Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ John Smoltz is not on the Red Sox' active roster as he continues to rehab from shoulder surgery of a year ago while he was with the Atlanta Braves. Still, it did not stop him from visiting with his former club early Friday afternoon at Fenway Park.

The Braves are in town for a three-game set and the veteran pitcher admitted it was a bit strange seeing his former manager, teammates and training staff.

After 20 years with Atlanta, he signed with Boston as a free agent last winter. He has no ill will towards his former club, but he's not happy with the way the situation was handled afterwards, and how he was portrayed publicly. He says all the acquisitions of him wanting to leave Atlanta, and why he ultimately left the organization, simply was not true.

"You can't erase history and you can't erase friendships," said Smoltz. "I'm not pretending to, and I don't think they are. I think everyone has handled it pretty cool. It's kind of like not seeing a friend for 10 years. You ask what they've done and how they did it and you go on."

Long-time Brave standout Chipper Jones is a close friend of Smoltz, and the two were able to catch up and have some fun. Jones did say it's different not having him around.

""It's a lot quieter. You miss having a guy like Smoltzie in the clubhouse, because he keeps the clubhouse light -- he's always got a joke of the day, or a story to tell, that makes everybody laugh," said Jones. "But over the last couple years, Smoltzie hasn't been his old jovial self because he's been hurt -- his body hasn't allowed him to feel like he's a part of the club. He wants nothing more to get back out there on the mound and help contribute to a championship club."

After Smoltz visited with his former team, it was back to reality and the task at hand.

Smoltz is completely prepared to return to a major league mound. He had a really good side session Friday afternoon at Fenway and said he'll tweak a few things in preparation for his start Thursday in Washington, D.C. against the Nationals.

"I'll look at this [time off before his next start] to crack the whip and focus on getting guys out," he said. "I don't care if they are 27 line drives - I want to get guys out."

 Tags  Braves Chipper Jones John Smoltz Red Sox

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