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Friday, August 07, 2009

Red Sox cut ties with John Smoltz (Tazawa up)

John Smoltz, who has struggled in his attempt to return from offseason shoulder surgery with the Red Sox, was designated for assignment by the club on Friday. Smoltz was knocked around by the Yankees on Thursday night, giving up eight earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox have called up Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa, presumably to take Smoltz’s spot on the roster. The 23-year-old is 9-7 with a 2.55 ERA between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket this season with 94 strikeouts in 109 1/3 innings.

Will anyone pick him up (assuming he wants to continue)? And, no, I’m not asking if anyone will pick up Tazawa in Fantasy.

Gamingboy Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:13 PM | 72 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: japan, red sox

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1. 1k5v3L

Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:27 PM (#3284731)

If a team claims him, I assume that team would still have to pay him the October 4th bonus?
This must be pretty embarrassing to John Smoltz and to the Sox, given the offseason hype.
Who's next? Penny?

2. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:28 PM (#3284734)

Is Tazawa coming up to start? Put another way, should I be grabbing him in my fantasy league?

3. Swedish Chef Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:30 PM (#3284735)

If a team claims him, I assume that team would still have to pay him the October 4th bonus?

Wouldn't the Red Sox pay that?

4. PASTE, Now with Extra Pitch and Extra Stamina Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:34 PM (#3284738)

I guess Smoltz's best chance is in the NL with a team that's kinda-sorta in it. Astros come to mind.

5. BarrettsHiddenBall Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:35 PM (#3284741)

Could the wording be a bonus for being on the Red Sox 25-man-roster, or is that against the rules?

6. StHendu Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:45 PM (#3284746)

Will anyone pick him up

Mets? Smoltz has had a better k/bb ratio than any Mets pitcher this season (yes, including Santana)
Smoltz has been Voros'ed!

7. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:45 PM (#3284747)

I would think Smoltz has to be done, right? Unless he was willing to relieve?

8. PASTE, Now with Extra Pitch and Extra Stamina Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:47 PM (#3284749)

I would think that if it's his only way of staying in baseball, Smoltz will be willing to relieve--and if he's willing to relieve, I expect lots of teams to give him a call. Phillies, for one.

On the other hand, if they thought Smoltz could or would work as a reliever I doubt the Red Sox would have designated him for assignment...

9. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:47 PM (#3284750)

Smoltz is done, done, done. Though I'm sure he'd do fine in the NL.

(Just kidding. He couldn't even pitch well against the Nats.)

10. St.Philly Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:48 PM (#3284751)

The Phillies should pick him up and throw him into the mix with Moyer and Pedro, just for fun.

11. Latnam's first name is Bob Lemon's middle name Posted: August 07, 2009 at 09:49 PM (#3284755)

I wonder if Smoltz still thinks the Braves were wrong for letting him go?

12. Harold Reynolds Number Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:01 PM (#3284766)

On the other hand, if they thought Smoltz could or would work as a reliever I doubt the Red Sox would have designated him for assignment...

In theory Smoltz would be low on the totem pole in the Red Sox bullpen. The pen seems less solid lately, though.

13. Joyful Calculus Instructor Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:05 PM (#3284770)

I don't see why Smoltz wouldn't be willing to relieve. He is a two-time all-star closer.

14. Joyful Calculus Instructor Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:08 PM (#3284778)

Smoltz also has the single season NL record for saves. (tied with Gagne)

15. Best Regards, President of Comfort, Esq., LLC Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:16 PM (#3284784)

Just kidding. He couldn't even pitch well against the Nats.

The Nats are sixth in the NL in runs scored. Offense ain't the problem there.

16. Cowboy Popup Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:19 PM (#3284789)

Someone had been predicting that the last pitch Smoltz would throw for the Red Sox would be against the Yanks last night, I wish I remembered who it was. They deserve some props for calling that.

17. Marcel Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:19 PM (#3284790)

In theory Smoltz would be low on the totem pole in the Red Sox bullpen. The pen seems less solid lately, though.

Just some good ol' regression kicking in. There was no way that Ramirez was going to post a sub-2.00 ERA all season or that MDC would go all season without giving a HR. When the dust settles, the bullpen will still have 5 guys that should be expected to put up ERAs in the low 3s at worst.

18. t ball Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:23 PM (#3284793)

Tazawa over Bowden? I have not been following either closely, but I'm a bit surprised.

19. Run Joe Run Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:24 PM (#3284795)

Got to love these low cost high upside moves of Penny, Smoltz and Rocco. Sad to see it end this way for Smoltz, and I really think it is the end.

20. The Piehole of David Wells

Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:25 PM (#3284796)

Tazawa over Bowden? I have not been following either closely, but I'm a bit surprised.

tazawa looks like he will be a star, whereas bowden looks like he might be, at the best, good.

21. Shredder Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:26 PM (#3284798)

If I were Tony Reagins, I'd at least look into seeing if he wanted to work out of the pen. The Angels could use relief. Doubt he'd want to go west, though.

22. The Piehole of David Wells

Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:27 PM (#3284800)

also: finally.

23. Chip Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:50 PM (#3284815)

I'm betting they asked him to work out of the pen, and he and his agent said no. Thus the heave ho.

24. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:53 PM (#3284820)

I'm betting they realized he sucks. Thus the heave ho.

25. Benji Posted: August 07, 2009 at 11:17 PM (#3284840)

I've always admired Smoltz, but he's done. I don't want to see him bouncing around like Steve Carlton did at the end.

26. Darren

Posted: August 07, 2009 at 11:20 PM (#3284847)

On the pregame, they said Tazawa was available in relief tonight. Bowden, on the other hand, pitched on the 5th. Tazawa may be sent down and Bowden brought up to take Smoltz's place.

27. Darren

Posted: August 07, 2009 at 11:27 PM (#3284853)

Shed no tears for Mr. Class John Smoltz.

28. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: August 08, 2009 at 12:23 AM (#3284891)

Shed no tears for Mr. Class John Smoltz.

Never have, never will. He's a #########. Maybe he's not as noisy a ######### as Schilling was, but he's still a #########.

EDIT: What, ######### doesn't pass muster with the nanny? You can say that on prime-time television, damnit!

29. Joyful Calculus Instructor Posted: August 08, 2009 at 01:06 AM (#3284938)

d0uch38@g?

30. Everybody Loves Tyrus Raymond Posted: August 08, 2009 at 01:14 AM (#3284947)

d0uch38@g?

I'm not one to name-call, but speaking of Schilling, it is somehow appropriate you can't spell that without "38".

31. BarrettsHiddenBall Posted: August 08, 2009 at 01:59 AM (#3285049)

If this stays scoreless, Tazawa might make his MLB debut tonight.

32. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: August 08, 2009 at 02:35 AM (#3285192)

d0uch38@g?

Ditt0head?

33. Mike Emeigh

Posted: August 08, 2009 at 04:13 AM (#3285578)

Tazawa might make his MLB debut tonight.

He just did, in the 14th.

-- MWE

34. BarrettsHiddenBall Posted: August 08, 2009 at 04:26 AM (#3285642)

Wow. The clover up that man's ass must have a clover up it's ass.

35. BarrettsHiddenBall Posted: August 08, 2009 at 04:43 AM (#3285729)

...or not

36. Textbook Editor Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:56 AM (#3285791)

Thank god the Rays spit the bit tonight or I'd really be pissed.

37. Ozzie's gay friend Posted: August 08, 2009 at 06:21 AM (#3285794)

JEez, I'd forgotten about Smoltz being a bigot, also learned that he recorded campagin ads for Ralph Reed....

38. Joyful Calculus Instructor Posted: August 08, 2009 at 06:29 AM (#3285795)

Tazawa gets the loss in his debut.

39. Shibal Posted: August 08, 2009 at 06:44 AM (#3285798)

JEez, I'd forgotten about Smoltz being a bigot, also learned that he recorded campagin ads for Ralph Reed....

Hang him from the nearest tree! Hang em all who disagree with me!

40. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 08, 2009 at 01:13 PM (#3285827)

Hanging might be a bit much, but booing and shunning are probably OK.

41. Darren

Posted: August 08, 2009 at 01:53 PM (#3285835)

Hang him from the nearest tree! Hang em all who disagree with me!

You're right, it must be tough for Smoltz to be the target of such intolerance.

42. RobertMachemer Posted: August 08, 2009 at 02:18 PM (#3285847)

He's nothing but a low-down, double-dealing, backstabbing, larcenous perverted worm! Hanging's too good for him. Burning's too good for him! He should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive!

43. Answer Guy, outhacking you by a mile. Posted: August 08, 2009 at 02:55 PM (#3285858)

I knew he was a holy roller, I didn't know he had injected himself into the political arena.

Good riddance. But mostly because he was throwing batting practice out there most of the time.

44. Fly should without a doubt be number !!!!! Posted: August 08, 2009 at 02:58 PM (#3285860)

I'm betting they asked him to work out of the pen, and he and his agent said no. Thus the heave ho.

No sane team would want John Smoltz in their bullpen. And I'm including various independent league teams and that all-women's team, the Silver Bullets. John Smoltz is an embarrassment to the sport.

45. tfbg9 Posted: August 08, 2009 at 03:30 PM (#3285877)

Obama is against same sex "marriage". Guess's he classless as well.

46. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: August 08, 2009 at 03:34 PM (#3285881)

The bigger question about his worthiness as a human being: Does he hunt?

47. BarrettsHiddenBall Posted: August 08, 2009 at 04:49 PM (#3285905)

Obama is against same sex "marriage". Guess's he classless as well.

Because there's no difference between opposing something and describing it as akin to bestiality.

48. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 08, 2009 at 04:52 PM (#3285909)

I vote we keep the topic to how much Smoltz sucks now as opposed to getting all political.

49. Shalimar Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:10 PM (#3285919)

He endorsed Ralph Reed, which is basically like using your reputation to pretend that the local snake oil salesman is an honest man who would never cheat anyone. It's not so much the politics of that as the incredibly bad judgment.

50. tfbg9 Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:32 PM (#3285944)

It's not so much the politics of that as the incredibly bad judgment.

Like Barry and his trusted spiritual advisor, Jeremiah "the CIA created AIDS to kill the blacks off" Wright? OK, whatever.

51. Answer Guy, outhacking you by a mile. Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:35 PM (#3285948)

I vote we keep the topic to how much Smoltz sucks now

Not much more to say.

His stuff is not major league worthy anymore; he's just too easy to hit now. His K:BB data is pretty good, and people looking for a silver lining, naturally looked there, but that doesn't help a pitcher if his stuff is too hittable.

(I assume most American team sport pro athletes are gay-hostile conservative Republicans until I hear otherwise about them.)

52. UCCF Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:36 PM (#3285949)

I vote we keep the topic to how much Smoltz sucks now as opposed to getting all political.

You're funny. If you want to talk about baseball, find yourself a sports site.

53. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:36 PM (#3285951)

Everybody knows the CIA created crack cocaine to kill off black people.

54. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:47 PM (#3285959)

I vote we keep the topic to how much Smoltz sucks now as opposed to getting all political.

I wonder how many Red Sox fans would be venting about Schmoltzie's politics if Schmoltzie had come out of the gate with six straight wins. (/flight of fancy)

And since when are dumbasssed right wing political views all that unusual among professional athletes?

55. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:52 PM (#3285965)

And since when are dumbasssed right wing political views all that unusual among professional athletes?

About as unusual as dumbassed left wing political views on BBTF or a college campus (not aimed at you Andy. I disagree with your politics, but you're not dumbassed :-)

56. ?Donde esta Dagoberto Campaneris? Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:52 PM (#3285966)

Everybody knows the CIA created crack cocaine to kill off black people.

And they would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you nosy kids!

57. Dr. Vaux Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:54 PM (#3285968)

This Fangraphs thread about Smoltz is hilarious.

58. tfbg9 Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:57 PM (#3285970)

It's not an important issue to me, I just find it odd that its a huge, important issue to liberals, and their
top guy/semi-corrupt hack does not even support the sactioning of two dudes getting hitched. Talk to him. You've got
the f*cking wheel these days.

59. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: August 08, 2009 at 05:58 PM (#3285972)

This Fangraphs thread about Smoltz is hilarious.

Wow! I'm a pretty strong believer in modern statistical thinking, but those guys are in Jonestown drink the Koolaid land.

60. tfbg9 Posted: August 08, 2009 at 06:06 PM (#3285979)

@59: "his line-drive % is 20%, he's not getting hit hard!"

61. Answer Guy, outhacking you by a mile. Posted: August 08, 2009 at 06:06 PM (#3285980)

This Fangraphs thread about Smoltz is hilarious.

That's mighty close to Baghdad Bob territory there.

62. Shalimar Posted: August 08, 2009 at 06:15 PM (#3285988)

Like Barry and his trusted spiritual advisor, Jeremiah "the CIA created AIDS to kill the blacks off" Wright? OK, whatever.

So, Wright believes some crazy stuff. There's a big difference between that and the casino con-game Reed helped to pull. Only in America can stealing $500 from a convenience store get you several years in prison but stealing tens of millions in a white collar fraud scheme results in no prosecution at all.

63. BarrettsHiddenBall Posted: August 08, 2009 at 06:16 PM (#3285989)

I just find it odd that its a huge, important issue to liberals, and their
top guy/semi-corrupt hack does not even support the sactioning of two dudes getting hitched.

Pragmatism, baby- gotta think about those battleground states for 2012. Don't worry, when you wake up for the first day of the second term, you'll be in a socialist paradise with gay marriage and free healthcare for all, as funded by our biggest allies Iran and Venezuela.

64. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: August 08, 2009 at 07:11 PM (#3286036)

And since when are dumbasssed right wing political views all that unusual among professional athletes?

About as unusual as dumbassed left wing political views on BBTF or a college campus (not aimed at you Andy. I disagree with your politics, but you're not dumbassed :-)

Well, the dumbasssed political views on BTF are all over the spectrum....But that aside, my only point is that since Smoltz's views are so relatively commonplace in the world of professional jockdom, I can't see why anyone would get all worked up about what amounts to little more than one more example of it. And the other point is that I doubt if any Red Sox fans would be raising the issue if Smoltz had pitched like the Smoltz they'd hoped for, instead of like the Smoltz of the Leisure World slow pitch softball team. Do you really disagree with that last sentence?

65. Darren

Posted: August 08, 2009 at 07:23 PM (#3286047)

And the other point is that I doubt if any Red Sox fans would be raising the issue if Smoltz had pitched like the Smoltz they'd hoped for, instead of like the Smoltz of the Leisure World slow pitch softball team.

There'd be no reason to shed tears for Smoltz if he were pitching well, so I never would have brought it up in that context. I might have mentioned it if Smoltz was pitching well and started to get the "What a great guy" label that Wakefield's got. On this site, also, MCOA has mentioned a few times his mixed feelings in rooting for Smoltz because of Smoltz's advocacy.

So some people are capable of being a bit more nuanced in their feelings than you give them credit for. Even if we are Red Sox fans.

66. Answer Guy, outhacking you by a mile. Posted: August 08, 2009 at 07:46 PM (#3286067)

But that aside, my only point is that since Smoltz's views are so relatively commonplace in the world of professional jockdom, I can't see why anyone would get all worked up about what amounts to little more than one more example of it.

I can't say I appreciate being likened to someone who copulates with dogs. That I'm almost used to hearing it from certain classes of people does dull the outrage a bit. It makes being happy he's off the team a little easier, but, given Thursday night, it's not like it was that difficult anyway.

67. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: August 08, 2009 at 08:12 PM (#3286082)

And the other point is that I doubt if any Red Sox fans would be raising the issue if Smoltz had pitched like the Smoltz they'd hoped for, instead of like the Smoltz of the Leisure World slow pitch softball team.

There'd be no reason to shed tears for Smoltz if he were pitching well, so I never would have brought it up in that context.

That's kind of what I was getting at.

I might have mentioned it if Smoltz was pitching well and started to get the "What a great guy" label that Wakefield's got.

That's a different story, and at that point I'd kind of start to gag myself.

On this site, also, MCOA has mentioned a few times his mixed feelings in rooting for Smoltz because of Smoltz's advocacy.

I can appreciate that, too, but I do think that the intensity of this mixed feeling tends to be related to a player's performance on the field, at least among fans of the team in question.

And just to be clear, I don't find this phenomenon to exist only among Red Sox fans. Mariano Rivera was quoted with similar feelings several years ago, and I've never heard too many Yankee fans dwell on that, either.

--------------------------

I can't say I appreciate being likened to someone who copulates with dogs. That I'm almost used to hearing it from certain classes of people does dull the outrage a bit. It makes being happy he's off the team a little easier, but, given Thursday night, it's not like it was that difficult anyway.

All that makes perfect sense to me. I guess I wish that everyone shared my own enlightened views about everything (smile), especially people whose talents I admire, but I think I gave up on that around the time that I learned that Adolphe Menjou was a member of the John Birch Society.

68. Answer Guy, outhacking you by a mile. Posted: August 08, 2009 at 08:30 PM (#3286096)

I guess I wish that everyone shared my own enlightened views about everything (smile), especially people whose talents I admire, but I think I gave up on that around the time that I learned that Adolphe Menjou was a member of the John Birch Society.

I don't know who that is.

I was sad to find out that Beck is a Scientologist. (Turns out he was born into it, and I haven't ever heard him talk it up in public, so it could easily be worse.)

69. RMc's Unenviable Situation Posted: August 08, 2009 at 09:05 PM (#3286122)

I vote we keep the topic to how much Smoltz sucks now as opposed to getting all political.

John Smoltz killed Vince Foster, and was actually born in Kenya. That's why he had to resign as Governor of Alaska.

70. Ozzie's gay friend Posted: August 08, 2009 at 09:09 PM (#3286126)

I could give a #### about athletes and political views, I don't really care about Curt Schilling stumping McCain or Obama hanging out with the black members of the Rays, but Ralph Reed is a massively corrupt sleezeball.

And Smoltz' comments were ignorant, and bigoted, it's a pretty big distinction between mainstream views on gay marriage, such as those held by Obama, and McCain.

71. Tripon Posted: August 08, 2009 at 10:08 PM (#3286165)

Glenn Beck is a Scientologist? Figures.

72. gef the talking mongoose, amorphous lefty blob Posted: August 08, 2009 at 11:04 PM (#3286216)

I was sad to find out that Beck is a Scientologist. (Turns out he was born into it, and I haven't ever heard him talk it up in public, so it could easily be worse.)

Found that out maybe a year ago. It's sort of nice to live in a world in which I no longer have to regard him as existing, not that I ever exactly dwelled on his words, thoughts or music anyway.

(As I've probably mentioned before, lunatics bother me [hence my vitriol toward the bug-eatingly crazed likes of Frank Miller & Dave Sim in the comics field], probably in large part because I grew up with one.)

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Red Sox cut ties with John Smoltz (Tazawa up)

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