Smoltz elected to Cooperstown along with Pedro, Unit, and Biggio.

[Julio3000]

I watched a lot of games in person when Smoltz was a closer. When I lived in Atlanta in the late 90s-early 2000s and went to a lot of games, for whatever reason, I rarely saw him pitch. I have a lot of the same great memories as the rest of us—the epic playoff starts, etc. I remember when he was reinvented as a closer and could throw hard and uncork his splitter with impunity. It was almost embarassing for a guy with a great fastball and a slider that was often recognized as the best in the game to be able to throw a third pitch so devastating. I remember when he went right after Barry Bonds while he was finishing a game with a cushion of a few runs, in the days when guys were apt to walk Bonds even with the bases empty. John challenged him with fastballs until Barry took him deep . . . and tipped his cap and laughed it off. As robust as his ego was, it wasn't brittle enough to be damaged. He knew he could close it out, and he did. Not bad for a guy who needed a sports psychologist to jump-start his career. My favorite memories of watching him in person, though, happened to be two games that he lost.

One was seeing him lose to Tom Glavine on my birthday—neither guy with great stuff but both of them battling deep into the game, neither wanting to lose to the other. The second was a great duel with Pedro, one of a few that they had. I remembered him as having struck out 16, but B-Ref says it was 15. Pedro went 9, allowing one run on two hits, and won the game. Usually my dad and I stewed over losses on the long, late drive home, but that night we knew how lucky we were just to have been in the park. Both of those games had a quality that set them apart, and it was not unusual when Smotz pitched. He was the guy. Baseball is a team sport, but in those games there was a palpable sense that the only guys that mattered were the ones on the mound. I don't remember who scored the runs in those games, and how, but I remember Smoltz and Pedro pitching like pistoleros, like they were the only two guys in the park. As far as I'm concerned, they were.

RJ and Pedro are inner-circle greats, among the best of the best. As a Braves fan, I don't think it diminishes Smoltz at all to be enshrined with them—it's that much more of an honor, in fact. I feel lucky to have seen all four of today's inductees play.

 

[CyYoung31]

I watched a lot of games in person when Smoltz was a closer. When I lived in Atlanta in the late 90s-early 2000s and went to a lot of games, for whatever reason, I rarely saw him pitch. I have a lot of the same great memories as the rest of us—the epic playoff starts, etc. I remember when he was reinvented as a closer and could throw hard and uncork his splitter with impunity. It was almost embarassing for a guy with a great fastball and a slider that was often recognized as the best in the game to be able to throw a third pitch so devastating. I remember when he went right after Barry Bonds while he was finishing a game with a cushion of a few runs, in the days when guys were apt to walk Bonds even with the bases empty. John challenged him with fastballs until Barry took him deep . . . and tipped his cap and laughed it off. As robust as his ego was, it wasn't brittle enough to be damaged. He knew he could close it out, and he did. Not bad for a guy who needed a sports psychologist to jump-start his career. My favorite memories of watching him in person, though, happened to be two games that he lost.

One was seeing him lose to Tom Glavine on my birthday—neither guy with great stuff but both of them battling deep into the game, neither wanting to lose to the other. The second was a great duel with Pedro, one of a few that they had. I remembered him as having struck out 16, but B-Ref says it was 15. Pedro went 9, allowing one run on two hits, and won the game. Usually my dad and I stewed over losses on the long, late drive home, but that night we knew how lucky we were just to have been in the park. Both of those games had a quality that set them apart, and it was not unusual when Smotz pitched. He was the guy. Baseball is a team sport, but in those games there was a palpable sense that the only guys that mattered were the ones on the mound. I don't remember who scored the runs in those games, and how, but I remember Smoltz and Pedro pitching like pistoleros, like they were the only two guys in the park. As far as I'm concerned, they were.

RJ and Pedro are inner-circle greats, among the best of the best. As a Braves fan, I don't think it diminishes Smoltz at all to be enshrined with them—it's that much more of an honor, in fact. I feel lucky to have seen all four of today's inductees play.

We were winning that game heading into the 8th, and then Beltran hit a two-run homerun IIRC.

 

[Gary82]

The second was a great duel with Pedro, one of a few that they had. I remembered him as having struck out 16, but B-Ref says it was 15. Pedro went 9, allowing one run on two hits, and won the game. Usually my dad and I stewed over losses on the long, late drive home, but that night we knew how lucky we were just to have been in the park. Both of those games had a quality that set them apart, and it was not unusual when Smotz pitched. He was the guy. Baseball is a team sport, but in those games there was a palpable sense that the only guys that mattered were the ones on the mound. I don't remember who scored the runs in those games, and how, but I remember Smoltz and Pedro pitching like pistoleros, like they were the only two guys in the park. As far as I'm concerned, they were.
.

I remember after the game Pedro saying that Smoltz was someone he'd pay to see pitch. He was unbelievable that game.

 

[The Tariff King]

We were winning that game heading into the 8th, and then Beltran hit a two-run homerun IIRC.

One was seeing him lose to Tom Glavine on my birthday—neither guy with great stuff but both of them battling deep into the game, neither wanting to lose to the other. The second was a great duel with Pedro, one of a few that they had. I remembered him as having struck out 16, but B-Ref says it was 15. Pedro went 9, allowing one run on two hits, and won the game. Usually my dad and I stewed over losses on the long, late drive home, but that night we knew how lucky we were just to have been in the park. Both of those games had a quality that set them apart, and it was not unusual when Smotz pitched. He was the guy. Baseball is a team sport, but in those games there was a palpable sense that the only guys that mattered were the ones on the mound. I don't remember who scored the runs in those games, and how, but I remember Smoltz and Pedro pitching like pistoleros, like they were the only two guys in the park. As far as I'm concerned, they were.

RJ and Pedro are inner-circle greats, among the best of the best. As a Braves fan, I don't think it diminishes Smoltz at all to be enshrined with them—it's that much more of an honor, in fact. I feel lucky to have seen all four of today's inductees play.

I remember after the game Pedro saying that Smoltz was someone he'd pay to see pitch. He was unbelievable that game.

If my memory serves me correct, that was Smoltz' second start returning to the rotation in 2005. First one he got destroyed at Marlins (Huddy's debut was game after). Game was a Sunday afternooner on TBS, I was away at an Easter gathering, came home and heard the TV that Smoltz struck out 15 but then saw the score and saw we were losing 2-1.

LONG LIVE THE BRIAN JORDAN - ANDRUW JONES - RAUL MONDESI OUTFIELD!!!

 

[The Tariff King]

Costas brought up a great point on MLB Network.

With Smoltz going in, Chipper following in 3 years and homeboy upstairs going in as an executive one day to join Cox, Maddux, and Glavine this will be unprecedented for a core group of people from one team all be in at the same time.

Costas brought up how the Yankees had Stengel, Dimaggio, Yogi, Mantle was a rookie Dimaggio's last year and Whitey Ford was in the military so he wasn't teammates that long.

4 players, a manager, and a GM who were all together for 8 years (1995-2002).

Shame that Andruw's career fell off a cliff so fast. If he had gotten to 500 homers he would be a lock on the first ballot for being the greatest defensive center fielder since Mays. I hope he can get in one day (434 home runs at a defensive premium position, 10 gold gloves and easily one of the best to ever patrol centerfield).

 

[Julio3000]

We were winning that game heading into the 8th, and then Beltran hit a two-run homerun IIRC.

That was it. Wow. I remember now. What a game. Muy badass.

 

[Julio3000]

If my memory serves me correct, that was Smoltz' second start returning to the rotation in 2005. First one he got destroyed at Marlins (Huddy's debut was game after). Game was a Sunday afternooner on TBS, I was away at an Easter gathering, came home and heard the TV that Smoltz struck out 15 but then saw the score and saw we were losing 2-1.

LONG LIVE THE BRIAN JORDAN - ANDRUW JONES - RAUL MONDESI OUTFIELD!!!

Yeah, he got wrecked in his first start of the year.

It's funny what memory does—I remembered it as a night game, but it was a matinee, like you say . . . which makes sense, because we had a 3-hour drive back home and usually went to the 1:05 Sunday games. Great baseball memory.

 

[zitothebrave]

Shame that Andruw's career fell off a cliff so fast. If he had gotten to 500 homers he would be a lock on the first ballot for being the greatest defensive center fielder since Mays. I hope he can get in one day (434 home runs at a defensive premium position, 10 gold gloves and easily one of the best to ever patrol centerfield).

Druw should be in, if Ozzie Smith gets in, Druw should as well. Druw's peak was very HOF deserving cause of his defense. He just didn't have the longevity of say Ozzie Smith. What's sad was the ****up of not giving him the MVP in 05 may have been the straw that broke the camel's back. If he won that MVP he may be going to the HOF as a prime year candidate.

 

[Knucksie]

Shame that Andruw's career fell off a cliff so fast. If he had gotten to 500 homers he would be a lock on the first ballot for being the greatest defensive center fielder since Mays. I hope he can get in one day (434 home runs at a defensive premium position, 10 gold gloves and easily one of the best to ever patrol centerfield).

He'd have been Series MVP in '96 if things had turned out differently vs. Yankees.

Druw should be in, if Ozzie Smith gets in, Druw should as well. Druw's peak was very HOF deserving cause of his defense. He just didn't have the longevity of say Ozzie Smith. What's sad was the ****up of not giving him the MVP in 05 may have been the straw that broke the camel's back. If he won that MVP he may be going to the HOF as a prime year candidate.

The homerism never ends. You're going to be very disappointed when you see the vote totals.

 

[gcbraves]

What will also hurt Andruw, fairly or unfairly, is that he will be compared to Jim Edmonds. Edmonds had better overall offensive numbers, and won 8 GG compared to AJ's 10. I always felt Edmond's catches got much more pub on Sportscenter than AJ's. For the record, I think Edmonds was a solid player, but was somewhat over-rated.

 

[zitothebrave]

The homerism never ends. You're going to be very disappointed when you see the vote totals.

Should and will are 2 totally different verbs. Druw was a very good offensive and the best ever defensive CF. In 05 the question wasn't if Druw would be in the hall but how great he would be, he fell off Murphy style, the difference was because of Druw's defense he was a much better player than Murphy. With a guy like Lou Brock in the hall how could you say there isn't a spot for Druw?

 

[thewupk]

Should and will are 2 totally different verbs. Druw was a very good offensive and the best ever defensive CF. In 05 the question wasn't if Druw would be in the hall but how great he would be, he fell off Murphy style, the difference was because of Druw's defense he was a much better player than Murphy. With a guy like Lou Brock in the hall how could you say there isn't a spot for Druw?

Don't worry about those idiots. They were was a 10 year period where Andruw was the 4th best position guy behind Bonds, Arod, and Chipper. He had a HOF peak. Had his career just ended like Koufax's instead of abrubtly faded away like Murphy he would of already been in.

 

[Nerfherders]

The problem with Andruw is that he was overhadowed by 4 players on his own team, and was never enough of an offensive threat to be considered great in his heyday. We can look back on it with the stats we have now and be amazed, but then, he was a defense-first player who's prime contribution offensively was home runs. I still maintain that if he hit 500 he'd be in eventually, but there's going to be a few of those 500 HR guys now that will need veterans to get in, when 10 years ago 500 was a lock.

I think Andruw might have a chance on the veterans committee and get in when upon reflection he was the best defensive player of his generation, in an era when balls were flying all over the place. But we and he may be old men before it happens.

BTW Andruw is still playing baseball. He hit .221/.394/.426/.820 with 118 BB and 24 HR in Japan last year, and has 50 HR in two seasons there.

 

[The Tariff King]

People will look back and see that Andruw did it clean and was one of the better all around players clean in the steroid era.

And also we as braves fans are a little more harsh on Andruw because of all the K's we witnessed on breaking balls in the dirt but Andruw's value to our pitching staffs was immeasurable. Glavine and Maddux know firsthand just how valuable Andruw was defensively.

I think Andruw will get in once the backlog of other players is done.

Someone like Stark or Olney will make a case for Andruw publicly.

 

[thewupk]

People will look back and see that Andruw did it clean and was one of the better all around players clean in the steroid era.

And also we as braves fans are a little more harsh on Andruw because of all the K's we witnessed on breaking balls in the dirt but Andruw's value to our pitching staffs was immeasurable. Glavine and Maddux know firsthand just how valuable Andruw was defensively.

I think Andruw will get in once the backlog of other players is done.

Someone like Stark or Olney will make a case for Andruw publicly.

He has the same WAR as Ozzie. Again it's all about perception. Initially people think of Andruw as the guy who flamed out and sturggled mightily after going to LA and not what he did in Atlanta. I don't know if it will be enough with the voters but proper reflection and time away will do Andruw a lot of good. IMO he's the best defensive player of all time. And if you are the best at something you belong in the hall of fame.

 

[mcollier]

I watched a lot of games in person when Smoltz was a closer. When I lived in Atlanta in the late 90s-early 2000s and went to a lot of games, for whatever reason, I rarely saw him pitch. I have a lot of the same great memories as the rest of us—the epic playoff starts, etc. I remember when he was reinvented as a closer and could throw hard and uncork his splitter with impunity. It was almost embarassing for a guy with a great fastball and a slider that was often recognized as the best in the game to be able to throw a third pitch so devastating. I remember when he went right after Barry Bonds while he was finishing a game with a cushion of a few runs, in the days when guys were apt to walk Bonds even with the bases empty. John challenged him with fastballs until Barry took him deep . . . and tipped his cap and laughed it off. As robust as his ego was, it wasn't brittle enough to be damaged. He knew he could close it out, and he did. Not bad for a guy who needed a sports psychologist to jump-start his career. My favorite memories of watching him in person, though, happened to be two games that he lost.

One was seeing him lose to Tom Glavine on my birthday—neither guy with great stuff but both of them battling deep into the game, neither wanting to lose to the other. The second was a great duel with Pedro, one of a few that they had. I remembered him as having struck out 16, but B-Ref says it was 15. Pedro went 9, allowing one run on two hits, and won the game. Usually my dad and I stewed over losses on the long, late drive home, but that night we knew how lucky we were just to have been in the park. Both of those games had a quality that set them apart, and it was not unusual when Smotz pitched. He was the guy. Baseball is a team sport, but in those games there was a palpable sense that the only guys that mattered were the ones on the mound. I don't remember who scored the runs in those games, and how, but I remember Smoltz and Pedro pitching like pistoleros, like they were the only two guys in the park. As far as I'm concerned, they were.

RJ and Pedro are inner-circle greats, among the best of the best. As a Braves fan, I don't think it diminishes Smoltz at all to be enshrined with them—it's that much more of an honor, in fact. I feel lucky to have seen all four of today's inductees play.

This is an excellent post. Thanks for sharing!

 

[mcollier]

What will also hurt Andruw, fairly or unfairly, is that he will be compared to Jim Edmonds. Edmonds had better overall offensive numbers, and won 8 GG compared to AJ's 10. I always felt Edmond's catches got much more pub on Sportscenter than AJ's. For the record, I think Edmonds was a solid player, but was somewhat over-rated.

Edmonds got more highlights because he had to work harder to get into a position to catch the ball. Andruw knew instinctively where to go to get the ball and caught it with little visible effort. Edmonds was in NO WAY a better defender than Andruw Jones, and Andruw deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. I doubt seriously that he gets in in his first 2-3 years on the ballot, but as people study his resume and appreciate his overall game, I think he gets in eventually.

 

[NYCBrave]

I think you can definitely create the argument that Andruw deserves to be in, but I think what will hurt him the most is the perception he created for himself after falling off the cliff. His last few years he was relegated to platoon work, following up some poor seasons, in his early 30's. When you think of a hall of famer, you don't think of a person who had to platoon at any point.

 

[Gary82]

Curt Schilling ✔ @gehrig38
Three teammates and the ONLY pitcher I preferred not to see in October. I'd take the matchup, but definitely preferred someone else. #clutch

Nice praise from one hell of a pitcher.

 

[Knucksie]

Should and will are 2 totally different verbs. Druw was a very good offensive

"Very good" typically doesn't get a player in the Hall. Leading in important offensive categories does. Voters typically look for "the best of the best."

and the best ever defensive CF.

Whether you want to believe it or not, plenty of voters are not going to be that much more impressed comparing him with Edmonds.

In 05 the question wasn't if Druw would be in the hall but how great he would be, he fell off Murphy style,

It was worse. You goofs always carp about the bad contracts, but this proves the selective outrage. He was very much in BJ and Uggla territory.

the difference was because of Druw's defense he was a much better player than Murphy.

First of all, why do keep bringing defense up? Ozzie Smith and Bill Mazeroski (Vet's Committee selection) are the only 2 players in, largely for defense, but they both had post season heroics. Maybe Brooks Robinson, too, but he was also effective at the plate.

As far as Murphy goes, and you're not even old enough to have remembered him, and Murphy was one of the most feared hitters in the game. It's rare that a 2-time MVP does not get inducted with Roger Maris and maybe one other.

With a guy like Lou Brock in the hall how could you say there isn't a spot for Druw?

Lou Brock got in because of the stolen bases. If not for sacrificing his career for challenging the Reserve Clause, for my money, Curt Flood was having a HOF career.