Who's the secomd greatest closer in MLB history?

[stevenash]

As great as Eck was and Goose was I gotta go with Trevor Hoffman.
Hoff was consistently dominant for 18 years.

p.s. I don't want to hear Billy Wagner, Wagner gave up 13 earned runs in 11 post season innings.
That's horseshit.

[Heltah Skeltah]

Hoffman seemed to always blow the game in a big spot . That being said he still ranked high. Although not close to the great Rivera.

[KRIT]

Trevor Hoffman.

But isn't it kind of a skewed category? Saves didn't come around til like 40 years ago. My dad is a baseball historian and always tells me about how guys would go complete games like it was nothing back in the day. Teams didn't use the pen like they do today, which is why most of the greatest closers are going to be guys from the last 20 years. If Kimbrell pitches into his late 30's or 40's, he could end up as the second best.

Pretty sure my dad has told me stories about how guys used to pitch both double header games, sometimes going a complete game in both. Guys these days need to toughen up.

[VeggieDog]

Rick Vaughn.

[KRIT]

Waits for someone to say Fernando Rodney.

[GzaTheGenius]

It's conference championship Sunday, no one cares right now

[ABEHONEST]

You fellow's are way too young to know the answer.

Got to be kidding me?
The best of all-time may have played 35/45 years ago.

[The Kraken]

It's conference championship Sunday, no one cares right now

No shit, Trump is still president, crypto markets are open, NFL Sunday and we're here talking baseball. I mean, baseball. Baseball, man. Fukking baseball. Nobody cares about baseball

[ABEHONEST]

No shit, trump is still president, crypto markets are open, nfl sunday and we're here talking baseball. I mean, baseball. Baseball, man. Fukking baseball. Nobody cares about baseball

wrong!

[pavyracer]

50 years or more ago the starters closed the games by going 9 innings.

[cincinnatikid513]

eric gagne

[Clutchut12]

Jose Mesa

[daneblazer]

Kevin Gregg

[ABEHONEST]

Was Bob Gibson #1? He was a beast.

[franklee168]

Gary Lavelle

[stevenash]

Trevor Hoffman.

But isn't it kind of a skewed category? Saves didn't come around til like 40 years ago. My dad is a baseball historian and always tells me about how guys would go complete games like it was nothing back in the day. Teams didn't use the pen like they do today, which is why most of the greatest closers are going to be guys from the last 20 years. If Kimbrell pitches into his late 30's or 40's, he could end up as the second best.

Pretty sure my dad has told me stories about how guys used to pitch both double header games, sometimes going a complete game in both. Guys these days need to toughen up.

Back in the day guys like Goose got three inning saves.
Mo had one pitch, the cutter, every batter knew what was coming and couldn't touch it for two decades.
Incredible.

[stevenash]

It's conference championship Sunday, no one cares right now

I know, but I thought I'd change it up for a couple of hours before the first kick off.

[stevenash]

Was Bob Gibson #1? He was a beast.

I loved Gibby, but he didn't close.

[stevenash]

Waits for someone to say Fernando Rodney.

No love for Rob Nenn?

[ABEHONEST]

Little confusing? But Gibson would be my pick at holding a 1 run lead for the last 5 innings. He threw tornadoes when it was called for.

[KRIT]

No love for Rob Nenn?

Sure he is somewhere up there. Either way the saves category just doesn't do anything for me. It's like talking about the greatest 3 point shooters in NBA history, you are basically going to ignore a big portion of the sports history. When people think of saves, it's Mariano and then everyone else. 25 years from now most of the top 10 saves guys will come from guys were are watching right now.

[KVB]

Usually the NFL comes up during baseball season, a good break from the grind, but to have MLB come up on Championship Sunday? Could be a first.

Nasher, any bets today?

I took the Jags, for some reason a love getting punished by the Pats every year.

Good Luck.

[stevenash]

Little confusing? But Gibson would be my pick at holding a 1 run lead for the last 5 innings. He threw tornadoes when it was called for.

Gibson single handlely changed the game after his 1968 season.
Yes, he threw bullets every start.
He went 21 and 9 in 1968 7 of those nine losses Cards scored 2 runs or less.
He threw five consecutive shutouts, and on and on.

[stevenash]

Usually the NFL comes up during baseball season, a good break from the grind, but to have MLB come up on Championship Sunday? Could be a first.

Nasher, any bets today?

I took the Jags, for some reason a love getting punished by the Pats every year.

Good Luck.

Vikes -3 and I just went very large on the under of the Pats game.

[ABEHONEST]

Gibson single handlely changed the game after his 1968 season.
Yes, he threw bullets every start.
He went 21 and 9 in 1968 7 of those nine losses Cards scored 2 runs or less.
He threw five consecutive shutouts, and on and on.

Good for you, Stevie.

[slayer14]

[KVB]

Good Luck Nash.

[stevenash]

Bob Gibson striking out 17 in the world seriies.
I loved it when he struck out Stargell for a no hitter.
Stargell was one of the best power hitters that ever lived.

[stevenash]

Good Luck Nash.

Thanks, right back at ya too.

[stevek173]

Rags

[stealthyburrito]

Buyng-yun Kim for the 2001 diamondbacks.

Easy

Edit: fukk someone beat me to it and I didn't even get the name remotely correct

[stevenash]

Rags

I loved Rags too, but he fell apart in 1991 (I think) his last four years were horseshit.
He was lights out in the mid 80's.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/righeda01.shtml

[jjgold]

The greatest was Riviera of Yanks

Not even a discussion, did it on the biggest stage and dominated like no other

[krk1030]

Comparing different time periods in sports is pointless.

For the sake of the thread, keep it to modern closers in the 1-2 inning role.

[Mr KLC]

Billy Wagner