October 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
When one of John Smoltz's agents told a New York newspaper that the Braves' veteran pitcher might consider a Roger Clemens-like midseason return with another team, it created baseball-industry buzz. It also made some Braves fans worry. Smoltz and Braves general manager Frank Wren expressed surprise over the quotes from agent Keith Grunewald in the New York Daily News, in a story picked up by other media outlets and web sites. Smoltz is rehabbing for a hopeful comeback after June shoulder surgery, and said he didn't know about the story or Grunewald's statements until an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter sent the pitcher a text message Saturday night. "I know nothing about it," Smoltz ..."
October 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smoltz is in the Hall of Fame. Well, at least his jersey is. The jersey the Braves pitcher wore when he recorded his 3,000th career strikeout this season was one of several items the Baseball Hall of Fame put on display from the 2008 season. The jersey is part of the exhibit entitled "Today's Game." Other included items from this season: the spikes used by Derek Jeter when he set the record for most hits at Yankee Stadium; the spikes used by Jose Molina when he hit the last home run at Yankee Stadium: and the batting helmet Manny Ramirez wore for his 500th career home run."
July 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Disabled Braves pitchers Tim Hudson and John Smoltz will travel to Birmingham together on Wednesday to see Dr. James Andrews - Hudson to have his worrisome elbow checked out, Smoltz for a routine checkup on his surgically repaired shoulder. When someone asked if they would travel via the chartered jet service Smoltz frequently uses, Hudson quipped, "If Smoltz wants to fly us, I'll fly. With our luck, we'll probably go down somewhere. I'll make sure I have my parachute." At least he hasn't lost his sense of humor. Now, Hudson is holding out hope that he won't lose the next 12 months or so to "Tommy John" ligament-transplant surgery and its tedious recovery process. A dye-injection MRI exam ..."
June 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
He figures he needs another week, maybe two. By then, John Smoltz believes he can start hanging out in the dugout. By then, a little nudge to his freshly carved right shoulder won'thim to his knees. Maybe by then, he can get back to what he does best. Kibitzing. "If the guy would just take his medication, he'd be fine," outfielder Matt Diaz said. "But he doesn't like to get on those pain pills and stuff." This was all Bobby Cox's idea - no, his demand - that after Smoltz's surgery June 10, he rejoin the club for wherever this wobbly season leads. "To me," Cox said, "it's been just a world of fun to be around John.""
June 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
It has been two weeks since John Smoltz had season-ending shoulder surgery. Two weeks with a lot of pain, very little sleep, and not much at all in the way of the big-picture questions being answered. The biggest one being, of course, will Smoltz ever pitch again? The 41-year-old iconic Braves right-hander doesn't expect to know until after spring training whether he will be able to come back from his fifth right-arm surgery — the other four were elbow procedures — to continue as a major-league pitcher. But he said he's still determined to try."
June 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smoltz was back with his teammates Friday afternoon, but the cumbersome brace on his surgically repaired shoulder will probably keep him out of the dugout during games for a while. The 41-year-old pitcher had season-ending shoulder surgery June 10. Smoltz is already doing his rehab work at Turner Field, and Cox is eager to have him on the bench and on road trips as soon as he's ready. But for now, "He's miserable," Cox said."
June 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
First, he asked how long until he could play golf.
Two, maybe three months. Then, the drum roll. How long before he could throw?
Four months.
Right about then, in John Smoltz's first post-operation briefing with surgeon
James Andrews, the notion of his comeback was officially germinated. By Friday,
in his first comments since shoulder surgery three days before, Smoltz had the
plan."
June 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smoltz returned home Wednesday from Birmingham without publicly addressing his future. But for the Braves' eight-time All-Star, players like Charlton present a cautionary tale for any pitcher of long service with a damaged labrum. Before leaving St. Vincent's Hospital, where he underwent surgical repair to his right labrum Tuesday, Smoltz consulted with surgeon James Andrews and began the initial stages of physical therapy with some passive motion exercises. Andrews was not made available for comment, deferring to the Braves on any further developments on Smoltz. But in the coming weeks, if not days, Smoltz faces the hardest decision any baseball player will face: When is it ..."
June 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
If the Braves were hoping to find an easy solution within John Smoltz's
damaged right shoulder, that wish went unanswered Tuesday.
The Atlanta ace has a damaged labrum, a tricky injury even to a young pitcher
but a serious complication for a 41-year-old with 3,395 innings of career
work. If his future remains unclear, this was far worse than an easily treatable
condition Smoltz had hoped for."
June 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smoltz is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery today in Birmingham, Ala. Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James 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 fix the problem."
June 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
"
He dressed out in full uniform for the news conference, when slacks and Izod might have seemed a more accurate foreshadowing for his career. Then again, can you ever really know with John Smoltz. There have been other surgeries. There have been other comebacks. There was the time he missed an entire season, bottomed out emotionally after a start in his return in 2001, and using his words, "I ripped the jersey off my back and said, 'I quit.'" He didn't. Instead, he transitioned into one of the most dominating closers the game has ever known. We got over that shock just in time for him to transition back to being the Braves' most effective starter. John Smoltz didn't say the words ..."
June 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smoltz will have season-ending shoulder surgery that could also put the
career of the 41-year-old Braves pitcher in doubt. 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."
June 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Manager Bobby Cox said John Smoltz's balky shoulder was "pretty sore" Tuesday
after he returned from the disabled list and pitched a rough relief inning
Monday against the Marlins.
Smoltz didn't address media members before Tuesday's game. "Not bad, not good," Cox said of Smoltz's day-after discomfort. "He's pretty
sore.""
June 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
"I have no creativity when it comes to drawing pictures," Smoltz said late
last week, "but I have a lot of creativity when it comes to throwing a baseball.
I'm using that part of my brain right now to try to get it done." Smoltz's body has issued another ultimatum — a final one, very likely — and
the pitcher who has re-invented himself more than Madonna is at it again.
He has altered his arm angle, dropping down from the classic over-the-top
delivery in order to preserve his aching shoulder."
June 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Braves' John Smoltz threw a scoreless eighth inning Saturday night for Class A Rome, striking out one, and could be activated as soon as Monday.
Mike Gonzalez made his second appearance in his minor league rehabilitation assignment at AA Mississippi. He gave up two hits in two scoreless innings after throwing one scoreless inning Thursday. The Braves would like to give Gonzalez a couple of weeks to work his way back."
May 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smolz brought his new 10 o'clock delivery to north Georgia on Thursday night, and headed home, all in all, fairly pleased with the product. His line over two innings against the Class A Asheville Tourists: No runs, one hit, no walks, three strikeouts, no complaints... "I feel better knowing I got two innings in," Smoltz said after what is scheduled to be his next-to-final minor-league rehab appearance before hopefully rejoining the Braves on Monday at Turner Field against Florida."
May 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves' pitcher John Smoltz will pitch for the Class A Rome Braves tonight as part of the rehabilitation program for his ailing pright arm.
Smoltz, who's been on the DL with an inflamed shoulder, made his first rehab appearance on Saturday for Class AA Mississippi. He pitched one inning, was charged with one hit on a come-backer to the mound (no one covered first base) and had a groundout and two flyouts."
May 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smoltz is scheduled to pitch a second minor-league rehabilitation assignment Thursday night in Class A Rome, assuming he can kick his flu-like symptoms by then. Smoltz, who is on the DL with rotator cuff and biceps tendon inflammation, did not travel to Milwaukee while he tries to recover from a bug. Smoltz pitched one inning Saturday night for Class AA Mississippi, throwing eight of his 12 pitches for strikes. If this next outing goes well, Smoltz could be activated from the disabled list over the weekend in Cincinnati"
May 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Braves expect to add John Smoltz and Rafael Soriano to their bullpen during the six-game trip that starts Tuesday, but exactly when hasn't been determined.
Smoltz had planned to accompany the team on the flight to Milwaukee on Monday night, but manager Bobby Cox said the veteran pitcher had flu-like symptoms and would stay in Atlanta and perhaps make a rehab appearance for Class A Rome before joining the Braves on the trip."
May 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Braves were leaning toward activating closer Rafael Soriano from the disabled list Monday for the series finale against Arizona, and could add John Smoltz to the bullpen during the six-game road trip that starts Tuesday in Milwaukee. Smoltz will accompany the Braves on the trip to Milwaukee and Cincinnati, but it was undetermined Sunday if the veteran pitcher would be activated from the DL without another minor league rehab appearance."
May 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Smoltz, who's been on the DL with an inflamed shoulder, made his first rehab appearance Saturday for Class AA Mississippi. He pitched one inning, was charged with one hit on a come-backer to the mound (no one covered first base) and had a groundout and two flyouts.
Most important, Smoltz told a team official he felt good after throwing eight strikes in 12 pitches. His rehab assignment could be as brief as one game, if Smoltz decides he's comfortable with his new "three-quarters" delivery."
May 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
John Smoltz will pitch for Class AA Mississippi on Saturday to begin what's expected to be a short injury-rehab assignment before he rejoins the Braves. The veteran will come back from the disabled list as a closer instead of a starter, because he believes pitching in short bursts will give him a better chance of avoiding more trips to the DL this season for his shoulder woes. Manager Bobby Cox said Smoltz would throw one or two innings Saturday, depending upon his pitch count."
May 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Judging from how effective John Smoltz looked pitching from a three-quarters arm angle against Braves hitters Thursday, the bearded icon could be back from the disabled list within ... well, soon.
"I don't know, we'll see how he feels [Friday]," said Braves manager Bobby Cox, now in agreement with Smoltz that it's best to no longer discuss timetables for the pitcher's return, and instead just activate him when he feels ready."
May 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Manager Bobby Cox believes the Braves could have John Smoltz, Rafael Soriano and left-hander Mike Gonzalez all off the disabled list and in the Braves bullpen within two weeks. "They're all three pretty close now," he said.
Soriano, who's been on the DL six weeks with elbow tendinitis, made his first injury-rehab appearance Wednesday and allowed one hit and one walk with one strikeout in one inning for Class AA Mississippi. He threw 19 pitches and told team officials he felt fine. He is scheduled to throw again Friday for Mississippi and could be activated soon after."
May 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
In the race to see which power arm will bolster Atlanta's bullpen first, Rafael Soriano is a bit ahead of John Smoltz and Mike Gonzalez. Six weeks after closer Soriano went on the DL with a sore elbow, he's finally set to begin what the Braves hope will be a brief minor-league rehab assignment. Soriano is scheduled to pitch for Class AA Mississippi in games Wednesday and Friday. If those appearances are without incident, he'd be reevaluated to determine if he's ready to be activated."