HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — By all rights, Brian Smith ought to be pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates right now, but you won’t catch him complaining about life’s latest curveball.
Instead of working in the Steel City, Smith’s hanging out in Huntsville with his wife’s family. And instead of facing big league hitters, Smith’s facing impending fatherhood.
Smith’s spending his nights taking intentional walks around the living room instead of issuing intentional walks to menacing folks like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa. Sure, the pacing’s tough, but it would be a lot tougher if he were pacing in the Pittsburgh bullpen waiting for news from the in-laws.
“My wife’s not due for another two weeks,” sighs Smith. “But it won’t be that long. Looks to me like it could happen any second.”
Smith married Carla Depew last Oct. 20, 39 days after he became the first Rowan County native to play in the major leagues in 30 years. The 1990 South Rowan High graduate made his mound debut for the Pirates against St. Louis last Sept. 11. He hurled in three games before elbow pain sacked his season.
Smith underwent surgery on his right elbow a few weeks later and was assured he’d be 100 percent by the start of Spring Training in February.
He wasn’t.
“I started tossing in January and it was still hurting,” says Smith. “When I got to Spring Training, the first two times I threw on the side were great, because adrenaline had kicked in. But the third time, it was like my arm was all out of bullets.”
At the end of the 2000 season, Smith had rated his chances of making the big club in 2001 at 50-50. But the Pirates broke camp without him. They left the sore-armed sinkerballer behind in extended camp. Smith wouldn’t go north until he proved he could throw pain-free.
Smith tried everything. He threw more often than usual. Then he threw less. Finally, he made progress.
By the time he was pronounced fit for duty, the calendar had turned to June. Then he reported to the Pirates’ Triple A affiliate — the Nashville Sounds. Sort of the on-deck circle for the big leagues.
“I expected them to work me in slow at Nashville, but I got a shock,” said Smith. “They made me the closer the first day. I got my first save my second day.”
Nashville’s part of the Pacific Coast League, believe it or not, which means Smith got to fling sliders in some crazy high-altitude parks like Colorado Springs and Albuquerque. Smith surrendered five homers, which he’s sure is the most he’s ever allowed in one year. But, for the most part, he thrived in a hitter’s league.
“I didn’t allow a single inherited runner to score,” Smith said. “It was a little bit of a roller coaster, but my final numbers were more than respectable.”
His nicest numbers were a perfect 11-for-11 in save opportunities for a dismal team and 34 strikeouts as opposed to just 7 walks. Smith had a 1-2 record with a 3.69 ERA.
Yet, Smith admits he struggled to find consistency most of the summer. Some nights the radar guns would show his fastball topping out at 89 mph. Other times, he’d light it up at 94.
By the end of the season, though, he had found a groove and was dominant. He ended with a flourish, getting the last four outs for a save against Tucson on Sept. 4, the final day of the Sounds’ season.
“Late in the year, I threw three consecutive days and my arm was still feeling fine,” says Smith. “I was feeling a ton better — the best in a long time. Maybe since 1995. That was the last year I was totally healthy for a full season.”
That was Smith’s first minor league season, the year after the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him out of
UNCWilmington.
Pittsburgh is a struggling, small-market team hurting for arms, so Smith was genuinely surprised that he didn’t get a second call-up to the majors, especially after rosters expanded on Sept. 1.
“Everyone kept telling me that when the next guy went down on the big club that I would be the one going up,” said Smith.
“It never happened.”
Smith becomes a free agent this Oct. 15.
His agent assures him the Pirates will try to re-sign him, that they aren’t about to let him slip away after all the surgeries, all the time they’ve invested in rehabs.
“My agent says it wouldn’t make sense for them to let me go now when I’m on the brink of busting out,” says Smith.
But Smith’s not so certain. The one thing he’s learned from the Pirates organization is that you can’t take anything for granted.
Besides, Smith just turned 29. He’s no longer a kid. He worries that he’ll be labeled a journeyman before his journey even gets started. He jokes about altering his birth certificate, shaving a few years off like that Dominican Little Leaguer did. But then he gets serious.
“Based on my stats, “ he says, “I really shouldn’t have a hard time finding a job.”
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Smith’s still optimistic about his playing career, but that hasn’t stopped him from planning for the future. He says he and his wife will relocate to the
Rowan-Cabarrus area after the 2002 season.
Smith and long-time buddy David Wright are opening a batting and pitching facility called Diamond Dreams in the old Concord Armory on Church Street. They’re planning a state-of-the-art operation, similar to one that one of Smith’s buddies operates in Huntsville.
“David’s got ties in Cabarrus and I’ve got a lot of ties in Rowan,” said Smith. “There won’t be anything like our place between Charlotte and Greensboro. I know we can be successful.”
Smith and Wright expect to get things rolling with a hitting league for area schools this November. Smith says his voice mail can be reached at 704-795-2012, if anyone’s interested.
But first things first. And right now, Smith just wants to see that new baby. Even more than he wants to see a fresh contract offer from the Pirates.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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