Joking On Smith

Bob Herzog at Newsday, writes about Joe Smith and how his teammates give him his rookie dues:

In the eyes of his teammates, who punctuated Smith's postgame media session with the kind of jocular verbal hazing that in the occasionally juvenile environment of a major-league clubhouse says, "Welcome to the big leagues, kid. Glad you're here."

"Hey, can we get an interview room set up just for him," yelled Tom Glavine. "Yeah, with Oliver, Willie and Joe Smith," chimed in Billy Wagner. Other comments were a bit more risqué, but all were tinged with affection. "He's such a good kid and a good guy to kid," Wagner added.