[SuperJon]

John Smoltz is announcing his retirement at 11:30.

As a Braves fan, this sucks.

[Schfourteenteen]

It happens, he was losing the closer role anyway, so it makes plenty sense

[SuperJon]

He blew a save but Atlanta won the game.

Reports say he woke up with soreness and he's gonna have season ending surgery.

[olldflame]

Sorry to hear that. A lesser competitor would have hung it up long ago with all the arm problems Smoltz has dealt with over the last few years. He is such a great athlete he always felt he could find a way to get guys out even if he wasn't 100% and was continually pitching with pain.

Now he can focus on his golf game. Look out PGA tour!

[SuperJon]

Sorry to hear that. A lesser competitor would have hung it up long ago with all the arm problems Smoltz has dealt with over the last few years. He is such a great athlete he always felt he could find a way to get guys out even if he wasn't 100% and was continually pitching with pain.

Now he can focus on his golf game. Look out PGA tour!

He could play on the PGA tour if he wanted to. Might not win, but he'd be competitive.

[Sly Fox]

I have a feeling he'll be an analyst on ESPN before he makes a living swinging the sticks. He's already tested out well in his radio & TV opportunities.

[SuperJon]

I don't think anyone's saying he'll go to the PGA, just that he's good enough to.

[thepostman]

as a kid growing up in Florida Atlanta was the hometown team so to speak...before the marlins and rays came on to the scene...i was always a Red Sox fan first but always had a spot in my heart for the braves...and still do...smoltz was great, but its his time to go that is for sure....

[Sly Fox]

I'm not disparaging his golf game. Just noting his likelihood to go behind the mic.

Life on any tour is a grind and after his baseball career it may not be that attractive unless his competitive juices overtake him.

[SuperJon]

I'm watching the press conference. Apparently Smoltz isn't retiring, just having season ending surgery and may come back in the spring but doesn't know for sure.

[Fumblerooskies]

Nope...is NOT retiring. Shoulder surgery then give it a go in 09.

[SuperJon]

He also said it depends on what the doctors find in there. They won't know how bad it is til they cut him open.

[SumItUp]

Now he can focus on his golf game. Look out PGA tour!

Great guy, good golfer, but NO WAY he makes on the PGA Tour.

[olldflame]

You never know how good an athlete like that could be at golf until he retires and can really focus on it. I agree the tour would be a long shot though, even if he were interested. His future is in media. He really seems to be a natural with the mike and has a "likeability" that you don't get from many jocks. Pretty funny too.

[ATrain]

Yeah, it sucks to hear this as a Braves fan, but he's had a great career. Hopefully the surgery will go well, doctors won't find anything, and he'll return to the Braves bullpen in '09. If not, then thanks for the great seasons.

[PAmedic]

BRAVES SUCK

[SuperJon]

Your mom.

[BJWilliams]

They were talking on ESPN Radio about what if Smoltz Glavine and Maddux all retired at the end of this season...I think they all said to a man that all three would be hall of famers their first year (which would I believe be 2013)

[Sly Fox]

Forgive me for not seeing all three as first ballot inductees. Maddux, yes. Glavine, probably. Smoltz is a HOFer for sure but I don't see it on first ballot.

[HenryGale]

BRAVES SUCK

[SuperJon]

Forgive me for not seeing all three as first ballot inductees. Maddux, yes. Glavine, probably. Smoltz is a HOFer for sure but I don't see it on first ballot.

Then you disagree with most every baseball writer that's been on tv in the past day.

[Hold My Own]

The saves really help Smotzy...anytime someone can say "they are the only one with those credentials" talking about his wins and saves, that's pretty good...I think he'll be first ballot b/c of that

[SuperJon]

Not to mention he's one of the top five best post-season pitchers ever, and top five might be being generous. It might be Top 3.

[Schfourteenteen]

Forgive me for not seeing all three as first ballot inductees. Maddux, yes. Glavine, probably. Smoltz is a HOFer for sure but I don't see it on first ballot.

Then you disagree with most every baseball writer that's been on tv in the past day.

Because if someone said "Curry may go pro before his Senior year" just like a good number of writers..... wait theyre all stupid.

But I do agree Smoltz will be in 1st ballot, and even if he was borderline 1st ballot hed get in bc itd be a cute story and you cant vote in 2 of the 3 and leave Smoltz, who did more for his team off the ballot

[SuperJon]

Actually, it's different. The writers don't determine if Curry goes pro, but they determine if Smoltz gets in the Hall of Fame.