I have been thinking about it all day…beyond the East Coast Bias, I think we need to consider that Saves are really a new statistic with a lot of people thinking that it is not a real thing, sort of like Holds or GWRBI’s…

If I say numbers like 61*, 755, or 56, you know what I am talking about…if we say 478, nobody would have a clue.

So when I hear Rob Neyer and Alan Schwartz on baseball today talking about Trevor, they mention that the save is trivial. That might have A LOT to do with the lack of mention for Trevor to lead Sportscenter. (Granted, Rob Neyer also predicted that the Pads would choke and not make the playoffs during today’s radio show.)

If I need someone to protect a lead in the bottom of the 9th, no matter who the other team is putting up there, I want Hoffman. Maybe some of those other guys are comparable, probably Rivera, but if that is the criteria, Hoffman would have to 1-3 on that list, without pause.

If you need someone late in the game in a tight situation, other than protecting a lead entering the 9th, Hoffman drops down. He not only never gets used that way, the few times he has, the results have not been nearly as good as the “protect the lead in the 9th” situations. That is where Rivera does really shine.

So it kind of comes down to what a “closer” is. If you allocate protecting a 9th inning lead as most of it, Hoffman is getting short shrift. If you allocate a substantial portion to being able to step into a high-leverage situation that is not just protecting the lead in the 9th, then may be able to sneak a number of people ahead of him. Six ahead of him? Seems a bit much, but if he was 4 or 5 and you had this expanded criteria, I would say that is fair.

That said, think of what we get to see. When Trevor enters the 9th to protect a lead, we are watching someone who is arguably the best of all time at doing that. And we’ve gotten to see it for a long time. The rest of the country’s loss.

So in a near-playoff game we have to put in Thompson? Geez. I would think maybe CHP, but we’ll see how it goes. Don’t like it.

On the Hoffman controversy, I would have to do or read some of the comparisons that others have done. The guys ahead of him are very good, all HOF or future HOF. Hoffman has been used almost exclusively in save situations vs. high-leverage situations, and did not do well in the 1998 series. It seems like he should be higher, but they did put Smith well lower who had the career lead in saves, so it looks like they are discounting the “save” statistic. I am just curious what the statistics they are using instead.

I just love the guy and kind dismiss the coverage he gets as par for the course. I am astounded he has been as consistent as he has been for as long as he has been. For some reason I happen to run into a recent Colorado game. Hoffman had 2nd, 3rd no outs and bases loaded and 1 out and kept them off the board. That win counts as much as the wins for this next week. Loved it.

On Kevin Kennedy’s show he interviewed Hoffy for about 10 minutes.

All the commentators have said recently that they think that the Padres will win the division. They are split on the wild card though.

Personally I would love to see the Pads face the Phils in the 1st round because I live only one hour from Philly and will definitely attempt to get tickets.