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Smoltz Introduced At Fenway Park
By Administrator | January 13, 2009
The Red Sox introduced John Smoltz to the local media this afternoon at Fenway Park, prompting GM Theo Epstein to remark that the club had introdced a new Hall of Famer in Jim Rice yesterday, while today they introduced a future Hall of Famer.
After spending his entire 21-year career with the Atlanta Braves, Smoltz, 41, signed a deal with the Red Sox which is believed to be for one year and $5.5 million, with an added $5 million in incentives. He has won 210 games and saved 154 others while posting a 3.26 ERA. Last season, he was 3-2, 2.57, before being placed on the disabled list in June.
Smoltz, who will wear uniform No. 29 (which was surrendered by hitting coach Dave Magadan), said: “Words can’t describe (how I am feeing)… What you get is a guy who loves to put on the uniform and loves to compete. I’m excited to be here. This city is surrounded by a ton of history and a ton of players and a ton of fans. I’m as determined and I’m as focused as I have ever been”.
Epstein said: “It’s a very significant day for the Red Sox. To be able to add someone of this caliber and his accomplishment, and his talent most importantly, we look for him to make a huge impact on the organization”.
Smoltz is not expected be ready to pitch by Opening Day after coming off major shoulder surgery. Theo Epstein referred to him as “a physical freak” and said that Smoltz will pitch when HE feels he is fully prepared to pitch. The Sox signed Smoltz to pitch in the post-season (he has a 2.65 ERA in 40 postseason games, 27 starts). They have slowed his rehab to ensure that he will be 100 percent when he returns to action (on a date yet to be determined).
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Smoltz: “Everyone says they want to win, but when you put the pieces together and find out how they’re going to do that, that separates people and that separates teams. I’m sure Atlanta wants to win, they’ve been wanting to win for a long time, but the scenario here is that (the club) gave me every opportunity to be comfortable in this situation. It isn’t rushed. It doesn’t put a thousand pounds of weight on my shoulders. They said: “We want you ready, but more importantly, we want you ready at the time when it’s going to give us the best chance to complement a staff that has already logged a lot of tough innings over the last couple of years and had some guys go down”. And I think it’s the perfect scenario for me. I’m going to go after this as if I’m going to be ready when I KNOW I’m going to be ready, and then I’ll let them determine that… and that’s because of the confidence I have in the program that they’ve explained to me and the purpose they have for me. And I’m willing to leave it up to them… they’ve been doing this for a long time”.
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Smoltz: “It was nearly impossible (to leave Atlanta). This is going to sound funny to say, but the longer you stay, you almost become a prisoner of your environment. Had I moved three times and been there ten years, (signing with the Red Sox) wouldn’t have been the end of the world… but (in this situation it was hard) because I made (Atlanta) my home, because I grew up there (in baseball), because my kids have started school there, because I made a choice to stay there every time I became a free agent. But when it came time (this winter) and it didn’t look like (the team and I) wanted the same thing, it became a no-brainer for me”.
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Smoltz will earn $5.5 million guaranteed with $5 million in bonuses. According to the Associated Press, Smoltz’s bonuses are based on time on the active 25-man roster: $125,000 for his first day, $35,000 a day from June 1 through Oct. 3, and $500,000 for Oct. 4, the last scheduled day of the regular season.
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Smoltz said he has always loved pitching at Fenway Park (during interleague games). He has never allowed an earned run in his new home ballpark.
Topics: Sox Front Office, Sox Players |
