February 17, 2008
Braves-Report is looking for a blogger. As the #1, “top 100″ ranked baseball fansite, we offer the chance to get your writing read by a bigger audience. We are having an open try-out for the position. If you are interested in the position, please submit a five paragraph piece, previewing the 2008, season, or a sample from your blog, to bravesreport@gmail.com. The deadline is March 1st.
We are looking for the following things:
Knowledge of the Braves. It helps when you know what you are talking about.
Good Grammar. The article has to be coherent.
If you are chosen, Braves-Report expects at one article per week during the off-season and at least two articles per week during the season. We already have someone to do the game recaps already.
Entries should be e-mailed to bravesreport@gmail.com. We would like to wish everyone the best of luck and that we look forward to your entries.
If you have any questions please feel free and ask them in our forum..
February 8, 2008
In my opinion, Glavine and Smoltz are two of the 3 greatest pitchers of their era. Maddux, of course, is the #1 pitcher, what with the whole Clemens steroid thing, and Glavine and Smoltz are 2 and 3. In that order. While Smoltz may be one of the most durable pitchers of all time in turns of being able to go in day in and day out, Maddux and Glavine have gone years without going on the DL or missing a start. Smoltz had those years where he didn’t pitch at all. He became one of the best closers of all time, but Glavine was able to stay healthy and start for every one of those years.
Glavine has 300 wins, something, unfortunately, Smoltz will never get to. Glavine’s one of the greatest control pitchers of his era, and he didn’t have to use an overpowering fastball to strike his opponents out. He used pinpoint control (in the style of Mad Dog), in order to get the hitters out. And as you said, Glavine won 2 Cy Youngs, one more than Smoltz did.
In 1995, Game 6 of the World Series, who pitched 8 innings of 1-hit ball? Tom Glavine. While Smoltz obviously pitched better in the playoffs overall, the guy who won the big one was Glavine, and he always will be remembered for it.
That’s all I have for now, stupid time constraints. I’ll add more later.
For now, come and join us in the debate on the forum.
February 6, 2008
So Chipperboy and I were talking the other day about the Braves. I made the comment that Smoltz was the 2nd best pitcher behind Maddux. He took offense to the comment and we started to argue. We stopped arguing and decided that we will continue this on the blog. I agreed to post my argument first. He will post his argument tomorrow. We will then continue the debate on the forum. Feel free to join us in the debate. John Smoltz was better than and still is better than Tom Glavine. He was the second best pitcher on the Braves during the streak. To prove this we will look at the numbers.
What is the first stat that comes to mind when you think of pitchers? To me, it’s ERA. So let’s look at the career ERAs of both players. Smoltz’s career ERA is 3.26 compare that to Glavine’s poultry ERA of 3.51. When it comes to ERA+, Smoltz once again has the edge. Smoltz’s career ERA+ of 127 is good enough for 53rd all-time, while Glavine’s is 119 which places him 118th all-time. Glavine’s career WHIP is 1.309, that places him 482nd all-time. Smoltz’s WHIP of 1.1696 places him 82nd all-time.
Smoltz has better stuff. I do not think anyone can deny that. Glavine’s game has always been built around his control. But Smoltz has a better K:BB ratio and it’s not even close. Yes, Smoltz strikes out a lot more hitters, but, if Glavine’s control was so great then the number of walks he allowed should be much less. Smoltz’s K:BB is 3.02 while Glavine’s is 1.76.
If it had not been for Smoltz’s injury problems over the years, he would be approaching 300 wins. He basically did not start a game for 5 straight seasons (2000-2004). He started 5 games during those 5 years all of them coming in 2001. From 2002 to 2004, he was the most dominating closer in the game. This versatility proves just how good Smoltz truly is/was.
I am not saying that Glavine was not a great pitcher. Glavine is a 2-time Cy Young Award winner. He was a great pitcher. But he was not better than and is not better than Smoltz.
Come and join us in the debate on the forum.
