Jan 10 2009
At every turn, Braves Nation reminded of Smoltz
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — If I booked a one-way trip to Mars right now, it’s likely I’d find a reminder of John Smoltz upon arriving on the Red Planet.
It seems the bearded icon is everywhere, even if the image is the version that features no hair on the face, and a little more hair on the dome.
Flipping on the MLB Network a few minutes ago, I was treated to a feature on Smoltz’s duel with Jack Morris in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. Painful at it was to see the Braves lose the deciding game of the greatest Fall Classic ever, that matchup remains the single greatest baseball game these eyes have witnessed in 30 years of watching, following, and covering the grand ol’ game.
Yep, folks, Smoltz remains at the forefront of Braves Nation, some 48 hours after the news first broke that the franchise icon of the Braves was leaving the only major-league team he’s pitched for, accepting a one-year contract with the Red Sox for $3.5 million more of guaranteed cash for 2009.
It still doesn’t seem real, does it? Whether you agree with the Braves’ decision to offer Smoltz “just” $2 million in guaranteed money for this season – and I’m on record in agreeing with the Braves’ offer – the sheer thought of Smoltz in another uniform shakes you to the core, even two days after we first learned the 41-year-old is leaving Atlanta.
The heartstrings are tugging a little harder early this morning, as I think back to Smoltz and all the moments he’s provided this franchise during the past 20 years. I sat in old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and watched him pitch a gem in another Game 7, one in which Smoltz’s contributions were drowned out by the historic achievements of a slower-than-Christmas first baseman and a backup catcher one October after Smoltz stood toe-for-toe with boyhood idol Jack Morris in the finale of the 1991 World Series.
Smoltz started Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series. The Braves were reeling, having lost two straight games after building a 3-1 series lead. A sacrifice fly by Orlando Merced in the first inning put Smoltz and the Braves in a 1-0 hole, and Andy Van Slyke’s single in the sixth made it 2-0.
Former Georgia standout Jeff Treadway hit for Smoltz in the bottom of the sixth, ending John’s night after six innings. He gave up just four hits and two runs with two walks and four strikeouts. He seemed destined to take a hard-luck loss until the now-famous heroics of the bottom of the ninth, when the Braves scored three runs, two coming on reserve catcher Francisco Cabrera’s single, including Sid Bream’s lumbering run and slide just ahead of Barry Bonds’ throw for the winning run that sent the Braves back to the World Series.
Even when his name doesn’t jump to the forefront, Smoltz’s name remains all over the history of this franchise. I still say the Braves made a fair offer given the uncertainty regarding Smoltz’s health. But it doesn’t make it any easier when one thinks of all Smoltz did in his two decades as a Brave.
Life is full of tough decisions. Surely, that thought has run through Frank Wren’s mind more than once the past two days.
—30—
I have blocked it all out. I don’t want to wax nostalgic or remember anything about his time here. He’s a Red Sock now. It’s like that heartwrenching scene in I Am Legend when Will Smith had to kill his dog. He had to face the fact that, no matter how much he loved it, it had turned. Smoltz has turned. He’s gone. It broke my heart, but I’m moving on. I’m just suprised that braves fans are showingnso much more loyalty to him than he showed to Braves fans this winter.