John Smoltz to sign with Cardinals

by gondeee on Aug 19, 2009 8:50 AM EDT Comment 48 comments

Former Atlanta Braves legend John Smoltz is set to join his third team in the last 12 months. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the scoop:

Free agent pitcher John Smoltz will accept the Cardinals' offer to join the club as its fifth starter after clearing waivers at noon (St. Louis time) today, barring an unforeseen waiver claim, multiple sources said Tuesday.

There was some talk that the Dodgers and Marlins also had interest in Smoltz, but it looks like St. Louis' offer of the fifth starter spot is what did the trick. This may have also helped:

Two of Smoltz's ex-Atlanta Brave teammates — Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa and starting pitcher Adam Wainwright — participated in an organizational lobbying effort since the Red Sox made clear they no longer saw a fit for Smoltz in the American League.

I wish Smoltz the best of luck... at least better luck than he had with the Red Sox.

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Why?

Why would St Louis sign him as a starter? He has BP written all over him.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 19, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Justin do you mean bullpen or batting practice?

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Aug 19, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zing!

by Sparhawk on Aug 19, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Live from STL

We had a LENGTHY conversation about Smoltz last night – me the braves man and several of my die hard yet full-baseball knowledgable cardinal fan friends from here in st louis.

First, I’m very excited – Smoltz should be willing to sign anything and everything given to him, and I hope to meet him and share a few words many a time. The whole Busch Stadium area invites fans to interact with players, and hopefully I’ll be able to meet one of my long time baseball idols. Perhaps I’ll invite him over for steak.

Second, there’s no way in EFFING hell he will start as the regular 5th starter. Sure, they said he will, sure, he’ll start, but given the schedule for the remainder of the year, he might make one start per three weeks. Says the multitude of Cards fans around here.

Third, Dave Duncan is a magician. For real, he’s turned worse arms into better ones, and he made that Weaver douchebag pitch well for one post season. Most people around here think Duncan can work with Smoltz throughout his remaining three potential starts this year, to get him to a point of post season ready.

Which brings my fourth point – the Cards are the best team in Baseball right now. They cant seem to lose, and cant seem to hit less than a mile all night. General consensus is that Smoltz can tool around this season with Dunc, and get ready, and come playoff time, deep playoff time, they can throw Smoltz in for two/three innings whenever they need.

I’d love comments.

by traphicg on Aug 19, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Could you get a poster signed for me?

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

by sddbaker on Aug 19, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that Smoltz will be post-season eligible, as he signed after the deadline.

by Bmacbandwagon on Aug 19, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

actually, i did not know that

shit. If that rule’s official, looks like a whole group of baseball heads missed the ball last night…

by traphicg on Aug 19, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said, I cold be mistaken, but I think that’s the deal. Can anybody confirm/ refute?

by Bmacbandwagon on Aug 19, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

spelling fail

could

by Bmacbandwagon on Aug 19, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The deadline is 9/1. That’s the waiver trade deadline.

by BullManUGA on Aug 19, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do think he'd be better suited for the bullpen

but I don’t think he’ll be a disaster as a starter, if that’s the route they take.

Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.

by VivaLosBravos on Aug 19, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone else feel similarly?

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Aug 19, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i don’t follow basketball. Is that Lebron James?

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Aug 19, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously who is that?

by someguy917 on Aug 19, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Mailman!

Geez, you people need to get out more!

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 19, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

I know the NBA has a shit-reputation right now, but c’mon, either I’m showing my age (I’m not even 30 yet), or yous childdlins’ need to recognize one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Karl Malone.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Aug 19, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol. I remember the glory days of the Jazz – Hornaceck, Stockton, Malone & company. That was back when I actually liked the NBA (Granted, I was raised on the Dynasty Bulls).

The NBA now cannot hold the 1990’s jockstrap.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 19, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great teams those were

I remember the Mailman. I don’t consider myself old. 1992 Dream Team was still the best Olympic basketball team ever assembled. Ewing, Robinson, Malone, Jordan, Pippin, Stockton, Mullen, Barkley, Bird, Drexler, Magic, Laettner…

by Andy Braves Fan on Aug 19, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the average win was by around 40 points

by traphicg on Aug 19, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

goosebumps just thinking about that…

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 19, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by soup du jour on Aug 19, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Aug 19, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

F*** the Jazz, especially Malone and Stockton, two of the dirtiest players in the history of the NBA.

People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

by mvandonsel on Aug 19, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was a joke. From me anyway. I’m well aware of Karl Malone’s late career title chasing ways.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Aug 19, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, Karl Malone to the Cardinals, yes?

Ha.

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Aug 19, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Basketball is a joke of a sport. NCAA or NBA that shit is terrible. They might as well have 5 guys line up and see which ones can jump the highest and which ones are the tallest and then average all the numbers together and declare a winner.

Make dunking worth 1 point or raise the goal to 16 feet and maybe I’ll watch, but when you are only 2 feet away from the goal with your feet on the ground it hardly seems like competition.

If I wanted to watch a bunch of freaks do tricks I’d watch the Globetrotters or the circus.

by someguy917 on Aug 19, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn

Tell us how you really feel.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Aug 19, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, John Smoltz is the MLB version of Karl Malone.. Sad

- I miss Spooneybarger :(

by Mighty Healthy on Aug 19, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking more of a certain GB Packer, er Jet, er Viking?

by Bmacbandwagon on Aug 19, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If someone says that name one more time, i will go postal here at the office…

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 19, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brett……

by mvandonsel on Aug 19, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Aug 19, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

great. Now, people are dead because of you.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 19, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

its not the first time.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Aug 19, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow. I understand if someone doesn’t care for the NBA, but NCAA basketball is legit. The fact that you think all ballplayers can jump and shoot 2-footers and are tall tells me that you have no idea about the sport.

If someone cannot get excited over college basketball, I question their fan-hood.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 19, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

low blow

calling someone’s fanhood into question is a serious allegation.

Couldn’t agree more though. Love the collegiate game, but I’m proud of the fact that I can only name about 10 NBA franchises.

Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.

by VivaLosBravos on Aug 19, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Basketball is basketball no matter who is playing. I should be able to get just as excited to see professionals play a sport as amateurs. And its not just cause Tech’s basketball team sucked last year. It wasn’t exciting when they were in the final four either.

A scoring saturated sport takes all the excitement out of watching. There is no anticipation. I would rather watch golf. But go ahead call my fanhood into question I don’t really care.

by someguy917 on Aug 19, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Consider it questioned!

More basketball games are decided in the last 20 seconds of game-time than any other sport, so I don’t really see how it lacks excitement or anticipation.

To each their own though.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 19, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have one rule

And that is that I will not argue on the internet. I will comment and defend myself, but will not argue, so I will let you have your basketball. I still end up at ten Tech games a year.

by someguy917 on Aug 19, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i dont see what him signing with the Cards now as any different than going to the BoSox then. It was an obvious move at getting a ring. Only difference is that it wasnt as obvious with the Sox as it is apparent that the cards are freakin awesome right now.

by traphicg on Aug 19, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It isn't.

The only difference with me posting this now, as opposed to back then, is I was a lot more sympathetic to everyone else who was in as much disarray that Smoltz would abandon Atlanta like that.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Aug 19, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i hear that

i also have the luxury of being ecstatic that one of my all time favs is coming to my city

by traphicg on Aug 19, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The way he’s pitched this year it’s a shame he didn’t end up in FL.

by Fischerking on Aug 19, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m just glad the Phillies didn’t try to sign him.

The Cards are a good team. Hopefully it’ll work out for him. It’s just sad things ended in Atlanta the way they did.

I just have no clue at his age and coming off surgery, why he’d want to pitch some more. He should have retired a Brave.

by Sparhawk on Aug 19, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

F*** you John Smoltz..and F*** the Mets and Jeff Francoeur too!

I guess I am still bitter about the loss yesterday lol..

by WeStillHaveBobby on Aug 19, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Elliot Nesstle

by Mark Lempke on Aug 19, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“Two of Smoltz’s ex-Atlanta Brave teammates — Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa and starting pitcher Adam Wainwright — participated in an organizational lobbying effort since the Red Sox made clear they no longer saw a fit for Smoltz in the American League.”

Correct me if im wrong but Wainwright never pitched for the “Atlanta” Braves so technically he was never a teammate of Smoltz.

braves#1

by rockybull on Aug 19, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs