Smoltz's season is over

According to an AP story just released, you can stick a fork in veteran pitcher John Smoltz’s 2008 season -- it’s done. That’s because his ailing right shoulder is going under the knife. At 41, it goes without saying that coming back after such surgery will not be easy, perhaps not even likely.

His loss was a huge blow to an Atlanta team already dealing with a rash of injuries to its pitching staff. The Braves went into Wednesday's game 3 1/2 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East.

"Not having him at all for the rest of the season is devastating, flat out devastating," third baseman Chipper Jones said. "Going into this season, I said there's one guy on this club we cannot do without. That's John Smoltz."

Smoltz, a former Richmond Brave (1987-88) and Cy Young Award winner (1996), has a career record of 210 wins and 147 losses. He has recorded 3,011 strikeouts in what were 3,395 innings pitched. Although he has been a starting pitcher for most of his career, as a reliever, Smoltz also has earned 154 saves.

Click here to read what is no doubt a sad story for Atlanta Braves fans.

--Image from johnsmoltz.org