I can see whomever I choose.  I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant.  But nothing, I said nothing, can take away these blues.  ‘Cause nothing compares, nothing compares to you.  -Sinead O’Conner

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  First thing’s first.  I love CC Sabathia.  I would love to see him in a Red Sox uniform next year.  I saw saw what he had done.  I saw his heroics down the stretch.   I saw him breathe life into a breathless Brewers team.  ‘Cause when you call my name, you know I burn like a wooden flame.  You leave me ahhhhhh breathlessah!  Left Milwaukee fans ahhh breathlessah.  Left them breathlessah by single-handedly getting the Brewers into their first postseason in twenty-six years.  Left them breathlessah making four consecutive starts on short rest including one post-season appearance.  I saw all that.  I did.  But I’ve also seen John Smoltz.  Senator, I served with John Smoltz.  I knew John Smoltz.  John Smoltz was a friend of mine.  Senator, you’re no John Smoltz. 

In the post-season, maybe no one’s no John Smoltz.  Not Bob Gibson.  Not Curt Schilling.  Not nobody.  Not in 1992.  Sherman, set the way back machine.  In 1992, John Andrew Smoltz was everything an ace is supposed to be.  Maybe CC did make four consecutive starts on short rest including one post-season appearance.  Good for him.  MVP?  Cy Young?  President of the United States of America?  I could live with that.  But in 1992, John Smoltz did him better. 

In 1992, Smoltz made five consecutive post-season starts all on short rest.  Won three of them on short rest.  A 2.67 ERA on short rest.  NLCS MVP on short rest.  NLCS MVP despite being withered by the flu.  NLCS MVP by shutting down Pittsburgh’s formidable left-handed lineup.  Down goes Bonds! Down goes Van Slyke!  No, the Bravos did not win the 1992 Word Series.  That distinction goes to the Toronto Blue Jays.  But don’t blame Smoltzie.  In Game Two, he watched on after seven and one third innings of stellar work as his bullpen blew his lead.  In Game Five he faced Jack Morris.  His 1991 nemesis.  Stop calling me that, my name is Daphne!  This time, things were different.  This time, there would be no ten-inning shutout for Mount Morris.  No Most Valuable Player laurels.  This time it was John Smoltz doing the outlasting.  This time it was John Smoltz who went home a winner.   I’m gonna ask you a simple question and I want you to listen to me.  Who’s the big winner here tonight at the casino?  Huh?  Smoltzie, that’s who.  Smoltzie’s the big winner.  Smoltzie wins.  Won in his fifth consecutive start on short rest.  Yowza!  Smoltz: “I’ve always felt I should be the one pitching in big games.”   Me too Smoltzie.  Me too.

Public Acknowledgements:  Mitch Ryder, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lloyd Bentsen, Mr. Peabody, Heroes and Swingers

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!