Smoltz’ Stay in Rotation Open-ended
MILWAUKEE — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is laying few projections in concrete these days, all the better to keep his first-place team focused on closing out the NL Central rather than looking ahead to a probable first-round playoff matchup against the San Francisco Giants or Colorado Rockies. But one thing appears clear: John Smoltz isn’t anywhere close to leaving the starting rotation.
“Every time he pitches, it helps him build arm strength and sharpness,” La Russa said.
La Russa confirmed before today’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers that Smoltz could finish the regular season in the rotation before moving to a postseason relief role.
Left unsaid is that the Cardinals want to keep Smoltz “live” for a possible October starting role should Kyle Lohse experience turbulance in his comeback from a left groin strain. Lohse hasn’t been right since suffering a flexor muscle tear in his right forearm in May, and the Cardinals believe Smoltz invaluable as a potential fallback.
Smoltz is 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts covering 17 innings for the Cardinals. Lohse has made 18 starts around two stays on the disabled list, going 5-8 with a 4.67 ERA. Since exiting the disabled list the first time, Lohse is 1-4 with a 5.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts, 15 walks and six home runs allowed in 40 innings. He was 3-0 with a 1.97 ERA in four April starts.
La Russa hoped to find Lohse some relief work Sunday in Pittsburgh but reconsidered in a close game the Cardinals eventually dropped in extra innings.
Lohse will start Saturday at Busch Stadium against the Atlanta Braves, La Russa confirmed today. For now, the plan appears to maintain a five-man turn despite four off days before Sept. 29.
“We’ve got it mapped out the last four weeks where our starters will be well taken care of,” La Russa said.
The Cardinals projected Smoltz as a postseason righthanded set-up presence for Ryan Franklin when they signed him following his release from the Boston Red Sox. Smoltz then struck out at least one hitter in his first 14 innings pitched with the Cardinals. He worked five shutout innings in San Diego, provided a quality start against the Washington Nationals Aug. 28 and took a 4-3 loss against the Brewers last Wednesday at Busch.
La Russa remained circumspect about the postseason but allowed he would have no problem waiting until the postseason to give Smoltz his first relief work.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to use him all year in the bullpen and make him a starter,” La Russa said of the only pitcher in the game’s history to win 200 games and record 150 saves. “This guy is a Hall of Famer.”
(9 votes, average: 4.44 out of 5)
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How important was the signing of Smoltz?! No question Smoltz is a quality #4 starter and it gives the Cardinals great insurance heading into the playoffs. Personally, if Smoltz pitches the way he has since joining the Redbirds, no question he is the #4 heading into the playoffs! No disrespect to Loshe, just that Kyle isn’t healthy.
It would be great to get Lohse going to be a serviceable starter again before the playoffs - just like Rick Ankiel needs to show if he can get hot again (confidence, pitch selection, & keeping his head on the ball when swinging) to provide TLR a nice left handed power bat option.
With Smoltz, a proven veteran in the post season, we have depth - the only question is Boggs.
Coming off his best start of the year, ideally it would have been beneficial to his confidence (thinking of next year, too) to have him go 1 more regular start - possibly giving Waino a short breather (he’s throw nearly 200 innings this year and looked a bit tired his last start during that 6 run inning in Pittsburg).
Overall, kudos to Mo, TLR, & DD for crafting a very deep pitching staff with momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
It will be great to see Smoltz in the rotation the rest of the season. If and when Loshe comes back, they can move Boggs in the ‘pen.
There were extra innings on Sunday? I think the bottom of the 9th just felt like it went on forever….
What a luxury to have this season 4 1/2 quality starters. Come the play offs, Smoltz will be the key with the flexability he gives as a starter or a reliever. The job isn’t finished yet, but bravo to TLR, DD and all the staff for getting it near pefect since the All Star break. Let’s just finish the job in style. Go Cards.
How about if Franklin falters? Couldn’t Smoltz make a nice closer?
I posted here last month that I thought Smotz would be invaluable to us as a 4th starter. I am thrilled to see that Tony is starting to feel the same way. I do not want to be in the middle of a tough series with the Yankees, have to send Lohse or Wellemeyer to the mound in for a guaranteed loss in game four, and then try and pull the series out anyway.
And when I say that I mean all disrespect to Lohse. He made a contract push and since getting the big contract he has shown us nothing.
I think the Cardinals overpaid for Loshe last off season. He put together a good year and got a pay day for it.
I to like the idea of Smoltz has a possible stopper. No disrespect to Franklin, but, I have been waiting for the wheels to fall off that wagon.
not sure why you’d like Franklin to fail so that Smoltz comes in. We need Franklin healthy, he just needs a little break. If Lohse is not 100% or 90% healthy, why start him in the playoffs? Unless its better to have Smoltz always being there to always slam the door shut on the opponents in the 7th and 8th innings… In any case, I’m not worried. Go Cards!
Lohse was lights out to start the season — AFTER signing his big contract — until he got hurt. Snide comments about a “contract push” and his “pay day” are inaccurate, unfair and reveal the ignorant blowhards to the rest of us.