As a lifelong Braves fan, I can tell you for a fact that since John and Bobby got in control in Atlanta they almost never make a mistake when they let pitchers go. In fact the only guy I can really think of that was a mistake to let go was Jason Schmidt. The Braves let Smoltz walk for a reason and the reason quite simply is they knew he was done. I mean why else would the Braves let a 20+ year staple of their franchise leave. They knew it. Smoltz just has nothing left. I'm sure he will get a good start every once in awhile, but he just doesn't have it any more.
what does it do for your theory that they wanted him back, offered him a contract but got outbid?
What about when they let Glavine go and he had three straight years with an era under 3.80?
And everyone keeps saying he has nothing left but not backing it up by anything. He has nothing left because he isnt locating his pitches? that doesnt even make sense. if you look at a box score, sure it looks like he has nothing, but his velocity is fine.
did he have nothing left last year in his 6 starts when he had a 2.5 era before getting hurt. how about hte year before when it was 3.11 or the year before when it was 3.5 or the year before when it was 3.0.
Maybe he is done, but given the fact that stuff doesnt just disappear, overnight, I am willing to bet it is mechanics/injury healing/ and rust rather then just being gone.
I guess we'll see
If they wanted to keep Smoltz that bad, they wouldn't have been outbid, same with Glavine (who was pushing hard for the extra year and left because the Mets offered it to him - the dollars were the same).
And Glavine's ERA's in NY were 4.52, 3.6, 3.52, 3.82, and 4.45 (his last five in atlanta were 2.96, 3.57, 3.40, 4.12, and 2.47). He would pitch one awful start and one good start which is why his win percentage was well below his time in Atlanta. He was also only 37.
Smoltz is done. He will get a good solid start every once in awhile, but he will then pitch two or three poor to awful starts.
BTW, his arm probably can't take the bullpen. It is why he moved back to being a starter.
