Hot Stove Special: John Smoltz

Four players, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio, were elected to the Hall of Fame this year, and I have to say I agree that all four men are well deserving of the Hall of Fame. While I don’t feel strongly that any of the remaining candidates should have gotten in, I would strongly consider Jeff Bagwell and Mike Piazza had I been a voter.

John Smoltz (82.9%): 213-155, 3.33 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3084 strikeouts, 154 saves.

With the other two members of the Braves’ Big Three, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, making the Hall of Fame in 2014, it was only fitting that John Smoltz joined them in 2015. He was the only member of the Big Three to remain with the team for the entirety of the Braves’ stretch of 14 straight division championships, and perhaps no pitcher succeeded so well as both a starter and a reliever. When you think of the greatest pitchers of 1990’s and 2000’s, you may think of Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens, but Smoltz was right there with the rest of them, quietly winning a boatload of games for the Braves.

John Smoltz grew up in Lansing, Michigan, where he was an exceptional baseball and basketball player. His hometown Detroit Tigers drafted him in the 22nd round of the 1985 draft, and he decided to sign with the team he had grown up rooting for. In 1987, while he was still in the minors, he was sent to the Atlanta Braves for Doyle Alexander. Though the trade turned out pretty well for the division winning Tigers in the short run, the Braves benefitted far more, 210 victories later. Smoltz reached the majors in 1988 at 21 years old, but he struggled in twelve starts, going 2-7 with a 5.48 ERA. In 1989, the 22 year old broke out by going 12-11 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. 1990 wasn’t as successful, but he still finished 14-11 with a 3.85 ERA. In 1991, he struggled immensely in the first half, going just 2-11 with a 5.16 ERA. However, he turned it around quite nicely, and in the second half and postseason, he combined to go 14-2 with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP, with two of those victories coming in the NLCS. His final start of the season came in Game Seven of the World Series against his former idol, Jack Morris, but he was lifted in the eighth inning of a 0-0 tie. Morris would win the game and the World Series in the tenth inning. Riding that success, He returned for a breakout season in 1992, going 15-12 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, leading the Braves back to the playoffs. The 25 year old earned the NLCS MVP Award after the Braves won in all three of his starts as he compiled a 2.66 ERA. He also earned his first World Series victory in Game Five. In 1993, the Braves brought Greg Maddux on board, completing the famous Big Three of Maddux, Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. Smoltz held his own that year, going 15-11 with a 3.62 ERA over 35 starts. He struggled a bit in 1994, going 6-10 with a 4.14 ERA before the strike brought the season to a close. In 1995, he returned to form and went 12-7 with a 3.18 ERA, but he pitched poorly in the World Series after a solid NLCS start. Regardless, the Braves won their first World Series in Atlanta. 1996 would be the year that made John Smoltz into a Hall of Famer. In 35 starts, he went 24-8 with a 2.94 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and 276 strikeouts in 253.2 innings, nearly unanimously winning the NL Cy Young Award. He earned a complete game victory in the NLDS, then dominated the Cardinals in two NLCS starts. He was nearly unhittable in the World Series, but the Braves lost to the Yankees. Combining his 4-1 record and 0.95 ERA from the postseason with his incredible regular season stats, Smoltz went 28-9 with a 2.68 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 309 strikeouts in 291.2 innings. Though he couldn’t quite match his 1996 levels, he still went 15-12 with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 241 strikeouts in 256 innings. He made just 26 starts in 1998, but he couldn’t have fared much better, going 17-3 with a 2.90 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP, finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young voting. Combined with Cy Young winner Tom Glavine (20-6, 2.47 ERA) and teammate Greg Maddux (18-9, 2.22 ERA), the Braves had three pitchers in the top five for the Cy voting. Smoltz was again limited in 1999, making just 29 starts, but he still went 11-8 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Prior to the 2000 season, he tore his UCL and recieved Tommy John surgery. At 33, the Braves did not know if he would be able to return to starting. When he put up a 5.76 ERA in his first five starts of 2001, management moved him to the bullpen, where he put up a sparkling 1.59 ERA, a 0.74 WHIP, and ten saves. The team decided to keep him there, and Smoltz excelled. In 2002, at 35 years old, he put up a 3.25 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP while setting a National League record with 55 saves. The starter turned closer even finished third in the NL Cy Young voting. 2003 may have been Smoltz’ best season as a closer. In 62 appearances, he shut down the opposition to the tune of a 1.12 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, and 45 saves. Dodgers closer and NL Cy Young winner Eric Gagne tied his NL record with 55 saves, and to this day the two share the record. Smoltz continued to do his thing in 2004, finishing with a 2.76 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 44 saves. Despite being the most successful closer in Braves history, Smoltz still wanted to start. The transition from relieving to starting his very difficult, especially late in a career. However, Smoltz proved everybody wrong when he returned in 2005 at the age of 38 and went 14-7 with a 3.06 ERA and re-established himself as one of the game’s best starters. He returned just as strong in 2006, showing no signs of age as he went 16-9 with a 3.49 ERA. In 2007, his age 40 season, he still managed to go 14-8 with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, finishing sixth in the NL Cy Young voting. Unfortunately, it would be Smoltz’ final full season. He started off the 2008 season well, going 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA in five April starts, but he landed on the disabled list in May. In June, when he returned, he also returned to the bullpen, but allowed two runs in his only relief appearance before going back on the DL. He would not pitch again that season. After the sesaon, the Braves cut ties with Smoltz after 20 years, and he signed with the Red Sox. He struggled in Boston, and was released after eight starts when he went 2-5 with an 8.33 ERA. The Cardinals picked up the 42 year old, and he went 1-3 with a 4.26 ERA in seven starts, finishing his final season 3-8 with a 6.35 ERA. After the season, Smoltz retired.

John Smoltz finished his career 213-155 with a 3.33 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, 3084 strikeouts, and 154 saves. He remains the only pitcher in major league history with 200 wins and 150 saves, and his 154 saves were a Braves record before some guy named Craig Kimbrel came around. His 210 wins place him fifth on the Braves’ all time charts, and his 1.17 WHIP as a member of the Braves place him second on team charts in the modern era (behind Greg Maddux’ 1.05). Only two pitchers, Phil Niekro and Warren Spahn, have a appeared in more Braves games than Smoltz. He also finished his postseason career 15-4 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, setting the non-Yankee record for most postseason wins (Andy Pettitte won 19). In the World Series, he was 2-2 with a 2.47 ERA over eight starts.

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Zack Silverman