ESPN's Tim Kurkjian uses false premise to sell Goose Gossage over Mariano Rivera

ESPN's Kurkjian flunked the Gossage contest--he failed to define Gossage without using the name Mariano Rivera. In a studio piece on OTL earnestly praising Gossage, Tim immediately came up with a narrow stat to say Gossage was better than Mariano Rivera (whose career isn't over yet)--not ERA, durability throughout consecutive regular, post season and all star--. That wouldn't have worked. Kurkjian came up with...THE REGULAR SEASON TOTAL SAVE STAT!!

• Saying Mo only had "11 2-inning saves" and Gossage had many more. First, Rivera has at least 10 2-inning saves just in the post season (through 2007), for a total of 21 in Kurkjian's story. Even though

• Even though the total save stat "troubles" BBWAA voters, they usually say it gets too much attention. But they drag it out when it helps them sell a false premise.

Kurkjian's report failed to mention that RIVERA HAS PITCHED 2 'SAVES' IN ONE DAY 6 times in regular season (through 2010).

• That doesn't fit with the premise that 'Rivera had it easy compared to Gossage.'

Isn't Gossage supposedly an ANTI save stat pitcher, according to those trying to create a story about him? Since Rivera's career isn't over, why compare them anyway? A pitcher's work is his work and in assessing whether he 'had it easy' must include regular, post season and all star. Otherwise it's just a pack of lies which in a normal job would get you fired.

• Using just the '2 IP regular season total save stat' to show durability under pressure allows him to erase from history games such as Rivera's Aug. 20, 2006 2IP Win, Game 6 of the 2006 Boston Massacre, entering with score tied, game in Boston, 1 run would have lost the game. Much tougher situation than a save. I wonder why Kurkjian would do that if he was truly interested in assessing whether a pitcher 'had it easy'?

Rivera has at least 11 games of 2 or more IP with the game on the line (for save or win) just in the post season through 2007.

• 1. 1999 ALDS Game 3
• 2. 2000 ALDS Game 3
• 3. 2000 World Series Game 4
• 4. 2001 ALDS Game 3
• 5. 2001 ALDS Game 5
• 6. 2003 ALDS Game 2
• 7. 2003 ALDS Game 3
• 8. 2003 ALCS Game 3
• 9. 2003 ALCS Game 5
• 10. 2003 ALCS Game 7 (3IP and Win)
• 11. 2003 World Series Game 3

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