The Braves assigned Javy Lopez to Richmond on Saturday, and obviously with a player that has been around as long as Lopez, there's a question as to whether or not he'll actually accept that assignment, because, you know, that means going to the minor leagues. And no one really likes to admit they can't cut it in the bigs anymore. So Javy did what any filthy rich, not-desperate-to-cling-on ball player would do -- he retired.'Javy had a great career with the Braves," [Braves GM Frank] Wren said. 'He put up some numbers that are going to be hard to ever beat, from the standpoint of offensive performance from the [catcher] position.
'He told me he really wants to retire as a Brave, said he thinks of himself as a Brave after spending the bulk of his career here. And that's how we think of him, too.'
Javy and the Braves organization might think of him as a lifetime Atlanta guy -- but he did have a monster career / potentially outlier year when he set the record for home runs by a catcher, and then roll to Baltimore for big cash. Not that anyone can really blame him, though. Brian McCann is clearly the future, so it's not shocking that the organization isn't willing to cut a check to Javy as a backup, especially if it's just for sentimental purposes.
All free agent jokes aside, Javy will always be remembered by Braves fans as a crucial piece to the group that won 14 straight division titles; as Chipper Jones said, "it's a sad day". And Chipper was dead on in pointing out that -- all this contrary to the big offensive numbers he put up -- it was Javy that caught those league leading pitchers for all those years.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-23-2008 @ 12:51AM
George B Vieto said...
Thank you Javy for your service to the Atlanta Braves. You will be sorely missed.
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3-31-2008 @ 9:02AM
James Herring said...
Well the Braves have gone and fineally did it. Every year they have to go and do something at the very start of the season that really pisses me off. Javey did the right thing by resiging before going back to the Minors. Good luck to you ,Javy-in all of your future endevors.
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3-31-2008 @ 4:09PM
Joann Turpen said...
This is truly a great loss. Javy is not only a great catcher, but he has a strong arm and tremendous batting ability.I'll miss you Javy!! You will always be my favorite baseball player. Good luck in all that you do.
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