Bradley’s Buzz: John Smoltz to … the stinkin’ METS?
John Smoltz had an intriguing 2009: Left the Braves, ripped Frank Wren, signed with the Red Sox, got cut in August, signed with the Cardinals, did a bit better, pitched two relief innings in postseason as the team got swept, filed for free agency. His final numbers for the season: Two clubs, three victories, eight losses, an ERA of 6.35.
We Atlantans monitored this mostly from afar. Smoltz didn’t pitch against the Braves. (Though he did manage to rip his former employer for its treatment of Tom Glavine.) But if reports from New York are correct, Smoltz would be given ample opportunity to exert the Smoltzian wrath firsthand. Because the Braves play the Mets 18 times in 2010.
Yes, the Mets. According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, “the Mets have been particularly active in dialogue with the 42-year-old Smoltz’s reps and would use him as a starter.”And two of the team’s other presumed pitching targets were lost Tuesday, when Ben Sheets signed with Oakland and Jon Garland with San Diego.
Writes Mike Puma of the New York Post: “That leaves John Smoltz as perhaps the last man standing if the Mets intend to address their rotation through the free-agent market. A club insider yesterday indicated GM Omar Minaya has been in contact with Smoltz, but the Mets will only sign the 42-year-old right-hander if they can do it cheaply.”
The Smoltz speculation isn’t exactly music to all ears. Here, from Will Leitch’s blog for New York magazine, is a sobering assessment:
“Omar Minaya and Co. think Smoltz is a legitimate, cost-efficient option. Smoltz struggled with the Red Sox last year, but was adequate with the Cardinals late in the season. He had been wanting to return to St. Louis, but found the Cardinals tight with the purse strings themselves after signing Matt Holliday. To make sure you have that chain right: Ben Sheets is too expensive for the Mets but not the A’s, and John Smoltz is too expensive for the Cardinals but not the Mets. Strange things happen in free agency, come late January.
“That said: When it comes to Smoltz, you have to wonder what either side is seeing in each other. This late in his career, Smoltz would ideally pitch for a contender, which — no offense, Mets — is absolutely not what they are right now. And the Mets would seem more ideally suited for low-risk, high-reward types like Sheets: At 42, there’s a lid on what Smoltz can achieve, even in a park like Citi Field where he might thrive. Smoltz is a complementary piece right now. The Mets need more than complementary pieces.
“That said, the Mets, if they sign Smoltz, can comfort themselves by knowing that two of the three members of the Braves’ great triumvirate pitched in Flushing at the end of their careers. Because no one will ever forget Tom Glavine’s time here, no matter how hard they might try.”
And here, from Dave on the Mets Lifer blog, is an even more plaintive cry:
“Stay away from Smoltz. Have we learned nothing from the Tom Glavine experiment? Or Julio Franco? All Braves players from the late 90’s to early 2000’s are pure Kryptonite. They’re a plague. A curse. A voodoo spell on New York baseball. Nothing good can come from having them on the Mets.”
Nothing good? I think not. Why, the renewed partnership of Smoltz and his little buddy Jeff Francoeur would do wonders for the New York economy. Think of all the money waiting to be banked in greens fees.
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147 comments Add your comment
John Smoltz
January 27th, 2010
3:39 pm
sucks.
Why Not
January 27th, 2010
3:42 pm
I thought Smoltz always wanted to pitch for Detroit. He should ask for 500,000 from them, pitch a year and be done.
Conyers Yellow Jacket
January 27th, 2010
3:54 pm
Mark: From the above responses, it appears that most either do not care if Smoltz pitches for
the Mets or not. I agree and will add that if he does and his arm holds up long enough, it could
help the Braves win maybe 3 more against the Mets than they would otherwise. Granted the Braves have considerably less than overpowering lineup; however Smoltz no longer has an overpowing arm.
VoiceOfReason
January 27th, 2010
3:56 pm
Smoltzie….What are you trying to prove? You are already a first ballot hall of famer, you had a couple of chances to bow out gracefully last year. Why don’t you be the bigger man, come back to the Braves, pitch in one games in the right uniform, and then retire. Live here, be loved here. You don’t have anything else to prove. They only thing you’re going to do with this fiasco is make yourself look stupid.
Dominique Wilkins
January 27th, 2010
4:00 pm
The Mets are having a heat check.
Van Helsing
January 27th, 2010
4:07 pm
The *REAL* Bob Horner would eat Frank Wren and Roger McDowell, not defend them for their ineptitude and failures.
Paul in RDU
January 27th, 2010
4:09 pm
First Glavine and now Smoltz going to the Mets? – it’s sad to see once great pitchers hanging on too long
BravesFan
January 27th, 2010
4:22 pm
I loved Smoltz in Atlanta, but it’s time for him to retire. This type news isn’t even interesting any more. Smoltz, join Glavine and Maddox and wait for the HOF to call.
Bob
January 27th, 2010
4:28 pm
How can Wren as GM of Baltimore cause so much disharmony (Wren vs.Manager Miller, Wren vs. Ripken, Wren vs. Dempsey, Wren vs. press, Wren vs. etc) plus through his moves as GM sink the Baltimore team to a an all time low. Then get the same job with the Braves and so far piss off, Cox, Glavine, Smoltz, Griffey, Furcal, Peavy, Chipper, Frenchy and make moves that will send the Braves to the bottom of the division. Is this a great country or what.
gayle
January 27th, 2010
4:32 pm
The fact that the Mets are considering Smoltz speaks to their lack of pitching. If ego could be translated into ERA, Smoltz could rival Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax.
The 18 games between the Mets and Braves will be interesting because it will be a pitching strong and no-hit team versus a team that can hit with no pitching.
Neither of these teams will be playing in October, but the games should be interesting.
JeanE
January 27th, 2010
4:35 pm
I love Smotlz but the Mets are even dumber than I thought if they sign him to a contract. His ego apparently won’t let him retire…Great pitcher, great Brave, not so sure about the person. Hang it up before you embarrass yourself further, John. And if we sign that spaghetti armed Johnny Damon, I will hurl (which is more than he can do with that arm). Matty D is our left fielder, or right, wherever we need him most.
Nativebird
January 27th, 2010
4:42 pm
This Ego maniac is solely interested in sticking it (even more than he has verbally) to the the former team that paid him hundreds of millions of dollars over his career. Why else would won return for peanuts to a Division rival? These Narcissists (ala Favre, Glavine, Clemens) are and have always been solely about MOI…and moi only. A career of believing your own headlines makes not a “nice guy” as these prima donnas would have you believe. These are not “nice guys” in the least. But be careful Mr. Smoltz, as the great Confucius teaches: “he who pursues revenge should first dig two graves”.
Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher
January 27th, 2010
4:59 pm
Give it a rest Smoltz, time to hang it up…. this makes me sick to my stomach
Matt the Brave
January 27th, 2010
5:03 pm
You know, there are a lot of people trashing Wren for making the move to bring in Wagner. I don’t think that it’s a bad move because we’ve got a kid down in AAA who will be on the major league squad come July who has closer-like stuff. Luis Valdez had 27 saves last year for Gwinnett, in addition to 71 innings pitches, 75 strikeouts, 19 walks, a .237 average against him, and a 3.38 ERA. He is playing in the Dominican Leagues this winter, and already has 2 saves and a 2.25 ERA in 25 innings. If anything happens to Wagner or Saito, we’ve got a backup ready to go.
Blobie
January 27th, 2010
5:12 pm
It killed me to see Smoltz and Glavin leave last year, but it was the correct call on both. I watched Smoltz pitch 4 or 5 starts last year and he seemed fine through 3 or 4 innings, but then everything went to hell. He hung a lot of breaking balls, sliders with no real bite, and he was also very unlucky. Bloops, seeing eye grounders, bad hops, etc. He just seemed rusty early on with Boston. He turned it around with St. Louis and showed he has something left. I don’t know if he can stay healthy all year starting and piling up innings (he seems like a 5+ inning starter). He seems better suited for a set-up man if his arm could hold up. I have never since the Braves entered the N.L. East wanted the Mets to win one game. Not Glavin no matter who they played. I think I will cheer for Smoltz to be successful and beat the Phillies, Marlin, etc. , but never the Braves. I don’t see the Mets with much this year. Thier plague will continue. I still wish Smoltzie the best. It seems like he will end up there.
bry22
January 27th, 2010
5:24 pm
Smoltz has been a whinning little terd ever since he did not get several million from the Braves last off season!! Cry me a handful, Mr, Weiner!!
tampadawg86
January 27th, 2010
5:41 pm
Smoltz is really starting to get more depressing than Brett Farve. Really Smoltzie, Wren was trying to be nice and telling you that you should just hangup your cleats and listen to fellow longtime teammate Chipper when he said he doesn’t want to be just an average player. You are a FOH. You have nothing left to prove man. You should of retired a Brave instead of trying to come back. I could careless about Glavine after he left us for the Mets for only 5 more million stinkin dollars. If you go to the Mets your pretty much telling all of us Braves fans who have rooted for you supported you through all your injuries and struggles and triumphs you had as a Brave that you don’t care about us. Really I thought you were the class act player that young prospects like Frenchy and BMAC should look up too. In reality your nothing but a selfish punk like all the rest of the other MLB players. I know Chipper has had his problems in his marriage and everything back in the 90s but really. He has been a class act. If anyone Chipper not John Smoltz has been the face of the Braves. Pure embarassment you are Smoltz. I’m embarrassed I stuck up for you when the Braves released you the way they did. I would rather have Tommy Hanson any day over your sorry ass!
Hetch Hetchy
January 27th, 2010
6:21 pm
Heck, I would like to see Smoltz go the Mets. He’s no good anymore. He’ll just make the Muts weaker.
Isn’t Smoltz a holy-roller? Isn’t pride a sin? How does he work around that one?
fieldofdreams
January 27th, 2010
6:21 pm
Why does Smoltz to the Mets strike me as ominous? Perhaps because the old geezer is a born again Christian who loves Jesus, knows that nothing is impossible because of it, and bears just a little bit of a grudge against his former employer? Not only that, as much as I wanted Frenchy gone, we got nothing for him, and he may have found new life in Citi’s Wright field. Ill winds are blowing,and Braves fans better buckle ‘yer britches, two of our own may vault them past us next year.
Mets Fan
January 27th, 2010
7:07 pm
Braves fans: Just because I’m arrogant, obnoxious, and a yankee who thinks the Braves are nothing but a bunch of dumb rednecks, is no reason to hate me.
Tim
January 27th, 2010
7:33 pm
Why are we talking about Smoltz and Wren? Herschel and Gayle said it well, but in spite of HOF Bobby, the Braves do have some chance. I know of no team in either league with better starting pitching. That is their chance. Simply stated: the Braves will likely lose again because HOF Bobby is afraid to take a chance and steal a base. t
The speed of McLouth and others will be wasted and again the Braves will be at the bottom of the majors in SB attempts. Bobby gets thrown out far more than their runners attempting to steal!
MR#2
January 27th, 2010
9:18 pm
wow how is this news worthy, hell sign with the mets so that he and francouer can reminese about when they were relevant, and then we can chipper homer off of him 6-9 times this year or if hes a starter the whole damn line up can, im all for it if it earns us an estra 3-4 victories
Jock
January 27th, 2010
10:17 pm
Hey Brave Fans,,,, Melky Cabrera was THE BEST GIFT your team has gotten in years..and I mean years! Not only can he hit, but he has an arm like a cannon. Something sorely missing in the Braves lineup for at least 10 years.
The Rickster
January 27th, 2010
11:18 pm
Now here’s a novel idea, only if you want the Braves to be back in the playoffs, and beyond….bring back Smoltz as the closer. Not only will he give over 100% per appearance, but will also be a great mentor and role model.
Syler
January 28th, 2010
2:05 am
I love the fact that everyone has completely ignored BSATL’s post about Smoltz’s numbers from last year, and are continuing to pout “But lookz at his ERAz last years! He sucks, washed up, let him go to da Mutz, ah dur”.
Mitchell
January 28th, 2010
3:24 am
I’d love to see him try to squirm out of having to pitch against the Braves… again.
I’m sure he would like nothing more than to pitch a shutout or something like that but we all know he doesn’t want to face the Braves. He would get killed. It’s like he wants it but can’t stand up to it… or something. Not sure what that means.
That is really amazing isn’t it. Tom Glavine pitched for the Mets. My God. I can’t believe that actually happened. That really blows my mind. The Mets suck. He pitched for the Mets. Crazy.
Tweets that mention Bradley's Buzz: John Smoltz to ... the stinkin' METS? | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
January 28th, 2010
4:38 am
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Tweets that mention Bradley's Buzz: John Smoltz to ... the stinkin' METS? | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
January 28th, 2010
5:28 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, ajc sports editor, Red Sox Fan, Nick Stekovic, Lauren Osmer and others. Lauren Osmer said: Hey remember how I wasn't angry at John Smoltz any more? SOMEBODY'S PULLING A FAVRE http://tinyurl.com/yzjcgzd [...]
funny-brave
January 28th, 2010
5:28 am
at least it’s not with the atlanta braves.just look at last year with smoltz. he poisoned the red sox.
did not help the cardinals at all.and his past attitude in atlanta was it’s about me and only me. no i will not be put in the bullpen,i will only be a starter, no matter how bad my arm might already be hurt.
but i can play all the golf i want with my bad arm. i will only accept any spring traning if i can go off
and do it by myself. THE BRAVES HAVE THE BEST STARTING PITCHING IN BASEBALL. EVERYONE SAY’S SO. SO PLEASE DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT BRINGING THIS TYPE OF POISON UPON THE BRAVES. JUST LOOK AT GLAVINE LAST YEAR. LET THE MUTTS HAVE HIM.
Bravo1
January 28th, 2010
10:59 am
Smoltz to the Mets? I didn’t know they needed a pitching coach.
don
January 28th, 2010
11:18 am
If Smoltz signs with the Mets, I wish him success. Unlike most blog observers, Smoltz has earned the right to speak out in regard to the actions of the Braves. If it gets down to Smoltz vs. Wren, the choice is not difficult. I’ll take Smoltz.
edward
January 28th, 2010
12:11 pm
I agree, Smoltz should just hang it up or realize he would be best suited for the ‘pen. He still had great stuff for 2 innings..The problem being he was starting and had to pitch for more. His ego and mouth cost him another bunch of saves to add to his resume. He is a lock for the hall but is making it harder to justify a first timer.
I like McDowell. He has done as well a job as he possibly can do. He took alot of raw talent last year and made them a winning rotation. Now if only Lowe would listen…I am sure they will regret not being able to trade him. The infield is strong and the bench is amazing. Damon would be a fun addition if it happens. We need those kids to hurry up and get here!!
Ex-Braves Fan
January 28th, 2010
12:35 pm
Sadly, Smoltz is taking the same road as all the other over the hill, washed up, injured players have taken. He simply cannot accept the end has come. He is going out like Steve Carlton. One of the greatest pitchers of all time, but check out his stats over the final few years, terrible. Simply, I want to remember John Smoltz as the 55 save or 20 plus win Cy Young winner. Not the 2-5, 6.50 ERA type years. Please John, call it a career. Come home to Atlanta and join the organization as a coach or something. You are no longer the dominate pitcher of yester year. Your time is past!!!
The Lemmer
January 28th, 2010
1:30 pm
Smoltzie to the Mutts? Lets hope so, at this point in his career all he does is throw batting practice, at least that way he can still help the Bravos cause hes DONE! Call it a carrer & head to the golf course John, its time.
Amber
January 28th, 2010
3:31 pm
Please, please, please. NOOOOOOOO!!!! I’ve always been a huge Smoltz fan, but I will have trouble maintaining that love if I see him in a Mets uni. Don’t make me burn my 29 jersey!!
Brave New World
January 28th, 2010
4:07 pm
Since The Mutts desperately need starting pitching, in addition to Smoltz they should also sign Glavine. And while they’re at it, they should see if Bret Favre would like a new career now that he’s once again retired from football.
Ashley
January 28th, 2010
9:18 pm
the Brett Favre of baseball.
funny-brave
January 28th, 2010
11:29 pm
with smoltz’s attitude,(me only) and with the way he has ran his big mouth about the braves over the
last year or two.player,coaches, and management.about how all mistreated him, if he does’ go to the
mutts, and with his 29 mph. fastball, would that not almost guarentee that the braves would finish
ahead of the mutts, not only this year, but every year that smoltz is a mutt, hey let’s even try to talk
the mutts into taking glavine back? the braves would finish ahead of the mutts for the next 10 year’s.
i do not feel any pity for smoltz not to have any common-sence to go quitley into the night. or is it that he has wasted all of his money? smoltz and farve,the two biggest clown’s of pro sports.
braves70
January 29th, 2010
12:29 am
The Braves caravan comes here to Nashville next week and I think I better get a restraining order against myself or I might greet Wrong Way Wren with a rotten tomato. That guy is on the way o becoming the worst GM in baseball history. Hopefully we can finish 5th behind Washington. That should get the Wren-man canned. Maybe Tom Glavine will be working for the Braves by then and will be given the priviledge of presenting Frankie with his pink slip and orders to clean out his office.
Wren may be in for a rough time here next week. The Nashville sports talk host will be at the caravan meeting and he has stated on the air many times that Frank Wren is an idiot and should be fired.
MitchC
January 29th, 2010
3:16 am
Mark, I despise the Metropolitans just about as much as anything or anyone on the planet. When Glavine left us to go there in 2002, I was incredulous. I do admit, that I had an incredible amount of satisfaction when Glavine struggled in his first two years there.
It would be very sad that a Hall of Famer like Smoltz would have to end his career with such a pathetic excuse for a baseball team. The Mets are a mess. Although I guess when a guy is going to be 43 years old in May, he has to go anywhere he’s wanted at that point, merely to hang on to a job.
If Smoltz does sign with the Metropolitans, I hope that the Braves have as much success as they did with Glavine when he pitched for the Mets.
Vicki
January 31st, 2010
10:29 am
It is time for John to retire. He was a great pitcher but he is trying to hold on too long.
Kent
January 31st, 2010
3:54 pm
I think it is pathetic that some players just don’t know when to hang it up. I thought Smoltz was a great pitcher. I am well aware of what he did for the Braves and think he deserves credit for all he has accomplished. But, he needs to realize that there comes a time for every athelete when continuing begins to diminish accomplishments. That time for Smoltz is here. Please, John, hang it up before you become a bad joke.
Robert 1-U
January 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
I like the Roberto Kelly idea!!!
The Looper
January 31st, 2010
10:16 pm
John Smoltz isn’t in a Braves uniform for a few reasons:
1. He doesn’t have it anymore, and the Braves, Red Sox and Cardinals know this, especially the latter now!
2. He has an ego bigger than Brett Favre’s apparently and just can’t let go. At least Favre still seems to have enough to help a team.
3. The Braves have Jurrjens, Hudson, Lowe, Hanson, and Kawakami as starters, and Smoltz made it clear long before he left Atlanta that he ONLY wants to start, even after all of his success as a closer. So you tell me where he’d go?
4. People were ready to string up John Schuerholtz and Bobby Cox in 1990 for letting long time veteran Dale Murphy go, and look how that turned out. With Murphy one playoff appearance, after Murphy 14 CONSECUTIVE playoff appearances!!! You don’t have to be a math major to figure out which one was better.
Get off your high horses about Smoltz being a Brave. Smoltz blew that when he chose championships over loyalty, JUST LIKE FAVRE! And they are both getting what they deserve!
My prediction, Smoltz will be gone from baseball by July, if he even starts at all! Retire with that little bit of dignity you have left, John!
Brave Fan With Logic
February 1st, 2010
12:17 am
I agree with you loooper. Some people need to realize Smoltz left the Braves not the other way around. Glavine couldnt cut it.
Why you all bash Wren drives me insane? Remember he traded Renteria for Jurrjens. Some moves take time as did that one as it looks like a steal now.
funny-brave
February 1st, 2010
5:59 am
i understand legand’s die hard in their home town, but with the braves it seem’s they get bashed
any way. look at smoltz’s era. innings pitched,and hell yes his attitude toward’s the braves.everyone
in baseball say’s the braves starting pitching is in the top 3 of any team in baseball if not the best.
so my question is just what the hell could smoltz do for the braves? he will not go to the bullpen,that’s a fact. to bring back smoltz would be poisoning the whole team for the 2010 season.
and the worst part is the fact that most fan’s have forgotten that smoltz was not a brave from the start, he was a detroit tiger, and traded to the braves. when chipper has to quit and not know when to
say it’s over i really hate to see all of the hell the braves are going to catch for telling chipper that it is over.
Joe
February 2nd, 2010
6:04 am
I’m a Mets Fan and really not looking for Smoltz on the team… He would not benefit the team at all…He is a great Pitcher and was a great Brave..
As for the Braves Pitching?? The Braves lost Vasquez, The hitting isn’t there and the pitching is suspect.. Possibly an 80 Win Season in 2010..