There were critics, your correspondent not excluded. Even the bright spring never turned many heads. Who pays attention to who wins or who loses in March? Besides, just look at it, a third baseman doing on-the-job training at first base. Strikeout king Javier Vasquez traded to the Yankees for one of the many major league Cabreras, Melky by name. Kelly Johnson rejected and second base turned over to Martin Prado. Bullpen completely overhauled — some not by Braves choice — and we all know what kind of treachery that can bring on.
And, of course, there was the impending retirement of Bobby Cox, who leads the National League in a lot more than just umpirical relations. He said he thought it was just time to go, and if he held on to the autumn run, and it was a good one, he might change his mind.
Whoever could have seen this coming? Troy Glaus, to begin with.
Sure, he’s no golden glove around the bag. There are different plays to be made around that bag than the ol’ hot corner, but who’s checking defense? The word has just been dropped on us that Glaus is the National League Player of the month of May!
Whoopee!
A lot of us are eating crow now, present company included. Now, it’s not that Frank Wren raided K-Mart and came up with a big bargain.
Glaus was signed for $1.75-million, or thereabouts. There’s some fine print none of us were privy to. He draws a $2.5 million bonus if he’s still on the active roster after 100 days, and that’s a cinch. He gets another $2 million based on plate appearances, and at the present rate he’ll make it past 600, with 35 home runs, 100 runs batted in, a bargain at twice the price.
After Glaus, the Braves shopped around looking for some pieces that fit, Eric Hinske, for instance, a guy with a nose for October. He has had the right touch, a place on a team in each of the last three World Series. The pitching was there, as solid a cast of starters as gold bullion — Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson, Kris Medlen, a late bloomer, not to mention Kenshin Kawakami, who can do everything but get a decision. Bullpen stock always gets me cross-eyed, but this one is breezing right along with a couple of near-40s guys, Billy Wagner and Takahashi Saito.
Now, I haven’t even mentioned Jason Heyward, but he’s one who takes another step forward each day. Nothing flashy, a style that sort of flows along; but there’s more there to be closely inspected later. Just keep your eye on the vital statistics: home runs, runs batted in, moving runners forward, defense.
All those little things that make the difference at a crucial time.
But this is Glaus’ time, a guy just hanging around the free-agency market. Hadn’t really played in over a season, but for a few games in the twilight of the season past. He was recovering from arm surgery, and frankly, had fallen out of sight. Never had played more then seven games at first base. As much as anything else, he has helped restore critics’ confidence in Wren as a general manager. And there was much to be restored. Now, the Braves occupy first place in the NL East, and the game is now on. But I assure you, Bobby Cox is still retiring. But, I wouldn’t blame him if he changed his mind. Now.

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Furman Bisher is the dean of Georgia sportswriters and was sports editor and columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for nearly six decades. His column appears periodically in The Albany Herald.