And those are just two seasons that quickly come to mind. How does Greg McMichael perform on the road, on turf under the lights with an 0-2 count? In brief: The Braves recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the NLCS to pummel the Cardinals by a combined score of 32-1 over the final three games of the series. Well, Jackson did this, more or less. In the top of the ninth inning, Braves reliever Jackson Stephens was hit on the head with a 90.4-mph liner from the Cardinals' Brendan Donovan. Second , I will include their adjusted career numbers, if theyhad a long career (which most did). He arguably has one of the 20 best peaks in the history of MLB for a relief pitcher. His dominated as Atlanta's closer in 2012. It worked, what an incredible relief pitcher he was. [16], In late 2006, Rocker was interviewed by the sports blog Deadspin, along with fitness model and then-girlfriend Alicia Marie. God bless. And even if they had, theres no guarantee they wouldve won Game 6 the way Kevin Brown was pitching. The Jays took control of the series back in Toronto, though a Braves win in Game 5 staved off elimination and sent the series back to Atlanta for Game 6, which the Blue Jays won in extra innings to give baseball its first champion outside the United States. That may have been true to that point in the decade, but just a few years later with the emergence of the Yankees' dynasty it was a title up for debate. Here are the 141 Relief Pitchers from the 1990s that reached at least 250 games (listed in alphabetical order): Juan Acevedo, Rick Aguilera, Paul Assenmacher, Bobby Ayala, Scott Bailes, Scott. Beck was listed at 6'1" and 215 pounds, but that was being very generous, especially toward the late 1990s. He posted over 25 SV during nine of the 10 seasons from 1993-2002, including eight consecutive seasons from 1995-2002. Editor's note: This story has been updated since its original publication. Here are the 10 relief pitchers that just missed the top 10 for various reasons. He posted a combined 1.97 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 6.0 H/9, 208 ERA+ and 3.1 K/BB. Seems easy enough, but not many do it to the length that Montgomery did. His best season as a closer was arguably his 1998 season. Kimbrel made a few impressive playoff appearances during his 2010 rookie season, and then he spent his final four seasons with Atlanta proving to be baseballs most dominant closer. But thats just how things played out in the World Series against the Braves. Postseason elimination: Game 6 of the World Series. Every pitcher's name links to their career statistics. He recorded a 2.17 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 6.6 H/9, 219 ERA+ and 3.6 K/BB. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Twins capped it off with a thrilling 1-0 win in Game 7, boosted by 10 shutout innings from Jack Morris. The Phillies were more than formidable (97 wins and the NLs best offense), but the Braves lineup was plenty potent, and its almost baffling that it would struggle to score so badly in two home playoff games, especially after the drubbing it gave the Phillies in Games 2 and 3. The details: First, the pitching: The Marlins jumped on Braves ace Maddux for three runs in the first inning of Game 1 and added two more in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead en route to a 5-3 win. [citation needed] He initially committed to play college baseball for the Georgia Bulldogs. He posted over a 145 ERA+ five times during his career. His career 3.2 K/BB still ranks as the 15th best K/BB in the history of MLB for a relief pitcher. . He basically pitched another full season in the postseason. During his peak, which is a peak of almost 290 G and over 310 IP, he recorded a 1.79 ERA, 226 ERA+, 1.00 WHIP, 6.6 H/9, 27.4 SV/50 and 4.4 K/BB. During his peak, which is a peak over 255 G and 275 IP, he posted a 1.99 ERA, 234 ERA+, 1.04 WHIP, 6.6 H/9, 31.2 SV/50 and 3.8 K/BB. Every other relief pitcher in this top 10 ended their career between 1.0-1.2 IP per G. Again, Jones was, more than any other pitcher in this top 10, the bridge between the gap of 1980s and 2000s relief pitching. But the Braves lost because of uneven starting pitching and umpire Eric Gregg. [8] In April 2005, he asked New Yorkers to "bury the hatchet. With a little muscle and a lot of brains, hes one of the 20 best relief pitchers in the history of MLB. Again, you can search every relief pitcher in the history of MLB, youll be hard pressed to find 20 peaks better than this one. In fact, he posted over 20 SV during each of the first seven seasons of the 1990s, from 1990-1996, including leading the League in 1993 with 45 SV. from TalkingChop.com at 2/26/2023 6:06:00 PM. Also during the interview, Rocker lambasted John Schuerholz, his former general manager with the Braves, calling him "a piece of shit". Though not directly based on Rocker, Danny McBride said that Kenny Powers, the main protagonist of the HBO series Eastbound and Down that the pitcher was "more or less an inspiration" for the character. The Marlins won 2-1, so any base runner wouldve constituted a rally for the Braves. The details: The Braves scattered eight hits in Game 1 (0 for 7 with runners in scoring position) and pushed across two runs in a 3-2, 10-inning loss. Blowing a 6-0 lead at home? The critical moment: The eighth inning of Game 7 decided the series for the Braves. His career 148 ERA+ still ranks as the 11th best ERA+ in the history of Major League Baseball for a relief pitcher. Even when the Braves had leads, the baseball world and probably the Yankees, too knew it was just a matter of time before Derek Jeter & Co. showed up, kicked the door in and stole Braves fans happiness. He could do it all. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. His career 304 SV still rank 19th all time in the history of Major League Baseball. Foul played was quickly ruled out by authorities. from TalkingChop.com at 2/26/2023 4:05:00 PM. The Big Three was a trio of Major League Baseball starting pitchers for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2002 which consisted of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. You can search every relief pitcher in the history of MLB, youll be hard pressed to find 20 peaks better than this one. In fact, he posted over 30 SV during each of the last seven seasons of his career, every season during his career except for his first three seasons, including leading the League in 2001 with 45 SV. He had a good mix of both styles. What a season, thats what he was capable of. But the most reliable member of the early 1990s Braves bullpens might have been McMichael, who produced a 2.89 ERA and a 146 ERA+ over 317 2/3 innings from '93-96. In fact, there are only seven other relief pitchers in the history of MLB that are in the top 20 all time in both of those important categories with Jones. Nelson was mainly used as a middle reliever during his career; and man, was he good, you just couldnt hit this guy. Like Smoky Joe Wood in the 1910s, he was a starting pitcher that many historians feel is one of the 10 highest caliber starting pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball. It's the most hectic, nerve-wracking city. They are: Mariano Rivera, Billy Wagner, Trevor Hoffman, John Wetteland, Tom Henke, Doug Jones and Dennis Eckersley. They are: Mariano Rivera, Billy Wagner, Trevor Hoffman, John Wetteland, Robb Nen, Tom Henke and Dennis Eckersley. Theres only one simple way to put it. Non-closer relief pitchers rarely make the All Star team, it happens, but its rare. His franchise-record 557 relief appearances might never be broken. In fact, he recorded less than a 2.65 ERA during each of his first two seasons. Verdict: Yes, the Braves shouldve won the 1992 World Series. "[20] In December 2007, he was mentioned in the Mitchell Report. Adjusted career is this: Let's take Roberto Hernandez, for example. Why is he generally underrated by the casual fan? On the offensive side, the Braves had four players with 30 or more homers and three with 100 or more RBIs. In brief: After overcoming a 3-2 NLCS deficit against the Pirates to win Games 6 and 7 on the road, the Braves met the Twins for perhaps the greatest World Series of all time: seven games, five one-run games, three extra inning affairs and a World Series record four walkoff wins. The 250-game peak will tell ushow good the pitcher was at his best. The only reliever in baseball history to record at least 150 saves at a more successful rate was former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne (91.7). The Caliber Honorable Mentions (listed in alphabetical order): Jeff Brantley, Mike Henneman, Greg McMichael, Randy Myers, Jeff Nelson, Gregg Olson, Steve Reed, Jeff Shaw, Duane Ward and Todd Worrell. And in Games 6 and 7, they were a combined 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position. They carried that enthusiasm into Game 1 against the Blue Jays, earning a 3-1 home win behind Tom Glavines complete game four-hitter and Damon Berryhills three-run homer in the sixth off Jack Morris. Rocker made his screen-acting debut in the 2002 horror comedy The Greenskeeper as a murderous golf-club groundskeeper. Great postseason numbers. He helped his team to the postseason during consecutive seasons in 1999 and 2000. He posted at least 20 SV during seven of the 10 seasons from 1993-2003 and he posted over 25 SV for six consecutive seasons from 1993-1998. The Yankees were an other-worldly kind of better, despite having the lesser regular season record. Garber was a valuable presence in Atlantas bullpen for a decade, but Remlinger contributed even more quality to the 'pen just across his first four seasons with the Braves. NOTE: You can easily SORT the pitching stats on the table by simply clicking on the title of the pitching stat. I'd retire first. The Braves' chronic playoff disappointments of the 1990s-2000s could not be attributed to Smoltz, who fashioned a career 15-4 postseason record with a 2.67 ERA. In fact, of the 13 relief pitchers in the history of MLB to ever pitch in over 1,000 games, there are only two that have posted less than a career 2.90 ERA and over a career 135 ERA+: John Franco and Hoyt Wilhelm. That puts him in the top 15 all time in ERA+, SV, WHIP and K/BB. It was the start of 14-straight division. Who pitched for the Braves in 1999? No biggie, except Reardons next pitch caught too much of the plate and pinch-hitter Ed Sprague hit it into the left field seats for a go-ahead two-run homer that sucked the air right out of Fulton County Stadium and gave the Jays new life. Oh, and hell be one of only 13 pitchers in the history of MLB to pitch in over 1,000 G while doing it. Fans would come in and have a beer and talk baseball or whatever they wanted to talk about with Beck. Actually his statistical numbers do, but his numbers are what they are in large part because of his brains. Here's a look back ateach of the team'spostseason eliminations from 1991 to 1999. Though the majority of the roster remained intact, the Braves were without their top run producer from 1998, Andres Galarraga, who was diagnosed with cancer before the season. Oh, those three and John Wetteland. The critical moment: Jim Leyritzs home run off Mark Wohlers in the eighth inning of Game 4 turned the series and birthed a Yankees dynasty. It's been 25 years since the Braves finally got over the hump to win the 1995 World Series, but a review of their '90s postseason losses provides plenty of evidence that the team let multiple championships slip away.