Best Season by a Relief Pitcher?

[jaysblue]

I've been bored this morning, and this idea came up in my head. Who would you say? Eric Gagne in 2003? He posted a 4.4 WAR which is pretty crazy coming from a closer. According to Fangraphs, Gagne's 2003 season was more valuable than EE in 2012 and 2013. Just can't fathom it. Was Gagne's 2003 season the best we've ever seen from a reliever? Thoughts...

[GD]

B.J. Ryan had a season that was up there IIRC.

[TBJ12]

B.J. Ryan had a season that was up there IIRC.

 

His best season was 2004 when he put up 3.3 WAR. He only saved 3 games that season.

[G-Snarls]

Best I can remember off hand is Dennis Eckersley 1992

 

Of course, *part* of the reason it is so memorable to a Jays fan is cause of:

 

[Abomination]

I think my vote might go to Kimbrel in 2012, who somehow managed a 0.88 xFIP and 0.654 WHIP (only 3.9 hits / 9). He and Gagne are the only two in the discussion though imo.

[GD]

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=y&type=3&season=2013&month=0&season1=1947&ind=1&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=7,d

 

Couple Blue Jays up there. Eichhorn and Ryan.

[jaysblue]

I think my vote might go to Kimbrel in 2012, who somehow managed a 0.88 xFIP and 0.654 WHIP (only 3.9 hits / 9). He and Gagne are the only two in the discussion though imo.

 

Only 27 hits allowed in 62.2 innings - that's amazing. Kimbrel for sure has been in that discussion over the past 3 seasons. Gagne only lasted 3 years as an elite closer I believe, so Kimbrel has a good chance if he stays healthy to be one of the best relievers in baseball along with Rivera.

[Nox]

He and Gagne are the only two in the discussion though imo.

 

This.

[jaysblue]

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=y&type=3&season=2013&month=0&season1=1947&ind=1&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=7,d

 

Couple Blue Jays up there. Eichhorn and Ryan.

 

I know relievers back in the day would throw multiple innings easily and weren't babied. Eichhorn threw 157 innings that season haha.

 

Who was the last reliever (making no starts) to throw 100 innings or more all in relief?

[jaysblue]

Dotel threw 97.1 innings in 2002 all in relief. Before he threw over 100 though he made some starts those seasons.

 

Lidge also threw 94 innings in 2004 and 85 in 2003. Hardly see those IP totals from relievers these days.

[Grant77]

Dotel threw 97.1 innings in 2002 all in relief. Before he threw over 100 though he made some starts those seasons.

 

Lidge also threw 94 innings in 2004 and 85 in 2003. Hardly see those IP totals from relievers these days.

 

Not true. Anthony Swarzak threw 96 innings of relief just this year, it's not all that uncommon. Even closer types like Jim Johnson have thrown 90+ recently.

 

As for the last pitcher to throw 100 innings of relief, it was Scott Proctor in 2006.

[Grant77]

Too slow. Reported.

[Abomination]

How about worst season? Has to be 2010 Brian Tallet.

 

Yeah, that was horrific. I might have to go with Chacon though in 2004.

[Abomination]

Yeah, that was horrific. I might have to go with Chacon though in 2004.

 

Man that Chacon season was bad. 6.31 xFIP, 7.11 ERA, 7.39 BB/9, 1.942 WHIP, and still put up 35 saves lol. How the hell did he keep his job that long to even manage that?

[jaysblue]

Not true. Anthony Swarzak threw 96 innings of relief just this year, it's not all that uncommon. Even closer types like Jim Johnson have thrown 90+ recently.

 

As for the last pitcher to throw 100 innings of relief, it was Scott Proctor in 2006.

 

Thanks. I always thought of him as a starter/swing man type of pitcher. 48 games all in relief this season and he posted solid peripherals. Johnson threw 91 in 2011.

 

Ah yes Scott Proctor in 2006, completely forgot about him.

[Grant77]

It makes me cringe just thinking about that season.

[jaysblue]

Yeah, that was horrific. I might have to go with Chacon though in 2004.

 

That was awful. I'm shocked he stayed the whole season in the closers role. You're telling me that they didn't have anyone else to try in the role lol?

[Grant77]

Hurl had Swarzak in the premier league, I was secretly jealous for the second half of the season. He was money.

[jaysblue]

Hurl had Swarzak in the premier league, I was secretly jealous for the second half of the season. He was money.

 

Hurl loves relievers with SP eligibility.

[The_DH]

Mike Marshall of the dodgers did something like 208 innings all in relief.

[Jays]

Mike Marshall of the dodgers did something like 208 innings all in relief.

 

The Jays are going to need a guy like that next year the way the rotation is now.

[Grant77]

Mike Marshall of the dodgers did something like 208 innings all in relief.

 

He earned a Cy Young Award for that performance. I find it so difficult to compare a season like that to what Kimbrel did. Equally impressive in some ways.

[Sammy225]

How about worst season? Has to be 2010 Brian Tallet.

 

Remember when he got a chance to save a game for us. That was a great memory.

[Jays]

Remember when he got a chance to save a game for us. That was a great memory.

 

He vowed to go balls to the wall thenceforth.

[Cooler Heads Prevail]

I think my vote might go to Kimbrel in 2012, who somehow managed a 0.88 xFIP and 0.654 WHIP (only 3.9 hits / 9). He and Gagne are the only two in the discussion though imo.

 

No one was better then Eckersley in his best years. Check out 1989 and 1990 for example ( 7 walks allowed combined ).

[Grant77]

Eckersley best K% 30.1%

Kimbrel 2012 50.2%

 

No one touches Kimbrel 2012.

 

Any theories as to why the relief pitcher landscape has changed so much in recent years? Eckersley didn't have guys like Kenley Jansen right behind him. At first glance his perfornance seems almost as impressive, relative to his peers.

[Grant77]

If that is the case, it makes it extremely difficult to compare relief pitchers from different eras. They generally don't have much control over usage.

[jaysblue]

Any theories as to why the relief pitcher landscape has changed so much in recent years? Eckersley didn't have guys like Kenley Jansen right behind him. At first glance his perfornance seems almost as impressive, relative to his peers.

 

It's kind of difficult to compare relievers over this past decade vs. the 70s and 80s, since the landscape has changed so much. Guys like Goose Gossage would come out of the bullpen and pitch 2-3 inning to notch the save. To me that's impressive since most relievers these day burn out after 30 pitches in an outing.

[jaysblue]

Mike Marshall 1974 season:

 

15-12, 2.42 ERA, 106 games, 208.1 innings, 191 hits, 9 HR, 56 BB, 143 K's to go along with 21 saves and finishing 83 games. Just absurd lol.

[Cooler Heads Prevail]

Eckersley best K% 30.1%

Kimbrel 2012 50.2%

 

No one touches Kimbrel 2012.

 

Apparently though despite those gaudy strikeout rates in 2012 Kimbrel allowed more guys to get on base ( and eventually score ) then Eckersley in 1990. So your stat seems to lack any relevancy at all.