HOFFMAN'S LEGACY: A LOSER--John Shea, SF Chronicle
- MEMO TO TOM VERDUCCI, TIM KURKJIAN, ESPN, ET AL WHO TELL US TO LOOK AT "STATS:"
"Hoffman's legacy: Trevor Hoffman isn't the best closer of all time even though he's the only one with 500-plus saves. In their primes, we'd prefer Rich Gossage, Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers. And, certainly, Mariano Rivera.
- While Hoffman has enjoyed the comfort of San Diego, Rivera has dealt with the pressure cooker of New York, posting a postseason ERA of 0.80 in 73 games (now .78 in 75 games) and succeeding nearly every time except once, Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, when Luis Gonzalez blooped a Series-clinching single for the Diamondbacks.
Meantime, the Padres have had an overall losing record since Hoffman became their closer in 1994 and had several expert setup men (Akinori Otsuka, Scott Linebrink, Heath Bell), allowing Hoffman to appear in limited eighth-inning situations.
- Hoffman has had a lot fewer save situations in the national spotlight than Rivera, and his record isn't overwhelming. Most recently, twice in three days at season's end, he had chances to clinch a playoff berth for the Padres, and both times he failed.
The first time, Milwaukee's Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a game-tying triple in the ninth, and the Brewers won in 11. In a one-game playoff with the Rockies, Hoffman failed to hold a two-run lead in the 13th, ending the Padres' season.
- In Hoffman's only World Series save opportunity, he blew Game 3 in 1998, walking Tino Martinez and surrendering Scott Brosius' three-run homer. That was a breakout October for Rivera, who was a World Series closer for the first time. Now, Rivera has 34 postseason saves to Hoffman's four.
In All-Star Games, Rivera has three saves, including one last year in Pittsburgh. It came after Hoffman blew a save opportunity by giving up Michael Young's two-run triple on an 86-mph fastball, costing the NL its first All-Star victory since 1996.
- Hoffman turns 40 on Oct. 13, and his time to shine on the national stage is running out."
From article by San Francisco Chronicle's national baseball writer John Shea, 10/7/07, "Parity Applies to NL not AL," from SFGate.com.
- P.S. What's so bad about the truth? To Verducci and all the MLB/ESPN guys--turn in your BBWAA credentials. Leave Trevor Hoffman to the record he earned. At least one national baseball writer, John Shea, has the courage and character to speak up about a great taboo--the obvious truth about Hoffman. (sm)
Labels: BBWAA, Best Closers, Best Relievers of All time, Hall of Fame
Tweet Stumbleupon StumbleUponposted by susan at
10/07/2007 09:26:00 PM
2 Comments:
In the Play in game between the Padres and Rockies before Hoffman came in to blow it they went to their pre and post game studio to talk about the game and the Rockies last chance the talked about the greatness of Trevor Hoffman and Ernie Johnson threw it back to the announces with a "and here comes the Greatest closer of all time" Now I don't know if Ernie Johnson knows a thing about baseball, hell I don't know if he knows a thing about basketball becuase I'm a Knick fan and haven't had a team worth following in years but I'm guessing he doesn't and has no real understanding of how no one past or present is even comparable to Mariano (post season era now at 0.78) and that of course is the doing of the media. Chip Carey during game one decided to talk a lot about the differences between the NL and AL and how pitching moves are made, really relevant stuff to the Yankee and Indian fans watching unfortunately he took away time from my lesson to tell me all about the great year Joe Borowski had. Meanwhile I'm surprised hes on the playoff roster and would be shocked to see him anywhere near a close game unless the Indians get to the World Series when he can pitch to NL West. I think you could close games in the NL West. Mariano wont get recognized for who he is and what hes done until he demands it. Its like Jerry Rice, who was a very overlooked Superstar for about 9 years even while mostly being recognized as the best WR in Football at the time with a few dummies offering their differing opinion to get attention and make the selves seem smart. The Media likes to admonish players (as they are their mothers and fathers apparently) for bragging about themselves. After 9 years Jerry Rice couldn't take it anymore and chewed the reporters out at his locker and basically said,
"I'm not the greatest WR in Football I'm the Greatest Football Player who's ever Livid and you people don't seem to notice the media tells me do it on the field and well report it well I've done it on the field and you don't give me anywhere near the credit I deserve for it. All you talk about is the Quarterback or the Running Back and don't give me my due." -from my memory
It took Rice saying it
Rivera needs to do the same
By
james, at 2:23 AM
This thing is so warped, yes, perhaps somehow he could help right it. His agents are a disgrace for letting it go on. Can you imagine what choice words Scott Boras would've had if he were Mo's agent?
By
susan, at 9:07 AM
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