Welcome back John Smoltz

[missionhockey21]

Yes it was only five innings and yes it was against the Padres, but John Smoltz showed today that he is not done and he is fully capable of helping a team in contention compete. He still has enough left in the tank to strike out seven straight and anyone who can do that, who has the credentials that Smoltz has, is making a statement.

Moving back to the NL and to a pitching coach known for reclamations and other miracles certainly will help. That and he is John freaking Smoltz.

The final line?
5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO on 75 pitches (53 of which were strikes)

Welcome back Smoltzie.

[henks]

Is he the Brett Favre of baseball? With the Braves for so many years, then one not so good year (not even a full one) with Boston, then he's lights out for the Cards? Hmmm.

Either way, he only pitched 5 innings....and it was against the Padres. :P

[missionhockey21]

Oh and BTW, the one thing you could not fault Smoltz for in Boston was his K/9, which was especially solid when he first came on. He can still find strike three.

[BuckFoston]

I wonder what Boston is thinking right now.

[Providence A's]

some guys just can't cut it in Boston for whatever reason. Renteria sucked when he was there and was great the minute he left. Lugo did the same this year as he's doing well with the Cards, too. I'm sure there are others, too.

[henks]

Yeah good point. Proves that change of scenery actually does something for a player.

[DirtyKash]

It's amazing how good pitchers become when they move from the American League back to the National League.

[realmofotalk]

It's amazing how nobody gives a shit how much of a gamer David F*ckstein is once he plays for bad teams, isn't it?

[Kingdom]

I didn't get David Eckstein out of John Smoltz. I did, however, get Thom Slonjz.

[padrefanforever]

It's amazing how good pitchers become when they move from the American League back to the National League.

And into Petco
And facing a majority rookie team

[missionhockey21]

Circumstances like that or not, 7K's in a row, shows he still has it. Hell, the movement on some of those called strike three's alone shows he can still contribute at the MLB level.

[padrefanforever]

Sure......and he'll always be one pitch away from retirement too......and while bla bla bla that could be said for any pitcher, some are much closer than others

Petco can make the most pedestrian pitchers look like Cy Young.......we've seen it many times......I for one will wait 2-3 more starts before pronouncing Smoltz BACK.....

[missionhockey21]

He won't have a line like that again. But after the collapse versus NYY, I am predicting he will overall be effective and a positive addition for the Cards. A move to more familiar territory, not to mention a less crushing division, will help hugely.