His return to the starting rotation exceeded all expectations. He threw 229 2/3 innings (fifth in the league) with a 3.06 ERA (eighth). He went 14-7 and if not for Kolb would have won at least sixteen games. He kept the Braves afloat for most of the spring, when after the injuries to Hampton, Thomson, and Hudson the rest of the rotation was Ramirez, Relievers, and Rookies. Though he noticeably tired down the stretch and was rested after the division was in hand, he came back for a valiant start in the division series, getting the Braves’ only win against the Astros.
Smoltz’s strikeout rate was down not only compared to his relief work but to his normal starting rate as well. At the same time, his control was still good. He had only one double-digit strikeout game, a loss against the Mets in his second start of the year. Some games, he didn’t seem to have his best stuff, or didn’t have one pitch, but he did a great job pitching around the lack.
Going forward, you’d like to see him not have to work so hard so he would have more left for a stretch run. At the same time, do you want to tell him that? 177 wins, so 200 is probably out for this season but should be doable for 2007. 70 2/3 IP from 3000… Sim Scores say that his most-similar pitcher through Age 38 is Hershiser, followed by Schilling and Phil Niekro, but nobody’s really “similar”. Eckersley, of course, is the main comp because he’s the only guy to be a top starter and top reliever for multiple seasons, but Smoltz’s starting career is a lot better than Eck’s and his relief career not nearly as long. I tend to think Smoltz is a Hall of Famer.
Surprising to see that John ‘only’ has 177 wins, the bullpen years notwithstanding. My gut tells me that he is a Hall of Famer, and with a couple more seasons like last year, he should get 3000 K’s and get in on the first ballot.
Add John’s post season record and he is certainly worthy of the HOF
Absent a long golden sunset to his career, I just don’t see Smoltz in the Hall. Two years with more than 15 wins, three years as a (not THE) top flight closer. I really enjoy watching him pitch, but I don’t think he is Cooperstown bound.
The leader of a team that won 14 (and counting) consecutive division championships and among a handful of the best pressure pitchers of all time…there’s no question that he’s a HOFer. First ballot may be a stretch. But maybe not.
Smoltz is also the winningest–and perhaps the greatest–postseason pitcher of all time: 15-4 with 4 saves in 27 starts and 40 appearances. 194 strikeouts against 67 walks in 206 2/3 innings. That’s a 15-win season, and in fact near a Cy Young season, right there.
I think that you can look at a guy like Whitey Ford as a comparable player, who only had 236 wins and 13 full years, but made it into the Hall of Fame because of what he meant to his teams and because of his playoff performance.
If 200 wins and 150 saves are not enough to get Smoltzie to the HOF, then there is something wrong. From 1995 to now, he is simply one of the best pitchers (starting and relieve) in the game. He was a Cy Young winner, then became one of the best closer in the game, and converted back to become one of the best pitcher in the game at the age of 38, which nobody has done that in the history of the game. Just because he was pitching behind Maddux and Glavine does not mean he is not good enough to be in the HOF. If Sutter is the Hall of Famer, Smoltz definitely belongs to the HOF.
Smoltz is one of only two pitchers with 150 wins and 150 saves although he suffered from the injuries. He deserves respect. I think he is dominant and offensive on the mound. Before his major debu, Smoltz came from the Detroit farm system and I knew by hearsay that he was not a steel-hearted one at that time. Only it wasn’t what I had imagined.
Smoltz is my favorite player of all time. I’m not so concerned about him getting into the HOF–I think he’ll make it, first ballot or no–as I am about him winning another WS. It saddens me that we’ve only got a couple more seasons to watch him pitch, and I’d love to see him take one more trip back to the Fall Classic.
I wonder if baseball writers will give John consideration for doing what his team asked of him when they consider him for the Hall?
It didn’t exceed my expectations, I take him in just about every fantasy league I was in.
took*
And yes, he is a lock for the HOF.
in the long run, i believe that the consecutive division series will also give smoltz a big boost for the hall. i am with grst, i think he is a lock to get in.