[vincesanity82]

John Smoltz fanned 10 in five innings and combined with four relievers on a shutout of the Marlins on Thursday.
It looked like Florida was conceding this one from the get go with Jeremy Hermida and Dan Uggla out of the lineup. Smoltz allowed just three hits before leaving with a 6-0 lead, and Will Ohman, Chris Resop, Manny Acosta and Buddy Carlyle all turned in hitless innings out of the pen. In all, the five pitches struck out 16 batters. Smoltz is now just four strikeouts away from 3,000 for his career.

The Official Site of The Atlanta Braves: News: Game Wrapup

[vincesanity82]

Smoltz is the man, how many 40yr old pitchers do you see throwing smoke like that..

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Smoltz is the man, how many 40yr old pitchers do you see throwing smoke like that..

10 in 5 is good...they are only hitting .176 against him this year...He is gonna be an odd one when it comes to the HOF voting...though the 3,000 k's will get some notice....he now stands at 209 wins...but also has 154 saves...and there is all that post season stuff to go with it. He can make a case.

[legend]

If he isn't a Hall of Famer in this day and age for a pitcher then nobody is.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

10 in 5 is good...they are only hitting .176 against him this year...He is gonna be an odd one when it comes to the HOF voting...though the 3,000 k's will get some notice....he now stands at 209 wins...but also has 154 saves...and there is all that post season stuff to go with it. He can make a case.

Goth do you just like messing with me, how in the world is smoltzy not an automatic HOF player? Dudes stats are crazy good, hes in my top 10 of all time greatest pitchers..

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by legend

If he isn't a Hall of Famer in this day and age for a pitcher then nobody is.

Yep, couldn't agree more.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by legend

If he isn't a Hall of Famer in this day and age for a pitcher then nobody is.

They are already getting his plaque ready. I can't remember a pitcher that was dominant as a starter, moved to the bullpen to help the team and was one of the best as a closer, then moved back to the rotation to win again. The man is unbelievable.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Goth do you just like messing with me, how in the world is smoltzy not an automatic HOF player? Dudes stats are crazy good, hes in my top 10 of all time greatest pitchers..

Dude that is crazy talk...he is not a top 10 of all-time pitcher...in no particular order I would take...

Steve Carlton, Bob Gibson, Koufax, Seaver, Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Mathewson, Maddux, Clemens*, Ryan, Bob Feller, Randy Johnson, Jim Palmer, over him without a second thought...

Still, the fact that his stats are split, makes him another Dennis Eckersley...

And some of his stats are not even on par with Bert Blyleven who had 60 career shutouts to Smoltz 16...and who added 3,701 K's along the way...Bert had 287 wins, completed 242 starts and had a career era in the low 3.00's...and the voters are still saying "no"...that makes Smoltz iffy at this stage...he is at the whim of the voters, and if they say yes, it would be more for his duality and the Braves long run, then for his career achievements.

And by the way, for one start one game, I would still take Blyleven and his knee buckling big league curve over him.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Still, the fact that his stats are split, makes him another Dennis Eckersley...

And is Dennis Eckersley in the Hall of Fame? Then Smoltz belongs there too.

[azrael492]

Still, the fact that his stats are split, makes him another Dennis Eckersley

I really disagree that he should be compared to Eck. He became a closer because he wasn't good anymore as a starter....if he was that good at all. Smoltz went to the pen at the teams request becasue they didn't have any other options. Smoltz was still a top SP in the game when he switched.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

And is Dennis Eckersley in the Hall of Fame? Then Smoltz belongs there too.

I ain't the voters who have not put Mr. Blyleven in...who knows how they think, and lets look at his stats...personally the Dutchman compiled his impressive stats for some real sucky teams and Smoltz had an all-star cast for most of his career...to me he is another Whitey Ford...really good pitcher who gets in more for the team he served on, than for being the dominant pitcher of his generation...As a starter he had one big Cy Young year...after that he never won over 17 games in a season despite starting for the Braves!...as a reliever, his body of work covers all of 3-1/2 seasons...in the post season he is 12-12 ans 1-4 in the World Series...To me he is on the bubble...and he will probably get in...but 1st ballot and top 10 all-time is crazy talk...Tell me that if you did not know the name...and I said this to you...

-1 Cy Young, only 1 season over 17 wins, and 3 great relief years with a 12-12 post season record and 1-4 Series record...and you did not know the name...you would be so quick to call him a sure Hall of Famer...at the same time Mr. Dale Murphy, Steve Garvey, Bert Blyleven sit on the sidelines 50-150 votes short...come on now...

[Lefty Noob]

Hey, preaching to the choir, Goth. I'd put all of 'em in - Murph, Garvey, Blyleven and Smoltz.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Hey, preaching to the choir, Goth. I'd put all of 'em in - Murph, Garvey, Blyleven and Smoltz.

Yeah, I know man...that's what sucks...they all belong in.