Baseball: Atlanta Braves

Good news for the braves.

Closer John Smoltz has resumed throwing and expects to be ready for spring training following surgery on his right elbow.

thats not good news thats great news for the braves. without him there bull pen sucks

Yea good point hawk. I would think that without Maddux as there number 1 pitcher that there bull pen and starting pitching staff will hurt. He has taught a lot of younger players experience and without him there team will hurt.

Atlanta Braves second baseman Marcus Giles was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. The move is retroactive to May 16.

Giles is expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks after suffering a fractured right clavicle during Saturday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Giles also sustained a mild concussion and a bruised right hand when he collided with teammate Andruw Jones in the first inning while both players were chasing a pop fly.

Giles was racing back, while Jones was charging in for Wes Helms' short fly ball. Following the collision, the ball bounced away and Giles remained on the ground in pain.

In 32 games this season, Giles is batting .339 with three homers and 18 runs batted in.

The Atlanta Braves placed pitcher Horacio Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder tendinitis on Sunday.

The move is retroactive to May 26 and his roster spot will be taken by Travis Smith, who had his contract purchased from Triple-A Richmond of the International League.

Ramirez is 2-4 on the season, but has a low ERA of 2.28 in 59 1/3 innings.