TBS Close To Signing Braves' Smoltz As An Analyst For Playoffs

By John Ourand, Staff Writer

TBS Near Deal With Smoltz

TBS is close to signing injured Braves P John Smoltz to be an on-air color analyst during MLB playoff games, sources confirmed. The two sides have been talking, and an agreement is said to be close. The plan is to have Smoltz work the booth at one of the games. Smoltz recently was in the booth during one of Peachtree TV's Braves games aired locally in Atlanta, and he regularly was miked up during games in which he played. It's not known which play-by-play announcer he would be paired with. TBS is expected to announce its broadcasting teams during the playoffs in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, TBS' studio show for the playoffs is expected to be the same as its All-Star selection show, with Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken Jr., Harold Reynolds and Dennis Eckersley. Frank Thomas is not expected to return.