predatorkj
Active member
- Aug 7, 2008
- 11,871
- 2
SamHell said:scotty21690 said:The lack of Cys and ASGs goes to show that he was never a dominant pitcher. He was an above average pitcher for many years.
Over 22 seasons the only worthwhile catagories he has led was: SHO(3), SO(1), ERA+(1), WHIP(1), and SO/BB(3).
He was a great pitcher for many years, but overall borderline for the HOF. I would not be disappointed to see him make it into the HOF, but considering he has not made it in yet questions why should he make it in now? (It would not surprise me though, because it seems as if this year there are no real strong candidates)
I guess we have different opinions on dominant and what is valuable. Throwing a shutout is about as dominant as you can get(No hitters and perfect games aside.) Blyleven has 60 of them for 9th overall. Everybody else in the top 20 is in the HOF.
As for CY's...
Mark Davis, Jim Lonborg, LaMarr Hoyt, Pat Hentgen and Steve Stone all have won it. Is that going to be the only measurement for HOF?
ASG's...Doug Jones and Cookie Rojas went to 5. Are they more qualified than Blyleven?
I will agree Blyleven is not a slam dunk HOF'er but some people calling him mediocre and just 'pretty good' is carrying it a bit too far.
Well...I don't think people understand what it takes to be that good ,or even decent, for that long. If a ball player, especially a pitcher, can even last that long its a testament to their abilities. Even relief pitchers don't make it that long most of the time. You have to continually be decent to even play every year. Otherwise you get seen as old and washed up and nobody wants you.
Look at his innings. Most people's arm would fall off. Look at his complete games compared to his games started. He finished more than 1/3 of every game he started. Dude's got 3,701 strikeouts. Name me another pitcher with that many who isn't(or won't be) in the HOF. A 3.31 ERA. over 22 seasons? This guy has an excellent body of work. Over 22 freaking years.