Smoltz is just about ready to get started
After one more rehab outing, set for today at Syracuse, John Smoltz will be ready to return to big league action. His potential return date is Tuesday against the Marlins at Fenway Park. That would likely be followed by starts against the Braves at home and in Atlanta, if he stays on a five-day rotation, facing the team for which he played his entire major league career before this season.
Asked if that would be perfect timing, Smoltz wasn't quite so sure.
"I don't know if perfect is the word I would look at," he said recently. "When I signed with the Sox, I had no idea we were going to play the Braves. With the history and everything that's gone on, that cannot be a focus for me. If it falls that way, it falls that way, and I'll certainly attack them like I'll attack the Yankees or whoever else I play.
"For me, the game can't be bigger than what I'm trying to do. That game will be too big. There will be so much surrounding it, I don't know that breath will be something that comes easy. The only request I had was that I just didn't want it to be my first start. It looks like it would be the second start."
But before that can happen, the Sox will need to do something with their rotation. The team has five starters and unless one of them suddenly develops a disabled list-worthy injury, a decision will need to be made.
"We've certainly had conversations," manager Terry Francona said. "Theo [Epstein's] been involved in all of those. We'll figure it out. These things have a way of getting worked out."
Smoltz will pitch a "full-fledged outing" in his fifth minor league start today, according to Francona, the opener of a doubleheader in Syracuse. He could even throw a complete game as minor league doubleheader games are seven innings.
"It's all about him being healthy and competing and feeling good about himself and able to do it time and time again," Francona said. "He's actually been pretty good. I just think you have to repeat it. There's a reason you have spring training, and he's been off for a while now with the surgery."
Smoltz has started twice for Single A Greenville, once for Double A Portland, and once for Triple A Pawtucket, compiling a 1.56 ERA in 17 1/3 innings.
"Taking the combination of stuff, we feel like he's going to be successful," Francona said. "He might not throw 95 or 96, but he can still probably be successful."
"Definitely still soreness," Ellsbury said. "Still really tender. If I have to get out there, dive again, steal bases, that's where I could possibly make it worse. But I'm pretty happy how I've felt from yesterday, so good news."
"When I got to the field I got a text from him," Daniel Bard said. "It said, 'I got drafted.' He didn't say by who. Ben Cherington texted me and said, 'We got your brother. We're excited about it.' "
Luke Bard is committed to Georgia Tech, but his brother said he thought Luke would be open to signing.
Including Bard, the Sox took 13 righthanded pitchers, three lefthanders, five infielders, five outfielders, and one catcher. Among yesterday's picks was Alex Hassan, a righthander out of Duke originally from Milton, in the 20th round.
