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Awards for relievers?

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Michael Echan, Jan 24, 2010.

  1. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    To me, the relievers already have the Rolaids Award. Yeah, it's statistical, but it's been around for 30-plus years already. It doesn't quite have the tradition of the other sportswriter-voted on awards, but that's also because the specialist reliever has only been around for 40 years or so.

    And to me, middle relievers shouldn't be rewarded if they're not good enough to close.
     
  2. Trey Beamon

    Trey Beamon Active Member

    What award would Aaron Heilman win?
     
  3. Michael Echan

    Michael Echan Member

    THANK YOU!
     
  4. spnited

    spnited Active Member


    A pile of dog shit?
     
  5. Michael Echan

    Michael Echan Member

    Not necessarily. Rivera had a fantastic '96 season, but wasn't a closer...yet. Remember that quite a few closers start out as middle men, so they aren't there necessarily because they don't have the chops to close.

    As far as the Rolaids Relief thing, it comes off to me as some kind of cheap prize you'd find at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. Change the name of it and honor someone deserving of that kind of veneration (Holtzman? Gossage? Eckersley? Rivera after he retires?), incorporate some sort of parameters that would make it somewhat fair and have the BBWAA vote on it. So what if it gives the players' agents another thing to justify a bigger contract? Like Stark said, a relief pitcher isn't like a DH or utility infielder; both leagues have them and it's pretty easy to tell the good from the bad and the great from the good.

    The NBA has the Sixth Man Award, an award given to a guy who has something that keeps him from being a full-time starter, but still plays a pivotal role on his team. Some of the guys who won this award: Kevin McHale, Bill Walton, John Starks (admitted NY market bias) and Manu Ginobili. As far as I know, this has become a pretty good idea, so why not use it in baseball?
     
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