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Thursday, March 27, 2008
Smoltz has “best day” and new mindset
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Before I put Dark Star in my rearview mirror for another year and we take this act north, we’ll quickly tell you about an interesting morning here at the ballpark.
The past and the future collided, at least figuratively. One minute we’re talking to John Smoltz about his bullpen session — it went very well — and the next I’m watching big Jason Heyward take batting practice. More on that in a minute.
First, the Smoltz update.
Bearded Icon threw about a 20-minute session in the bullpen beyond right field this morning, then talked about it being the best day he’s had all spring, no discomfort in his sore shoulder, all systems go for his planned April 6 start.
When Smoltz has the me-against-the-world tone (or at least me-against-the-skeptics tone) that he had today, that’s usually a good sign for the Braves. Means he’s feeling good and eager to prove wrong whoever it is he believes is questioning his ability to be the ace he’s been, or questioning his spring throwing regimen, or whatever. Questioning something.
I firmly believe that Smoltz thrives on this scenario, which he probably exaggerates a bit in his mind for these purposes. Or maybe he’s just been on the ol’ blog here and seen the comments from some, or just heard from friends that they’re talking about him on the radio back home.
Point is, you can tell when he’s in a mood, when he acts as though he’s tolerating your questions, but that he’s running the show and he’s not going to allow your line of questioning, or the doubters or skeptics, to affect him whatsoever. When, of course, that’s precisely what is happening - like I said, he thrives on this.
It’s almost as though he’s got to have something to come back from, someone to prove wrong, to make the motivational forces complete. And right now, he’s got plenty.
He’s got injury (shoulder strain), doubters (he has pitched in only one game all spring), skeptics (why did he follow this program), and of course, Father Time (Smoltz will be 41 in May) all conspiring against him. Or at least that’s what I’m sensing is going on in that complicated mind of his.
But hey, I should probably stick to telling you what I know to be facts.
He strode out to the bullpen today and threw for 20 minutes without any hint of the soreness in the trapezius muscle, the problem that led to his being scratched from his Friday start and led the Braves to decide he’ll start the season on the disabled list and be activated — provided no setbacks — to make his first start April 6 against the Mets and probably Johan Santana in a Sunday afternoon game that will provide just the big-game atmosphere that Smoltz absolutely lives for.
“I got everything accomplished that I wanted to,” Smoltz said of today’s session. “It went really well. It was great. It was the best day I’ve had down here.”
He said this with a tone that said, Told you so, all you alarmists.
“I just needed some time for it to settle down,” Smoltz said. “Now it’s settled down.”
Smoltz said he threw a normal bullpen, threw all his pitches, and that the ball felt great coming out of his hand (pitchers always talk about how the ball felt coming out of their hand).
Smoltz will take two days off, then come back and throw in a minor league game here in Florida. How long would he throw in that game?
“I’m just gonna throw until I’ve had enough,” he said. “I got off the mound [today] when I had enough.”
Oh, folks, I’m telling you, the man is in one of those moods. You do not want to be in his way when he’s fueled by whatever it is that fuels him.
When a reporter asked him if he was concerned this might be a lingering type of injury that crops up again during the season, Smoltz looked him in the eyes and said, “Yeah, it’s a possibility. But I’m gonna change that mindset.”
In other words, he’s not going to worry about it or be pessimistic, whether others are or not.
“I’m going to have a real good time,” he said. “Have a blast, and hopefully win a lot of games along the way. I’m not going to get consumed, like before.”
Then Smoltz said something you could just tell he was waiting to say.
“I’ve got a lot of pitching left,” he said. “You can sometimes get caught up in things you have to explain.”
Then he repeated, “I’ve got a lot of pitching left.”
Get out of the way.
The Big Kid: I watched Jeff Francoeur’s reaction when a bigger, younger Atlanta-area kid passed him this morning in the dugout, where the entire team congregates for a few minutes each morning before going on the field.
Frenchy looked up to see who was so much taller than him, smiled, and tapped Jason Heyward on the back to say a silent hello.
“He’s all of 6-5,” Francoeur said after sizing up last year’s first-round draft pick from McDonough and Henry County High.
Heyward is only 18 years old, and he does indeed look a bit taller than his 6-foot-4 listed height. The Braves brought the right fielder over for today’s Grapefruit League finale, as they do for many of their top prospects who aren’t in major league camp, though they’re usually older than 18.
Folks, he’s going to be a big man. I see young Derrek Lee in Heyward, who is long-limbed and has a slender waist. He’s also got some of the strongest hands I’ve ever seen on a young kid.
I mean, watching his raw swing in BP, you’re amazed that he can hit 450-foot homers using practically nothing but hands. He doesn’t get his hips into the swing at all, doesn’t use his lower body. Really, it’s all hands and wrists.
“He’s strong,” said Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton, who was asked if he saw a lot of raw material to work. “Absolutely. He’s strong. They say the fields back there are too small for him.
“And he’s going to fill out.”
When he gets a year or two in the system, working with hitting coaches, look out. He’s the No. 2-rated prospect in the organization, and looks like he could easily add 20 pounds to his 220-pound frame.
Like I said, Derrek Lee comes to mind. I covered D-Lee as a Marlins rookie. Immense talent, but it took a few years to put it all together in the majors.
Heyward’s raw power is at the top of the scouting scale, and some have projected him to be a 40-homer guy in the majors someday. He’s a right fielder for now and will play this season at Class A Rome, after getting only 43 at-bats in rookie ball last summer. Take a trip up there to see him if you can.
And don’t be surprised if, in a few years, he’s playing first base for the Braves. They haven’t said they have any intentions of moving him, but with the young outfielders they have in the organizatioin, and with Heyward’s size and left-handedness, I can see that getting a lot more consideration if Mark Teixeira leaves as a free agent after this season.
I asked Heyward if he was nerve-racking, hitting in front of Bobby Cox and Pendleton this morning. He’s a soft-spoken, classy kid whose parents attended Dartmouth. But he’s not passive or shy.
His response to that question: “No, that’s fun,” he said, smiling. “Nerve-racking — that time’s over with. I’m in professional baseball now. Time to relax and have fun.”
Trade watch: Nothing new to report on the trade front, but I expect the Braves to make a deal at any time between now and Saturday night. Just haven’t heard much in the way of rumors.
Did hear the Giants are looking for a backup catcher. Right now their options are Eliezer Alfonzo and Steve Holm, and I’d think Brayan Pena would be an upgrade over that.
Today’s game: Braves are using relievers and prospect Charlie Morton to handle the pitching today against the Mets (it was to have been Tom Glavine’s start, but he was moved up a couple of days to get ready for the Game 2 home-opener start Monday in place of Smoltz).
Expected to Toe the slab for the Braves today are Peter Moylan (who’ll start it), Chris Resop, Royce Ring and Morton. Mets are starting lefty Oliver Perez, noted Braves menace.
Braves lineups goes 1. KJ, 2. Escobar, 3. Chipper, 4. Tex, 5. Francoer, 6. Diaz, 7. Kotsay, 8. McCann, 9. Corky (catching). They’re using the DH and McCann is handling the duties. Heyward should get some playing time in the late innings.
”GHOST OF TRAVELIN’ JONES” by Ryan Bingham
An empty sack of dust
Or just a box of bones
Call me what you will, son
My name’s Travelin’ Jones
And I search for the fire
Stumbled upon with a precious desire
Travelin’ Jones
Have you seen the miles
Have you smelled the whiskey and the smoke
Burnin’ out underneath your tires
Travelin’ Jones
You’re the Travelin’ Jones
Tell me the secrets of an endless road
It’s not where you’ve been, son
It’s what you understand
Do you know the right from wrong
Tell me, boy, are you an honest man
Have you ever felt the fire
Stumbled upon with a precious desire
Have your fingers bled, boy
Off sin’s strings
Tied to that wooden box
That you’re playin’ across your knee
Have you ever felt the fire
Stumbled upon with a precious desire
Travelin’ Jones
I’ve seen the miles
I’ve played in every honky-tonk bar
Behind that chicken wire
Travelin’ Jones
You’re the Travelin’ Jones
Tell me the secrets of an endless road
An empty sack of dust
Or just a box of bones
Call me what you will, son
My name’s Travelin’ Jones
And I found the fire
