John Smoltz: The Little Engine That Could

John Smoltz isn't quite ready to hang up his cleats. Apparently, the St. Louis Cardinals don't believe he is, either.

The NL Central leaders signed the 42-year-old former ace on Wednesday, shortly after he was dismissed by the Boston Red Sox with a 2-5 record and 8.33 ERA over eight starts. The Cardinals are hoping Smoltz can fill the void as the fifth starter or maybe even move to the bullpen for some right-handed relief.

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Is John Smoltz's Career Over?

The Boston Red Sox have sent John Smoltz packing, a day after yet another early exit where the rival New York Yankees spanked him for eight runs on nine hits and four walks in just over three innings.

The struggling 42-year-old righty, who probably should have just retired as a long-time Atlanta Brave, will see within the next 10 days whether Boston trades, releases or sends him to the minors.

Smoltz, who was signed by Boston back in January, has put up some pretty ugly numbers for a guy who has led a Hall of Fame career. In eight starts with the Sox this year, he went 2-5 with a 8.32 ERA. Yikes.

[Boston Herald] | [With Leather] | [MLB Rumors]

Sox Shutting Down Smoltz. Still.

Boston Red Sox veteran John Smoltz, still recovering from June shoulder surgery, will avoid batting practice (again) this Thursday. In fact, he'll likely sit out of all baseball-related activities for the next week or so, according to manager Terry Francona.

The 41-year-old righty, who signed with the 14-7 Sox in January after 20 seasons with the Atlanta Braves -- we still don't get that -- is scheduled to rejoin the team on May 6th when they return home from a nine-game road trip. Maybe he'll even pitch for them someday.

Speaking of Boston, here's an awesome post from 27 Pitches on the douchery of Bill Simmons. Who doesn't love Mad Libs?

[Boston Herald] | [Dueling Couches] | [Full Count] | [The Joy of Sox]

John Smoltz: Don't Stop! Belieeeeevin!

At the tender age of 41, John Smoltz will undergo season-ending surgery on his ailing right shoulder, with little hope of returning to the mound in 2009.

"Sooner or later, our bodies are going to shut down," said 42-year-old teammate Tom Glavine. "But if there’s any way that John can put that off, he’s going to do it."

And Smoltz doesn't want to be done yet.

The Atlanta Braves veteran began his season on the DL, then pitched lights out in his first four starts. He lasted just four innings against the New York Mets on April 27th -- allowing seven hits and four runs -- in what might be the final start of his career.

[Walkoff Walk]

Say Goodbye to the Split-Finger Fastball

Veteran righty John Smoltz has returned to the Atlanta Braves pitching staff as a reliever, with the hopes that this move will help him cope with his sore pitching shoulder.

After landing on the DL not once, but twice this season, Smoltz will revisit the closer's spot to avoid a possible career-ending surgery and manager Bobby Cox will hand him the job if he proves effective.

He had 154 saves with the club during his stint as a closer from 2001-04 -- including a league-record 55 saves in 2002 -- though he's worked as a starter for most of his career. But now, as he's been forced to regroup and change the way he throws during his time rehabbing in the minors, he won't be able to use one of his most effective pitches: the split-finger fastball.

"I’m not afraid to experiment," said the 41-year-old Smoltz. "I’m going to have all kinds of deliveries and motions. There’s going to be nothing consistent about what I’m trying to do."

Manny Acosta, it's been real.

Update: He already has a blown save.

[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

John Smoltz DL'ed Again

Atlanta Braves veteran John Smoltz was placed on the 15-day disabled list again on Tuesday -- retroactive to Monday -- since continuing to feel discomfort in his pitching shoulder.

The 40-year-old righty, who began the season on the DL with tightness in the same shoulder, was diagnosed with a severely inflamed biceps tendon and inflammation of the rotator cuff, but will not need surgery.

Smoltz, whose shoulder has been a concern over the last two seasons, left his start against the New York Mets on Sunday after giving up four runs on seven hits over just four innings of the Braves' 6-3 loss.

He went 3-1 with an 0.78 ERA in his first four starts, recently becoming the 16th pitcher in the history of the game to reach 3,000 strikeouts.

[MLB]

The Newest Mr. 3000

Atlanta Braves future Hall of Famer John Smoltz had no trouble at all fanning his 3,000th batter Tuesday evening against the Washington Nationals.

Entering the game at 2,996, the 40-year-old righty got the hoopla over quickly. He recorded his milestone off Felipe Lopez on a swinging strike in the third, and then it went like this: fist pump, high five Brian McCann, acknowledge standing ovation, get on with the game. It literally took under a minute.

Smoltz (3-0, .086 ERA) marks the 16th pitcher in the history of the game to record 3,000 K's. He's the fifth active pitcher in the big leagues to conquer the feat, joining veterans Greg Maddux, Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson, and Pedro Martinez.

[Baseball Primer Newsblog]

It Was Like Old Times!

There may be some dust on John Smoltz, but the man has still got it.

Over five shutout innings against the Florida Marlins Thursday, the Atlanta Braves veteran righty struck out ten, paving the way for the 8-0 win. If you're awesome at math like me, you'll know that he averaged 2 K's per inning of work, which is pretty much out of control. That last fanning jacked his career total to 2,996 strikeouts -- the milestone is immanent.

Speaking of old school, Chipper Jones went 4-for-4 with two bombs and three RBIs, raising his batting average to .443. After driving in a run on a double in the first, he homered in the third, and knocked another one out with two gone in the fifth.

After Chipper's second longball, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann each hit solo shots of their own. Back-to-back-to-back home runs, in the span of 12 pitches. This marks Jones' 37th multi-homer game of his career.

Off to their worst start since 1990, this little pick-me-up may be just what Braves fans need to feel good about doing the Chop again.

Also, I do not approve of Chipper's at bat music this season.

[MLB]

Smoltz Passes Niekro

John Smoltz (10-6, 3.09 ERA) passed Phil Niekro to become the Atlanta Braves' all-time strikeout leader on Sunday, fanning Arizona's Mark Reynolds in the third inning for his 2,920th career strikeout and 142nd of the season.

The veteran 40-year-old righty came into Sunday just four K's behind the mark Niekro set with the Braves and Milwaukee Brewers. He got a big standing O from the Jake as the feat was announced, and tipped his cap to the fans as he made his was to the dugout.

[Corkscrew Swings]

John Smoltz to Skip All-Star Game

Atlanta Braves veteran John Smoltz will return home today to meet with team physicians concerning the discomfort in his pitching shoulder.

Unfortunately, this will force him to miss next Tuesday's Mid-Summer Classic along with Saturday's scheduled start against the San Diego Padres.

The 40-year-old right-hander, who has lost three of five starts since injuring his shoulder on May 29th, will use the All-Star break to his advantage, allowing for 12 days of rest between starts. He is expected to pitch again on July 17th at home against the Cincinnati Reds.

Smoltz (9-5, 3.07 ERA) is an eight-time All Star.

[Atlanta Journal-Constitution] | [Talking Chop]

John Smoltz Exits Early

Atlanta Braves right-hander John Smoltz was removed as a precautionary measure in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers last night after feeling a tweak in his pitching shoulder while warming up for the inning and re-injuring his pinkie finger.

Smoltz (7-1, 2.82 ERA) dislocated the finger on May 14th while making a tag on Washington's Austin Kearns.

After winning five of his previous six starts by pitching at least seven innings in each, Smoltz easily ran out a chopper that bounced off first baseman Prince Fielder's glove for a single. He broke his bat on the play and shook his hand, looking down at his fingers afterward.

The veteran threw 40 of his 58 pitches for strikes, but gave up eight hits and three runs. He was replaced by Oscar Villarreal and is considered day-to-day, as he will probably be just fine.

[Talking Chop]

John Smoltz Has Old Fingers

Right in the middle of Jason Bergmann's no-hit bid, the opposing Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz got caught up in a failed suicide squeeze play attempt (my favorite!).

With one out in the seventh, Smoltz tagged out Washington Nationals centerfielder Austin Kearns in a rundown after he was caught sneaking off third base on a botched Ryan Langerhans bunt. Kearns was running toward home plate and was about 20 feet away when Smoltz tagged him.

Immediately after applying the chest-level tag, Smoltz fell to the ground in pain. He then got up, checked out his hand and slammed his glove to the ground in a pissed off manor.

He left the field after being examined by a trainer, who discovered he had dislocated the pinky finger on his pitching hand. He is day-to-day.

[MLB.com] | [Talking Chop]

Smoltz Not Done Yet

John Smoltz may or may not have consulted with Randy Johnson, Rogers Clemens and maybe even Bob Wickman about a possible return next season. The outcome is that he is likely to spend his entire major league career with the Atlanta Braves after agreeing to a contract extension Thursday that could be worth $39 million clams.

Smoltz, who will turn the big 4-0 next month, will be back for a 20th major league season in 2008 with a deal that guarantees him about $14 million.

Opening Day For The Rest Of Us: NL

Speaking of the Mets, the Atlanta Braves' incredible run of 14 straight division titles ended last season with New York's takeover of the NL East. While the Braves think they have what it takes to return to the top, the Phillies believe they're ready to become the new team to beat in the NL East.

The new underdogs will face an optimistic Phillies club Monday in the teams' season opener.

After finishing third in the East last season - six games behind Philadelphia and 18 behind the New York - the Braves found themselves under .500 for the first time since 1990 - one season before their run of division championships began.

The Braves ranked second in the league with 849 runs and first with 222 homers in 2006 with a potent middle of the order in Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann. They lost Adam LaRoche, however, who hit 32 homers and drove in 90 runs, and last season's leadoff hitter, Marcus Giles.

Veteran righty John Smoltz, who turns 40 in May, will take the hill for Atlanta. He went 16-9 with a 3.49 ERA last season, leading the team in wins and (232) innings pitched.


The Phillies, meanwhile, haven't reached the playoffs since 1993, but have stayed in contention for the wild card until the final weekend of the last two seasons. They led the NL with 865 runs last season and ranked third with 216 home runs, so the goal is to duplicate that performance this year behind a lineup led by 58-homer-hitting Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and hard-hitting second baseman Chase Utley.

Philly upgraded its pitching to complement its powerful lineup, adding Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton to a rotation that includes Brett Myers, Cole Hamels and veteran lefty Jamie Moyer, a late-season acquisition from Seattle.

Myers, 12-7 with a 3.91 ERA last season, will get the start for Philadelphia in his first opening-day start. He's 4-5 with a 4.14 ERA in 16 starts against Atlanta and went 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in five outings against them last season.

[MLB]