Smoltz Chooses Broadcasting Over Pitching & Politics

Future Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz will spend 2010 as a baseball broadcaster and commentator rather than pitch or enter politics.

Beginning next month, Smoltz will join both the MLB Network as a broadcaster and in studio analyst. He will also be a color commentator for TBS Sunday Afternoon Baseball as well as for some Atlanta Braves games.

Smoltz hasn't formally announced his retirement but he has very likely thrown his last pitch. After spending more than two decades with the Braves, Smoltz split 2009 with the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals where he pitched ineffectively. In 15 starts last season, Smoltz went 3-8 with a 6.35 ERA.

But Smoltz is a shoo in for Cooperstown. He's the only pitcher to have won more than 200 games while saving more than 150. Smoltz pitched in the post-season on 14 occasions including last fall with the Cardinals. He was also selected to 8 NL All Star teams, led the NL in wins and strikeouts twice and in saves once. His best season was in 1996 when he won 24 games en route to the NL Cy Young Award.

Off the field, Smoltz has thrown his personal support to several Republican candidates in Georgia. When Representative John Linder announced his retirement last month there was brief speculation the GOP was looking to Smoltz to fill the seat. However, Smoltz is not interested in pursuing politics at this stage of his life.

Besides I think he'll have a lot more fun in his new job.