Scholarship table
Jon Lester, a real good pitcher with some Hall bonafides, officially retires.https://theathletic.com/news/former-cubs-red-sox-pitcher-jon-lester-retires-with-200-wins-3-world-series-rings/hJFtIofIJeQl/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983Jon Lester, a three-time World Series champion with the Cubs and Red Sox, a 200-game winner and one of the best free-agent signings in Chicago sports history, announced his retirement Wednesday on ESPN.com.Known for his consistency and composure in the biggest games and biggest markets, Lester made 30-plus starts in 12 consecutive seasons between 2008 and 2019. Lester posted a 2.51 ERA in 154 career postseason innings, cementing his reputation as one of the best big-game pitchers from his era and making a case for serious Hall of Fame consideration.Lester, who turned 38 last week, had signaled that the 2021 season would very likely be his last in the majors. Winning his 200th game — in a Cardinals uniform after a midseason trade from the Nationals — checked off one of his career goals.“It’s kind of run its course,” Lester told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. “It’s getting harder for me physically. The little things that come up throughout the year turned into bigger things that hinder your performance.“I’d like to think I’m a halfway decent self-evaluator. I don’t want someone else telling me I can’t do this anymore. I want to be able to hand my jersey over and say, ‘Thank you, it’s been fun.’ That's probably the biggest deciding factor.”
Also the lockout is leading to funny/sad promotional nonsense. The Brewers blasted out their calendar of bobblehead giveaways, listing after each date "Player Bobblehead." So, so dumb.
Sew kin, yea orr nay on da Hall, hey?
Borderline case. Probably not right away, but maybe down the line. Postseason success will be a big draw for some voters.
He was as good as Jack Morris, so he probably will get in. Although neither should be members.
Idk, Jack Morris lead MLB in wins twice and SOs once. Lester only led the NL in wins once.Morris also finished top 5 in the Cy Young 5 times to Lester’s 3. Not including a couple other top 10s.I don’t think either should be in personally but I’d still give Morris the nod
Hall of Very Good
Do people still care about a stat so meaningless you could receive a W after giving up 9 runs, and recirve an L after going 8 innings and losing 1-0?
TAMUI do know, Newsie is right on you knowing ball.
Look at the wins leaders for the 90s. Its mostly the best pitchers of the 90s. Lots of Maddux, Glavine, Clemens. Same for the 80s, and 70s and 60s, if not moreso.
Also, you may be surprised to learn, that the percentage of players making the HOF has been steadily declining, and is now smaller than ever. So the whole "the HOF is watered down stuff" is just perception. People tend to compare HOF players to like the best players in the HOF. Every one is compared to Willie Mays and Sandy Kofax. A little bit of an older article, but still as true.https://tht.fangraphs.com/a-hall-of-stats-shows-a-haul-of-omissions/
I guess I just don't see the point in paying attention to a stat that, at best, is *potentially correlative* of the conclusion you want to draw. I especially don't see the point to doing so when everyone agrees about it's lack of descriptive value. AND especially when there are plenty of readily accessible and pretty easy to understand other metrics to use instead.
I was looking at the BR page wondering what cap Lester might wear if he does get in -- he started about 3/4 as many games in Chicago as he did in Boston (171 to 241.) Interestingly, he had the exact same ERA for both, 3.64. Definitely a better pitcher overall for Boston, though.Then again, the exact same win/loss % for each team (.636), which is what really matters here.