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Friday, January 09, 2009

Fack Youk: Miiiiiiichael Kay, Is On The Radio Today

And he’s signaling Planet Shatzner to start their deadly Zorflesaucer attack!

Well today (not during the baseball season), I was about an hour into my quest for a parking spot when my FM transmitter went AWOL, and I flipped on 1050 just in time to hear Michael start talking about the Brewers’ acquisition of Trevor Hoffman. I’m going to do my best to paraphrase what he said. Being that this was about an hour ago, and I may have temporarily blacked out from rage, it may not be completely accurate. But here is the gist it:

“What are the Brewers thinking signing Trevor Hoffman? This guy…The guy is not a clutch pitcher. He’s blown every big game he’s been in [lists off several postseason games, most against the Yankees, and the 2006 All-Star game]. I mean, he played for the Padres, so he’s a guy that can get you saves in the regular season when there isn’t really any pressure on him. But if there is anything on the line, the guy is terrible.”

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? There are so many valid reasons to criticize this signing, why do you have to fall back on clutchiferousness?

Repoz Posted: January 09, 2009 at 05:46 AM | 11 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: announcers, brewers, media, yankees

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1. catomi01 Posted: January 09, 2009 at 06:50 AM (#3047275)

Because its the only way that the MSM can feel comfortable claiming Rivera to be the better pitcher despite Hoffman having more saves - while ignoring all of the actual, plausible reasons to claim this.

2. Melo's Love Handles (NJ) Posted: January 09, 2009 at 07:34 AM (#3047281)

Well...hasn't Hoffman done more than his fair share of choking in big spots?

3. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: January 09, 2009 at 02:21 PM (#3047334)

Mariano Rivera?!?!? Terrible extension! This guy has blown so many huge games; you can't possibly count on him in a clutch spot! I mean, he plays for the Yankees so you can count on 40 saves easy in the regular season protecting three run leads, but he's blown almost every big spot he's ever been in! Remember, game tying homer to Sandy Alomar in the 1997 ALDS...SANDY ALOMAR! Pathetic! Of course, Game 7 of the World Series, the biggest spot you can have, he gives up a game tying hit to Tony Womack. Are you kiding? The only Game 7 World Series of his career and he blows it because he can't get out Tony Womack...of course, this was after he completely fell apart and threw the ball into centerfield. Then Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS with a trip to the world series on the line, the guy couldn't get out Kevin Millar, for chrissakes. Awful, it's like nobody's been paying attention. Of course, no one remembers that he ALSO blew Game 2 of the division series that year against the Twins, oh, and I love this...after he blows that save against the Red Sox, he comes out and blows the save the NEXT DAY! I MEAN, JASON VARITEK"?!?!!? You can't keep HIM in the infield? How many other games has he blown against the Red Sox? Remember when he yelled at Kenny Lofton for not catching a game tying hit? This guy is not a good teammate and not a clutch performer.

Mariano Rivera should have his children taken away!"

/Michael Kay

4. OCD SS Posted: January 09, 2009 at 03:16 PM (#3047358)

Oh please. There's no way Michael Kay could say all that clearly enough for anyone to understand him over the radio with Hal's c0ck half way down his throat.

5. Repoz

Posted: January 09, 2009 at 03:44 PM (#3047377)

with Hal's c0ck half way down his throat.

and there would be Salvia all over the place!

6. The District Attorney Posted: January 09, 2009 at 04:17 PM (#3047411)

This idea that Hoffman is a choker seems to be a popularly held one. Which begs the question, is the BBWAA seriously going to elect a non-clutch closer into the HOF? Isn't a closer who chokes, like, basically a useless player?

I highly suspect that they'll vote Hoffman in anyway, but it's still a weird situation and I wonder just how much support he'll get.

(Note, I'm not saying that I myself think Hoffman isn't clutch, I'm saying that I'd imagine the writers think that.)

7. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: January 09, 2009 at 04:21 PM (#3047416)

Michael Kay didn't get a radio show by expressing reasonable, well thought out ideas.

8. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: January 09, 2009 at 04:27 PM (#3047420)

Kay is a homer, but he's not the worst talking head on NYC radio waves.
You should try listening to the moron who comes on at 1050 espn at 10am, after Mike & Mike.

9. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: January 09, 2009 at 04:40 PM (#3047441)

This idea that Hoffman is a choker seems to be a popularly held one. Which begs the question, is the BBWAA seriously going to elect a non-clutch closer into the HOF? Isn't a closer who chokes, like, basically a useless player?

Loathe as I am to defend Michael Kay, he's right. Hoffman's record in big moments is pretty terrible. Just in a few minutes of searching, he has either blown the save or given up the lead (in a tie) in:

1996 NLDS Game 3
1998 NLDS Game 2
1998 NLCS Game 1
1998 WS Game 3

Plus he blew the save of two seperate games in 2007, of course, that would've put the Padres in the playoffs. And he has a 10.13 All-Star Game ERA for good measure.

None of which is to say that he will necessarily choke away the next big save he gets--and he has closed out tight games in October--but his record is not one that inspires confidence.

~~Michael Kay~~ Everyone on the radio didn't get a radio show by expressing reasonable, well thought out ideas.

FTFY

10. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: January 09, 2009 at 04:44 PM (#3047446)

Michael Kay Everyone on the radio didn't get a radio show by expressing reasonable, well thought out ideas.
FTFY

Yep. It's why I don't listen to the radio. Sometimes, silence is better.

11. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 09, 2009 at 04:49 PM (#3047458)

Just to fill out RB's post, here's Hoffman's postseason record. It's really, really terrible.

96 DS 2 Tie -> Loss
96 DS 3 Tie -> Loss
98 DS 1 Lead -> Save
98 DS 1 Tie -> Loss
98 DS 2 Lead -> Save
98 DS 3 Lead -> Save
98 CS 1 Lead -> Blown Save
98 CS 3 Lead -> Save
98 WS 3 Lead -> Blown Save, Loss
06 DS 2 Lead -> Save

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Friday, January 09, 2009

Fack Youk: Miiiiiiichael Kay, Is On The Radio Today

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