John Smoltz News: Pro Sports Daily

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September 13

MLB.com

"Right-hander John Smoltz reported big improvement in his right shoulder Sunday, and he expects to throw a side session this week before starting Sept. 20 against the Cubs. Smoltz, who will miss his scheduled start on Monday because of tendinitis and inflammation in his right shoulder, said Saturday he probably wouldn't throw much before taking the mound against the Cubs on ESPN. But after having much more range of motion than he expected on Sunday, he plans to play catch on Monday or Tuesday and hopes to throw a side session no later than Wednesday. "My routine in situations like this is two, three, four days, and I will be back out playing catch and throwing," Smoltz said. "I can pitch ..."

Pain will keep Smoltz from Monday start

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September 13

MLB.com

"Cardinals right-hander John Smoltz has been scratched from his scheduled Monday start due to tendinitis in his right shoulder. He expects to take his next turn, on Sunday, Sept. 20, at home against the Cubs. Todd Wellemeyer will pitch in Smoltz's place on Monday. Smoltz downplayed the issue, but he was still appreciative of the chance to get the needed rest. He received a shot of anti-inflammatory medicine to ease the pain he was feeling, and he will not throw a bullpen session between now and when he makes his next start. "At this point, the easy thing to do is give me rest and I'll be ready," Smoltz said. "I'll be fine. I've pitched through all kinds of tendinitis before. But at this ..."

St. Louis Cardinals' John Smoltz could stay longer

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September 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"John Smoltz has done enough in two starts to firm a spot in the Cardinals' rotation. More impressively, he has allowed the club to ponder the possibility of a return engagement for 2010. With Joel Piñeiro and Todd Wellemeyer pending free agents, general manager John Mozeliak acknowledged Tuesday the organization projects one of its younger pitchers such as Mitchell Boggs or Jaime Garcia will assume one vacancy. With the club committing $28 million next season to Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse and Adam Wainwright, a one-year arrangement with a veteran pitcher may work well should the club not retain Piñeiro. "It's a great point," Mozeliak said about suggestion of a fit. "Clearly what he's done ..."

Desire burns within Smoltz

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August 26

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bryan Burwell

"The kid pitcher sat in the Cardinals dugout Tuesday afternoon talking about big dreams. Shelby Miller is 18 years old with a fresh face, a rocket arm, boundless potential and the sort of wide-eyed, unguarded enthusiasm that makes him believe that one day very soon he will be back in Busch Stadium as a big-league pitcher. There's something entirely pleasant about the aw-shucks innocence of these annual late-summer rites when the Cardinals trot out their freshly signed first-round draft picks, put them in a new major-league uniform and trot them out in front of a horde of local press. The kids all look the same, sound the same, dream the same big dreams. The kids sit on that dugout bench, ..."

Cards think Smoltz was tipping pitches

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August 24

MLB.com

"The competition level was different. A mechanical tweak didn't hurt. But maybe one other thing went into John Smoltz's eye-catching game against the Padres on Sunday. Maybe the hitters didn't know what was coming. Among the various explanations for the five shutout innings Smoltz pitched -- highlighted by nine strikeouts -- was that he and the Cardinals believe he may have stopped tipping his pitches to opposing hitters, particularly when he pitched from the stretch. The Cardinals' staff had the right-hander make an adjustment following a bullpen session he threw on Thursday, and the results were hard to argue with. "It's pretty clear he was tipping his pitches," manager Tony La Russa said ..."

Smoltz is Dave Duncan's newest project

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August 23

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist John Shea

"John Smoltz, who's more of a project these days than a Hall of Famer, is one of Dave Duncan's biggest challenges. Smoltz is 42 and last was seen surrendering eight runs in 31/3 innings at Yankee Stadium, shortly before the Red Sox cut him loose. They figured he was nothing better than his 2-5 record and 8.33 ERA indicated. Conversely, Duncan thinks Smoltz can resurrect his career in St. Louis, and that's all that needed to be known. Tony La Russa's trusted lieutenant looked at video of Smoltz and chatted with him; now he'll work with him. Duncan oversaw the rebirth of many careers, dating to Dennis Eckersley and Dave Stewart in Oakland, but most of his cases involved pitchers in their ..."

Smoltz, St. Louis Cardinals set to wing it

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August 20

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"By Tuesday night, the fit between the Cardinals and John Smoltz had become too obvious for either party to ignore. On Wednesday, their working relationship became official when Smoltz agreed to join the National League Central leaders for a pennant drive, first as a starting pitcher and eventually as a late-inning bridge to closer Ryan Franklin. Smoltz, 42, inherits No. 30 since Chris Carpenter is the current keeper of his longtime No. 29. More significant, the game's most prolific postseason pitcher ever will attempt to project his Hall of Fame résumé on a team willing to make a $100,000 investment in return for his experience, versatility and desire to salvage a truncated campaign. ..."

Smoltz has value no matter what role he fills

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August 20

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Jeff Gordon

"As you may have noticed, the Cardinals have played pretty well since getting Mark DeRosa off the disabled list and adding hitters Matt Holliday and Julio Lugo. They won 15 of 19 games, using uncommon offensive depth to grind down opponents. They filled their offensive holes and built a surplus of good hitters. (Tuesday night in Los Angeles, for instance, they rested Yadier Molina, gave outfielder Colby Rasmus a sick day and brought Julio Lugo and Mark DeRosa off the bench. Lugo was hitting .343 as a Card and DeRosa was coming off a 6-for-20 homestand.) And here is the bad news for the National League: The Cards should only get better between now and the playoffs. The addition of veteran ..."

John Smoltz thanks Red Sox on way out

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August 19

Boston Herald

"John Smoltz thought long and hard about accepting the Red Sox offer to return to the minor leagues, but ultimately decided it was too much of a risk. Thanking the organization for taking a chance on him, Smoltz yesterday explained the process that led him to decline a minor league assignment in favor of hooking on immediately, probably with a National League team. "I will sign with somebody," Smoltz said by phone. "I've got a few things going. I can't do anything until after 1 p.m. (today), but I have decided that I'm going to continue." Smoltz' release waivers expire today. He is expected to sign with either the Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals or Los Angeles Dodgers. "I've been ..."

St. Louis Cardinals talk to John Smoltz's agent

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August 18

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called the agent for free agent pitcher John Smoltz on Monday to convey what one official described as "very serious" interest in the 42-year-old righthander. The Boston Red Sox released Smoltz, making the likely future Hall of Famer available to any club willing to play him a pro-rated share of the major-league minimum $410,000 salary. The Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Florida Marlins are thought to be the leading contenders, with the Cardinals eyeing Smoltz as a possible answer for a nagging eighth-inning question. "I can confirm that a call was made today," Mozeliak said. "We're looking at a number of options for our bullpen right now. ..."

John Smoltz free to choose next team

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August 18

Boston Herald

"The Red Sox ate the remainder of John Smoltz' $5.5 million contract yesterday when they could not pull off a trade and had to release him. Smoltz is now a free agent. The Marlins, Cardinals and Dodgers are believed to be interested in signing the veteran right-hander. The Red Sox couldn't tolerate Smoltz' utter ineffectiveness, and after he allowed eight runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Yankees on Aug. 6, the club designated him for assignment. The Red Sox thought Smoltz, with his slider still good, could make an effective reliever, but he refused to be assigned to the minors. Because Smoltz' contract also contained hefty incentives linked to time spent on a club's active roster, ..."

Red Sox officially release former Cy Young winner

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August 17

Foxsports.com

"John Smoltz has been released by the Red Sox, a major league source told FOXSports.com. The move is not a surprise, since his contract was designated for assignment on Aug. 7. Smoltz will clear unconditional release waivers on Wednesday, at which point he will be free to discuss a new contract with any team. The Dodgers, Marlins, Cardinals and Rangers have interest, sources have told FOXSports.com senior baseball writer Ken Rosenthal. Smoltz, 42, does not intend to retire and is open to joining clubs as a starter or reliever, a source told Rosenthal over the weekend. The Red Sox are now obligated to pay the remainder of the one-year, $5.5 million contract Smoltz signed in the offseason."

John Smoltz' Red Sox days done

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August 13

Boston Herald

"John Smoltz' short, ignominious stay with the Red Sox is over. After initially indicating a willingness to accept a minor league assignment to Pawtucket to begin working out of the bullpen with an eye toward returning to the Red Sox when rosters expand on Sept. 1, Smoltz changed his mind and informed the Sox that the International League was not an option. In a text message last night, Smoltz said he would speak publicly when he knew more about his future. The Sox are now left with the option of either trading Smoltz or releasing him outright. While a major league source indicated that as many as four National League teams have expressed an interest, it's doubtful that any club would be ..."

Smoltz refuses move to minors; two options left

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August 12

Foxsports.com

"John Smoltz's brief career with the Red Sox is over. Smoltz has refused the option of an assignment to the minor leagues, leaving the Red Sox with the option of either trading him or releasing him. A trade is possible because Smoltz has cleared waivers, and the Dodgers are among the teams showing interest. But any deal would require a significant financial component due to the incentives in Smoltz's contract. Smoltz, 42, receives about $35,000 for each day he is on the active roster and other appearance-based bonuses. He also receives a $500,000 bonus if he is on the active roster and not the disabled list on the last day of the season and a $500,000 bonus if he is traded."

Report: Smoltz clears waivers

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August 11

Boston Globe

"John Smoltz, the veteran righthander who was designated for assignment Friday after eight underwhelming starts with the Red Sox, has cleared waivers, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Smoltz, who won 210 games and saved 154 during his stellar 20-year career with the Atlanta Braves, was just 2-5 with an 8.33 earned-run average for the Sox. He was designated for assignment after allowing nine hits and eight earned runs in 3.1 innings during the Red Sox' 13-6 loss to the Yankees Thursday night. The Red Sox have until this Sunday to release Smoltz, trade him, or send him to the minors. If he is sent to the minors, it probably would be to prepare him to work out of the bullpen in September. ..."

If not on Sox, Smoltz would have suitors

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August 10

MLB.com

"It appears veteran right-hander John Smoltz will have the opportunity to pitch again, if he chooses to take it. According to a report on ESPN.com, the Texas Rangers as well as some National League teams have interest in acquiring the 42-year-old pitcher. The Red Sox designated Smoltz for assignment on Friday, and he is said to be mulling his options. The Red Sox have not ruled out keeping the veteran righty in their organization if he chooses to accept an assignment to the Minor Leagues and possibly transition into a relief role. According to the report, the Red Sox would like Smoltz to restructure a clause in his contract that allows him to make $35,000 for each day he is on the Major ..."

Jim Leyland on John Smoltz: 'One of my all-time favorites'

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August 9

Detroit News

"If right-hander John Smoltz has thrown his last major league pitch, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said the game will be losing one of its greats. "In my opinion, possibly the best big-game pitcher of all time and one of my all-time favorites is just struggling," Leyland said Saturday, speaking of Smoltz, who was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox on Friday after giving up eight runs in 3 1/3 innings Thursday in a 13-6 loss to the New York Yankees. "I just thought he was the best postseason pitcher I've ever seen, I've seen a lot first-hand from the other dugout. He's tremendous, absolutely tremendous." Smoltz is mired in arguably the worst season of his 21-year career, going ..."

Demotion May Be End For Smoltz

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August 8

New York Post

"The final image of John Smoltz's career may be of him on the Yankee Stadium mound searching for answers in the marathon fourth inning Thursday night. The Red Sox designated the 42-year-old right-hander for assignment yesterday, hours after the Yankees battered him for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings. It could be the end of Smoltz's career. He has 10 days to either accept a demotion to the minors or the team must release him, trade him or put him on waivers. Boston general manager Theo Epstein flew here to deliver the news to Smoltz in person at the team hotel. Smoltz was not at Yankee Stadium last night, though his jersey still hung in his locker. "[It's] never easy to tell someone that ..."

Red Sox designate John Smoltz for assignment

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August 8

Boston Herald

"Hours after arguably the worst start of his 20-year career, John Smoltz was designated for assignment by the Red Sox. In a matter of days, Smoltz will determine whether his career continues or ends on Thursday night's ignominious defeat at Yankee Stadium. "All I can say is I will know the answer come next week," said Smoltz, reached by phone last night after flying from New York to his home in Atlanta. "I'm just going to go home and sort out a lot of thoughts. Nothing I say right now is going to change anything unless I have some time to think things over." Smoltz will have the final say, but the Red Sox already have conveyed to him that they would like him to remain in the organization ..."

Report: The Red Sox designate Smoltz for assignment

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August 8

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Chad Finn of the Boston Globe reported at 4:37 this afternoon that the Red Sox have designated John Smoltz for assigment. This would seem to mean Smoltz's attempted comeback from arm surgery has reached an end and that the former Braves' pitcher could be nearing retirement. Apparently Smoltz, 42, canceled a scheduled appearance on a New York radio station this afternoon and was believed to be flying home to Atlanta. Smoltz is 2-5 with an ERA of 8.33. He yielded eight runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Yankees on Thursday, a performance that left both the Red Sox and Smoltz questioning the future. From Finn's story: "If [Smoltz] is not claimed on waivers, the club has 10 ..."

Time for Smoltz to go back to drawing board

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August 7

Boston Globe

"His face was long, and dripping with perspiration, when he handed the ball to Terry Francona in the bottom of the fourth inning of last night's 13-6 loss to the Yankees. Moments later, he sat at the end of the Red Sox bench, staring into space, likely reflecting about the nine hits and eight runs he surrendered over 3 1/3 innings and the long journey of his comeback that had just reached a head-on crash with reality at Yankee Stadium. And he was probably wondering, as many of us are, what is next? "I'm frustrated,'' said John Smoltz, a refrain he repeated several times during his postgame remarks. "Nobody should have to watch that. I can't share with you all the thoughts that were going ..."

Sox suffer along with John Smoltz

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August 7

Boston Herald

"With a grade that had him on academic probation coming in, John Smoltz faced the stiffest test of his 2009 season last night against the New York Yankees. Smoltz failed in a 13-6 Red Sox loss, calling into serious question just how much longer the club can endure his sustained string of ineffectiveness. The right-hander allowed eight runs on nine hits (two home runs) and four walks (one intentional) in just 3 1/3 innings, blowing two leads along the way. The Yankees hit four home runs in all and increased their AL East lead to 3 ½ games over the visitors. With the loss, the Sox' 8-0 start to the season series came to a crashing, bone-jarring, glass-shattering halt. A new and concerning ..."

Time to pull plug on John Smoltz project

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August 7

Boston Herald

"It seemed like a good idea at the time. When the Red Sox signed John Smoltz last winter, it was with the notion they could afford to have him come along slowly after shoulder surgery, integrate him into the rotation sometime in the middle of the season and then reap the benefits of his postseason experience in October. Now that plan is out the window. Instead of being the Red Sox' October savior, Smoltz actually is standing in the way of the team reaching October. If the Sox keep giving Smoltz the ball every fifth game, they're hurting - not helping - their postseason chances. This comeback story will not have a happy ending. Smoltz was battered for eight runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 ..."

Another Poor Outing Clouds John Smoltz's Future

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August 7

New York Times

"John Smoltz was supposed to be a clever addition for the Boston Red Sox, an accomplished pitcher who would finish rehabilitating his shoulder, join them in June and help guide them deep into October. But that plan has been a failure. There was nothing clever about Smoltz's performance in a 13-6 loss to the Yankees on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. Smoltz was battered for eight runs and nine hits and walked four in three and a third innings. Because Smoltz is a struggling 42-year-old, the doubts about his future will intensify. Smoltz is 2-5 with an 8.33 earned run average, the third-worst E.R.A. among major league pitchers who have made at least eight starts. The other two are the injured ..."

John Smoltz close, but so far away

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July 21

Boston Herald

"Joe Garagiola once said, "Baseball is a funny game." John Smoltz didn't think so last night. Through five innings, Smoltz scattered four hits around Rangers Ballpark, holding in check a strong Texas lineup by using his mind and off-speed pitches to confound hitters while making his fastball appear more effective than usual. He was pitching like the guy the Sox hoped he'd be when they took a chance he could fully rehabilitate his cranky shoulder after offseason surgery and be ready for the second half, when pennants most often are won or lost. He was pitching like the John Smoltz you used to read about. Then in the sixth, he made three good pitches, and the Rangers clobbered them. He made ..."

Smoltz starts to come around

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July 12

Boston Globe

"In the three weeks since John Smoltz made his debut in a Red Sox uniform, manager Terry Francona has been preaching patience, and the amen corner has been getting quieter and quieter. Smoltz understood why. After struggling in two of three starts, he was waiting himself to feel like the pitcher he thought he was. "It's been the biggest thing,'' Smoltz said. "You sit here for four starts hearing me say that, 'It's going to happen, It's going to happen.' People want to see it. The results are more important than what you feel.'' Last night wasn't perfect. But he got the result he and others wanted. He threw five innings - shorter than he would have liked but enough to be effective. He struck ..."

John Smoltz produces result

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July 12

Boston Herald

"On a night when the Red Sox and Kansas City Royals played 3 hours, 44 minutes of mind-numbingly poor, beer league baseball, one of the few bright spots for the hometown nine was a guy who was long out of harm's way by the time this bow-wow was completed. In fact, were it not for the performance of Sox starter John Smoltz, the 37,825 folks who filled Fenway Park last night would have had a strong case for consumer fraud. What with the errors, the faulty pitching, the mental lapses - the list goes on and on - this was not a game that justified the price of a major league ticket. The occasional bright spot aside - and that would include a laser beam of a throw to the plate by right fielder ..."

John Smoltz makes pitch

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July 10

Boston Herald

"If you happen to be among those fans who doubt John Smoltz can regain a measure of his old self and help the Red Sox during the second half of the season, be aware that the veteran right-hander has heard you. Leastways, he has heard different versions of what you are saying. But here's the rub: He doesn't seem all that worried about it. "I love when people - and I've already heard some of it - say, 'Ummmmm, I don't know. I don't think he can do it,' " Smoltz said yesterday. "And it's OK. I'm amused by it, because it happens all the time. I can tell you thousands of cases where I've started off a little slow and people have said, 'He's getting older,' and at the end of the year they're ..."

Smoltz hits on something

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July 8

Boston Globe

"A day after his third Red Sox start and Fenway Park debut, a 6-0 loss to the A's Monday night, John Smoltz remained confused with his outing - "I still shake my head,'' he said - and confident about his pitching. After three starts, Smoltz feels he has pitched better than his 6.60 ERA and 0-2 record would indicate. In his first three starts, Smoltz thinks he has been "getting dinked a little bit'' and "giving up a hard hit every once in a while.'' There is one statistic that reinforces Smoltz's thinking. Opposing batters are hitting .370 on balls put in play - at-bats that are not home runs or strikeouts. The highest total in the entire league among pitchers with enough innings to qualify ..."

Split decision for John Smoltz

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July 7

Boston Herald

"John Smoltz was satisfied with every aspect of the pitch that turned his home debut at Fenway Park into a 6-0 Red Sox loss to the Oakland A's. Smoltz had two outs and two on in the fourth inning last night and was feeling confident he could limit the A's to the one run they scored earlier in the frame. The right-hander was facing Mark Ellis, the ninth batter in the Oakland order, and he conspired with catcher Jason Varitek on a splitter down and in. The splitter did what Smoltz wanted it to do, but Ellis didn't. Ellis followed the pitch and drove the ball off the wall in left-center for a double that gave the A's a 3-0 lead. Smoltz' only lament was that bad things happen to good pitches. ..."

John Smoltz, Red Sox out at first

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July 7

Boston Herald

"There were two important firsts last night at Fenway Park. Only one went well. John Smoltz, making his first home start as a member of the Red Sox, was lit up by the visiting Oakland A's in a 6-0 loss. He allowed five runs and 10 hits in six innings. Nomar Garciaparra, making his first Fenway appearance since he was traded nearly five years ago, was showered with a long and loud standing ovation in his first plate appearance leading off the second inning as the A's designated hitter. In his second at-bat, the former Sox shortstop knocked in the first run off Smoltz in what developed into a four-run fourth inning. Oakland, the AL West cellar-dwellar, received superior pitching from young ..."

John Smoltz steps up

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July 6

Boston Herald

"The way John Smoltz sees it, his return from shoulder surgery can be charted along a continuum. Right now, he's still on the part marked "process," but within a couple of starts, he hopes to shift to "results." Smoltz makes his Fenway Park debut as a member of the Red Sox [team stats] tonight against the Oakland A's and he's determined not to let the emotion of the moment distract him from his ultimate goal of making a "second-half surge." "This is about continuing the process," Smoltz said. "I've got to be more concerned with my process than my outcome. If I'm consumed with my outcome, I'm going to be a little bit in trouble." Smoltz lost his first start in Washington against the ..."

Homecoming for John Smoltz

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June 27

Boston Herald

"While his Red Sox teammates were stumbling around their hotel rooms yesterday morning, John Smoltz was in the kitchen of his home in suburban Atlanta, cooking pancakes for the kids. He hopped into the pool to cool off. He played with the family pets, which consist of three dogs and a cat. He wanted to cut the grass, but, well, two factors got in the way. One, the man who handles the landscaping at the Smoltz house was already on the case. And two, we're not talking about your basic front lawn here: His house sits on 21 acres, and Smoltz says it usually takes him 7 hours to give his beloved grass the attention it deserves. But if Smoltz didn't get a chance yesterday to tend to his lawn, it ..."

Not much of a start, but it's hardly the end

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June 26

Boston Globe

"It killed him to be out there for a four-run first inning in which he threw 35 pitches and faced nine batters. It was hardly the way 42-year-old John Smoltz wanted to reenter the majors. The hardest thing for great veteran pitchers like Smoltz and Pedro Martínez and Roger Clemens to prove is that they can still pitch at a high level with reduced velocity. The jury is out on whether Smoltz can, but in his mind, the verdict has been rendered: He's back. Smoltz actually threw harder than expected, consistently at 92 with his fastball, with a smattering of 93s and even a 94 on the gun. But it's not the 96-98 he used to hit when he could just rear back and blow away the competition. Smoltz ..."

John Smoltz starts rough

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June 26

Boston Herald

"Being an avid golfer, John Smoltz is well-acquainted with the mulligan. In that spirit, let's just agree his Red Sox career began in the second inning last night. Pitching in the major leagues for the first time in more than a year, Smoltz came out a little too amped for his own good, and by the time he gained control of his emotions, the Nationals had four runs in the first. The Red Sox never recovered in a 9-3 loss, but that hardly was the story. The return of Smoltz, who hit 94 mph with his fastball and grew stronger as the game wore on, was all that mattered. "I can't be disappointed," Smoltz said. "I'm very encouraged by how good I can be, and how I felt." Smoltz' final line wasn't ..."

Zimmermann Defeats Red Sox, Smoltz

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June 26

Washington Post

"John Smoltz joined the Boston Red Sox in the hope of a reinvention. He has been a starter, a closer and a starter again. He has learned to throw sidearm. And in this latest incarnation, he was looking for a fresh start with a new team. But the honeymoon did not last long in his first start with Boston. The Washington Nationals blitzed Smoltz and won, 9-3, last night before 41,985, the third attendance record in as many nights at Nationals Park. Washington (21-49) provided a harsh welcome, battering Smoltz with a four-run first inning. In 92 pitches over five innings last night, Smoltz allowed five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Jordan Zimmermann, pitched fearlessly against the ..."

Tonight's just a start for John Smoltz

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June 25

Boston Herald

"The Red Sox did not sign John Smoltz to see how he'd do against the Washington Nationals in June, so getting carried away by his first start tonight would be missing the point. He could pitch like the Hall of Famer he will one day become or he could pitch like you'd expect a 42-year-old coming off shoulder surgery to pitch. So just as the Sox were not relying on Smoltz for the early months of the season, tonight's 85-90 pitch outing is a mere tuneup for the months ahead, when the days shorten and chatter about magic numbers grows louder. When Smoltz was introduced as a Red Sox in mid-January, general manager Theo Epstein said "when I close my eyes and envision it, I see him starting ..."

Smoltz enters brave new world with Sox

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June 23

Boston Globe

"The catcher has a picture of the future Hall of Famer, taken when he was 12 years old. They are in the Braves clubhouse, near the field where both would make their names, gain a measure of fame. But John Smoltz no longer pitches to the Braves' Brian McCann. He will have a new catcher Thursday, the 22d man to crouch behind the plate for him. For the first time in his major league career, Smoltz will pitch for a team other than the Braves when he takes the mound for the Red Sox against the Nationals. And still that boy, the one whom Smoltz chose to be his personal catcher, seems awed by the pitcher. "He's one of the smartest pitchers I've ever been around, first off,'' McCann said. "He wills ..."

John Smoltz belongs on top of the hill

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June 21

Boston Herald

columnist John Tomase

"There are few pitchers in big league history with John Smoltz' resume. Never mind the fact that he's the only pitcher with 200 wins and 150 saves. Forget, too, his membership in the 3,000-strikeout club, his Cy Young Award and his 15-4 record and 2.65 ERA in the postseason. Instead, consider this: Smoltz has pitched in the big leagues for parts of 20 seasons, and with the exception of his rookie season and an injury-riddled 1994, they've all been dominant. "Even when he's not healthy, his numbers don't fluctuate," marveled Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell. "He's had a remarkable career." Smoltz' career numbers are consistent to the extreme. He has reached double digits in victories in ..."

Red Sox righty Smoltz visits with Braves

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June 20

MLB.com

"When the Red Sox travel to Turner Field next weekend, John Smoltz will find himself in the odd position of wearing enemy colors in an environment where he'll always be recognized as a beloved iconic figure. But with the Braves at Fenway Park for a three-game Interleague series this weekend, Smoltz has at least already taken advantage of the opportunity to relieve the awkwardness of wearing his Red Sox uniform while interacting with Braves skipper Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones and some of the other figures who had been with him for most of the past 20 years in Atlanta. About four hours before the start of Friday night's series opener, Smoltz entered the Braves' clubhouse and reunited with the ..."

Smoltz shares laughs with former teammates

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June 20

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Any anger that John Smoltz feels toward certain Braves officials was put aside for a while Friday at Fenway Park, when the 42-year-old pitcher bounded over during batting practice, in his very red Red Sox cap and sweat top, to yuk it up with former teammates including Chipper Jones, Rafael Soriano and Jeff Francoeur. Earlier in the afternoon, Smoltz visited the Braves' clubhouse and chatted briefly with manager Bobby Cox and coaches and players. "I knew this weekend was going to come, and the biggest thing for me is seeing all those guys," Smoltz said. "I talk to enough of them, or try to. You can't erase history. You can't erase friendships, certainly there are many over there. "I'm doing ..."

Smoltz's hard feelings toward Braves dwindling

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June 19

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"His road back from shoulder surgery more than a year ago has been by turns encouraging and disconcerting, exciting and unnerving. He has hopscotched around the East Coast to minor-league locales such as Fort Myers, Augusta, Manchester, Greenville, Pawtucket, Syracuse, and back to Pawtucket - outposts he thought were way back in his rearview mirror. But the work that he has put in since that surgery on June 10, 2008, will be put to the test possibly next week, when he makes his first big-league start since June 2, 2008. It will also be his first big-league start wearing a uniform other than that of the Atlanta Braves, the uniform he wore for 20 seasons, spanning parts of three decades. ..."

John Smoltz goes 4 innings in final rehab start

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June 18

Boston Globe

"John Smoltz's long journey back is nearly over. Major shoulder surgery, nearly 12 months without a game and six rehab starts are behind him. The final test of the 42-year-old's patience: more than a week before he steps on a big-league mound for his first game with the Boston Red Sox. "It's going to be that long eight days," Smoltz said. "I'm prepared for that. It's been a long year." The eight-time All-Star is scheduled to start next Thursday at Washington. In his final scheduled tuneup, he pitched four innings for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday night, giving up one run on Keith Ginter's leadoff homer for the Charlotte Knights in the third. Smoltz allowed three hits, one walk ..."

John Smoltz takes final step in rehab

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June 18

Boston Herald

"John Smoltz's final minor league start before his activation by the Red Sox was a strong one. Making his third start for Triple-A Pawtucket and sixth rehab start overall last night, Smoltz allowed a run on three hits over four innings to the Charlotte Knights at McCoy Stadium. He struck out two, walked one and had one wild pitch. Smoltz retired the Knights in order in the first. In the second, he yielded a two-out single to Wilson Betemit before striking out Cole Armstrong. In the third, Smoltz allowed a leadoff homer to Keith Ginter, who last year played for Pawtucket. Two outs later, Brent Lillibridge reached on a single and took second on a wild pitch. Smoltz, 42, then worked out of ..."

Facing Braves might've been too much

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June 18

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

columnist Jeff Schultz

"John Smoltz is set to prove everybody with or without a medical degree wrong again. The fact his first start for Boston probably won't come against the Braves is OK because, well, apparently even the man who lives for such moments wonders if that one would've been too much. "I was working out, preparing for that possibility," he said by phone. "But this is probably the best scenario for me just because there would be so much surrounding that game that it wouldn't be just a game. I'd prefer my start be as normal as possible, even though at the beginning I know it's not." He acknowledged: "The reality is, [facing the Braves] would've been one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. But ..."

Chipper, Francoeur didn't want to face Smoltz in Atlanta

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June 18

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"John Smoltz said all along he didn't want his debut with the Red Sox to come against the Braves. One of his longest running former teammates Chipper Jones understood that. Jones said Wednesday he was happy not to have to face Smoltz, either this weekend in Boston or next in Atlanta. The Red Sox announced Tuesday that Smoltz, coming off shoulder surgery, will make his debut for the Red Sox on June 25 against the Nationals. Jones said he thought of the film "For Love of the Game," in which Kevin Costner's character had to face an old friend with a no-hitter on the line. "Probably for the first time in my career, I wouldn't want to be that guy coming up to the plate in that kind of ..."

John Smoltz set to make '09 debut next week

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June 17

Boston Herald

"John Smoltz will become the sixth man in the Red Sox rotation next Thursday, when he makes his first 2009 start against the Nationals in Washington. The long-awaited debut of the 42-year-old right-hander and future Hall of Famer comes at a time when the Sox have an excess of starters. But it's unlikely they will carry a sixth starter for long. An elimination could occur via injury or trade, or perhaps continued subpar performance from Daisuke Matsuzaka, who pitches Friday. That official decision can be postponed but Smoltz' activation could not. His 30-day minor league rehab stint ends Friday. "I don't know that we need to make our rotation out a week or two ahead of time," manager Terry ..."

Smoltz won't start against the Braves, and I am … not sad

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June 17

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

columnist Mark Bradley

"I've been steeling myself since January. John Smoltz would make his triumphant return to the big leagues at Turner Field against the Braves in June and I'd be there to cover it and he, being John Smoltz, would throw a no-hitter and force me to write something nice about him and in the process grind my teeth to nubs. I'd even embarked on a course of meditation and aromatherapy to help me prepare for the moment. And now comes word from Boston: No Smoltzie in the A-T-L. And I say, "Whew." I'd borne my burden in silence for a dozen years, but two weeks ago I was moved to confess: I don't much like Smoltz, and he really doesn't like me. When duty called, I put aside my feelings and afforded him ..."

Smoltz may be lucky he won't make Red Sox debut in Atlanta

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June 17

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"It appears John Smoltz won't be pitching for the Red Sox when they visit Turner Field the weekend after next, which could be a blessing for both the iconic right-hander and his former team. Smoltz was still a Brave the first time his old golfing buddies and fellow Cy Young Award winners Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux took the Turner Field mound as opponents. Their homecomings didn't go so well. Glavine's was especially rough. The future Hall of Famer was showered with boos as Braves fans got their first look at him in a Mets uniform on May 24, 2003. Glavine's old teammates were nearly as unkind, scoring six runs before he exited in the fourth inning. The Braves, behind Horacio Ramirez, ..."