TBS baseball analyst and former Braves ace John Smoltz breaks down the MLB playoffs with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: You’re somewhat new to the booth. Were Raul Ibanez’ heroics in Game 3 for the Yankees the most exciting you’ve seen since becoming an analyst?
A: Probably. It’s pretty hard to explain what transpired, you just sit there and it’s like, “Wow!’’ Having been in the moment so many times and knowing what a guy is trying to do helps. And I talked about breaking balls being the key to Ibanez (the second time up), and as soon as I said that he threw a fastball and the game was over.
Q: Any way the Giants could keep Tim Lincecum out of the rotation after his season-saving performance out of the bullpen in Game 4 against the Reds?
A: It would be tough to. But I believe San Francisco has a more balanced team than the one when they won the World Series (in 2010). Yet they don’t have their closer (Brian Wilson). That speaks to the balance of the team and the bullpen doing a great job. To come back in this series (and beat the Reds after being down 2-0) with the oddity this format has created …
Q: Any chance they keep this 2-3 format since it’s created some exciting series in the Division Series rounds?
A: It’s possible. We’ll find out how it shakes out over time. Good teams should be able to win on the road, but you’re just used to starting at home when you have the best record, so that philosophy and mindset would need to change.
Q: Is it unfair Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, who controversially shut down his pitching ace Stephen Strasburg, will get most of the blame if the Nationals don’t get past the Cardinals?
A: I don’t know if it is unfair to him. They said at the beginning what they are going to do and once you set out what you are going to do and stick with it, you are going to have to deal with the ramifications. I think it’s unfair to 24 other guys, but it should be out of their minds once the series started.
Q: They lost Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa, but the Cardinals are once again playing well in the postseason. What do you attribute that to?
A: It is truly a product of a team and buying into a philosophy of an organization. … Based on last year’s experience they have an attitude like, ‘why sweat it with two strikes, two outs.’ They’ve been there and done that. It goes a long ways to winning 11 games — or in their case 12 — you know it has some ups and downs.’’