Trevor Hoffman

[Baseball Guru]

Just became the all-time saves (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/pitching/pisave1.shtml) leader in baseball!:clapping

Congrats to Hoffman (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=hoffmtr01) on this fine achievement....:)

[Williamsburg2599]

Just became the all-time saves leader in baseball!:clapping

Congrats to Hoffman on this fine achievement....:)
Just saw him do it on BBT, for some reason no one thinks it's a big deal:confused:.

[cardsfanatic]

Just saw him do it on BBT, for some reason no one thinks it's a big deal:confused:.

I wouldn't say it's not a big deal. But the save stat is so worthless in today's baseball. Guys like Sutter, Fingers, Gossage and hell, even Eck and Smith, worked harder for their saves. They threw the last 2 innings, sometimes 3, to record a save. Today, some of these closers get saves by coming in and pitching 2/3rds of an inning.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Yeah big achievement, although Bonds becomming the all time NL HR leader is bigger. However, Trevor Hoffman (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=hoffmtr01) belongs in the Hall and deserves Cy Young consideration.

[BigStellyPADRES4LIFE]

Congrats Trevor, knew you would do it since about 96..... he had to overcome alot to get here. Most closers are history when they lose 5+MPH off their fastball, but he almost seemed to get better, he perfected the changeup and in doing so was able to blow fastballs by even the best of hitters.

Truly a great accomplishment by a great player.

[Baseball Guru]

I wouldn't say it's not a big deal. But the save stat is so worthless in today's baseball.


I would tend to agree to a point but still, 479 saves is a great achievement either way...

Lets see how many others approach that #...

[Baseball Guru]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060924/capt.57e1320277ec45038a35171d356458ae.pirates_padr es_baseball_cadp110.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060924/capt.8e13a6748b954a89a2cf14455a8a01a0.pirates_padr es_baseball_cali111.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060924/capt.5917869bbf014c6f89d955a0daa11c75.pirates_padr es_baseball_cadp104.jpg


http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060924/capt.87c50b895b2a4eabbc933fbde1cc034b.pirates_padr es_baseball_cali112.jpg

[SamtheBravesFan]

I think it's great, still. Garbage saves or not, you still have to be a damn good shut-down or hold-em-off reliever to get that many saves.

:clapping Congratulations, Mr. Hoffman.

[hudsonharden]

Great acheivement, but Smiths record was bound to fall sooner or later with the reinvention of the closer. Plus, its all dependent on how many save opportunites a closer gets. If he plays for a bad team or a team that wins by a lot of blowouts, he won't get as many opportunities. I'd say the more impressive stat would a be saves:blown saves ratio. Anyone know who the leader is in that? (min. 100 saves)

[Blackout]

congrats, raise the bar for Mariano

[BigStellyPADRES4LIFE]

congrats, raise the bar for Mariano

LOL well see Hoffman will be around for a few years to come... he doesnt rely on velocity like alot of closers, in fact his era has been lower this year than it has in a while. See how Mr Rivera does when his cutter starts losing some speed.

[BigStellyPADRES4LIFE]

Great acheivement, but Smiths record was bound to fall sooner or later with the reinvention of the closer. Plus, its all dependent on how many save opportunites a closer gets. If he plays for a bad team or a team that wins by a lot of blowouts, he won't get as many opportunities. I'd say the more impressive stat would a be saves:blown saves ratio. Anyone know who the leader is in that? (min. 100 saves)

Its called save percentage and if im not mistaken he is the leader amongst those with over 200 attempts.... im not sure about 100

[EvanAparra]

Yeah, Hoffman is the model of longevity, id be very surprised if Rivera ever sniffed that record.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Yeah, Hoffman is the model of longevity, id be very surprised if Rivera ever sniffed that record.

Actually, he should sniff it.

[EvanAparra]

Hoffman is up by 66 right now... And i doubt Mariano is going to play any longer than Hoff will.

[geezer]

And remember that he debuted at age 25, imagine if he got to the bigs a lot sooner, anyway, I think he has a shot to set a standard for over 500 career saves, he's right now the best closer again in the NL, and the Padres need him for the playoff chase right down the final week of the regular season.

I still think that relievers are overrated, but at least Hoffman has been the most dominant and consistent closer in the National League for quite a while, and my favorite thing about Trevor Hoffman, Heeeells Bells!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hudsonharden]

He'll get to 500 saves with one more season. Anyone know if he's a free agent?

[EvanAparra]

Not according to this site....

http://www.mlb4u.com/freeagency.php?field=position

[Senior skittles]

the thing that sets hoffman apart from other closers is that he dosent rely on speed. for all we know he could pitch another 5 years and get 600 saves!!!! Mariano rivera is very clutch and i might take him over hoffman for game 7 of a WS but for a whole season or a carrer i would take hoffman. Hoffman is the best closer of all time period!

[Biggtone23]

It's a shame he did it on a Sunday, so now no one will know about it. You probably wont see this highlight until at least after the second or third preview story on the Saints/Falcons game tomorrow.


Damn I hate ESPN.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Hoffman is up by 66 right now... And i doubt Mariano is going to play any longer than Hoff will.

Yeah, but Rivera is a bit younger and he has been great even now, when he's blowing more saves. You think he's going to lose it sometime soon?

[BigStellyPADRES4LIFE]

the thing that sets hoffman apart from other closers is that he dosent rely on speed. for all we know he could pitch another 5 years and get 600 saves!!!! Mariano rivera is very clutch and i might take him over hoffman for game 7 of a WS but for a whole season or a carrer i would take hoffman. Hoffman is the best closer of all time period!

Thank you someone else says the point i have been trying to make for almost 2 years on this site.

[EvanAparra]

Yeah, but Rivera is a bit younger and he has been great even now, when he's blowing more saves. You think he's going to lose it sometime soon?


I dont think he will lose it very soon, hes still dominant. But i also dont expect Hoffman to lose it soon either. I figure they will be about 50 saves apart when both their careers end.

[ESPNFan]

I think TH will pitch for another couple years at least. 600 saves may be a bit of a pipe dream perhaps because while Hoffmann may still be an effective MLB pitcher he may not have the seperation between his fastball and change up to be nasty.

In any event congratulations to Trevor, one of the truely good guys in sports. Its a shame that he has never gottent he media coverage he deserved over the course of his career.

[BigStellyPADRES4LIFE]

I think TH will pitch for another couple years at least. 600 saves may be a bit of a pipe dream perhaps because while Hoffmann may still be an effective MLB pitcher he may not have the seperation between his fastball and change up to be nasty.

In any event congratulations to Trevor, one of the truely good guys in sports. Its a shame that he has never gottent he media coverage he deserved over the course of his career.

When you watch him pitch losing 2-3 MPH off his heat will still result in an amazing change.

[Brad Chadford]

Even though they didn't win it it all in 98 - Trevor Hoffman is the reason I became the baseball fan that I am today. Intensity personified. Seeing clips of the 98 playoffs had my bawling like a baby.

Congrats to the GREATEST CLOSER OF ALL TIME...

...untill the record is broken that is.

Good "acceptance speech" at Petco tonight too. No matter how great a closer becomes - he still has to put the team ahead of personal records.