Eovaldi to join bullpen this weekend

[Kimmi]

The more I think about this move , the more I like it . It will be better for the bullpen, better for the team , better for the manager and better for Eovaldi . If you called central casting for a closer ; they would send over Eovaldi . This will work out great .

 

Just curious, why is Eovaldi the perfect closer for this team? Is he a proven closer? How many saves does the guy have?

[Kimmi]

Exactly. He could be fantastic. There's a good chance he will be. Maybe not 50%+ but a good chance.

 

I do think the odds are better than 50-50 he'll be good to great. It's probably 3:1 he'll be better than what we've had, so far.

 

It is possible that he will do a great job. At the very least, he will help with the lack of depth.

[dgalehouse]

Just curious, why is Eovaldi the perfect closer for this team? Is he a proven closer? How many saves does the guy have?

 

He just seems to me like the prototypical closer . Obviously , he still has to prove it . Hope he doesn't disappoint .

[devildavid]

Eovaldi is not the prototypical anything as a pitcher. He is a journeyman with a history of injury and inconsistency. A classic case of unfulfilled potential. I don't pin any hopes on him coming to the rescue for a team with deeper problems than the lack of a closer.

[dgalehouse]

My prediction: Eovaldi will find his true calling as a closer . He will succeed , find his niche and never return to starting .

[TylerD]

My prediction: Eovaldi will find his true calling as a closer . He will succeed , find his niche and never return to starting .

 

I like it. He will become the greatest closer of all time!

[dgalehouse]

I like it. He will become the greatest closer of all time!

 

I don't know about that . That guy will be in Cooperstown tomorrow. But , here on July 20 , our saves leader , with a grand total of seven saves , is now pitching for Pawtucket. That is an embarrassment. Eovaldi will be a major improvement.

[jung]

According to OB, Mariano Rivera should be under consideration for greatest pitcher of all time. I suspect OB posts here under some moniker or another.

[jacksonianmarch]

Rivera is the greatest pitcher of all time. His regular season record is astounding. His post season record is astronomical. He threw the equivalent of 2 full reliever seasons (140IP) yet allowed less batter to score on him than men who’ve walked on the moon

[Bellhorn04]

Rivera is the greatest pitcher of all time. His regular season record is astounding. His post season record is astronomical. He threw the equivalent of 2 full reliever seasons (140IP) yet allowed less batter to score on him than men who’ve walked on the moon

 

Greatest relief pitcher.

 

If he was the greatest pitcher he would have been a starter.

[moonslav59]

The best thing about Eovaldi is that his addition to the 25 man roster will knock Weber off it.

 

I'd still look to trade for a solid RP this minute and knock the next clown off. Give the team 10 days to win or be sold off piece by piece.

[jung]

Greatest relief pitcher.

 

If he was the greatest pitcher he would have been a starter.

 

If OB had said greatest relief pitcher, I would have been fine with that. The history of relief pitchers of merit is short enough to make that claim. Greatest pitcher of all time....an utter LAUGH!

[moonslav59]

If OB had said greatest relief pitcher, I would have been fine with that. The history of relief pitchers of merit is short enough to make that claim. Greatest pitcher of all time....an utter LAUGH!

 

I know! To think anyone can believe a guy that is great for one inning sixty to sixty-five times a year can ever be greater than guys who go 6-9 innings 30-40 times a year is an absurd joke.

 

Now, if he wanted to argue that he was the best at getting a batter out, there might be room for debate.

 

"Best ever" is not only off the table, it's not even in the dining room or the house, for that matter.

[Slasher9]

Rivera is the greatest pitcher of all time. His regular season record is astounding. His post season record is astronomical.

 

Lol. Not even close.

He watched 1 World Series end with him on the L and was a big part in providing the choke job in 2004 helping our beloved Red Sox break the curse. I was there for the standing ovation and hat tip in 2005....

He was a good relief pitcher. A 1 trick pony if you will. But that shot of him laying on the ground after mueller burned him is EPIC

[a700hitter]

Lol. Not even close.

He watched 1 World Series end with him on the L and was a big part in providing the choke job in 2004 helping our beloved Red Sox break the curse. I was there for the standing ovation and hat tip in 2005....

He was a good relief pitcher. A 1 trick pony if you will. But that shot of him laying on the ground after mueller burned him is EPIC

Possibly the best 1 inning pitcher, but not the best pitcher — a one trick pony.

[Bellhorn04]

Rivera was pretty awesome at what he did, though. And he could pitch the multiple innings when needed. He pitched 3 innings in the Grady-Pedro game.

[illinoisredsox]

Rivera was pretty awesome at what he did, though. And he could pitch the multiple innings when needed. He pitched 3 innings in the Grady-Pedro game.

 

I agree. But even the GOAT is a goat once in a while; all it means is he was human.

 

My vote for best pitcher of all time is for Walter Johnson. 400+ wins for basically mediocre Senators teams (in an era when wins meant something for a pitcher) 110 shutouts. A career ERA just north of 2.00 and he held the strike out record for over 50 years. All while throwing just fastballs ( they say he very occasionally mixed in a curve). It’s also said he was deathly afraid of hurting someone and rarely threw inside.

[dgalehouse]

Saying that Mariano Rivera is the greatest reliever of all time is almost in the no brainer category . You cannot make a good argument otherwise . However , no closer , no matter how good , could be called the greatest pitcher of all time . It doesn't go with the territory . Like in football , a defensive back, no matter how good , could ever be considered the greatest player of all time . It just doesn't work that way .

[moonslav59]

There are literally dozens of pitchers I'd rank higher than Mo.

[dgalehouse]

There are literally dozens of pitchers I'd rank higher than Mo.

 

How many relievers ?

[OH FOY]

Nope, if I was going to start a team, and I have a choice of all Closers, Fingers, Hoffman, Quisenberry, so many, I'm taking Mo. 2 Pitches, and he was almost unhittable for 1 inning, sometimes a little more.

Man, could he keep his cool. Perfect for a Closer.

[OH FOY]

107 innings 1 HR, one year by Mo. 1283 innings 71 HRS. 1 for every 18 innings. When your a Closer and go 1 inning, that's not bad. Edited July 20, 2019 by OH FOY!

[moonslav59]

How many relievers ?

 

None. That's easy.

[Bellhorn04]

There are literally dozens of pitchers I'd rank higher than Mo.

 

But, if you were going to put together the best possible pitching staff, Mo would be on it.

[notin]

But, if you were going to put together the best possible pitching staff, Mo would be on it.

 

I think I want my closer to be Billy Wagner. The dude was 5’9 and threw 100mph with his weak arm!

 

That’s just ridiculous...

[Bellhorn04]

I think I want my closer to be Billy Wagner. The dude was 5’9 and threw 100mph with his weak arm!

 

That’s just ridiculous...

 

Yeah but he chocked against the Angels in 2009...

[notin]

Yeah but he chocked against the Angels in 2009...

 

Yes but Rivera would have, too, if he threw left-handed...

[Slasher9]

Yeah but he chocked against the Angels in 2009...

 

I heart you.

[Kimmi]

He just seems to me like the prototypical closer . Obviously , he still has to prove it . Hope he doesn't disappoint .

 

I am sure he will help the pen. He might even be a very good closer. I hope that's the case.

 

I just don't get your arguments that we need a proven closer and that not anyone can close, to Eovaldi being the guy.

[Kimmi]

My prediction: Eovaldi will find his true calling as a closer . He will succeed , find his niche and never return to starting .

 

I certainly hope not. If he doesn't return to starting, that will be a very ill-advised contract.