By then, John Smoltz believes he can start hanging out in the dugout. By then, a little nudge to his freshly carved right shoulder won't drop him to his knees. Maybe by then, he can get back to what he does best.

Kibitzing.

"If the guy would just take his medication, he'd be fine," outfielder Matt Diaz said. "But he doesn't like to get on those pain pills and stuff."

This was all Bobby Cox's idea -- no, his demand -- that after Smoltz's surgery June 10, he rejoin the club for wherever this wobbly season leads.

"To me," Cox said, "it's been just a world of fun to be around John."

From the pitching standpoint, of course, this is a non-brainer. If only through osmosis, Smoltz will be beneficial to the Braves staff. Of the 12 pitchers the club has this weekend in Toronto, eight have less than two years of major league experience.

"He's been where we are," rookie starter Charlie Morton said. "He knows. If you get a chance to talk with a guy like that, you better do it."

"If I pitch a good game, I have a guy who has 210 wins making me feel like I am the man," rookie starter Jorge Campillo said. "That is good."

But as pure therapy, Smoltz probably needs baseball right now as much as the Braves might need him. Whether it's bringing down mighty Chipper Jones in the backroom backgammon game -- it's a real event, folks -- or just smiling at the right time, one 41-year-old man can still leaven a clubhouse. This summer, the Braves can use it.

"I'm certainly not doing myself any service by hanging around the clubhouse and doing absolutely nothing while the game's going on," Smoltz said. "I realize what I hope to accomplish the rest of the year. Nothing can be done on the field.

''But who knows what can be done off the field? I'm not in that woe-is-me mode. I've got too much to contribute."

No one has been an Atlanta Brave as long as Smoltz, who is in his 21st season. Henry Aaron played just nine years here. Phil Niekro played 18 seasons, Dale Murphy for 15. Tom Glavine, also dealing with a possible career-ending injury, is a 16-year Brave in his return tour.

Smoltz can relate to the current green staff. None of them got thrown into the fire more abruptly than he did.

Just 21, Smoltz was hustled into New York on July 23, 1988, to face the Mets, who would win the National League East that year. The Braves would lose 106 games.

Smoltz hit Lenny Dykstra, the Mets' leadoff man, with an 0-2 slider, gave up an RBI double to Dave Magadan and then allowed nothing more. He fired seven shutout innings, won 6-1 and shut up a boisterous Saturday afternoon crowd at Shea Stadium.

And with that, Smoltz was on his own, living through three different managers and a couple of pitching coaches in his first three seasons. But conspiring with fellow starters Rick Mahler and, later, Charlie Leibrandt, he learned how to survive in the majors.

''It was so easy for me because of the type people we had here," Smoltz said. ''We weren't very good at the time, and I'm minding my own business. But at the same time, when it came to learning, I appreciated their mentorship.

"I don't know if they could see what my future would be like, just like I don't know that I can see what the future holds for these guys. But I can understand, now more than ever, when to approach somebody and when not to."

During spring training, the Braves have sometimes sent Smoltz over to rookie camp to address all the pitching prospects in the organization. That is how Morton first came to seek him out -- "I was nervous about it" -- to ask about his slider.

Two weeks ago, Morton finally reached the majors with a five-pitch arsenal and power slider he did not own a couple of springs ago.

"I didn't expect he'd take so much time to talk to me," Morton said. "But he showed a very genuine interest."

Reliever Mike Gonzalez appeared in just 18 games last year in his first season with the Braves when his elbow snapped. As Gonzalez fought the usual doubts that accompanied Tommy John surgery, Smoltz, who had the same operation eight years ago, counseled him through his recovery.

"Because of John Smoltz, because of how he talked patience to me and told me about how he went through his rehab, he basically had me listening to my body, rather than listening to my heart," Gonzalez said.

For these reasons and more, Cox wanted Smoltz back in his dugout this summer.

"I've been lucky having John all these years," the manager said. "It's been a manager's dream. A specially talented person."

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.