John Smoltz

John Smoltz

Smoltz with the Braves in 2007
Pitcher
Born: (1967-05-15) May 15, 1967
Warren, Michigan
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 23, 1988, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 2009, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 213–155
Earned run average 3.33
Strikeouts 3,084
Saves 154
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Inducted 2015
Vote 82.9% (first ballot)

John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie"[1] and "Marmaduke,"[2] is an American former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1988 to 2009, all but the last year with the Atlanta Braves. An eight-time All-Star, Smoltz – with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine – was one of a celebrated trio of starting pitchers who propelled Atlanta to perennial pennant contention in the 1990s, highlighted by a championship in the 1995 World Series. He won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award in 1996 after posting a record of 24–8, equaling the most victories by an NL pitcher since 1972. Though predominantly known as a starter, Smoltz was converted to a reliever in 2001 following his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and spent four years as the team's closer before returning to a starting role. In 2002, he set the NL record with 55 saves, and became only the second pitcher in history (joining Dennis Eckersley) to record both a 20-win season and a 50-save season. He is the only pitcher in major league history to record both 200 wins and 150 saves.

Smoltz was one of the most prominent pitchers in playoff history, posting a record of 15–4 with a 2.67 earned run average (ERA) in 41 career postseason games, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1992 NL Championship Series; Andy Pettitte later broke his record for career postseason wins. Smoltz led the NL in wins, winning percentage, strikeouts and innings pitched twice each, and his NL total of 3,051 strikeouts ranked fifth in league history when he retired. He also holds the Braves franchise record for career strikeouts (3,011), and the record for the most career games pitched for the Braves (708) since the club's move to Atlanta in 1966; from 2004 to 2014, he held the franchise record for career saves. Smoltz left the Braves after 2008 and split his final season with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. Since retiring as a player, he has served as a color commentator and analyst on television. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015, his first year of eligibility.

Minor leagues and trade to Atlanta

John Smoltz was an All-State baseball and basketball player at Waverly High School in Lansing, Michigan before the Detroit Tigers selected him in the 22nd round of the 1985 amateur draft.[3] He was the 574th selection of the draft.[4]

Smoltz played initially for the A-class Lakeland Tigers minor league team, and then moved on to the AA-class Glens Falls Tigers in 1987, posting disappointing records of 7–8 and 4–10.[5] On August 12, 1987, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves. The 1987 Tigers were in a three-team race, chasing the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East division lead; in need of pitching help, Detroit sent their 20-year-old prospect to the Braves for the 36-year-old veteran Doyle Alexander. While Alexander did help the Tigers overtake the Blue Jays for the division title, he was out of baseball by 1989. Smoltz, on the other hand, became one of the cornerstones of the Braves franchise for the next two decades.

Major leagues

Early years (1988–1997)

Smoltz made his major league debut on July 23, 1988. He posted poor statistics in a dozen starts, but in 1989 Smoltz blossomed. In 29 starts, he recorded a 12–11 record and 2.94 ERA while pitching 208 innings, and was named to the NL All-Star team. Teammate Tom Glavine also had his first good year in 1989, raising optimism about the future of Atlanta's pitching staff.

Over his career, Smoltz threw a four-seam fastball that was clocked as high as 98 miles per hour, a strong, effective slider, and an 88–91 mph split-finger fastball that he used as a strikeout pitch. He also used a curveball and change-up on occasion, and in 1999, he began experimenting with both a knuckleball and a screwball, though he rarely used either in game situations.[6]

Smoltz began the 1991 season with a 2–11 record. He began seeing a sports psychologist, after which he closed out the season on a 12–2 pace,[7] helping the Braves win a tight NL West race. His winning ways continued into the 1991 National League Championship Series. Smoltz won both his starts against the Pittsburgh Pirates, capped by a complete game shutout in the seventh game, propelling the Braves to their first World Series since moving to Atlanta in 1966. Smoltz had two no-decisions against the Minnesota Twins, with a 1.26 ERA. In the seventh and deciding game, he faced his former Detroit Tiger hero, Jack Morris. Both starters pitched shutout ball for seven innings, before Smoltz was removed from the 0–0 game during a Twins threat in the eighth. Atlanta reliever Mike Stanton pitched out of the jam, getting Smoltz off the hook, and Morris eventually pitched a 10-inning complete game victory.

The next year, Smoltz won fifteen regular season games and was the MVP of the 1992 National League Championship Series, winning two games. He left the seventh game trailing, but ended up with a no-decision as the Braves mounted a dramatic ninth-inning comeback win. In the World Series that year, Smoltz started two of the six games in the series, with a no-decision in Game 2 and a win with the Braves facing elimination in Game 5.

Before the 1993 season, the Braves signed renowned control pitcher Greg Maddux, completing – along with Smoltz and Glavine – what many consider to be the most accomplished starting trio ever assembled on a single major league team. Smoltz again won fifteen games, but suffered his first postseason loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS despite not allowing an earned run.

Smoltz had a 6–10 record in the strike-shortened 1994 season, and during the break, had bone chips removed from his elbow.[8] Returning as the Braves' #3 starter, he posted a 12–7 record in 1995. Smoltz had shaky postseason numbers, avoiding a decision despite a 6.60 ERA. But Smoltz and the Braves won the franchise's only World Series in Atlanta, thanks in great part to Maddux and Glavine, who had begun to overshadow Smoltz.

The following season, 1996, was the best of Smoltz's career. He went 24–8 with a 2.94 ERA and 276 strikeouts, including winning a franchise-record fourteen straight decisions from April 9 to June 19.[8] He won the NL Cy Young Award with 26 of the 28 first-place votes. Smoltz's effectiveness in 1997 was only slightly less than his Cy Young season, but frugal run support limited him to a 15–12 record. Smoltz also received a Silver Slugger Award for his batting.

Injuries and move to the bullpen (1998–2004)

Smoltz continued to post excellent statistics in 1998 and 1999, but he was spending significant time on the disabled list and missed about a quarter of his starts. In 1999, Smoltz began experimenting with both a knuckleball and a three-quarters delivery, though he rarely used either in game situations.[9]

He underwent Tommy John surgery prior to the 2000 season, and missed the entire year.[10] When he was unable to perform effectively as a starter in 2001, Smoltz made a transition to the bullpen, filling a void as Atlanta's new closer down the stretch, replacing John Rocker.

In 2002, his first full season as a closer, Smoltz set a National League record with 55 saves, topping the previous mark of 53 shared by Randy Myers (1993) and Trevor Hoffman (1998), but falling two short of Bobby Thigpen's major league record of 57; he tied the record on September 22 in a 4–1 win over the Florida Marlins, and broke it on September 27 in the first game of a doubleheader, a 3–1 road win over the New York Mets. Smoltz finished third in the Cy Young Award voting; Éric Gagné equalled his new record a year later with the Dodgers. Injuries limited Smoltz slightly in 2003, but he still recorded 45 saves with a 1.12 ERA in 64⅓ innings pitched. In 2004, Smoltz finished with 44 saves, but was frustrated with his inability to make an impact as a closer during another Braves' postseason loss. That year, he broke Gene Garber's franchise record of 141 career saves; his final total of 154 saves was eventually surpassed by Craig Kimbrel in 2014.

By this point, Smoltz was all that remained of the once-dominant Atlanta Braves' rotation of the 1990s. Tom Glavine had moved on to play for the Mets, a divisional rival, while Greg Maddux returned to his old team, the Chicago Cubs.

Return to the rotation (2005–2008)

After three years as one of baseball's most dominating closers, the team's management agreed to return Smoltz to the starting rotation prior to the 2005 season. His renewed career as a starter began inauspiciously. He allowed six earned runs in only 12⁄3 innings—matching the shortest starts of his career—as the Braves were blown out on Opening Day by the Marlins. Poor run support contributed to an 0–3 start despite stronger pitching performances by Smoltz. After these initial difficulties, though, things fell into place. At the All-Star break, Smoltz was 9–5 with an ERA of 2.68 and was chosen for the 2005 NL All-Star team. Smoltz gave up a solo home run to Miguel Tejada in the second inning of the American League's 7–5 victory and was charged with the loss. For his career, he was 1–2 in All-Star games, putting him in a tie for the most losses.

Smoltz finished 2005 at 14–7, with a 3.06 ERA and 169 strikeouts while allowing less than one hit per inning. Smoltz had answered the critics who doubted he would be able to reach the 200-inning plateau after three years in the bullpen. Nonetheless, Smoltz's increased workload caused him to wear down towards the end of the season.

Despite a sore shoulder, Smoltz pitched seven innings in the Braves' 7–1 win over the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the 2005 NL Division Series; it was the only game the Braves won in the series against the eventual National League champions. The victory over Houston gave Smoltz a 13–4 record as a starter (15–4 overall) with a 2.65 ERA in the postseason. He has the second most postseason wins (15) behind only Andy Pettitte with 19. They are followed by Glavine (14) and Maddux (11).

In 2006, Smoltz finished the season with a record of 16–9, an ERA of 3.49, and 211 strikeouts. He was one of four pitchers tied for the NL lead in wins, and was third in strikeouts. The fact that the Braves bullpen blew six of Smoltz's leads in 2006 robbed him of a strong chance at a 20-win season.

Smoltz in 2007

On September 21, 2006, the Braves announced they had picked up Smoltz's $8 million contract option for the 2007 season. On April 26, 2007, Smoltz agreed to a contract extension with the Braves. The extension includes a $14 million salary for the 2008 season, a $12 million vesting option for 2009 dependent on his ability to pitch 200 innings in 2008, and a $12 or $13 million team option for 2010 dependent on his ability to pitch 200 innings in 2009.[11]

2007 was a year of reunions and milestones for Smoltz. On May 9, he faced Maddux for the first time since July 10, 1992. Smoltz earned a win in a 3–2 victory over the San Diego Padres; Maddux received no decision. On May 24, exactly eleven years to the day after recording his 100th win, Smoltz recorded his 200th win against Glavine.[12] He faced Glavine three other times, faring 3–1 overall against him. On June 27, Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux all recorded wins on the same day. On August 19, Smoltz set the new Braves strikeout record by striking out the Arizona Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds. It was his 2,913th strikeout, passing Phil Niekro on the club' all-time list; he struck out a season-high 12 in the game.[13] He finished the year 14–8 with a 3.11 ERA and 197 strikeouts. The stalwart pitcher was the only holdover on the Braves roster from their 1991 worst-to-first season until Glavine returned to the Braves after an absence of several years following the 2007 season.

On April 22, 2008, Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in major league history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts, and the fourth pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters for one team, joining Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton.

On April 28, 2008, Smoltz was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to an inflamed right shoulder.[14]

Return to relief (2008)

On May 1, 2008, Smoltz indicated that he intended to return to being a relief pitcher. After coming off the disabled list on June 2, 2008, he blew his first save opportunity in three years. Two days later, the Braves placed him back on the disabled list. Smoltz underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on June 10, 2008.[15] His contract expired at the end of the season, and the contract offer from the Braves was not sufficient to keep him.[16]

Boston Red Sox (2009)

Smoltz with the Boston Red Sox

In December 2008, several members of the Boston Red Sox organization, including pitching coach John Farrell, vice president of player personnel Ben Cherington, and assistant trainer Mike Reinold, flew to Atlanta to participate in a 90-minute workout with Smoltz. Throwing for only the second time since having surgery on a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder, he threw a 50-pitch side session and showcased not only his tremendous progress since the surgery, but an arsenal of well-developed pitches which made him so successful throughout his career. He impressed the Red Sox enough during the workout that less than a month later, a one-year contract was offered by the organization.[17]

On January 13, 2009, Smoltz signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox for a reported base salary of $5.5 million with roster time incentives and miscellaneous award incentives which could net as much as $10 million.[18] He made his first start in the Red Sox rotation on June 25, allowing seven hits and five runs through five innings.[19][20] Smoltz posted a 2–5 record over eight games with an 8.32 ERA and no quality starts. He was designated for assignment on August 7 after a 13–6 loss to the New York Yankees, giving the Red Sox ten days to release or trade him, or send him to the minors.[21] The Red Sox offered Smoltz a minor league stint in order to prepare him to be placed in the bullpen, but he rejected the offer.[22] On August 17, the Red Sox released Smoltz.[23]

St. Louis Cardinals (2009)

On August 19, 2009, Smoltz signed with the St. Louis Cardinals; he made his debut against the Padres on August 23. In his first game for the Cardinals, he went five innings, striking out nine and walking none, while setting a Cardinals franchise record by striking out seven batters in a row.[24]

That win against the Padres with the Cardinals was his only win with them that season. Smoltz finished 1–3 with an ERA of 4.26 with the Cardinals. He was 3–8 with an ERA of 6.35 overall with the Red Sox and Cardinals. In Game 3 of the 2009 NL Division Series, Smoltz pitched two innings of relief in a losing cause, allowing four hits and an earned run while striking out five.[25]

Number retired

John Smoltz's number 29 was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 2012.

On April 16, 2012, the Braves announced that they would retire Smoltz's number 29.[26] The ceremony, which took place before the June 8 game against the Toronto Blue Jays, included speeches by former broadcaster Pete van Wieren, former teammate Matt Diaz and former manager Bobby Cox.[27]

After retirement

In 2008 and 2010, Smoltz served as a color analyst alongside Joe Simpson for Braves games on Peachtree TV. Nationally, Smoltz has been an analyst for MLB Network and called regular season and postseason games for TBS.[28] In 2014, he was hired by Fox Sports as a game analyst. He will be paired with Matt Vasgersian and call games in the No.2 booth.[29] He has also joined Fox Sports South and SportSouth to be an analyst for select Braves games during the 2014 season.[30] Smoltz will replace Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci, his colleagues from MLB Network, as the lead analyst for Major League Baseball on Fox for the 2016 season, teaming up with Joe Buck.[31]

Smoltz was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2015,[32] which surprised many observers; he was the first starting pitcher since 1987 to be elected despite having fewer than 250 wins and only one Cy Young Award, and the first such starter ever elected on the first ballot. Voters may have been swayed by the opinions of Maddux and Glavine, who had both recommended the election of Smoltz in their own induction speeches in 2014.

Personal life

Smoltz with the Cardinals on September 3, 2009

Smoltz met his first wife Dyan Struble at the Omni Hotel in downtown Atlanta; the couple had four children before divorcing in 2007 after 16 years of marriage.[33] Smoltz lives in Alpharetta, Georgia and also has a home at Sea Island, a golf resort. On May 16, 2009, Smoltz married the former Kathryn Darden at his home with 70 friends and family in attendance.[34] Smoltz is a Christian..

Smoltz is a good friend of professional golfer Tiger Woods; the two often golf together.[35] Woods has stated that Smoltz is the best golfer outside of the PGA Tour that he has observed.[36] He is said to have a plus 4 handicap. Smoltz is also involved in the sport of bowling.[37]

Smoltz counts Doc Rivers as a personal friend dating back to Rivers' playing days in Atlanta. In the edition of January 12, 2008 of the Boston Globe, Rivers is quoted as saying, "I offered him my apartment... I just told him about Terry and the Red Sox organization. I told him it's a no-brainer."

Smoltz is also an accomplished accordionist, and has starred in a television commercial for The Home Depot.

Politics and philanthropy

Smoltz produced an automated campaign phone recording on behalf of the candidacy of Ralph E. Reed, Jr. for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia during the 2006 primary.[38]

It was speculated that Smoltz would run for Congress in 2010 as a Republican candidate to fill the departing John Linder's seat in Georgia's 7th congressional district.[39]

On April 22, 2012, Smoltz hosted a fundraiser for Andrea Cascarilla, a Democratic candidate for State Representative in Michigan's 71st House District.[40] The 71st District encompasses Waverly Senior High School, where Smoltz was an All-State baseball and basketball player.

Smoltz and his good friend Jeff Foxworthy teamed up for the charity event "An Evening With Smoltz and Friends" on November 9, 2008 at the Verizon Amphitheater in Alpharetta to raise money for the John Smoltz Foundation, which has supported numerous charitable endeavors in the Atlanta area over the past decade.[41]

Accomplishments

Fans at Turner Field stand and applaud after Smoltz's 3000th career strikeout on April 22, 2008.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smoltjo01.shtml
  2. ↑ "John Smoltz inspires Milton youth baseball team". northfulton.com. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ Porter, David L. 2000. "John Smoltz" in The Biographical Dictionary of American Sports, 1440–1441. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group
  4. ↑ "1985 MLB Draft History – Round 22". Mymlbdraft.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  5. ↑ Porter, David L. 2000. "John Smoltz" in The Biographical Dictionary of American Sports, 1440–1441. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group.
  6. ↑ Neyer, Rob and Bill James, The Neyer-James Guide to Pitchers. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. ISBN 0-7432-6158-5
  7. ↑ Does sports psychology really work? by Daniel Engber – Slate Magazine
  8. 1 2 Whiteside, Larry (October 1996). "Braves' John Smoltz Makes A Pitch for Cy Young Award". Baseball Digest. Vol. 55 no. 10 (United States: Lakeside Publishing Co). pp. 22–25. ISSN 0005-609X. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  9. ↑ Neyer, Rob and Bill James, The Neyer-James Guide to Pichers. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. ISBN 0-7432-6158-5
  10. ↑ Kuenster, John (July 2000). "Without John Smoltz, Braves May Be Pressed To Set New Winning Record". Baseball Digest. Vol. 59 no. 7 (United States: Lakeside Publishing Co). p. 17. ISSN 0005-609X. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  11. ↑ Bowman, Mark (April 26, 2007). "Braves give Smoltz an extension: Veteran almost certain to finish legendary career in Atlanta". MLB.com.
  12. ↑ Bowman, Mark (May 24, 2007). "The Official Site of The Atlanta Braves: News: Game Wrapup". Atlanta.braves.mlb.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  13. ↑ Jeff Lutz / MLB.com (August 19, 2007). "The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  14. ↑ The Associated Press (April 30, 2008). "Smoltz Put on Disabled List With Sore Right Shoulder". New York Times.
  15. ↑ "Smoltz has surgery, future as pitcher uncertain", Sports Illustrated, June 10, 2008
  16. ↑ Braves' decision on Smoltz is upsetting
  17. ↑ Bradford, Rob "How John Smoltz Convinced The Red Sox He Was Worth A Chance" Retrieved from WEEI.com on January 28, 2009.
  18. ↑ "Red Sox sign free agent righthanded pitcher John Smoltz to one-year contract". Boston Red Sox. MLB. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  19. ↑ Ian Browne / MLB.com. "Smoltz signs offer sheet from Red Sox". Boston Red Sox. MLB. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Smoltz to Red Sox; Baldelli, Penny will join him". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Smoltz designated for assignment". Boston.com. August 7, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Smoltz won't go to Boston bullpen, time with Sox likely done". Soxblog.projo.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  23. ↑ Jon Paul Morosi (August 17, 2009). "Red Sox officially release former Cy Young winner". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  24. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres – Recap – August 23, 2009 – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. August 23, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  25. ↑ "2009 NLDS Game 3". ESPN. ESPN.
  26. ↑ Bowman, Mark (April 16, 2012). "Braves to honor Smoltz by retiring No. 29". MLB.com. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  27. ↑ Rogers, Carroll (June 8, 2012). "Smoltz calls No. 29 retirement coolest moment of his life". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  28. ↑ John Smoltz joins TBS as an analyst. Associated Press. March 16, 2010.
  29. ↑ Best, Neil (March 10, 2014). "John Smoltz joins Fox's MLB roster". Newsday. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  30. ↑ http://msn.foxsports.com/south/story/fox-sports-south-sportsouth-announce-2014-braves-telecast-team-040314
  31. ↑ Schilken, Chuck (December 22, 2015). "John Smoltz to replace Tom Verducci and Harold Reynolds during Fox's baseball coverage". LA Times. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  32. ↑ "John Smoltz: A Hall Of Fame Tribute". ESPN. ESPN.
  33. ↑ Bowman, Mark (February 9, 2007). "Smoltz, wife to end 16-year marriage". MLB.com.
  34. ↑ url = http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/05/19/john_smoltz_marriage.html
  35. ↑ Official Website for Tiger Woods Archived November 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  36. ↑ Tiger Woods Joins Mike and Mike > 950 ESPN > Audio Relevant audio at 8:15
  37. ↑
  38. ↑ Not sad to see end of primary
  39. ↑ "John Smoltz For Congress?". Yardbarker.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  40. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/events/280892101995592/
  41. ↑ Mark Bowman / MLB.com (October 14, 2008). "Smoltz, Foxworthy team up for charity". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  42. ↑ "ESPN – Smoltz wins Branch Rickey Award – MLB". Sports.espn.go.com. September 25, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  43. ↑ SluggerWV (April 18, 2008). "Slugger's Tales from the Rails: Big night for Chipper, Smoltz, and the Braves". Sluggerwv.blogspot.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.

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