John Smoltz analyzes ALCS for TBS in rookie season as a television guy

Here is a story I wrote based on my conversation with TBS' John Smoltz before Game 3 at the Stadium Monday night.

Smart, interesting fellow. One thing I asked him about for which there was no room in the story is the speculation that he might have a future in politics.

Um, no. "Never, zero," he said. "My slogan for politics is: I’m your guy for one day. Just one day. Because I’ll get fired after one day. But I’ll make things happen for that one day."

The TBS booth has grown on me during the playoffs, but the Smoltz dynamic is unusual.

Even though he is the rookie he frequently upstages partner Ron Darling by being the first to jump in with opinions and observations.

There is not necessarily anything wrong with that, but it is odd that the always sharp Darling seems to have taken a somewhat secondary role in the TBS booth.

Smoltz clearly has a future in the TV business and said he would like to continue as long as his schedule is limited, the way it was in 2010.

He is not interested for now in a full schedule of the sort Darling keeps on TBS and SNY.