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Smoltz Takes Another Step

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 26, 2009

FORT MYERS - Right-hander John Smoltz pitched from the mound in a Red Sox uniform for the first time Wednesday, testing his surgically repaired shoulder by throwing 40 pitches in the bullpen.

Smoltz, who turns 42 in May, threw to a crouching catcher for just the second time since having surgery to repair a torn Labrum on June 10. His first mound session was in December for Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell. Smoltz signed with Boston in January, ending his 20-year tenure with the Braves.

He has played catch off a mound this spring, throwing to a standing catcher.

"This was the first time I'm throwing down to a catcher," he said. "It's totally different than throwing to a catcher standing up. I didn't think it was going to be that big a deal and it was. It's getting used to it all over again. Now I'm getting used to all the components, the mound, the height of the mound, all those things that you take for granted.

"I can't explain the awkwardness. I didn't think it would be that awkward," Smoltz said. "I've been doing this for a long time, but it was awkward. But, I've not gone that long without being on the mound."

Smoltz, who threw 30 pitches from a windup and 10 from the stretch position, is scheduled to for another bullpen session Saturday.

ASTROS: Granted right-hander Danny Graves (Brandon High graduate) his release.

BREWERS: Released veteran outfielder Trot Nixon, leaving three players competing for two outfield spots on the opening-day roster.

DODGERS: A day after hitting his first home run of spring training, Manny Ramirez started in left field and batted third for Los Angeles in a game against Milwaukee.

INDIANS: Left-hander Scott Lewis and right-hander Anthony Reyes will open the season as Cleveland's fourth and fifth starters.

YANKEES: Left-hander Andy Pettitte threw 83 pitches in 51/3 innings in a minor-league game.

Pettitte allowed five runs - one earned - and seven hits for Class-A Tampa against Philadelphia's Clearwater team. All the runs came in the second, when Tampa committed three errors.

"I felt good with everything," Pettitte said. "Obviously you always wish you could have a little better command sometimes. All in all, it was good. Got through it. Stretched me out."

OBITUARY: Johnny Blanchard, who played in five consecutive World Series for the New York Yankees in the early 1960s, died of a heart attack in Minnesota. He was 76.

A key player off the bench when the Yankees won five AL pennants from 1960-64, Blanchard batted .345 (10-for-29) in the World Series overall and hit a pair of home runs as New York defeated Cincinnati in the 1961 Series.

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