Greatest Relief Ace

[tycobb420]

I split the closer position into two categories. The so-called "relief ace" who comes into games whenever needed vs. the modern 1 inning closer. All the folks listed above are in the HOF except Smith. I included him b/c he is still on the ballot. I used Dennis Eckersley as the cut off. So, Eck forward is closer. Before Eck is relief ace.

 

[tycobb420]

Winners thus far:

1b: Lou Gehrig
2b: Rogers Hornsby
3b: Michael Jack Schmidt
SS: Honus Wagner
LF: Ted Williams
CF: Ty Cobb
RF: Babe Ruth
C: Johnny Bench

RHP: Walter Johnson
LHP: Randy "bird killer" Johnson

 

[tycobb420]

I voted for Fingers.

 

[kalinecountry]

I split the closer position into two categories. The so-called "relief ace" who comes into games whenever needed vs. the modern 1 inning closer. All the folks listed above are in the HOF except Smith. I included him b/c he is still on the ballot. I used Dennis Eckersley as the cut off. So, Eck forward is closer. Before Eck is relief ace.

You most likely have a list of the top 5 there.
There are a few others that could fit here like Elroy Face, Ron Perranoski, Lindy McDaniel, Don McMahon, Sparky Lyle, John Hiller, Dick Radatz, all good back in the day, maybe just not as worthy as the best listed.
It is like splitting hairs to me with Gossage and Fingers. Sutter and Smith are just behind them.
The relief pitcher who really started it may be the best of this group, though not the one most would think/pick. Hoyt Wilhelm with his knuckleball had better Whip and ERA and ERA+ than the rest of them.
I have a feeling it will be between Goose and Rollie, both great choices.
I'm going to pick Wilhelm.

 

[tycobb420]

KalineCountry[/color]]

I split the closer position into two categories. The so-called "relief ace" who comes into games whenever needed vs. the modern 1 inning closer. All the folks listed above are in the HOF except Smith. I included him b/c he is still on the ballot. I used Dennis Eckersley as the cut off. So, Eck forward is closer. Before Eck is relief ace.

You most likely have a list of the top 5 there.
There are a few others that could fit here like Elroy Face, Ron Perranoski, Lindy McDaniel, Don McMahon, Sparky Lyle, John Hiller, Dick Radatz, all good back in the day, maybe just not as worthy as the best listed.
It is like splitting hairs to me with Gossage and Fingers. Sutter and Smith are just behind them.
The relief pitcher who really started it may be the best of this group, though not the one most would think/pick. Hoyt Wilhelm with his knuckleball had better Whip and ERA and ERA+ than the rest of them.
I have a feeling it will be between Goose and Rollie, both great choices.
I'm going to pick Wilhelm.

and Quissenberry

 

[tycobb420]

Hoyt up 3-1 on Fingers

 

[turok]

I picked Fingers, but...

Hiller would be my homer pick, plus he came back after suffering a heart-attack to become one of the best Tigers RPs that I have ever seen, prior to that he was a run-of-the-mill, non-descript SP, who pitched in relief once in a while, IIRC, and John may or may not have lasted in the majors a long as he had, if it wasn't for his determination and perseverance after suffering what would be a career-ending illness for most athletes.

If Zumaya could only return to his pre-injury '06 form the '12 Tigers would then have a lights-out & lethal RP arsenal (including Al-Al) from the 7th inning on, if not the sixth as well when necesssary in most games, with either him or Benoit pitching two innings late, if necessary. Yeah, I know that the odds of Joel returning, much less back to form are pretty slim.

 

[spockmaster]

I dunno, i think Fingers is also a bit too modern...i voted Hoyt.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Are you having 3 seperate votes? Because guys like Eck and Quisenberry etc are much different than guys like Mariano. Unless you're leaving Eck and Quiss off which would be a travesty.

 

[tycobb420]

Mitch[/color]]Are you having 3 seperate votes? Because guys like Eck and Quisenberry etc are much different than guys like Mariano. Unless you're leaving Eck and Quiss off which would be a travesty.

Wilhelm-7 Fingers-6

Two votes. Eck will be on the next one. Quiz is not in the HOF or on the ballot, so I eliminated him from contention.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Quisenberry was awesome. Maybe not length, he wasn't a closer for his whole career but during 5 years he would pitch 130 innings plus. That's like 10 years for most closers now a days. And he was awesome. During those years I'd take him over Mariano Rivera.

 

[jimrice]

Mitch[/color]]Quisenberry was awesome. Maybe not length, he wasn't a closer for his whole career but during 5 years he would pitch 130 innings plus. That's like 10 years for most closers now a days. And he was awesome. During those years I'd take him over Mariano Rivera.

Facepalm.

He had a couple of good years. He was far from a dominant reliever. To compare Quiz to Rivera is crazypants. This is like comparing Darrell Evans to Miguel Cabrera and saying you prefer Evans.

 

[tycobb420]

Wilhelm-8 Fingers-7. Two ace race.

 

[tycobb420]

Will close this evening.

 

[tycobb420]

8-8 tie with Goose getting 1.

 

[tycobb420]

Okey dokey, still tied. Will go to the tiebreaker.