2008 Baseball Thread, Part V: A New Beginning

Keep that Yankee fan angst up, 'Gola, I enjoy it.

 

I won't get that argument going again or I will be up all night, but to clear things up as far as that night was concerned - the infield was playing in.

 

Yeah, I was just yankin' your chain. Rivera also broke Gonzo's bat, so I'd say the pitch he threw was good enough.

True. For all we know he could be what Eric Gagne is now in three years (i.e., he hurts his arm, not stops using steroids).

 

I give him credit, he just isn't in the discussion with Rivera, Hoffman or Smoltz. Yet.

 

Oh, I agree with you, I was just alluding to the "Papsmear."

 

You forgot Troy Percival.

 

That's to keep up with SOSH's nickname of Fruitbat for Rivera.

And mikey, you're right, Troy Percival belongs in that discussion as well.

Any other closers we are forgetting?

 

Are we talking about all-time great closers or closers with one dominating pitch?

 

Not quite on the same level as any of the previous names mentioned (Rivera, Hoffman, etc), but Robb Nen deserves a mention.

 

Joe Borowski?

 

In light of the Papsmear argument, I was talking about all-time great closers.

As far as one pitch guys, I guess that is where you were saying Percival fit in?

 

Was going to mention him. Nen had three dominant pitches --- fastball, slider, splitter --- in his prime.

And Gagne was basically a fastball-changeup guy at his peak, but could break off a curve and slider on occasion (he came up as a starter, remember).