A Short Career – The Pitchers
December 26, 2007 by Michael Hoban · 3 Comments
The NEWS HOF Gauge recognizes two small groups of pitchers as having
1.
The 180/2400 Standard– Starters and starter/reliever
There are only five pitchersin the 20 th
century who have attained a NEWS score of 180 while pitching in fewer than 2400 innings.Three of these pitchers were starters and the other two are better known for their relief efforts.According to the NEWS Gauge, all five have
| Player | IP | NEWS |
|---|---|---|
|
Addie Joss
|
2327 | 191 |
|
Sandy Koufax
|
2324 | 191 |
|
Hoyt Wilhelm
|
2254 | 190 |
|
Goose Gossage
|
1809 | 186 |
|
Dizzy Dean
|
1967 | 180 |
Four of these pitchers are already in the Hall of Fame.Only Goose Gossage awaits induction into the Hall.Hopefully, that will happen soon.(I should mention that Dennis Eckersley has
2.The 150/1700 standard – The true relievers
There are only five pitchersin the 20 th
century who have attained a NEWS score of 150 while pitching in fewer than 1700 innings.These are the true relievers who have definite
| Player | IP | NEWS |
|---|---|---|
|
Mariano Rivera
|
953 | 175 |
|
Lee Smith
|
1289 | 164 |
|
Bruce Sutter
|
1042 | 164 |
|
Dan Quisenberry
|
1043 | 156 |
|
Rollie Fingers
|
1701 | 155 |
Rollie Fingers just makes it since he actually pitched in 1701 innings.Only Bruce Sutter and Fingers are in the Hall of Fame.
This would seem to imply that Mariano Rivera is the best true reliever of the century.
You will note that Trevor Hoffman (the “saves†leader) is not on this list.His NEWS score is 142.
For more info on the NEWS HOF Gauge, see BASEBALL’S BEST: The TRUE Hall of Famers on this site.
I was just looking at the ballot for the HOF. The inductees(if any) will come from 25 players. Of the 25 on the list, I feel that 13 should be inducted. Let me group them by positions
Relievers
Goose Gossage and Lee Smith. Absolutely dominant, and for a long, long time. I’d rate Gossage just slightly ahead of Lee Smith, but I find both to be slam dunk cases.
Starting pitchers
Bert Blyleven, Tommy John and Jack Morris
Again, I see no good reason that all 3 aren’t inducted. I rate Blyleven highest, just slightly better than Tommy John, and Jack Morris just squeaking in there. Jack doesn’t get in for numbers, but for being the best money pitcher of his day, and ALMOST good enough numbers. I think all 3 will eventually get in anyways.
Shortstops
Davey Concepcion and Alan Trammell.
This is a much tougher one for me. Concepcion was the man at shortstop in the NL for a long time, a big cog of the Reds. I saw him play plenty of times. He is a very borderline case to me though. He belongs in the Mazeroski wing. Trammell is another squeaker, but slightly less so. He was a much better offensive player. In the pre-steroid era, he was about as good as you could expect offensively from a shorstop who wasn’t Cal Ripken or Honus Wagner.
Outfielders/DH
In order, highest to lowest Tim Raines, Dave Parker, Andre Dawson, Jim Rice, Dale Murphy (Harold Baines).
I don’t understand why Raines wasn’t inducted his first year, it’s only going to get harder for these guys when Rickey Henderson is finally eligible. Parker was the best player in baseball of his time, Dawson’s peak was lesser but his good years extended longer. Dawson at his peak I’d have to say is the best player I’ve ever seen personally. Rice has the numbers, I don’t see what the hold up is here. Dale Murphy definitely didn’t play long, but his supernova career was good enough for me. I could be talked out of Harold Baines, but I think he’s just good enough to squeak in there eventually.
I’ll admit to bias in the case of Parker.
I don’t understand why Bill Madlock isn’t still on the ballot either.
John,
In case you have not seen it, I looked at the 2008 BBWAA ballot and have some comments on it in a previous post.
Do you really think that 13 of the 25 players on the ballot deserve to be in the Hall? Isn’t that amking the Hall an easy place to get into?
In my previous article, I stated that only five players struck me as deserving. Three pitchers: Bert Blyleven, Goose Gossage and Lee Smith. And only two position players: Tim Raines and Mark McGwire.
By the way, this is Raines’ first year of eligibility and I hope he makes it.
Yep, and I seriously don’t understand how Madlock didn’t get any love either. 4 batting titles don’t happen by accident. I don’t think McGwire will ever get in, nor does he deserve to. I can see where Dale Murphy, and Harold Baines are close. But I’m loath to put in any Steroid ERA guys, and I think a backlash against them will help raise the tide and sweep some more of these guys in.
Tommy John was an outstanding pitcher for a VERY long time. I don’t see where him coming 13 wins shy of 300 should keep him out. Same with Jim Kaat.
And let me be the first to say, I hope Clemens never gets in. His lawyer induced denials rank right up there with McGwire’s not wanting to talke about the past.
I dislike the idea of inducting guys after they are dead, because what’s the point then?
A lot of these guys I believe will be inducted eventually, so let ’em in.