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Jonathan Papelbon: Hall of Famer?

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Dick Whitman, Jul 21, 2015.

  1. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    Twelfth all-time in saves now (341 and counting). Should be top five before all is said and done.

    Six-time All-Star.

    759 strikeouts in 644 career innings.

    Career ERA of 2.33, ERA+ of 185.

    Closer for Red Sox World Series champion, though not the team that people care about.

    Jonathan Papelbon Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

    (K-Rod might be an even better candidate, but Papelbon is going to be traded soon, so he's in the news.)
     
  2. BitterYoungMatador2

    BitterYoungMatador2 Well-Known Member

    Bet ya' $10 he doesn't get traded. The Phillies have a tradition of asking way too much for their above average players. It's why Cole Hamels is still here too.
     
  3. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    I wouldn't trade him, either. And I wouldn't trade Samardzija, either. I'd rather have the pick than some C-level prospect from someone.
     
  4. Twirling Time

    Twirling Time Well-Known Member

    Relief pitchers in the HOF are a very short list and the queue to get in is long. Papelbon has a long way to go.
     
  5. sgreenwell

    sgreenwell Well-Known Member

    Agree, especially as the voting base that overvalues the save gets aged out. Trevor Hoffman is eligible in 2016 - I think his case will be interesting, when it comes to future closers. Lee Smith hit a high of 50 percent in 2012, but has since slid to 30.2 percent in 2015.
     
  6. Della9250

    Della9250 Well-Known Member

    I'd like to think Hoffman will get at least 50 percent but I don't believe it will happen. If we would have had "normal" voting patterns and guys like Piazza and Bagwell had already gone in, I'd feel better about it.
     
  7. Della9250

    Della9250 Well-Known Member

    If Papelpon can keep banking saves, he should get more voting love than Smith.

    Smith: 71-92, 478 of 581 saves, 3.03 ERA, 1,289.1 IP, 1,133 hits, 1,251 strikeouts, 486 walks, 132 ERA+
    Paps: 36-30, 341 of 385 saves, 2.33 ERA, 664 IP, 511 hits, 759 strikeouts, 166 walks, 185 ERA+; Has better Postseason resume by far; Both have 7 All-Star nods.

    And for comparison:

    K-Rod: 46-43, 369 of 432 saves, 2.67 ERA, 869.1 IP, 643 hits, 1,043 strikeouts, 355 walks, 158 ERA+; Has good Postseason resume with a ring like Papelbon, 6 All-Star nods.

    Unless either K-Rod or Papelbon can get to 500 saves, I can't see either getting enough support from the writers to get in.

    Along with Hoffman being eligible in January, Billy Wagner is on the ballot. He's the real interesting test. But in 20 years if you said the Vets committee had put in all three, I wouldn't be surprised.
     
  8. sgreenwell

    sgreenwell Well-Known Member

    I think one of the issues to me would be that The End can seemingly come quick and brutally for pitchers. Joe Nathan was floating along until 2010, blew out his elbow, resurfaced in 2012 and 2013, and now seems cooked again. Robb Nen was done at 32. Troy Percival hit a wall at 34.
     
  9. hondo

    hondo Well-Known Member

    Hall of Fame flaming asshole? Absolutely.
     
  10. 93Devil

    93Devil Well-Known Member

    Does BR have "blown saves" anywhere on that page?
     
  11. cjericho

    cjericho Well-Known Member

    Yes. Click more statistics then it's under the header Reliever Pitching Pap is 89% 341 of 385 Della posted it
     
  12. sgreenwell

    sgreenwell Well-Known Member

    For what it's worth, JAWS has Papelbon as the 29th best RP prospect for the Hall. For comparison's sake, top five is Eck, Rivera, Hoyt Wilhelm, Gossage and Bobby Shantz. That top four is already in or will be in first ballot (Rivera). However, it's probably muddied a bit by SP-turned-RP, since they seem abnormally high to me. Tom Gordon is #6, Greg Swindell is #9, Kerry Wood is #11. Lee Smith is #14, Sutter #17, Rollie #26: Relief Pitcher JAWS Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com
     
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