John Smoltz amassed 213 victories and 154 saves in a 20-year MLB career spent mostly with Atlanta. These days, he works for MLB Network and will be part of the network's postseason coverage, which includes two exclusive NLDS games Oct. 4 and 6. In advance of the playoffs, and with big decisions looming for the Twins, the Star Tribune's Michael Rand caught up with Smoltz:
Q The postseason is wide open now with the current structure, but are there particular teams we should be paying attention to in October?
A Now that I'm on the other side, witnessing baseball from afar, this year is probably the biggest heartache in terms of figuring out who those two teams are. Teams have enough weaknesses where nobody has enough strengths. … There's not a lot of depth in baseball right now. Given that, I felt the best two balanced teams right now as far as using 25 guys to the best of their ability are Baltimore and Washington.
Q Clayton Kershaw is the most important player in the postseason, right?
A Without a doubt. He's going to have more pressure on him than any player in the postseason, and it's unfair to think he'll win every game, but his team has won just about every game down the stretch.
Q Historically, where do you put the season he's having?
A It would be unfair for me to say this era we're in is the same as 10 years ago or 20 years ago. I think you have to look at eras and go he's the best of, let's just say, starting in 2010 — the era where amphetamines, steroids have been weeded out of the game — he's the best of this era. Would he match up in any era? Yes, I believe the elite, great pitchers would be successful in any era. But would he have a [sub-2.00] ERA? That is arguable.
Q Shifting to the Twins and what I imagine is a decision looming on manager Ron Gardenhire. You played so much of your career for one manager, Bobby Cox. Where do you come down on continuity vs. change? What did that stability mean in your career?
