Saddest thing to watch in Pro Baseball

I wonder if this is one where rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated.

Smoltz's current problems are mostly with locating pitches, not with his "stuff". This is not unusual for guys coming off shoulder or elbow surgery, at any age.

Check back in a month. I have a feeling he will zone in over that period of time.

A 90-92 mph fastball, a tight slider and a splitter will still get people out in the bigs, as long as you can locate consistently. Smoltz's career really didn't take off until he quit trying to just strike guys out and learned to locate. When he starts hitting spots consistently again, he'll compete just fine.

Sox cut ties with Smoltz; call up Tazawa

To make room, the Red Sox designated John Smoltz for assignment, one day after the veteran right-hander allowed eight runs in 3 1/3 innings to the Yanks for his fifth loss in eight starts this season.

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I wouldn't count on Smoltz being washed up. He hasn't been fading away like the other players listed. He was 14-8, 3.11 in his last full season.

It takes more time than he's allowed to comeback from his surgery. The Sox don't have time to wait. They have prospects they can bring up. From Smoltz's standpoint it's a matter of does he want to put in the time or call it a (great) career?

I was psyched Smoltz was pitching. I knew he was over the hill and Yanks needed to get a blowout under their belts to get off the skids with the Sox and can now move on and get the AL East crown.

Cooperstown in 5 or 6 years will take away your sadness.

Maybe when the Braves fall out of it a bit more, they can let him finish up his career in a Braves uniform.

Even though I think Smoltz probably COULD come back, I don't know why he feels the need to. He's 43. He's got to have a $50 million net worth, maybe even twice that. At what point do you decide it's time to leave the grind and let yourself enjoy it?

My guess is, he will try again, if only to avoid going out on such a sour note. I think he said he signed with Boston because he wanted to play for a playoff contender. I guess he could spend some more time in the minors trying to get more fully back to form and still have that opportunity. But I'd still rather see him with a tomahawk on his chest for his last outings.

quote:

Even though I think Smoltz probably COULD come back, I don't know why he feels the need to. He's 43. He's got to have a $50 million net worth, maybe even twice that. At what point do you decide it's time to leave the grind and let yourself enjoy it?

That is a good question that I often wonder myself. My guess is the thrill of playing baseball is worth more than all the money in the world.

He's 43...probably been playing baseball since he was 6. Wouldn't it be difficult to leave something you've thought about and made your entire life center around for 37 years?

There are some who are afraid to finish too early and those afraid to leave too late. Smoltz has wrung the last drop out of his Hall of Fame arm.

I hate it for him too.

He and Dyan (when they were married) were clients of mine and he was actually our spokesperson for a couple of years.

He is in my opinion, a good guy and I thought it sucked bad when Atlanta got rid of him.....

Fundamentally, when you can't locate your 4 seam, you can't pitch off that with the rest of your pitches.

Smoltz has not been able to locate the fastball, rendering the spittler and change-up useless. As a result, he's had to throw nothing but sliders.

A wise man once told me, "Pitch with a good 4 seam and everything else falls into place".

It's what we teach 9U players and it still applies to MLB.

If you can't throw the 4-seam for a strike, bad things happen...

I've heard stories of HOF guys who tried to stay a bit too long, and I remember most notably Joe Namath with the Rams. I don't want to remember Smoltzie the way I saw him last night. You're heart has to bleed for guys who you know are hanging on for the right reason (competitiveness) and not just for a paycheck.

Smoltz was 14-11, 3.11 before getting hurt. Don't you think he wants to know if he can get it back? He's not on the trail of a wash up unless he can't get it back and hangs around.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Midlo Dad:

Even though I think Smoltz probably COULD come back, I don't know why he feels the need to. He's 43. He's got to have a $50 million net worth, maybe even twice that. At what point do you decide it's time to leave the grind and let yourself enjoy it?

QUOTE]

Same could be said of Favre. He would certainly be the Poster child behind the second question above..

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:

quote:

Even though I think Smoltz probably COULD come back, I don't know why he feels the need to. He's 43. He's got to have a $50 million net worth, maybe even twice that. At what point do you decide it's time to leave the grind and let yourself enjoy it?

That is a good question that I often wonder myself. My guess is the thrill of playing baseball is worth more than all the money in the world.

I was wondering myself also, but sometimes it's hard to give up the thrill of competition for the most successful.
Listening to Bryan Harvey on the radio the other day, he put the ball down after a major injury, knowing it takes too long to come back, now is a milb pitching coach (think Texas) and working on a new goal, to become a MLB pitching coach. He did say ego has a lot to do with not ending your career when one should (on a high note).

These guys have so much experience to teach the younger guys, not understanding why some don't take that direction sooner, it's not about the money.

As heard on ESPN, Tiger Woods states he is the best non pro golfer he has ever played with, perhaps he can start a whole new career.

I think in most great stars the decline is gradual, in pitchers such as srikeout percentage declining, hits per inning increasing but all of a sudden especially in the late thirties or early forties the guys sometimes just fall off a cliff especially after injuries. I have never seen Smoltz look so confused or helpless. Two swings and misses tells the story.

Smoltzie will land on is feet, I think he's mentally adjusted to the point that he understands his place in the world..remember Tiger said he was the very best golfer who wasn't a pro that he'd ever met. Money isn't his worry and I think like the Great Greg, he's a competition junkie and he'll be doing that (competing) somewhere doing something..even if it's playing mumbly-peg with Michael Jordan. I thank God I got to see that storied rotation pitch. It's why I encourage youngsters to watch the greats..they leave the field at some point.
I guess I should have read TPM's post to the end
Sorry to be redundant

Its easy for us to sit here and say give it up. If a player believes he can still do it and its all they have been doing their entire life thats a tough situation. He will either leave on his own terms or he will be forced to give it up. Some guys can leave the game and some have to be forced out of the game. What made him so good was his tremendous desire to compete along with great ability. He still has that tremendous desire to compete. Until he believes he can no longer get the job done he will continue to try and compete. I admire his desire and competitive spirit. No one can ever question his heart.

TPM,
it is great that Bryan Harvey is taking his pitching experience to the coaching level,along with his pitching experience he has a very important and time consuming process ahead of him if he wants to be successful, which is the task of learning how to become a "TEACHER," which are few and far between, especially pitching and hitting "TEACHERS" There is a significant difference between the "TEACHING"knowledge of a player, a coach and an experienced,knowledgeable qualified and competent teacher who with much desire and dedication has become a devout student of the game and has learned how to "TEACH" which is the first step to be taken after playing which most people do not take, "TEACHING" IS the FIRST and foremost important aspect before successful coaching comes into effect,most people are under the false impression that experience automatically makes one a teacher,"NOT SO" which is the very reason there are entirely too many unnecessary chronic sore arms and surgeries from the major league level right on down through all levels and age groups as young as 13yrs. old, pitchers need an experienced, knowledgeable and competent "PITCHING TEACHER," who can "TEACH'"them how to use their whole body properly from the ground up with a stride of at least the length of their body height, there are other mechanics also to execute to alleviate the great amount of abuse and tension on the arm created by the unnatural act of throwing a baseball,hitters also need the same type of "TEACHER" to "TEACH"" them how to properly use their body's to execute proper approach to good hard consistent contact hitting as the most knowledgeable baseball hitting "guru" of all time "TED WILLIAMS,"taught the whole baseball world many years ago and there are still those hard heads who will tinker and do it their way and wonder why good hard, consistent contact never comes around.
As I and others have done and still do,learning how to become a successful teacher and coach one must learn from successful teachers, coaches and experts in the field.
I hope my comments are of some value.
Don Ervin

quote:

Originally posted by YoungGunDad:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Midlo Dad:

Even though I think Smoltz probably COULD come back, I don't know why he feels the need to. He's 43. He's got to have a $50 million net worth, maybe even twice that. At what point do you decide it's time to leave the grind and let yourself enjoy it?

QUOTE]

Same could be said of Favre. He would certainly be the Poster child behind the second question above..

Probably for most of us, it's 99% about the $$$. For guys like Smoltz and Favre it's 99% about the adrenalin.

Baseball factoid. 75% of retired MLB players get divorced.

I agree that Smoltz actually had no reason not to try to pitch this year as he didn't know what was going to happen after his surgery. However at 43, I think it's more thann just a matter of whether he wants to keep trying as it all comes down to whether anyone will give hmi another chance with salary, time left in the season, etc. to consider. He really doesn,t need to prove anything. I think the next guy we will see in this position is Pedro Martinez who probably truly is hanging on too long since he was already hammered the last time he pitched in the Majors.

i dont feel bad for him at all. He has been a great mlb pitcher and has raked in millions of dollars for it and i still think he can pitch just not start...he is still better than most mlb relievers but i think he is good one time around.