Posted at 11:24 a.m., Saturday, June 9, 2007
Smoltz to miss start as Braves rotation takes hit
By Charles Odum
Associated Press
The Braves recalled pitcher Buddy Carlyle from Triple-A Richmond to start tomorrow against the Cubs.
Smoltz will be skipped because of inflammation in his right shoulder despite saying he felt good when throwing today.
Smoltz said he was told of the decision to push back his next start to Friday in Cleveland before he tested the shoulder with light throwing today. He said he was relieved the decision was taken away from him.
"In the past I've been pretty stubborn," Smoltz said, adding in past years he would have tried to persuade manager Bobby Cox to allow him to pitch.
"The only way I can explain it to you is if I had to pitch tomorrow in the playoffs, it'd be a piece of cake," Smoltz said. "I'd find a way to do it."
Even so, Smoltz said he agreed with the decision to skip tomorrow's start as he revealed he had a cortisone shot in the shoulder following his last start, a 5-1 loss to Florida on Tuesday.
"When I pitched last time, afterward I was probably more uncomfortable than I thought I was going to be," Smoltz said. "I got a shot and it's doing great today but I need more time just to make everything work."
Smoltz said "the whole key" for his long-term health is eliminating the inflammation in his shoulder. He said it was better to plan for his next scheduled start on Friday instead of trying to miss just one or two days and affect other starters' schedules.
Cormier made only two starts — both against the Cubs — after coming off the disabled list. He was 0-2 with a 15.26 ERA.
"For me to be comfortable about going out there, I have to feel good about my arm," said Cormier, a right-hander. "I'm overthrowing, which is causing mechanical problems which I'm trying to fix."
Cormier won a job in the starting rotation in spring training before he was placed on the disabled list with a strained triceps. When returning from that injury, he was shut down in late April with a sore arm.
Cormier gave up five runs in 3 2-3 innings in a 9-1 loss on Friday night. After the game, Cox said Cormier is "a little bit rusty."
Carlyle (1-1) allowed only one hit in seven innings in a 3-1 win over Florida on Tuesday but was optioned to Richmond because the team needed another arm for the bullpen for the second game of a doubleheader on Tuesday night.
