I promised a post on Smoltzie's latest bold move-- to the bullpen!If you've been keeping up with the Braves, you'd know that it was only two starts ago that Smoltz made history by joining the 3,000 strike out club.
In his next start, he allowed 4 earned runs in 4 innings of work. It was definitely not the vintage Smoltz we're all used to seeing on the mound. In fact, I'm not sure he felt like himself either.
"I would have walked off the mound after the first inning if we hadn't been short on pitching," Smoltz said.
I knew Smoltz was being a "man" about it by pitching through a sore neck and shoulder. Honestly though, I had no idea it was as bad as he put it.
"I've been in a lot of pain. ... People say that I was lights out in those other starts. I was lights out for three innings and then gutted myself through the rest of those games," Smoltz said.
After gathering his thoughts while spending time on the DL, Smoltz made an announcement to the press that he plans to return as a reliever.
"I'm coming back as a reliever first and then we'll see what happens," Smoltz said during a late Wednesday afternoon telephone conversation. "I'm content with this."
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Now, I'm sure for the majority of you, this is not the first time you've heard of Smoltzie's breaking news. If you've been watching the Braves at all recently, then you've heard a bunch of different strategies that the commentators suggest would be effective with utilizing Smoltzie in the pen.
Here are my thoughts:
Right now, here's who we got going for us: (in no particular order)
Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tom Glavine, Jo Jo Reyes, Chuck James/Jeff Bennett
In all reality, it is likely that Bobby won't get no more than five, maybe six, strong innings out of Glavine, Reyes, and James/Bennett. And that may be a stretch in some respects.
With that said, why not make Smoltz a "utility" reliever. When the guys are only able to go four to six innings, bring Smoltz in to finish it off. Now, I understand that he couldn't do this on a regular basis. Heck, he is 40 years old!When Smoltz needs a day (or two), we always have Soriano (when he returns), Gonzalez(dido), Boyer, Ohman, Ring, Resop, etc.
If that idea doesn't work for you, then think about it like this:
Gonzalez in the 7th, Soriano in the 8th, and Smoltz to shut it down in the 9th. Cox could switch up the closer role as he sees fit.
We have options, folks. I'm beginning to like the idea of Smoltz going to the pen afterall. Unfortunately, he won't be here much longer, so why not get a taste of who can step up out of the young guys and potentially have a spot in next year's rotation?
6 comments:
Heck he is 40 years old! Phil Niekro had 121 career victories after the age of 40. He pitched until age 45, which is almost as old as I am. Now that school is out, I am looking for some more Braves blogs.
Your Uncle
I think it's a good move. It lowers the wear and tear on his arm, and we have just significantly upgraded at closer. If the rotation can handle the blow to losing its ace, then we will have a nice situation for when Gonzalez and Soriano come back. Keep it up Luke.
Uncle,
I think we can all agree that the Phil Niekro's and the Nolan Ryan's are exceptions...
James,
I guess we just have to keep our eyes on Jo Jo Reyes, Chuck James, and Jeff Bennett....
These guys have to keep stepping up in order for this move to be effective at all.
lets hear a post on what you think the braves will do with that money being freed up with hampton hopefully being gone.
i say...sign texiera, for sure. & really the only thing we lack now is pitching.
its kinda funny that at the start of the season we had this amazing rotation with smoltz, hudson, glavin & hampton. & now 3 out of 4 of those guys arent even playing.
actually, its not funny.. it kinda sucks.
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