Expect a new-look Smoltz upon return

[HMFFL]

Veteran right-hander alters delivery to take stress off shoulder

t's still unknown when John Smoltz will be able to begin his second tour in the Braves bullpen. But when he does, he might look a little different to opposing hitters.

While facing live hitters for the first time since going on the disabled list on April 28, Smoltz displayed and baffled a group of his teammates with the three-quarter delivery that has allowed him to successfully pitch through pain during different portions of his career.

It was just a simulated setting at Turner Field on Thursday afternoon. But it was also one that showed Smoltz might not be on the disabled list much longer.

Attempting to alleviate some stress from his troublesome right shoulder, Smoltz has chosen to lower the release point of his pitches with this three-quarter delivery. Consequently, Greg Norton, Mark Kotsay and the rest of the five Braves that faced him saw the 41-year-old hurler's patented slider gain even more bite and a fastball that might be even more lively than the one produced with his overhand delivery.

"His slider is nasty," Norton said as he looked at one of Smoltz's many pitches, which produced frozen glares at the plate.

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[mattlanta]

Hopefully this won't affect any of his pitches or the effectiveness of them. Smoltz was really off to a good start, so I would expect him to slowly get back into the rotation and find his groove again.