My Response to Hubbs' Response About Mariano Rivera Being Unanimous
I’m not gonna talk about this after this blog because I really don’t care. Mo was the best, plain and simple. It’s unfortunate that this conversation has to be had because it’s not his fault he’s in this position, it’s the voters’ fault. He’s the victim of unfortunate circumstance.
But. He’s. A. Fucking. Reliever. Bill James has proven that they’re not as important as the value we as fans and organizations have placed on them over the years.
He’s the best one ever, yes, but a reliever being the hill the voters die on to reprieve themselves of their shitty voting history? It’s weak as fuck. If everyone was so positive that he was 1st ballot and going to be 90% or better, a few voters should have taken one for the team and voted Bonds in, whom is one of the best players in the history of the game, steroids or not.
2 more things:
1. I didn’t slander his career at all. I said he was the best ever, but he did rely, to at least some extent, on his offense and starting rotation putting him in positions to ya know, save games, which he was unbelievable at. *Without looking because I have a sales call in 5 mins* the Yankees had the best record in baseball over the course of his 18 seasons or whatever. Which brings me to point
2. if he were on a dog shit team like the Reds or *Papa Doc alert* the White Sox, had the same filthy cutter, same command, same longevity, he wouldn’t have had an opportunity to rack up save after save after save like he did, because the teams he were on wouldn’t have been winning as many games in the 9th inning. He wouldn’t have been going to the playoffs perennially. He wouldn’t have been in a position to have that .7 or w/e ERA in the post season over 100+ post season innings. That part was largely due to the yankees being a juggernaut and their offense and starting staff allowing him to be in a position to accumulate his save numbers.
Again, I don’t *really* care. That’s exactly why I’ve written two long form blogs on the subject. Proud of Mo. I loved watching him pitch. It’s just… come on. Like I said, it’s just weak to me. But it’s also whatever.
Ya got me on the starting pitcher/cutter development shit. Proud of you for doing your homework
And you can’t possibly agree that if Trout doesn’t get in at 100% it doesn’t make Mo’s vote at least a *little* watered down