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Glavine and huggable son.
Catching up with two beloved 40-something Atlanta Braves pitching legends on their cameo stints in the minor leagues -- and on their dramatic family changes:
On Thursday, John Smoltz, 42, (yes, he's an ex-Brave but still more popular than nearly all current ones) pitched three innings for the Greenville Drive in a Class A game. It was Smoltzie's first rehab assignment for his new bosses, the Boston Red Sox. It unfolded in Augusta, Ga., a mile-and-a-half from a place where Smoltz loves to Drive --er, drive -- with a three-wood. That would be Augusta National, site of the Masters.
Smoltz, throwing at less than full bore, whiffed two and allowed one hit. His arm was fresh enough to sign autographs for starry-eyed teammates.
Two nights later, Tom Glavine, 43, did not quite match his buddy with his own three-inning gig. But, hey, Glav was throwing in Triple A, for the Gwinnett Braves. He silenced the Toledo Mud Hens -- love that nickname -- for two innings, then was touched for three runs in the third. He struck out one.
They'll toe the rubber again this week. Smoltz earned a promotion already, to Class AA Portland, for whom he'll throw Tuesday. Glavine gets the call again Thursday with Gwinnett.
Both have some June calendar dates highlighted: big-league Braves vs. big-league Red Sox, 19th through 21st at Fenway Park, 26th through 28th at Turner Field. Smoltzie vs. Glav: how cool would that be?
Whenever each returns, he'll have new kin watching. The Glavines adopted a newborn, Kienen Patrick, upping the child count to five, some by previous marriage. Smoltz was wed to Kathryn Darden, resulting in a family of eight.
Match 'em up next month, and rope off a section at Fenway or Turner for family members. Let's hope the baseball gods make it happen.
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