Breaking news: Red Sox DFA John Smoltz
by SoxDevil on Aug 7, 2009 4:43 PM EDT
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The Red Sox have reportedly designated John Smoltz for assignment. This has been reported by Terry Francona on a WEEI interview and by Amalie Benjamin via Twitter.
John Smoltz was apparently upset by the move and left the team without cleaning out his locker.
I'm personally a bit surprised by the move. I expected the Sox to try Smoltz in the bullpen before cutting bait. No word yet on who will take the hill on Tuesday, but it'll be Michael Bowden's turn in Pawtucket. He's my guess.
Other news and rumors: Red Sox claimed Chris Woodward off waivers from Seattle as a warm body. This adds fire to the speculation that Jed Lowrie may be headed back to the DL with more wrist/forearm issues. Woodward is not much more than a warm body.
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I would have given him a shot in the bulllpen.
May your Hall-of-Fame career rest in peace.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
This is really sad
I’m a Yankees fan, but I have the utmost respect for John Smoltz. I’ve always loved to watch him pitch. I fell really bad for him. Is this the end of his incredible, dominant career? Or will a team pick him up off waivers?
I think it had to happened..
As much I would like to see Smoltz succeed, or at least go to the bullpen. He was throwing way too many pitches either high and inside or high and in the middle of the plate. I would had DFA him right after Cabrera’s 3 run HR last night. If he is going to throw high and inside to switch hitter on their power side, at least over power them. Smoltz was living too dangerously.
In the beginning of the season, it looked like the Sox’s strategy of picking up Penny and Smoltz looked like a wise move, not it looks like a disaster. Smoltz has blown way too many games, except one. (the Baltimore Rain delay, which was probably the revenge of the Mother’s Day Miracle)
I know he sucked and all...
But why do I feel sad right now? He always came off as a good guy, it’s just really too bad he couldn’t put it together again in the toughest division in baseball.
by South Coast Ghost on Aug 7, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions
+1
I think it’s sad because: (a) either because of age or lingering injury, he clearly didn’t have it; and (b) from all reports he seems to be a cagey veteran / good clubhouse guy who you would want associated with your team and dropping some wisdom on your young pitchers. It’s also sad because ideally, we wouldn’t have been in a position where the move needed to be done quite so publicly or quickly.
People bag on the whole low-risk approach now, but it was crafted with the idea that you’d have Penny/Smoltz/Buchholz competing for just the five spot – only one needs to be league-average. Not a bad bet. With Wake and Dice-K on the DL, though, they all needed to pan out. Obviously Smoltz didn’t, but the Sox had* to let him get hammered on the mound until it was clear that he was below the effective replacement level. Wish it could have worked out at least a little better.
Of course, I can get nostalgic for Ol’ Smoltzy now because I never have to seem him throw another pitch for my team.
* – Or they could have used Bowden for him…
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Aug 7, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Maybe Smoltz didn’t want a bullpen position? I love Smoltz, loved him in Atlanta, a great pitcher and one of the best ever. However, as a Red Sox fan, the Smoltz experiment needed to end. He was terrible. Absolutely terrible. I don’t mind a 5 or so ERA at the 5 spot, but an 8+ ERA doesn’t cut it. He showed no signs that he was anywhere near the pitcher he once was. It’s a shame, but I’m glad to see him leave. I wish it could have been different but it’s been a long time coming. I think his leash was especially long considering who he is.
Time to call it quits
I have all the respect in the world for John Smoltz. I was actually excited to see the Sox pick him up and hoped he would be a reliever. Unfortunately, Smoltz should indeed call it quits. He has had a Hall of Fame career and I believe he should go out on his own accord not because no one will take him. EPSN’ Baseball Tonight is calling John..answer the phone.
best thing for the team
Honestly, it was getting tough to watch him struggle like this; even friends of mine who hate the Sox said they felt awful for him.
Look at it this way: five years from now, when he’s in the Hall of Fame, no one will remember 8 crappy starts in Boston; they’ll only remember all the good years in Atlanta. Which is how it should be.
More casual than the average fan.
by baseball conspiracy theories on Aug 7, 2009 5:18 PM EDT reply actions
It was a good gamble
that just didnt work out. No tears. I just want someone who can keep a team under 5 runs for 6 innings. Junichi is next.
Perfect Time to Retire
This way he can go in the Hall with Maddox and Glavine
~ ROLL TIDE ~
GO SOX!!
wow, every comment is a sob story
i dont give a crap about john smoltz. im a red sox fan, and he was never truly a red sox. he did nothing but hurt the team and although i expected a bullpen stint, he has no right to keep pitching for us. one question for you all: is this DFA the same as with Kotsay and lugo, in that they have ten days to trade him or he gets released?
Why am I more scared of the Rays than I am of the apocalypse?
ok
Why am I more scared of the Rays than I am of the apocalypse?
Because we're all also BASEBALL fans...
And Smoltz was one of the best pitchers most of us have ever seen.
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
revived0103 hit it right on the money
“i dont give a crap about john smoltz. im a red sox fan, and he was never truly a red sox. he did nothing but hurt the team and although i expected a bullpen stint, he has no right to keep pitching for us”.
Thank God
Necessary mood. Too bad it didn’t work out, but at least we didn’t keep him as long as we kept Clay up last year.
Unfortunately,
bad things happened in bunches and Smoltz never had the amount of time (a full spring training on the mound) to figure out what was wrong. The Sox are in a pennant race in the toughest division in baseball and they just cannot afford to wait any longer.
So Junichi, your up, go get em. You wished to pitch in the majors v. the NPB, well go at it young man. Just think if you win for the Red Sox, you will be bigger than Darvish or Dice-K.
I also believe Buchholz is on a similar leash. If he gets cranked this weekend its back to AAA and Michael Bowden will get his shot. Red Sox cannot wait around any longer. We need Wake and a healthy Dice-K back ASAP + someone to give quality innings for that last spot.
My guess is by Sept our rotation will look like Beckett, Lester, Wake, Dice-K and Tazawa/Penny/Bowden/Buchholz. Which ever can keep teams under 4 runs for 6 innings.
I think Buck has a longer leash.
Looking at Smoltz, it seemed he was just done age wise. Same can’t be said for Buchholz.
Graft
Smoltz’s head onto Buchholz’s body?
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Aug 7, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions
You might be right
But if Buchholz continues on his current pace, I see the Red Sox trying someone else.
Paul Byrd your up….just kidding.
I mean I have respect for Smoltz
But after reading this I have to question it:
“John Smoltz was apparently upset by the move and left the team without cleaning out his locker.”
What the hell did the guy expect? He was BRUTAL. Worse than awful. Maybe the worst starter in the majors this year. He has been around the game and knows its a business. I lost a lot of respect for him if thats the way he is going to act.
For all things Boston College please visit my blog: Towers on the Heights
yeah
he acts like a typical desperate middle aged guy who is clinging to any shred of youth and ends up looking sullen and lonely. and man did he suck. him and wang were the worst in the majors.
Why am I more scared of the Rays than I am of the apocalypse?
Maybe he was upset because he didn't get a shot in the pen?
I don’t know just speculation.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Aug 7, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions
He was fine for the first two innings....
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Aug 7, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the Red Sox have been more than fair with Smoltz
in all honesty, If Wake and Dice-k were healthy, I doubt he would of gotten the start against the Yankees.
who wouldn't be upset?
he’s a hall of famer. He’s got pride. Even if he understands intellectually that he’s sucked this season, he’s got pride.
So on to Woodward
Nice to have more MI depth. just hope he’s got a good glove.
Why am I more scared of the Rays than I am of the apocalypse?
What?
horrible fielder? we have enough of those
Why am I more scared of the Rays than I am of the apocalypse?
So Lugo without the money?
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Aug 7, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Y'all shoulda given Smoltz a shot in the 'pen.
Lord knows y’all need some bullpen help, and he could have provided it.
I don't know that he wanted to.
But why on Earth do we need pen help? We need long relief, sure, but that’s basically starting, which Smoltz can’t seem to do. Better to give Bowden a shot.
Haha. The day a MFY Yankee fan talks shit about our bullpen.....
(shakes head laughing)
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Aug 7, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice way to treat fans of the other team ...
It’s one thing to say Yankees suck, but to drop the F bomb? Stay classy.
Trolling another teams Blog
Is the definition of classy right?
Go away loser.
For all things Boston College please visit my blog: Towers on the Heights
by beantownkid10 on Aug 7, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I ain't trolling ...
If i was trolling, I’d be causing a flame war. I didn’t … stay classy.
WE ALL USE IT.
It’s like calling us the Red Sux – it’s a loving nickname.
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
Off topic
But since we are talking about roster moves…
MLBTR is reporting that Alex Rios has been claimed from waivers off of Toronto but no one seems to know who has done it.
A WEEI reporter is saying it’s not the Sox but what do they know?
Could Theo have made this move for some more depth? Lord help me if I ever see Youk as our starting LF again…
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
Also not saying I want this to happen… A player with a career .335 OBP doesn’t really fit well. But we do need an OF with Drew and Rocco and Bay having issues.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
Bay>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rios
Even when he is sucking as hard as he is now.
For all things Boston College please visit my blog: Towers on the Heights
by beantownkid10 on Aug 7, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions
We need OFers bad....
…But with contracts of 6 years worth a total of 60 million dollars.
What do you want J.D. Drew Part 2?
For all things Boston College please visit my blog: Towers on the Heights
by beantownkid10 on Aug 7, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions
bad luck
Sorry to be Smoltzy go out like this but it had to be done. We need to bring up 2 pitchers; one to replace Smoltz and the other to replace Masterson’s spot. Bring up Bowden and Tazawa.
by boondock_saint812 on Aug 7, 2009 6:29 PM EDT reply actions
Smoltz couldn't have lasted in the bullpen...
because he needed four days rest just to get one or two effective innings out of him. He’s done for this year.
More importantly
Now that Tazawa is pitching for the Sox who is going to pitch in the futures at fenway game?
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