Atlanta Braves Add Colon, Dickey; Backing Off the Ledge, Slowly

In the last two days, the Atlanta Braves have signed two starting pitchers over the age of 40. I was left less than impressed and utterly confused.

Not too long ago, I wrote about the Atlanta Braves and their blueprint for success. The Blueprint of Stan Kasten that, in essence, promoted patience and having faith in the process.

I should have followed my own preaching.

Still recovering from the announcement of R.A. Dickey, It took me a night for it to settle in.

Then, the very next day, Bartolo Colon is an Atlanta Brave. I was far from excited and very, very confused by this. My initial question was an in-the-moment, knee-jerk reaction.

How, if you are trying and telling people you want to improve the starting rotation, are you buying over age, past their prime starters?

The moves didn’t gel with everything we had seen to that point. Everything done had been in favor of youth and improving for the future.

I was missing the bigger picture. That bigger picture? A bridge to the youth. Essentially, what John Coppolella had just done was purchase insurance at a premium rate.

I let my passion for this team engulf me. My bias was showing. After I got a little educated by a few folks and did some of my own research, I was happy to welcome Colon to the fold.

Yes, Bartolo Colon is making more annually than he has since 2007, his last season with the Angels. He banked $16 million. His second year in New York, he reeled in $11 million.

However, what’s done is done. After a day of letting all this marinade, I’ve successfully backed completely away from the ledge.

After researching over three different sites and crunching numbers, I’m actually 100% behind this now. In fact, I’d be in favor of keeping longer than just this year; and perhaps, even Dickey as well.