Posted by tecwrg on 5/8/2012 1:15:00 PM (view original):
Posted by jrd_x on 5/8/2012 1:11:00 PM (view original):
Posted by deanod on 5/8/2012 1:07:00 PM (view original):
"Can we say that Rivera would have been anywhere near as dominant as a starter? I don't think so. Which is why Rivera is not an all time great, inner circle Hall of Famer."
This doesn't pertain to anything really because he had a valuable career without ever starting. It's approximately as relevant as arguing that Jeter doesn't belong in the inner circle of the HoF because he couldn't cut it as a starting pitcher- who gives a ****?
Well it does matter. Had Rivera been able to maintain the same rate stats in a starting role as opposed to relief, would you start him or leave him in the bullpen?
Regarding your analogy, if Jeter had been a DH, do his offensive stats make him a Hall of Famer?
3100+ hits, a .314 career AVG, .384 career OBP.
Yes, those are HOF numbers despite the position.
So you'd vote for Edgar Martinez? He was a better offensive player than Jeter, hitting .312/.418/.515 over 8674 PA.
(I would vote for Martinez, if it matters)