ESPN Package on Closers and MVP voting
–Me, on why Francisco Rodriguez would be a terrible MVP choice.
–Me, on some of the worst MVP picks of the past 50 years.
–Jim Caple, on why closer is the most overrated position in sports.
–Jim Baker, on extreme relief stats.
Loved the Caple and Baker pieces, both definitely warrant a read (Caple’s Rosa Parks reference had me cackling). As for that Keri guy…whatever.
I do have to say that the conclusion of my K-Rod piece was fun to write, though:
So to review:
There’s compelling evidence that Francisco Rodriguez isn’t doing much more than converting a couple more chances than the typical closer or seeing the same success rate as at least three or four other closers. Based on other metrics, you can make a good case he isn’t even the best closer in the league. And even if he is the best closer in the league, his value still falls well short of the value of hitters such as Sizemore or Hamilton, and starting pitchers who throw three or four times more innings, such as Halladay or Lee.
Or you could argue that Francisco Rodriguez was forged in the fires of Mount Clutch, sent to Anaheim on a winged horse to perform the kind of ninth-inning sorcery that no other mortal could ever hope to achieve.
The K-Rod piece was fun to read as well. My buddy and I both laughed out loud at work when we read the last sentence. Not to mention it’s good to see other people who think the Save stat is entirely overrated.