You turn and tap your arm at the all-time Jay bullpen. Who are you calling on for that last three outs?
Ryan '06 | 37 (18.23%) |
Ward '93 | 65 (32.02%) |
Henke '87 | 93 (45.81%) |
Koch '01 | 3 (1.48%) |
Escobar '02 | 1 (0.49%) |
Timlin '96 | 0 (0.00%) |
McLaughlin '81 | 0 (0.00%) |
Cruz '78 | 0 (0.00%) |
Other (please specify) | 4 (1.97%) |
203 votes | 9 featured comments
Yes... I chose the '89 Henke over the '87, but still clicked in the '87 spot. Henke never had a bad year anyway, so I can't go wrong really, but in '89 he was really at the top of his game.
I chose Ward, because I can't remember anyone having a more dominant looking pitch than that 90+ mph slider; it sometimes seemed to start behind a right handed hitter and swoop across the plate, down and sideways. Insane movement, kinda' like the Kerry Wood pitch that broke Wood's arm years later. I was always shocked when someone hit the ball off him. Of course, it throwing it likely wrecked his arm...but hey, I only need three outs.
I'm a Henke fan myself too, but always loved using Cruz '78 in video games as the closer.
Just 20 years old, a right hander, he K'd 51 in 47 1/3 IP that year. Sadly he also walked 35. He was traded that winter to Cleveland for Alfredo Griffen and Phil Lansford. In the winter of 1980 he'd be traded (with others) for Bert Blyleven. He actually was effective elsewhere but never really took hold in the majors and was out of MLB by the end of his age 25 season.
Just 20 years old, a right hander, he K'd 51 in 47 1/3 IP that year. Sadly he also walked 35. He was traded that winter to Cleveland for Alfredo Griffen and Phil Lansford. In the winter of 1980 he'd be traded (with others) for Bert Blyleven. He actually was effective elsewhere but never really took hold in the majors and was out of MLB by the end of his age 25 season.
I voted 'other'.
Mark Eichhorn, 1986.
You had to see him to believe him.
Mark Eichhorn, 1986.
You had to see him to believe him.
Duane Ward in '93 was hard to hit...and close to impossible to hit hard. Devastating setup man in '92, too.
Joey McLaughlin might have been the first Jay I ever booed.
For me it has to be Duane Ward. I always loved to watch him pitch, he had devastating stuff and was a very intimidating figure on the mound. Too bad he couldn't have a few more years of that type of dominance.
I gotta agree with Matthew. Mark Eichorn - 1986 may be the greatest relief season by a pitcher ever.
B.J. Ryan is having a terrific year, but could he pitch 157 innings in a season?
B.J. Ryan is having a terrific year, but could he pitch 157 innings in a season?
How about this relief season:
85.3IP, 20BB, 69K, 1.37 ERA
That's the left over stats after you take Mark Eichorn's 1986 and subtract out Duane Ward's 1993.
Eichorn's 1986 was equivalent to having both Ward '93 and Ryan '06 in the bullpen at the same time.
85.3IP, 20BB, 69K, 1.37 ERA
That's the left over stats after you take Mark Eichorn's 1986 and subtract out Duane Ward's 1993.
Eichorn's 1986 was equivalent to having both Ward '93 and Ryan '06 in the bullpen at the same time.
Eichhorn's great year was a sight to behold. I remember the Red Sox with a deadly lineup looking like little leaguers against him late in the season, swinging at pitches that looked to be a foot off the plate.
Sadly, Jimy Williams ran the team thus didn't get Eich the innings needed to win the ERA crown (the Jays played a double header to end the year, so it wouldn't have been hard). Eich didn't want to steal the pitchers triple crown from Clemens as I recall, but someone else already claimed the strikeout title so he might as well have gone for it. I suspect Cito would've told Eich to go for it as he'd never have another shot at it.
Sadly, Jimy Williams ran the team thus didn't get Eich the innings needed to win the ERA crown (the Jays played a double header to end the year, so it wouldn't have been hard). Eich didn't want to steal the pitchers triple crown from Clemens as I recall, but someone else already claimed the strikeout title so he might as well have gone for it. I suspect Cito would've told Eich to go for it as he'd never have another shot at it.