Braves Spurned Again

Griffey Update
Still to this day, I can’t believe the Braves got Derek Lowe. After an off season filled with false hopes that were dashed because the Padres were being annoying or Rafael Furcal was toying with the Braves emotions or A.J. Burnett was making the right decision in going with the Yankees (give it a couple of months, I think in that case things will turn out well for the Bravos) I still cannot believe my eyes when I see Derek Lowe taking warm up pitches in a Braves uniform.

So to say that I am surprised that Ken Griffey, Jr. has decided to return to the Mariners would be wrong. I had a feeling in my gut that Junior would chose to go back home. I mean when you think about it, you can’t wrong a guy for wanting to end his career where it began. Isn’t that what Tom Glavine is doing (if that contract ever gets finalized)? Although it would have been nice to have Griffey roaming the outfield and have him mentor some of the young guys, it wasn’t meant to be.

Mike Hampton News
In other news, Mike Hampton was in the headlines earlier this week when he departed Astros camp to deal with an irregular heartbeat. He would be another person I am totally fine with spurning the Braves offer this offseason. Hampton returned to camp a few days later, apparently his heartbeat has worked itself out.

Quite frankly this latest incident just highlights his main problem - staying healthy - something the Braves suffered with for the better part of four seasons. Now Atlanta is suing the Hartford Life Insurance Company seeking $4.82 million for the time Mike Hampton spent on the disable list in 2008.

The policy was initially issued to the Colorado Rockies who signed Hampton in 2000 and was assigned to Atlanta in November 2002 when they acquired the south paw. The policy had an expiration date of October 1, 2005 with a provision that it would remain in effect if he was “totally disabled.” Well, Hampton’s health kept the policy in effect through the entirety of the 2006 and 2007 season. The Braves contend that the policy should have remained in effect through the first half of the 2008 season, because Hampton’s injuries prevented him from playing. However, Hartford Life Insurance is claiming that his injuries did not render him “totally disabled.”

News&Notes: Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal has a preview of the Braves and it’s a tad bit sunnier than my prediction, but he also had them winning the World Series in 2008...Chipper Jones and the Braves are discussing an extension. Jones is making $11 million this year. Wow, he's underpaid!
(Photo: AP)