O/T John Smoltz

[Peter_Spaeth]

With a designation for assignment today by the Red Sox (thankfully, he was atrocious this year), his great career may be over. Is he a Hall of Famer? His lifetime record is less impressive than you might think -- 212-152 -- although of course for several seasons he pitched in relief. One Cy Young award, 8 all star selections. According to baseballreference.com, statistically the most comparable pitchers are Kevin Brown (!!), Curt Schilling and Bob Welch. Not exactly elite company. I think because of the years as a reliever and his popularity he makes it, but I don't think it's a compelling case.

[tothrk]

Didn't he have a fairly solid post season record?

[calvindog]

Absolutely he's in the HOF. 200 wins, 150 saves and the most postseason wins of alltime. He's a lock.

[slantycouch]

Wait, what's wrong with Kevin Brown?





Oh, right.

[glynparson]

So I'd say absolutely. he was considered by many of his peers to be one of if not the toughest pitcher they faced, when he was in his prime. I must admit though I am fairly lenient on who I would put in the Hall. I see it as a place to tell the history of the game and I feel he belongs as part of the story of baseball in the era he pitched.

[Peter_Spaeth]

197 wins, 390 saves. A far more compelling case than Smoltz, IMHO.

[slidekellyslide]

I wish Smoltz and Glavine would have retired last season...I would have loved to have seen Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz all go into the hall together.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I wish Smoltz and Glavine would have retired last season...I would have loved to have seen Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz all go into the hall together.

They would not have gone in together,, Maddux gets in on his first try, Glavine probably gets in on his first try, Smoltz does not.

[tothrk]

Eck also had about 350 more appearances and 600 less strikeouts than smoltz.

[barrysloate]

After I saw Smoltz's line in the paper this morning, and his bloated season ERA, it crossed my mind that he might have pitched his last game. When I heard he was going to be released I wasn't even surprised. Why a 42 year old pitcher with nothing left in the tank couldn't retire before embarrassing himself is a mystery.

I think he will get into the hall even though his stats are not exceptional. He excelled as both a starter and reliever, and that will be his ticket in.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

197 wins, 390 saves. A far more compelling case than Smoltz, IMHO.

Much better hair as well!

[chaddurbin]

if jim rice made it, then just let everyone in...smoltz, dale murphy, andre dawson, sam horn, rob deer...am i missing anybody else?

edit: smoltz is borderline, but with how the hof are voting he'd probably be in on his 5th or 6th year of eligibility. he's not a hof'er in my book, and that's what important to me.

[SmokyBurgess]

I vote Yes on Smoltz in the HOF.

Wish Mussina would get more consideration also. I appreciate what the finess pitchers (Moyer, Glavine, etc) did in the steroid era now.

[refz]

i dont know about hof for smoltz but hes done something few pitchers could do, go from starter to reliever, then to closer. and was sucessful at all of them.

regards

Danny

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

197 wins, 390 saves. A far more compelling case than Smoltz, IMHO.

Yes, maybe so...but Eck went in the first year he was eligible. So Eck was about as compelling as one can be (based on that).

Eck & Smoltz are still the only 2 players in history to have both a 20 win season and a 50 save season.

Cheers,
Blair