ESPN called Glavine of the best lefties of all-time. You agree?

Question

I actually think he benefitted from that collective brain-freeze that assisted the Atlanta pitchers (oddly, nearly exclusively) of calling balls 1-2 feet outside a strike, if the catcher's glove didn't move. (Even announcers would make excuses, and say "he hit the target"). Imagine if even a Ron Guidry or a Jerry Kooseman got those calls for 10 seasons, and played with a team with a bullpen & hitting for that long?

Warren Spahn was 24-7 at age 42, by the way.. Glavine wasn't the MVP of last year's NLCS vs. the Cardinals, Suppan was.. so, where was that 'greatness' & leadership when the Mets needed it? is this a pitcher that was elevated -- because of that Atlanta strike-zone, which was another 2 FEET wider for their SPs (and hardly anyone else) in that era? What I'm saying about Kooseman is that he was VERY, VERY good for very, very bad teams -- like Mel Stottlymire was for the Yankees... these guys would have BETTER the stats of Glavine, if they played for the 80's/90's Braves -- wouldn't they? (look at Glavine's record with the Mets vs. Spahn's record at 42)...

Answer 1

Glavine without a doubt is one of the best left handed pitchers of all time. He is the type of pitcher that doesn't beat you on brute strength, he beats you because he outsmarts you.

Answer 2

Injuries cut down a shot for long career, but I think you'd get a lot of support for Sandy Kofax. He was a three-time Cy Young Award winner and won the MVP in 1963 with a 25-5 record and a 1.88 ERA while striking out 306 hitters.

Steve Carlton should also get some consideration. Any time you win 46 percent of your team’s games (27 of the Phillies’ 59 TOTAL wins in 1972) should count for something.

I would give Kofax or Carlton the nod over Glavine, who was never the staff ace for either of the teams he pitched for.

Don’t get me wrong, 300 wins is a remarkable accomplishment — especially in today’s game where four-man pitching rotations are long gone. Glavine deserves to be in the Hall of Fame; he’s just not the best lefty of all time ... but hey, there can only be one, right?

Answer 3

In your judgement what constitutes "great"? Being able to throw it by people at 95+or being crafty enough to use your smarts to get people out?
Pitchers like Glavine, Maddux et al are a rare breed. Their records speak for themselves.
Warren Spahn was the same kind of pitcher.
Darn right he's one of the best. Nuff said......

Answer 4

Glavine and Maddux aren't just given those calls. Since both are always around the plate, the umpire expects them to throw strikes.

Nolan Ryan, who threw 100 mph but didn't have pinpoint control would not get the black of the plate either.

Give Glavine his due!

Answer 5

One of the best. Overlooked all the time is his fielding and hitting. He is a 5 skills pitcher -- a rarity. He also has adjusted to age, another rarity. Just as a team cannot play 162 games and fluke its way into the playoffs, a guy can't win 300 games as a starter and fluke his way there. 1st ballot hall-of-famer, no doubt.

Answer 6

Glavine is without question one of the greatest lefties of all time. He's no Guidry, or Whitey. But give the guy his due. You dont win 300 games simply because you are on good teams. There is alot more to it. Koosman isnt in the same class. There is a difference between good and great.

Answer 7

One of only 5 to win 300 games, speaks for itself. Glavine is one of the best.

Answer 8

I believe Glavine is one of the top ten left handed pitchers of all time. All we have to do is look at his numbers and they speak for themselves.

Answer 9

Given the fact that he is one of only five left handed pitchers to win 300 games, yes.

Just because you arent a braves fan(and I'm a Cubs fan, before you go there) doesnt mean he isnt good.

Answer 10

the called him number 9 and yes i do believe so even though i am a yankee fan....glavine has outstanding states which makes me believe he is