John Smoltz On Justin Verlander

You’re seeing a guy who knows his mechanics, and has perfected it. I mean, you don’t have a 24-win campaign just ‘cause you’ve got great stuff. You’ve got to, time and time again, deliver at the right spot.

Bonus points for using the word “campaign” for Smoltz ... Who, I’m sure completely coincidentally, just happens to be the last pitcher who won 24 games in one season. Fifteen years ago, Smoltz went 24-8.

Now, I don’t doubt that Smoltz had perfected his mechanics, or that he didn’t deliver, time and time again, his pitches to the right spot.

Smoltz did have great stuff, though. And the year before he won 24 games, he won 12; the year after, he won 15.