Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz was placed on the disabled list last week and when he returns, he won’t be in the starting rotation. Smoltz text-messaged the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week and told them that he would return as the club’s closer.

“I am planning on coming back as a reliever first, and more than likely for the rest of this year,” Smoltz told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last Wednesday.

Upon hearing the news, Braves manager Bobby Cox was caught off guard and told ESPN.com that Smoltz, who is on the DL with a severely inflamed biceps tendon, needed to be in the rotation for the Braves to win.

Friday however, Cox had changed his tune and told The Associated Press, “It would be great if he could be out there and be a part of that bullpen,” Cox said. “It may be easier on that shoulder. I can visualize him locking up a lot of games for us.”

Why the sudden change of heart by Cox?

Either Smoltz is more convincing than lawyer Jack McCoy on Law & Order, or Cox got some good advice and realized Smoltz pitching five innings a game as a starter wasn’t helping anyone.
Smoltz was a closer from 2002-2004 and had 154 saves in that span, including a National League record 55 saves in 2002.

There is still no timetable for Smoltz to return to the Braves. In five starts this season, Smoltz is 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA, but he has only pitched 27 innings.

If Smoltz can comeback from the DL and regain the form he showed from 2002-2004 as a closer, then this move will really help the Braves. They’ve been rotating through closers since Smoltz returned to the starting rotation. Having Smoltz in the bullpen may also help because he can teach youngsters Manny Acosta and Blaine Boyer a thing or two.

The most interesting part of this whole story is how the Atlanta Journal-Constitution got all of this information. Texting and e-mail have been used more and more often by media outlets, in large part because of the 24-hour access that modern mobile devices provide.

This breaking news on Smoltz isn’t the first case, and it sure won’t be the last. In addition to the Internet, technology is making for some interesting changes in sports reporting.

Zach Freeman is a senior journalism student at Penn State University. He can be contacted at zjf5004[at]psu.edu.