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Full Version I'm kind of surprised I'm the first one to do this: the great Braves trio by WAR....

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Full Version I'm kind of surprised I'm the first one to do this: the great Braves trio by WAR. Only seasons with the Braves are included here, to get a sense of just how much the three of them were contributing when they were together. As expected, Maddux really was the ace of the staff, and he and Glavine really did have strike-zone induced down season in 1999 (I remember them getting "squeezed" that year so vividly it's like yesterday). Glavine's first Cy Young season was fully deserved, and Smoltz's Cy Young year was at least about as good as Maddux. Honestly, looking at this is just incredible. All three place in the top 20 of pitchers by WAR since 1953 and put up their best seasons together in one rotation. The Braves front three players alone were producing enough to take an otherwise average team towards the high 90s in wins. Nearly a 20 combined WAR in 1996! That is dominance. Also, I don't remember much about Maddux's 2003. What happened?! And while I have talked often about Smoltz's ability to remain amazing in his late career, looking at it in WAR terms really hits it home: he's been great at an advanced age. Really great.

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