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lakers#1 says ROLL TIDE! said 06/05, 08:02 PM
After it was announced yesterday that John Smoltz would undergo season ending shoulder surgery, I started thinking about his hall of fame legacy and if he will be inducted into Cooperstown.

My answer to that question is yes. I think when he does decide to hang them up that he will be a hall of famer. He is the only pitcher to have over 200 wins and be able to record over 150 saves. Not to mention he is also a member of the 3000 strike out club. He is also one of the best postseason pitchers of all time with a career record of 15-4 with a 2.65 E.RA.

Then you take a look at his awards. He was the 1992 NLCS MVP, the 1996 NL Cy Young, 2002 NL relief pitcher of the year, 2005 Lou Gehrig Memorial award, 2005 Roberto Clemente award, 2007 Branch Rickey award.

You look at his stats and his awards and that all adds up to a hall of fame career in my opinion. Hearing what Tim Kurkjian said last night made me believe that he would be a hall of famer. Kurkjian has a hall of fame vote and he said that on the first ballot he would vote for Smoltz

lakers#1 says ROLL TIDE! said 06/05, 11:14 PM
John Smoltz has had a great career in Atlanta and embraced any role they put him in. Wherever the Braves have needed him he has been fine with taking that role. The Braves needed a reliever this year and he was going to come back as a reliever instead of a starter, even though he was capable of still being a starter.

Smoltz is the only player to record 200 wins and 150 saves. Not only was he one of the best pitchers in the majors when he was a starter, when he went to the bullpen he was one of the best closers in the game.

He has been an absolute dominant pitcher no matter where the Braves have had him. Another thing that adds to his Hall of fame is his postseason play. He is arguably one of the best postseason pitchers of all time.

Also you said that he didn't have a monster total of wins. If he wouldn't have been in the bullpen and without injuries he would be pretty close to 300 wins right now. Say you add 70 more wins to his total and he is at 280 wins and coming back after his surgery to go after 300 wins.

Another measuring point to pitchers is Strikeouts. He has over 3000 which is the # pitchers aim for. Out of room more to come

lakers#1 says ROLL TIDE! said 06/06, 08:57 AM
If you look at the pitchers you listed wins list I would list Smoltz in 5th place behind Randy Johnson. He was only reliver for a few years and he still was able to record 154 saves. 3000 strikeouts is the mark that pitchers aim for kind of like the 3000 hit club that pretty much ensures a hall of fame.

I see Smoltz getting into the hall of fame on the first ballot. He has had a great career and I dont see him missing out on the hall of fame. He has a Cy Young award and a relief pitcher of the year award. That shows that not only was he one of the best starting pitchers of this era, but one of the best relievers when he had the oppurtuinity.

If Smoltz would have spend the last four years in the bullpen then now he would have over 300 saves which would be enough to be a hall of famer. He is one of the most versatile pitchers in the history of the game, its not usual for somebody to be so dominant as a starter and then go to the bullpen and be the best closer in the game. John Smoltz is a hall of famer.