Braves making good/slimy moves!

Yesterday was a busy day for the Atlanta Braves. After a huge come from behind, extra innings win on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, the Braves made some major moves. On the same night of the big win against the Cubs, Tom Glavin was pitching his 4th rehab start in Class A Rome. Glavin was due to rejoin the big team this week and possibly pitch this weekend. But instead of rejoining the team, he was released. I understand the business of baseball and Glavin was not really going to help the team that much this year but giving him a roster spot would keep someone off the team that could really contribute and help the team win and the money that was going to go to Glavin can now be used to help get another player. I understand all of that, but it still seems a little slimy to me. Glavin has been working hard to get back and on the day he was suppose to be called up, he gets cut. I don’t think that is the best way to treat one of the best players in Braves history. You think they would have learned from the Smoltz PR fiasco!

On the other hand, there was also a huge trade yesterday with the Pirates when the Braves traded three prospects to Pittsburgh for All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth. The Braves shipped right-handed starter Charlie Morton, center-field prospect Gorkys Hernandez and minor league lefty Jeff Locke to the Pirates for McLouth, an All-Star and Gold Glove winner last season when he hit 26 homers with 94 RBIs and led the National League with 46 doubles. Those three players were all good, solid players but they weren’t going to help out the team this year and probably not next year either. I think McLouth will come in today and contribute and help us win. Also, he is under contract for several more years so there is no fear of a “rent a player” scenario.

So it was a bittersweet day for Braves fans yesterday. Throw in the fact that we lost to the Cubs in extra innings doesn’t help either. Glavin will be missed, but that also means that the door has been opened for Tommy Hanson to be called up from triple A and he will have a spot in the rotation. That is a good thing! This might be what gets the Braves back on top in the division!

Go Braves!