Smoltz Hits DL; Return to Bullpen Inevitable?
UPDATE: (4/30) 9:14am (EST) - As per the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Smoltz (on 15-day DL) will resume pitching activities in 2-4 weeks. When asked if it was possible that Smoltz take on the closer’s role for Atlanta, he seemed agreeable to the idea. That role would seemingly place less stress on his inflammed rotator cuff and strained biceps tendon. Such a move would obviously benefit the Atlanta bullpen (especially with the absence of closer Rafael Soriano), but it would be a big blow to their starting rotation.
April 27th - 
John Smoltz complained of shoulder soreness after he left Sunday’s start against the New York Mets. Smoltz only lasted 4 innings, and was tagged with the loss. His pitches seemed flat, and lacked movement. Smoltz admitted that the shoulder soreness prevented him from delivering the pitches the way he wanted to.
Ouch. More bad news for the Braves on the injury from. It is not known if Smoltz will go on the DL, but if he does, Chuck James will get tabbed to take his place in the rotation.
Filed under: Atlanta Braves
Smoltz, Glavine, Soriano, Moylan, Hampton and James……..have all spent time or are on the D.L.
Hudson is pitching like he belongs there too.
The Braves began the season with eight starters. At one time or another, five of them have been ineffective or injured.
Jair Jurrjens, the rookie of the bunch has been the one bright spot along with Jeff Bennett who has spot started.
Did I mention that Chipper Jones, Yunel Escobar, Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann are all walking wounded?
If any casual fan is wondering why the Braves are 12-13, look no further than the litany of injuries that have torpedoed this team so far.
The fact that the Braves are just one game under .500 is almost a miracle. If this team ever gets healthy……knock on wood. They will compete.
I agree the Braves have probably gotten the worst of the injuries early on, but everyone in the NL East has had their share of problems. The Mets have Pedro, El Duque, Alou, and both of their opening day Catchers missing time (they’ve got Raul Cassanova and Gustavo Molina behind the plate as of right now). The Phillies have probably done the best job avoiding it, and that’s saying a lot considering the reigning MVP is on the DL to go with Victorino, some early problems with Lidge, and now a setback to Benson. That’s why all three of these teams have hovered right around .500 for the first few weeks.
The one thing thats stands between the 2008 Braves and the playoffs has reared it’s ugly head.
THE INJURY BUG
And it is chewing this team bare like the locust swarm from hell.
The injury bug has gotten EVERYONE except for Arizona. Don’t worry, they’ll get theirs. I just hope its not Chris B. Young or Connor Jackson; their on my fantasy baseball team.
Yeah having Schneider and Castro down has been the biggest boon on the Mets if you ask me. Before today’s 13-1 coup the team’s ERA was nearly a full run higher with a catcher not named Schneider behind the plate, and Cassanova’s got a little bat but I’d take Castro’s game calling and his hitting over Cassanova’s any day. That’s not a knock on Cassanova, I just think Castro’s probably the best backup catcher in baseball when he’s healthy.
The guy its really made a monster difference with is Big Pelf. He was awesome in the two games Schneider caught, and awful when it was anyone else.