John Smoltz is "ecstatic'' about the way his arm feels after the first two weeks of his offseason throwing program. Smoltz, who finished the 2005 season with inflammation in his right shoulder, has had four operations on his right elbow. Despite the painful end to last season, he had a successful return to the starting rotation, going 14-7 with a 3.06 ERA. There was widespread concern about Smoltz's durability last year after four seasons as the Braves' closer, but he led the staff with 33 starts and 222 2-3 innings. "It was an incredible year,'' he said this week. The 38-year-old Smoltz says he is confident his arm will be ready for another season. "It's feeling great,'' he said Wednesday. "I'm ecstatic with the way it feels today, even a month before we report for spring training.''