John Smoltz, Hall of Famer?

210 Wins, 154 Saves, 8 Strikeouts per 9 Innings, 3.26 ERA.

That appears to be the final line for John Smoltz, who will undergo season ending shoulder surgery on his bum right shoulder. The amount of saves almost stands out, especially because he isn't a closer. He only was in that role coming back from injury.

Compare that to Dennis Eckersley, a current Hall of Famer, who has seen time as both a starter and a reliever:

197 Wins, 390 Saves, 3.50 ERA, 6.6 K per 9 innings.

The thing with John Smoltz that will help him stand out is that he played his entire career with the Atlanta Braves. Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux will always be remembered for their time in Atlanta, but John Smoltz stayed, despite the other two leaving.

Let's not also forget that Smoltz has over 3,000 strikeouts. Smoltz is a sure-fire first ballot hall of famer.

Smoltz' career may not be over, however. He might try to play professionally on the PGA / Champions Tour. But, just as a fan of the game of baseball, I hope Smoltz can come back for one more year, just to leave the game on top.