OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Is a starting pitcher with a losing record hof worthy?

Pelican · 08-29-2023, 09:13 AM

I appreciate the comments criticizing my [over]statement that “a pitcher’s job is to win”. Of course it’s the job of all players, the field manager, the GM, the owner, the clubhouse attendant. I get that. What I was getting at is that SP in particular have a more direct role in that. A versatile SP can dial it up in a close game against a stingy opponent SP. And can relax a bit and hold off the other side for seven innings and win 6-4 or 8-6. Good ones can.

Last night, Tajuan Walker did not have his best stuff for the Phils against the Angels. Fortunately for him it was the Halos minus their best player; although Mickey Moniak did a decent Trout imitation. Walker pitched just well enough to keep the Phils ahead through six innings. The bullpen did the rest. An insurance run helped. Walker has been doing that all year, and he has 14 wins. No, Tajuan Walker will never be in the HOF. But a guy who put up fifteen seasons like Walker’s year would probably deserve it. That’s my point.

Guys with sexy stats but losing records probably do not pitch well in clutch situations. Yeah, I know that’s a gross generalization, and it won’t always be true. But you need a SP who can tailor his approach to the game situation, and reach back for that pitch when he needs it. You can’t slip and give up a gopher ball in a close game. And you need to pitch through adversity and bad stuff, when your team is scoring runs in bunches.

I may be biased because I suffered through the deGrom Cy Young year with him on my fantasy team. Believe me, there were plenty of games he coulda/shoulda/woulda won that year. Every close game he lost was a swing of thirty points for the Dancing Bears (no 20 for the win; instead -10 for the loss). Granted, our scoring system placed too much emphasis on wins and losses (and saves, also 20 points). But I thought that giving him that award was an insult to guys who pitched better in close games for their teams. (It was seen as a huge victory for sabremetrics and Moneyball.) I’m a fan of modern exotic stats, or some of them; but the fact is you have to win the games.

08-29-2023, 09:13 AM	#23
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 3,249	I appreciate the comments criticizing my [over]statement that “a pitcher’s job is to win”. Of course it’s the job of all players, the field manager, the GM, the owner, the clubhouse attendant. I get that. What I was getting at is that SP in particular have a more direct role in that. A versatile SP can dial it up in a close game against a stingy opponent SP. And can relax a bit and hold off the other side for seven innings and win 6-4 or 8-6. Good ones can. Last night, Tajuan Walker did not have his best stuff for the Phils against the Angels. Fortunately for him it was the Halos minus their best player; although Mickey Moniak did a decent Trout imitation. Walker pitched just well enough to keep the Phils ahead through six innings. The bullpen did the rest. An insurance run helped. Walker has been doing that all year, and he has 14 wins. No, Tajuan Walker will never be in the HOF. But a guy who put up fifteen seasons like Walker’s year would probably deserve it. That’s my point. Guys with sexy stats but losing records probably do not pitch well in clutch situations. Yeah, I know that’s a gross generalization, and it won’t always be true. But you need a SP who can tailor his approach to the game situation, and reach back for that pitch when he needs it. You can’t slip and give up a gopher ball in a close game. And you need to pitch through adversity and bad stuff, when your team is scoring runs in bunches. I may be biased because I suffered through the deGrom Cy Young year with him on my fantasy team. Believe me, there were plenty of games he coulda/shoulda/woulda won that year. Every close game he lost was a swing of thirty points for the Dancing Bears (no 20 for the win; instead -10 for the loss). Granted, our scoring system placed too much emphasis on wins and losses (and saves, also 20 points). But I thought that giving him that award was an insult to guys who pitched better in close games for their teams. (It was seen as a huge victory for sabremetrics and Moneyball.) I’m a fan of modern exotic stats, or some of them; but the fact is you have to win the games. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.” Last edited by Pelican; 08-29-2023 at 09:15 AM.