NLCS Notebook

Glavine, Hoffman contenders for NL Cy Young

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Thursday October 08, 1998 09:31 PM

Trevor Hoffman had a NL record-tying 53 saves this season with a 4-2 record and 1.48 ERA in 66 appearances Elsa Hasch/Allsport

ATLANTA (AP) -- Two of the leading candidates for the NL Cy Young Award are Atlanta Braves starter Tom Glavine and San Diego reliever Trevor Hoffman.

There are some baseball critics who don't believe a closer should be considered for the award. Glavine is not one of them.

"I don't have a problem with that. I'll be one of the first people to admit the guy [Hoffman] had an outstanding year, there's no question about that," said Glavine, who won the award in 1991 when he was 20-11 with a 2.47 ERA.

"If I think you're alluding to what you're alluding to, how people perceive that in a Cy Young vote, we'll have to see," said Glavine, who was 20-6 with a 2.55 ERA this season.

"It's an honor to be mentioned along with Tom, Kevin Brown, Greg Maddux, Kevin Tapani and others," said Hoffman, who had a NL record-tying 53 saves, a 4-2 record and 1.48 ERA in 66 appearances.

"Each guy, whether he's a starter or reliever, has a key role on his club," said Hoffman, who certainly believes he should be considered for the award.

"Sure, I do. I think relievers have their spot," he said.

Eight relievers have won the award in both the AL and NL. The last was Dennis Eckersley in 1992 with Oakland. Mike Marshall was the first, taking the honor in 1974 when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Travis and the champ

Country and western recording artist Travis Tritt sang the national anthem and Atlanta native and heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield champion threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 2.

Tough pen

The San Diego Padres continued their late-inning dominance with Wednesday night's 3-2 victory over Atlanta in 10 innings. Including the 1998 playoffs, the Padres are 178-0 when leading after eight innings dating back to July 24, 1996, in Houston. San Diego is 89-0 in 1998.

Rocker rocks

Atlanta reliever John Rocker was virtually unknown until this season, even though he was a left-handed pitcher who threw in the upper 90s.

An 18th-round selection in 1993, Rocker's minor league numbers were mediocre at best over the last four seasons: 21-27 with a 4.28 ERA.

"I didn't give people a reason to talk about me," he said. "But I always thought I was better than people gave me credit for."

A starter through much of his minor league career, Rocker moved to the bullpen full-time this season and suddenly became one of the Braves' most valuable pitchers.

After going 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA at Class AAA Richmond during the first month of the season, Rocker was called up to Atlanta in May and spent most of the season as the lone left-hander in the bullpen, going 1-3 with a 2.13 ERA, two saves and 42 strikeouts in 38 innings.

"When those top-10 and top-20 lists of the team's best prospects would come out, I was never on it," he said. "It's nice when people finally recognize you."

Tony Guinn

Tony who? Tony Gwynn may be an eight-time batting champion, but he's apparently not that familiar to the person who writes out the lineup board in the media lounge at Turner Field.

Related information
Stories
Glavine: '98 even better than Cy Young year Rivera plays key role in Game 1 win Diamond Notes from TBS' Pete Van Wieren: History favors Braves, Yankees
Stats
Braves 1998 Postseason Pitching Stats
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Message Boards
Award-winning discussion Should closers be considered for the Cy Young Award? Make your pitch on the CNN/SI Baseball Message Board! Join the discussion
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.