Saturday, August 25, 2007

Good Closers Never Give Up Runs

Trevor Hoffman has never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever had a bad game.

Mariano Rivera is always always always always always always always perfect.

That's not to say that Cordero is either of them, but even great pitchers have bad outings from time to time. It happens. Chad Cordero is a league average closer. He's not a bad pitcher. He's not a great pitcher. He's an average closer.

It's too easy to remember the failures while ignoring the many many many many (I'm not listing all 110 scoreless saves he's earned; the list is here) successes.

posted by Chris Needham at 11:05 AM

4 Comments:

  • Chris, it's ridiculously hot outside today. Can you pass me that Kool-Aid you're drinking from?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/25/2007 11:59 AM  

  • Is Purplesaurus Rex OK with you?

    No Kool-Aid here... just the bitter-tasting salve of truth!

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 8/25/2007 12:01 PM  

  • Thanks for posting this... I wasn't ready to do another Chad-apologist post.

    However, the idea that Chad is an average closer is a little hard to take, although it certainly seems to be true. He's supposed to be a good closer. Back in 05, he was the best (or very close to it) reliever in baseball. That's the Chad I'd like to see again.

    By Blogger cass, at 8/25/2007 12:25 PM  

  • Well, an average closer should be a much better than average pitcher, since most teams try to put someone really good in that role.

    I think that's part of Chris' point: to be an average closer means that you're pretty darn good, given the company you're in. But it doesn't mean that you are perfect or even nearly perfect, and anyone who expects their closer to be so is smoking something.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/25/2007 3:51 PM  

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