My 2009 AL MVP Ballot

Warning: most of this ballot is going to surprise you. How do I know, because it surprised me! You see, I didn’t just use my eyes or even the traditional method/statistics to make up this ballot.

I used 11 statistical categories including defensive metrics & added some objective weight to some of them (multiplied them by either 10, 100 or 1000) in order to make them more relevant and useful. For example, I multiplied Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) and Range Factor per Game (RF/G) by 10; Walk to Strikeout Ratio (BB/K) by 100; and Batting Average (AVE), On Base Percentage (OBP) and Fielding Percentage (FP) by 1000. Add to these were the counting stats such as Runs (R), Homeruns (HR), Runs Batted In (RBI), Stolen Bases (SB) and Runs Created (RC) based upon weighted On Base Average (wOBA) or simply wRC as found on Fangraphs.com.

So as you can see, I didn’t exactly set this up to provide a traditional selection of players and in fact, some of these guys wouldn’t even have made my top 15!

10 ) Franklin Gutierrez CF Seattle Mariners…1 point

What gets Gutierrez on this list is his ungodly UZR of 28.5 which was almost 10 points higher than the next rated player. In fact, I read somewhere that his power numbers were even down this year!

9 ) Kevin Youkilis 1B/3B Boston Red Sox…2 points

Forget about the fact that he played significant time at both first and third base (78 and 63), but he also played two games in LF, too. But none of this factored into this listing! The stats that got him onto this list were his RF/G of 7.9, his FP of .998, OBP of .413 and his runs scored of 99 and 94 RBI on 27 HR and 111.7 runs created.

8 ) Chone Figgins 3B Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim…3 points

A UZR of 14.5, .395 OBP with 42 SB and 114 runs scored with 105.1 runs created contributed to Chone’s listing here. I would not have added Figgins even to my top 20.

7 ) Carl Crawford LF Tampa Bay Rays…4 points

60 SB with 96 runs scored 101.6 runs created combined with a .988 FP and a UZR of 17.1 are what got Crawford here.

6 ) Evan Longoria 3B Tampa Bay Rays…5 points

Tampa Bay scored the most players on this list with Evan “The Beast” Longoria stuck here in the middle. In only his second season he has impressive numbers starting off with the second highest UZR with 18.9, 108.7 runs created with 100 runs scored, 33 HR and 113 RBIs.

5 ) Derek Jeter SS New York Yankees…6 points

With a FP of .986, runs created of 122.4 (for third on this list of the top 10) with 107 runs scored to go with a .406 OBP and 30 SB lead the Yankees captain onto this list.

4 ) Miguel Cabrera 1B Detroit Tigers…7 points

Believe it or not, Cabrera’s defense has a significant part to play in his being 4th on this list with a .995 FP and an 8.6 RF/G. Then add to that his 96 runs scored, 123.5 runs created, an AVE of .324, OBP of .396 to go along with 34 HR and 103 RBI.

3 ) Dustin Pedroia 2B Boston Red Sox…8 points

Here’s another player who I wouldn’t have even thought about for this list with his diminished numbers compared to last year and I’m a big Pedroia fan! But his numbers tell a different story with a UZR of 10.2 and a FP of .991 to go along with his runs created of 103.9 to go with his actual runs scored of 115. Add to that a great BB/K ratio of 1.64 (tops on this list and second in the Majors to only Pujols’ 1.80), .371 OBP and 20 SB do make quite a statement overall.

2 ) Ben Zobrist 2B/RF Tampa Bay Rays…9 points

Probably the most surprising name on an MVP listing is Zobrist, but this is not the only list I’m seen him towards the top of recently. His versatility should also be considered, but doesn’t factor in here as he can also play other positions than these two. His UZR is 15.6, a FP of .989 to go along with his career year offensively with 111.1 runs created, 27 HR, 91 RBI and runs scored with a .405 OBP.

1 ) Joe Mauer C/DH Minnesota Twins…14 points

Talk about increased power numbers, Mauer hit a career high 28 HRs! His previos high was 13 back in 2006. As a reminder, the catcher’s position doesn’t get a UZR score so he was at a disadvantage over the other position players on this list and I did not remember to factor that in with a league average! His other numbers are as follows…6.9 RF/G, .996 FP with offensive numbers such as 127.5 runs created, 94 runs scored, 96 RBI and his incredible .365 AVE .444 OBP and 1.21 BB/K ratio (second best on this list). Editor’s note: I stand corrected, as I now see Mauer as the best all around catcher in the game today! I have done my research since an earlier post on The Dugout Doctors. He was my choice no matter how I did this, but I am glad that this analysis proved that idea.

Honorable Mentions in order of appearance…

In my opinion, both of these players would have made my ballot if I had not gone to this much detail or even included defensive statistics. Both had over 30 HR and 100 RBI, a AVE of over .290 and OBP over .355 to go along with runs created over 100, FP over .990 and RF/G over 8.

Mark Teixeira 1B New York Yankees

Kendry Morales 1B Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

My name is Peter Schiller. I am the creator/owner of Baseball Reflections.com. I’m also a contributing writer. To read more of my work at Baseball Reflections just click HERE!

Harry Kalas Video Tributes

With the Philadelphia Phillies heading to their second consecutive trip to the World Series, here are a few tributes to the late, Great Harry Kalas: A Phillies Legend!



This first one is presented to you by Comcast…

This one is the Harry Kalas tribute video 4/17/09 Citizens Bank Park…







This one is slower with snap shots of Harry the K put to a slow march, very fitting…

My name is Peter Schiller. I am the creator/owner of Baseball Reflections.com. I’m also a contributing writer. To read more of my work at Baseball Reflections just click HERE!

Akadema’s ProSoft 1B Mitt: AJJ 254

When my contact at Akadema asked me if I would do another review if sent another glove I jumped at the chance! This time I asked for a first baseman’s glove as I have always been fascinated with them for reasons unknown to even myself. Maybe it’s because when I was growing up, my dad played the position in those, his last days playing softball. I really wanted to see what innovations they had created for a first baseman’s glove.

Although they told me that the glove they were sending me wasn’t one of their gloves with a new patent to it like the Funnel, but it was a part of their ProSoft Series.

Here’s what their website says about the ProSoft Series:

Born to meet the desire of players looking for the distinct advantage of a game-ready glove, ProSoft Seriesis their newest innovation. Light and playable right out of the workshop, the Silver Soft Series was constructed to give a player the unparalleled fit and feel right off the bat.

After receiving it I have to admit that it does need to be broken in, but not much. Its innovative softness lends it to be broken in a lot more quickly than the Funnel I had previously received.

My favorite part of owning this glove is that is is the MOST comfortable glove to wear that I have ever had in the 30 years since I started playing baseball. It feels more like an Isotoner Glove. You know the ones that were promoted on TV back in the day by former Dolphins QB Dan Marino?!

I have owned a first baseman’s glove in the past & this one by Akadema (the AJJ 254 which is 12.5″) is far superior to my last one. From the feel of my hand in the glove all the way to the design and padding which is necessary for a glove that needs to endure the second most use on a baseball diamond (first being a catcher’s mitt).

Bottom line: if you are looking to a great glove for the First Baseman in your life, I’d put my money down on one of these:

My name is Peter Schiller. I am the creator/owner of Baseball Reflections.com. I’m also a contributing writer. To read more of my work at Baseball Reflections just click HERE!

Joe Niekro Foundation and Arizona Fall League Partner To Strike Out Aneurysms

Unlike the deceptive and tricky pitch that her father used to record 221 major league victories, Natalie Niekro’s goal for the Joe Niekro Foundation is very straightforward and simple. She is determined to turn the tragedy of his death from a brain aneurysm three years ago into a positive by using his memory and celebrity to increase awareness about and funding for brain aneurysm research.

Following on the heals of the foundation’s successful initial fundraiser earlier this year, the Joe Niekro Foundation is continuing its mission of “Knuckling Up for Aneurysm Research” by teaming up with the Arizona Fall League to raise money and increase awareness.

The Fall League has designated the week of October 26 as “Aneurysm Awareness Week.” As a result, every strikeout recorded that week by a pitcher from one of the seven teams that Joe Niekro played for during his 22-year career in the majors will result in a donation to the foundation.

“So far we have three sponsors that each will donate $36 per strikeout,” Natalie Niekro said. “The number 36 is important to us because that was my dad’s number.”

In addition, Natalie, a marketing executive in Scottsdale, and her husband, Luke Woosley, will match each donation.

Joe Niekro began his major league career in 1967 with the Chicago Cubs and went 24-18 with the Cubs before being traded to the San Diego Padres early in the 1969 season. He also pitched for the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves before landing in Houston at the start of the 1975 season.

It was during his 11 seasons in Houston that Joe Niekro became an All-Star.

Like his brother, Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, Joe used the fluttering knuckleball to frustrate hitters.

After being used both as a starter and reliever throughout his career, in 1979 Niekro became the ace of the Houston staff and finished second in the Cy Young Award balloting with a 21-11 record and 3.00 ERA.

The following season, he won 20 games as the Astros reached the National League Championship Series for the first time in team history.

After winning 144 games for the Astros, Niekro was traded to the New York Yankees in September 1985. Though the trade ended his long tenure with the Astros, it allowed Joe to be reunited with his brother just in time to watch Phil record his 300th career victory on October 6, 1985.

Joe was traded to the Minnesota Twins in 1987 and was a member of their World Series Championship team during that season. He finished his career with the Twins in 1988.

The 539 career victories by the Niekro brothers are the most by a brother tandem in baseball history.

Following his retirement, Niekro worked with a number of aspiring professional baseball players, including future Boston Red Sox hurler Tim Wakefield, who learned the knuckleball from Niekro.

He also worked with his son, Lance, who played college baseball at Florida Southern College and spent parts of four seasons with the San Francisco Giants.

On October 26, 2006, Niekro suffered a brain aneurysm and passed away the following day.

“Aneurysm Awareness Week” in the Arizona Fall League will coincidentally start three years to the day of his attack.

During the week, information brochures and public address announcements will help increase awareness about aneurysms and the foundation.

“Steve Cobb [Executive Director of the Arizona Fall League] has been very supportive,” Natalie said. “This is a great opportunity to increase awareness about the foundation and brain aneurysms both with the general public, but also within baseball.”

In addition, Natalie will be throwing out the first pitch at three games. Those games are: 10/26 – Peoria Sports Complex – 6:35 p.m.; 10/30 – Scottsdale Stadium – 6:35 p.m., and; 10/31 – Good year -12:35 p.m.

While most of us might be a little intimidated by the thought of throwing out the first pitch at multiple baseball games, Natalie approaches it just as you would expect from the daughter of a major leaguer.

In fact, when she threw out the first pitch at the Houston Astros game in September, Natalie was ready to throw the family special.

“Lance Berkman was catching the pitch and said I could move up to throw if I needed to,” Natalie recalled. “My dad taught me the knuckleball when I was three. I told him I would be okay.”

Natalie was happy to report that the pitch was a strike down the middle that “even fluttered a little.”

In addition to raising funds for the foundation, Natalie also hopes the week will assist in her mission to make people aware that brain aneurysms are common, deadly, and treatable.

“One in 15 people have a brain aneurysm,” she said. “They are treatable, but most people don’t know they have one until it is too late.

“Our mission is to raise enough money that they can develop an affordable detection method.”

She will have a chance to take the message to a national audience on November 7th, which would have been her father’s 65th birthday, thanks to the MLB Network. The Network will be televising the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game that night and Natalie has been invited to be a guest in the broadcast booth during the game.

Natalie’s passion and persistence has been helpful in getting the Joe Niekro Foundation off the ground and making a difference in a relatively short period of time.

The foundation was originally scheduled to hold its first fundraising event in Houston in September 2008. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ike hit the Galveston-Houston area that week and the event had to be postponed.

Undeterred, Natalie kept moving forward and on July 31, 2009 the First Annual Knuckle Ball took place at Minute Maid Park. The formal event was a huge success as it raised $450,000 for aneurysm research.

Natalie is already planning for the 2010 event.

She is hopeful that the partnership with the Arizona Fall League will lead to additional opportunities with the Cactus League in Arizona as well as with other entities within Major League Baseball.

Because her father played so long and with so many teams, his legacy has touched many organizations and individuals across baseball and made it easier for Natalie to make contacts and leverage opportunities.

In addition, having a Hall of Fame pitcher for an uncle also has helped Natalie increase her Rolodex. While she does not anticipate having another event similar to the Knuckle Ball in other cities, she is hopeful that eventually the foundation will be able to forge connections with all the teams for which her father played.

“I’m very pleased with what we have done in a short time and appreciate all the people who have helped us,” Natalie said, “but I know there is much more that we can do.”

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the Arizona Fall League “Aneurysm Awareness Week”, please write to nniekro@joeniekrofoundation.org. To simply donate to the cause please visit the website at www.joeniekrofoundation.org.

Dean Hybl is a supporter of A Glove of Their Own, the award winning children’s book that teaches Paying it Forward through baseball. Visit the site and purchase using donor code JNF636 The Joe Niekro Foundation as $3. from each purchase will go directly to the JNF.

To read more from Dean, go to his sports blog: Sports Then and Now!

Free Agent Tracker: Catcher

Like last year, this year’s most fruitful market for catchers is the trade market, rather than the free agent market. The Texas Rangers, who traded Gerald Laird to the Tigers last season still have two worthy trade candidates in Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden, while Ronny Paulino could be on the move again.

Especially in a poor free agent class, where there isn’t a true standout top free-agent, teams may hold their money in hopes of signing Joe Mauer, who seems to be destined to take over for Victor Martinez, who will likely supplant Jason Varitek this year in Boston.

But Mauer is a free agent after the 2010 season, and the Twins could look to move the switch-hitting catcher at some point before the season, or leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline. Look for the Yankees to attempt to unload their once-bare proverbial cupboard of farm talent in hopes of acquiring baseball’s top catcher.

*Note: Players with options will be kept off the list unless their options are projected as unexercised. No arbitration-eligible players will be included unless they are projected as non-tender free agents. Ages represent age on June 30, 2010

1. Miguel Olivo, 31 years old

Olivo was once a key piece in a trade that sent Freddy Garcia to the White Sox. He became a pariah in Seattle, as he and Jeremy Reed struggled at the big league level with the Mariners. Since leaving Seattle though, he’s begun to realize his potential.

A short stint with the Padres preceded two years in Florida, where Olivo re-established himself as a viable catcher prospect. He then transferred to the Royals—usually the final resting place for jettisoned Mariners. Olivo’s 2009 campaign boasted impressive numbers, including a .241 ISO and a .262/.334/.405 line for opposing hitters while Olivo was behind the plate, far better than the other two catchers the Royals fielded, and on a pitching staff that was pretty shaky apart from Zack Greinke.

2. Bengie Molina, 35 years old

The middle brother of the “Catching Molina brothers” becomes a free agent this offseason. Molina has transformed himself from a soft-hitting, defensive-minded backstop to a guy with some pop in his bat. Molina won two straight Gold Glove Awards in 2002 and 2003, when he played with the then-Anaheim Angels, but had only 19 homeruns and 42 doubles in the seasons combined.

In Molina’s last two seasons with the Giants have netted 36 home runs and 58 doubles. Molina would rank much higher, but he carries Type A status, something that caused several highly ranked free agents to remain unsigned for most of last year’s offseason. While Molina is a valuable catcher, his value as a free agent is extremely limited by the compensation that his signing team will have to surrender.

3. Yorvit Torrealba, 31 years old

Torrealba lost his role as the Rockies starting catcher to Chris Ianetta in 2008. The team has always struggled to maintain consistent starting pitching though, and what the team gained in Ianetta’s power and offensive potential, it would appear they lost on defense.

It would be simple to just blame Ianetta for the team’s 2008 struggles, and give credit to Torrealba for their 2007 success, but 2009 may have told a more accurate story. The team was 36-25 in games that Torrealba started, including 23 games after Sept. 1. Also, Rockies pitchers held batters to a .253/.327/.391 line with Torrealba behind the plate compared to .266/.330/.418 with Ianetta.

4. Rod Barajas, 34 years old

Rod Barajas is the only catcher I know of that has caught for Roy Halladay, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Jamie Moyer. Apart from his stint in Texas Barajas has caught a legend in every stop.

Barajas may not be the most intriguing offensive player, and has earned most of his money on the defensive side, but Barajas has hit 30 home runs and 42 doubles in the past two seasons.

5. Jason Kendall, 36 years old

Kendall is no longer the speedy, toolsy catcher that once threatened to revolutionize the position in the late 90’s. He’s probably not even the dimished, post-gruesome-ankle injury version of himself anymore. In fact, Kendall has turned into a pretty non-descript offensive player, boasting a .244/.329/.315 line in his last two seasons with Milwaukee.

The stats that jump out though, beyond Kendall’s average-to-above-average defense, are that he’s played 282 games in those two seasons, and posted 49 doubles and 92 walks. Kendall’s been a model of durability despite the one gruesome injury, playing 130 games in each season as a pro besides his injury shortened 1999 season, and 150 or more games in five seasons, including 2008.

Casey is a super-sophomore at Green River Community College, where he retired from his post as Editor-in-Chief at the school’s newspaper. He’s a featured columnist for the Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks at Bleacher Report. He does a sports radio show on www.kgrg.com, his college’s radio station on Saturdays from 7-10 PM PST. He can be contacted at caseymgreer@gmail.com.

Beckett Baseball Presents Box Busters

Your two Box Busters hosts are Brian Fleischer, Sr. Market Analyst and Chris Olds, Editor. If you’re into collecting baseball cards, you might want to check this out.

This episode is on the newly released (just this week on 10/19) 2009 Topps Triple Threads Baseball Cards.

My name is Peter Schiller. I am the creator/owner of Baseball Reflections.com. I’m also a contributing writer. To read more of my work at Baseball Reflections just click HERE!

Free Agent Tracker: DH

The designated hitter only applies to the American League, sorry National League fans. Love the position or hate it, it exists, and warrants its own free agent category.

I hate it. I grew up with Edgar Martinez, perhaps the best designated hitter in the history of the position (is it really a position?) and I hate it. I think that it deserves mention in almost every major problem facing baseball (steroids and PEDs, bean ball incidents, American League imbalance, etc.), that stated, there are quite a few good hitters that will be on the market that are bad fielders, guys who should be relegated to the bench for defensive innings.

*Note: Players with options will be kept off the list unless their options are projected as unexercised. No arbitration-eligible players will be included unless they are projected as non-tender free agents. Ages represent age on June 30, 2010

1. Bobby Abreu, 36 years old

Abreu has been one of baseball’s unsung players for a long time. Even after cashing in on his combination of above-average power and speed and then being traded to the Yankees, he became just another soldier in the “Evil Empire,” his gigantic inherited contract and elite production hidden behind the on-and-off-the-field actions of higher profile Yankee stars.

From 2004-06 Abreu had three straight seasons with at least 30 steals and a .400 on-base-percentage. He was 30 years old at the beginning of that run, and in pinstripes at the end. But even at 35 years old, Abreu managed 30 steals and 94 walks in 2009 for a .293/.390/.435 line. However, Abreu has gone from an above average outfielder, to one that is pretty crappy.

2. Vladimir Guerrero, 34 years old

At one point Guerrero was perhaps the most complete player in baseball. In 2002 he was a homerun shy of being the fourth member of the 40-40 club, stealing 40 bases and hitting 39 home runs. In the same season, despite his free-swinging reputation (well deserved), he walked 84 times.

His legs have since begun to fail him, and injuries combined with age robbed him of his ability to be a viable option in the outfield. However, in a mostly-healthy 2008 season he hit .317/.384/.585 as a designated hitter in 44 games at the position. In 2009 he managed a .291/.330/.453 line in 95 games at DH, despite battling a pectoral tear.

3. Carlos Delgado, 38 years old

Like Guerrero, Delgado spent a large chunk of the 2009 season on the disabled list. Delgado had a hip injury surgically repaired and played only 26 games in 2009. Delgado started the year slow, hitting .250/.346/.471 in April, but blew up right before going on the DL, hitting .423/.516/.654 in only eight games in May.

Were it not for his advanced age and injury, Delgado would have topped this list by a long shot. He hit 38 home runs in 2008, and showed that his ability with the bat still exists, if only in a reduced form. Delgado will probably sign a low-salary, low-risk contract or retire, but if he refrains from the latter it is likely that some team will get a very good hitter.

4. Russell Branyan, 34 years old

Branyan could have spent the first half of the season counting future millions and even the most conservative accountant or economist couldn’t have faulted him. Then back injuries and bad luck changed that sentiment. The slugger hit .280/.382/.573 before the All-Star break, and only .193/.274/.414 after.

The operative question with Branyan is one of fiction versus reality. Was his first half a fluke? Or did he finally become the major leaguer that scouts projected when he was a top prospect with the Indians early in his career? It’s probably somewhere in the middle, and a short-term risk on a bat with that kind of power is an easy one to apologize for if it fails.

5. Fernando Tatis, 35 years old

Tatis used to be the “remember that guy who hit two grand slams in one inning? Where did he go?” guy. In many circles he still remains that, but Tatis has matured into a pretty decent hitter. In two seasons with the Mets he’s compiled 685 plate appearances, about a full season’s worth. He’s also compiled 19 home runs, 37 doubles, 5 triples and 51 walks, all for a .289/.352/.458 line.

The—ahem—versatile Tatis has also played six positions with the Mets, missing out on pitcher, catcher, and center field. However, just because he has played those positions doesn’t mean he should play those positions. Tatis sports a negative UZR at three of those positions for his career (second base, third base, and right field), a zero UZR at shortstop, and a modest 1.2 UZR at both first base and in left field.

Casey is a super-sophomore at Green River Community College, where he retired from his post as Editor-in-Chief at the school’s newspaper. He’s a featured columnist for the Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks at Bleacher Report. He does a sports radio show on www.kgrg.com, his college’s radio station on Saturdays from 7-10 PM PST. He can be contacted at caseymgreer@gmail.com.

Bernard Baseball Video

Has anyone seen the Bernard videos? If you haven’t this will be a treat. If you have, are you familiar with this one?

My name is Peter Schiller. I am the creator/owner of Baseball Reflections.com. I’m also a contributing writer. To read more of my work at Baseball Reflections just click HERE!

The Mystery of the Gyroball: Is it for Real?

This video is a little dated now and it’s primarily in Japanese, but it does have English subtitles (which are sometimes had to see with the Asian subtitles you will see) and it does go into quite a bit of detail on this phantom pitch.

Before you watch this video, please share your thoughts on the validity of this pitch, then after viewing it, let us know if your opinion has changed.

So, after seeing this video, what do you think? Is it a real pitch or about as real as the Loch Ness Monster (who I hear might be a friend of Boston’s Wally the Green Monster).

My name is Peter Schiller. I am the creator/owner of Baseball Reflections.com. I’m also a contributing writer. To read more of my work at Baseball Reflections just click HERE!

The Ballad of “Billy the Kid”

“I don’t plan on talking to nobody,” Billy Wagner told reporters when asked where he might end up next season. “I’ve got nothing else to (accomplish).”

Wagner has mouthed off before, so whether or not this is just another in a long line of quotable quotes or how he truly feels is a good question.

Unfortunately…only one person can answer that.

Whether or not he makes it to Cooperstown is another story.

Whenever “Billy the Kid” decides to finally call it quits, it’ll be five years and up to what will then be a group of close to 600 writers (currently, the BBWAA has 539 members) that make that decision for him.

With 385 saves, Wagner sits sixth on the all-time saves list. Just five saves ahead of him is Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley.

And while closers haven’t always gotten the love they deserve from the writers, Trevor Hoffman (591 career saves) and Mariano Rivera (526) are no-brainers to get their ticket punched.

What can Wagner do to be a shoe-in?

“300 saves used to be the milestone mark when closers were two or three inning guys,” former Royals closer Jeff Montgomery told The Hall of Very Good, “but 400 will be the new mark as most good closers will reach the 40 save per year mark even on mediocre teams.”

But what of Lee Smith and John Franco and their 478 and 424 saves?

“I think Smith should be considered for the Hall as well as Franco,” Montgomery added. “If Wagner returns and surpasses the 400 mark he should be considered also.”

But is Wagner going to return? That’s the big question! And if he doesn’t, will his 385 saves be enough to get him to Cooperstown?

To answer that, you have to go much deeper than just the number of saves he has amassed.

His career ERA of 2.39 is out of this world! Only once, during an injury plagued 2000 season, did Wagner’s ERA jump above 2.85. By comparison, Eckersley has a career ERA of just that (2.85) out of the pen…while Hoffman hovers around in the same neighborhood at 2.73.

Wagner’s 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings is as sick as his career ERA. To say that the 5’10” lefty doesn’t bring the heat would be like saying Quentin Tarantino’s latest “Inglourious Basterds” lacked violence. 1092 punchouts in just over 830 innings pitched is amazing.

In 1999, Wagner was the National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year after closing out 39 games and holding opponents to a diminutive .135 batting average. He’s a six time All-Star, appeared in the post-season six times (with three different teams) and in 2003, even closed out a no-hitter.

So why can’t Billy Wagner seem to get over the hump and be included in the same conversation as the other greats at his position?

Attitude.

That’s right, the same thing that managers crave from their closers is the same thing that might keep Wagner from becoming a baseball immortal.

Following the 2003 season, the Astros traded Wagner to the Phillies for Ezequiel Astacio, Taylor Buchholz and Brandon Duckworth. Something tells me that the Astros weren’t looking for lightning in a bottle with the three bodies they got. I’m more inclined to believe they were looking to unload a problem child.

But back to that trade and before you give me some half-hearted “what’s a duck worth”, I’ll tell you this…in the two years following the deal, the trio of Astacio, Buchholz and Duckworth played in 76 games and combined for a 6.42 ERA with Houston.

In that same time, Wagner appeared in 120 games, collected 59 saves and had an ERA of 1.86 with Philadelphia. Unfortunately, repeated criticism of his teammates helped make Wagner’s stint in the City of Brotherly Love a short one.

Philadelphia’s National League East rival Mets were the next stop for Wagner. By many accounts, it was a combination of a 2008 season ending injury and a bad attitude that led New York to sign Francisco Rodriguez and, eventually, place Wagner on waivers.

“I don’t want to end my career as a set-up man,” Wagner said while the Mets looked for potential suitors. “I’d like to have that option (to close).”

Apparently, Boston missed that memo and once Wagner agreed to it, they picked him up and used him as just that…a set-up man for their closer Jonathan Papelbon. Red Sox fans know how that ballad ended Sunday afternoon.

So what’s next for the flame throwing lefty?

He can enter the free agent market this off season and see if there is a team out there willing to take their chances with a 38 year-old closer.

Or, he can retire now, 15 saves short of 400 (his last one coming on July 29, 2008) and seemingly enter Cooperstown at second place on the all-time list of saves by a lefty.

That being said…the BBWAA has been tough on those with what appear to be Hall of Fame numbers, but a piss poor attitude.

Only time will tell.

***Recently The Hall asked “who is the game’s best closer”…67% of you responded Mariano Rivera, 10% said Trevor Hoffman and Dennis Eckersley, 5% said Goose Gossage, 3% answered Rollie Fingers while no one said Bruce Sutter.***

Shawn also writes for The Hall of Very Good(HOVG). If you liked this article, please follow the link to the HOVG and tell them the Drs. sent you!

« Previous Page — Next Page »