Painful Year Becomes Smoltz’s Finest

John Smoltz overcame the frustration caused by his sore pitching elbow and had another outstanding season.

The Atlanta Brave all-star pitcher thrived in the second half, allaying concerns about his durability while impressing teammates with his courage.

For those reasons, the former Cy Young Award winner said, this season has been his best. And the Braves agree.

Smoltz hopes to continue his impressive turnaround against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League division series here today at Turner Field. The right-hander needs one victory to break the record for postseason victories.

Since questioning whether he should remain in the rotation, he has regained his confidence.

“It’s very hard to describe what this means to me,” Smoltz said of today’s assignment. “This has been an incredible year for me, a year when I had a lot of questions and a lot of doubts.

“It has been a year of mental toughness, and a year when I really questioned how much longer I wanted to do this. I’ve never done that before, but things happened that forced me to this year.”

Smoltz began the season on the 15-day disabled list after undergoing elbow surgery in December. In his 10-year career, he had never been on the disabled list. Then he struggled in two minor league rehabilitation starts, stirring his doubts.

And that uneasiness lingered, although he began the season 4-0 in his first six starts. Smoltz believed something was missing.

“It wasn’t just the pain, which I expected,” he said. “I just didn’t have it, whatever that important thing is for me. I knew before I went out there that things just weren’t right, although the results might not have shown how I was feeling.”

They eventually did.

The Houston Astros hit Smoltz hard in an 8-1 victory over the Braves on May 17. Smoltz gave up 10 hits and was charged with eight runs in four innings.

Then he lasted only two innings in his next start against the Cubs, and the Braves had seen enough. Smoltz was put on the 15-day disabled list for the second time.

“Going on the list the second time was the most frustrating thing I’ve ever been through,” he said. “The second time caused the most doubt in my mind, because I just didn’t have any answers at that point.”

But Smoltz got things figured out by refocusing and relaxing. His elbow pain decreased, and he made his second debut June 26.

He went 12-1 after the All-Star break, finished the regular season 17-3 with a 2.90 earned-run average in 26 starts, and had 173 strikeouts in 167 2/3 innings.

“This has totally blown away my Cy Young year [1996],” Smoltz said of a season where he went 24-8 with a 2.94 ERA and 276 strikeouts in 253 2/3 innings. “This has been great because of where I came from with everything.

“I told myself I was going to take the next start off so many times, but I didn’t. I have to say, I really surprised myself.”

His teammates thought Smoltz needed nothing but time.

“To watch what he went through this year, to watch him fight back from that, I don’t understand how anyone could not be impressed,” said Tom Glavine, Smoltz’s teammate since 1988.

“He had a real tough road, but we all know what type of competitor he is. We’ve seen him work for 10 years, and everyone knows how dedicated he is to this team. He got it together and it has been fun to watch.”

The Braves clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs and set a franchise record with 106 victories by closing the season 14-2. First baseman Andres Galarraga said Smoltz deserves much of the credit for the strong finish.

“Oh, he was great every game,” Galarraga said. “You give him one or two runs, and you could feel pretty good. He has always been a great pitcher, but he has everything really working for him now. This is good for us.”

Smoltz, 31, begins the postseason with 10 victories, sharing the record with Whitey Ford and Dave Stewart. Of course, Ford didn’t have the advantage of pitching in three rounds of playoffs every season.

Smoltz is rejuvenated and eager to help the Braves win their second World Series in the ‘90s.

“I’m not afraid to lose and I’m not afraid to try,” Smoltz said. “Even with everything I’ve been through this year, even with wondering how much longer I could go, I’ve never lost that.

“I relish every chance I get to give us an advantage out there. It makes me feel good that I’ve hung on to that.”

The Braves are pleased too.