TBS' ace: John Smoltz

Brian Anderson and Ron Darling have been solid on Turner's coverage of the Tigers-Yankees series, but John Smoltz has been beyond that, making several observations before the fact that panned out.

Most recent was his suggestion that A.J. Burnett throw an "at 'em'' ball while struggling in the first inning, on the theory that a ball hit hard somewhere beats a ball in the dirt and another walk.

Sure enough, he threw one right at Don Kelly, who launched a rocket to deep center, but Curtis Granderson made the catch. A few hours later . . . Game 5.