Why Braves' John Smoltz ranks as a top gun out of bullpen. (Warm Up Tosses)(Cover Story).(Atlanta Braves pitcher)

IT WAS A MORNING IN MID-MAY WHEN BRAVES' PITCHING COACH LEO MAZZONE answered a long-distance call from an inquisitive reporter.

The Braves were in San Diego for a four-game series with the Padres, and the night before, their reliever John Smoltz had notched his 17th save of the still-young season, using only ten pitches to set down the opposition in the ninth inning.

Smoltz, at that point, led all major league relievers in saves and was on a pace to set an all-time record in that pitching category by season's end.

"What," Mazzone was asked, "makes Smoltz so special as a closer?"

"To start with," Mazzone responded, "he's got great stuff. He has a 98 (mile-an-hour) fastball, a 91-92 split, and an 87 slider. Add to that, he's got good control, and he's maintained a starter's mentality as a closer."

Mazzone was asked to elaborate his latter comment.

"When John became a reliever after his elbow surgery," the Braves coach said, "we told him to keep his starter's mentality when closing out a game, don't try to blow away batters strictly with power, mix up his pitches.