Smoltz Makes Change Work Out in Long Run

The pain has been overwhelming at times, but John Smoltz has accepted that his sore right elbow won’t get better soon.

That out of the way, the Atlanta Brave pitcher decided to keep pitching earlier this season in an attempt to help his team.

He listened to many suggestions before deciding to alter his delivery, changing his arm angle to lessen the strain--and pain--on his elbow. The Braves said the results couldn’t have been better.

Smoltz went 11-8 with a 3.19 earned-run average, and struck out 156 in 186 1/3 innings.

True, those aren’t the former Cy Young Award winner’s typical numbers. However, considering what Smoltz has been through, he had an impressive year.

The Braves lead the Astros, 2-1, in the best-of-five division series, and Smoltz can finish things today if his elbow keeps cooperating.

“Well, I tried everything that I possibly could,” said Smoltz, who has been plagued by elbow problems the last two seasons, and whose chronic elbow pain twice put him on the disabled list this season. “As much pain as I was going through, it would have been real easy to sit the season out and wait for my elbow to heal up.

“But I’m not afraid of change, or of any kind of situation. If I was, I don’t think I would have ever tried it [changing arm angles]. I put myself in a pretty tough situation to fail by trying something totally new midstream.”

*

The pressure of another looming playoff flop appears to be getting to Astro Manager Larry Dierker, who snapped at reporters in the postgame interview session.

When asked if he considered walking Brian Jordan in the 12th, Dierker responded sarcastically, “No, I didn’t think of that. Gosh, I never thought of that.”

Asked how he would motivate the Astros after the demoralizing loss, Dierker said “We’re going to have a pep rally. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Today’s Pitchers

BRAVES’ JOHN SMOLTZ

(11-8, 3.19 ERA)

vs.

ASTROS’ SHANE REYNOLDS

(16-14, 3.85 ERA)

Astrodome, Houston, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--ESPN

* Update--Smoltz, who has 11 playoff victories, has been outstanding in the division series. He has 30 strikeouts under this format, a National League record. The right-hander’s total is second to that of Randy Johnson’s combined NL-AL total. Reynolds pitched six strong innings to defeat Greg Maddux in the opener of this series.