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DEL.ICIO.USSmoltz saves a smile for Grandma Beta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Los Angeles — Between the raindrops flooding Dodger Stadium, John Smoltz had only sunny thoughts.
He shrugged over the fact that he isn’t considered the pitching ace of the Braves’ staff anymore, and who cares whether he finishes “20-5 or 5-20?” He doesn’t. Instead, he showed that he gets it by remembering October in April and saying before easing into a chuckle, “I like my role right now, but at the end, it’s a whole different story.”
For Smoltz and the Braves, the only thing that matters is “at the end.”
At the end, Smoltz will return as The Man in the Braves’ quest for an elusive second world championship during their run of goodness that has spanned 14 consecutive trips to the playoffs. At the end, he will place more distance between himself and others as the owner of more victories and strikeouts than any pitcher in the history of the postseason. Mostly, at the end, he will ignore whatever he did in the regular season to continue as the pitching version of Reggie Jackson.
There is the meantime, though. Pending the frequency of those raindrops, Smoltz was scheduled to pitch his season debut on Tuesday against the Dodgers following the torching of new ace, Tim Hudson, on Monday. Whatever the case, Smoltz just wants to prove that he doesn’t have those storms rattling around his nearly 39-year-old head anymore.
“I’ll admit my biggest weakness, and I’m not afraid to tell you,” he said, leaning against a wall in the visitors’ clubhouse. “Things that bother me the most to this day are things that are so false, so untrue that there is nothing I can do about it, but they still keep talking about it.”
Things like that shirt business, when Smoltz supposedly burned himself on a road trip while trying to use his chest as an ironing board. “That used to drive my crazy, but so be it now,” said Smoltz, attributing his new ability to survive those internal downpours to opening the umbrella of his Christian growth. Well, that along with memories of a sour golf outing turned sweet and of Grandma Beta’s request.
Let’s start with that week in Tampa before spring training when Smoltz got a revelation while driving, chipping and putting at a friend’s tournament. To appreciate what comes next, you must understand that Smoltz likes to attack instead of react, and he struggled while entering the tournament’s last day. So much for the aggressive Smoltz. “I just decided that I was going to take only controlled risks. I was just going to see how good I could play for as long as I could play,” said Smoltz, who eventually managed “the perfect round, with no bogeys for the first time in my short golfing career.”
Afterward, while driving back home to Alpharetta, Smoltz kept thinking to himself: “I’ve always wanted to take that same [relaxed] approach in pitching, and I’ve tried everything, experiencing every pitch, every angle, but this is the last chance to control my beast from within and to be able to enjoy pitching again.”
No problem. For the first time in Smoltz’s 20 years in pro baseball, he said that he won’t spend every moment from spring through autumn operating at his highest gear. He’ll still terrorize hitters with his fastball more often than not, but he’ll do what he frequently did often with effectiveness in exhibition games, and that is become Tom Glavine, his old teammate and pal, who keeps hitters jittery with changeups. This also means that Smoltz’s days as a hurling maniac (229 2/3 innings pitched last season, despite yearly throbbing from his shoulder to his elbow) are over.
As for Grandma Beta, who lit candles and prayed whenever her grandson pitched, Smoltz said, “She was a full-blooded Italian, the greatest cook in the world, and I loved her to death. She used to say that I’d never smile or have fun when I was on the mound.”
Grandma Beta died last spring at 81 in Detroit, where most of Smoltz’s relatives reside. “Even though I’ve always been competitive, with the fierce look, she was right,” Smoltz said. “I made a promise to her that there would be some kind of smile every game.”
Chances are, Smoltz’s smile will be eternal if he does what he really wants to do, and that is place his fingerprints on a World Series trophy.
You know, “at the end.”
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
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By Alan
April 4, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this
Good story, Terence, about a good guy and a terrific pitcher. John Smoltz is, without any doubt, the heart and soul of the Atlanta Braves and he has been for a long, long time. He is the only player who has been with the Braves since this remarkable streak began in 1991. I’m looking forward to another great season from John - I won’t be a bit surprised to see him lead the Braves to a World Series victory this season.
By Mojo
April 5, 2006 08:47 AM | Link to this
Smoltz doesn’t care if he is 20-5 or 5-20???? Thta may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard from you Mr. Moore…and believe me thats saying a lot!! If you are going to state something so obviously ridiculous, at least try and hide it deep in the article, not in the first two sentences!!!
By Danny Cartner
April 5, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this
God Bless!! Danny Cartner :O)
By John Hoar
April 5, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this
I read your article this morning after last nights game. At first I was crushed at the way things went and I hated the ERA that he would be carrying around. Then, in retrospect, I had to remember that it was very cold and very wet and whether a pitcher does well or not so well that these conditions are abnormal and have little bearing on anything. So, I’m just glad he got through the night and came back to a great degree. I think that he will be fine. And I think your article was fine also.
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 5, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure, but I think that might have been Grandma Beta on the mound last nite in LA!!!…GO GIANTS!!!…
By john
April 5, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this
Terence, you and everybody else is going to hate me for what I’m about to say. Yes, John Smoltz has been a magnificent warrior. He’s taken the ball in game 7’s and has pitched his heart out. He’s put TEAM ahead of EGO and gone into the bullpen when asked. And then back to the rotation. Nobody respects John Smoltz than me. However, I’ll say it, if a Yankees, a White Sox, a Red Sox, or Angels, says we’ll give you three blue-chip prospects for Smoltz during the pennant races, if I’m the Braves I make the deal. We better start thinking about 2007 and beyond.
By Andy
April 5, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this
John Smoltz is, by far, the greatest brave to play the game. I know this is a bold statement, but his willingness to put his team before himself, the rarity of one player playing for the same team his whole career, and his ability to make those around him better players and better people is unique. While baseball has been tested because of arrogant, selfish people like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa, it is the John Smoltz’s of the world that will bring baseball back to its true glory. Go Braves.
By LJ
April 5, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this
This is in response to Andy’s bold statement. I love John Smoltz as much as you do. But the greatest Brave to ever play? Um, all those attributes that you assigned to John Smoltz can also be attributed to Dale Murphy and what is even more remarkable about Dale is that he was all of those things on a team that was terrible. Yet, he maintained his professionalism and leadership at all times. It’s just a shame he couldn’t be on the Braves during their successful years.
By Dave
April 5, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this
Dale Murphy should stand in the hall now, Smoltzie will be there when his timne comes. they are both great braves,
By gregos
April 5, 2006 05:10 PM | Link to this
The Braves also had another great player-Hit a lot of home runs. The name escapes me. Hank somthing or other.