Congratulations, John. Thanks for all the memories.

Great job Smoltzie. Now if only they'd get you some runs.

A remarkable achievement by a remarkable pitcher. Sobering perspective: Smoltz and Glavine combined still don't have as many strikeouts as Ryan.

When are we going to stop questioning Smoltz's HoF credentials?

fat people hate this guy

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 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.

Much overlooked is the fact that you can't see Smoltz' current ERA with the naked eye.

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.

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. :)

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.

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.

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.

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.

You're forgetting some lanky, mulleted guy.

Jeff Weaver?

You're forgetting some lanky, mulleted guy.

Oh, ####!

Okay, yeah.

The fifth best pitcher of his generation.

Sorry, Unit. I am shamed.

Yes, Jeff Weaver is indeed one of the top one thousand and five pitchers of his generation.

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.

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).

Well, Walt, here's one.