves team that won the 1995 World Series and the American League champion Cleveland Indians two years later. He was Most Valuable Player of the 1997 AL Championship Series.

Grissom hit .272 with 227 home runs, 967 runs batted in and 429 stolen bases with Montreal, Atlanta, Cleveland, Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco since 1989.

I'll always remember him as a Brave, though I was never one of his biggest fans. But he was part of the team that brought the World Series trophy to Atlanta in 95.

Glavin upset, Estrada moving on..

Two former Braves PO'd for the price of one. I guess we'll start with Tom Glavine, he seems to be a bit upset at John Schuerholz for revealing what Glavine thought was a private moment when he was making the decision to either re-sign with the Braves or take what the Met's were offering.

"I'm a little upset about it," said Glavine, who spent 16 seasons with the Braves and still lives in Alpharetta. "I don't think it's any body's business. I really don't. That's the way I've always looked at it."

Glavine was asked if the remarks seemed hurtful.

"I'll say this and I don't want to talk about it anymore," he said. "It's interesting to me that for somebody who's been so tight-lipped about everything that goes on in that organization — player transactions, this, that and the other thing — that I'm the only player that he's ever talked about when it comes to a negotiation.

"He talks about what happened with me, what went wrong or why they didn't sign me, and now whatever is in the book. I'm the only one he's ever talked about. To me, there's something that's trying to be explained, that he feels has to be explained, if that's his deal I don't know what to say.

"From my standpoint," Glavine said, "it was a business discussion between two people or three people that should have remained that way and it hasn't. But that's his deal, that's not mine."

Eh, that's life and times in pro ball Mr. Glavine.

But we're not done yet, it seems that former Braves back-stop Johnny Estrada is a bit butt hurt over getting traded in the off season. It all started with getting freight trained by Los Angels Angel Darren Erstad last year in Inter-League Play. He's trying to move past that incident, that cost him most of the 2005 season and his job behind the plate that would be handed to rookie Brian McCann.

"I'm trying to move on," Estrada said. He really hasn't, though, and he's too honest to mask his true feelings.

"He ruined my season," the 29-year-old catcher said of Erstad. "I'll always think it was something he could have avoided."

[...]

"I never had full range of motion," said Estrada, whose averaged fell to .261 with just four homers and 39 RBIs. "I couldn't take a full, normal swing.

"I was taking way too many drugs to try to stay in the lineup. Cortisone injections, dose packs, steroid packs, anti-inflammatories. That probably wasn't the right thing to do for my body. It took most of the off-season to recover."

When asked about the trade during the winter to the D-Backs this is what he had to say:

"It left a sour taste in my mouth because I played hurt for four months trying to help the Braves win another division."

Estrada's new Manager Bob Melvin has no worries about Estrada's health coming into this year.

"We needed more offense," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "We were last in production behind the plate last year. We needed to get better there, and we think Estrada can supply that.

"I have no concerns [about his health]. There is no issue there for us. From day one, he's been a full go."

I've never been a huge fan of Estrada's, one way or another he was going to end not being a Brave injury or not. McCann was on the rise regardless not to mention we still have Salty waiting in the wings.

Glavine's stats via The Baseball Cube

McCann's stats via The Basbeball Cube

Estrada's stats via The Baseball Cube

Over on the side bar I've added a search box for the Baseball Cube and I've gone ahead and sponsored Salty's page on the Baseball Cube as well.

Boone calls it a career..

Well, just after talking about Boonie resurfacing with the Mets and a chance to win the Second Base job, he announced his retirement from the game today.

"Tell me this is April Fool's Day," Bob Boone said, hoping someone had flipped one extra page on his calendar.

"My father's having a tough time with this," Boone said, hours later as he stood outside the stretch limousine that would take him to Palm Beach International Airport and the rest of his life. Father Boone wasn't alone in that regard. At noon, the Mets' could-have-been second baseman had stood at his locker listening to the clubhouse attendants promising to pack and send the final remnants of his 14-year career to Seattle. And as he listened, his eyes glistened. "I'm sick of crying," he said.

Tears were not unexpected. The oldest baseball grandson of the late Ray Boone wasn't ending only his own career, he also was removing a branch from the family tree. And that made it harder on him. "We're a baseball family," is how Bret Boone put it.

So long Boonie, and thanks for the memories.

Boonie re-surfaces in Met Country

Being a Braves fan for most of my life, I've been brought up to hate the Mets and the Dodgers. Just like during the football season, I'm a Eagles fan therefore it's natural to hate the Cowboy's. That's why I'm torn, I've always had a soft spot for Bret Boone, when he was a Brave and Mariner. On one hand it's good to see he's in camp, albeit a minor-league deal. But it's with....the Mets.

He signed a minor-league deal with a non-roster invite, battling for the 2nd base gig with the Mets that could net him a cool Mill, will incentives upwards to over 500 grand. Last year was not kind to Bret, his career imploded and resulted in getting released from two teams inside a month.  He knew that if he was going to continue to play a game that runs in the family there was going to have to be some adjustments.

"Normally, when I'm really having a tough time, man, I'm mad after the game. But it was like, 'Is the game over now? Can I go home?' I had lost the passion."

What helped bring it back was sitting at home in Seattle in August and September, reduced to watching games on television and wondering what in the world had brought him to this point.

"I reflected on everything, and started getting that hunger back watching baseball games, thinking, 'I can't believe I'm sitting home.' I'm watching guys playing, and I'm going, 'Are you kidding me?' "

To his credit, Boone takes full blame for his demise and says the Mariners were justified in releasing him.

After working with his trainer that he used in his All-Star/MVP year he started working on his comback, even seeking the advice of Chili Davis a former Twin who lives in Emerald City.

"He said that it happened to him at the same age, that he lost that desire inside, and that he thought about walking away," Boone said. "He said I needed to rededicate myself if I wanted to still compete. He said he did, and he came back and had three or four more good years."

It's good to see he's back at it, I hope his career gets back on track even if for a short while. He's 37 and the clock is ticking. Though playing second base at Shea is his job to win, especially when your only competition is Kaz Matsui. Matsui, a Japanese import cost the Met's way to much cash for what he's delivered. They've been trying to dump his $8 million salary all winter. 

This could be the thing Bret needs to get back into the swing of things.

Good Luck Boonie.

Junior and Senior?

It looks like Senior could catch on with the Reds as the first base coach. He is already set to join Junior on Team USA where he will be the, get this..First-base coach in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. The Reds first base coaching job officially opened up on Thursday after the retirement of John Moses, and Griffey Senior will be interviewing for the job, along with 3 other candidates.

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) -- Ken Griffey Sr. is one of four candidates for the Cincinnati Reds' first base coaching job.

Manager Jerry Narron said Friday that he will discuss the job with Griffey, outfield and bunting instructor Ed Napoleon, minor league outfield and base running coordinator Lynn Jones and newly hired advance scout Pete Mackanin.

Really nothing else to say here, except I've always liked Senior, when he was a Brave and a Mariner.

More Mazzone talking

New coach has different pitch | ajc.com.

It seems the Braves pitching staff is at it again. I defended Huddy, saying the like allot of people, some just don't like or get along with their bosses. But now more of the Braves pitching staff is letting loose with more Mazzone talk.

Honestly, why can't they just keep their trap's shut? You know, keep it in house and all that good stuff. But at least Remlinger kept it civil and actually shows a level head when talking about the Leo Mazzone.

"Especially with the younger guys, Leo could be a little bit gruff," Remlinger said. "If he didn't get it the way he wanted, he would let you know about it.

"Even he and I butted heads a couple of times. But the next day, he didn't hold things against you and it was time to get back to work. He helped me tremendously.

"I lot of guys don't want to hear the truth. Sometimes you need to hear, 'You're not very good right now.' Sometimes you have to face that reality and get things fixed."

"I'm sure there are going to be differences during the course of the season," McDowell said. "I had differences with my pitching coaches."

Hopefully this'll die down later on in Spring Training. I'd hate to see this dragged out through the press for the length of the season. Though I know that allot of people will be comparing the two most of the season.

Not all merry under Mazzone?

Here's a couple interesting quotes from Tim Hudson and John Thompson.

"He's a real personable guy," Hudson said. "It seems like he's going to be able to go out there and get along with everybody great. Obviously he has the reputation of being an easygoing guy, cutting up a little bit and having some fun. ... It will be a lot of fun going down to the bullpen and getting some work done for a change."

While not directly taking a shot at Mazzone with his comment, Hudson seemed to express the same nonchalance that all of the Braves pitchers were expressing in regards to moving on without their former pitching coach.

Hudson and Thomson were among those who said it will be beneficial having a pitching coach who has actually pitched in the Majors. Mazzone's pitching career ended in the Minors.

"That's going to be the biggest difference, actually having a pitch coach who has pitched in the big leagues," Thomson said.

Like I said interesting. But in all honesty, I have no illusions that everyone got along with Leo. Yes Leo had one of the best pitching staff's in baseball for a long time, the likes of Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz. Really, you shouldn't read into it too much.

Some of the younger guys had great things to say about McDowell as well.

"He's interested in not just your baseball career, but he's also interested about your life," Boyer said. "He seems like a really good guy. I'm just going to love working with him. That type of personality is just what's attractive."

See kids, there is life after Leo. Though, if the pitching staff falters at any point in the season, there's going to be hell to pay from the Braves faithful and a bunch of "Well Leo this.." and "Leo that.." McDowell does have allot to live up too, it may take a while for the shadow his working in to finally up and disappear.

 

Around the Horn

(I'm out of town until tomorrow evening, so I leave you with some reading!)

+ Mark Bowman of MLB.com, talks about the Braves middle infield. The old double play combo of Furcal and Giles are gone. Enter Edgar Renteria.

+ Yesterday was Roger McDowells first day as Atlanta's new pitching coach. Does he feel any pressure taking over for long term pitching coach Leo Mazzone? Find out here.

+ More on Roger McDowell, this one courtesy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. (Need to register. It's Free and takes 2 seconds.)

+ From the Tacoma New Tribune, Gregg Dobbs has something to prove. The M's reserve hopes to land spot on the roster when the Mariners break camp.

+ M's Closer Eddie Guardado has been nominated for the P-I Sports Star of the Year.

+ Dayn Perry over at FoxSports.com has been running down the Top 100 prospects before the season gets under way. Here he discusses 51-60.

+ Over at The Hardball Times, David Appleman graphs Tom Glavine. He takes a look at the difference between the first and second halves of '05.

Coming up next week and even maybe closer to this weekend, I'm going to attempt some predictions. I'll be kicking those off with my predictions for the American League West.

Glavine, a possible Brave next year?

Interesting story out of the New York Post today. Lefty Tom Glavine is in his final year of his contract with the New York Mets and only see's himself playing next year as a Met or a Brave. (You will have to register to read the whole thing. Don't worry it's free.)

"I've only given it the thought from not having any certainty," he said. "I really don't see myself playing anywhere else.

"But it's best approached by me and handled by me to just worry about what I'm doing this year."

[...]

"If we stay healthy, I don't think any of us see any reason why we can't win our division [NL East] and get into the postseason and make a run at that," Glavine said. "That's the only variable in my mind, is how healthy we stay. Hopefully we'll stay real healthy."

I would love to see Tommy back in a Braves uniform, though we all know he's on the decline. Last year wasn't  good to him, he posted a  13-13 record last year with a ERA near 4.  I'll remember Tommy as one of the "Young Guns", with Smoltz and Avery. We'll have to see how his final contract year with the Met's go, even though he's a 'hated' Met I've always wished to see Tom do good and would love to see him end his career where he started it.

In Atlanta!

Tom Glavine Stats via Baseball Prospectus