KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves shrugged off criticism by reliever Tim Spooneybarger, who was traded during the offseason to the Florida Marlins.

	Spooneybarger

In an interview published Friday by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Spooneybarger criticized Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone for a conflict during the last road trip of the 2002 season.

Spooneybarger said "things just blew up'' when he showed up late for a game against the New York Mets, claiming he was sick. Mazzone, he said, accused him of lying to cover up a late night on the town.

"He called me out pretty much in front of everybody,'' Spooneybarger said. "He's like, 'Sick? Whatever. You were hung over. There's no way I'd want (you) pitching for me in the postseason.'''

Spooneybarger was left off Atlanta's postseason roster and wound up being dealt to Florida in the offseason for Mike Hampton.

Mazzone wouldn't comment specifically on Spooneybarger's criticism.

"Spooney is going to go down to Florida and pitch real well,'' the pitching coach said diplomatically. "I wish he was still pitching here.''

Manager Bobby Cox attributed Spooneybarger's tirade to "a very naive kid who really doesn't know what he's saying.''

Spooneybarger also took a shot at former Braves pitcher Tom Glavine, who signed with the New York Mets during the offseason.

"I don't think he cared for me too much, but I didn't care for him too much, either,'' Spooneybarger said. "That day I was sick, I found out from some other guys that (Glavine) was running his mouth, saying I was probably out drinking.''

Braves closer John Smoltz, who became the senior member of the team when Glavine left, recalled that Spooneybarger did cause quite a commotion in New York.

"Yeah, it was pretty late, and guys were concerned,'' Smoltz said. "You never want to give people a reason to question you for anything other than your performance.''

He attributed Spooneybarger's comments to a young, free-spirited pitcher who's still feeling angry about being traded for the first time in his career.

Smoltz pointed out that he was traded to the Braves early in his career.

"Sure, we gave up a great arm, but sometimes you've got to look at the trade,'' he said. "Look what happened to me.''