Best Season by a Tiger closer

[tycobb420]

MLB Network ranked Hiller and Willie in their Prime 9 relief seasons. Valverde and Jones did not make the cut.

 

[tycobb420]

I forgot the time limit thingy again...oh well it's a holiday week...

 

[tycobb420]

In case anyone is wondering, Willie was #9 on the Prime 9. I think Hiller was third.

 

[byco42]

Hiller got his saves the hard way, before the rule changed. He was nails that season.

 

[tycobb420]

Hiller got his saves the hard way, before the rule changed. He was nails that season.

and coming off a heart attack if memory serves. Maybe that is why it ranked #3 all time. Eck was #1.

 

[byco42]

Hiller got his saves the hard way, before the rule changed. He was nails that season.

and coming off a heart attack if memory serves. Maybe that is why it ranked #3 all time. Eck was #1.

He sat out a year, got his body in shape and convinced the Tiger management to give him another shot.

 

[Thumb]

Valverde had the best season IMO.

As a Closer, he was perfect.

The non-save situations are the reason he did not have a sub 2 ERA.

If you look at his Save only appearances, he was about as lights out as possible.

 

[kalinecountry]

I would be comfortable with any of the 3 seasons from Hiller, Hernandez, and Valverde.
It is difficult to compare different hitter/pitching eras and in this case with the closer and how the role changed from Hiller, and also Hernandez's time in baseball. So much more specialized, 7th inning pitcher, set up pitcher, and closer.
Hiller pitched in the 7/8/9 innings in a large percentage of relief appearances that year and other years.
Hernandez had a high percentage in the 8/9 innings and also a smaller amount in the 7th in his year and other years.
Valverde, as MiThumb said, was lights out in a save situation in 2011 .
These three might be the best relievers in Tigers history from either career to peak or a single season.
I'm stuck, I give 1/3 vote to each.
Jones below them imo.

 

[byco42]

Valverde had the best season IMO.

As a Closer, he was perfect.

The non-save situations are the reason he did not have a sub 2 ERA.

If you look at his Save only appearances, he was about as lights out as possible.

I saw them both, and Hiller gets the nod in my opinion.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Todd Jones?

 

[tycobb420]

Mitch[/color]]Todd Jones?

He was fireman of the year in 2000. This is based on one season.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Yeah I was curious why he hadn't got a vote is all. The list is fine.

 

[jimrice]

84 Willie and it isn't close.

 

[byco42]

84 Willie and it isn't close.

It's close between Hiller and Hernandez statistically.

 

[tycobb420]

84 Willie and it isn't close.

It's close between Hiller and Hernandez statistically.

When MLB did it's Prime 9, Hiller was #3 and Willie #9. Valverde and Jones did not make the cut.

 

[tycobb420]

Where Willie gets the edge over the others is the Tigers' improvement from 1983 to 1984. In '83, Detroit won 92 games. In '84, they improved by 12. In 1983, the team had 28 total saves and blew 15 (65%). The league avg was 68%. In 1984, the team had 51 saves and blew 6 (89%). Hernandez went 32-for-33 with his only BS coming after the team clinched the AL East. The league avg was again 68% in '84.

PS: I know Valverde went 49-for-49, but remember his non-save situation stats. He also was usually a 1 inning guy. Plus, the Tigers in '84 did not have a guy like Verlander having a historic season.

 

[Rebbiv]

In Save Situations


Hernandez (84) 1.25 ERA 0.83 WHIP 4.73 SO/BB .455 OPP OPS

Valverde (11) 0.55 ERA 0.94 WHIP 2.50 SO/BB .470 OPP OPS

Hiller (73) 1.08 ERA 0.98 WHIP 2.76 SO/BB .513 OPP OPS

 

[tycobb420]

In Save Situations


Hernandez (84) 1.25 ERA 0.83 WHIP 4.73 SO/BB .455 OPP OPS

Valverde (11) 0.55 ERA 0.94 WHIP 2.50 SO/BB .470 OPP OPS

Hiller (73) 1.08 ERA 0.98 WHIP 2.76 SO/BB .513 OPP OPS

That's fine, but does not take into account the entire picture

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.detroittigertales.com/2011/12/shutdowns-and-meltdowns-tigers-top.html
Shutdowns and Meltdowns: Tigers Top Relievers Since 1974.
from detroittigertales

 

[Thumb]

In Save Situations


Hernandez (84) 1.25 ERA 0.83 WHIP 4.73 SO/BB .455 OPP OPS

Valverde (11) 0.55 ERA 0.94 WHIP 2.50 SO/BB .470 OPP OPS

Hiller (73) 1.08 ERA 0.98 WHIP 2.76 SO/BB .513 OPP OPS

That's fine, but does not take into account the entire picture

What's the entire picture then?