How Long is Smoltz's Leash?
Smoltz has had a great career. He's considered by some to be worthy of eventual induction into the Hall of Fame. I shouldn't be putting all of this in the past tense, should I?
With the Sox this year, the "potential Hall of Fame Smoltz" has given up 20 hits, and 11 ERs in the 15 innings that he has pitched. His ERA is a whopping 6.60.
Sox fans knew they weren't getting the same pitcher that dominated hitters for Atlanta, but they thought he still had some Ws to contribute to a winning club. How long before we should be truly concerned? One more start? Two more? Smoltz is 42. Comebacks get harder with age. Smoltz is a true competitor, and I think he can turn it around, but I am a tad worried.
With Buchholz pitching well in AAA and Dice-K conditioning in Ft. Myers the leash may not be too long.
4 comments:
What are Theo's options with Smoltz if he doesn't turn it around?
Smoltz gets one more start before the AS break, correct? Sunday against KC. That would mean he's gone against OAK, BAL, Washington Nationals and KC. It would be tough to hand pick better options to make your first 4 starts against. Buchs is waiting in the wings and he might be a huge push after the AS break. I don't know what Smoltz's official options are but he was already at AAA once but I don't see him having many options.
I can see Smotlz having situational/set up value if he can't get through lineups more than once. Someone like him can get a few key outs just with experience. Someone else will have to go for Bucholtz to join the staff.
Beckett, Wake, Lester. It doesn't look like Penny is going anywhere. When Dice-K comes back, it's lookin' like Smoltz will be the odd man out of the starting rotation. If he goes to the 'pen as Todd suggests, then Bard goes back to Pawtucket.
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