Tommy Boy

No, not this ONE; this ONE.

One more signing for the blogosphere to fall apart over.  I think the main complaint over this one is the waste of a roster spot.  I don’t know what it is about sitting in front of a computer that turns rational thinking people (at least I like to think they are rational somewhere in their life) into a nasty spinster aunt whose sole purpose is to bitch and complain.  Maybe its the anonymity?  Maybe its the best way to get lots of comments and create your own little delusional community?  I don’t know and I guess I shouldn’t care, but for some reason I do.  Look, I don’t want to tell you how to be a fan.  We all do it in our own way.  Some of us gush and get all a flutter with every move, knowing that each one is going to bring the next championship, while others bemoan every move made as waste and every move missed as the HUGE one that got away.

Sometimes a move is just a move.  The signing of Tom Glavine is not going to make or break the Braves, so just relax.

Glavine had a horrible year last year.  He was injured for the first time, made the least amount of starts in his career and never looked like he had even an ounce of stuff left.  Everyone’s already said it. He’s done.

I think for the most part, everyone is right.  The last year of data for a pitcher that old is usually pretty indicative of what they have left in the tank.  Indications are that Tom stank.  A lot.

But.  Its Tommy, the money is nominal, the pitching staff is actually fairly strong otherwise, and he will only marginally be used.  His value will mostly be tied into anything he is able to impart on the younger pitchers and his occasional spelling of a starter.  I’d be interested in seeing him work some innings in middle relief.  It would be fun to sandwich him between Moylan and Soriano sometimes, I don’t know how effective it would be, but it sure would throw three totally different approaches and angles at the hitters and from my couch, with a beer in my hand, that sounds like fun.

Maybe Tom has an all out last year.  Maybe he makes 30 starts for the 18th time in his career.  Maybe he pitches 5 – 6 innings per start and carries an ERA in the low 4s with not very many strikeouts and a whole lot of luck.

One thing you can count on: if he comes out and sucks, he won’t stay on the roster for long.  No one, not the Braves, not Glavine, want to see him suffer.  There were injuries last year to blame, but this year he is supposedly healthy and ready to go.  If he shows that he doesn’t have anything left, the Braves and Glavine will reach an agreement to let him retire and call it a day.

You can call that wasted time, you can call it nostalgia, you can call it hope.  Whatever you want to call it, it isn’t much in the long run except one more chance to say good bye.

Good Luck Tom.