Comments on: Turning Elite Sans Reputation http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/turning-elite-sans-reputation/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:50:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: kokushishin http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/turning-elite-sans-reputation/#comment-79534 kokushishin Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:37:30 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5289#comment-79534 Most of it isn't really in his hands. If the team starts doing better and there are more save opportunities you'd expect to see more than praise for Haren and Upton and goofy articles about Zavada's mustache. Most of it isn’t really in his hands. If the team starts doing better and there are more save opportunities you’d expect to see more than praise for Haren and Upton and goofy articles about Zavada’s mustache.

]]> By: Goose http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/turning-elite-sans-reputation/#comment-79336 Goose Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:38:54 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5289#comment-79336 Byrnes traded a closer to get Qualls(and Guiterrez who has been pretty good too). With Schlereth coming up, I wouldn't be surprised to see Byrnes trade Qualls for a similar package or better. Byrnes traded a closer to get Qualls(and Guiterrez who has been pretty good too). With Schlereth coming up, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Byrnes trade Qualls for a similar package or better.

]]> By: dbuff http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/turning-elite-sans-reputation/#comment-79302 dbuff Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:03:58 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5289#comment-79302 Qualls is a high-strikeout, groundball closer pitching in the N.L. West. Assuming the mild forearm strain is not a problem he should continue to be one of the most effective closers in the game. Qualls is a high-strikeout, groundball closer pitching in the N.L. West. Assuming the mild forearm strain is not a problem he should continue to be one of the most effective closers in the game.

]]> By: Ezra http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/turning-elite-sans-reputation/#comment-79295 Ezra Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:24:15 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5289#comment-79295 Beware of Qualls as your closer. Beware of Qualls as your closer.

]]> By: Kincaid http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/turning-elite-sans-reputation/#comment-79291 Kincaid Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:15:45 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5289#comment-79291 It seems odd, but I remember Qualls being more widely recognized in his early days in Houston when he was overshadowed by Lidge, et al, just because he was part of the emerging bullpen corps that people were so excited about in Houston (I remember Lidge, Wheeler, and Qualls being talked about a lot, at least as a group if not so much individually), than now when he is the man in Arizona. He's clearly gotten better, and he's finally settled into a closer role for a team, but there's something about the hype around guys, warranted or not, when they first emerge that fades quickly if they don't become stars in a couple years that can be hard to overcome in later years. Maybe my recollection is influenced by being an NL Central fan, and he wasn't really talked about all that much nationally, but even in Phoenix now it doesn't feel like he's as big a deal as he seemed in those early years with Houston. It probably hasn't helped him build a reputation either that he is closing in on 5 full years in the Majors and has only accumulated 27 career saves (still the glamour stat for relievers to a lot of fans) and that star relievers seem to emerge and fade every year, so that we're reluctant to acknowledge a veteran's turnaround until he keeps it up a few years. It seems from the stats you cite, Qualls is well on his way to being there, but unfortunately for him, those stats on their own aren't always the ones that catch people's eyes until they are already on the radar. If he can keep this up as a closer, and the saves and maybe an All Star appearance or two follow, hopefully his reputation will catch up with his performance. It seems odd, but I remember Qualls being more widely recognized in his early days in Houston when he was overshadowed by Lidge, et al, just because he was part of the emerging bullpen corps that people were so excited about in Houston (I remember Lidge, Wheeler, and Qualls being talked about a lot, at least as a group if not so much individually), than now when he is the man in Arizona. He’s clearly gotten better, and he’s finally settled into a closer role for a team, but there’s something about the hype around guys, warranted or not, when they first emerge that fades quickly if they don’t become stars in a couple years that can be hard to overcome in later years.

Maybe my recollection is influenced by being an NL Central fan, and he wasn’t really talked about all that much nationally, but even in Phoenix now it doesn’t feel like he’s as big a deal as he seemed in those early years with Houston.

It probably hasn’t helped him build a reputation either that he is closing in on 5 full years in the Majors and has only accumulated 27 career saves (still the glamour stat for relievers to a lot of fans) and that star relievers seem to emerge and fade every year, so that we’re reluctant to acknowledge a veteran’s turnaround until he keeps it up a few years. It seems from the stats you cite, Qualls is well on his way to being there, but unfortunately for him, those stats on their own aren’t always the ones that catch people’s eyes until they are already on the radar. If he can keep this up as a closer, and the saves and maybe an All Star appearance or two follow, hopefully his reputation will catch up with his performance.

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