Dave O'Brien, Atlanta J-C

Steve O'Brien joined the guests on the eighteenth tee hot line AT&T your world delivered. David said John Ryder -- Boston on WEEI and I guess my first question -- Is why did John Smoltz exactly choose the Red Sox instead of returning back to Atlanta.

poet or are they yet the other Dave O'Brien -- unite work together went. He was they've Arnold broadcaster outbreak beat writers that you bat because he's we've -- statement in itself.

Right that's that's that's agers to get these -- and --

Going back. What vetoed that beat out popular debate got to with the great -- but several -- and I got all the call.

Then -- a colony of plus they've pulled Placido Polanco players.

And nick Bennett is third they're they're out there right now lighted smoke seed does that. On Bob and over Atlanta well that's what a lot of great fans would like to know. Never good at like a lot of great didn't make a better effort to keep him at that. Is it it's not a that -- debate that the most beloved figure. Sports figures in this. You know Chipper Jones is the only other one -- that even compares with part of the race. Go to not -- when he went years you know to though. He felt that I regard -- dispatchers it's that the way he handles itself always comes back so many surgeries. Tibet Beers that. You know it came down to the Red Sox he's a competitive guy Alterman ultimate competitor I've ever seen have covered it it's more competitive -- despite write that's different Tiger Woods but yeah.

a good golf --

Our -- scratch golfer. Yet he wants the player of the year sterling. And no doubt that he could probably do it. But yet it EAZ. I don't you felt as a premier pitcher get used felt that the -- is trying to hang on the hypocrites ace starter whatever. So he knew he wanted to be treated as such it you know when you've been -- for forty years you don't expect to be an afterthought. I think that the -- He thought the way to break are you an event that it will do what we get around -- we will. We keep fruit you can pitch to blow up we'll make it opera and it you know back and I think he got -- waiting for that it. You know what -- and -- video of the open apparent now that that is. That it was he was just like out. A couple a lot of these were the Red Sox make that the government has. Passers came out there but -- at the but he down -- the edge. And he had about -- now that I think they were evidently want out of any outstanding and that made him out but they went after about a lot been made of the all want to that the great yeah. And then -- double the guaranteed amount of money. And more attainable easily attainable. Is that is about that. Really it was just that the companies that -- that all but it would stay here all the routes that he -- the year.

Yeah so it does it basically comes down to the fact that the Braves in a way -- for granted on -- that he was going to. No matter what come back to Atlanta because in previous years is taking less money to come back to pitch for the Braves think it's.

Sat in the back yet or kids you know it would put the -- a year ago it he built that. He was that big -- in the impetus behind a big Christians who it got built here. The published is that like that. I spent a lot of -- it -- but endorsement the year but it paid -- a lot of figures out. I think they probably thought they could wait do in a unit that. Winter it is -- there and they want to go over the top that they had. Targeted at the about the they had at the event for which. After he got pounded started it and it was obvious that way and -- schedule that hey you know privately act right break people's army. They blocked our it would pay when they weren't able to Europe. -- with 88 and had to eat yet he wouldn't block party in not being eight so far as that. He might be a -- or that their rotation back rotation guy it. That don't want him -- that they thinking he might have been you know -- you know the other. There are great in the about the they had that -- an -- that they hit that a side is this kind of way. And that would rat pack at five point five here -- in the great proper two point five guarantee. That.

Another big effort right. And always made plenty of money but. You mentioned how what a competitor yes do you think that I I know that money has something to do within a little bit but when it comes to a guy like that. Do you think it is that in the Indy felt like Boston had a better chance Spurs the playoffs the potential.

Not that bad that the player that we looked at both double the guaranteed money. And it's it's it's it's in that environment you know that electric environment that they edit and -- he's a lot of that -- is for big. Every game of big air. -- is the last few years here with the and it's been after the break out of that you know lasted erratic but really right after the All-Star break. And that is opening of the -- these. There so he is still have that yet been able to its vote the last three years double when he pitcher of the history of the great evident three years. That was strike out of the history is that's what are you all and get back. So again. In the in the big spotlight that he is the big game pitcher they always was and -- it have made it Burnett at. -- when that's aspect at the big series. With the Marlins -- I was terribly in as the new big game pitcher data is that the World Series. Well you know would take it that's privately you know what acted like I people forget that you know it.

Arnold just took it over and -- people probably take you for great away because. It it was a foregone conclusion years past Atlanta was just get in the post season and almost you know people forget about that stuff.

Japanese you want to remind you but he still got it -- And it that I are all up he's going to keep pitching. Is the way it is yeah. Pick out through the shoulder surgery which -- that was our worst and -- John rehab it was more painfully initials on that we go through that is back. And ran it just come back you know like golf that is to spend a lot about what we -- I want to win the ultimate competitors really -- department. Surprise me one bit if he's fit in in the boat people but the idea red dot.

Now now how do you think the reds actually use him is is he going to be a starter -- or bullpen and -- yeah. Starter.

Yet you know when he when he first started on the -- the -- Eddie that nobody. Roll with the Braves could use it and whether that that out. If they get -- close in that demands be too great and it may be at the start of the demands but. He came back his arm felt so good that that's changed and in the break both were looking at him strictly a starter. So I'm sure he'd been assured by the Red Sox they backed starter.

Right that's interesting because when you look at the Red Sox starter rotation although you know there's plenty of question marks is for his injuries there with. -- Brad Penny and yeah the durability of Tim Wakefield so I'm sure they can plug a minute. At some spot there. I you know it's -- seeing reading your article and folks greeted if if they want 98 JC dot com is that correct for today's today's article. They wrote that. You know. He got Braves manager Bobby Cox is the pitching coach Roger McDowell. Seeing him throw off the mound they're seeing all this stuff happened. So how did the Braves dropped the ball on this when they knew that he was way ahead of schedule I mean that's what I'm curious I know that money. Is somewhat of an issue but it seemed like go back again for taking him for granted away but. I mean that there had to be plenty of other teams adjusted as well I would think I memory here in Detroit as well -- is a native of.

Yet there were few teams that. I think the Mets were -- there I think in Europe that -- with interest that they you know historically I was sixteen. And a great news that. -- suspected they got a little -- I think you know the general manager Franklin got a little stubborn is that you know this is how we're doing it and it let. It's changed and it is. His protection. The optimistic. Outlook after his first US open as he hit a pitching -- Though -- what they were going to our that would they're going to allocate to sign it. And realistically. They didn't expect it and it would opera like the Red Sox. On the circuit if you look at it I point five million guaranteed for 41 year old almost 42 pitcher coming back from major shoulder surgery is it that. Everything about who -- bolt is that the that the reds are operative. And at the break even up what they it would that it that it was to have -- opening you know that they are reached -- spark but. You know that the Red Sox won't do that that just everything about not all that Lee is what he or on the -- the look at Pedro -- But I can't even get off my biggest fault is it I could have -- here. You know he might he might not be rated it's still -- you know although. I don't guys worked out of all winners stroller is open -- that he that he wanted to do they need to be ready to return it.

Bob Minardi base he let in in my next question kinda answer do away because -- I see that may is purely sports and in the years saying you so far -- that I mean there's a possibility. He could be even earlier than made it.

They needed and I think we're ready early in that thing -- the Braves would be much pressure here would not be ready you know that the rotation is. That's that's glaring holes and at that. He would feel right sure it feel compelled to try to get back right away and the -- I don't need to do that but the but it's the batters situation you know as far as rehab but. Yeah I had I had a cat probe would instead that it's unbelievable what he's done that preakness on all -- it is all over ninety mile an hour was -- well.

guys can be forty twosome coming up major probably --

Don't surgery and here we are the first week it. January is that a that he was when he is coming off a certain it would be preakness but he when he result of that do it as just protect -- freak of nature.

Well while now what do the the Braves do I mean I know that they they where -- student Jake Peavy of that sort of died doubted in that.

Would there bloated -- several hours Bobby Cox frank -- Of course was there with one of their it would want or there's been that low and made that several -- while ago and it. I think that it went well will the F. I know that there is the -- you know but now they're going to make a bigger operative loaded they would have reported that the.

My house so after losing out on TV is and Burnett. Now the going to focus on -- is really not much out there and it and -- the Al east is so competitive you get the Mets a course that always defended. Very competitive division.

Yet they regard in front of their rotation that was -- at the neglected Jon Garland. Now Oliver Perez has the indeed have and eight -- something very close to that in their close very close -- that you know he's not any. He can eat not a Barrett you have the number one role that procedure. That -- like I'd let let betray. In the things that are apt that I would be private crop and interpreted operative well today I am sure they did that would -- topic is.

an interesting how all things -- working out especially when it comes to baseball. Because there was a lot of -- that the Red Sox might end up going after Derek -- of course -- was -- the -- yeah he's as well then. You know John Smoltz we heard whispers about it you know weeks ago that they requested -- records but. I I really -- in the ended in obviously you know much more about it and have covered this team that that well. Is it again and up with -- Atlanta or I would be surprised because you know on to Detroit we're originally.

everybody replacement appear in the winter meetings there was really no indication that -- consider otherwise you'd get up every indication that that. People incentive or an upgrade. -- When an opera started coming in the Braves or what competitive that. If it did -- have at a little bit. Will they get back up quite a swat teams -- but it would that at least -- former team the -- with the only two that stood at three active at depth forty David when he went.

No it's ironic in -- way -- last question -- it out of top jobs balls but as far as the Braves. French as I never understood I guess -- for Boston people are so crazy here about the reds accidents that topic. Throughout the entire season is why why it is you know considering how much successes that the Braves have had and it. You know I just never understood why they didn't draw more fans. Especially well -- it.

Look on the upswing -- and still last year with. Yet you're the first your -- three years -- only got going in there at the hitters that the and they will be at the young that what a baby Braves have record. -- got that -- and that. Kelly Johnson are out -- don't want to go to and out it's insane develop when.

He's a local I don't know it is in the local guy from around -- McCann. As a McCann a local guy to yet --

And is spring or is that Blaine Boyer is just part of you up. And -- situation and atop brought respect that prospect or top prospect that they were outfielders also yours. But that. You know a different market that baseball you know point 120 years which yeah arms 3030. Yours again it's. Prepared a lot and it has never been -- that the sport is football you know your typical football college football country here. And but during the Iran. -- it became -- that they've beaten. They they won fourteen straight division title though that I wake up at the end of the net you know wouldn't air -- packed everything up. Combine that typical fan base a lot of -- it is not you'll be people that are from a planet by lute here so well like. One of our quality of he'd be out there yet and -- at the the Red Sox spoke about that you did have arms there and I to a degree people like that would land now that they started that. -- that play out really started they -- in that that. There when he there's been you know that dropped three million is just not that rabid following that -- that it's not like anywhere.

RI don't know there's only a few select cities -- Bob and it really opened up run. And so overall you think this is a very positive and encourage signing for the reds and -- out.

yet every you know -- eat -- If they don't come any better about. Everybody Olympic. Did I have to go a lot of he signed guard grabbed up all that he's. You know he's the ultimate professional these ever have to worry about -- for. He's driven to win it -- he wants to prove everybody wrong yet. It can be a good deal whoever -- after the quarterback apartment half minute not.

RA NN and it's -- much -- when you look at they've tried this in the past they did last year Bartolo Colon had done it before with -- savor a -- David on some guys at the end. I think this more than those amino of course time will tell -- CLA's back but I think this is. In organic give much more than some of those guys I mentioned.

Are you happy potentially could give -- you know they don't want to get back in your 1215 wins the if he can stay healthy and LT you know overpowering type win there won't be. You'll be -- where they're trying to but at people he ever back of the power pitchers. Yet he dealt what I told is that things he and it is spiders on it it it is they count.

An excellent stuff Dave appreciated. That aren't try to answer that I'd -- that was Dave O'Brien writes for the Atlanta journal constitution.