UPDATE: Smoltz Designated for Assignment

Jason from IIATMS just told me that he heard on XM radio that John Smoltz is en route to Atlanta today “for personal reasons.” One wonders if we’re going to have a retirement announcement or something like that shortly.

Insta-take on zero information: if he retires rather than allows the Sox to DFA him, he leaves on as high a note as he can under the circumstances. Sure, the on-the-field end will have been an ignominious one, but the overall message will be “Smoltz knew it was time to go.” A Mike Schmidt ending as opposed to a Steve Carlton ending.

Can’t say I’d blame him.

UPDATE: Smoltz was DFA’d. I’ll need more time to process this, but I’ll write something about it in the near future.


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Alex
14 years ago

I’m both a Yankee fan and an unapoligetic Smoltz fan, so I’ll have mixed feelings if the beating they gave him being last we’ll ever see of him. Great pitcher, perfect competitor, a class act all the way.

KPJ
14 years ago

Too late, according to Boston.com he’s been DFA’d already.

http://www.boston.com/

RickyB
14 years ago

Interesting to note that NESN refers to Terry Francona and the Red Sox’ “head coach.” Yikes.

Levi Stahl
14 years ago

Though I’ve always known I liked Smoltz, I was amazed to discover just how much I was rooting for him to pull it all together for one last game last night, and there were moments—the wicked pitch with which he struck out Damon in the 1st—when I was temporarily able to believe.

I’ll miss watching him pitch.

jorge says no
14 years ago

Does anyone thinl smoltz will go to the minors and work on his stuff?

gunznrozez
14 years ago

i’m less familiar with the DFA process.  any reason he wouldn’t get picked up by someone?  his k/9 and bb/9 indicate he could still put it together, and his velocity from what i understand is pretty good.