Happy Birthday Mariano Rivera! Number 42 turns 42 today! Rivera is the last player to wear this number, which is fitting. I also think it is fitting that when Jackie Robinson is honored and everyone wears #42, I (and hopefully you) will think of Rivera as well.
I never thought he would still be pitching, let alone be so effective at this age. This is the last year of this contract, but if I am the Yankees I let him know that as long as he wants to pitch (Mo won’t stay if he is not effective) we will pay him. I get the feeling that going out at the age of 42, his and JR’s number, might be the way he wants to go out?
As for how effective Mo was this year, he was still one of the best closers in the game. His OPS against was 2nd best in baseball behind a NL pitcher Craig Kimbrel from Atlanta. First, while Kimbrel had a great year (46 saves and a 14.84 K/9 ahead of Robertson) he did have 8 blown saves (but only 3 losses). Mo had 5 blown saves but only 2 losses so both these guys did blow some games, but gave their teams chances of winning after the blown save. While Valverde had a great 49 saves without a blown save, he did have 4 losses along with getting pummeled in the playoffs even if not losing to the Yanks.
Bottom line is Rivera is still at the top of the position and just like other years, there may be a person or 2 who has better/similar years, they come and go while Rivera is always at the top…pretty amazing. Mo had his worst year from an OPS standpoint in 2007; his worst could have been many guys best. 30 saves with 4 blown and an OPS of .644. For perspective CC’s OPS against for the 3 years with the Yankees is about .660.
To give you an idea of how dominant Mo has been I was trying to find some stats about OPS against for pitchers for their career; I would bet he is #1 (I should be able to get this but for some reason I am having trouble – if anyone has it please send it)
The best I could do was Adjusted ERA+ per the below…Almost comical how great he is and has been…and we are not even discussing the amazing post season numbers.
For instance, if the average ERA in the league is 4.00, and the pitcher is pitching in a ballpark that favors hitters, and his ERA is 4.00, then his ERA+ will be over 100. Likewise, if the average ERA in the league is 3.00, and the pitcher is pitching in a ballpark favoring pitchers, and the pitcher's ERA is 3.00, then the pitcher's ERA+ will be below 100.
As a result, ERA+ can be used to compare pitchers across different run environments. In the above example, the first pitcher may have performed better than the second pitcher, even though his ERA is higher. ERA+ can be used to account for this misleading impression.
Minimum of 1000 IP, 3000 PA, 500 games (fielding), 200 stolen base attempts (catchers) or 100 decisions for career and active leaderboards for rate statistics.
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Adjusted ERA+ | Throws |
| 1. | Mariano Rivera (17, 41) | 206 | R |
| 2. | Pedro Martinez (18) | 154 | R |
| 3. | Jim Devlin (5) | 151 | R |
| 4. | Lefty Grove+ (17) | 148 | L |
| 5. | Walter Johnson+ (21) | 147 | R |
| | Dan Quisenberry (12) | 147 | R |
| | Hoyt Wilhelm+ (21) | 147 | R |
| 8. | Ed Walsh+ (14) | 146 | R |
| | Smoky Joe Wood (14) | 146 | R |
| 10. | Roger Clemens (24) | 143 | R |
BTW, Bobby Valentine appears to be the Red Sox manager; I am good with that as I am not that impressed with him. I don't think he studies the statistical side of the game enough. The Red Sox will be a force for the same reasons the Yankees are (payroll) though.
No comments:
Post a Comment