HOF debate: Billy Wagner

[kerryfan5]

No.


No.


No.


No.





Does anyone ever look at the name 'Billy Wagner' and think 'Hall of Fame'? No. There's your answer.

I here billy wagner and think post season home runs.

 

[Anthony K.]

As a completely biased Houston Astros fan, I say yes.....eventually.

I think a few others deserve to get in first (Lee Smith is the obvious reliever, in my opinion) and I also think WHEN (not if) Trevor Hoffman gets in, his voter % will reflect on how the HoF committee truly feels about elite closers.

Also, I read back into the thread and noticed John Franco being brought up. He was never an elite closer, just someone who could close out games decently that pitched long enough to rack up plenty of saves. As Jeff said previously, Wagner was an intimidating player on the mound, who threw heat and imposed his will on batters.

I'd argue Wagner is probably one of the 5-10 best relievers of all time (once again though, a completely biased opinion) and probably the 3rd best closer of the past 20 years (which is nothing to yawn at, considering the two best are probably the greatest and second greatest closers of all time).

 

[Matsuicollector]

I will quote myself "...a Closer's job is to save games"....Period end of discussion, does it matter how it is done? A K is an out, same as a 4-3 ground ball...the other stats are fluff.

As far as Smith, when he retired he was the all time Saves leader, he should not be penalized because others passed him since....

I will have to respectfully disagree here. This seems like similar logic to the Cy Young winner being the pitcher with the most wins. Isn't it the SP's job to win games? Take for example Felix Hernandez's Cy Young year when he only had 13 wins. He was the best pitcher in baseball that year and it wasn't his fault that his team didn't perform behind him. Using your rationale, if a player put up that same statistical year Felix had for 15 straight years over a career, that would be less than 200 wins. Looking at the W stat alone, it would be unthinkable to put him in the HOF. However, looking at the body of work, this hypothetical player would be HOF no doubt. I'm not saying, Billy Wagner was THAT dominant, but you can't just compare saves between Wagner and those that came before him to judge HOF worthiness.