John Schuerholz has yet to make even a verbal affirmation on John Smoltz?s future ? and the pitcher isn?t happy about it. ?I wonder why it hasn?t [been picked up yet],? Smoltz said of his option. ?I know what the pat answer is: That?s how we do business around here. But even if it?s going to ruffle some feathers me saying something ? you know what? I just don?t understand it. You?ve never heard me be bitter about something, other than bitter that we lose another chance at a World Series. But when people ask me questions, I have to be honest and say I can?t talk about next year because I don?t know what next year is going to [bring]. ?I?ve come back from so much, I?ve worked so hard that I?m not going to concern myself with being the prisoner of an environment. I?ve been here 19 years, so the overwhelming feeling is, ?They?ll never get rid of you.? But after every single year, I?ve had to work 10 times harder just to work this out. ?All I know is, after these last two years and with my desire to work out, I?ve got two or three more years, easy. I used to always be of the mind-set that, ?If it?s not here, it won?t be anywhere else.? But that?s not the case any more. I?ll pitch somewhere else.? When Smoltz was asked what areas he would try to improve if he was general manager, he smiled. ?Every time I answer that, homeboy upstairs criticizes me,? he said, a reference to Schuerholz.