John Smoltz Q&A: Braves legend dissects World Series matchup between Brewers, Rays

Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz will have the best seat in the house starting Friday night at American Family Field. This will be his 11th World Series as an analyst for FOX as the Milwaukee Brewers face the Tampa Bay Rays. Both teams are chasing their first title in franchise history.

Yardbarker.com caught up with Smoltz recently via telephone to preview the Fall Classic and he has an interesting take on both teams.

Yardbarker.com: The one thing I noticed about the Brewers and Rays is that they can do the little things — situational hitting and playing above average defense. How good is it to see that both teams can do those things?  

John Smoltz: I think about all the World Series that I have done — there have been some great ones — I think this one has the most appeal for everything that you said. Look, it’s like each team staring in the mirror at what they do. 

All the little things that don’t get talked about enough are ultimately what usually can win a World Series when it’s tight. You go back to last year; that’s what the Dodgers did. Forget their resources. They did all the little things you had to do to win a World Series and they got magnified.

I don’t know if it’s a cheesy illustration: when you watch a football game, you don’t talk too much about special teams unless it wins the game. In baseball, the aspects of special teams are running, bunting and defense. All the little things that don’t stand out in the forefront of what we are used to. I think that’s what it’s going to come down to. Whoever can put the emphasis on what they do well — and do it better than the other team — is going to come out in what I think is going to be an exciting World Series.    

YB: What has impressed you the most about Brewers and Rays?

Smoltz: I always say, in the postseason, a man on first is a rally because the crowd goes crazy. During the regular season it's nothing. But (in the postseason), it truly is a rally when each team gets their man on because they create havoc on the bases. I don’t think the Rays have been thrown out yet in the postseason. I know the Brewers run as well. It truly is stressful for the pitcher when someone from the other team gets on. With these two teams, you are going to see that manifest itself toward the plate for the hitters. What impresses me is the discipline and the lack of swing and miss out of the Rays. For the Brewers, they don’t do it as well, but it is still a strength. They swing and miss more … but in a lineup of nine, they still have six that could run. We'll see that athleticism and the defense are going to be on display more than ever.  

YB: Analytics is alive and well, but do you think small ball is back?

Smoltz:  Yes, I do. It’s going to take a long time to infiltrate the majority of the teams (in the league). They are just not built that way. They don’t believe in it. You can make an argument that up until recently, it’s  been about power — power in the rotation and offense — and the only way you win is with home runs. In a weird way, with everything that is kind of looming next year, (small ball) is refreshing. There may not be a ton of fans who don't know the style of these two teams. They are going to know it now. There are intricacies that still exist, that produce winning baseball.

I’m not into one style of baseball. I think the blend of using your skill set and the way you play the game — I’m a contact guy. I still think making contact wins. I still think the little things matter. So I don’t mind the blend (of small ball and analytics). … I just don’t think you can be all of one thing, whether it’s analytics or anti-analytics. I think you have to have a combination and use the skill set like these two managers —  Kevin Cash and Pat Murphy — have done and adjust on the fly like these two organizations have done. They started out very analytical. To a degree, they still are. But they showed a blend and the ability to adjust. That, to me, is prudent. That, to me, is winning. I think that’s what you are seeing this year.  

YB: A lot of players on the Brewers and Rays don’t have World Series experience. What advice would you give them based on what you went through in 1991 as a member of the Braves?   

Smoltz: The one thing both team are consistently good at:  It's winning close games. So when you get to the postseason, the close games are magnified even more. That’s not going to scare them. That inexperience will not matter. … I think the big thing here is, they are both trying to do something for the first time in the history of their organization. Winning the World Series. … You are so close to punching that ticket where that inexperience could show up. Otherwise, these guys are both wired the same way and they know how to win close games. 

YB: Which players will you focus on? 

Smoltz:  It varies. I focus a lot on the pitching and hitting matchups. I think what’s going to be very interesting early in Game 1 is the fastball velocity and the ability to hit the fastball for the Rays, mentioning that they make the most contact. … You still have some presence of some veteran guys in each lineup. I’m going to be very interested to see how Chandler Simpson uses his skill set in this World Series — with his ability to hit the ball on the ground and not hit home runs. … That’s a different way to impact the game — getting on base, putting pressure on the defense, stealing bases and scoring runs.

Both teams are near the top when it comes to runners in scoring position and batting average. They are one and two. As the series unfold, I get a chance to see who is making adjustments and who isn’t. That’s what I love about a seven-game series.  

YB: This is your 11th World Series as an analyst. Can you believe it? 

Smoltz: I can’t. I can remember the first one like it was yesterday. The comeback by the Chicago Cubs, being down three games to one. I felt the game slowed down for me in the booth when you would think it would speed up. It was exciting. It’s the best seat in the house. Now, I’ve seen a bunch of champions along the way. This one — not because it’s now — I can’t remember a more anticipated World Series preview than this one. I linked this one to 1991. What I mean by that is, a lot of people who are not fans of each team might figure, heh, the markets. This is not (exciting). 

In 1991, it was the same way with the Braves and Twins. It turned out to be one of the best World Series ever. Sometimes, we get fooled by what everybody thinks is the market share. … I think the Brewers and Rays are the best teams in baseball. They proved it during the regular season. It’s not a fluke. 

The Brewers went through the defending champs (Dodegrs) and you can make an argument that Tampa had the toughest division in all of baseball. They are battle tested. There are pretty cool story lines on each team, especially Jake Bauers. I still can’t get over the narrative of how close he was to hanging it up. Now, he may never pay for another meal in Milwaukee again.  

YB: Who is going to win the World Series?

Smoltz: The one thing I did learn as a broadcaster, thanks to Joe Buck, is I don’t make predictions because you get crushed either way. But I’ll say this: The team that is going to win the World Series is going to have the most runners on base, period. It’s going to create chaos. … It’s going to come down to the little things. 

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.