Smoltzy at 200!

As long as we're talking baseball, let's take a moment to recognize last night's milestone: John Smoltz won his 200th game. He didn't just win this game. He dominated it. In seven innings, he scattered 7 hits for no runs, struck out 5 and walked none. Best of all, he won it at home against the Mets' Tommy Glavine, who also pitched a solid game in the loss (a 2-1 final).

Smoltz is a lock for the Hall at this point. Given his four years in the bullpen as stopper, during which he saved 154 games and was one of the two most dominant relievers in the NL, his career record most closely resembles that of Dennis Eckersley, who won 197 games while saving 390. Smoltz will never match those save totals, since he's back as a starter. But his record as a starter is better that Eck's was, and his career ERA is lower (3.26 vs. 3.50). Smoltz also pitches during an age of hitter dominance, while Eck played through much of the pitcher-friendly era in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Plus, as all the sporting heads note, Smoltz has the best playoff record in history, although that's padded by the modern era's expanded playoff format. In this respect, I'd compare Smoltz to Curt Schilling (211-140, 3.45 ERA), who may be his closest rival for "most competitive" pitcher in the game.

At 40, Smoltz is still pitching great baseball. He's 7-2 with a 2.58 ERA this year. At this rate, he could pitch for another three or four more years at a peak level. The heaters still smoke, the curveballs still bite, and he's got some of the best control I've ever seen in a power pitcher.