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All-Time Closer

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killdeer's avatar

killdeer

Hat Trick

1,538 posts
Mar 22, 2010 11:09 PM
baseball season is here...the position of closer has really only evolved over the last quarter century or so...probably one of the most important skill positions which is under-represented in the HOF...

10. Williams...purely for his 'Wild Thing' persona
9. Quisenberry
8. Wilhelm...the first "closer"?
7. Fingers ...the handlebar alone is worth 2 places.
6. Franco
5. Gossage
4. Sutter
3. Eckersley...reinvented himself late in his career.
2. Hoffman...Redlegs...how could you let him go?
1. Rivera...undisputed?
Mar 22, 2010 11:09pm
C

charliehustle14

Senior Member

2,224 posts
Mar 22, 2010 11:14 PM
All good choices. #1 and #2 are definitely the two best. I thought Joe Nathan was well on his way to being a top 10 but his recent arm injury could very well have derailed that thought.
Mar 22, 2010 11:14pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Mar 22, 2010 11:37 PM
Jose Mesa :P
Mar 22, 2010 11:37pm
Leonardo's avatar

Leonardo

Senior Member

4,986 posts
Mar 23, 2010 2:44 AM
I would have Lee Smith on there somewhere.
Mar 23, 2010 2:44am
september63's avatar

september63

Senior Member

5,789 posts
Mar 23, 2010 9:17 AM
Leonardo wrote: I would have Lee Smith on there somewhere.
This. Lee Smith is a top 5 All Time. IMO Also, "persona's" dont get you on All Time lists. "Wild Thing" is 73rd All Time in Total Saves. He doesnt belong on that list.
Mar 23, 2010 9:17am
S

Sonofanump

Mar 23, 2010 12:42 PM
I'll have Hrbrosky over Williams anyday.
Mar 23, 2010 12:42pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Mar 23, 2010 1:17 PM
Rivera is the undisputed #1.
Mar 23, 2010 1:17pm
Quint's avatar

Quint

Captain

737 posts
Mar 23, 2010 2:16 PM
Although he was a closer for a short time, John Smoltz deserves some consideration. Also, he may be young, but K-Rod is pretty dominating.
Mar 23, 2010 2:16pm
Sage's avatar

Sage

Senior Member

2,070 posts
Mar 23, 2010 3:02 PM
Eric Gagne on steroids was the greatest closer of all time.
Mar 23, 2010 3:02pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Mar 23, 2010 6:20 PM
Rivera
Hoffman(suffers because he plays in San Diego and they've only made 1 WS and got swept since he's been on the roster, plus he dominates with the change up rather than the hard stuff)
Gossage
Mar 23, 2010 6:20pm
NNN's avatar

NNN

Senior Member

902 posts
Mar 23, 2010 7:27 PM
For a period of time in the 70s, one would have to look at (Dr.) Mike Marshall. 106 appearances in one season, and this wasn't of the one-inning save variety either.

He's also a brilliant individual who, if baseball insiders would get their heads out of their asses, would have a legacy that would vastly exceed his playing career.
Mar 23, 2010 7:27pm
B

BuckCreek

Member

53 posts
Mar 23, 2010 7:36 PM
ElRoy Face. 19 wins in relief in one season. Long before saves were a statistic.
Mar 23, 2010 7:36pm
M

mhs95_06

Senior Member

8,167 posts
Mar 28, 2010 5:13 PM
BuckCreek wrote: ElRoy Face. 19 wins in relief in one season. Long before saves were a statistic.
How many of those 19 wins, under today's stat rules, would have been blown saves and wins in the same appearance?
Mar 28, 2010 5:13pm
M

mhs95_06

Senior Member

8,167 posts
Mar 28, 2010 5:22 PM
I have to go with Rivera and Gossage as the top two. They were used like a most valuable cloers should be, expected to do more than pitch a single clean 9th for the save. They were used like true "firemen" to come into a game threating jam in the 7th or 8th, get out of it and then close out the game. Not enough of today's manager will use their closers to the utmost like that, and many of today's closers would frown on being expected to do that much, and wouldn't be able to get it done either!
Mar 28, 2010 5:22pm
NNN's avatar

NNN

Senior Member

902 posts
Mar 28, 2010 10:01 PM
mhs95_06 wrote:
BuckCreek wrote: ElRoy Face. 19 wins in relief in one season. Long before saves were a statistic.
How many of those 19 wins, under today's stat rules, would have been blown saves and wins in the same appearance?
3. The study has been done before. They brought him in plenty of times in a tied game, which he held until the Pirates could get a run; they brought him in when they were down by a run and needed that narrow deficit held. The vulturing you refer to happened three times.
Mar 28, 2010 10:01pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

Senior Member

15,696 posts
Mar 28, 2010 10:19 PM
Mariano is the greatest all-time. He does it in the regular season, but in the postseason he's even better.
Mar 28, 2010 10:19pm
HitsRus's avatar

HitsRus

Senior Member

9,206 posts
Mar 28, 2010 11:54 PM
Pretty hard to argue against Rivera...but I'll take Eck over Hoffman.
Mar 28, 2010 11:54pm
F

Footwedge

Senior Member

9,265 posts
Mar 29, 2010 12:08 AM
Seen a bunch of great closers over my lifetime. Some had total dominance for 3 or 4 years...like Eckersly, Sutter, Goose, Marshall. Usually. I side with the older generation players. But this time, I don't. I agree with LTrain. Mariano is the best.
Mar 29, 2010 12:08am
E

Eric Taylor

Senior Member

602 posts
Mar 29, 2010 9:35 AM
Rivera and Hoffman are 1-2.
Mar 29, 2010 9:35am