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Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:11 am
by Pink Freud
I see Craig Kimbrel signed back with the Braves, where he had five absolutely lights-out seasons as their closer before moving on to seven other teams, where he was increasingly less effective, no longer being trusted as a closer several years ago.
He pitched one inning of scoreless ball for Atlanta Friday...then was released. I haven't seen any backstory, but I wonder if this was arranged to allow him to retire as a Brave. Then again...the Braves addressed their disappointing season last week by firing their third base coach.
Look at Kimbrel's five seasons (plus Friday's one inning) as a Brave, and tell me any closer, at any time, was better: A 1.43 ERA and 477 Ks in 290 IP, so 60.8% of his outs with the Braves were strikeouts. I've never seen anyone better.
Now....is he a Hall of Famer?
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:12 am
by craviduce
Pink Freud wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:11 am
I see Craig Kimbrel signed back with the Braves, where he had five absolutely lights-out seasons as their closer before moving on to seven other teams, where he was increasingly less effective, no longer being trusted as a closer several years ago.
He pitched one inning of scoreless ball for Atlanta Friday...then was released. I haven't seen any backstory, but I wonder if this was arranged to allow him to retire as a Brave. Then again...the Braves addressed their disappointing season last week by firing their third base coach.
Look at Kimbrel's five seasons (plus Friday's one inning) as a Brave, and tell me any closer, at any time, was better: A 1.43 ERA and 477 Ks in 290 IP.
Now....is he a Hall of Famer?
Spider Tac spokesperson
eventually? yeah? 10 seasons on ballot, writers can cast 10 votes each season...Relievers have a better chance now on induction. 8-10th year of eligibility is my guess.
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:14 am
by rockondlouie
M. Rivera was close
2002 - 2008
317 GP
1.83 ERA
0.98 WHiP
198 Saves
Two Top 3 CY finishes
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:21 am
by Futuregm2
Pink Freud wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:11 am
I see Craig Kimbrel signed back with the Braves, where he had five absolutely lights-out seasons as their closer before moving on to seven other teams, where he was increasingly less effective, no longer being trusted as a closer several years ago.
He pitched one inning of scoreless ball for Atlanta Friday...then was released. I haven't seen any backstory, but I wonder if this was arranged to allow him to retire as a Brave. Then again...the Braves addressed their disappointing season last week by firing their third base coach.
Look at Kimbrel's five seasons (plus Friday's one inning) as a Brave, and tell me any closer, at any time, was better: A 1.43 ERA and 477 Ks in 290 IP, so 60.8% of his outs with the Braves were strikeouts. I've never seen anyone better.
Now....is he a Hall of Famer?
2012-2016 Aroldis Chapman
12.4 bWAR
1.84 ERA
0.94 WHIP
15.7 K/9
546 K’s in 313.2 IP
Mariano Rivera had a 1.86 ERA/0.93 WHIP over a 9 year period from 2003-2011.
Emmanuel Clase had a 1.67 ERA/0.89 WHIP over his first 5 seasons from 2019-2024
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:25 am
by moose-and-squirrel
who was the smaller lefty that pitched for houston, iirc?
dude was lights out
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:27 am
by 45s
moose-and-squirrel wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:25 am
who was the smaller lefty that pitched for houston, iirc?
dude was lights out
Billy Wagner who was just elected to the Hall
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:28 am
by moose-and-squirrel
45s wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:27 am
moose-and-squirrel wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:25 am
who was the smaller lefty that pitched for houston, iirc?
dude was lights out
Billy Wagner who was just elected to the Hall
that's it! thx!!
dude was totally money
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:29 am
by rockondlouie
D. Eckersley
1988 - 1992
310 Games
1.90 ERA
0.79 WHiP
220 Saves
378 KO's
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:33 am
by rockondlouie
Futuregm2 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:21 am
Pink Freud wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:11 am
I see Craig Kimbrel signed back with the Braves, where he had five absolutely lights-out seasons as their closer before moving on to seven other teams, where he was increasingly less effective, no longer being trusted as a closer several years ago.
He pitched one inning of scoreless ball for Atlanta Friday...then was released. I haven't seen any backstory, but I wonder if this was arranged to allow him to retire as a Brave. Then again...the Braves addressed their disappointing season last week by firing their third base coach.
Look at Kimbrel's five seasons (plus Friday's one inning) as a Brave, and tell me any closer, at any time, was better: A 1.43 ERA and 477 Ks in 290 IP, so 60.8% of his outs with the Braves were strikeouts. I've never seen anyone better.
Now....is he a Hall of Famer?
2012-2016 Aroldis Chapman
12.4 bWAR
1.84 ERA
0.94 WHIP
15.7 K/9
546 K’s in 313.2 IP
Mariano Rivera had a 1.86 ERA/0.93 WHIP over a 9 year period from 2003-2011.
Emmanuel Clase had a 1.67 ERA/0.89 WHIP over his first 5 seasons from 2019-2024
J. Hader had a 0.85 WHiP, a 15.4 K/9 and 482 K's in his first 5 seasons from 2017 - 2021
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:34 am
by moose-and-squirrel
rockondlouie wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:33 am
Futuregm2 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:21 am
Pink Freud wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:11 am
I see Craig Kimbrel signed back with the Braves, where he had five absolutely lights-out seasons as their closer before moving on to seven other teams, where he was increasingly less effective, no longer being trusted as a closer several years ago.
He pitched one inning of scoreless ball for Atlanta Friday...then was released. I haven't seen any backstory, but I wonder if this was arranged to allow him to retire as a Brave. Then again...the Braves addressed their disappointing season last week by firing their third base coach.
Look at Kimbrel's five seasons (plus Friday's one inning) as a Brave, and tell me any closer, at any time, was better: A 1.43 ERA and 477 Ks in 290 IP, so 60.8% of his outs with the Braves were strikeouts. I've never seen anyone better.
Now....is he a Hall of Famer?
2012-2016 Aroldis Chapman
12.4 bWAR
1.84 ERA
0.94 WHIP
15.7 K/9
546 K’s in 313.2 IP
Mariano Rivera had a 1.86 ERA/0.93 WHIP over a 9 year period from 2003-2011.
Emmanuel Clase had a 1.67 ERA/0.89 WHIP over his first 5 seasons from 2019-2024
J. Hader had a 0.85 WHiP, a 15.4 K/9 and 482 K's in his first 5 seasons from 2017 - 2021
Hader was a beast
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 11:35 am
by Futuregm2
rockondlouie wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:33 am
Futuregm2 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:21 am
Pink Freud wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:11 am
I see Craig Kimbrel signed back with the Braves, where he had five absolutely lights-out seasons as their closer before moving on to seven other teams, where he was increasingly less effective, no longer being trusted as a closer several years ago.
He pitched one inning of scoreless ball for Atlanta Friday...then was released. I haven't seen any backstory, but I wonder if this was arranged to allow him to retire as a Brave. Then again...the Braves addressed their disappointing season last week by firing their third base coach.
Look at Kimbrel's five seasons (plus Friday's one inning) as a Brave, and tell me any closer, at any time, was better: A 1.43 ERA and 477 Ks in 290 IP, so 60.8% of his outs with the Braves were strikeouts. I've never seen anyone better.
Now....is he a Hall of Famer?
2012-2016 Aroldis Chapman
12.4 bWAR
1.84 ERA
0.94 WHIP
15.7 K/9
546 K’s in 313.2 IP
Mariano Rivera had a 1.86 ERA/0.93 WHIP over a 9 year period from 2003-2011.
Emmanuel Clase had a 1.67 ERA/0.89 WHIP over his first 5 seasons from 2019-2024
J. Hader had a 0.85 WHiP, a 15.4 K/9 and 482 K's in his first 5 seasons from 2017 - 2021
That’s a great one, too.
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 12:14 pm
by Strummer Jones
I'd like to see relief pitchers get more props in the hall.
When you think about it, how many relief pitchers ever last more than a few seasons? Not many. And maybe this is a hot topic, but I think guys who aren't necessarily thought of as closers need consideration. Take David Robertson for example. The guy's had a heck of a long career--16 seasons--and was never bad. He was a closer for some of it, but he's always been a guy you can count on to be a stabilizer in the bullpen. And he's been that for sixteen years. That's almost unheard of.
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 12:36 pm
by Absolut
Excuse to show…
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 12:38 pm
by Absolut
2002-03 Eric Gagne was ridiculous.
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 12:42 pm
by moose-and-squirrel
Absolut wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 12:38 pm
2002-03 Eric Gagne was ridiculous.
wasnt he a PEDs guy?
Re: Looks Like the Best Closer I Ever Saw Is Finally Through
Posted: 09 Jun 2025 12:43 pm
by JDW
moose-and-squirrel wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:28 am
45s wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:27 am
moose-and-squirrel wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 11:25 am
who was the smaller lefty that pitched for houston, iirc?
dude was lights out
Billy Wagner who was just elected to the Hall
that's it! thx!!
dude was totally money
And somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but was Wagner righthanded when he was young, but hurt his R. arm so became a left handed pitcher?