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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Smoltz Records 3,000th Strikeout

Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in major league history with 3,000 career strikeouts in Tuesday’s game against Washington.

...

In the third, he got the opposing pitcher John Lannan swinging for the first out. Then Felipe Lopez missed on a low splitter in the next at-bat, as Smoltz reached the milestone.

Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: April 22, 2008 at 07:53 PM | 20 comment(s)
  Related News: Atlanta

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   1. Mike Hampton's #1 Fan Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:24 PM (#2754989)
Congratulations, John. Thanks for all the memories.
   2. Robert in Redondo Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:27 PM (#2754997)
Great job Smoltzie. Now if only they'd get you some runs.
   3. ACE1242 Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:33 PM (#2755006)
A remarkable achievement by a remarkable pitcher. Sobering perspective: Smoltz and Glavine combined still don't have as many strikeouts as Ryan.
   4. whoisalhedges Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:45 PM (#2755022)
When are we going to stop questioning Smoltz's HoF credentials?
   5. Mets Fan Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:49 PM (#2755027)
fat people hate this guy
   6. Repoz Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:55 PM (#2755045)
I don't know why this is such a big deal during a high K era, why the game was stopped...and why Sciambi went Cooperstownie all over it.
   7. whoisalhedges Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:11 PM (#2755062)
I don't know why this is such a big deal during a high K era, why the game was stopped...and why Sciambi went Cooperstownie all over it.

I wasn't watching, but Glavine's in with 300 wins... and, even though it's been in a thousand fewer innings pitched, Smoltz has been a better pitcher.

127 vs. 119 ERA+, dominant postseason performance (which, whereas it doesn't make the case in a vacuum, it still matters), and a 3-year stretch as one of the best closers in baseball in addition to his great run as a starter. I'd go so far as to say that Smoltz is the best pitcher who's ever had Tommy John surgery. And a compelling case (though more an historical one than a performance-based one) can be made for John.
   8. Dan Evensen Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:11 PM (#2755067)
Much overlooked is the fact that you can't see Smoltz' current ERA with the naked eye.
   9. Le Samourai Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:22 PM (#2755095)
I wasn't watching, but Glavine's in with 300 wins... and, even though it's been in a thousand fewer innings pitched, Smoltz has been a better pitcher.

127 vs. 119 ERA+, dominant postseason performance (which, whereas it doesn't make the case in a vacuum, it still matters), and a 3-year stretch as one of the best closers in baseball in addition to his great run as a starter. I'd go so far as to say that Smoltz is the best pitcher who's ever had Tommy John surgery. And a compelling case (though more an historical one than a performance-based one) can be made for John.


Glavine has a 125 ERA+ in his last 3,715.3 innings.
   10. whoisalhedges Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:39 PM (#2755136)
Glavine has a 125 ERA+ in his last 3,715.3 innings.

I'll grant that it took Glavine a while to become great, and he has been great. A deserved Hall of Famer, not just an automatic 300-win inductee (though anyone who makes it to 300 in the 5-man rotation must be great to pitch enough innings). I wouldn't dream of disparaging Glavine, but his K/BB ratio is half as good as Smoltz's -- he simply must have been more helped by his defense. Glavine has been a great pitcher, but I just can't help but believe that in all but one consideration (durability, natch), Smoltz has been better.

Glavine's a quintessential "crafty southpaw." He's a better version of Paul Splittorff. Quite a bit better, yes (not that Splittorff was bad), but still. If I (I'm righthanded) were capable of hitting any major league pitcher, I'd rather take my hacks against Glavine anyday. And if I were a manager, I'd rather have Smoltz at 41 on my team than Glavine at 42.

I'd rather have Smoltz when they were in their 20s, too.

After Clemens, Maddux, and Pedro, I think John Smoltz is the best pitcher of his generation.

And Glavine might very well be #4. But I'll take Smoltz. :)
   11. Danny Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:42 PM (#2755139)
A few years ago, I remember people saying Smoltz would sneak into the HOF on the Eckersley rule. Since he returned to the rotation in 2005, he's put up 690 innings of 137 ERA+ goodness. Only Santana and Webb have been better.
   12. Danny Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:43 PM (#2755142)
After Clemens, Maddux, and Pedro, I think John Smoltz is the best pitcher of his generation.

And Glavine might very well be #4. But I'll take Smoltz. :)

You're forgetting some lanky, mulleted guy.
   13. Misirlou in a Gleaming Alloy Air Car Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:44 PM (#2755145)
After Clemens, Maddux, and Pedro, I think John Smoltz is the best pitcher of his generation.

And Glavine might very well be #4. But I'll take Smoltz. :)


This makes baby RJ cry.
   14. Kyle S at work Posted: April 22, 2008 at 10:08 PM (#2755212)
Glavine wasn't just "helped by his defense" - he absolutely refuses to give in when runners are on base. IIRC, he has allowed only one grand slam in his career.
   15. Craig Calcaterra Posted: April 22, 2008 at 10:16 PM (#2755230)
You're forgetting some lanky, mulleted guy.


Jeff Weaver?
   16. whoisalhedges Posted: April 22, 2008 at 10:39 PM (#2755278)
You're forgetting some lanky, mulleted guy.

Oh, ####!

Okay, yeah.

The fifth best pitcher of his generation.

Sorry, Unit. I am shamed.
   17. Lake Placido Polanco (Crispix Attacks) Posted: April 22, 2008 at 10:56 PM (#2755290)
Yes, Jeff Weaver is indeed one of the top one thousand and five pitchers of his generation.
   18. Tuque Snider, Resident Steriod Abuser Posted: April 22, 2008 at 10:58 PM (#2755291)
Hey, I tried to say I thought Smoltz was better than Glavine in a thread a while ago, and I got pounced on by dozens of calculator-wielding geeks working out their anger over the fact that they're 40 years old and still live in their mother's basement.

I resent you, Mr. Whoisalhedges.
   19. Walt Davis Posted: April 23, 2008 at 12:09 AM (#2755378)
If you want an idea of how baseball has changed ...

Gibson, in 74, was only the 2nd man to K 3,000. In the last 34 years, 14 more have joined him. Of the 16 with 3,000 Ks, 6 were active in 2007. By the time Gibson got #3,000, the 500-HR club already had 11 members (and now has 23 and soon 24).

Anybody else notice Manny is sitting on 496. Where are all the articles? Sheffield, meanwhile, is threatening to come up short. Looks like that should be it for another 4-5 years (Vlad or a resurrected Andruw with some possibility of Delgado or Chipper).
   20. jwb Posted: April 23, 2008 at 01:42 AM (#2755438)
Well, Walt, here's one.
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