I don't know what to say...

Why the hell would John Smoltz leave the Braves? Just a few years ago he said that he wanted to retire a Brave and now this, wtf!?!?! And over money!?!?! I know that the Braves have not done all they can to keep him but come on Smoltz, be a man and take less money to help the team, your career is almost over anyway. Do you really need the money that bad? I doubt you will even pitch in 10 games this year and if so your ERA will probably be sky-high. I know that a lot of the talk on the internet is blaming the Braves for this and yes, I will lay most of the blame on them but Smoltz deserves some of it too. What happened to team loyalty? I know, I know, it is a business and there is no loyalty in business, but you take someone that has been with the same team his entire 21 year career and you think that he may know the meaning of the word but I guess not. I hope something changes and the Braves can resign him but if not, see ya Smoltzy and we will be happy to resign you to an honorary contract to announce your retirement, next year! Hopefully the Braves can sign Derek Lowe, who they are meeting with today.

Sayonara Smoltzy

ESPN is reporting the shocking news that, lifelong Braves pitcher John Smoltz is close to a deal with the Boston Red Sox.

Now "close to a deal" by no means means that Smoltz will be wearing a red "B" or the god awful "hanging sock," but according to a story by Buster Olney, the Braves were reluctant to give Smoltz $3 million, and, considering his medical reports, "seem to have made a calculated assessment that Smoltz is not going to bounce back."

The Sox are guaranteeing the legendary pitcher $5 million and offering another $5.5 million in incentives, not too shabby for a guy in the twilight in his career who looked burnt to a crisp last year.

I welcome Smoltz. Sure, nobody knows what he has left, but I'm used to the Sox loading up on starting arms in the winter in the event of pitching injuries throughout the season. So, if Smoltz pitches great, awesome. If not, well I wish it could have worked out but the front office is only out $5 million.

The Braves clearly don't see him bouncing back but Smoltz has looked great in throwing sessions, according to numerous sources. We'll see. I trust the Red Sox front office with its personnel moves, so I wouldn't expect them to throw money at a dead arm. Regardless, a pitcher the caliber of Smoltz is worth the risk, especially considering the money the Sox are willing to shell out in order to win.

Nobody should expect 20 wins, 300 strikeouts culminating with a Cy Young Award. The future hall of famer is past all of that. What Sox fans should hope for is a consistent, 10 win presence in the five spot along with the ultra competitive, winning attitude that he will bring to the clubhouse. Also, the guy is lights out in the post season and will give the Sox more flexibility to ditch someone like Clay Buckholtz for a young catcher if Varitek walks. Of course that is all contingent on his performance.

Again, we'll see. Smoltz is by no means C.C. Sabathia at this point of his career, but if it happens, the singing will be huge. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I cannot wait to see never say die Smoltz prove the Braves' front office wrong. If he doesn't, we and baseball fans everywhere will stand and appluad as he walks into the sunset.

Dress for Success?

Let me get this straight: The Red Sox have won the World Series twice in the last four years, after an 86 year drought, and the front office and marketing gurus have decided that now is the time for a uniform and logo change. Sounds like they've been smoking some of the oregano looking stuff Manny forgot to clean out of his locker.

A few weeks ago the Sox unveiled their four new uniform choices and alternate hat to the masses to a torch and pitchfork mob response. I have no problems with the throwback options, but what "Project Runway" reject designed the deplorable looking alternative hat with the team's new "hanging sox" logo, which, by the way, is now the team's new primary logo? So long "Circle Sox" logo, which has been redesigned making it and the red "B" secondary logos.

These new hats look terrible. Usually alternative options are rarely ever worn but even rarely is too often for these monstrosities. If the folks in marketing thought they would make the team a few more bucks by unleashing these for fans to buy, they are mistaken.

While these hats just look bad, I have a problem with them for the sake of timing and tradition. The Sox are the last team that needs to be changing logos and uniforms. It made sense for the Rays last year. They were perennial losers and the uniform and name change symbolized a new beginning, but we are winners. The Sox have bodyslammed the 86 year curse and are arguably the team of the decade.

As far as tradition goes, this type of "hanging sox" logo actually debuted in 1931, but the "B" is the Red Sox logo. It is the logo recognized throughout the world, despite what Sox brass say about the "hanging Sox." I'm concerned that by making the "hanging Sox" the primary logo, the front office is just biding its time to replace it with the "B". What's next, are they going to tear down Fenway Park?

These changes were totally unnecessary and are obviously a marketing ploy to generate more money. Hopefully fan backlash will bring the "B" and "circle Sox" logos back, but it could be worse. We could have ended up with the 80's orange and yellow Astros uniforms.

Photos taken from bostondirtdogs.com and fansedge.com