Trevor Hoffman, the long time closer for the San Diego Padres and now current closer for the Milwaukee Brewers, blew the save once again this season on Wednesday vs. the Pirates. This is his 4th blown save this season in 7 attempts. He has allowed 15 earned runs in only 9 innings pitched, leaving him with an ERA of 13.00. 15 earned runs is already more than he had given up last season(11). It is clear that Hoffman is nearing the end of his career, but what will Hoffman be remembered best for?
Trevor is the all-time save leaders with 594. With such a high number of saves and only 46 blown saves, it would seem that Hoffman was destined to go down as the greatest closer of all-time. However, this is not the case.
To call Hoffman not clutch is not the exact term. By definition, coming into a game with a lead anywhere from 1-3 runs means you are in a clutch situation. However, when it is a live or die situation, Hoffman seems to struggle.
See the 1998 World Series vs. the Yankees, Hoffman enters game 3 at home with the lead, and the hopes of the Padres are resting on his shoulders. Hoffman blows the game, and the Padres get swept. Then see the 2006 All Star game. Hoffman enters in the 9th with the NL up by 1 and looking for their first win in a decade. Hoffman blows the game by giving up 2 runs, including a triple to Michael Young and the NL loses. Lastly see the 2007 one game playoff between the Padres and the Rockies. It was a winner-take-all situation. The Padres scored 2 in the top of the 13th, and seemed destine to make the playoffs. That is until Hoffman comes in and blows the game, allowing a sac-fly that scores Matt Holliday on his famous chin-slide to score and beat the Padres.
So Hoffman may be a Hall of Famer, but he is far from the great Mariano. Anyone who can argue that Hoffman is anywhere near Mariano clearly is misinformed about baseball. Rivera has shined in the spotlight for years, while Hoffman goes under the radar in San Diego and then blows big games. Sorry Trevor, but I'm just not a fan.
Amen to that. Hoffman joins the long list of overrated closers who accumulate saves by pitching one inning to end a game. He falls into the same category as Lee Smith, John Franco and Billy Wagner. They're good in May games against the Pirates and Marlins but come up small in big games. Turn out Hells Bells.
ReplyDeleteHoffman is that great example of the right situation for the right guy. It's a shame that Benitez blows big games for the Mets and his career ends, and this guy has always blown huge games and he is a San Diego icon.
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