If Kolb lasts the season, I'll be surprised. All the talk here in WI was that Melvin was keen to unload him, as it's generally believed he's on the verge of breaking down.
Alternatively, the Braves have a knack of trading away pitchers after they've gotten the best out of them (Denny Neagle, Pete Smith, Kevin Millwood, etc.). Jason Schmidt is really the only exception I can think of here. So, I wouldn't get wildly excited in WI. As for Smoltz in the rotation, I'm not so sure I'm excited about that at all. I've always really like Smoltzie, and thought the closer's role would keep him around a few years longer than otherwise. I do understand his hunger to get back to starting though; the guy would walk through a brick wall to compete.
the Braves have a knack of trading away pitchers after they've gotten the best out of them Well, they traded away a prospect before he pitched for them . . .
Reminds me of the young pitcher who had only appeared for them a few times (Rivera) that was traded to the Orioles (can't remember for whom exactly). He was a fireballer too, and he hasn't started for Baltimore once and has had an assortment of arm injuries.
You can add Odalis Perez to the (short) list of pitchers to flourish *after* leaving ATL.
