I think that it is Fernando Rodney of the Detroit Tigers, although he gave up the eventual game winning 3 run homer last night, I think he has been lights out all year up to that point. People are only hitting .100 something off of him, and when Jim Leyland was asked what Tiger he thinks should make the All Star team was, he said the only one that was deserving was Fernando.Maybe you dont see other relievers enough to have a non biased opinion, but who do you guys think the best reliver is?
Mariano Rivera, he has been a great closer forever with the Yankees, he has some nasty stuff and barely ever messes up. Rodney has been great this season, but Rivera has been doing it much longer so he is better IMOEDIT: Sorry didnt see not closer at the end lol
For closers, I gotta go with my boy Jon Papelbon. Hes so f*cking dirty.For relievers, its hard to gauge, but I'd go with Timlin, for lack of knowing a multitude of solid middle relievers.
Yeah i agree with yanks.. He is the best closer THIS SEASON. But Mo is the best closer. Best reliever would have to be Kyle Fransworth. He can play solid when he is closing out games.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hoopskidd5 @ Jun 7 2006, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I love Francisco Rodriguez of Anaheim..</div>Yeah hes not bad, But imma go with Mo
If you would have asked 3 weeks ago i would have said Villareal for Atlanta, but now he is giving up runs all over the place and is really helping that bullpen be horrible. It may be because the bullpen is tired from being used so much because the starting pitching has been terrible also, but that Bullpen has really started playing horribly. I think that for relievers, Rodney has pitched very well this season. Not only has he played reliever, he has shown his versatility and filled in at closer in place of Jones on a few occasions. 28.1 innings pitched, 27 strikeouts, with a 2.89 era for a reliever is outstanding.
I also think the best reliever in baseball is Franando Rodney, even though the other day when the Tigers were up 5-2, he couldn't close it out and the Tigers lost 10-5.
20/21 in save opportunities (1 blown save he came in with runner on 3rd).30 ERA.Enough said... Jonathan Papelbon
I think some of you guys missed it, it says best reliever, not best closer. There is a difference between the two, relievers are what get you from the starter to the closer, and generally will pitch more at bats or pitches in an outing, than a closer will. The closer will come in the last inning just to save the game. Papelbon, Rivera, Francisco Rodriguez are all closers, not relievers.People like Kyle Farnsworth and Fernando Rodney are relievers. They may have some saves under their belts, but they are not closers, they usually pitch in relief.
Scot Shields of Anaheim. He would be an amazing closer, but KRod is there.Pittsburgh has an abundance of nice relievers. Mike Gonzalez and Solomon Torres are some of the few bright spots on the Pirates.Minnesota is in the same boat as Pittsburgh. After Joe Nathan, there is Jesse Crain, Juan Rincon, and Carlos Silva, since he was demotted from a starter.Rodney is good, but he's been blowing games recently. Shields is consistant. Give me Shields over Rodney.
