Game Thread: 8/25 Ray @ Woo

[calsnowskier]

Greg Maddux was a great pitcher.. Part of that long line of really good Brave pitchers. His brother (Mike) wasn't in the same class. Not sure but I think they may have also had Glavin at the same time as Maddux.

Glavin, Smoltz and Maddux were the top 3 of their rotation for years.

 

[calsnowskier]

Glavin, Smoltz and Maddux were the top 3 of their rotation for years.

They were together from ‘93 to ‘02.

That was a hell of a team.

 

[LHG]

They were together from ‘93 to ‘02.

That was a hell of a team.

But only one World Series. Seems like their bullpen was generally decent most years as well.

 

[tzill]

Just reading through Maddux's wiki page was a treat. I knew he was good. I knew he was very good. But I had no idea how good he was.

One of the all-time greats. Since 1960, probably top 3.

1. Clemens
2. Seaver
3. Maddux
4. Johnson
5. Niekro

big gap between 1 and 2.

 

[Stokes1931]

Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux were the top 3 of their rotation for years.

Didn't Smoltz pitch as a closer late in his career?

 

[LHG]

Didn't Smoltz pitch as a closer late in his career?

Yes he did, and I think he went back to starting at the very end of his career.

 

[msgkings322]

That’s because pitchers are tough and rewarded for max velocity and “stuff” vs learning how to pitch. I never was anything special, didn’t even play all 4 years of HS. But the pitchers that can locate to all four quadrants and change speeds are the hardest pitchers to hit imho.

No one wants to be Greg Maddux anymore

 

[msgkings322]

Greg Maddux agrees.

Nice work, ninja!

 

[msgkings322]

But only one World Series. Seems like their bullpen was generally decent most years as well.

One of the proofs of the randomness of baseball playoffs.

 

[msgkings322]

One of the all-time greats. Since 1960, probably top 3.

1. Clemens
2. Seaver
3. Maddux
4. Johnson
5. Niekro

big gap between 1 and 2.

Dude. Koufax. Gibson. And you put Niekro?

 

[LHG]

Dude. Koufax. Gibson. And you put Niekro?

Niekro was a surprise to me as well.

 

[calsnowskier]

Didn't Smoltz pitch as a closer late in his career?

He actually missed all of ‘00 and began his closing career in ‘01.

 

[tzill]

Dude. Koufax. Gibson. And you put Niekro?

Gibson was closer than Koufax. 26th all time WAR
Koufax 111th.

Niekro 11th.

Pitchers with more career WAR than Gibby:
Verlander
Jenkins
Mussina
Ryan
Carlton
PMart
Blyleven

 

[msgkings322]

Gibson was closer than Koufax. 26th all time WAR
Koufax 111th.

Niekro 11th.

Pitchers with more career WAR than Gibby:
Verlander
Jenkins
Mussina
Ryan
Carlton
PMart
Blyleven

You prefer compilers to dominators I guess. Martinez and Carlton are also > Niekro

 

[PolarVortex]

One of the all-time greats. Since 1960, probably top 3.

1. Clemens
2. Seaver
3. Maddux
4. Johnson
5. Niekro

big gap between 1 and 2.

You must value longevity over dominance, otherwise there would be many fine choices over Niekro: Pedro Martinez, Juan Marichal, Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton, Jim Palmer, Justin Verlander, Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Zack Grienke, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw. I'll just stop there. I got tired of going down the career wins list.

 

[PolarVortex]

You prefer compilers to dominators I guess. Martinez and Carlton are also > Niekro

Oh shit, you were 32 minutes ahead of me. Stay out of my brain.

 

[PolarVortex]

Greg Maddux was a great pitcher.

It helps when the umps consistently give you a strike zone as big as Forbes Field.

Part of that long line of really good Brave pitchers. His brother (Mike) wasn't in the same class. Not sure but I think they may have also had Glavin at the same time as Maddux.

 

[msgkings322]

Oh shit, you were 32 minutes ahead of me. Stay out of my brain.

But I like it here….lots of open space

 

[PolarVortex]

But I like it here….lots of open space

And less hostile. I'll let you hang out when I make love to my wife tonight. She'll be having a threesome and never know it.

 

[calsnowskier]

And less hostile. I'll let you hang out when I make love to my wife tonight. She'll be having a threesome and never know it.