Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - January 11, 2013

On today's podcast, I wonder if 26% of voters can really leave Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens off of the Hall of Fame ballot every year until 2027.

I also compare myself to a glass of Egg Nog in July.

Trust me, it makes sense.

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - January 11, 2013

 

The 1990s had the best run of Cy Young winners ever

The 1990s were the peak of the steroid era. But while we all experienced gaudy offensive numbers during the decade, we may have witnessed the best Cy Young era in baseball history. Let me explain.

The current run of Cy Young winners include some great young aces and one who I think is already Hall of Fame bound.

Justin Verlander, Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw and Felix Hernandez are all off to amazing starts to their careers. But as I wrote last night, Brandon Webb and Jake Peavy got off to amazing starts too.

CC Sabathia and Roy Halladay are, I think, either Hall of Fame bound or damn close to it. (Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke will need to pile up some more ace seasons to get Cooperstown talk.)

If Verlander, Lincecum, Kershaw and King Felix keep up their great careers, then we could be in the middle of one of the great stretches of Cy Young winners ever.

Or it could be like the 1980s, where pitchers like Fernando Valenzuela, Bret Saberhagen, Frank Viola, Doc Gooden and Orel Hershiser put together great starts to their career but couldn't translate them into Cooperstown.

I started thinking about when was the best era of Cy Young winners. And I don't mean best stats but rather the most straight years of future Hall of Famers.

I figured it would have been the first few years of the Cy Young (1956-1966) when they gave out only one award for both leagues. And indeed there were Warren Spahn, Early Wynn, Whitey Ford, Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax winning awards.

But Don Newcombe, Bob Turley, Vern Law and Dean Chance also won as well.

1968 to 1973 saw 6 straight years of future Hall of Famers winning the National League Cy Young Award. (Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, Fergie Jenkins and Steve Carlton.) In that same stretch the American League had Jim Lonborg, Denny McLain, Mike Cuellar and Jim Perry, none of whom are in the Hall.

Between 1972 and 1976, Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry, Catfish Hunter and Jim Palmer won the American League Cy Young Award while Randy Jones and Mike Marshall broke up the Hall of Fame streak in the National League.

The National League started a future Hall of Fame streak between 1977 and 1980 with Steve Carlton, Gaylord Perry and Bruce Sutter winning. The late Mike Flanagan won in the American League as well as non Hall of Famers Sparky Lyle, Ron Guidry and Steve Stone.

Then between 1981 and 1990 came a run where Rollie Fingers and Steve Carlton were the only future Hall of Famers to win (although steroids or not, I think Clemens will eventually get in.)

Then comes the run that should catch all of our eyes.

From 1991 to 2001 the American League Cy Young Award winners were Roger Clemens, Dennis Eckersley, Jack McDowell, David Cone, Randy Johnson, Pat Hentgen and Pedro Martinez.

The National League Cy Young Award winners in that stretch were Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson.

Assuming Roger Clemens gets in EVENTUALLY, then only Jack McDowell, Pat Hentgen and David Cone are NOT Hall of Famers in the bunch.

That's 19 out of 22 Cy Young Awards handed out to Hall of Fame pitchers (Eckersley is already in.)

Seriously, Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson should get 100% of the Hall of Fame or some writers should get their credentials revoked. Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz all deserve to get in as well.

And someday Roger Clemens (and Barry Bonds for that matter) will get in.

Did we realize it when we saw it what a great run we were watching?
Did we note how great the PITCHING was in the steroid era? Or at least what star power there was?

Let's root for Felix Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Zack Grienke, Tim Lincecum, CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay to continue to put up ace numbers. It would be cool to see ANOTHER great Hall of Famers winning the Cy Young era.

The Bobby Cox Post Season Home Grown vs. Acquired Roster

I've never been a big Bobby Cox fan. In fact other than their World Series trips against the Yankees, I have always rooted against the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs. I can't explain why.

But I have tons of respect for Bobby Cox for putting so many winners on the field.
Yeah he has had critics... most of them morons.

"He only won one World Series!" That's as many as Leo Durocher won... that's as many as Earl Weaver won... nobody has any problems with THEM!

"He couldn't win without Glavine, Smoltz or Maddux." First of all he went to TWO World Series before Maddux arrived.

He went to the 2000 playoffs without Smoltz who was injured. When Glavine went to the Mets, Cox took the 2003, 2004 and 2005 squad to the playoffs. And the '04 and '05 teams were also without Maddux.

And he ended his career tonight, in the post season without a single player active from the 1995 World Champs (with Chipper Jones on the DL.)

He kept winning despite a massive rotation of talent. Which got me thinking... I bet I could do one of my Home Grown vs. Acquired rosters using only players who played in the post season for the Braves under Bobby Cox.

For my new readers, between the 2008 and 2009 season, I wrote up the best all time 25 man roster for each team using only home grown players... and then compared that to the best all time 25 man roster using only players acquired from other organizations. It was insane but fun to write.

So here are the rules...
Each roster has 8 starting position players... 5 starting pitchers... 5 relievers... 1 top pinch hitter off the bench... 1 reserve catcher... 2 reserve infielders... 2 reserve outfielders... and a 25th man who could be either a pitcher or position player.

And each roster can only be filled with players who played in the post season for the Braves under Bobby Cox and judged only by their merits on the field for the Braves.

Home Grown means their first professional organization was the Atlanta Braves. Home grown players who were reacquired will still be labeled as home grown.

Acquired means having played for another organization (even in the minor leagues) for any length before coming to the Braves. (Smoltz started in the Tigers organization... ergo he is acquired.)

Got it?

Let's figure out the teams.

First off...

THE ALL TIME HOME GROWN
BOBBY COX BRAVES PLAYOFF ROSTER

STARTING CATCHER
JAVY LOPEZ
15 Post Season Series over 9 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1996 NLCS



STARTING FIRST BASEMAN
BRIAN HUNTER
7 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991, 1992 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Game winning home run in Game 7 of the 1991 NLCS



STARTING SECOND BASEMAN
MARK LEMKE
11 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .417 with a 1.170 OPS in the 1991 World Series


STARTING SHORTSTOP
RAFAEL FURCAL
6 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Walk off homer in Game 2 of 2004 Division Series.



STARTING THIRD BASEMAN
CHIPPER JONES
20 Post Season Series over 11 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .444 with a 1.694 OPS and a game winning homer as the Braves upset the favored Astros in the 2001 Division Series


STARTING LEFT FIELDER
RYAN KLESKO
13 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit .313 with 3 homers in the 1995 World Series.



STARTING CENTER FIELDER
ANDRUW JONES
17 Post Season Series over 10 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1996 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Homered in his first 2 at bats in the 1996 World Series



STARTING RIGHT FIELDER
DAVID JUSTICE
8 Post Season Series over 4 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit the homer that was the only run in the 1-0 World Series clinching Game 6 win in 1995.

ROTATION


TOM GLAVINE
22 Post Season Series over 12 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1995 World Series



KEVIN MILLWOOD
6 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Threw a complete game victory in Game 2 of the 1999 NLDS and then got a save in Game 3.



STEVE AVERY
10 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1991 NLCS










TOMMY HANSON
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Started Game 2 of the 2010 NLDS.


KENT MERCKER
10 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched the Braves out of trouble from the bullpen in Game 5 of the 1991 World Series. (Also threw a regular season no hitter.)




BULLPEN

MARK WOHLERS
13 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Threw the clinching pitch of each playoff round in 1995 including closing out the 1995 World Series.



MIKE STANTON
5 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Saved Game 5 of the 1992 World Series.



JOHN ROCKER
7 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Saved 2 games and struck out 9 in 6 2/3 innings against the Mets in the 1999 NLCS.


BRAD CLONTZ
5 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched the 11th inning in the Braves extra inning road win against the Reds in Game 2 of the 1995 NLCS.



JONNY VENTERS
1 Post Season Series over 1 season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched a shutout inning before the Braves rallied to tie the Giants in Game 2 of the 2010 NLDS.



THE BENCH


TOP PINCH HITTER OFF OF THE BENCH
EDDIE PEREZ
11 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1996 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: 1999 NLCS MVP.


RESERVE INFIELDER
JEFF BLAUSER
12 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered off of Doug Drabek to help put away Game 1 of the 1992 NLCS.



RESERVE INFIELDER
VINNY CASTILLA
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .389 with an OPS of 1.006 and 4 RBI in the 2002 Division Series.


RESERVE OUTFIELDER
RON GANT
5 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Went 3-4 with 3 runs scored in the Braves Game 5 victory in the 1991 World Series.


RESERVE OUTFIELDER
JEFF FRANCOEUR
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Drove in the final run in the Braves Game 2 victory of the 2005 Division Series


RESERVE CATCHER
BRIAN McCANN
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered twice in the 2005 Division Series.



25th MAN
JASON HEYWARD
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: None yet... but he's the hope for the future.



Not a bad squad... a little thin in the Bullpen. (Wasn't that the story of Bobby Cox's life as Braves manager?)

Now let's check out the to 25 man roster using only players acquired from other organizations.

THE ALL TIME ACQUIRED
BOBBY COX BRAVES PLAYOFF ROSTER

STARTING CATCHER
DAMON BERRYHILL
3 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit game winning 3 run homer in Game 1 of the 1992 World Series.


STARTING FIRST BASEMAN
FRED McGRIFF
9 Post Season Series over 4 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered off of Orel Hershiser in his first World Series at bat as the Braves beat the Indians in Game 1 of the 1995 World Series.



STARTING SECOND BASEMAN
KEITH LOCKHART
11 Post Season Series over 6 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit .333 with an OPS of 1.050 and a home run in the 2002 Division Series.


STARTING SHORTSTOP
RAFAEL BELLIARD
11 Post Season Series over 5 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Made dazzling running catch in the 9th inning of the 1995 World Series clinching Game 6.


STARTING THIRD BASEMAN
TERRY PENDLETON
8 Post Season Series over 4 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991, 1992 and 1996 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit lead off double to spark the Braves improbable pennant winning rally in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS.


STARTING LEFT FIELDER
LONNIE SMITH
4 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit a grand slam off of Jack Morris to blow open Game 5 of the 1992 World Series.


STARTING CENTER FIELDER
MARQUIS GRISSOM
6 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Caught the final out of the 1995 World Series.



STARTING RIGHT FIELDER
BRIAN JORDAN
7 Post Season Series over 4 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit 12th inning 2 RBI double to win Game 3 of the 1999 Division Series in Houston.


ROTATION


GREG MADDUX
19 Post Season Series over 10 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Threw complete game 2 hit victory in Game 1 of the 1995 World Series.



JOHN SMOLTZ
24 Post Season Series over 13 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: 1992 NLCS MVP.




DENNY NEAGLE
4 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1996 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Threw complete game shutout in Game 4 of the 1997 NLCS.


TIM HUDSON
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched a solid Game 3 of the 2010 Division Series, pitching 7 innings with no earned runs and broke up Jonathan Sanchez's no hit bit himself.


RUSS ORTIZ
2 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves.
Post Season Highlight: With the Braves facing elimination, beat the Cubs at Wrigley in Game 4 of the 2003 Division Series.

BULLPEN











ALEJANDRO PENA
5 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Striking out Andy Van Slyke with the tying run on to preserve a 1-0 victory in Game 6 of the 1991 NLCS, forcing a deciding Game 7.


PEDRO BORBON, JR
2 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Earning the Save for Game 4 of the 1995 World Series.


GREG McMICHAEL
7 Post Season Series over 3 Seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Earning a Save in the 11th inning of Game 1 of the 1995 NLCS.


KERRY LIGTENBERG
6 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves.
Post Season Highlight: Clinching the 1998 Division Series.



DENNIS MARTINEZ
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Facing elimination, came out of the bullpen to win Game 4 of the 1998 NLCS.

THE BENCH


TOP PINCH HITTER OFF OF THE BENCH
ANDRES GALARRAGA
3 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit a grand slam to put away Game 4 of the 1998 NLCS.


RESERVE INFIELDER
WALT WEISS
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit an RBI double and scored a key run in Game 1 of the 1999 NLCS.


RESERVE INFIELDER
TROY GLAUS
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Started game saving double play in the 10th inning in Game 2 of the 2010 Division Series.


RESERVE OUTFIELDER
OTIS NIXON
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1992 and 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: One strike from elimination, hit an RBI single to tie Game 6 of 1992 World Series.



RESERVE OUTFIELDER
MIKE DEVEREAUX
3 Post Season Series over 1 season with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of the 1995 NLCS.


RESERVE CATCHER
FRANCISCO CABRERA
4 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: His 2 out, 2 run pinch hit single in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS is one of the most dramatic moments in baseball history.



25TH MAN
SID BREAM
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Scored the pennant winning run on Francisco Cabrera's single, the single most famous moment of Bobby Cox's managerial tenure.



So there you have it... I am sure I missed out on a few, but keep in mind I am putting more weight on players who performed big in the post season.

Save your stats, Mike Deveraux stays. When you win a Post Season MVP, I don't care what someone else's OPS was.

Don't bother breaking down other catchers. Francisco Cabrera's hit was the defining moment of the Bobby Cox Braves and destroyed the Pirates franchise. What other catcher can claim that?

So the Bobby Cox era is now over.
And his legacy will stretch over a generation. Remember, Jason Heyward was 2 years old when the Braves won the 1991 Pennant.

Big shoes to fill.