ICYMI: MCB Digest–Detroit Tigers Week That Was

Dec 8, 2014; San Deigo, CA, USA; Atlanta Braves former pitcher John Smoltz (left) during MLB Winter Meetings at Manchester Grand Hyatt. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Finally on Friday, we rehashed the Hall-of-Fame debate, but this time not for Tram. We discussed on whether or not John Smoltz would have made it into Cooperstown playing the majority of his career with Detroit.

Would John Smoltz be Hall-of-Famer as Detroit Tiger?

"Tuesday when the Hall-of-Fame announcement was made, some Tigers fans complained about the trade saying they shipped a superstar out of town. That is true, but without Alexander, the Tigers never would have won the 1987 AL East. So by that logic, it was a good trade for both teams when you consider Smoltz never would have had the same level of success here as he did with the Braves. Consider this: Alexander went 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA in 11 starts for the Tigers that year. Smoltz was 4-10 with a 5.68 ERA in 21 AA starts that season. Initially this was a lopsided trade in favor of Detroit. That, of course, wouldn’t last. Smoltz went on to a Hall-of-Fame career, leading the Braves to the postseason in most years, winning the 1995 World Series. The Tigers just–well they stunk for the majority of Smoltz’s career. So it makes you wonder, if Smoltz had made his way up to the big leagues for the Tigers and spent the majority of his career in Detroit, would he have been a Hall-of-Fame pitcher? READ MORE"

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