Hell freezes over, pigs are flying...JJ Putz is an All-Star

Post #1 » by **PhilipNelsonFan** » Mon Jul 2, 2007 7:13 pm

Whatever astrological sign he's born under, I hope it's mine.

Discuss.

Post #2 » by **Basketball Jesus** » Mon Jul 2, 2007 7:18 pm

Uh, this is usually what happens to good players; they get to go play in the This Time It Counts Bowl.

Post #3 » by **Sweezo** » Mon Jul 2, 2007 7:20 pm

I'm not all that shocked that the most dominant reliever in baseball made it to the All Star game.

Post #4 » by **PhilipNelsonFan** » Wed Jul 4, 2007 9:02 am

It still comes as a surprise to me. I still remember the days (like a year or two ago) when JJ Putz was the worst setup man ever and just a terrible reliever in general. Get a guy on, JJ'd make sure he scored.

Suddenly, someone got the "brilliant" idea to move him to closer and he...didn't suck. He continued to not suck for the rest of last year, and then he has greatly distanced himself for sucking this year.

It's cool to have another Mariner on the All-Star team...but if you had told me last year it'd be him I would've laughed in your face.

Post #5 » by **BlackMamba** » Wed Jul 4, 2007 3:25 pm

Sweezo wrote:I'm not all that shocked that the most dominant reliever in baseball made it to the All Star game.

wow!!! really?

mariano rivera dominant, eric gagne dominant or some-other-player dominant?

NateMustGo · Post #6 » by **NateMustGo** » Wed Jul 4, 2007 4:04 pm

BlackMamba wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

wow!!! really?

mariano rivera dominant, eric gagne dominant or some-other-player dominant?

JJ PUTZ dominant! :nod:

Post #7 » by **Bulltalk** » Wed Jul 4, 2007 7:31 pm

BlackMamba wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

wow!!! really?

mariano rivera dominant, eric gagne dominant or some-other-player dominant?

This year he's been just that. His ERA is under 1.00; he's converted every save opportunity, I believe; he's a big reason why the Mariners are in a playoff contending position at present.

I shudder to think of how fast this house-of-cards would have collapsed if not for the nothing short of stellar performance by the Mariners' bullpen this year.

Post #8 » by **Sweezo** » Wed Jul 4, 2007 7:43 pm

BlackMamba wrote:wow!!! really?

mariano rivera dominant, eric gagne dominant or some-other-player dominant?

I'd certainly take Putz over Gagne or Rivera this year. No question. I can't think of any other closer in baseball who I'd rather have than Putz. He's just plain unhittable.

Bay_Areas_Finest · Post #9 » by **Bay_Areas_Finest** » Thu Jul 5, 2007 2:54 am

JJ Putz is the most dominant closer in the game right now. That CANNOT be argued. Look at the stats, they dont lie. He has a sub 1.00 era and has not blown a save all year. Sure, Rivera and Gagne were great in the past, but not right now. Its all about Putz.

PhilipNelsonFan wrote:It still comes as a surprise to me. I still remember the days (like a year or two ago) when JJ Putz was the worst setup man ever and just a terrible reliever in general. Get a guy on, JJ'd make sure he scored.

Lol I was right there with you man. Damn, I remember when he gave up a 3 run homer or grand slam to Jason Varitek, and I screamed something like "GOD DAMN LEARN SOME CONTROL A HOLE!" I was so mad at Putz, haha. He was really annoying as a set-up man, just not getting anything done.

I was skeptical of him becoming our closer, but wow, he's been beyond amazing.

Post #10 » by **BlackMamba** » Thu Jul 5, 2007 4:51 pm

wow, i really never thought he could turn out this good.

hope i can watch at least a game or so to see him perform.

Post #11 » by **Sweezo** » Thu Jul 5, 2007 10:19 pm

Bay_Areas_Finest wrote:
Lol I was right there with you man. Damn, I remember when he gave up a 3 run homer or grand slam to Jason Varitek, and I screamed something like "GOD DAMN LEARN SOME CONTROL A HOLE!" I was so mad at Putz, haha. He was really annoying as a set-up man, just not getting anything done.

I was skeptical of him becoming our closer, but wow, he's been beyond amazing.

It was the splitter. I had the same view of him, and then he learned the splitter. Before the splitter all he threw was a fastball that had some speed to it but was straight as an arrow. Sit fastball, bang, home run...

And you know who supposedly taught him the splitter? Washburn.

AbdicatedReign · Post #12 » by **AbdicatedReign** » Sat Jul 7, 2007 5:35 am

Yeah...it's pretty shocking that Putz has turned himself into an elite closer. I was counting the days till the M's cut him a couple of years ago, and lamented the news that he was the new closer. But since then, he's been lights out and I have to give the man his due.

Ex-hippie · Post #13 » by **Ex-hippie** » Mon Jul 9, 2007 10:24 pm

Here's a fun fact: no one named "J.J." has ever been an all-star before. Congratulations to Messrs. Putz and Hardy, who will be playing in the same game (which will also feature the only "C.C." in MLB history).

The more you know.

Post #14 » by **Sweezo** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:27 am

So, for the majority of the year the argument's been which reliever is better this year...Putz or Cordero. Both make it to the All-Star game, and both get (relatively) clobbered during the game.

Post #15 » by **PhilipNelsonFan** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:28 am

LMFAO...of course he got clobbered in the All-Star game.

Now as long as he keeps it up in the regular season.