John Smoltz. . .
One of my personal heroes just struck out a Mets guy on four pitches. The first strike being a 95 m.p.h. fastball.
This is John's first start of the year and I'm excited. This was a man who's pitching was so horrible in his first years with the Braves that he sought the help of a psychologist who would come to his games dressed in a red shirt and would sit behind home plate so Smoltzie could see him. Now he's 40 years old, a Cy Young under his belt, had a 24 win season in 1996, led the majors in strikeouts two years, the only pitcher to amass 200 wins and 50 saves and is still throwing gas and a mind-bending slider. And on top of all that, he's still just a down-to-Earth guy. Respected and liked among enemy and peer. And I respect that above all.
Today John is dressed out in the Braves home Sunday colors of red. Tastefully ironic.
Keep it up John. You are an inspiration.
