Smoltz to have season ending surgery...

[bookiekilla]

Smoltz to have season-ending shoulder surgery | ajc.com

***Story is below...not sure what Smoltz's perception is around the country, but IMO he's definitely one of the greatest Braves (if not the greatest Atlanta Brave) of the last 20 years or so...definitely one my favorite baseball players of all time...this could be career ending for him, and it's pretty sad to see one of the greats for your team go out like this....IMO, he's a future Hall of Famer for sure...***


Surgery could put career of 41-year-old in jeopardy
By DAVID O'BRIEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/04/08

John Smoltz will have season-ending shoulder surgery that could also put the career of the 41-year-old Braves pitcher in doubt.

The Braves have called a media conference at 11:30 a.m. at Turner Field to be attended by Smoltz, general manager Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox. A Braves official confirmed surgery for Smoltz will be announced at the media conference.

Smoltz, the only pitcher in history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves, notched his 3,000th career strikeout earlier this season.

After spending nearly five weeks on the disabled list with inflammation of the rotator cuff and biceps tendon in his throwing shoulder, he returned from the DL Monday night and blew a save against Florida in his first relief appearance in 44 months.

Smoltz had moved back to the bullpen from his preferred starting role as a concession to persistent pain in his throwing shoulder. He had hoped he could get through the season by pitching in one-inning stints and by altering his pitching delivery and throwing sidearm.

He was charged with two runs, three hits and a blown save in the ninth inning Monday against Florida, but the Braves came back and won 7-5 on Yunel Escobar's walk-off homer in the 10th.

Smoltz converted 154 saves in 3 1/2 seasons as a closer through 2004 including a National League-record 55 saves in 2002.

He went 47-26 as a starter since the beginning of the 2005 season, including 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA in five starts this season before shoulder pain forced him to the DL for the second time since March.

Smoltz has had four right-elbow surgeries and had said in recent years that he wouldn't endure another arm surgery and long rehabilitation to prolong his career. But on Monday he backed away from those statements and indicated he would consider surgery and all other options.

The 1996 Cy Young Award winner has a 210-147 career record with 154 saves and 3,011 strikeouts in 3,395 innings. Smoltz is also the winningest postseason pitcher in history (15-4) and owns the record for postseason strikeouts (194).

The likely future Hall of Famer is eligible for free agency after the 2008 season.

[The Mailman]

Don't forget to pick up Rafael Soriano in your fantasy leagues for some cheap saves!

[FultonStreetBlues]

But hope other guys like Ohman and Bennet will keep pitching good at home.