The Cardinals’ acquisition of John Smoltz seems to indicate that they’re more concerned with the playoffs than losing their six-game lead in the NL Central. The only halfway reasonable argument for picking up Smoltz is to have a guy on the mound and in the clubhouse with loads of playoff experience, because statistically he’s been miserable this season. With 40 innings pitched, an ERA of 8.32, and a WHIP of 1.70, his postseason credentials are his only real selling point.

The dream is that Smoltz will sniff the playoffs, rise up like the lion in winter, and magically become Playoff Jesus again. With the possible exception of Curt Schilling, Smoltz (207 postseason innings pitched, 2.65 ERA) is the greatest postseason pitcher of all time. But all of his playoff performances have been preceded by competent regular seasons. He’s never had a regular season like this.

When pitchers with huge reputations are placed in big-game situations in the twilight of their careers, it rarely ends well. Roger Clemens lasted 2.1 innings in his final start. In 2007, when the Mets absolutely had to win the final game of the season, Tom Glavine spontaneously combusted. Kevin Brown, in his second-to-last year of his career, started Game 7 for the Yankees in the infamous 2004 ALCS. He gave up five runs in less than two innings and took the loss.

The conclusion I draw is that big-name pitchers tend to do too much or throw too hard in an effort to live up to their reputations. The final moments of a player’s career rarely qualify as magical or kismet-touched, especially if that player has a legendary reputation, and especially if that player is a pitcher. John Smoltz finds himself going down this road. If the Cardinals get all sentimental and start him in a Game 5, or dump him into a relief situation, it’s probably not going to end well.