I mean, this was the same team that paid Hampton $15 million/year for three years while he didn’t throw a single pitch. Now, one of maybe three people that has been holding this team together for the past couple of seasons is leaving, and they can’t pony up more than a guaranteed $2 million for an iconic figure? Sure, they gave him incentives that would increase that salary up to $7 million, but we’re talking about more than losing a pitcher. Chipper is already not too happy about it, so is that difference of possibly $3 million that the Red Sox offered him worth the drop in morale? I don’t think so.

Besides, it’s not like Wren has been spending that money elsewhere. He’s still got another $20 million which he has barely touched, and I’d say Smoltz would’ve been a good option.

They lied to us, plain and simple. There was NO comparable offer. They may have had our support over Raffy, but not Smoltz.

This reminds me of another group of A-holes that lead the NY Mets back in the 70′s when they lost Tom Seaver – they thought he was being greedy (a-holes) – to the Reds. I gave up on the Mets then, I’m giving up on the A-hole-Braves now.

Goodbye Cable guy and Terry “the Quirk” , John Showboat-holtz, and Frank Wreck (what you’re doing to the team). A-holes forever!