12449 I am one of those fans, who are very loyal to franchise players, when they get to their old age and are not as productive, as they used to be. But I am having a hard time understanding the Atlanta Braves management and their inconsistencies, regarding their dealing with Smoltz, Chipper and Glavine. In my thinking the braves should have put their priorities like this, 1. Chipper Jones 2. John Smoltz 3. Tom Glavine. After all Chipper and Smoltz have been in the braves uniform all of their careers except for Smoltz who spent a little time in Detroit where he was drafted. While Glavine on the other hand left Atlanta in 2003 for the hated rival Mets and spent five years there. So as a braves fan I’m thinking ok, the Braves only need one more starting pitcher, they have two pitchers coming off injuries one Smoltz who is by far the better pitcher now, and who has been with the braves longer, or they could sign a guy in Glavine who makes Rip Sewell look like a flame thrower. Braves management did not disappoint and elected to let long time Brave Smoltz go, and signed Tom Glavine along with his 80 mph fastball to a one year deal. How can you be loyal to some of their players and not others? Shouldn’t you either be loyal to both or neither? As far as signing Chipper for three more years, great move because unlike Glavine Chipper will still be productive for his contract. Congratulations Boston, you got a hall of famer who can still compete, in this day in age, that’s a rare thing. true 2009-04-02T12:32:35Z 82936 1 2009-04-02T12:32:35Z