Smoltz Takes Loss in '09 Debut, but Red Sox Still Plenty 'Encouraged'

WASHINGTON – In his first full season as Atlanta's closer, 2002, John Smoltz was rocked before he ever recorded a save, surrendering eight runs in 2/3 of an inning against the Mets in his second appearance of the year. It took him two more games to record a save, but he ended up with 55 that year.

When Smoltz returned to starting three years later, he was knocked around again, surrendering seven runs in 1 2/3 innings in his 2005 debut. He finished the season 14-7 with a 3.06 ERA.

Sensing a theme?

The 42-year-old right-hander wasn't horrendous in his 2009 debut against the Nationals Thursday, his first outing for the Red Sox or any other major league team than the Braves for that matter. But he wasn't very good either, allowing five runs and seven hits over five innings in a 9-3 loss to lowly Washington.

"I can't be disappointed," Smoltz said, despite the loss. "When you go through [the rehab] process, everyone wants to come out and throw great, but I threw so many quality pitches that I was pleased with that I know in a matter of a few starts I'll be honed in on where I want to be.

"Unfortunately, it started out this way a few times in my career," he said, referencing those past bumps in the road. "I don't really get worried about it. I'm very encouraged by the stuff I had."

That theme should be obvious by now.

No one should ever get too caught up in the results of a single game in June, but that's especially true with Smoltz, a pitching chameleon capable of morphing into whatever he needs to be to stay on the mound.

In the lead up to Smoltz's first start of the year, both he and his coaches have preached patience and used words like "process."

The results weren't so pretty Thursday night, but the Red Sox are no doubt pleased with the – Smoltz's word – "process."

"I was more than satisfied, I was excited," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "I know it was a tough game, but I thought that if he throws the ball like that, if he feels like that physically, he's gonna be just fine."

Smoltz popped catcher Jason Varitek's glove with 91 mph fastball strike to open the game and hit 93 on the radar gun a number of other times early on. Both Francona and Smoltz expressed surprise at the velocity on his fastball.

Control was the main issue, particularly in his 34-pitch, four-run first inning, but he flashed all of his off-speed pitches and finished with a flourish, retiring the last eight hitters he faced and striking out the side in the fifth inning to end his night.

Smoltz gave plenty of credit to the Nationals lineup, but also admitted that the moment – finally getting back on a major-league mound – may have gotten to him.

"Time absolutely stood still," he said. "No matter how many times you've ridden the bike, you've gotta sometimes go through the same things to remind yourself that you're back engaged."

The next step in the process for Smoltz is to see how his body feels.

He said the second day after a start is usually a good barometer: "That's when I found out if a truck hit me." But he's not anticipating any problems.

So while we wait for the next step in his process, how about some praise for the process of the Red Sox front office?

They didn't sit back when they lost out on Mark Teixeira last winter, shifting focus quickly to pick up a number high-risk, high-reward players, the latest of which is Smoltz. They lost out on a star player they badly coveted, but filled their roster to the brim with talent anyway.

An apparently healthy and effective Smoltz is just the latest dividend they are reaping.

"For an organization those are some tough decisions," Francona said, referencing the parade of high-priced players that went to places other than Boston (like, say, the Bronx).

"If you're not gonna do that (get those high-priced free agents), how do you go around that and still be good? I think one of the reasons it's working [for us] is because we have enough depth where we don't have to rush guys.

"I think we're starting to see the benefits of what [the front office] did this winter."