Tom Glavine: Where's The Respect?

Having been born and raised a proud Atlanta Braves fan, I am absolutely embarrassed and shocked on the release of Tom Glavine. Of course he’s not the same Tom Glavine he was when he won his two Cy Young awards—but come on—back in '06 he was an All-Star selection. 

The Braves sent the guy who gave his all to the city of Atlanta to the minors to recover, and when he felt he was ready to return, they cut him saying that he was destined for failure.

Now how in the world do you tell someone who is a 10-time All-Star, a World Series Champion, five-time National League leader in wins, and a two-time Cy Young winner that he can’t cut it anymore without even giving him a shot?

Worst case scenario for the Braves would have been if he worked his way back into rotation and didn’t do well, but even then, the knowledge and experience he can share with the young pitching squad is priceless. His presence in the locker room alone is inspiring to the young guys, whereas Chipper Jones now is the only one who can relate to the glory days of the 90’s for the Braves. 

I doubt you can talk to any resident in Fulton County who can’t spit out names such as Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Fred McGriff, David Justice, Javier Lopez, and yes, the fan-favorite Tom Glavine. They are legends in the south and deserve the respect they have rightfully earned. 

So how does the winningest active pitcher in Major League Baseball randomly find himself out of a job one day? That is a question that has been answered by lame excuses that have everyone scratching their heads, and for Braves fans, angry and disappointed. 

This is the last way a future Hall of Famer should have been treated, even if he did come back and couldn’t perform up to par. It is just ridiculous that he didn’t get to throw one pitch; would it be that hard to give him a start and see where he stands in the city where he gave pride to the people and earned his stripes? 

It is sad that a champion believes he can still play a big role in a team’s success, and his own “family” doesn’t, let alone gives him the slightest chance to prove himself where he is already “Proven.” 

Away from all his amazing accomplishments and his outstanding statistics, Tom Glavine wasn’t a fan favorite for no reason. His appreciation for his fans is what made me devastated when I found out he was leaving to go to the Mets. 

I have memories of waiting outside the Braves parking lot for autographs; Glavine always was more than happy to sign autographs. I must have at least seven autographs, along with a picture in which he picked me up and put me in his lap. I’ll never forget those memories and the kindness he showed towards the fans. 

Tom Glavine: On behalf of the fans, we are forever grateful for all the hard work and dedication you gave to the Peach State. We don’t agree with how your situation was dealt with and wish you nothing but greatness for the rest of your career. 

Tom Glavine will forever be an Atlanta Brave.