Best Seasons by a Closer
| 15
|
by Joebook
I've compiled a list of what I believe to be the 10 best seasons by a closer in the last 25 years. With Jon Papelbon and B.J. Ryan putting up sick numbers this season, it's interesting to see where they rank.
Rollie Fingers - 1981 - 6-3, 1.04ERA, 0.87WHIP, 28 saves, 61K in 78IP -- This was the strike season, and Fingers was on his way to a record season.
Dan Quisenberry - 1983 - 5-3, 1.94ERA, 0.92WHIP, 45 saves, 48K in 139IP -- This season was special because in 139IP, Quis only walked 11 guys.
Dennis Eckersley - 1990 - 4-2, 0.61ERA, 0.61WHIP, 48 saves, 73K in 73. IP -- The greatest season ever by a closer; Eck walked only 4 batters.
Bryan Harvey - 1991 - 2-4, 1.60ERA, 0.86WHIP, 46 saves, 101K in 78.2IP -- He was dominant for a .500 team.
Trevor Hoffman - 1998 - 4-2, 1.48ERA, 0.85WHIP, 53 saves, 86K in 73IP -- He had three more saves in the playoffs before blowing game three in the WS.
Billy Wagner - 1999 - 4-1, 1.57ERA, 0.78WHIP, 39 saves, 124K in 74.2IP -- Wagner is a HOF closer who has had eight elite seasons.
Eric Gagne - 2003 - 2-3, 1.20ERA, 0.69WHIP, 55 saves, 137K in 82.1IP -- This was the middle of the three most dominating closer seasons ever.
John Smoltz - 2003 - 0-2, 1.12ERA, 0.87WHIP, 45 saves, 73K in 64.1IP -- He proved to be an elite closer in between being a dominant starter.
Brad Lidge - 2004 - 6-5, 1.90ERA, 0.92WHIP, 29 saves, 157K in 94.2IP -- He set the record for K/9 after taking the job in June.
Mariano Rivera - 2005 - 7-4, 1.38ERA, 0.86ERA, 43 saves, 80K in 78.1IP -- The best closer in history keeps getting better.
So far this year, there are three guys approaching these levels...
Jonathan Papelbon - 2-1, 0.56ERA, 0.73WHIP, 27 saves, 48K in 48IP -- He's turning in one of the best rookie seasons ever.
B.J. Ryan - 1-0, 0.99ERA, 0.74WHIP, 24 saves, 55K in 45.2IP -- Ryan has been dominant for several seasons now.
Joe Nathan - 6-0, 1.62ERA, 0.77WHIP, 17 saves, 55K in 39IP -- Nathan has only walked 5 batters, and opponents are hitting .127 on the road.
What's causing the sudden increase in elite closers? Nine regular closers have an ERA below 2.30 and seven are holding opponents to a batting average of .200 or lower. Is it that more teams are going to a single dominant closer? Papelbon's run is special, because he was pegged as a starter until the preseason. Ryan is a strikeout machine and Nathan made the move from average starter to dominant closer.
Is this the new trend?
Date
Tue 07/18/06, 6:12 pm EST
