Smoltz is confident arm will be ready

ATLANTA - John Smoltz says he is "ecstatic" about the way his arm feels after the first two weeks of his off-season throwing program.

Smoltz, who finished the 2005 season with an inflamed right shoulder, has had four surgeries on his right elbow. Despite the painful end to the season, Smoltz had a successful return to the starting rotation, posting a 14-7 record with a 3.06 ERA.

There was widespread concern about Smoltz's durability last year after four seasons as the Braves' closer, but he led the staff with 33 starts and 222w innings.

Smoltz, 38, said he is confident his arm will be ready for another season.

"It's feeling great," he said. "I'm ecstatic with the way it feels today, even a month before we report for spring training."

An examination after the playoffs revealed inflammation but no structural damage to the shoulder, according to Smoltz.

"That's just something I never dealt with before," he said of the shoulder pain. "I dealt with so many nitpick injuries that it probably added up at the end. Over the course of time it ended up costing me a little bit."

Smoltz was wary about pushing his arm too hard this spring, so he pulled out of the World Baseball Classic earlier this month. Now he says he feels so good that if he had waited he might have made a different decision on the Classic.

Smoltz said he plans to have his first workout at Turner Field with new pitching coach Roger McDowell on Feb. 1.

Smoltz and Tim Hudson are expected to head a rotation that tentatively includes John Thomson, Jorge Sosa and Horacio Ramirez.

"I honestly think if people would give this staff a chance to find its own identity ... we have the capabilities to match up with any other staff if we can stay healthy," Smoltz said.