Smoltz/braves Press Conference 11:30 Today

[vols fan]

I hate to say it but one of the best might be hanging it up today.Season ending shoulder surgery is what I'm expecting him to say and that he's hanging it up.Very good guy on and off the field and has been a HELL of a leader in the Braves orginization for along time.Came in Monday night for relief in the ninth against the Marlins with a 4-3 lead and gave up 2 runs and blew the save.Braves still won but I think that was the final straw.Sad day for Braves fans.Watch out Tiger Woods,Smoltz is coming after you now

[Three Jack]

Wow, that's a shame. Even when it is a rival, I hate to see injuries. Especially when it is to someone who conducts himself the way Smoltz does.

[vols fan]

19 years as a Brave and some stats that stick out:
3.26 ERA for Career
1992 NLCS MVP
1996 Cy Young 24-8 with a 2.95 era
2002 National League Relief Award
15-4 in Postseason with 2.70 ERA

[tech fan]

i think he will come back next year

[Three Jack]

i think he will come back next year

I tend to agree with you, but if he doesn't, he has had a great career!

[vols fan]

Wow, that's a shame. Even when it is a rival, I hate to see injuries. Especially when it is to someone who conducts himself the way Smoltz does.

I think his time was about up anyway.He saved a few years of his career by going to the closer role but 19 years is alot these days.Glavine and Maddux might have a little in the tank cause they didn't have the power that Smoltz pitched with but all 3 of those guys were the shit for us in the 90's

[vols fan]

i think he will come back next year

As a closer will be his only chance if the surgery is successful.I think he says 19 years is enough and plays golf the rest of his life.He's a scratch golfer so don't think he won't be trying to find a tour to get on.He loves the competition.

[***THA FIX***]

He'll be back in 09' I just think he is having to much fun and his buddy Glavin will still be around I think he will be back.

[aplous]

I dont think he'll hang it up...his stuff is still nasty...did you see that sinking action he had 2 nights ago?

BUT, I'm heated, he's on 2 of my fantasy teams and I traded other closers b/c I had him coming back.

Bummer!

[TheRook]

All around nice guy. Got to know him when the Braves would come to Chicago and I worked in the skyboxes for the Cubs in the mid 90's. He'd have family and friends all the time in the boxes. Very genuine and not a typical "star"

Hope he comes back next year

[Spark]

All around nice guy. Got to know him when the Braves would come to Chicago and I worked in the skyboxes for the Cubs in the mid 90's. He'd have family and friends all the time in the boxes. Very genuine and not a typical "star"

Thanks Chuck ....












OMG ...

[Three Jack]

A couple of sentences from the ESPN article:

Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz will have season-ending shoulder surgery, but he hopes to return in 2009.

Smoltz and general manager Frank Wren declined comment until the briefing, but the pitcher said on his radio show that he will miss the rest of the season.

"I'm having surgery with the hopes of pitching beyond this year," Smoltz told 790 The Zone. "We're only kidding ourselves if we try to mess around any longer."

Still, the decision to have surgery raises serious questions about Smoltz's future. He turned 41 last month, and it would be highly improbable for a pitcher to come back from a major operation at his age

[TheRook]

Thanks Chuck ....












OMG ...

LMFAO....yeah I guess I just did pull a Lazar there didn't I?

Damn....lol


I gotta go run the 40 now...brb

[Three Jack]

Thanks Chuck ....












OMG ...

Now that is funny!!!!

Rook...did you challenge him to a 40? And I mean dash not ouncer!

[tech fan]

A couple of sentences from the ESPN article:

Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz will have season-ending shoulder surgery, but he hopes to return in 2009.

Smoltz and general manager Frank Wren declined comment until the briefing, but the pitcher said on his radio show that he will miss the rest of the season.

"I'm having surgery with the hopes of pitching beyond this year," Smoltz told 790 The Zone. "We're only kidding ourselves if we try to mess around any longer."

Still, the decision to have surgery raises serious questions about Smoltz's future. He turned 41 last month, and it would be highly improbable for a pitcher to come back from a major operation at his age

790 THE ZONE IS THE SPORTS TALK STATION I LISTEN TO EVERY MORNING.LAST NIGHT THEY SAID HE JUST SAID HE WAS GOING TO SHUT IT DOWN.HE COULD STILL BE A DOMINANT CLOSER NEXT YEAR WHEN HE COMES BACK.