Interview with John Smoltz on baseball, Mariano Rivera [Audio]

I had the opportunity yesterday at work to interview John Smoltz over the phone. We talked about the division races, awards, Red Sox and Yankees.

Smoltz is very well-spoken, as he has broadcast games for TBS and MLB Network ever since leaving baseball after 2009 (he hasn’t officially retired).

Here’s the audio:

I asked him about Mariano Rivera (begins at 6:12) when he got a chance to see him in the 1996 World Series, and if he knew right then that Rivera was the real deal. Surprisingly, he said, “no doubt,” he’d be special. Rivera was terrific in 1996, don’t get me wrong, but it’s hard to foresee a Hall of Fame type career for a reliever (there are so few).

For the full interview transcription, head over to Boston.com or read more below.

Fans want me to burn Fenway Park book

My Fenway Fantasy [Photos]

At a nippy Fenway Park last night, “Yankees suck” cheers followed with each Yankee run. But by the eighth inning, the fans turned to “Let’s go Red Sox” chants. This made me happy because I saw that the fans quickly had realized that there was no reason to be chanting “Yankees suck” anymore.

Mariano Rivera locked up the first Yankee victory of the season, 6-4, to force a deciding Game 3 tonight. When I arrived at Fenway for just the second time in my life (first time in about 10 years) at around 5:15, the first Yankee I recognized warming up was Mo.

I could’ve watched him throw for days. Whether he’s getting loose two hours before a game or pitching in the World Series, his fluid motion remains remarkably consistent. His accuracy is absolutely mindboggling.

Watching Rivera shag flies was also entertaining — even when my Red Sox fan friend yelled that he “had room” when he went back to the warning track to make a catch by the Green Monster (when he really didn’t).

After checking out the view from my seats (above) I felt the need to do some exploring, to really examine the old park. About five minutes later, I was posing for a picture behind the Red Sox dugout (below).

I really appreciated this because I knew Yankee Stadium wouldn’t have allowed for this to happen. Did I enjoy “Sweet Caroline” in the middle of the eighth? No, but I didn’t mind it. The Yankees had just broke up the tie game, but the Red Sox fans really didn’t seem to care once Neil Diamond started blaring. I felt the song was a nice addition to the positive atmosphere for fans attending a baseball game.

Turning point in the game:
Nick Swisher’s 11-pitch at-bat in the eighth. He eventually grounded out to short, but he really made reliever Hideki Okajima work. I believe this AB opened the door for the mini, game-winning rally shortly after.

My five most memorable plays:

1. Curtis Granderson’s sliding catch in the third.
2. Derek Jeter’s leaping grab in the fifth.
3. Nick Johnson walking with the bases loaded in the eighth.
4. Robinson Cano’s laser-like homer in the ninth.
5. Rivera jogging out from the bullpen in the ninth to “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.