- Joined
- Feb 11, 2007
- Messages
- 34,763
- Reaction score
- 561
Haha, now I kinda wish I hadn't sent that "stern" PM to Phil the Thrill a minute ago. O well.
Anyhow, my thoughts:
Mariano is getting older, but you can't use his number of saves as a good judgement of his ability and importance to the team.
He may be turning 41 soon, but he's still the most reliable closer. He may not be the best, as there are younger guys like Wilson and Feliz emerging, but he's still elite, and definitely reliable. I agree with Elite, in that he's still in his prime... it's tough to say, but he's still there. He seems to be pitching better than he was when he was in his early 30s, that so-called "Prime". Through the ages of 30-32, he had ERAs of 2.85, 2.34, 2.74.
Through that same period he had WHIPs of 1.097, 0.905, 1.000. He also walked 25, 12, and 11 batters in those seasons. How does that compare to Mariano in his late 30s up till now?
2008: 1.40 ERA, 6 BBs, 4 HR, 0.665 WHIP
2009: 1.76 ERA, 12 BBs, 7 HR, 0.905 WHIP
2010: 1.80 ERA, 11 BBs, 2 HR, 0.833 WHIP
Saying he's past his prime based on his Saves total and age is actually a terrible assessment. Look at the numbers, they don't lie -- he's as dominant as he's ever been.
Anyhow, my thoughts:
Mariano is getting older, but you can't use his number of saves as a good judgement of his ability and importance to the team.
He may be turning 41 soon, but he's still the most reliable closer. He may not be the best, as there are younger guys like Wilson and Feliz emerging, but he's still elite, and definitely reliable. I agree with Elite, in that he's still in his prime... it's tough to say, but he's still there. He seems to be pitching better than he was when he was in his early 30s, that so-called "Prime". Through the ages of 30-32, he had ERAs of 2.85, 2.34, 2.74.
Through that same period he had WHIPs of 1.097, 0.905, 1.000. He also walked 25, 12, and 11 batters in those seasons. How does that compare to Mariano in his late 30s up till now?
2008: 1.40 ERA, 6 BBs, 4 HR, 0.665 WHIP
2009: 1.76 ERA, 12 BBs, 7 HR, 0.905 WHIP
2010: 1.80 ERA, 11 BBs, 2 HR, 0.833 WHIP
Saying he's past his prime based on his Saves total and age is actually a terrible assessment. Look at the numbers, they don't lie -- he's as dominant as he's ever been.
