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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
157 comments Add your comment
dawgmancw
April 16th, 2012
9:16 am
First
dawgmancw
April 16th, 2012
9:16 am
At last…way to go Smoltzie..
Samantha
April 16th, 2012
9:16 am
Good Morning DOB, Great work. One more time I would like to ask a very very big favor for the last time. Would you please send my Email account to NEW MEXICO LEE. I promise we will takle this love affair off line where we wont bother you again PLEASE
Rusty
April 16th, 2012
9:17 am
#10 will be next. They’re gonna run out of numbers.
tulsabravo
April 16th, 2012
9:19 am
Well deserved. Congratulations Smoltzie!
Rufio
April 16th, 2012
9:19 am
It is certainly well deserved. It was a shame how both Smoltz and Glavine were treated by Frank Wren. They both deserved better after all those great years playing for the orginization. I hope it this helps heal any bad feelings.
It was a shame to see Smoltz go out the way he did that last season with Boston and St. Louis. He did not look good in Red that is for sure! I hope this returns Smoltz to wearing a Braves uniform in the future!
PMC
April 16th, 2012
9:20 am
Finally! Well done 29!
Paul From Milton
April 16th, 2012
9:21 am
Well deserved and I’ll be there. Congratulations Smoltzie.
Wendell
April 16th, 2012
9:22 am
9th!
Bring back the Thrashers.
Fire “C-VIV!”
Sid Vicious
April 16th, 2012
9:24 am
The greatest EVER to pitch for the Braves in my Lifetime…Besides Maddox & Glavine of-course…
Chris Vivlamore
April 16th, 2012
9:26 am
Wendell: Wow! That hurts.
Sideline Dude
April 16th, 2012
9:26 am
Retire Chipper’s number & maybe he’ll take the hint.
LBC
April 16th, 2012
9:27 am
Rufio,
Do you understand how managing a limited payroll works? I’m glad the Braves took the stances they did with Smoltz and Glavine. I wish they had been half as shrewd when putting together Chipper’s last contract.
But, in any case, I’m happy for Smoltzie (even though I think retiring numbers is a ridiculous practice to begin with).
lanier
April 16th, 2012
9:27 am
always thought Smoltz was a team player ever since he relieved but the ultimate team player for the Braves will always be Chipper. Remember when he went to left field?
Larry30
April 16th, 2012
9:28 am
My favorite brave of that era, I’ll be there to salute his career. What a gamer he was.
David O'Brien
April 16th, 2012
9:28 am
#10 will be next. They’re gonna run out of numbers. — Rusty
Smoltz will be the 9th number retired by the Braves (or 10 including Jackie Robinson’s No. 42).
The Yankees have 15 retired numbers (16 including Robinson’s 42).
ATLRedMan
April 16th, 2012
9:29 am
Wren had nothing but K’s the way he handled Glavine and Smoltz’s departures. Well deserved honor for Smoltzie!
Bluestreak
April 16th, 2012
9:32 am
Wendy, I agree with you on the Thrashers, but think C-Viv should stick around to cover them when they do.
Acutally, let Wineypeg keep the Jetshers, since they still can’t make the playoffs. I say we go way back and get the Flames back. Calgary never burned and they have a better history in the playoffs.
Bluestreak
April 16th, 2012
9:33 am
And about time on Smoltze! Now, they just need a statue of Glav, Mad Dog and Smoltze together out in Memorial Grove.
Great!
April 16th, 2012
9:34 am
Chipper and Andruw are next!
Lets put the Jones boys next to each other!
Samantha
April 16th, 2012
9:35 am
Can you do this for me DOB? PLEASE
A.B. Normal
April 16th, 2012
9:42 am
Pro baseball is big business first and foremost. There will always be situations where a beloved player gets traded, waivered, etc. and the home town folks go bonkers. When an organization does the right thing by the guy in the end you can’t ask for much more. Congratulations Smoltzie!! (and thanks for the memories!)
dre
April 16th, 2012
9:42 am
Enter your comments here
Game Changer
April 16th, 2012
9:43 am
John Smoltz SHOULD BE THE BRAVES MANAGER TODAY
dre
April 16th, 2012
9:45 am
lanier – praising a pro athlete for switching positions…LOL. Yeah, that guaranteed $14 million takes a little of the pain and agony away from that difficult, stressful decision. haha.
lfp6
April 16th, 2012
9:46 am
DOB, 42 with the Yankees is actually ’semi-retired’. Mariano Rivera, their closer, was ‘grandfathered’ in as he was wearing 42 before the Great Retirement. Just so you know
myside
April 16th, 2012
9:47 am
Is this an honor or more of an apology for the way he was treated by the Braves front office?
mike
April 16th, 2012
9:48 am
there is no way the Braves will retire Andrum Jones number…thats just silly. Chipper…yes…smoltz..yes…..even Avery maybe but not AJ….LOL
Blindog
April 16th, 2012
9:49 am
Samantha if it were up to you ,who would you want to trade for, who do you think Wren needs to go after?
Chief Knockerhoma
April 16th, 2012
9:50 am
Long Overdue! Congrats to Smoltzie.
Save room out there for #10. Maybe they should retire his at the same time as Smoltz!
Big Lou
April 16th, 2012
9:51 am
*SMH* @ the lonely men that pretend to be women. Attention is overrated.
Go Bravos!!! Make it 6 in a row!
Samantha
April 16th, 2012
9:55 am
Blinddog, NObody
Rebel Brave
April 16th, 2012
9:58 am
Just thinking… What will the Yankees do when they retire Mariano’s #42?
Sleeze
April 16th, 2012
9:58 am
Rick Camp’s number will be next..
2012
April 16th, 2012
10:00 am
Smoltz for President 2012! Chipper for VP!
2012
April 16th, 2012
10:00 am
Enter your comments here
Blindog
April 16th, 2012
10:02 am
Good answer,girl we will win with the team we have!
zgoldatl
April 16th, 2012
10:04 am
Just bought my tickets for the 6th of June. Way to go Smoltzie, you deserve it
Samantha
April 16th, 2012
10:07 am
Of couse we will Go Braves
Ed Whited
April 16th, 2012
10:10 am
Jackie Robinson? I thought the #42 hanging out there was Rick Mahler’s retired number.
reckingball
April 16th, 2012
10:14 am
myside,AtlRedMan,Rufio………Other than not paying Smoltz a ridiculous amount of money when they thought his pitching days might be over, WHAT did the Braves do to Smoltz, or how did they mistreat him?
Samantha
April 16th, 2012
10:23 am
Good Morning reckingball
jimp
April 16th, 2012
10:27 am
Retiring #’s used to mean they were never to be used, but these days they un-retire them to snag big free agents. Still a well earned gesture from the Braves.
bravesgrl4life
April 16th, 2012
10:33 am
As soon as I saw this, I went ahead and got tickets ordered. My niece will be here by then and hopefully be able to go with me. If not, I’ll find someone in my Braves circle that will be willing to sit in Section 205
bravesgrl4life
April 16th, 2012
10:34 am
And, Samantha, it was Carroll Rogers who wrote this blog, not DOB.
Samantha
April 16th, 2012
10:36 am
Hey braves girl
THE MAJOR
April 16th, 2012
10:36 am
I am happy that the Braves are retiring his number. Also the truth is the Braves made a wise decision to let Smoltz go when they thought he was through. The Red Sox and Cardinals found out quickly what the Braves had already known.
Covin
April 16th, 2012
10:37 am
zgoldatl – You may want to check your ticket order. Smoltz’s number will be retired on June 8th, not the 6th.
derek b
April 16th, 2012
10:49 am
When will Wren wake up and let Chad Durbin go? 3 HRs in 3 appearances this season? This guy will be a HUGE liability to the Braves if he’s put in a close game…
The Blogger Formerly Known as Billy
April 16th, 2012
10:53 am
think AJ gets his number retired here?
dood
April 16th, 2012
10:53 am
#55 will be next. KPowers!
AzCat
April 16th, 2012
10:58 am
Andrew Jones?!? Steve Avery??!?!!? Just goes to show how devalued retiring numbers would get if you let bloggers make the decisions. Well deserved in Smoltzie’s case. Congrats and kudos!
Dave P
April 16th, 2012
10:59 am
Was eagerly waiting for this announcement and just bought my tickets. I’ve been in the building for Maddux, Glavine, and Cox, and will be there for Chip next year. I think it will be a long time before we see any more.
AzCat
April 16th, 2012
10:59 am
Andruw…..my bad.
Dave P
April 16th, 2012
11:00 am
Oh, and please fire Chad Dur-Brink. Learn from your mistakes, Wren.
Hmmmmmmmm
April 16th, 2012
11:01 am
He is an arrogant SOB! He is NOT Hall of Fame material, just a little better than average Major league pitcher….
Spider29
April 16th, 2012
11:09 am
Congratulations to Smoltzie! I “adopted” him after his first start for the Braves and he became my favorite Brave. Since I moved out of Georgia, I’ve only been able to attend a couple of games but I have already ordered tickets for John’s jersey retirement ceremony. He deserves this honor.
Josh Hogan
April 16th, 2012
11:10 am
Never have another smoltzie……….
David O'Brien
April 16th, 2012
11:12 am
He is NOT Hall of Fame material, just a little better than average Major league pitcher…. — Hmmmm
Add a few more m’s to your name, while you’re at it. With all due respect, it’d make as much sense as that comment.
joekill
April 16th, 2012
11:12 am
congrads to Smoltzie
Rusty
April 16th, 2012
11:13 am
David, I was referring to Chipper by #10, not the number of jersey’s we’ve retired.
ChrisfromSacramento,Ca
April 16th, 2012
11:17 am
Well deserved. Just booked my tickets for my flight and game tix for that weekend.
The Braves do a great job with these ceramonies. I loved the Maddux, Glavine, and Cox nights and I wont miss this one.
Larry
April 16th, 2012
11:18 am
Samantha,
Are you this dumb? If DOB gives to anyone someone’s personal information and either you or the lover you seek turn out to be a serial killer where does this leave Dave and the AJC?
Grow up or go away…and for goodness sakes stop sounding like a desperate airhead!
Samantha
April 16th, 2012
11:21 am
Mind your own Business Larry
elainer7
April 16th, 2012
11:31 am
Its about time! Thanks Smoltzie for all of the memories!
g
April 16th, 2012
11:32 am
samantha’s a wack job
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ
April 16th, 2012
11:33 am
congrats; overdue. well deserved. the order and timing of the big 3 getting to cooperstown is going to be interesting.
Hmmmmmmmm
April 16th, 2012
11:34 am
@Dave,
Ok, how many m’s would you like? I stand by my assertion that he is NO Hall of Famer… I guess time will tell…. and I have been wrong in the past….
I am 100 percent right about his arrogance…. That’s from personal encounters with the guy…
George
April 16th, 2012
11:35 am
Braves release Chad Durbin
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120416&content_id=28592781&vkey=pr_atl&c_id=atl
Moeman
April 16th, 2012
11:35 am
Larry – desperate airhead she may be. Most likely a dude with no life.
Samantha – again go away. Your bogus act is old and tired.
Dwayne
April 16th, 2012
11:39 am
Yea Larry…mind your own business…If Samantha is looking for another Ted Bundy then let her look!!!
Samantha
April 16th, 2012
11:42 am
Thank you Dwayne
Fragile Bob Horner
April 16th, 2012
11:47 am
I am still waiting for my number to be retired!
Brave Decisions
April 16th, 2012
11:47 am
What to do with Chad http://wp.me/p2lqJ1-49 New at Brave Decisions.
TheOnlyBravesFan
April 16th, 2012
11:58 am
Bravesgrl, I’m willing to come sit in 205…. ain’t that bad…. LOL
This is well deserved for Smoltzie, glad it has finally happened.
Chsamp
April 16th, 2012
12:04 pm
Andruw Jones is not entirely ridiculous, despite the fact that he failed to live up to his potential. 368 HR, 10 consecutive GG’s, 5-time All-Star. He is at least worthy of consideration.
Hmmmmm is super smart
April 16th, 2012
12:05 pm
Regular: 213 wins, 154 saves, 3.33 era, 1.176 whip, 3084 Ks, 3473 innings pitched in 21 seasons.
Post Season: 15-4, 4 saves, 2.67 era, 1.14 whip, 199 ks, 209 innings pitched. Cy Young, world champion.
Wow, if Hmmmm is correct the average MLB pitcher must be good to only be a little below those stats, especially when you consider that the average MLB pitcher has a career of 6 years or less.
Hmmmmm is super smart
April 16th, 2012
12:07 pm
Oh and Ty Cobb is in the Hall of Fame, so I don’t think arrogance is a bar from admission
Phillip
April 16th, 2012
12:08 pm
I grew up watching these guys (Maddux, Glavine, Smoltzy, Chipper, Walt Weiss, Keith Lockhart, Andres Galaragga, Michael Tucker, Ryan Klesko, Javy Lopez and Eddie Perez).
I still can’t believe we only won 1 WS. But it was a great ride.
I went to the Maddux retirement ceremony, Glavine’s retirement ceremony, and Bobby’s! I’ll defnitely be there for Smoltzy’s. And next will be Chippers!
reckingball
April 16th, 2012
12:14 pm
Chsamp 12:04………”despite the fact that he failed to live up to his potential.”
When the fact that Andruw failed to live up to his potential, was due to indolence, then IMO, I would say no, he does not deserve the honor of having his number retired.
But like I say, just my opin.
Beat the Mutts! Go Braves!
goodday.
Jay
April 16th, 2012
12:15 pm
WELL overdue. Congrats Smoltzie, you earned it and then some. Hall of Famer.
Skeeterleg
April 16th, 2012
12:31 pm
I was standing outside a game when I was 15 or 16 where the players drive out. Smoltz jumped out of his car while waiting for the light to change and pull into traffic. He signed some cards for us and a handful of others while his wife was urging him to hurry the heck up and get back in the car. Didn’t seem arrogant at all to me…just offering my experience.
Skip & Pete Fan
April 16th, 2012
12:33 pm
Not sure I want to know exactly what’s goin on, but I’m curious as to the tv deal everyone’s talking about. I haven’t seen the details. Anyone know what’s going on?
Najeh Davenpoop
April 16th, 2012
12:34 pm
“Chipper and Andruw are next!”
They already gave Andruw’s number to Francisco. I agree, though. Andruw did enough to get his jersey retired.
Andruw as a Brave: .839 OPS, 368 HR, 1117 RBI, 1683 H, 1045 R
Dale Murphy as a Brave: .829 OPS, 371 HR, 1143 RBI, 1901 H, 1103 R
Not much of a difference in my opinion. And that doesn’t take into account Andruw’s fantastic defense.
Mountain Man
April 16th, 2012
12:43 pm
Here’s one DOB…to make up for the lowsy treatment he received on the way out the Brave’s can announce that Smoltz will be taking Chip Carey’s place in the booth effective immediately upon the hanging of said jersey.
jw
April 16th, 2012
12:45 pm
To the person fussing about letting bloggers decide what numbers to retire – the person posting Jones/Avery could have really peed you off and said Andy Messersmith and Pascual Perez – the former the Patron Saint of Free Agency and the latter the Patron Saint of Directionally Impaired!!!!!
Don’t go postal on a Monday – have fun with this!
Bo
April 16th, 2012
12:51 pm
Congrats Smoltzie, you were a joy to watch on the mound. Now, can we trade Carey for Smoltz in the booth? What an improvement that would be.
reckingball
April 16th, 2012
1:01 pm
Still curious as to why people think that Smoltz got lousey treatment, on his way out from the Braves organization?
USAF92
April 16th, 2012
1:01 pm
Well damn. In my excitement to see that Chad Homer A Day Durbin had been released I just got Rick Rolled. Shameful.
Chip Carey's Mama
April 16th, 2012
1:04 pm
MM @12:43…..Stop picking on my boy.
That is a terrible idea.
The Braves gave Smoltz a chance to start a broadcasting career, when it is obvious that he has no talent for it.
Spider29
April 16th, 2012
1:04 pm
I met and talked to Smoltz several times. Each time he was very nice and signed autographs and let us take pictures with him. Maybe he can come across as arrogant but that was definitely not my experience in meeting him. John was my favorite of the big three and I loved watching him pitch. John Smoltz deserves the honor of having his number retired, just as his mound mates did. I will be there on June 9 to see it!
J-MAN
April 16th, 2012
1:06 pm
I think Smoltz if you give him a month to get back in Major League Shape could still pitch and throw about 95 mph. He would be better than Chad Durbin for sure
reckingball
April 16th, 2012
1:08 pm
a
reckingball
April 16th, 2012
1:10 pm
I would be surprised if he is not inducted into the HOF.
LJ
April 16th, 2012
1:12 pm
Yankees will have no trouble retiring 42 for Mariano, they have already retired number 8 twice. Once for Yogi and the other for Bill Dickey, they both wore 8 and Yankees retired it twice.
64 year Braves fan
April 16th, 2012
1:13 pm
John Smoltz a great pitcher who will soon be enshrined in Cooperstown.
Darrell
April 16th, 2012
1:16 pm
Can they not retire 2 numbers in the same season? Smoltz retired a good while ago.
urban redneck
April 16th, 2012
1:17 pm
wonder if john rocker is next.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 16th, 2012
1:19 pm
The fake MLB URL was a nice touch on that Rickroll.
bravesfan#829
April 16th, 2012
1:21 pm
I alway thought Smoltzie was one of the best big game/ playoff pitchers ever. His postseason numbers are incredible. I think power pitchers do better in the playoffs and world series. If Smoltzie had been the #1 starter in some of those series instead of #3, I believe we would have won more than 1 World Series.