Some Words About Tom Glavine

Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom (Tommy) Galvine can have the word "former" added to the front of this sentence for the rest of his life.  He was released yesterday by his "former" team.  Glavine had been rehabbing from an injury for the Braves' Class A affiliate.  Statistically, he'd pitched well.  Something was missing, according to the decision-makers for Atlanta.   The statement they released probably hurt more than the actual Glavine-release itself:

"Our evaluation was he would not be successful."

That's from Braves GM Frank Wren.

In other words, the Braves don't think Tom Glavine can pitch anymore.

Now, imagine you're Tom Glavine.  I know he's a 300-game winner.  I know he's a millionaire.  I know he's 43 years old.  I know he's got a World Series ring.  We all know he's going to the Hall of Fame.  Glavine knows all of this too.  It hurts to hear someone say that.  It hurts even more when it's the team you love.  If you had no plans to ever leave, how do you go when you're shown the door?

The story unfolds further.  It tells you something when Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton, says this right away:

"...He's not prepared to retire.  He looks forward to pitching again in 2009."

That means Glavine can't find it in himself to quit just yet.  But hold on.  A little later, he ends up texting this to the Associated Press:

"Not sure about pitching."

There's a contradiction there between player and agent.  It leaves the door open for Glavine to keep trying to come back (agent) and for a way to just give it up and retire (player).  I don't think the two were coordinated like that, however.  I think two different men were communicating their emotions the only way they knew how.  For Clifton, it was to keep building up his client, to create opportunity.  For Glavine, it was...  Well, I don't know how to describe it.  Raw?  Honest?  Hurt? 

I asked this question on Facebook.  Click, friend-up, and see what others have to say about their perceptions of the Tom Glavine current state of mind.

Tom Glavine probably didn't sleep much the night of his release.  And the flurry of action in Greg Clifton's office The Day After had one goal, to keep the dream alive.  Only, when the dream has been aloft for more than 20 years and just had most of its air popped by the one team Glavine ever really wanted to play for, it adds one more layer of complexity to the situation.  It's hard to date right after your spouse dumps you.  If Tommy Glavine does want to pitch again in 2009, he'll have to put on his best clothes and get out there now.  The longer it takes him to figure this out, the easier it will be for other teams to say no.