Who says middle-aged veteran pitchers are supposed to slow down in the second half of the season as the wear and tear of a full MLB season takes its toll on their aging bodies? Whoever does needs to go ask Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz what he thinks about that philosophy. Since July 3rd the Braves ace has been nothing short of spectacular.
Including today's eight inning masterpiece where he struck out seven while only allowing one run to earn his twelfth victory of the season, Smoltz has gone 8-1 with a 2.84 ERA since July 3. He has also tallied an 83 to 13 strikout to walk ratio during that same period.
His 176 strikeouts this season currently rank second in the National League. When one recalls that six of Atlanta's 24 blown saves this season came in games that Smoltz started, MLB's winningest post-season pitcher could have easily been on his way to another 20 win season during a season in which it appears that no one will achieve that mark in the National League.
At age 39, the 15 year Atlanta veteran has shown no signs of slowing down this season.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, the rest of the rotation has been nowhere near as spectacular. Riddled by injuries and mired by inconsistency, the Braves rotation currently ranks eighth in the N.L. (Smoltz's strong numbers saves them from an even less impressive ranking).
Those 24 blown saves are worst in the league, and could easily be worse if not for what has clearly turned out to be another one of John Schuerholz's brilliant moves this year; bringing in veteran closer Bob Wickman.
Easily one of the pre-deadline deals that has paid off the most for any club, Wickman has completed ceased the 9th inning woes for Atlanta by successfully converting all nine of his save opportunities since coming to the Braves in late July. He has pitched 13 innings while appearing in 13 games, has not allowed a single earned run in that time, and has struck out 13 batters while walking none.
With results like that, its too bad Atlanta did not acquire his services much earlier; like this past off-season when the veteran reliever was one of Schuerholz's several targets but the Braves G.M. was unsuccessful in his efforts to lure him to the ATL.
Assuming that he converted even just 17 of those 24 blown Atlanta saves prior to the All-Star Break and Atlanta is in a completely different situation right now. Instead of hoping for a late season miracle while sitting 6.5 games back in the Wild Card race with just a little more than a month to go in the regular season, the Braves would be neck and neck with the New York Mets while battling for their 15th straight division title.
Pitching never used to be Atlanta's problem, it was a lack of offense. That has certainly not been the case this year.
Despite missing several chunks of the regular season due to ankle problems, Braves veteran third baseman Chipper Jones currently ranks 4th in the N.L. in batting average with a .325 mark. After belting his 20th homerun of the season, Jones became the fourth Brave to reach the benchmark this year. With Braves catcher Brian McCann currently sitting pretty with a .334 average and 16 homeruns, it is very plausible the Braves will have five players with over 20 homeruns and two players in the top 5 in N.L. batting average (McCann currently stands several games worth of at bats below the qualifying number for the batting crown)
Nevertheless, it is highly probable that for the first time since the 1990 post-season the MLB playoffs will begin without the Braves in them. With gems like these on the roster its a shame Atlanta will most likely be unable to showcase such talent this October. For the first time in what must seem like an eternity, come the end of this September, Braves fans may have to utter the timeless adage "Wait til next year!" just like the majority of the baseball world.
It's hard for me to feel totally sorry for your Braves, being that the Pirates have had a losing streak almost as long as their winning streak. But I do feel a little bad for them. Especially Smoltz, who has had an incredible year. But I think it says something about his character, still giving top notch effort even in rough times.
They are still fighting, and that's worth something.
Braves actually managed back to back wins at home for a change and scored in double digits both times. Still seven under .500, but just five games back in the Wild Card. Hanging on but unable to get over the hump entirely it seems. Critical series against San Francisco up next.
GBrent...long time no blog. Been waiting to hear from you. I'm just hoping that next year Mike Hampton comes back fully healthy and ready to go. Maybe that will take some of the pressure off of Hudson. Also Ramierez should be back and healthy. He's young and just needs to take care of himself and he could easily win 12 games a year in the four spot. Chuck James and Kyle Davies can fight it out for fifth. I used to the Braves underacheiving in the playoffs, not the regular season.
Welcome home bud, and nice to see the real you smiling back at us. I haven't posted anything in a few weeks either but the Truth should be up tomorrow.
It's hard to imagine the playoffs with no Braves, but this has been a crazy year all around. I miss Wick but I'm glad he's having good success with you guys.
Thanks guys. Nice to be back and blogging and to see the Braves put together a decent winning streak at home where they have not played well this year.
Smoltzie takes to the mound tomorrow to try and complete the sweep of the Giants. Big and very necessary step for Atlanta as they seek to stay alive in the wild card hunt. If you want one Braves pitcher going for that you definitely want Smoltz up there.
Four game streak, you think it would have been a lock for five with Smoltz going to the mound. That's been the Braves luck this year. Stanton really worked LaRoche with the bases loaded. I thought he was going to make something happen.
No doubt about that. Who would have thought Smoltz would go out and pitch his worst game of the year when he has been so spectacular at home and been so red hot in general. Those seven earned runs would kill any team's hope of victory.
LaRoche came up empty that game but nice to see the clutch 2 run homer late in the first game of that double header yesterday. The guy has been on fire since the break. If Atlanta can take both today the club will definitely be in business. But the team really needs both, just one would break even and that is not going to get it done in the wild card race.
Wickman finally blew his first save as a Brave today, but did manage to somewhat redeem himself when he picked up his 12th save in 13 chances in the second game of the double header. Too bad the Braves lost hal####ame in the Wild Card race in the process.
Late-20 something living in beautiful Southern Califormia. Orange County to be exact. Love the sunshine, surf, beautiful women, and nearby mountain ranges. We truly have it all...except an NFL Franchise of course.
A Fox Sports Blogging Member for over 2 years, and a NGS 2 Finalist (Made the Elite 8).
Believe in supporting your local team, and I've lived just about everywhere at sometime or another, so I don't have an overbearing subjective allegiance to any particular team (except when it comes to College Football), though of course I still have a few favorites just like the next guy, whether they admit it or not.
Still put up the occassional post every now and then, but here mostly to check out a few hot topics and leave an occassional comment. That could change later, but that's pretty much it for now.
Who says middle-aged veteran pitchers are supposed to slow down in the second half of the season as the wear and tear of a full MLB season takes its toll on their aging bodies? Whoever does needs to go ask Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz what he thinks about that philosophy. Since July 3rd the Braves ace has been nothing short of spectacular.
Easily one of the pre-deadline deals that has paid off the most for any club, Wickman has completed ceased the 9th inning woes for Atlanta by successfully converting all nine of his save opportunities since coming to the Braves in late July. He has pitched 13 innings while appearing in 13 games, has not allowed a single earned run in that time, and has struck out 13 batters while walking none. 
