Not wanting to turn this site into JohnSmoltz24HourNews.com, I offer this update to his season: come next Tuesday, it’s over.

I wrote just the other day about his return from the DL in Atlanta’s bullpen. He threw that night to earn a blown save, and apparently his shoulder problems are becoming too much for him to overcome. He’s decided that season ending surgery is the way to go, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and he’ll be going under the knife on Tuesday.

What complicates things is his age — returning next season is a tall order for someone in his early 40s. I’m not saying it can’t be done; he’s not either, but acknowledges that he might finally be hitting the wall physically.

“I’m 41. I still love to compete,” Smoltz said to a room packed with reporters and TV cameras Wednesday morning at Turner Field. “I would retire if the desire is gone in five or six months. I’m not there yet. Not there emotionally. Physically would be the one thing to be determined.”

Doctors in Birmingham, Alabama, will explore the injury first before deciding what procedure to use to correct the damage. After that, the decision rests with Smoltz. Will he push himself to return to the game, or will he be ready to become history?

Tags: atlanta braves, John Smoltz