Braves closer feels the heat

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Since 2001, Dan Kolb has gone from castoff to middle reliever to closer for a bad team to one of the key components in a team with its sights set on the World Series.

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Kolb was the closer with the Milwaukee Brewers and earned 39 saves last season, but didn't have many attempts to close games since the Brewers usually trailed. The Atlanta Braves were in need of a closer after John Smoltz, who saved 44 games last year, asked for a return to the starting rotation. The Braves checked the market and saw that the Brewers were looking to move Kolb for the right price.

It cost the Braves a top pitching prospect in Jose Capellan, but they made the move. Now the Braves have a strong starting rotation with Smoltz, Horacio Ramirez, John Thompson, Tim Hudson, and Mike Hampton, but the key was the acquisition of Kolb that allowed Smoltz to regain his spot in the rotation.

Kolb said he feels pressure he never felt in Milwaukee.

"The big difference is that in Milwaukee we were hoping to finish .500." Kolb said. "Now I get a chance to compete for a championship every year. Every player wants to be with a team that can win, but in Milwaukee that meant finishing .500."

The road to Atlanta hasn't been easy and has caused Kolb some doubts along the way. He started throughout his minor league career in the Texas Rangers organization but struggled with his right arm. He faced Tommy John surgery - coincidentally the same week that Smoltz went through the same operation in 2000.

He admits he came back too early and blew out a muscle in his forearm, then suffered a torn rotator cuff.

"For three seasons my year consisted of August and September, trying to get some innings in," Kolb said. "That was my whole career, those two months. I never gave up, but it was one thing after another."

Kolb was released by the Rangers late in 2003 spring training and hooked up with the only team willing to give him a shot. Brewers pitching coach Mike Maddux, brother of former Braves ace Greg Maddux, taught Kolb to throw the sinker instead of a 98 mph fastball. He hasn't struggled with pain since.

Now, he not only has the pressure of replacing Smoltz, but also knows the Braves expect success after their remarkable run since 1991.

"You don't win 13 straight division titles without being part of a great organization," Kolb said. "Of course I feel some pressure. This team expects to win."