By Mark Bowman / MLB.com

John Smoltz hopes to speak to the media after games from the start of October to the end. (Gregory Smith/AP)

Smoltz, the only player on this year's Braves team who was around when the franchise won its first of 12 consecutive division titles in 1991, has been an integral part of playoff baseball throughout his career.

The veteran right-hander began his career as one of the most dependable big-game starters and even persevered through intense pain to make five postseason appearances in 1999.

Smoltz underwent Tommy John surgery in 2000 and has since come back as one of the game's most dominant closers. Elbow pain has once again bothered the right-hander again this year, but his determination will not stand in his way and his pursuit of helping the Braves to their first World Series title since 1995.

Smoltz took time to chat with MLB.com about his memories from each postseason:

1991 ...
One year after finishing in last place for a third consecutive season, the Braves took the Twins to a World Series Game 7, in which Smoltz's 7 1/3 scoreless innings were trumped by the 10 scoreless innings provided by Jack Morris.

Five World Series games were decided by one run and three went into extra-innings, including Game 6, which the Twins won on Kirby Puckett's 12th-inning solo homer against Charlie Leibrandt.

Smoltz, who threw a shutout against the Pirates in Game 7 of the NLCS, ended his first postseason with a 1.52 ERA (five earned runs in 29 2/3 innings).

Smoltz: "It's hard to duplicate the first time. Despite the fact we didn't get a ring, I feel we won. It was one of those series where somebody had to lose. But I still don't feel like we lost."

1992 ...
Smoltz was named MVP of the NLCS, which ended when Francisco Cabrera delivered a two-out, two-run single that enabled Sid Bream to slide across the plate in front of Barry Bonds' throw and give the Braves a 4-3, Game 7 win over the Pirates.

The Braves got revenge against Morris, defeating him in his only two starts for the Blue Jays in the World Series. But Atlanta lost four more one-run affairs, including a decisive 4-3, 11-inning setback in Game 6.

Smoltz went 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA in five postseason starts.

Smoltz: "That year was disappointing because we had a better team than we had the year before. Nobody thought we could get back to the World Series but we never doubted ourselves.

"Our first eight World Series losses were all by one run. That's not like getting beat with a three-pointer at the buzzer in the NBA Finals. But it's still hard because you know you had a chance in every game."

1993 ...
After making a miraculous second-half comeback and holding off the Giants for the NL West title on the season's final day, the Braves were a tired bunch when they lost to the Phillies in six games during the NLCS.

Smoltz allowed just two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings during Game 4, but he still was charged with his first loss in six career postseason decisions.

Smoltz: "I'd say this was the most disappointing because we had a really good team and lost to the Phillies in a series that we should have never lost."

1995 ...
Finally, the gorilla was lifted off the Braves backs. Atlanta's strong pitching staff shut down the Indians' explosive offense in the World Series.

Tom Glavine allowed one hit over eight innings and Mark Wohlers completed the decisive Game 6 shutout with a perfect ninth that gave the city of Atlanta its first World Series championship.

Smoltz went without a decision, while posting a 6.60 ERA in three postseason starts.

Smoltz: "That year provided the best feeling because everyone was comparing us to the Buffalo Bills. If we would have lost, everyone was talking about how we would have failed again."

John Smoltz   /   P
	Height: 6'3" Weight: 220 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits Braves site

1996 ...
After taking two straight games at Yankee Stadium to begin the World Series, the Braves saw the Bronx Bombers come back to take four in a row and prevent Atlanta from a second consecutive title.

Smoltz went 4-1 with a 0.95 ERA in the postseason. He struck out 10 while allowing just one unearned run in the Braves' 1-0 loss to Andy Pettitte in Game 5 of the World Series.

Smoltz: "That was ultimately the worst year you can ever imagine. We should have repeated. We're up 2-0 and then the floor gave out. If you think about it, it pole-vaulted the Yankees to do what they did. If we beat the Yankees, who knows what George (Steinbrenner) does? If we beat the Yankees like we would have 99 out of 100 times we play that Series, who knows what happens to the Yankees?"

1997 ...
After sweeping the Astros in the Division Series, the Braves ran into an upstart Marlins bunch that ended Atlanta's hopes for a third straight trip to the World Series. Florida used five unearned runs in the first inning of Game 1 to propel themselves to a six-game victory.

Smoltz limited the Astros to one run on three hits in a clinching Game 3 of the Division Series. But he was touched for five earned runs in six innings of Game 3 of the NLCS.

Smoltz: "It virtually felt like we gave that away. We made errors. The Marlins were a great team, but we just gave it to them. We made some major, major mental mistakes."

1998 ...
The Braves swept the Cubs in the Division Series and then ran into an extraordinary Padres pitching staff that was led by Kevin Brown and Sterling Hitchcock. San Diego advanced to the World Series by winning the NLCS in six games.

Smoltz won his only Division Series start and went without a decision in two NLCS starts. He was 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA.

Smoltz: "I'd say that was a carbon copy of what we did the year before. We let the Padres go to the World Series, like we had the Marlins the year before. But at the same time, we just couldn't score. Bobby Cox tried whatever a manager could try and we couldn't score."

1999 ...
After overcoming injuries that ended Javy Lopez's season and limited Smoltz, the Braves dramatically advanced to the World Series with wins over the Astros in the Division Series and Mets in the NLCS.

Smoltz, who provided some foreshadowing while pitching a perfect ninth to save Game 2 of the NLCS, made five postseason appearances (three starts), despite an aching elbow that would need surgery six months later.

While pitching in obvious pain, he struck out 11 and limited the Yankees to three earned runs in seven innings of Game 4 of the World Series. But the Bronx Bombers won their third World Series championship in four seasons by sweeping the Braves.

Smoltz: "Even though we got swept in the World Series and it looks like it was a mismatch, it wasn't. Every game was close. But even though that year ended on a sour note, the year should be remembered for the great team effort by a group of guys that probably should have never made it to the World Series."

2000 ...
Smoltz had Tommy John surgery in March and was unavailable throughout the season. He admitted feeling helpless when the Cardinals swept the Braves out of the playoffs in the Division Series. This marked the first time since 1990 that an NLCS wouldn't include the Braves.

Smoltz: "That was just embarrassing when the Cardinals beat us in three straight."

2001 ...
Once again the Astros were swept by the Braves in the Division Series. But Atlanta advanced no further, as Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and the Diamondbacks derailed its hopes in the NLCS.

Smoltz, who by this time had become a closer, didn't allow a run in his two NLCS appearances.

Smoltz: "That Diamondbacks series was another frustrating one because of the two pivotal games against Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling that we lost by slim margins."

2002 ...
Smoltz set a single-season NL record with 55 saves, but he was unable to find a save opportunity during the five-game loss to the Giants in the Division Series. The only run the veteran hurler allowed in his 3 1/3 innings came when Barry Bonds homered in the ninth inning of Game 2.

Smoltz: "It was almost like fighting destiny. It was just another situation when you look back at what could have been and you just start shaking your head. Every single year, we could have won."

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.