A change-up: How does Congressman John Smoltz sound?
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz reacts after throwing his 3,000th career strikeout in 2008. AJC file.
Within minutes of U.S. Rep. John Linder’s announcement that he won’t seek a 10th term in Congress, the phone began vibrating.
Late this afternoon, a Washington source called with this surprise: One of the people likely to approached as a candidate for Linder’s seat by Republicans will be former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz.
Smoltz has been paying down some dues in several Republican contests in Georgia over the last two years. He’s been part of a fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. Tom Price of Roswell, and if memory serves, he cut a robo-call for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss in ‘08.
Linder’s retirement has caught many Republicans off-guard. Who replaces him could be settled in a quickly approaching July primary – the district is trending Democrat, but not that fast. Advantage could go to someone who could put up his own cash, especially in this economy.
Two GOP names certain to be considering a congressional race are state Sens. Don Balfour of Snellville and David Shafer of Duluth. But both are tied up in a desperate session of the Legislature. Both would be free to raise money for a federal contest, but time becomes a big issue.
Smoltz’ advantage in name recognition would be inestimable. And right now, he’s a bit footloose. He hasn’t yet signed a contract for the season. This was written by my AJC colleague Jeff Schultz earlier this month:
Spring training opens next week and John Smoltz doesn’t have a job. This might unnerve most 42-year-old pitchers who don’t want to hear from baseball people or medical people or certainly Joe-in-section-312-with-nacho-sauce-on-his-chin people that his career might be over. But the waiting doesn’t bother Smoltz.
“I’ve been doing what I’ve always done this time of year — throwing every other day and getting ready for the season, ” he said by phone this week while driving to his workout. “I’m at a good place with everything that has gone on in my life. I’m just going to let this play out.”
He is not retiring. Nor has he decided for certain that he will hold off signing with a team until midseason — as Pedro Martinez did with Philadelphia last July — but acknowledges that is a possibility.
“A lot of people are speculating right now, ” he said. “But I can assure you it hasn’t come from anything that I’ve said.”
It’s possible that playoffs for Smoltz could come a little earlier this year.
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212 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
February 27th, 2010
7:47 pm
How does Congressman John Smoltz sound?
Since you asked, it sounds like loose stools plopping into the toilet bowl.
atlnative123
February 27th, 2010
7:48 pm
go smotlz’ie. Your experience for congress far exceeds what obambi had for our white house. I hope you run and win.
Ole Guy
February 27th, 2010
7:48 pm
So this is the way Georgia politics plays out…look, he may be one helluva guy but, for cryin out loud, he’s a ball player…a damn fine one but…HE’S A BALL PLAYER with no real track record of political acumen. His popularity AS A BALL PLAYER may be parlayed for political advantage, but HE’S A BALL PLAYER. Then again, this would appear to be simply another example of Georgia politics at its finest…those with no real function-related background making decisions for the rest of us (to be recited by a baratone to the accompaniment of the choir humming Battle Hymn of the Republic).
Are you saying Jesus Christ can't throw a curveball!?!
February 27th, 2010
7:48 pm
He should have plenty to do without muddying around in politics. Work for the Braves front office like Tommy. And to the fool who thinks the President of the United States is the least qualified in history or has the lowest polls I just have to ask: did it hurt to watch your boys (the GOP) lose by 9.5 MILLION votes thirteen months ago?
Go turn on your Fox News and dive right back into the mental gymnastics required to believe a single person is a marxist, socialist and a nazi all at the same time. Idiots.
Wifebeatin' fool
February 27th, 2010
7:51 pm
There is no way he will run. Why, do you ask? Because he will have to answer why he bit*h slapped the taste out of his wife’s mouth while having dinner at the Sea Island Cloister.
strom
February 27th, 2010
7:52 pm
Enter your comments here
Sgt Schultz
February 27th, 2010
7:59 pm
Bradley’s article about Smoltz was great. He’s a pitcher who is not such a great guy. Why would anyone want him representing us anywhere except on the mound?
Pierce Randall
February 27th, 2010
7:59 pm
I didn’t realize John Linder’s seventh district was so exurban. I thought it was more Gwinnett proper…
Sgt Schultz
February 27th, 2010
8:05 pm
Sorry! I linked the wrong article a second ago. This is the one worth reading.
Bring My Smelling Salts. Now!
February 27th, 2010
8:09 pm
Just what Georgia needs… another jerk in Congress. Everyone remember Smoltz’s response to gay marriage? (”What’s next, marrying animals?”) Hell, even Chipper Jones isn’t likely that crude. If you don’t remember, plenty of very deep-pocketed gay Atlantans sure will.
UNO
February 27th, 2010
8:12 pm
I’d be surprised to see a Christian choose to run as a Republican ever again in the state of GA. Look at the company one would have to keep..
Martha
February 27th, 2010
8:27 pm
He doesn’t live in the 7th! He lives in Alpharetta. That’s the 6th Congressional District. Love to see him primary Tom Price!
Captain America
February 27th, 2010
8:30 pm
wifebeatin’ fool – If he does run, he’d just say he asked for and was given forgiveness from his terrified wife, his friends at church, Braves fans, and, of course, Jesus.
EP
February 27th, 2010
8:33 pm
Enter your comments here
Snellvillian
February 27th, 2010
8:33 pm
Maybe if Balfour runs for Congress he’ll actually show his face in Snellville (his current district)! We would love to meet him!
BIOMASS
February 27th, 2010
8:33 pm
That Bradley article is pretty weak. If that’s all you got against Smoltz, come on.
I support his anti-gay marriage stance.
He hit his wife? What a cowardly thing to type. Proof? Like a police report?
I still don’t want a religious zealot in elected office.
Jim Bunning is great!
EP
February 27th, 2010
8:36 pm
Just remember that Pres. Obama has LOWERED you taxes while in office. I love what Smoltz did for the Braves, but needs to start politics on a local level, if that is what he really wants to do.
Sportsfan
February 27th, 2010
8:38 pm
Hey let’s have Smoltz run against Jeff Hullinger. The Hullman, I read in the AJC is unemployed.
Bring My Smelling Salts. Now!
February 27th, 2010
8:42 pm
Baby Say said it best.
Ga Values/Bo Chambliss lobbyist/ Tom GA Hunter
February 27th, 2010
8:47 pm
It really ticks off the libs. So, I like it. Yeah.
hoopdog
February 27th, 2010
8:49 pm
would be a typical GOP move – get a man who espouses family values in public but doesn’t come close to them in private. smoltz has the intellectual capacity of a catcher’s mitt, so there is no way the party will let hum run.
Mike
February 27th, 2010
8:50 pm
Yes, that’s just what the state of Ga. needs. Another two faced, bible thumping, homophobic, republican pig in state politics. The bubbas and good ol’ boys in the state house really know how to pick ‘em. Of course if they’re going for the dumb jock, trailer trash, redneck contingent then I guess Smoltz is as good as any other.
Russ
February 27th, 2010
8:51 pm
Snellvillian – If you come out to public meetings. you might see Senator Balfour’s face. I have appreciated Senator Balfour’s representation. As for experienced candidates, I would definitely say Sen. Balfour has plenty of legislative expertise. He understands the consitituents in this district.
I like John Smoltz personally, and its rather sad to see some are threatened by someone who unashamedly express their faith in Jesus. If you chose not to be a believer so be it. But you don’t have to call names just because you fear, yes “fear”, those who chose to believe this world didn’t just happen. I digress. John has a name, but I’m not into candidates of convenience. I agree with the poster who suggested that John try his hand at local politics, maybe something at the state level before jumping in the shark tank in Washington.
TPM
February 27th, 2010
8:54 pm
It is funny how much can change in a year. There are more people in the GOP leadership calling on him to run for congress than there are MLB teams calling him to pitch. I guess Frank Wren does know what he is talking about.
Red
February 27th, 2010
8:55 pm
Not sure where the talk is coming from on running for Linder’s seat unless Smoltz would like to actually move to the district. Has he even set foot here? Does he even know what counties make up the district? Does he know where Good Hope, GA is? Try running someone who actually knows what makes up the district. I would love to see Shafer run. He’s young, entrenched, can raise money, good politics, good family.
Ward
February 27th, 2010
8:57 pm
After years of having to endure the leftist rantings of my favorite musicians and actors (and the urgings that I should be more ‘tolerant’ of them), forgive me as I really savor the intolerance of leftist baseball fans telling Smoltz to shut up… and he hasn’t even SAID anything yet!
OHREALLY
February 27th, 2010
8:59 pm
so many comments to respond to…
A) I didn’t see anyone say that conservatives have a lock on morality, or a line to God. Though liberals typically are the first to call Christians, or anyone else of faith for that matter (though not Muslims…too p%$$y for that) a moron, or a simpleton, or an idiot.
B) The comments about Obama being the least qualified (or at least the thinnest record), and lowest approval ratings in his first term…yeah…those are FACTS. Just b/c you don’t like them, doesn’t make them any less true
C) Wait till the end of this year, when your ‘Bush’ tax-cuts go away…and try telling yourself that Obama cut your taxes.
On to the point of the article. I don’t want John Smoltz as a Congressman for the same reason I didn’t want Obama as President…no track record to judge, and no experience to draw from. Don Balfour will win this seat.
ObombUBinliden
February 27th, 2010
9:00 pm
Limbaugh Needs to Exercise Yea where doing so great with the non religious zealot prick we have now1
ObombUBinliden
February 27th, 2010
9:05 pm
hey hoopdog what family values does douche bag Clinton have?
ObombUBinliden
February 27th, 2010
9:06 pm
Captain America your wife is afraid of you. She told me so at motel 6,
ObombUBinliden
February 27th, 2010
9:07 pm
Hey Red did you have the same complaints about Hillary? Guess not!
DannyX
February 27th, 2010
9:11 pm
Divorce Is a CHOICE John Smoltz. Although I say “Love the Sinner, hate the Sin,” I pretty much judge you unfit for public office. Jesus Himself spoke directly against the sin of divorce.
Folks let us reflect. Divorce will destroy the institute of marriage. Allowing divorce will eventually lead to gay marriage. Then animal marriage is next.
Vote for the Bible. Vote against sin, and evil Smoltzie. Smoltz is good friends with infamous adulterer Tiger Woods!
God created “Adam and Eve,”….. NOT…. Adam and Eve then Bimbo Cindy.”
Divorce is a CHOICE!
Obomb Us Binl Lande
February 27th, 2010
9:13 pm
DannyX Thank god we have someone perfect like you! Go blow u r self!
BIOMASS
February 27th, 2010
9:22 pm
Good point about Smoltz and Tiger. That could be touchy, politically.
Red
February 27th, 2010
9:25 pm
obombu – yes I did actually. Since I am not living in New York, my opinion on that did not matter. But since I am in the 7th, my point is relevant. Smoltz is not registered in the district and does not live here. And as I said just how much does he know about this district? I’m personally tired of imports, what some call carpetbaggers, being shuffled around by party apparatchiks to run in key areas. It works in Europe but not here.
Obomb Us Binl Lande
February 27th, 2010
9:28 pm
Yea Red I’m sure you did.
Red
February 27th, 2010
9:38 pm
I’m sorry. I guess anonymous people trolling blogs know more about what I’ve said and done than me. My bad. I guess I forget the “don’t feed the troll” rule.
Old Physics Teacher
February 27th, 2010
9:38 pm
Oh great! All we need – another pampered entertainer who will be making major economic decisions based upon what he learned in high school while majoring in PE class and dating the head cheerleader. His credentials are only surpassed by Madona. When, oh when, will we start electing people whose current decisions are based on past successful ones in service to our nation rather than their political beliefs.
Obomb Us Binl Lande
February 27th, 2010
9:39 pm
red u r soooo sad.
Obomb Us Binl Lande
February 27th, 2010
9:40 pm
hey red put your BIG GIRL panties on!
ttibitz
February 27th, 2010
9:57 pm
I love John Smoltz. However, it will be a long time before I vote for another Republican. Maybe after the nation recovers from the devastation of Reaganomics and the NeoCon crimes.
I also agree. No more religious zealots.
SLP
February 27th, 2010
9:57 pm
I would love to watch smoltz, again and again, make an idiot of himself in the spotlight. Run John, run.
maddawg913
February 27th, 2010
10:09 pm
isn’t it funny how all the hate and name calling comes from the so called “party of tolerance”!!
Left and Right Sheep
February 27th, 2010
10:14 pm
All these leftist regressive that are screaming NO to this and that about Smoltz running make me laugh.
Get an independent thought for once in your life.
You throw charges at the right about being sheep and yet you go into a polling place
and pull a lever for every name with a (D) beside it. Now who is the sheep?
JD in Marietta
February 27th, 2010
10:15 pm
EP, which President has lowered our taxes? Its certainly not Prezbo who has spent 3 times as much as Bush did in less than a year! How does that lower taxes when your spending increases by 300% ? Was your comment a joke because it certainly appears that way.
ncsurfer
February 27th, 2010
10:16 pm
we independents laugh at you dems and repubs feuding, knowing that our votes ultimately decide the outcome of elections lol !
JD in Marietta
February 27th, 2010
10:18 pm
NCSurfer, you are obviously a liberal disguising yourself as an independent. Give it up.
The Truth Prevails
February 27th, 2010
10:21 pm
John at least you got a chance of winning being a Republican! The Demorats (the party of NO morals) are going to the house in 2010!
JD in Marietta
February 27th, 2010
10:23 pm
Yes Chiparm, your party consists of independent thinkers capable of making decisions based on emotions, while the rest of us make our minds up based on facts, intuition, and the fact that most of us work for a living. Which branch of the govt do you work for? USPS?
ncsurfer
February 27th, 2010
10:25 pm
on the contrary, i’m a conservative independent and i don’t trust either party until they prove their worthy.