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Smoltz's new role Will the veteran stay in the 'pen, or even with the Braves?
No, these are not your father's Atlanta Braves. They're not even your big brother's Braves. But in John Smoltz, Atlanta has the strongest closer of its 11-year run as an elite-level team. Since moving into the closer's role on Aug. 17, Smoltz had converted 10 of 11 save opportunities. Overall, in relief, he is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA this season. He has been clocked as high as 98 mph, the best of his career, and claims his slider has returned to its pre-surgery nastiness. If the Braves hold on to win the NL East, Smoltz would give the most reliable closer on the National League side of the tournament, with the possible exception of Houston's Billy Wagner (38 for 40 in save chances) or San Francisco's Robb Nen (44 of 51). Little is certain for Smoltz, though, beyond this season. A prospective free agent, he admits he isn't all that optimistic the Braves will give him the multiyear deal he will seek. Making $8 million this season, Smoltz could be part of cost-cutting moves as the Braves seek to retool in anticipation of the free agency that awaits Andruw Jones, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine after the 2002 campaign. If Smoltz, 34, stays with the Braves, it could well be as a closer. Pitching coach Leo Mazzone says Smoltz has shown enough in the role to make a permanent, Dennis Eckersley -style move to the bullpen. "It's his call," Mazzone said. "He could start next year or he could close. If Smoltzie decides to close, he might make the Hall of Fame. How many wins does he have, 160? He could close for 3-4 years, pile up 40 saves a year and wind up with 160 wins and 160 saves. That might get him a shot at it." Smoltz will turn 35 next May. Eckersley was 32 when he made the switch from starter to closer with Tony La Russa's Oakland A's a decade and a half ago. At the start of the 1987 season, Eckersley had 151 career wins and three saves. He wound up with 197 wins and 390 saves and a likely spot in Cooperstown. (He becomes eligible for election in the winter of 2003.) Could Smoltz do the same after coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery? "There's not a thing John Smoltz can't do in this game," Mazzone said. "There's not a pitch invented or an arm angle he can't master. He loves it when everything is on the line. Postseason, World Series, ninth inning. How much presence he has with the game on the line is unbelievable." Pitching in relief allows Smoltz's elbow to bounce back quicker, similar to Matt Morris' experience with the Cardinals last season, his first year after surgery. But there's another, more practical reason why Smoltz has thrived in the role. "Shawn Green said you can get three or four at-bats against John and you might get him one time," Mazzone said. "Get just one look at him and there's no chance."
Cardinals make their moveOn Aug. 8 the Cardinals were 57-55. Since then they've gone 35-12 and, in light of Houston's stunning free-fall, have become the trendy alternative to Arizona as the NL pennant choice. "You still have to wonder about their bullpen, but that St. Louis lineup can match up with anybody in the league," one major league scout said. " Placido Polanco has been great over at third. Edgar [Renteria] looks better lately. Fernando Vina is solid at second. Albert Pujols has been amazing. "But the real key to that team might be J.D. Drew. You notice they were pretty cold when he was out. Look at what they've done since he came back." When Drew went down on June 17 with a broken hand, the Cardinals were 36-32 and he was having an MVP-type season. In Drew's six-week absence, they went 16-19. They are 41-16 since his return. At 25, Drew has finally come into his own, solidifying the Cardinals lineup from the No. 3 hole Mark McGwire has been unable to occupy. Though Drew went homerless in September, his .393 on-base percentage provided plenty of baserunners for Pujols to drive home from the cleanup spot. One note of caution, however, about the Cardinals: Their rise has largely come at the expense of three NL Central bottom feeders. Against the Reds, Pirates and Brewers they are 17-5 over the final two months and 34-17 overall.
Dombrowski ready to move?With general manager openings in both Canadian markets, the front office carousel is grinding into motion. This time around it could include a high-profile rider: Dave Dombrowski. After a decade with the Marlins, close associates say the highly respected Dombrowski could be ready for a new challenge. The club's push for a new ballpark lies dormant in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and owner John Henry, who expects to lose $20 million this season, has given strong hints another payroll slashing is on the horizon. Dombrowski, the team president and GM, has said repeatedly the South Florida market could not handle another dismantling. All-Star left fielder Cliff Floyd, a prospective free agent after the 2002 season, says it's 50/50 he could be traded this winter. That's based on a recent conversation with Dombrowski. At 45, Dombrowski still has two years and $2 million left on the contract Henry gave him in 1998. If Dombrowski wants to leave, Henry isn't expected to stand in his friend's way. Reports out of Toronto quickly tabbed Dombrowski as a leading candidate for the Blue Jays vacancy. Should Rangers GM Doug Melvin, the game's only Canadian-born GM, jump to the Blue Jays, look for Rangers owner Tom Hicks to go hard after Dombrowski, whose wife still has strong family ties to nearby Oklahoma. Friends say Boston would hold significant appeal as well to Dombrowski should new ownership fire Dan Duquette, his former assistant with the Expos. With Cubs president/GM Andy MacPhail expected to move back upstairs at season's end, moving Jim Hendry into the GM chair, Dombrowski will be one of four active GMs with a World Series crown ( Brian Cashman, Pat Gillick and John Schuerholz are the others). Meanwhile, in Montreal, baseball sources say owner Jeffrey Loria is considering a Yankees-style setup in which longtime international scouting director Fred Ferreira would be installed in the Mark Newman -type personnel role while a traditional GM would be brought in from the outside to fill the Cashman role. Mets executive Omar Minaya would be near the top of the latter list, according to sources. Mike Berardino covers baseball for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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