John Smoltz, the 41-year-old right hander, is closing in on becoming the next Mr. 3,000.
Smoltz is only four strikeouts away from achieving this milestone in his career. And any baseball fan who takes a look at his outstanding career can appreciate what he has done.
Smoltz who has played 20 seasons (all with the Braves) in the big leagues, making his professional debut in July 1988. He started his career as a starter. He has 210 career wins (202 of them as a starter).
Smoltz missed the entire 2000 season with injury and returned to the Braves staff in 2001 as a closer/reliever where he saved 10 games. Then from 2002-2004, he had 144 saves.
Then with the departure of Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, Smoltz returned to the starting rotation in 2005, going 14-7 that season. In Smoltz's best season he had 24 wins with 276 strikeouts, and in his best season as a closer he saved 55 games and struck out 85.
Smoltz is approaching a milestone that pretty much grantees him a place in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, though I'm not sure he would need it. His next start which is Tuesday against the nationals will more than likely be a night of history for the 41 year old right hander.
As a baseball fan its easy to appreciate someone who has gone from the starting role, to the closing role and back, who has been able to be consistent through it all. Its not a very common thing to be able to do that and still be approaching 3,000 career strikeouts, but Smoltz is just four shy and will go for history on Tuesday.
So baseball fans all over the world, whether or not they are braves fans will tune in to see history made here early in the young season.
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5 months ago
Indeed a phenomenal pitcher! Smoltzy has always been my favorite pitcher, ever since I was a kid watching the Braves on TBS growing up. I Maddux was always amazing to watch, and Glaving was just so persistent in his strategy, but there was just something about the hard-throwing Smoltz that always drew my attention! I wish I just wish that knew that I was watching 3 Hall of Famers when I was a kid!
Also, I just wrote another article on Smoltz, thought you might find it interesting. Here's the link:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/18460-Greatness-John-Smoltz-of-the-Atlanta-Braves-Defines-It-180408
Anyways...I hope the offense starts playing with some more consistency, and the injuries stop piling up! If that happens, we'll be on our way! Take it easy dude.
P.S. - I buzzed up your article and voted pick of the day...do the same for mine!
~TROY
5 months ago
I have been in Atlanta since 1984. I have seen Smoltz's career unfold before me and the one thing that I think makes him great (beyond his raw talent and athleticism), is his willing to persist through adversity.
Yeah, sure he had a smokin' fastball when he got here. But he wasn't tough mentally and would fall apart after a bad inning; so he went so far as to seeing a sports psychologist in 1991. He wound up pitching nine shutout innings in game 7 of the World Series!
Sure, he got knocked around in the 1995 World Series, but he was undaunted and took home a Championship ring.
Then there was his arm trouble and Tommy John surgery. His arm was so troubled that he even experimented with a knuckle ball!
When it came time to keep things light on his mending arm, he just made himself the most dominant closer in the National League- breaking the league record with 55 saves.
Well, then Atlanta got needy for starting pitching again as Maddux and Glavine left. No big deal because Smoltz just went back to starting again, using his slider and splitter to domnating.
3,000 strikeouts is impressive, but the path Smoltz had to take to get here is even more impressive. He could have been a big, selfish baby and refuse to go to the bullpen. He could have demanded to be traded. He could have used his influence to sway the retentions of Glavine and Maddux. He could have packed it all up after the surgery. He didn't. Instead, he always found a way to contribute to his team in the face of his individual obstacles.
To me, this is true greatness.
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