(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Frank Wren had been labeled a total idiot during the offseason prior to the 2009 season. He couldn’t sign Rafael Furcal, Ken Griffey, Jr., Jake Peavy, or John Smoltz
Braves fans weren’t at all excited about Plan B choices Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami, Javier Vazquez, and Garrett Anderson.
Things would get worse before they got better, as 43-year-old Tom Glavine publicly expressed his displeasure after being released earlier this month. Smoltz, 42, was quick to jump on the anti-Wren bandwagon.
When former Braves GM John Schuerholz was promoted to team president in October 2007, he didn’t exactly leave the coffers filled for current general manager Frank Wren, and Wren’s first two offseasons hadn’t been very fruitful.
While Schuerholz certainly has authority in all personnel decisions, it’s Wren’s neck getting wrenched in public.
Like a hitter that doesn’t get hot until the summer months begin blazing, maybe Wren is more of a regular season barterer, as he has shown an ability to make shrewd in-season moves.
Wren’s best move was calling up Tommy Hanson, a 6’6”, 22-year-old starting pitcher who was the Braves’ best prospect.
Even this choice looked hasty, as Hanson allowed three home runs and six earned runs in his first start against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Hanson and Wren would both bounce back from rough starts in 2009.
In his last four starts after his brutal welcome to the majors, Hanson is 4-0 with victories against the vaunted New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, who have the most formidable lineups in baseball, loaded with All-Stars and MVPs.
Derek Lowe has turned out to be another wise choice, leading the team in wins. Lowe shares many physical characteristics with Hanson, and as a member of the 2004 Boston Red Sox championship team, he should also be a great role model for Hanson.
Another prudent move by Wren was trading a few prospects for a proven major league talent in Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Nate McLouth. McLouth is still adjusting to his new surroundings, and once he finds his stroke in Atlanta, he’ll be a great addition to Braves stars Chipper Jones and Brian McCann.
Griffey has played much better than Anderson, but was most likely using the Braves for leverage until the very end of his negotiations with the Mariners, the team which he began his future Hall of Fame career with.
Hindsight is always 20-20, and a few of Wren’s decisions have saved the team money, heartache, and the time it takes to develop younger players.
Jake Peavy is 6-6, with a complete game, 92 strikeouts, and a 3.97 ERA. Not bad, but certainly nothing for Braves fans to continue cry about.
Smoltz had a rocky debut for the Red Sox, allowing five earned runs in five innings for a 9.00 ERA and a 0-1 record.
Much like the Mets parting ways with Pedro Martinez, the Braves release of Glavine seems sound—no other team has picked up the future Hall of Fame lefthander.
The Braves also avoided another big mistake by not signing Furcal. The shortstop signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and is currently hitting .245 with only four stolen bases and a .320 OBP.
Patience is supposed to be a virtue, but no one has ever confused baseball fans of being patient or virtuous.
Wren hasn’t been perfect, but he’s proving that a lot of his doubters prematurely rushed to judge his abilities as a general manager.
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