John Smoltz hopes to be back pitching in 15 to 30 days and said he would consider returning to the closer role.
After going on the disabled list Tuesday with inflammation in the rotator cuff and a biceps tendon in his pitching arm, Smoltz said it's possible he would return to the closer role where he dominated during the 2002-04 seasons.
"Yes," he said during a phone interview Tuesday night. "Right now I'm sitting at ground zero, taking it day by day, looking at every option to help this team get to the playoffs and end my career the way I'd like to end it."
It was a surprising acknowledgment from Smoltz, who returned to his preferred starting role in 2005 after converting 154 saves in 3 1/2 seasons as a closer, including a National League-record 55 saves in 2002. He is 47-26 as a starter since the beginning of the 2005 season.
The condition of his shoulder, coupled with elbow problems for Braves relievers Peter Moylan and closer Rafael Soriano, has made Smoltz open-minded about moving back to the bullpen.
First, he has to heal. He has been ordered to go 5-7 days without picking up a ball.
"I won't rush back," he said. "I'll use the best judgment to do what it takes to come back and be successful. The last thing I want to do is bounce back and forth on the DL.
"I will be fine. The team will be fine. And the next time I throw will be because I'm ready."
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Smoltz says he'd go back to bullpen
Moderator: HMFFL
Smoltz says he'd go back to bullpen
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Smoltz says he'd go back to bullpen
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I don't think its the best move for the team because they need good starting pitching, but I'm ok with it because it is better than one great start, DL stint, one great start and so on. Lets hope he comes back soon and the young pitchers can give the Braves some quality starts. If they can, then the Braves can make a run because that bullpen would be loaded.
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If Smoltz hasn't proven to you yet that he knows what best to do for his arm and for his team, then what are you expecting, miracles every Friday night? If he says his arm just isn't there I believe it. We're talking about someone who knows a thing or two about gutting things out and I'm sure he would use that approach if he thought it would help. The bottom line is that he's old and nearing the end of his career. 5 years ago it didn't seem like he'd even be pitching these days. Personally, the fact that he's still around in incredible in itself.
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If he can't be a starter anymore, I don't want him to try. We have three good starters without him, a couple more than can be solid. The bullpen would become dominant with Soriano and/or Gonzalez. We'd be fine in the playoffs. It'll be tough to win the division without him, but we can definitely do it.
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HMFFL wrote:Say we make the playoffs, do we move Smoltz to the starting lineup?
I think it would depend. Obviously you'd be happy with Glavine and Hudson. If you're going to have a 3-man rotation maybe Jurrjens could fit in there too. If the doctors said he would be able to stretch it out for a few games then yeah I think you stick him back in there, but relief pitching is also extremely important in the playoffs so I wouldn't be too upset having him coming out of the 'pen at that point.