Smoltz is a lock as a first-ballot hall of famer… rumor has it that him, maddux, and glavine are all going to retire next year so they all go into the Hall together..all as Braves… t

“Myers move confuses Smoltz; The Braves pitcher can’t fathom why the Phillies sent their opening-day starter to the bullpen” (Inquirer, May 27, 2007)

ATLANTA – … Smoltz said Myers’ move, regardless of the reasons, raised eyebrows in the Braves’ clubhouse.

“I don’t think anybody could believe it,” he said. “We didn’t follow his performances after opening day, but here’s a guy that was almost perfect opening day. He was one out away from pitching a shutout. I don’t like judging people from afar because sometimes you can overanalyze and say, ‘This guy is unbelievable,’ and not know what day-to-day he’s dealing with. You can give a guy too much credit. For me, Myers was always a click away from being an upper-echelon pitcher with A, A-plus stuff.”

“Smoltz’s advice on Myers rejected” (Inquirer, May 28, 2007)

ATLANTA – John Smoltz is one of the most esteemed pitchers and people in baseball, on and off the field. But the Phillies did not appreciate it when he criticized them Saturday for moving Brett Myers to the bullpen last month.

“The Phillies have a great deal of respect for John Smoltz and what he’s represented to the Braves and to this division,” Ruben Amaro Jr., the Phillies’ assistant general manager, said before yesterday’s 13-6 victory over Atlanta at Turner Field. “He’s a Hall of Fame pitcher. At the same time, I’m not sure it’s appropriate for him to be making comments about personnel decisions that we’ve made as an organization.”