SB Nation Atlanta Editor's Pick

The Atlanta Braves All Time lineup team.

by HeywardFTW! on Feb 24, 2011 11:54 PM EST

Why we are all enjoying spring training games and watching our glorious Braves prepare for the season I thought of a fun activity for us to do. Each week I will have a poll of the top 5 Braves of all time at their respective positions. In 9 weeks we will have us the ultimate Braves lineup. This week we will start with the pitcher. In this scenario we don't have 5 starters but one we would trot out to the mound every day for a game. Picking the 5 best Braves pitchers to put in a poll in itself was a grueling task but here we go!

1.) Grag Maddux 11 years with the Braves,

W-L-194-88 ERA-2.63 SO-1828 BB-383 WHIP-1.051

2.) Tom Glavine 17 years with the Braves,

W-L-244-177 ERA-3.41 SO-2091 BB-1177 WHIP-1.296

3.) John Smoltz 20 years with the Braves,

W-L-210-147 ERA-3.26 SO-3011 BB-992 WHIP-1.170

4.) Warren Spahn 20 years with the Braves,

W-L-356-229 ERA-3.05 SO-2493 BB-1378 WHIP-1.189

5.) Phil Niekro 21 years with the Braves,

W-L-268-230 ERA-3.20 SO-2912 BB-1458 WHIP- 1.229

* The stats used were only those accumulated during their time with the Braves. Be sure to vote and come back for the results as well as next weeks poll.

Poll

All Time Lineup Pitcher

Greg Maddux

156 votes

Tom Glavine

5 votes

John Smoltz

29 votes

Warren Spahn

45 votes

Phil Niekro

3 votes

238 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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Comments

smoltz...

because of all the years, and the post season record, and the saves, and his beard…..

by Bizarros on Feb 25, 2011 12:30 AM EST reply actions

Greg Maddux is the greatest pitcher I have ever seen

But if my life depended on a game I would give the ball to John Smoltz. I think a lot of people here feel that way too.

http://www.diamond-uniforms.com/

by jayjaxon on Feb 25, 2011 12:48 AM EST reply actions

Right, but do you remember Glav’s performance in the ‘95 World Championship game? That was the era’s single most awesome big game performance.

by fandave on Feb 25, 2011 9:21 AM EST up reply actions

Spahn

I am a HUGE Maddux fan, but you can’t discount the career that Spahn had for the Braves. For me it was a very tough call between those two, but I went Spahn for the longer track record with the team.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

by biggentleben on Feb 25, 2011 8:09 AM EST reply actions

kinda hard to argue against 356 wins, huh?

by fandave on Feb 25, 2011 9:22 AM EST up reply actions

Different Eras. I still have Spahn over Maddux by the slighest of hairs though.

by Broccoman on Feb 25, 2011 9:40 AM EST up reply actions

Since you are including Spahn...

…this is obviously not just an “Atlanta Braves” question, it is a “Braves” question, given that Spahn played most if not all of his career in Milwaukee. Since it is a Braves question, I find the poll fatally flawed because Kid Nichols has to be in the top 5, and a reasonable argument can be made for his being #1.

So, count this post as my vote for Kid Nichols. And for those wondering, here are his numbers with the Braves:

329-183, 3.00 ERA, 1.234 WHIP, 4549.0 IP, 143 ERA+. And yes, while he was a deadballer, he pitched for the Braves in the high-scoring 1890’s primarily, and is generally considered the one of the best, if not the best pitcher of his era.

by cavebird on Feb 25, 2011 10:11 AM EST reply actions

I grew up watching Niekro and was tempted to vote for him, but I went with Maddux. He was just stupid good. Plus, the “Chicks dig the long ball” commercial could be played every game.

"It's like winning a war...you need arms and money." Fredi G

by bighop on Feb 25, 2011 12:03 PM EST reply actions

Thanks to all who have voted!

Maddux is really running away with it early! Quick question for you guys. Should I do this by the week like I suggested in my post or is that to long of a time? Would 3 or 5 days be better? Let me know what you think!

In baseball, you're supposed to sit on your ass, spit tobacco, and nod at stupid things. Perfect life might I add.

by HeywardFTW! on Feb 25, 2011 3:26 PM EST reply actions

3-5 days would be better

but thats just because i get bored.

by austinhb on Feb 25, 2011 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah thats what I was thinking so I’ll have the new one up in a couple days! Thank you for your input.

In baseball, you're supposed to sit on your ass, spit tobacco, and nod at stupid things. Perfect life might I add.

by HeywardFTW! on Feb 25, 2011 6:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

With ST starting, there will be bunch of folks checking out TC, you could probably go 2-3 days.

"It's like winning a war...you need arms and money." Fredi G

by bighop on Feb 25, 2011 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

I'd prefer if you gave..

Kid Nichols a fair chance. He deserves it. :(

by cavebird on Feb 27, 2011 1:06 AM EST up reply actions

I thought about putting Kid in there and it was tough choice in that 5 spot but I went with Niekro instead. I think Kid played in a different era that wasn’t as tough which led to my reasoning.

In baseball, you're supposed to sit on your ass, spit tobacco, and nod at stupid things. Perfect life might I add.

by HeywardFTW! on Feb 27, 2011 2:11 AM EST up reply actions

Well consider this...

….my second vote for Kid. The 1890’s were a tough era for pitchers. As for the overall level of play, yes, it was probably lower, but in terms of who was better against the competition against which he played, I go with the Kid.

by cavebird on Feb 27, 2011 12:41 PM EST up reply actions

Phil Niekro

I don’t know what the composite record of Niekro’s teams were, but that record has be the worst of any starting pitcher in the HoF in the last 50 years. Niekro was with some putrid Braves teams in the late 1970’s. If it hadn’t been for Niekro pitching for good teams late in his career with the Braves and Yankees, that composite record would have been even worse. I did see Niekro was with the 1969 NL West champion Braves and the 1974 club that went 88-74. For the most part after his career really got going in 1967 until 1982, Niekro was with bad Braves teams. Niekro was just a relief pitcher with good Braves teams in the mid-1960’s.

2011 - The 103rd time is the charm.

by memphiscub on Feb 25, 2011 7:08 PM EST reply actions