John Smoltz with ANOTHER save...(36)...On pace to break the all-time record for saves in a season...

Derrick · July 20, 2002 5:16AM

John Smoltz is plain out amazing. Everyone is already comparing him to Dennis Eckersley, which is definitely something to be proud of. He's on pace to break the all-time record for saves in a season. Here's a guy who was once a premier starter in the NL for years, winning 24 games in 1996 and the Cy Young Award...and now he's in the closer role, and is probably the best closer in all of baseball right now. Truly amazing.

Braves are STILL the hottest team in baseball! This is probably the best team I've seen EVER...and we've had some great teams. Probably better than the '95 Championship team. We've either won or split 21 straight series's. Haven't lost a series in the last 21...and are now 63-35 with the best record in all of baseball...not to mention we have the best bullpen in all of baseball as well ERA wise. Everyone know's their roles, and they go out and do they're job, and they do it well. Vinny Castilla has the best Fielding % in the MAJORS for third basemen. Gary Sheffield is HOT right now...Chipper is Chipper...Andruw is the best defensive CF in all of baseball, and is consistent, etc. etc.

Oh yeah, what about Maddux and Glavine? Glavine is 12-5 with a 2.47 ERA which is tops in the NL, and who's behind him? Yup, you guessed it...Mr. low earned run average...Greg Maddux. Greg Maddux has won his last 7 decisions and is 9-2 with a 2.59 ERA which is second in the NL. Kevin Millwood has now won his last 6 decisions. Moss is steady as well as Marquis.

This team is amazing. Laugh now, but I'm saying the Braves will win the World Series this year. There's nothing that the Braves are lacking, and this is definitely a totally different team than I've ever seen. Yeah, Braves have only won 1 ring, but hey, a lot of players, managers, coaches wish they had atleast 1 themselves, so it's better than a lot of teams. It's better than nothing. Not to mention, after this season, the Braves will have won 11 straight division titles which is the best ever in all of professional sports. There will another WS ring added this season.

winsarc · July 20, 2002 5:18AM

I totally agree. Couldn't be better said.

KOBEcollector · July 20, 2002 5:21AM

he's come a far way since the METS tore him up earlier in the year

YanksFan · July 20, 2002 5:24AM

Derrick, you said

"Yeah, Braves have only won 1 ring, but hey, a lot of players, managers, coaches wish they had atleast 1 themselves, so it's better than a lot of teams. It's better than nothing. Not to mention, after this season, the Braves will have won 11 straight division titles which is the best ever in all of professional sports. There will another WS ring added this season."

Theres a couple(ok, ALOT) of people who disagree. Look at the Vegas odds. If anyone knows there stuff, Vegas does. They have 30-50 guys like you and me studying each players strength/weaknesses. The bookies know more than most people who watch baseball prolifically(like you and me) ever will. Just look at the odds, you will be suprised, I was.

"This team is amazing. Laugh now, but I'm saying the Braves will win the World Series this year."

Lets make a friendly wager, a Yankees fan VS. a Braves fan.

EHTHOCKEY09 · July 20, 2002 5:26AM

hey guys, just to mention his save today was against the phils, not too hard lol.

Derrick · July 20, 2002 5:46AM

<< <i>Derrick, you said

"Yeah, Braves have only won 1 ring, but hey, a lot of players, managers, coaches wish they had atleast 1 themselves, so it's better than a lot of teams. It's better than nothing. Not to mention, after this season, the Braves will have won 11 straight division titles which is the best ever in all of professional sports. There will another WS ring added this season."

Theres a couple(ok, ALOT) of people who disagree. Look at the Vegas odds. If anyone knows there stuff, Vegas does. They have 30-50 guys like you and me studying each players strength/weaknesses. The bookies know more than most people who watch baseball prolifically(like you and me) ever will. Just look at the odds, you will be suprised, I was.

"This team is amazing. Laugh now, but I'm saying the Braves will win the World Series this year."

Lets make a friendly wager, a Yankees fan VS. a Braves fan. >>

That will all change after this season. Braves are on a roll dude...I don't know if anything can stop them. I mean, seriously...There's not really a bad link anywhere. I believe the Yankees have the WORST bullpen ERA since the All-Star Break, at like 7.00+ or somewhere in that area. If you have no pitching, your not going to be as successful. Yankees lost it today because of the bullpen...which was actually surprising to me. I figured they would pull that win out, but they didn't. Red Sox are gaining on ya'll...

If the Yankees and Braves were to match up again in the WS, I don't think the Yankees could handle us. I mean, it's something to think about. It would be a great series, but I believe the Braves would pull it out. I'd definitely make a wager with you. lmk what it is...

Derrick · July 20, 2002 5:48AM

<< <i>hey guys, just to mention his save today was against the phils, not too hard lol. >>

Actually, it wasn't easy. Smoltz allowed two hits, and had 1st and 2nd with 2 outs with a left-handed batter (Lee) up and he hit a liner to first to where Franco had to go to his right and make a tough play and throw it back to Smoltz who was covering which he barely got there and beat out the runner. It wasn't that easy. Stop making excuses. A save is a save.

Derrick · July 20, 2002 6:35AM

Take a look some of these bullpen stats:

Smoltz:
Games - 49
Wins - 1
Losses - 2
ERA - 4.02
Saves - 36
Inn. - 53.2
Strikeouts - 63

Lightenburg:
Games - 32
Wins - 2
Losses - 3
ERA - 2.08
Inn. - 43.1
Strikeouts - 36

Remlinger:
Games - 50
Wins - 7
Losses - 0
ERA - 1.32
Inn. - 47.2
Strikeouts - 54

Hammond:
Games - 42
Wins - 6
Losses - 2
ERA - 1.38
Inn. - 52.1
Strikeouts - 47

Gryboski:
Games - 41
Wins - 2
Losses - 1
ERA - 2.27
Inn. - 39.2
Strikeouts - 26

Holmes:
Games - 35
Wins - 2
Losses - 1
ERA - 1.51
Inn. - 35.2
Strikeouts - 26

Ouch! Best bullpen in baseball. No one can match those numbers combined.

Derrick · July 20, 2002 10:19AM

What? Smoltzie can't get no appreciation???

KOBEcollector · July 20, 2002 10:26AM

saves are the most overrated stat in baseball.. come into a gm in the 9th when your teams up 3 runs with a guy on 1st get 3 outs and you get a save..please. was that the kind of appreciation you want

j/k man..he is having a very good season. not bad for a guy coming off major arm trouble..now was that better

Derrick · July 20, 2002 10:31AM

Thank you! Yes, he had Tommy John surgery and now he's the best closer in baseball. Pretty awesome in my view...

Bobstar · July 20, 2002 11:13AM

World Series! You seem to forget that a team has to win the playoff
series & then the pennant before they can go to the World Series.
That is something the Braves haven't done in a long time & in your words"Laugh Now" but I'm saying they WON'T make it out of the playoff series & if they are lucky enough to do so they'll surely blow it in the pennant series.
Once they do blow it tho,go see the Thrashers play! The intense action of the NHL will help you recover from the heartbreak of seeing the Braves lose yet again.
This is all based on if there will even be a baseball post season at all.The way it's looking now it sure doesn't look like it.

KOBEcollector · July 20, 2002 11:15AM

sorry but by then we'll be too involved with football to care about a game between the thrashers and the vancover canucks

Bobstar · July 20, 2002 11:25AM

Figures someone with the name "kobe"in their id only has the ability
to enjoy 1 sport at a time.I'll be enjoying the World Series,without the Braves of course,as well as the NFL & the NHL
Come on,try hard,you can do it,expand your little brain.There is a whole world out there waiting.

Derrick · July 20, 2002 11:26AM

<< <i>World Series! You seem to forget that a team has to win the playoff
series & then the pennant before they can go to the World Series.
That is something the Braves haven't done in a long time & in your words"Laugh Now" but I'm saying they WON'T make it out of the playoff series & if they are lucky enough to do so they'll surely blow it in the pennant series.
Once they do blow it tho,go see the Thrashers play! The intense action of the NHL will help you recover from the heartbreak of seeing the Braves lose yet again.
This is all based on if there will even be a baseball post season at all.The way it's looking now it sure doesn't look like it. >>

What makes you so sure that the Braves will lose in the playoffs. We're obviously the weakest link when it comes to people's confidence, but there is no weakest link this year. This is the best team I've ever seen in these 10 or 11 years of success. Of course you and everyone else is going to be bashers and say they won't win in the playoffs, but all I can say is just watch. You will see, and when the Braves win the WS, I don't want you or anyone else making up any excuses. Yeah, it's been two years since we've lost in the playoffs, but wow, so has many other teams..except the friggin Yankees. You can't deny the success the Braves have had though...you can atleast have the balls to admit that. Who's your favorite team anyway? I see your a Ripken fan so it's probably those Orioles...lol...Yeah, when the Orioles have some SORT of success...then you can start bashing...but til then, stick to hockey.

Derrick · July 20, 2002 11:29AM

<< <i>Figures someone with the name "kobe"in their id only has the ability
to enjoy 1 sport at a time.I'll be enjoying the World Series,without the Braves of course,as well as the NFL & the NHL
Come on,try hard,you can do it,expand your little brain.There is a whole world out there waiting. >>

Your such an a$$hole. Hockey is BORING. How many times will I have to point that out to you? No one cares about hockey...the ratings for the NBA playoffs were MUCH higher than the boring sport of hockey. The only thing I care about hockey is the fights...and that's probably the most entertaining thing there is.

I also wish you had the balls enough to quit bashing and let your jealousy of the Braves' success fade, because it's obvious you have no room to talk since your an Orioles fan. Or wait, are you a bandwagon Yankees fan? I wouldn't doubt it.

KOBEcollector · July 20, 2002 11:31AM

sorry to disappoint you there buddy but i do watch all the major sports ( thanks to my dish

) .. im not the one known on this board as constantly hating on other peoples sports

vin · July 20, 2002 11:32AM

Derrick. John Smoltz is amazing,.........so far. I know he is a former starting pitcher, but for the braves sake ( even though I don't care for the BRAVES) I hope John Smotz doesn't get hurt. They might be using him just a little to much, I think. The braves will make the playoffs and hopefully smoltz can participate.

Vin

Bobstar · July 20, 2002 11:34AM

1st of all,this is a public forum so I may comment on anything I want regardless of how a team I might like is performing.You keep saying "MY" Braves;when did you buy the team anyway? I do like the Os' in the American league & the Diamondbacks in the National
League.
Both CJ & I also,each year when it gets to playoff time,pick who we think will get to the World Series.We have fun here with our sports.
You might want to try doing the same thing.

vin · July 20, 2002 11:37AM

P.S. YANKEES will win the world series!!! "Let the sox hang out to dry" "They are wet and they stink"

Vin

YanksFan · July 20, 2002 11:59AM

Sorry D, Smoltz has to have atleast 3-5 yrs. under his belt to be even considered to be like big Eck. Who knows how his arm is gonna be in 1-3 years.

You didn't get back to me about the wager?

John Smoltz with ANOTHER save...(36)...On pace to break the all-time record for saves in a season...

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