Smoltz & Glavine

By Jason Chatraw

I don't know if I'll ever get over Tom Glavine spurning the Braves for a few lousy million bucks and playing for the hated Mets, but John Smoltz has. In fact, he never had anything to really "get over." He misses his buddy, but has never had anything but nice things to say about Tommy.

Before Tuesday night's game against the Mets, the New York media cornered Smoltz for a little pow-wow, grilling him on everything from steroids to Barry Bonds to Glavine. And while I found what Smoltz had to say about steroids mildly interesting, it was his reflection on Glavine that stood out the most.

Question: I don't think anybody will ever accuse Tom Glavine of using steroids, but what do you think has kept him in the game for so long?

Smoltz:Perseverance, perseverance, perseverance. You can't say it enough about him. He has just persevered through every adversity in his career and just keeps his head about him. But he's also got great mechanics--and he never gives into a batter.

Question: What has your relationship with Glavine meant to you?

Smoltz: Obviously, it has meant a lot to me. I know Tommy better than I know anybody in the game of baseball. ... He's at the point in his career, like me, that if baseball was gone tomorrow, he would have no regrets. He's had an unbelievable career. People will never know the way he has handled controversey that came his way without him asking for it. There could be a book written on stories that will never be told about situations that have arisen for him and how he has handled them."

Come again? What situations, Smoltzy? What in the world are you talking about? Of course, the NY media just had to ask what, which of course Smoltz declined to elaborate. Now, the Curious George in me is just dying to know what the heck Smoltz meant by that. My other media mates in the press box just think Smoltz was just shootin' from the hip and there's really nothing else there (i.e., he's referring to the tension between Braves GM John Schuerholz and Glavine when Schuerholz outed Glavine in the book as leaving the Braves' offer on the table because a players' union rep couldn't turn down more money--bad for everyone in the league who wants bigger paychecks). But who knows? Maybe we'll have to get Glavine's autobiography to learn more ... if he actually does decide to write about it.

GAME NOTES
* Braves' castoff and New York Mets starting pitcher Jorge Sosa entered Tuesday night's game against the Braves with a 3-0 record and a 2.25 ERA. I thought that there had to be some other Jorge Sosa in the league and he couldn't possibly be the same guy who imploded for the Braves a season ago before the Braves traded him away. But, alas, I realized it was the same Sosa when the Braves hammered him and put an end to his winning streak to start the season.

* Reason No. 543 why the Mets won't win the World Series this season? Aaron Sele. This is the best the Mets have to throw out there in relief? Braves starting pitcher Kyle Davies who had exactly one hit last season (1-for-23) and no hits entering Tuesday night's game, belted a home run to straightaway center field off Sele, the first dinger he's surrendered to a pitcher in his career. Davies' only hit last year? A home run.

* Check out this weekend's paper for our feature on Cairo, Ga., native Willie Harris. He's got a great story!

* Also, read this week's story on Kelly Johnson and Scott Thorman by our columnist, Adam Krohn.