Whole new World for vet Smith

JOE SMITH said he never got angry, especially in 2016 when the Cubs left him off the World Series roster. Smith insisted he never lost faith that this kind of moment would arise for him.

The righty has been around long enough that he was traded to the Indians in December 2008 in a three-team trade that brought the Mets J.J. Putz.

And in all of that time what he has never done is make a World Series roster (that mission is now accomplished) or pitch in a World Series game (pretty sure to happen). The Astros reliever has appeared in 782 games, the most by any active pitcher without making it to the World Series. Teammate Zack Greinke, who will start Game 3, has 447 starts — the most among active starters without appearing in a World Series.

Smith’s path to this World Series is complicated further because he ruptured his left Achilles in December. But the 35year-old made it back to appear in 28 regular-season games and six playoff contests.

“I’m proud for him,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “I’m anxious to get him in the game. It will probably be one of the f irst games. He’s hardly ever nervous, but I bet he’ll be a tick nervous just because of the stage and the World Series and the excitement of having to endure all that before he gets to throw his f irst pitch in the World Series.”

In 2016, Smith was obtained by the Cubs at the trade deadline, but said he pitched poorly initially in Chicago, got it together in September and understood when they “went with their guys” in the playoffs en route to winning the World Series.

Atlanta’s Nick Markakis (2,114 games) and the Yankees’ Edwin Encarnacion (1,916) were in these playoffs, but remain the active players with the most games without ever appearing in a World Series.

➤ The last teammate Hinch, who retired after the 2004 season, has still playing in the majors is Fernando Rodney. The 42-year-old is still throwing upper-90 mph fastballs for the Nationals.

They were together on the 119-loss 2003 Tigers.

Asked if he were more surprised that Hinch became a manager or he is still pitching, Rodney laughed and said, “That I am still playing.”