Former Atlanta Braves legend John Smoltz is set to join his third team in the last 12 months. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the scoop:
Free agent pitcher John Smoltz will accept the Cardinals' offer to join the club as its fifth starter after clearing waivers at noon (St. Louis time) today, barring an unforeseen waiver claim, multiple sources said Tuesday.
There was some talk that the Dodgers and Marlins also had interest in Smoltz, but it looks like St. Louis' offer of the fifth starter spot is what did the trick. This may have also helped:
Two of Smoltz's ex-Atlanta Brave teammates — Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa and starting pitcher Adam Wainwright — participated in an organizational lobbying effort since the Red Sox made clear they no longer saw a fit for Smoltz in the American League.
I wish Smoltz the best of luck... at least better luck than he had with the Red Sox.
0 recs | 48 comments
Why?
Why would St Louis sign him as a starter? He has BP written all over him.
justincredubil02 - August 19, 2009
Justin do you mean bullpen or batting practice?
The Keith Lockhart Era - August 19, 2009
Zing!
Sparhawk - August 19, 2009
Live from STL
We had a LENGTHY conversation about Smoltz last night – me the braves man and several of my die hard yet full-baseball knowledgable cardinal fan friends from here in st louis.
First, I’m very excited – Smoltz should be willing to sign anything and everything given to him, and I hope to meet him and share a few words many a time. The whole Busch Stadium area invites fans to interact with players, and hopefully I’ll be able to meet one of my long time baseball idols. Perhaps I’ll invite him over for steak.
Second, there’s no way in EFFING hell he will start as the regular 5th starter. Sure, they said he will, sure, he’ll start, but given the schedule for the remainder of the year, he might make one start per three weeks. Says the multitude of Cards fans around here.
Third, Dave Duncan is a magician. For real, he’s turned worse arms into better ones, and he made that Weaver douchebag pitch well for one post season. Most people around here think Duncan can work with Smoltz throughout his remaining three potential starts this year, to get him to a point of post season ready.
Which brings my fourth point – the Cards are the best team in Baseball right now. They cant seem to lose, and cant seem to hit less than a mile all night. General consensus is that Smoltz can tool around this season with Dunc, and get ready, and come playoff time, deep playoff time, they can throw Smoltz in for two/three innings whenever they need.
I’d love comments.
traphicg - August 19, 2009
Could you get a poster signed for me?
sddbaker - August 19, 2009
correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that Smoltz will be post-season eligible, as he signed after the deadline.
Bmacbandwagon - August 19, 2009
actually, i did not know that
shit. If that rule’s official, looks like a whole group of baseball heads missed the ball last night…
traphicg - August 19, 2009
Like I said, I cold be mistaken, but I think that’s the deal. Can anybody confirm/ refute?
Bmacbandwagon - August 19, 2009
spelling fail
could
Bmacbandwagon - August 19, 2009
The deadline is 9/1. That’s the waiver trade deadline.
BullManUGA - August 19, 2009
I do think he'd be better suited for the bullpen
but I don’t think he’ll be a disaster as a starter, if that’s the route they take.
VivaLosBravos - August 19, 2009
Anyone else feel similarly?
royhobbs - August 19, 2009
i don’t follow basketball. Is that Lebron James?
10-4 - August 19, 2009
Seriously who is that?
someguy917 - August 19, 2009
The Mailman!
Geez, you people need to get out more!
justincredubil02 - August 19, 2009
Seriously
I know the NBA has a shit-reputation right now, but c’mon, either I’m showing my age (I’m not even 30 yet), or yous childdlins’ need to recognize one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Karl Malone.
royhobbs - August 19, 2009
lol. I remember the glory days of the Jazz – Hornaceck, Stockton, Malone & company. That was back when I actually liked the NBA (Granted, I was raised on the Dynasty Bulls).
The NBA now cannot hold the 1990’s jockstrap.
justincredubil02 - August 19, 2009
Great teams those were
I remember the Mailman. I don’t consider myself old. 1992 Dream Team was still the best Olympic basketball team ever assembled. Ewing, Robinson, Malone, Jordan, Pippin, Stockton, Mullen, Barkley, Bird, Drexler, Magic, Laettner…
Andy Braves Fan - August 19, 2009
the average win was by around 40 points
traphicg - August 19, 2009
goosebumps just thinking about that…
justincredubil02 - August 19, 2009
soup du jour - August 19, 2009
LOL
Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc.
royhobbs - August 19, 2009
F*** the Jazz, especially Malone and Stockton, two of the dirtiest players in the history of the NBA.
mvandonsel - August 19, 2009
It was a joke. From me anyway. I’m well aware of Karl Malone’s late career title chasing ways.
10-4 - August 19, 2009
So, Karl Malone to the Cardinals, yes?
Ha.
The Keith Lockhart Era - August 19, 2009
Basketball is a joke of a sport. NCAA or NBA that shit is terrible. They might as well have 5 guys line up and see which ones can jump the highest and which ones are the tallest and then average all the numbers together and declare a winner.
Make dunking worth 1 point or raise the goal to 16 feet and maybe I’ll watch, but when you are only 2 feet away from the goal with your feet on the ground it hardly seems like competition.
If I wanted to watch a bunch of freaks do tricks I’d watch the Globetrotters or the circus.
someguy917 - August 19, 2009
Damn
Tell us how you really feel.
royhobbs - August 19, 2009
Yeah, John Smoltz is the MLB version of Karl Malone.. Sad
Mighty Healthy - August 19, 2009
I was thinking more of a certain GB Packer, er Jet, er Viking?
Bmacbandwagon - August 19, 2009
If someone says that name one more time, i will go postal here at the office…
justincredubil02 - August 19, 2009
Brett……
mvandonsel - August 19, 2009
10-4 - August 19, 2009
great. Now, people are dead because of you.
justincredubil02 - August 19, 2009
its not the first time.
10-4 - August 19, 2009
wow. I understand if someone doesn’t care for the NBA, but NCAA basketball is legit. The fact that you think all ballplayers can jump and shoot 2-footers and are tall tells me that you have no idea about the sport.
If someone cannot get excited over college basketball, I question their fan-hood.
justincredubil02 - August 19, 2009
low blow
calling someone’s fanhood into question is a serious allegation.
Couldn’t agree more though. Love the collegiate game, but I’m proud of the fact that I can only name about 10 NBA franchises.
VivaLosBravos - August 19, 2009
Basketball is basketball no matter who is playing. I should be able to get just as excited to see professionals play a sport as amateurs. And its not just cause Tech’s basketball team sucked last year. It wasn’t exciting when they were in the final four either.
A scoring saturated sport takes all the excitement out of watching. There is no anticipation. I would rather watch golf. But go ahead call my fanhood into question I don’t really care.
someguy917 - August 19, 2009
Consider it questioned!
More basketball games are decided in the last 20 seconds of game-time than any other sport, so I don’t really see how it lacks excitement or anticipation.
To each their own though.
justincredubil02 - August 19, 2009
I have one rule
And that is that I will not argue on the internet. I will comment and defend myself, but will not argue, so I will let you have your basketball. I still end up at ten Tech games a year.
someguy917 - August 19, 2009
i dont see what him signing with the Cards now as any different than going to the BoSox then. It was an obvious move at getting a ring. Only difference is that it wasnt as obvious with the Sox as it is apparent that the cards are freakin awesome right now.
traphicg - August 19, 2009
It isn't.
The only difference with me posting this now, as opposed to back then, is I was a lot more sympathetic to everyone else who was in as much disarray that Smoltz would abandon Atlanta like that.
royhobbs - August 19, 2009
i hear that
i also have the luxury of being ecstatic that one of my all time favs is coming to my city
traphicg - August 19, 2009
The way he’s pitched this year it’s a shame he didn’t end up in FL.
Fischerking - August 19, 2009
I’m just glad the Phillies didn’t try to sign him.
The Cards are a good team. Hopefully it’ll work out for him. It’s just sad things ended in Atlanta the way they did.
I just have no clue at his age and coming off surgery, why he’d want to pitch some more. He should have retired a Brave.
Sparhawk - August 19, 2009
F*** you John Smoltz..and F*** the Mets and Jeff Francoeur too!
I guess I am still bitter about the loss yesterday lol..
WeStillHaveBobby - August 19, 2009
Elliot Nesstle
Mark Lempke - August 19, 2009
“Two of Smoltz’s ex-Atlanta Brave teammates — Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa and starting pitcher Adam Wainwright — participated in an organizational lobbying effort since the Red Sox made clear they no longer saw a fit for Smoltz in the American League.”
Correct me if im wrong but Wainwright never pitched for the “Atlanta” Braves so technically he was never a teammate of Smoltz.
rockybull - August 19, 2009
Is it just me,
or do the Dodgers show interest in every big-name free agent?
JurrjensFan - August 19, 2009
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