GMan 3,569 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3425461 Braves' Smoltz to have season-ending shoulder surgery Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, who spent five weeks on the disabled list with an inflamed rotator cuff, said he will have season-ending shoulder surgery. The report first appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Smoltz confirmed the report and said on his radio show that he will miss the rest of the season. The Braves have scheduled an 11:30 a.m. news conference, which Smoltz, general manager Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox will attend. Smoltz, 41, faces the possibility of the end of his career. He had returned from the disabled list on Monday, but blew a save against the Florida Marlins, giving up two earned runs on three hits. The following day, Smoltz awoke to soreness in the shoulder and arm. Smoltz, 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA in five starts, has been on the DL twice this season with his troublesome shoulder, which first bothered him last season and continued to hurt in spring training. He went on the disabled list April 29 after noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews diagnosed a severely inflamed biceps muscle and an inflamed rotator cuff, but did not find any significant structural damage. Smoltz returned to the bullpen after the latest DL stint, believing that role would be less stressful on his shoulder. He was a closer from 2001 to 2004, recording 154 saves, and is the only pitcher in baseball history with 200 wins and 150 saves. Smoltz led the NL with 55 saves in 2002, his first full season as closer. Smoltz, who was the 1996 Cy Young Award winner, has endured four operations on his right elbow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vthokies4life 10 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 I'm devastated. Maybe it's about time he retired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GHS06 10 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Huge blow to the Braves now and for the future. But if anyone can come back from this kind of surgery at age 42, its John Smoltz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I think Smoltz would have retired if he had made it through this season. However, IMO he will have the surgery and he will TRY to come back next season..... I believe, as a reliever not a starter. I think next year will be his last year. He's still gonna travel w/the team after he has his surgery this year. He's very involved in a Christian school (King's Ridge) that he helped start up..... and does alot of other community work. It will be a SAD day for Braves fans when he does retire.... Cooperstown will be on his travel agenda 5 years after that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance 228 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 Smoltz is a hard a$$ and is about as full of himself as one person could be...he will not go out like this and will return if it costs him his arm and two feet to do so...he should have retired 2 years ago and gone out on top before it got to this point...it's obvious he's been falling apart physically for the past few years and it's only going to get worse if he continues. Smoltz is a great one and will probably end up in the HOF with Glavine and Maddux someday...but he is done for now...I feel bad for the guy to have to go out this way, but he'll be back for at least one more shot wait and see...stubborn as a mule...and when that happens he will go back to the minors to try to rehab, which is where you will probably see a great career come to an end...and that's a shame. Good luck Smoltzy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbgfan 856 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 By STAFF REPORTS The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 06/10/08 John Smoltz is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery today in Birmingham, Ala. Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery, using an arthroscope to diagnose the damage to the right shoulder of the Braves pitcher. He will then decide what surgical procedure will be done and attempt the fix the problem. There is a chance that Smoltz's career could be over, but the success of the surgery probably won't be known for five or six months. Smoltz is expected out of surgery late this afternoon. Smoltz, 41, was put on the disabled list last week and opted for the season-ending surgery when the pain he experience in the shoulder would not allow a comeback as a reliever. Smoltz also began the season on the disabled list with the shoulder problem, which began in May 2007 making a warmup pitch in Milwaukee. Vote for this story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beano5 14 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 could have even worse news for the Braves with Glavine leaving tonights game early with a strained elbow and is expected to miss his next start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 ......don't know how much worse things can get....can anyone on here pitch??????? I'm hoping Huddy stays healthy. ----------------------------------------------------------- Adding this .....partial article. UNBELIEVABLE.... By DAVID O'BRIEN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 06/11/08 Chicago — The way things are going for the Braves, they might want to transport Tim Hudson to the ballpark in a protective bubble for his start Thursday. The team's rash of pitching injuries spread to rookie right-hander Jair Jurrjens, who has been scratched for tonight's start against Chicago after spraining his right ankle walking down dugout steps after Tuesday's loss to the Cubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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