Smoltz

[Fragmentsofme]

"I obviously want to win another championship before I retire, and as a starter I brought the most to the table in the postseason."

Obviously Smoltz wants to start again. And with our lack of pitching talent next year, I don't think this is such a bad idea. Of course that leaves us without a closer, but which is more important? Smoltz' career ERA is 3.37 as a starter, but seeing as how he's turning 37 early next season, can we expect the same out of him? Do we turn a top tier closer into a #2 or 3 starter, or do we keep him in the bullpen and spend some cash on a free agent? If we keep him in the pen, will he demand a trade? Too many questions and no answers from management.

[PissedPrincess]

:wavey2:

[Fragmentsofme]

Originally posted by pedro's princess
:wavey2:

Howdy. How's the weather up there?

[Yellow Dog]

The only way I can see Smoltz starting is if the Braves take the approach that next year will be probably be his last year as a Brave so "we might as well go ahead and let him blow his elbow out."

He says starting would be easier on his elbow but doctors disagree. And he seems to overlook the fact that three of his four surgeries, including the reconstructive Tommy John procedure, were all necessary as a result of him being a starting pitcher. All of those surgeries were required before he ever became a closer. That, and the fact that he hasn't started since 2001 lead me to believe it would be very risky to put him back in the rotation unless you don't care about the long tem effects on him, which may be the case. That is assuming his elbow will hold up for a full season as a starter, which IMO is a helluva an assumption.

And as you accurately pointed out, that creates another problem. What do they do for a closer?

[Durango53]

ATLANTA -- John Smoltz will remain in the Atlanta Braves' bullpen instead of returning to the starting rotation.



"He's going to keep doing the things he's done for us for years and doing it well," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said Tuesday. "He's going to be our closer."



Smoltz, who had elbow surgery in October and can't throw until January, had expressed interest in returning to his former role as a starter. Schuerholz acknowledged the possibility of a switch had been discussed in the past year, but he said it was never seriously pondered.



"I talked to John, I talked to doctors, I talked to Bobby," Schuerholz said, referring to manager Bobby Cox. "We did discuss it, but that doesn't mean it was considered."



Smoltz won the NL Cy Young Award in 1996, when he was 24-8 as a starter. After reconstructive surgery in 2000, he moved to the bullpen and became a full-time closer in 2002, when he set the NL record with 55 saves.



Schuerholz said the latest reports from doctors indicate Smoltz is recovering as planned and should be ready for spring training.



He will make $11 million next season, and the Braves hold a $12 million option for 2005 that would become guaranteed if he finishes 57 games in 2004.



Smoltz stands to earn an additional $100,000 per start, which would push his salary to about $14.5 million if he started for a full season.



Schuerholz said winning games -- not saving money -- is the best reason to leave Smoltz in his current role.



"I know everybody is trying to make this a financial matter, but we make decisions to have the best team we can on the field," he said.



The decision was first reported Tuesday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.