Baseball stars John Smotlz directly criticizes Justin Verlander of the Giants
John Smoltz Hails Justin Verlander as a Pitching Pioneer
John Smoltz, a Hall of Fame pitcher, has praised Justin Verlander as a trailblazer in Major League Baseball (MLB) and urged future pitchers to learn from his career.
During a podcast appearance on Flippin Bats, Smoltz expressed his admiration for Verlander's ability to defy the odds and evolve as a pitcher beyond his fastball. He suggested that Verlander should be studied and used as an example for the future to change the narrative of how pitchers should be used and what they should do.
In his last outings, Verlander, the San Francisco Giants' pitcher, pitched seven innings, allowing only three hits and finishing with three strikeouts. This impressive performance earned him a place in history, as he joined Roger Clemens as the only pitcher to allow one or no runs in four consecutive outings.
Verlander's 20-year career, which has seen him win multiple Cy Young Awards and a World Series, marks the end of an era in MLB, according to Smoltz. He believes that the current generation of pitchers will not be allowed to extend their careers beyond a certain point due to the emphasis on speed and analytics.
Smoltz expressed that everyone should look at Verlander's career, but we may lose sight of it because he's the last one to ever do this. He appreciates watching Verlander's masterpiece of what can be done with talent and admires his ability to use every aspect of his talent effectively.
However, it's worth noting that Verlander did not receive a win decision in the Giants' 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks in his last outings. Despite this, Smoltz believes that pitchers can continue to evolve after their fastball peaks, but they may not be given the opportunity to do so.
Smoltz and Verlander are both pitchers with Hall of Fame careers. The first pitcher to reach 300 wins in the 20th century was Cy Young. In contrast, the first pitcher to reach this milestone in the 21st century is yet to be seen, with Verlander currently sitting on 222 wins.
In a poignant statement, Smoltz stated that Verlander is the last of a dying breed in MLB. He confirmed that Verlander will return in 2026, offering fans a glimmer of hope that we may yet see more history-making performances from the legendary pitcher.
As Smoltz spoke on the Flippin Bats Podcast, it's clear that his words carry weight and respect for a pitcher who has redefined what it means to be a dominant force on the mound. His comments serve as a reminder of the importance of appreciating the greats while they are still playing and learning from their example for future generations.
