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Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Age creeping up on Smoltz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
John Smoltz may remain the best athlete on the Braves and he hasn’t been out of shape a day in his life.
But he’s still 39 years old.
At that age, things are bound to happen. Smoltz’s groin problems are proof of that.
The Braves ace says he hopes to start as scheduled Saturday against Florida. But the damage is already done.
Smoltz has lost his past three starts, all games the Braves badly needed to win if they were going to have a chance at the wild card.
Monday night against the lowly Chicago Cubs, Smoltz left in the third inning after giving up his second three-run homer. He had obviously been in pain since several pitches earlier.
Until his past three starts, Smoltz was a candidate for the National League Cy Young Award. Now, his record is just 12-9 and his ERA has jumped to 3.86.
Smoltz’s three-game losing streak has come since he voiced his displeasure at not having his $8 million option for next season already picked up.
The Braves definitely need to bring Smoltz back for 2007 and that may not be his last season.
But age eventually catches up with everyone.
