By Paul Newberry
Associated Press
ATLANTA ó John Smoltz remembers the first K.
Darryl Strawberry, whiffing on a high fastball.
iLike it was yesterday,î Smoltz said. iI got him to swing through it. I only had two that day. I struck him out and the next guy. I went back-to-back, and that was the only ones I had all day.î
Heís had plenty of strikeouts since that day in 1988. Smoltz is just four from becoming the 16th pitcher in major league history to reach 3,000, a milestone that looks well within reach for the Atlanta Braves right-hander when he goes to the mound against Washington tonight.
In his last start, Smoltz fanned 10 in five innings at Florida, the 44th time heís had double-figure Ks. Heís on the verge of needing fewer innings than all but five pitchers ó Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Nolan Ryan, Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens ó to join the 3,000 club.
iThatís a pretty elite group,î Smoltz said. iThe thing that means the most to me is it would be here in Atlanta. Nobody else would get to enjoy it as much as the Atlanta fans.î
Smoltz, already the only pitcher with 200 wins and 150 saves, has more postseason wins (15) than anyone else. Three thousands strikeouts would further bolster the 40-year-oldís Hall of Fame prospects.
Who was the toughest hitter for Smoltz to strike out?
iTony Gwynn,î the pitcher replied without hesitating. iI got him once. He saw the plate better than everybody. Even when he got deep in the count, he was comfortable. I just never could get him.î
And the easiest?
iI wouldnít say easy, but the one I struck out the most just because he happened to have the most appearances was (Craig) Biggio,î said Smoltz, who struck out retired Houston star 26 times. iOur battles went back and forth. One at-bat I would get him, then he would get me.î
Smoltz actually started out in the Detroit organization, but the Braves got him from the Tigers in a trade for Doyle Alexander in August 1987.
Manager Bobby Cox, who was then the Braves general manager, made the deal. He knew right away that he was getting someone special.
iYou could tell. Just his stuff and his makeup,î Cox said. iHis delivery was excellent, even as a kid, just excellent. He was so smooth.î
Smoltz has had four elbow operations, including a ligament-replacement procedure that cost him an entire season. Even now, he is pitching with an annoying pain in the back part of his right shoulder that forced him to start the season on the disabled list.
iHe just does the best he can with it,î Cox said. iI know I couldnít pitch with the way my neck is. Heís a lot tougher than I am.î