Smoltz likely to have shoulder surgery

Subject: Smoltz likely to have shoulder surgery Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:00 pm

Smoltz likely to have shoulder surgery
Braves veteran says he 'can't compete against my body'
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com

ATLANTA -- John Smoltz has said that he'll be content if he never throws another pitch. Now, just two days after he attempted to alleviate stress on his shoulder with a move to the bullpen, the Braves veteran pitcher finds this to be a more defined possibility.

Smoltz will visit noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala., and it is likely he will then undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder.

"I can't compete against my body anymore," Smoltz said on Wednesday during a news conference at Turner Field, where he was accompanied by executive vice president Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox.

"It's a sad day in a lot of ways," Wren said. "We don't know if the surgery will allow him to pitch ... or whether it will allow him to go on with his life."

Smoltz was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday and then a few hours later, he blew his first save opportunity since 2004. Although he allowed the Marlins two earned runs in that one-inning relief appearance, the 41-year-old hurler still seemed at least somewhat optimistic about his future.

But when he awoke on Tuesday with increased pain in his shoulder, Smoltz and the Braves immediately understood that he simply might not be able to pitch any more, whether as a starter or a reliever, this year.

"Yesterday, when he came to the ballpark, it was evident to all of us that it couldn't continue this way," Wren said.

In the past, Smoltz has said that he'd retire if he ever needed to undergo another major surgery. He softened that stance on Monday and reiterated on Wednesday that there will at least be a possibility that he'll attempt to prolong his career after enduring a long rehab process.

"I said I would retire if the desire was gone," Smoltz said on Wednesday. "I'm not there yet. I'm not there emotionally. Physically, [that's] still to be determined."

Smoltz pitched through pain in his shoulder during last season's final four months and encountered further discomfort during the last two weeks of Spring Training this year. After making five regular season starts, he decided that he couldn't continue as a starting pitcher.

Andrews examined Smoltz on April 29 and concluded that the shoulder discomfort was a product of inflammation in his rotator cuff and biceps tendon.

Smoltz is in the final guaranteed season of his contract. The option for the 2009 season would have vested if he completed 200 innings this season.
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bow

Guest

I almost started to cry when I saw his interview today about this, very upsetting.

I love my Smoltzy!

Subject: Re: Smoltz likely to have shoulder surgery Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:38 am

He sounded positive...that's half the battle when having surgery is attitude.
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971