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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that the Cardinals and pitcher John Smoltz have privately discussed their mutual desire for Smoltz to return next season. The Cardinals plan to use Smoltz as their number four if he comes back, and they will likely fill the fifth spot from within. |
Our View: It is sounding more and more like Smoltz will be back in the Gateway City in 2010, which could be a good thing for both sides. The Cards have come pitchers in the organization ready to fill the fifth spot, but the most likely candidate is Jaime Garcia. If the rotation ends up taking shape as listed above, they would be one of the best in baseball heading into next season.
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| John Smoltz has said that he would like to return to the St. Louis Cardinals next season if the situation is mutually agreeable, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Smoltz is 42 and he would likely continue to want to start. However, he may have more value on the free agent market as a reliever. He has not completely made up his mind yet, and if he does sign he will probably do so late.
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| MLB.com is reporting that Cardinal pitchers John Smoltz and Kyle Lohse will both be availale out of the bullpen for the first two games of the NLDS against the Dodgers. Manager Tony La Russa hasn't decided who will start Game 4 if it's necessary. |
Our View: The Cards will use Smoltz if they have a situation in which they need to get one or two right-handed hitters out, while Lohse will be more of a long guy if he comes out of the pen. The Game 4 starter might depend on who is used early in the series, but it still seems like Smoltz would have the edge.
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| John Smoltz had his worst night as a Cardinal on Wednesday, allowing six runs while walking five in just four innings, as St. Louis lost 6-1 in Cincinnati. |
Our View: It was the first time he had pitched fewer than five innings, or allowed more than four runs, in seven starts with the Cardinals.
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| John Smoltz was effective again on Wednesday night, allowing just two runs in six innings while striking out five, but still fell to 1-2 as a Cardinal, as St Louis lost 3-0 in Houston. |
Our View: His Cardinals ERA still remains a tidy 3.18 through 33 innings, however.
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| John Smoltz only issued two earned runs on six hits over six innings in Friday's 3-2 win over the Cubs at Busch Stadium. He had three walks with four strikeouts. |
Our View: The game was tied at 2-2 when Smoltz exited, so he unfortunately takes a no-decision rather than a win for his solid performance. He bounced back after allowing seven earned runs over his previous two starts this month.
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| According to the Twitter page of MLB.com's B.J. Rains, the Cardinals will start pitcher John Smoltz on Friday. Smoltz missed his scheduled start on Monday with shoulder tendinitis. |
Our View: It was originally believed that Smoltz wouldn't go until Sunday, so it is encouraging that he will pitch sooner than that. This injury doesn't appear to be anything to be concerned about, but Smoltz is 42 years old, so he is more susceptible to injury.
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| John Smoltz missed Monday's start against Florida due to shoulder tendinitis, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: The 42-year-old vet feels good enough to pitch, but was scratched as a precaution. Todd Wellemeyer started in his place tonight. Smoltz believes he will be ready to take the hill Sunday against the Cubs, but skipper Tony LaRussa did not set the rotation beyond their series with the Marlins.
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| MLB.com is reporting that Cardinals' starter John Smoltz is feeling much better and could throw a side session soon. Smoltz was scratched from his next start with shoulder tendinitis. |
Our View: Smoltz was hoping to only miss one start, and it looks like that will be the case. He should throw a side session soon, and he could start later this week.
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| John Smoltz has been scratched from Monday's start with a minor case of shoulder teninitis, according to the Twitter page of beat writer Matthew Leach. Smoltz is only expected to miss one start, and he will be replaced by Todd Wellemeyer on Monday. |
Our View: This doesn't sound like anything to be worried about, but any injury to Smoltz has to be a concern. He is expected to make his next start, but don't be shocked if the team starts to transition him to the bullpen.
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| John Smoltz allowed three runs in a rocky first two innings on Tuesday night, but settled down, allowing zero in the next three frames, taking a no-decision as the Cardinals rallied for a 4-3 win in Milwaukee. |
Our View: He also struck out seven, bringing his total to an impressive 28 in his first 22 innings in St. Louis.
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| According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals' pitcher John Smoltz will remain in the rotation for the rest of the regular season. With the return of Kyle Lohse, the team will move Mitchell Boggs to the bullpen. |
Our View: The Cards haven't decided what role Smoltz will fill in the postseason, but it will probably depend on how Lohse performs for the rest of the month. If the team feels comfortable with Lohse in the rotation, Smoltz will probably move to the bullpen and take over as the setup man. If not, Smoltz could be the team's fourth starter in the playoffs. Regardless, Smoltz looks like a pretty solid fantasy play over the final month of the season.
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| John Smoltz was hit with his first loss as a Cardinal on Thursday as his team fell to the Brewers' 4-3. Smoltz went six innings and allowed four runs on six hits while striking out six and not walking a batter. |
Our View: Smoltz looked like he started to run out of gas in the sixth inning, as he allowed three runs to give up the Cards' 2-1 lead. Smoltz still managed to strike out six in the game, and overall he still looked like a legit fantasy option.
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| The John Smoltz reclamation tour rolled on Friday night, as the future Hall-of-Famer struck out six Nats in six innings, while allowing just one run, as the Cardinals won 3-2 at home. |
Our View: Smotlz now has a 0.82 ERA through his first two Cardinal starts this season - a smidgen better than the 6.00 ERA he posted through his first two Red Sox starts.
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| According to MLB.com, the Cardinals think that John Smoltz may have been tipping his pitches while he was in Boston. Smoltz made some mechanical adjustments before his start against the Padres on Sunday, and he allowed only three hits and struck out nine in five innings. |
Our View: It would make sense that Smoltz was tipping pitches since he was hit so much harder the second and third times through the lineup, but the fact that he was facing the AL East could have also had something to do with it. Smoltz looked outstanding yesterday, but you should contain your excitement and expectations until he faces a team that isn't the equivalent of a Triple-A squad.
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| John Smoltz only issued three hits over five scoreless innings in Sunday's 5-2 win at San Diego. He had no walks and fired nine strikeouts. |
Our View: Smoltz looked good in his debut with the Cardinals, and is worth consideration in NL-only leagues for his next turn in their rotation. He did not work out in Boston, but is already benefiting from a return to the NL.
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| Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said that John Smoltz would likely get the start Sunday in San Diego and "probably would get at least a few turns in the rotation," according to the AP. Mozeliak also added that Smoltz didn't ask to start as a negotiating ploy. "He had very little demands," Mozeliak said. "He had no demands. From everything he had heard about this club, he was excited to take this opportunity. The reason for the start was just to get him work and know what we have." |
Our View: The Cards' plan seems to be to use Smoltz as the No. 5 starter, giving him 5-6 starts before likely moving him into a setup role once the postseason begins. Smoltz was knocked around in Boston, but he had good peripherals and a return to the NL could do wonders.
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| Updating an earlier report, John Smoltz has now officially signed a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He will start for the team, and make a prorated amount of the veteran's minimum salary. |
Our View: Who knows if he will start the whole rest of the season for the club (the team reportedly originally wanted him for their bullpen), but he is getting another shot after going 2-5 with a 8.33 ERA in Boston. A return to the National League could rejuvenate him (like another player now tearing the cover off the ball for the Cardinals), but wait at least one start before you consider adding him to your team in non NL-only leagues.
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| According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss, John Smoltz will sign with the the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday barring an unforeseen waiver claim. |
Our View: Smoltz will not be joining the team to serve as a setup man to closer Ryan Franklin, as believed earlier, but instead as their fifth starter. Maybe he will benefit from a return to the National League, but in eight starts for the Red Sox this season the future Hall-of-Famer was 2-5 with a 8.33 ERA, and can't be considered a good option right now.
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| ESPN.com reports that John Smoltz is "strongly leaning towards" signing with the St. Louis Cardinals. |
Our View: Smoltz told friends that he will make a decision on Wednesday when he officially becomes a free agent, and all indications are that he will sign with the Cardinals. He is a risk free option for the Birds and could be a valuable addition not only as a fifth starter and right arm in relief, but as a mentor (with loads of playoffs experience) for the Cardinals young arms. The Rangers, Dodgers and Marlins are considered interested, but not at the top of Smoltz's list.
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| Updating a previous report, the Cardinals have serious interest in future Hall of Famer and Red Sox cast off John Smoltz, according to Todd Zolecki on Twitter. The Philles have claimed they are not at all interested. |
Our View: The Cards would use Smoltz in the fifth starter role (which they would only need a few more times this season) to take over for the struggling Todd Wellemeyer. Smoltz would likely be available in relief on other days to help shore up the right side of the Cards bullpen.
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| According to the Twitter page of Cardinals' beat writer Joe Strauss, the team has been working on an arrangement where John Smoltz would be signed as the team's fifth starter. The Cardinals are believed to be the front-runner for Smoltz's services. |
Our View: The Cards will only need a fifth starter a few more times the rest of the season because of off-days, so under this theory Smoltz would pitch those days and be available out of the bullpen for the rest of the time. The Cardinals are emerging as the heavy favorite for Smoltz, and there could be a decision as soon as today by the veteran pitcher on his plans for the rest of the season.
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| The Braves are not interested in bringing back John Smoltz after being released by the Red Sox, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. GM Frank Wren said, "With the anticipated addition of Tim Hudson in the near future, we have not pursued John Smoltz." |
Our View: The Dodgers, Marlins, Cardinals and Rangers are all believed to be interested in Smoltz, and the future Hall of Famer could be had for the pro-rated league minumum.
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| Updating a previous report, FoxSports.com is reporting that the Red Sox have officially released pitcher John Smoltz. Smoltz is now a free agent and can sign with any team in the majors. |
Our View: There have been four teams mentioned at the top of the list of suitors for Smoltz, and he would be a good fit with any of them. The Cardinals, Dodgers, Rangers, and Marlins are all interested, so it will be up to Smoltz as to where he wants to go.
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| According to SI.com, the Boston Red Sox may release pitcher John Smoltz on Monday. The team is having trouble finding a trade partner due to roster bonuses, and Monday is the deadline by which a move must be made. |
Our View: It is starting to sound like Smoltz may be getting released, as no one is biting on a trade at this point. The teams being mentioned as interested continue to include the Dodgers, Cardinals, Marlins, and Rangers, so look for one of those teams to be Smoltz's final destination.
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| John Smoltz does not intend to retire, and is open to joining a club as either a starter or reliever, according to Fox Sports. |
Our View: The Red Sox have until Monday to trade Smotlz, who they designated for assignment last Friday, but might have trouble doing so because of the money remaining on his $5.5 million contract. It's more likely that they will have to swallow the money, allowing him to become a free agent. The Dodgers, Cardinals, Marlins and Rangers are all in need of pitching help and have all expressed interest.
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| The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting that the Marlins have thrown their hat in the ring as a potential suitor for the recently designated John Smoltz. The Marlins are in need of a fifth starter, and Smoltz has a good relationship with Marlines' manager Fredi Gonzalez from their time in Atlanta. |
Our View: Florida actually seems like a really good fit for Smoltz. He would be returning to the NL East, the division he has played in for his entire career, and he would be an upgrade over the bevy of pitchers the Marlins have been using for their fifth spot. It remains to be seen if the team will pursue, but look for them to be in the mix.
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| According to the Providence Journal, John Smoltz has told the Red Sox that he won't pitch for them out of the bullpen. |
Our View: This should effectively end Smoltz's brief tenure in Bean Town. The Red Sox have until Sunday to figure out what to do with him, but he'll almost certainly be traded. The Cardinals have already expressed interest.
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| According to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has expressed interest in bringing John Smoltz aboard as a reliever. |
Our View: As a reliever is probably how most teams value Smoltz at this point, since his stuff is still decent and he has proven capable of putting together good innings, just not five or six in a row.
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| FoxSports.com is reporting that starting pitcher John Smoltz has refused an assignment to Triple-A from the Red Sox. The team will now have to either trade or release him. |
Our View: The Sox will try to work out a trade to get some relief from his contract, but if not then they will have to give him his release. It seems likely that he could pitch in the league again this year, as a few teams such as the Dodgers and Cardinals, have expressed at least a little interest.
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| John Smoltz has cleared waivers, according to MLB.com. The Red Sox have to either trade him, release him, or send him to the minors by Sunday. |
Our View: There has been no definitive word from Smoltz on his future plans, but it would seem like he would keep pitching if he gets traded and gets another opportunity to start. No matter where he goes, he should not be viewed as any kind of fantasy option after his performance in Boston.
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| The Rangers may consider acquiring John Smoltz, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Smoltz appears more likely to keep playing after his release than his ex-teammate Tom Glavine, and with many contending teams thin on pitching, like the Rangers and Dodgers, expect him to end up starting somewhere relatively soon.
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| John Smoltz isn't likely to reunite with the Braves, according to MLBlogs.com. |
Our View: There is some speculation that Smotltz might not come back and finish the season as a reliever, but he would apparently be most likely to do that in the Red Sox organization. Stay tuned.
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| According to the Twitter page of Red Sox beat writer Amalie Benjamin, the team has designated pitcher John Smoltz for assignment. |
Our View: This move shouldn't be a surprise considering the way Smoltz has pitched this season, but it's still the great John Smoltz getting DFA'd. When we get more info, we will pass it on, but it looks like Smoltz may be done.
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| John Smoltz got lit up again on Thursday, this time by the hated Yankees as the Red Sox fell by a score of 13-6. Smoltz went 3.1 innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits while walking four and striking out three. |
Our View: The Sox can't possibly keep throwing Smoltz out there every five days, because right now he is not capable of pitching well enough to keep them in games. His ERA is at 8.32, so no need to wait for the Sox to make a move before you get rid of him.
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| John Smoltz gave up five earned runs on eight hits over six innings in Friday's 6-5 win at Baltimore. He had no walks and two strikeouts, and allowed two homers. |
Our View: Smoltz did not pitch well tonight, but the Sox provided enough run support for him to collect his second win of the season. He snapped a two-game losing streak, and now has 212 career wins.
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| According to an "AL rival" in a New York Post story, John Smoltz has "nothing" left. |
Our View: He was also quoted as saying "I hope they run him out there for another 3-4 starts." It is indisputable that Smoltz has not been good in his six starts, but he has struck out at least five batters in five of them, and with his pedigree, it's still possible he could turn things around. If not, it just hasn't been a good year for future Hall-of-Fame players who played in Atlanta in their prime.
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| John Smoltz got roughed up again on Sunday as the Red Sox fell to the Orioles by a score of 6-2. Smoltz lasted only five innings and allowed six runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out six. He is now 1-4 on the season. |
Our View: Smoltz has not been good since he entered the rotation for the Sox, and his ERA is at 7.04. Fantasy owners who waited for Smoltz have to be disappointed at this point, but it may not be time to give up on him just yet. Manager Terry Francona still thinks Smoltz is getting used to pitching again, but fantasy owners may not be able to wait for him. If you can find another option, it might be a good idea. If you want to stick with him, you should probably play the matchups until he starts producing.
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| John Smoltz got roughed up by Texas on Monday, dropping to 1-3 after giving up six runs off nine hits with zero walks and five strikeouts in 5.2 innings. |
Our View: Smoltz has alternated good start and bad start in each of his five outings with the Red Sox thus far. He could be good for spot starts going forward, but clearly Smoltz is not close to the dominant performer he once was.
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| John Smoltz only issued one earned run on four hits over five innings in Saturday's 15-9 win over the Royals at Fenway Park. He had one walk and racked up seven strikeouts. |
Our View: Smoltz collected his first win as a member of the Red Sox for his solid performance. He bounced back well after giving up five runs over six innings in his last outing against Oakland, and Smoltz is worth consideration in deeper fantasy leagues for his next battle from the bump.
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| John Smoltz was roughed up for five earned runs on 10 hits over six innings in Monday's 6-0 loss to the Athletics at Fenway Park. He had one walk and three strikeouts. |
Our View: Smoltz remains winless over three starts with Boston, and gave up five runs twice over the span. He should only be considered in deeper fantasy leagues for his next trip to the mound.
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| John Smoltz issued one earned run on three hits over four innings in Tuesday's 11-10 loss at Baltimore. He had one walk and two strikeouts. |
Our View: He pitched pretty well in his short outing, and is encouraging as he is coming off shoulder surgery. He should remain held out of fantasy lineups until he can pitch deeper into a game though.
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| John Smoltz struggled in his debut with the Red Sox tonight, as he was rocked for five earned runs on seven hits over five innings in a 9-3 loss at Washington. He had one walk and five strikeouts. |
Our View: He gave up five runs, but his low walk total and five strikeouts are encouraging. He was making his first start since rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Smoltz should remain held out of fantasy lineups until he proves to be effective.
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| John Smoltz has been activated by the Sox following his rehab from shoulder surgery, according to TSN. Catcher Dusty Brown was sent down to Triple-A Pawtucket as the adjoining move. |
Our View: Smoltz is slated to make his first start with the Sox tonight at Washington (20-49). He has a favorable match-up, but will be a risky fantasy option.
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| The AP reports that John Smoltz allowed only one run in four innings in his final rehab start on Wednesday. He allowed three hits and a walk while striking out two in Triple-A the appearance. |
Our View: Smoltz will make his first start for the Red Sox next Thursday. Boston has noted that they will feature a six-man rotation until they can move one of their starters.
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| According to Red Sox blog Bornintoit.com, the team has officially announced that John Smoltz's first start will be Thursday, June 25th against the Washington Nationals. |
Our View: Smoltz will have one more rehab start today and then will be set to make his much anticipated Red Sox debut. Still no word on who will be shipped out in the corresponding roster move.
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| The Boston Globe is reporting that starting pitcher John Smoltz has indicated that his first start with the team will take place either next Tuesday or Wednesday. Smoltz said he plans to make one more minor league rehab start, and then the team will decide which day to start him. |
Our View: Smoltz seemed fairly certain that he would pitch on one of those two days, so anyone who has stashed him on their team should stay tuned for updates. If he is still a free agent in your league, it may be worth your time to give him a look at this point since his debut is only a week away.
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| John Smoltz said he could see himself pitching "well beyond" 2009 according to WEEI.com. |
Our View: Smoltz might want to consider getting part of 2009 under his belt before making such a proclamation, but with the talent and longevity he has displayed to this point, it is certainly possible that he could. If not already owned in your league, he's probably worth taking a flier on.
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| John Smoltz threw six innings in his fifth rehab start Friday with Triple-A Pawtucket, according to the Associated Press. He gave up four runs and six hits, with six strikeouts and one walk. |
Our View: He threw 70 pitches, 56 landing for strikes. This was believed to be his last rehab outing, and his next step is expected to be discussed with Boston skipper Terry Francona. It is yet to be determined if Smoltz will work in the rotation or bullpen with the Sox.
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| John Smoltz's rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket was rained out tonight, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Smoltz will now take the hill Friday, after which his next move will be discussed with skipper Terry Francona. It remains to be determined if Smoltz will work in the rotation or out of the bullpen with the Sox, and shall remain stashed in AL-only leagues.
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| The Boston Globe reports that John Smoltz will make his final rehab start on Thursday at Triple-A Pawtucket. He will not have a pitch count. |
Our View: Smoltz has yet to pitch this season, but he has looked good throughout his rehab. The Red Sox have discussed using a six-man rotation, but nothing is imminent. They have also talked about skipping some of Smoltz's regular turns through the rotation. We still expect him to make at least one start per week and he has always been an effective fantasy hurler when healthy.
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| WEEI.com is reporting that the Red Sox may ask John Smoltz to skip some starts this season after he returns to the rotation. "I want to be ready every five days. We talked about it, there may be a time where I have to miss a start," Smoltz said. |
Our View: Smoltz is a competitor, so he would like to be out there every fifth day. He is also smart, and he understands that the Sox have a deep rotation and they may need to skip him depending on how their schedule falls. This won't happen more than a few times this season, so those of you who have picked up Smoltz shouldn't be concerned,
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| John Smoltz picked up a win in his rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, allowing only one run on one hit in six innings. |
Our View: Smoltz has a 1.50 ERA in his four minor league starts, and he should be joining Boston very soon.
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| John Smoltz's rehab outing with Triple-A Pawtucket was rained out Friday, according to WEEI.com. He has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery. |
Our View: He will now pitch Saturday. It will mark his fourth rehab start. Barring a setback, he could be activated by the Red Sox in mid-June.
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| John Smoltz will make his fourth rehab start of the season Friday at Triple-A Pawtucket reports the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Smotlz has looked good so far in his rehab starts, and if everything goes normal he is scheduled to make a fifth and potentially final one for Pawtucket next Thursday. If both go well, it is believed he could join the Sox on June 16.
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| The Greenville News is reporting that John Smoltz mentioned June 16 as the possible day he will make his Red Sox debut this season. Smoltz is expected to make two more rehab starts in Triple-A before joining the team in Boston. |
Our View: Reports on Smoltz have been positive, so it looks like June 16 is very realistic. The Red Sox play Smoltz' former team, the Braves, in the following series and Smoltz has said that he does not want to pitch against Atlanta in his first game. Those of you looking to stash him now have a better idea when he will be here, so make your moves accordingly.
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| According to the Boston Herald, John Smoltz looked very good in his rehab start in Single-A on Sunday. Smoltz went five innings and allowed one run on four hits and he retired the final seven batters he face, the last three of those by way of the strikeout. |
Our View: Smoltz said he felt strong in the fifth inning, which is a good sign considering this was his longest outing to date. He is not expected back for a few weeks, but he could be worth stashing at this point if you feel strongly that he will be effective upon his return.
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| The Boston Globe is reporting that John Smoltz will only need three more minor league rehab starts before he makes his return to Boston. Smoltz threw 60 pitches in Tuesday's rehab game, and he says he feels like he is almost ready to go. |
Our View: No word yet as to whether or not Smoltz will be in the bullpen or in the rotation. If he joins the rotation, he could have some fantasy value. If not, he is probably not worth owning.
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| John Smoltz, who is recovering from right shoulder surgery, is set to make his second rehab start today, according to the Boston Globe. He will work with Double-A Portland, and is slated to throw around 50 pitches and three innings. |
Our View: He is on pace to return to the Red Sox next month, but it is yet to be determined if he will serve in the rotation or the bullpen. He should remain stashed on rosters in deeper fantasy leagues.
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| John Smoltz, who is rehabbing from right shoulder surgery, is slated to pitch with Single-A Greenville Thursday, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: He will throw around 50 pitches. Barring a setback, he could join the Red Sox in about a month.
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| Updating a previous report, John Smoltz's extended spring training session on Friday went off without a hitch, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: In an attempt to recover from last year's shoulder surgery, Smoltz is expected to increase his pitch count and throw three innings in another extended spring training start on Wednesday.
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| John Smoltz threw a side session Tuesday, and is slated to throw a few innings in extended spring training Friday, according to the Boston Globe. He has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery. |
Our View: His next step after the extended spring outing is undecided, and will depend on how he feels. Smoltz felt good after Tuesday's session.
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| John Smoltz threw from 60 feet prior to Wednesday's game against Cleveland, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Smoltz believes that he could make his Boston debut in mid-June, but skipper Terry Francona is not sure of that estimate. Francona wants him to be strong and have a chance to pitch, and does not put much stock into setting a timetable.
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| John Smoltz pushed back his projected return to Boston to mid-June, according to the Boston Globe. His previous target date was June 1 while rehabbing from shoulder surgery. He suffered a setback during extended spring training and Smoltz said, "I have been throwing a baseball for so long, I know when I am sharp. And I was just a little bit off."
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Our View: Smoltz remains positive, and noted that his stuff has been fantastic. Smoltz should remain stashed on rosters in deeper AL-only leagues.
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| MLB.com reports that the Red Sox have pushed John Smoltz's rehab from shoulder surgery back one week. He was supposed to throw off of a mound on Thursday, but the team will rest him in hopes that he rebuilds some arm strength. |
Our View: Smoltz hopes to be back in June, but at this point anything could happen. The Red Sox do not have an immediate need for him so expect them to be patient with his rehab.
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| John Smoltz (shoulder) threw to hitters for the first time on Saturday at extended spring training, according to the Red Sox Official Website. The reports were positive. "He did well," said manager Terry Francona. "I spoke to him after that, and we're probably going to keep him in Florida and let him do his next [turn] facing hitters five days from today." |
Our View: Smoltz continues his steady progress in his attempt to return to the mound for the Red Sox by June first. Nothing has occurred to make that timetable unfeasible.
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| John Smoltz will throw a bullpen session today and another on Saturday, according to the Boston Herald. He is rehabbing from right shoulder surgery. |
Our View: Smoltz seemingly remains on pace to return to Boston around late-May. He could pitch in the rotation upon his return, and is worth stashing in AL-only leagues.
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| John Smoltz, who continues to rehab from right shoulder surgery, threw 20 pitches in a bullpen session on Saturday, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: Smoltz complained that his mechanics weren't exactly where he wanted them to be, although he's been known to be overly hard on himself in the past. He's expected to take one more bullpen session in the upcoming days before getting assigned to the first minor league game of this rehabilitation process.
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| John Smoltz, who is rehabbing from right shoulder surgery, is slated to throw a bullpen session Saturday, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: If he fares well during the session, he could progress to playing in live games five days later. He seemingly remains on pace to return at some point in May.
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| John Smoltz is expected to throw Wednesday in Oakland before going to extended spring training, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: The Red Sox are hoping to have Smoltz sometime in May.
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| John Smoltz, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, will be ready to face batters soon, according to the Boston Globe. Manager Terry Francona said, "He is doing very well. Champing at the bit. He should be, the way he is throwing. He should be excited." |
Our View: Barring a setback, Smoltz could return to Boston by mid-May. The future Hall of Famer is worth stashing for AL-only leagues.
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| John Smoltz has been placed on the 15-day DL by the Red Sox, according to SLAM Sports. He is rehabbing from shoulder surgery. |
Our View: Smoltz is on target to return to the Sox by mid-May, and is worth stashing as a flier for AL-only leagues.
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| John Smoltz, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, threw 46 pitches during a bullpen session today, according to the Providence Journal. He had no issues with his shoulder. |
Our View: Smoltz remains on pace to return to the majors by mid-May. He is worth targeting as a flier for AL-only leagues.
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| John Smoltz threw his second bullpen session of the past four days on Saturday morning and again felt great during and afterward, according to the Providence Journal. |
Our View: Smoltz's rehab from shoulder surgery continues to go well and he's currently targeting a return to big league action by mid-May, much sooner than it was originally expected. He's definitely worth a late-round flyer in AL-only leagues and possibly deeper mixed leagues, especially if you have a DL spot or two available at your disposal.
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| John Smoltz, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, threw 40 pitches (all fastballs) off a mound this morning, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: It marked his first official side session of the spring. The club has been encouraged by his progress, and he will throw another side session Saturday. Barring a setback, he will have a shot to join the rotation in the middle of May.
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| John Smoltz, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, is scheduled for his first bullpen session Wednesday, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Smoltz is not expected to take the hill in a game until at least late May, but he is worth stashing as a late-round flier.
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| John Smoltz remains on schedule in his rehab from shoulder surgery, and he is around a week away from throwing his first bullpen session, according to the Boston Globe. Smoltz said, "When I look back, I am going to look back and go, 'Everything was great. When you are going through it, there are days when you get frustrated, whether you are 100 percent healthy or not."
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Our View: Smoltz is not expected to pitch in a game until at least late May, and it is yet to be determined if he will work as a starter or as a reliever. He is a wait-and-see fantasy prospect, but is still worth a look as a late-round flier.
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| John Smoltz is getting closer to throwing from a mound for the first time this spring, according to the Boston Globe. Skipper Terry Francona noted that Smoltz was nine days away on Monday, and he added, "He is doing well. He is ready to go. He is chomping at the bit, and I actually think he is ready." Smoltz is rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
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Our View: Smoltz is progressing well, but is still not expected to be ready to pitch in a game until at least late May. His role is yet to be determined, but he is worth a look as a late-round flier to stash.
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| John Smoltz remains on schedule while rehabbing from shoulder surgery, according to the Boston Globe. He will throw his first bullpen session in 12 days, and skipper Terry Francona said, "I think Smoltzie has done a great job of being around in a camp where, you know, he is kind of flying under the radar." |
Our View: This is encouraging news, but he is still not expected to be ready for the start of the season. His role is yet to be determined, and he is a wait-and-see fantasy prospect for 2009.
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| John Smoltz has been sharp in early drills with the Red Sox, according to the Boston Globe. Skipper Terry Francona said, "It is going to be fun to watch him go through our camp. You saw him out there doing the shuttle run. That is impressive. That is not easy to do - I do not care how old you are - and I think it sends a great message to the other pitchers, which we appreciate."
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Our View: The 41-year-old is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, and is not expected to take the hill until at least June. It is uncertain what his role will be at that point, and he is a wait-and-see fantasy prospect for 2009.
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| According to the Providence Journal, the Red Sox have a very detailed plan for right-hander John Smoltz. The team's outline calls for Smoltz to refrain from taking to a mound until the end of March, and he won't pitch in a regular season game until at least June. "My timetable is a lot faster than most," Smoltz said. "But they don't want me to think about anything other than June. So sometime in June I need to be as strong as I possibly can for down the stretch." |
Our View: Smoltz is recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent while with Atlanta last season. If he returns in June, he will have had 12 months of rehab, and Smoltz said even if he feels fine in April or May, he still won't be allowed to return.
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| John Smoltz is playing catch with a football and the Providence Journal states he looks good and in shape. |
Our View: Smoltz still won't be able to pitch until at least June while recovering from shoulder surgery.
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| John Smoltz will be introduced by the Red Sox on Tuesday, according to the Providence Journal. |
Our View: Smoltz has spent his entire major league career with the Braves until this point, serving primarily as a starter but he also had success closing. He will start for Boston who obviously already has an established closer in Jonathan Papelbon.
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| John Smoltz has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Red Sox, according to the Sports Network. It is believed to be worth $5.5 million and could reach $10 million in incentives. |
Our View: He made great progress in his recovery from shoulder surgery, but still won't be able to pitch until at least June. Boston's rotation already has Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield and Brad Penny.
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| MLB.com reports that John Smoltz is expected to sign with the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. The 41-year-old is expected to inform the Atlanta Braves of his decision that morning. He will be guaranteed $5.5 million and could make as much as $10 million if he reaches certain performance marks. Due to his shoulder surgery, the Red Sox don't expect him ready for action until June 1. |
Our View: Smoltz has been a dominant starter and closer in his career and has a career ERA of 3.26. He has a record of 210-147 to go with 154 career saves. In his six appearances in 2008, he posted a 2.57 ERA and struck out 36 batters in 28 innings.
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| The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox and John Smoltz are trying to work out an agreement. Smoltz is recovering from shoulder surgery that cut his last season short and he will probably not be able to play until May. The deal is said to be a one-year $5.5 million deal. |
Our View: Smoltz, 41, is a certain Hall-of-Famer who was still looking sharp before he went down last season. In his six appearances, he posted a 2.57 ERA and struck out 36 batters in 28 innings.
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| The Cardinals inquired about free agent John Smoltz, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: At least seven MLB clubs have reportedly displayed interest in Smoltz, including the Tigers. The Cardinals could use the veteran right-hander in both the rotation and the bullpen, yet it's unclear how the Cards view him.
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| The Boston Globe reports John Smoltz is interested in pitching for Boston. The team is currently reviewing his medical reports and video side session. |
Our View: Smoltz would be an interesting fifth starter at the end of Boston's starting rotation.
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| MLB.com reports that at least seven teams have expressed interest in John Smoltz. |
Our View: Smoltz is coming off a major surgery but that has not deterred his potential suitors. The Tigers, Red Sox, Mets and Braves are among the teams that are interested.
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| John Smoltz has displayed interest in pitching for the Tigers, according to the Detroit News. the Tigers have been interested in his medical reports and would consider an incentive-laden contract that doctors are suggesting Smoltz can consider as he prepares for a possible comeback early in the 2009 campaign.
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Our View: The 41-year-old would like to return to the club that signed him and then traded him in 1987. If he can bounce back favorably, Smoltz would help fill a need in a thin Tigers' bullpen. He was born in Warren, Michigan, and Detroit would be a good place for him to finish his career.
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| Peter Gammons of ESPN reports that John Smoltz would be a good fit for the Red Sox and the club has received his medical records and videos. |
Our View: Smoltz wants to come back for another tour of duty in the majors, and would be chasing a ring if he landed in Boston before he hangs up his cleats at Cooperstown.
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| John Smoltz's agents are circulating a video of him pitching as well as his recent medical reports in an attempt to stir up interest in their client, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. |
Our View: Smoltz had to have season-ending shoulder surgery last June, but would like to continue his career. If he can stay healthy he could be a bargain for a team with a hole in the back of their rotation.
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| Braves pitcher John Smoltz threw off a mound on Friday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. It was the first time he had done so since his shoulder surgery in June. For his part, Braves manager Bobby Cox was impressed, saying, “It was just a terrific performance for the first time, after undergoing what he did." |
Our View: Smoltz will likely be back at some point this year, and he isn't sure what role he will return to, as the Braves (if he re-signs there) have said they can imagine using him as a starter or reliever.
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| John Smoltz won't be offered salary arbitration by the Braves, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The club still hopes to re-sign the 41-year-old hurler, but won't know if he'll be able to pitch again until he begins to throw in mid-to-late December, which why they won't take the risk of offering him arbitration.
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| The Sports Network reports that John Smoltz filed for free agency on Friday. The 20-season veteran Smoltz has spent his entire career with the Braves, starting in 1988. He appeared in only six games this past season before undergoing shoulder surgery. |
Our View: It appears that Smoltz will indeed attempt to comeback and he could return to a closer's role again as he seeks to keep his shoulder healthy. His agent had hinted earlier this week that he may wait until midseason to sign a deal.
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| John Smoltz's agent claimed Smoltz may pull a Roger Clemens and wait until mid-season to return, but if you ask Smoltz, he never said any such thing, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "I know nothing about it," Smoltz replied. “It’s news to me." |
Our View: Smoltz is still hopeful that he will be able to work his way back from June shoulder surgery to pitch at the start of the 2009 season, but at this point his return to the hill is still a bit of a stretch though all the early reports have been positive.
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| John Smoltz's jersey worn while recording his 3,000th career strikeout is being sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: The jersey will be part of a "Today's Game" exhibit. The spikes used by Derek Jeter when he set the record for most hits at Yankee Stadium while be among other items on display as well.
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| The Atlanta Braves believe both Tom Glavine and John Smoltz will be healthy come spring training, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I think in both cases [for Smoltz and Glavine], they’re ready for spring training. We won’t know for sure until they increase the intensity on their throwing programs later in the winter, but I think both of them are on track to be ready," said Braves GM Frank Wren. |
Our View: Smoltz had his shoulder repaired with surgery, and Glavine had both shoulder and elbow surgeries this season. The team would like to bring both back, but counting on them - along with Mike Hampton - to be healthy all season is a dangerous proposition.
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| John Smoltz said he received good news from his checkup with the doctor on his surgically repaired shoulder, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Everything went great,” Smoltz said. “We are stepping up the program.” |
Our View: Smoltz won't attempt to throw until October, but it should be clear by the end of that month if he will be able to give it a go in 2009. Here's to wishing that he has at least one more season left in his right arm.
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| John Smoltz is keeping his options open and is considering possibly playing for another team in 2009 (if he actually does return), according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Smoltz stated he is 100 percent committed to the Braves, but added that the team cannot be his only option, and believes he may not be in their plans. |
Our View: It was previously reported that Smoltz was close to inking a deal to work as an on-air analyst for TBS.
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| Reports indicate Turner Broadcasting is close to signing injured Braves hurler John Smoltz to come in and work as an on-air analyst during the playoffs this fall, according to the SportsBusiness Daily. |
Our View: Terms of the potential deal have not been disclosed, but it sound like baseball fans could enjoy Smoltz's insights on TBS as the playoffs take form.
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| Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz will travel with teammate Tim Hudson to Alabama on Wednesday to have his arm's progress examined by Dr. James Andrews, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: Smoltz is still out for the season of course, and this is more about whether or not he will pitch in 2009.
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| John Smoltz has been transferred to the 60-day DL, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: Smoltz is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, and the transfer frees up a spot on the 40-man roster.
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| MLB.com lets us know that John Smoltz has had a lot of time to think since being shut down for the season. "There's really nothing left for me to do," Smoltz said. "There's nothing I want to do but get back to the playoffs...I'd rather have another Tommy John [surgery] than to have one of these surgeries again," said Smoltz, who had four elbow surgeries before having his shoulder cut for the first time two weeks ago. |
Our View: Smoltz does not sound too optimistic at this point so nobody else should be either.
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| Following shoulder surgery, John Smoltz stated that he wants to pitch again, according to the AP. Smoltz said he hopes to know more about his chances when he is first able to throw again in four or five months.
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Our View: The doctors found significant damage in his right shoulder during the surgery earlier this week, and he will be 42-years old before he has a shot of coming back.
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| John Smoltz's shoulder was more seriously injured than initially thought. When he was cut open yesterday, there was significant damage to his labrum, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Coming out of this surgery, I think there are a lot of unknowns," GM Frank Wren said. "The one thing we do know is how much of a competitor John is, and he's going to do everything in his power to come back. But based on the surgery, we just don't know." |
Our View: Smoltz will be 42 before he has any sort of chance of coming back from this injury, which may be too much to ask. He doesn't want to call it a career just yet, but it could turn out that he has no choice.
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| John Smoltz underwent right shoulder surgery on Tuesday, and his future remains uncertain. "The prognosis on John’s shoulder is unclear based on the findings of today’s surgery," general manager Frank Wren informs the AP. "We will know more as John starts to progress through his rehab." Smoltz needed surgery to repair an injured labrum. He will miss the rest of 2008 but previously said he hopes to pitch in 2009. "They repaired a lot of damage," manager Bobby Cox notes. |
Our View: This news actually doesn't have a lot of bearing in fantasy leagues. Smoltz is out for 2008, and at 41 years old, his keeper league value wasn't even that high when he was healthy.
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| John Smoltz is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery today by Dr. James Andrews in Alabama, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Andrews will perform the surgery using an arthroscope to diagnose the damage to the right shoulder of the Braves pitcher. He will then decide what surgical procedure will be done and attempt the repair the problem.
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Our View: There is a chance that Smoltz's career could be over, but the actual success of the surgery won't likely be known for five or six months.
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| John Smoltz has officially been placed on the DL as he will undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, according to MLB.com. At his news conference, Smoltz stated, "I can't compete against my body anymore. I said I would retire if the desire was gone. I'm not there yet. I'm not there emotionally. Physically, that's still to be determined." GM Frank Wren added, "It's a sad day in a lot of ways. We don't know if the surgery will allow him to pitch, or whether it will allow him to go on with his life."
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Our View: Smoltz will visit Dr. James Andrews in Alabama on Tuesday, who will likely perform his surgery.
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| John Smoltz will undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, according to the AP. |
Our View: Smoltz and general manager Frank Wren declined comment until today's briefing, but the pitcher said on his radio show that he will miss the rest of the season. He does hope to return in 2009, however.
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| Catcher Brian McCann told Atlanta radio station 790 The Zone that John Smoltz is set for season-ending surgery, according to the AP. |
Our View: As previously reported, Smoltz has scheduled a Wednesday morning news conference for 11:30 a.m. ET at Turner Field. Smoltz could be done for the season and potentially his career, but we will know for sure following the news conference.
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| John Smoltz may need shoulder surgery, according to MLB.com. The Braves have scheduled an 11:30 a.m. ET press conference at Turner Field, and they are expected to discuss Smoltz's future. There has been talk that he will need to undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder.
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Our View: He woke up on Tuesday with increased pain in his ailing shoulder, and realized that he may not be able to pitch any more this year. Smoltz also has previously said that he'll be content if he never throws another pitch. We will keep you posted on his status.
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| Atlanta RHP John Smoltz reports he is feeling "pretty sore" today, one day after returning from the DL to make relief appearance in the Braves 7-5 win over Florida, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The veteran right-hander, who on Monday began his second stint in the Braves' bullpen, allowed two runs on three hits and blew the save against the Marlins. It was the first time he had faced Major League hitters since April 27. The team reports his status moving forward will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, but they are highly unlikely to pitch Smoltz on back-to-back days.
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| John Smoltz blew his first save chance in his return to the bullpen on Monday, and Manager Bobby Cox stated that the closer's role with be split for the immediate future between Smoltz, Manny Acosta, and Rafael Soriano, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. |
Our View: Smoltz could be the primary closer, but needs to prove he can still be effective in the role. Bobby Cox will play it by ear, but is pleased to have Smoltz back in action, despite his blown save.
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| John Smoltz didn't have a storybook return to the bullpen. Far from it. He allowed three hits and two runs to the Marlins on Monday and blew a save chance. |
Our View: Yeah, but did you really expect Smoltz to set down such studs as Matt Treanor and Wes Helms? We don't want to worry too much after one outing, but fantasy owners were obviously hoping Smoltz would show up and turn into a lights-out closer.
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| Manager Bobby Cox informs the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he'll split the closer duties between John Smoltz, Rafael Soriano, and Manny Acosta in the near future. "We'll play it by ear every day," Cox explains. |
Our View: We can't blame Cox for thinking this way. Smoltz and Soriano are coming off arm injuries, and neither right-hander is a safe bet to work every day. We believe Smoltz will be the man in the long run, but fantasy owners may have to put up with some switching in the short term.
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| As expected, the Braves activated John Smoltz from the 15-day DL on Monday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He has been out due to right shoulder inflammation, and he has returned as a reliever. |
Our View: Smoltz brings a new delivery to his old closer's role, and it will be interesting to see how he looks.
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| As a follow-up to a previous report, John Smoltz expects to be activated from the DL prior to tonight's battle against the Marlins, according to the AP. Smoltz said, "Monday is still the plan."
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Our View: Smoltz can no longer handle the strain of a spot in the rotation, but could be effective while working out of the bullpen, as he racked up 36 strikeouts over 27 innings this season, with a favorable 1.11 WHIP.
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| John Smoltz is reportedly ready to close for the Braves' bullpen, according to ESPN.com. Smoltz can no longer handle a starting gig, due to his right shoulder, and moving to the bullpen is his only alternative, other than retire. |
Our View: It has been 44 months since Smoltz has served in the bullpen, and he is expected to return as a closer tonight. Adjust your fantasy lineups accordingly.
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| John Smoltz tossed a scoreless inning for Low-A Rome on Saturday, and the veteran hurler could come off the disabled list as soon as Monday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He is out due to right shoulder inflammation. |
Our View: We imagine the club will make a decision after seeing how Smoltz's arm feels on Sunday. We'll update his status as soon as more is known, but fantasy owners can tentatively plan on using him as a closer in the coming week.
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| John Smoltz threw 27 pitches while throwing two scoreless innings for Single-A Rome on Thursday, according to MLB.com. Smotlz was only scheduled for one inning, but after just 13 pitches he came back out for a second frame. |
Our View: Smoltz could return to the Braves this weekend and he will likely slide right into the closers role provided his injured shoulder doesn't flare up again.
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| Atlanta RHP John Smoltz will pitch for Single-A Rome on Thursday night, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: Smoltz has been missing time on the disabled list with an inflammed shoulder. He made his first rehab appearance on Saturday for Double-A Mississippi, pitching one inning with a groundout, a flyout, and a come-back hit to the mound that was not covered at first (charging Smoltz with a hit). The Braves will return Smoltz to the bullpen upon his return.
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| The Braves expect to add John Smoltz and Rafael Soriano to their bullpen during their six-game trip that starts Tuesday, but the exact day has not been determined, according to FanNation.com. Smoltz planned to join the team on the flight to Milwaukee on Monday night, but manager Bobby Cox said Smoltz had flu-like symptoms and would stay in Atlanta, and perhaps make a rehab appearance for Class-A Rome before returning to the Braves on the trip.
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Our View: He may be delayed due to illness, but at least he isn't having a problem with his previously ailing right shoulder.
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| John Smoltz allowed one hit in one inning on a rehab assignment with Double-A Mississippi on Saturday night and reported no discomfort in his shoulder afterwards, according to the AP. The veteran is coming back from right shoulder inflammation. Smoltz will return to Atlanta on Sunday, at which point the Braves will decide whether to schedule another rehab assignment or activate him. |
Our View: It sounds as if Smoltz could be back sooner than anticipated. With Rafael Soriano slated to come back tomorrow, the Braves bullpen will be getting a big boost.
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| John Smoltz will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Mississippi on Saturday, according to the AP. The veteran is pitching from a lower arm angle in an attempt to place less stress on his injured shoulder. |
Our View: Smoltz will come back as a reliever, in case you weren't aware already. He's expected to fill the closer role.
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| John Smoltz threw for a third straight day on Thursday as he faced hitters prior to batting practice, according to the Associated Press. "He’s got a lot of movement,” said manager Bobby Cox. “It all comes down to location. Smoltz has a knack, no matter what angle he’s throwing from.” |
Our View: Besides the news that he appeared to be feeling better, there was also the added wow factor that Smoltz also altered his arm angle as well throwing more from the side than over the top to protect his shoulder. An old pro like Smoltz likely won't take too long to adapt to a different arm angle, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will take it into game action when he returns.
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| Manager Bobby Cox said he expects John Smoltz to return within two weeks, according to the AP. The manager hinted Smoltz may not need another side session in Atlanta before beginning a minor league rehab stint. "I don't know for sure," Cox said. "He felt awfully good yesterday." |
Our View: It's a good thing Cox is giving up updates, because Smoltz isn't talking anymore. We'll update you on his progress, but this certainly seems like a positive bit of news.
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| After another test on his ailing right shoulder, John Smoltz declared Tuesday he will give no more injury until he's back on the mound for the Atlanta Braves, this according to the Boston Globe. "I'm not going to set a timetable," he told reporters. "You can report I'm doing everything possible to get out there as soon as I can."
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Our View: Smoltz felt some reporters misinterpreted his most recent comments by writing his comeback had run into problems and could be delayed for a lengthy period.
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| John Smoltz still has inflammation and discomfort in his right shoulder, and he is now unsure when he will be able to pitch again, according to the AP. The 41-year-old veteran reported problems after his bullpen sessions Thursday and Saturday. He has a long history of pitching well while dealing with mild discomfort and commented that if all goes favorably Tuesday, his plans for a minor league rehab stint this month "could very easily fast-track." Smoltz has been on the DL twice this season with a sore right shoulder, and says his current three-week stint could extend much longer if his attempts to throw make the trouble worse. He added, "See, if I keep creating more inflammation there’s my answer. That’s just what I have to deal with. I have to deal with my body showing me a reaction, whether it been a day later or two days later. Until I have that answer I can’t really follow anything else. If physically I can make the adjustments, I will. If I physically can’t make the adjustments, then there’s no medicine, physical treatments that will help. I’ve still got time."
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Our View: Smoltz has been on the DL since April 29 with inflammation, and he hopes to learn more after throwing on the side Tuesday. He will work out of the bullpen if and when he returns to the Braves this season.
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| The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that John Smoltz still hopes to come back from the disabled list by the end of the month, but Smoltz acknowledged Sunday that he could be out significantly longer.
"It could be anywhere between the [late May] timetable I discussed and a lot longer," said Smoltz, 41, who reported discomfort following his Thursday and Saturday bullpen sessions. He said he doesn't know yet whether he can pitch in games until the situation improves — or when it will improve.
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Our View: He's been on the disabled list for three weeks due to inflammation in the rotator cuff and severe inflammation in a biceps tendon in his right shoulder. Smoltz said a cortisone injection and two weeks of rest didn't completely alleviate the inflammation, and throwing makes it worse.
But he said there's no guarantee that complete rest for a longer period would knock out the inflammation. And since he can't afford to lose considerable arm strength if he hopes to pitch again this season, he is caught between trying to control the soreness and preparing for a return.
If and when he does come back, it will be in the bullpen instead of the starting rotation.
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| John Smoltz threw on Saturday but he was still uncertain how his shoulder was doing on Sunday and said he likely wouldn't know until he throws again, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Smoltz did say that he still has some discomfort in his shoulder, but he also stated that he felt he would be back within two weeks. Hopefully, that will be the case, but stay tuned for updates.
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| It turns out that John Smoltz did a little more than first thought on Thursday as he ended up throwing 25 pitches off the mound instead of just working on long toss, according to MLB.com. "I wanted to see if I could get that [downward movement]," Smoltz said "It went well." |
Our View: Smoltz will throw his first bullpen session on Saturday when he will throw all his pitches, but today's results are very encouraging news for the potential HOFamer. If all goes according to plan, Smoltz hopes to start a minor league rehab assignment on next Tuesday or Wednesday.
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| After playing catch from a distance of 90 feet at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night, John Smoltz didn't feel any discomfort in his shoulder following the workout. The Braves right-hander threw on flat ground from a distance of 120 feet on Wednesday and if all goes well, he'll get a true test on Saturday, when he throws off the mound for the first time since going on the disabled list, according to MLB.com.
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Our View: Smoltz went on the disabled list on April 26 because both his right rotator cuff and right biceps tendon were inflamed. This prolonged shoulder discomfort, which he battled in each of his five starts, prompted him to decide he'll be best utilized as a reliever for the remainder of the season.
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| John Smoltz had another good day on Monday as he was able to throw, pain free, for the second straight day, according to MLB.com. On Monday he made 45 throws from 60, and after resting on Tuesday he plans to throw agains on Wednesday. |
Our View: Smoltz still hasn't thrown off the mound, but this is very encouraging news. Smoltz appears to be in line to return to the Braves bullpen by the end of the month. Stay tuned for when it will be safe to drop Manny Acosta.
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| John Smoltz played catch on Sunday, which was his first time throwing a baseball for two weeks. He is out due to a strained right shoulder. Smoltz made 25 throws from about 40 feet. "I know how it felt when it came out of my [hand], and it felt like I could pitch tomorrow," he tells MLB.com. The veteran is also realistic, adding, "I think (my return will be) some time in May. that's what I had in my mind when I went on the disabled list and I still want that to happen." Smoltz plans on making at least two rehab appearances before jumping back to the majors. |
Our View: It's a step in the right direction, but it'll be tough to gauge Smoltz's timetable until he is throwing off a mound and ready for rehab. We have to see his shoulder react well. He is still planning on coming back as a reliever.
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| John Smoltz has said that the pain in his shoulder has mostly subsided following 10 days of rest, and after a couple days more he will be able to pick up a baseball again by Sunday in Pittsburgh, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He will start by playing catch and work his way up to a rehab assignment. He is targeting a return to the Braves by the end of May. He mentioned May 20 against the Mets, but admitted that may be pushing it. |
Our View: He will work out of the Braves' bullpen upon his return, which is still ailing and could really use his services.
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| John Smoltz is headed to the bullpen upon his return from the DL, according to the AP. Smoltz admitted he is not entirely certain how many bullets he may have left in his right arm, and he added, "I know I can do the role. It has everything to do with how my body reacts. The best avenue to come back is to slowly come back. It does me no good to come back to just pitch five innings. There’s no reason to fight it, complain or pout. I will just attack the problem. I see it like a puzzle and I just find different pieces. I’m fired up about the challenge. It may not work but I’m fired up about it. My success has confused people. I know it’s four games and two runs but it’s been five innings at a time and it was getting harder to do that. The up and down, pitch an inning and sitting down, an inning and pitch, an inning and sitting down, an inning, by the fourth inning was getting to me. I am completely at peace with where I am. If a fortune teller tells me that’s it, then I’m fine with it. I may still pitch 30 or 40 games this season, but not as a starter. I’m focused on doing what it takes this year. We have a very good team. The results haven’t been good. In about five months, we’re going to see how this works out."
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Our View: Smoltz could really help an ailing Braves' bullpen right now, and is eligible to come off the DL sometime next week.
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| There may be internal debate on how the team will use John Smoltz when he returns from the DL, but if you ask him there is no doubt, he will pitch out of the pen, according to MLB.com. "I'm coming back as a reliever first and then we'll see what happens," Smoltz said. "I hear people say that we can't win without me as a starter. But we're not going to win with me as a five-inning starter either." |
Our View: It remains to be seen how this situation will play out, but if Smoltz determines the pen is the best way for him to stay healthy, then the team should use him there given the injuries they have suffered this season to the back end of their bullpen.
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| John Smoltz is weighing his options while he rests on the DL due to his shoulder ailment, and he said he is willing to move back to the Braves' bullpen, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Smoltz said, "Right now I'm sitting at ground zero, taking it day by day, looking at every option to help this team get to the playoffs and end my career the way I'd like to end it."
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Our View: As a closer, Smoltz converted 154 saves over 3 1/2 seasons, including a National League-record 55 saves in 2002. The bullpen lacks a real closer right now as Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano are both on the shelf, and Smoltz is open-minded about returning to that role in the pen. He was 3-2 as a starter this season, with a 2.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 27 innings, with 36 strikeouts.
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| The Braves placed John Smoltz on the DL Tuesday. The veteran was examined in Birmingham, Ala., by Dr. James Andrews, who diagnosed a severely inflamed biceps tendon and inflammation of the rotator cuff in the right shoulder, according to the AP. However, Smoltz will not need surgery to correct the problem. Andrews injected Smoltz's shoulder for the inflammation and prescribed rest and rehab until he is pain free. |
Our View: The Braves aren't sure when Smoltzie will return, but it sounds like it might be a while. We'll update you on his progress.
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| The Braves team website reports that John Smoltz will likely have to miss his next scheduled start. Smoltz will return to Atlanta on Monday night and be evaluated by the Braves' team doctors the following morning. After completing just four innings against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the veteran pitcher's words and body language spoke volumes about his current shoulder soreness.
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Our View: The Braves have several issues to address in their rotation with Smoltz missing a start.
Tom Glavine is coming off the DL on Tuesday, with the hope that his right hamstring is healthy. As for Mike Hampton, he will start for Triple-A Richmond in Durham, N.C., on Wednesday. If all goes well, Hampton could immediately return to the rotation.
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| John Smoltz is still experiencing soreness in his throwing shoulder, this after giving up four runs in a Sunday loss to the New York Mets. |
Our View: If Smoltz lands on the disabled list the Braves will be hard pressed to replace him with any of their available arms, which is limited with Mike Hamilton (pectoral) still rehabbing a chest injury.
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| Atlanta RHP John Smoltz lasted just four innings in today's 3-6 loss to the New York Mets, allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits, including two home runs surrendered for three of those RBIs. |
Our View: Smoltz pitched 83 times, making 51 count for strikes, in what now sits as his shortest and most troublesome outing of the short season.
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| On a night of historical perspective for a veteran of many years, John Smoltz added to the excitement of the moment, tabbing his 3,000th career strikeout as one of 10 on the evening as the Braves fell to the Washington Nationals, 6-0. |
Our View: Smoltz completed seven full innings of work, hurling just 105 pitches (68 good for strikes) to allow just one run on five hits. Smoltz sent 10 hitters packing with strike outs, failed to walk a single batter, and now carries an ERA of 0.78. Unfortunately, the Braves failed to produce any semblance of offensive support, reliever Jorge Campillo allowed five runs (one earned) in 1/3 of an inning, and the Braves failed to mark the occasion with a win.
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| He has pitched in a variety of roles during his long and illustrious career, but today John Smoltz all but solidified his place in baseball lore by pitching his 3,000 career strikeout this evening. |
Our View: Smoltz got Felipe Lopez, the leadoff man for the Washington Nationals, for the second out of the third inning to complete the feat. Smoltz is now the 15th pitcher in league history to earn 3,000 strike outs, and only five (Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Nolan Ryan, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens) did it faster.
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| John Smoltz will be looking to remain unbeaten as he takes the hill against Washington tonight, according to MLB.com. He is currently 4-0 with a microscopic 0.56 ERA over 16 innings pitched, with 21 strikeouts. Speaking of strikeouts, he is only four away from the 3,000 milestone for his career. |
Our View: He will duel with lefty John Lannan, who is currently 0-2 with a 4.86 ERA. Smoltz should have the upper hand in this match-up.
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| John Smoltz pitched five shutout innings and struck out 10 helping an injury riddled Braves tame to a 8-0 victory over the Florida Marlins on Thursday. |
Our View: Smoltz, and Chipper Jones, are the only two productive vessels on a dismal Atlanta squad. The problem with this picture is that both are injury risks at any time. The Braves are taking on water and tonight's victory is nothing more than a piece of bubble gum in the Braves current cracks.
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| John Smoltz improved to 2-0 on the year as he limited the Nationals to five hits and one run over six innings to pick up his second victory of the season. Smoltz was able to exit after just 90 pitches as he stuck out five while walking two. |
Our View: Smoltz finally appears healthy, but at his age there is always the chance that he could be limited moving forward though there is no disputing the fact that he still can pitch.
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| John Smoltz will take the hill against the Nationals today, and he has notably fared very well against them in the past, according to MLB.com. He is 20-11 with a solid 2.60 ERA in 66 career appearances against the Nationals/Expos. And in his past six starts against them, he is 4-2 with an even better 1.77 ERA.
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Our View: Looks like Smoltz will have a good chance to pick up his second win of the season today, especially if Ryan Zimmerman continues to struggle.
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| John Smoltz was brilliant in his return to the mound on Sunday, but he left the game after five innings and 78 pitches because the knot behind his shoulder returned. "That's frustrating for me, but I recognized it, and I had a talk with myself when I walked off the mound to the dugout," Smoltz tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The ace does not believe the ailment will cause him to miss a start. |
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| John Smoltz will make his first appearance of the season on Sunday, this according to the AP. Smoltz has been on the DL to give his shoulder a bit more time to calm down, will face the Mets and Johan Santana on Sunday. |
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| With Friday's game being washed out by rain, John Smoltz will now come off the DL on Monday, not Sunday, as originally planned, according to the AP. The veteran gets a break in one sense because he no longer has to go up against Johan Santana, but the downside is he'll now have to make his start at Coors Field. |
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| The Atlanta Braves report pitcher John Smoltz will start the season on the team's disabled list, but the actions of the franchise insure he will be eligible for his first schedule start on April 6th versus the Mets, according to MLB.com. Smoltz has been hampered by tightness between his neck and right shoulder, but the team hopes to see him make what would be his 2nd start of the spring on Sunday against Florida with hopes he will be ready to go for his first schedule regular-season go on the mound. If he is not ready, the team plans to give the start to Chuck James (who will also start the season on the DL but, like Smoltz, will be eligible for that April 6th matchup). |
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| John Smoltz threw a 20-minute session in the bullpen on Thursday, this according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Braves beat writer David O'Brien noted in his report that when "Smoltz has the me-against-the-world tone (or at least me-against-the-skeptics tone) that he had today, that’s usually a good sign for the Braves". The hard-throwing veteran is scheduled to start for the Braves on April 6th. |
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| John Smoltz pitched on Tuesday and said that he felt normal and didn’t have the soreness that he felt when he had to end a side session early last Wednesday, according to the Atlanta Journal Consitution. He is still expected to begin the season on the 15-day DL however, with a hopeful return to the mound on April 6. As for now, Smoltz will throw again on Wednesday or Thursday, likely off the mound, then pitch to hitters this weekend if there are no problems. He could pitch in a simulated game some time next week at Class-A Rome.
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| John Smoltz skipped his throwing session on Monday and decided he would wait at least a day before trying again, this according to the AP. Smoltz, currently dealing with a sore right shoulder, hopes to throw on Tuesday. “Probably tomorrow, for sure,” Smoltz said. Well that certainly clears things up. Each delay, no matter how minor at this point, adds to the probability of Smoltz starting the year on the DL, so it seems prudent to have another plan in place for early in the year. |
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| John Smoltz's right shoulder has improved and he believes he will pitch sooner than later, but he could start the season on the disabled list, according to MLB.com. If the Braves decide that it makes the most sense to begin the season with him on the DL, the veteran hurler isn't going to object.
"I don't know how the scenarios are going to shake out to," Smoltz said. "But whatever it is, it is and I'm going to embrace it."
If Smoltz begins the season on the 15-day disabled list, he would miss just one scheduled turn in the rotation. |
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| John Smoltz was scratched from his Friday start due to a sore shoulder, but he insisted that if this were the regular season he would've been able to go, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "That's a no-brainer," he said. The 40-year-old said the pain is not in the rotator cuff/labrum area, and that there is no reason to panic. The Braves could backdate a DL move and bring their ace back on April 6, the first time the team needs a fifth starter. That seems like the most likely scenario at this time. |
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| John Smoltz was scratched from his start Friday due to a sore shoulder, according to MLB.com. "I'm not worried," Smoltz said. "It's not worth taking any chances right now. I'm smart enough to realize that you don't pitch through it now. You pitch through it during the season. You don't really pitch through it during Spring Training." Smoltz will take a few days off and possibly make a start next Wednesday. He first experienced the soreness during a side session on Wednesday. He cut the session short but hoped he could still give it a go today. Smoltz may not be worried, but this is reason enough for fantasy owners to bump him down their cheat sheets a tad. |
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| John Smoltz was solid in his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday as he held the Rays scoreless over his first four innings of work before getting rocked for five runs in the fifth inning. He had four strikeouts and two walks and should be ready to roll at the start of the new season. |
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| John Smoltz is slated to make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday in a split-squad game against the Rays, according to MLB.com. Smoltz is just bringing himself along slowly this spring, working a few simulated games instead of playing in exhibition contests. He's right on schedule for the start of the regular season. |
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| John Smoltz has high expectations of himself, and thus far in camp he doesn't feel like he has lived up to them. "I'm a little disappointed with some of my pitches. But that will come," Smoltz said on a report on MLB.com. Smoltz is physically fine, he just isn't overly pleased with his location so far. Look for Smoltz to do a lot of work on the side and only appear in a handful of games this spring as he certainly knows how to prepare himself after 19 seasons. |
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| Braves starter John Smoltz threw seven solid innings Friday, striking out 10 while giving up just one run on one hit. His no hit bid was broken up by Ronnie Belliard of the Nationals who led off the eighth inning with a single. |
Our View: Smoltz has now pitched at least six innings and given up three runs or less in seven consecutive starts.
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| The Braves have moved John Smoltz's next start from Wednesday to Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He swaps spots with Buddy Carlyle. The move allows Smoltz to also pitch during this weekend's series against the Mets. |
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| The Braves activated John Smoltz from the DL on Wednesday to start against the Reds, according to Sports Ticker. He had been sidelined with inflammation in his right shoulder. |
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| As expected, John Smoltz will come off the DL Wednesday and start against the Reds, according to the AP. "He's ready to go," manager Bobby Cox said. "He feels great." |
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| John Smoltz will toss a bullpen session on Monday. He had no problems with Friday's session, but he'll have to make it through a second one in order to make his scheduled start on Wednesday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He's on the disabled list with inflammation in his shoulder and appears likely to take the mound on Wednesday. |
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| John Smoltz is confident he'll be ready to start on Wednesday, the day he's eligible to return from the DL. However, he won't be too concerned if his comeback takes a few more days. "If Wednesday's not the day, it's not the end of the world," Smoltz said in the AP. The right-hander is coming back from inflammation in his pitching shoulder. |
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| John Smoltz is scheduled to start the Braves' sixth game after the All-Star break, July 18 at Cincinnati. That's the day Smoltz, who is dealing with inflammation in his right shoulder, is eligible to come off the DL, according to the AP. |
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| The Braves placed John Smoltz on the 15-day disabled list on Friday after an MRI found inflammation, but apparently no structural damage, in his right shoulder, according to the AP. The Braves said the MRI also showed a "good" rotator cuff, and as a result Smoltz will not travel to Birmingham, Ala., to meet with Dr. James Andrews, as had been tentatively planned. The move was retroactive to July 3, meaning Smoltz will be eligible to come off the DL on July 18. |
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| John Smoltz plans to skip the All-Star Game due to his sore shoulder, and his next start won't come until July 17, Atlanta's fifth game after the break. The Braves still have to fill his spot for the first-half finale this coming Sunday. "I think he's going to be fine," Bobby Cox told the AP. "He should be fine at the tail end of the rotation after the All-Star break." |
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| John Smoltz continues to have soreness in his right shoulder, and he may not be able to make his scheduled start on Saturday. "It's possible, but probably not likely," he tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Smoltz started on Monday, and the joint felt sore on Tuesday. He will test it in a throwing session on Wednesday. |
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| Braves manager Bobby Cox gave John Smoltz an option, and the ace has chosen to make his next start on Saturday. Smoltz has been dealing with a sore right shoulder. Buddy Carlyle will start against the Indians on Friday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
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| John Smoltz felt fine after a bullpen session Wednesday and he expects to go this weekend as scheduled, the AP reports. Smoltz is dealing with a sore right shoulder. |
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| John Smoltz is ready to make his scheduled start against the Indians on Friday. He tested his sore right shoulder in a bullpen session on Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. |
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| John Smoltz will not make his scheduled turn Sunday, the AP reports. Smoltz, battling a sore shoulder, is now scheduled to work Friday in Cleveland. Buddy Carlyle has been recalled and will start Sunday against the Cubs. |
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| John Smoltz felt better on Thursday, but he won't know his status for Sunday's scheduled start until he throws on Saturday. He is dealing with a sore right shoulder. Smoltz will skip his usual bullpen sessions and do some light throwing on Saturday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. If he does not start on Sunday, he will be pushed back to Tuesday. |
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| Although John Smoltz made it through six innings with an ailing shoulder Tuesday, he's not ready to say if he'll be able to make his next scheduled start Sunday, the AP reports. Smoltz pitched well in the loss to the Marlins on Tuesday, giving up only three hits and two runs. Still, he conceded that he didn't have his full repertoire, and it was clear he was in some pain the day after. "I'll wait until the last minute," Smoltz said, referring to his next start. "I want to be smart about it and communicate with Bobby (Cox). It's a long season."
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| As expected, John Smoltz was able to start Tuesday's game despite his sore shoulder. He took the loss against the Braves, though he gave up just two runs on three hits and no walks over six innings. So long as he responds well over the next couple of days, he should make his second start of the week on Sunday against the Cubs. |
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| John Smoltz said he expects to be ready to start the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. He tested his sore shoulder out with a bullpen session Sunday and was pleased with the results, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I threw a lot better today," said Smoltz. "Today I could have gotten [hitters] out. Friday, no way. So that's progress." Barring a setback, Smoltz is slated to make two starts this week, the second coming on Sunday versus the Cubs. |
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| The Braves have decided to bump John Smoltz from his scheduled start Sunday. Lance Cormier will get the nod in place of Smoltz, who is dealing with some soreness in his shoulder, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Smoltz is expected to start one of the doubleheader games against the Marlins on Tuesday. At this point, the Braves and Smoltz simply appear to be playing things cautiously, so he should be back on the mound Tuesday. |
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| John Smoltz felt some soreness in his shoulder when he threw Friday morning, and he may have his next start pushed back as a result. Smoltz tweaked his shoulder on a warmup pitch before the fourth inning of Saturday's start, and took himself out after facing one batter, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. If Smoltz is pushed back, he will likely start one of Tuesday's doubleheader games, with Buddy Carlyle starting on Sunday. |
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| John Smoltz believes he'll be able to make his next start. Smoltz "tweaked" his right pinky finger and his right shoulder in separate incidents on Tuesday and had to leave in the fourth inning, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I just wasn't willing to take a chance," he explains. "Had they given me 10 minutes, I would have been OK, to stretch my shoulder." |
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| John Smoltz left Tuesday night's against the Brewers in the fourth inning with an undsiclosed injury, according to the AP. He shook his right hand gingerly after his at-bat in the fourth and was looking at his fingers, so that may be the problem. Smoltz dislocated his right pinky May 14 while making a tag against Washington. |
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| John Smoltz worked seven scoreless innings in Saturday's second game, as the Braves cruised to a 14-0 victory. Smoltz didn't appear to have any problems with the pinky finger that bothered him in his last turn. |
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| John Smoltz had a pain-free side session Wednesday and is fine to start Saturday at Boston, the Braves official site reports. Smoltz is coming back from a dislocated pinky finger. "I'm not going to throw again now until I pitch," Smoltz said. "I'm going to continue to ice it and try to continue to get the fluid and inflammation out." |
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| John Smoltz remained optimistic on Tuesday. His dislocated right pinky finger showed little signs of the injury suffered on Monday night, and he plans to make his next start on Saturday. "I'm very optimistic," Smoltz told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I don't think I could ask for a better recovery." |
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| John Smoltz may not miss a start after dislocating his right pinky finger on Monday night. X-rays were negative. "I'll have to see day-by-day what this does. I don't need my pinky for any specific pitches, and hopefully I can get the swelling out," Smoltz explained to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
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| John Smoltz left Monday's start against the Nationals in the bottom of the seventh inning after injuring his pitching hand while making a tag, according to the AP. After the play, he looked at his hand and slammed his glove to the ground in frustration. The severity of the injury is unknown at this point, but it doesn't look good. |
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| John Smoltz and the Braves agreed to a contract extension on Thursday, according to the AP. The deal will pay him about $14 million next season and includes an option for 2009 that can become guaranteed, as well as a club option for 2010. "Words can't describe how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to finish my career as an Atlanta Brave," Smoltz said in a statement. "I am thankful to the Braves organization for giving me the chance to play this long and to play out my entire career with one team." |
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| John Smoltz took a line drive off the chest near the end of his stint Wednesday, though it didn't force him out of the game. He's expected to be fine. Smoltz finished the day with three scoreless innings against the Tigers, with three hits, no walks and one strikeout. |
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| John Smoltz is expected to be the opening-day starter for the Braves, the AP reports. "We could always switch things around, but it looks that way," Bobby Cox said Monday. |
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| The Braves exercised their 2007 option on John Smoltz on Thursday, according to the AP. "I had a conversation with John yesterday (Wednesday) in Washington and officially notified him that the Braves were going to exercise the option on his 2007 contract," Atlanta GM John Schuerholz said. "John has been a constant for this organization, both with his pitching and his leadership, and our plan to exercise this contract option for next season was never in question." Financial terms were not disclosed. Smoltz is 13-9 with a 3.71 ERA this season. |
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| John Smoltz was able to throw his regular session Wednesday and pronounced himself ready to make his scheduled start on Saturday, according to the AP. Smoltz has had soreness in his groin. |
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| John Smoltz left Monday's start after failing to get an out in the third inning, and his ailing right groin likely attributed to his struggles, acccording to the AP. "He tweaked (the groin) a little bit and got some balls up," manager Bobby Cox said. "Obviously, it bothered him. He didn't have good location. He's had this before and it usually goes away. Tonight, it didn't." Smoltz allowed six runs on six hits and two walks prior to his departure. |
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