May 30, 200818 yr Until I see a pitcher have a greater impact on a season for me it will always be Bryan Harvey. If you didn't see it, it would be almost impossible to understand, but if one ballplayer ever carried an entire team on his shoulders for a season it was Bryan Harvey in 1993. For those who did, especially in person, it almost became a religious experience as the season rolled on. He was the savior. And his humility and the burdens of his personal life made it only more glorious. How much more dominating do you think he was than Benitez in '04? I wasn't paying attention in '93 so I don't know but Benitez was pretty much unhittable all year.
May 30, 200818 yr Brian Harvey? Really? He might have had the best season for a Marlins closer, though he might've had the 2nd best. Either way, a 250 ERA+ in 70 innings > 216 ERA+ in 230 innings. Kevin Brown had the best 2 years pitching wise in Marlins history and for the totality of his career, in a Marlins uni and out, he was the best pitcher to play for us.
May 30, 200818 yr Author ummm ... Trevor Hoffman? ok. # Trevor Hoffman # #51 # Relief Pitcher Year Team G GS W L SV CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP BAA 1993 FLA 28 0 2 2 2 0 0 35.2 24 13 13 5 19 26 3.28 1.21 .185 What? You act like he was never a Marlin. The poll title clearly states "best pitcher to wear a Marlins uniform". Not who had the best pitching performance as a Marlin.
May 30, 200818 yr Brian Harvey? Really? He might have had the best season for a Marlins closer, though he might've had the 2nd best. Either way, a 250 ERA+ in 70 innings > 216 ERA+ in 230 innings. Kevin Brown had the best 2 years pitching wise in Marlins history and for the totality of his career, in a Marlins uni and out, he was the best pitcher to play for us. Harvey's contribution went far beyond his stats. Had to be there.
May 31, 200818 yr No love for Alex Fernandez? Livan? How 'bout John Burkett. Former 20 game winner with the Giants (?)
May 31, 200818 yr Brian Harvey? Really? He might have had the best season for a Marlins closer, though he might've had the 2nd best. Either way, a 250 ERA+ in 70 innings > 216 ERA+ in 230 innings. Kevin Brown had the best 2 years pitching wise in Marlins history and for the totality of his career, in a Marlins uni and out, he was the best pitcher to play for us. Harvey's contribution went far beyond his stats. Had to be there. LOL I knew you were going to chime in with Harvey. We have touched on this before. And you do have a great argument there. He was a very bright spot on a mostly dim team. So to speak. I do remember those days fondly. But I'm sticking with the grouchy one. LOL BTW I don't remember anything about his off field distractions. Is it something you can elaborate on??
May 31, 200818 yr No love for Alex Fernandez? Livan? Why should they even be considered? Because they are Cuban? The question being asked is not who you like the best, or who you wish was the best Marlins pitcher of all time.. The question's who IS the best Marlins pitcher of all time, and the answer is Kevin Brown, and the only one whose credentials come close is Josh Beckett. Brown got fu*ked out of the Cy Young in '96 cause of his meaningless win/loss record, threw a no-hitter, and helped us win a world series. Alex Fernandez? Livan Hernadez? Are you kidding?? This, this, a thousand times this
May 31, 200818 yr BTW I don't remember anything about his off field distractions. Is it something you can elaborate on?? He had/has (at the time) a very young daughter who was profoundly "challenged" physically and mentally. I don't remember the specifics other than it was one of those things you wouldn't wish on...well you get the idea.
June 1, 200818 yr I'm not sure what that has to do with him being one of the greatest pitchers in Marlins history. Not trying to be a dick, but I legitimately cannot see how that argument can be made.
June 1, 200818 yr BTW I don't remember anything about his off field distractions. Is it something you can elaborate on?? He had/has (at the time) a very young daughter who was profoundly "challenged" physically and mentally. I don't remember the specifics other than it was one of those things you wouldn't wish on...well you get the idea. I don't remember anything about that.
June 1, 200818 yr I'm not sure what that has to do with him being one of the greatest pitchers in Marlins history. Not trying to be a dick, but I legitimately cannot see how that argument can be made. It dosen't. It's just a trivial side note. 2003 stated his reasons why he picked Harvey. And he has a point even if I do disagree with his choice.
June 1, 200818 yr I mean, obviously it's an opinion, but I don't buy into all of the warm fuzzies that he is extolling as to why Harvey is The Greatest Pitcher in Marlins History. He had a nice season as a reliever on a bad team.
June 1, 200818 yr I mean, obviously it's an opinion, but I don't buy into all of the warm fuzzies that he is extolling as to why Harvey is The Greatest Pitcher in Marlins History. He had a nice season as a reliever on a bad team. Fine. I'm sure no one is going to lose any sleep knowing you don't agree with their opinion.
June 1, 200818 yr I mean, obviously it's an opinion, but I don't buy into all of the warm fuzzies that he is extolling as to why Harvey is The Greatest Pitcher in Marlins History. He had a nice season as a reliever on a bad team. First of all the title of the thread is "Best Marlins Pitcher of All Time", not as you've tried to redefine it as "The Greatest Pitcher in Marlins History". And here's what I posted " Until I see a pitcher have a greater impact on a season for me it will always be Bryan Harvey." It took until 2004, a team populated with players like Lowell, Cabrera, Burnett, Beckett, Penny, Castillo and all the holdovers from 2003 for Armando Bentitez to best Harvey's saves record. Eleven years. Armando secured 56% of the team's victories that season. In 1993 Harvey, carrying a 1.70 ERA and striking out 73 over 69 innings of work with only 13 walks, secured 72% of the team's wins. You know how many other games were saved by Marlins pitchers in 1993? Three. Let me repeat that, three. That is what I call an impact player and that is why I believe he was one of the "Best Marlins Pitcher(s) of All Time". I personally don't think it's possible to pick one not just because in so many cases the situations were different, but the word "best" is not one you'll ever get a consensus meaning on. It's hard to for example ignore Beckett's fall 2003 performance. To me he deserves a "Best" as well. And there have been others. Part of being "best" at least for me, is being there and delivering when your team needed you to. And that's something Harvey and Beckett share in common. I will say, no other Marlins pitcher under consideration ever had to pitch with the ineptitude that surrounded him when he went out there to as I said, carry this team on his back, because without him without a doubt this team could have lost 120+ games. GarbageMan recounts, even at ten years old he understood the impact of Bryan Harvey on this team and for the fans in South Florida. But beyond the numbers stats can't quantify how good he was that season just as a pitcher. Tremendous fastball, a virtually unhittable breaking ball, he was as good as it gets in 1993 embarrassing and gaining the respect of some of the greatest hitters in the game. Let me leave you with what former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone had to say on the subject. "When he came in, that son-of-a-bitchin' game was over."
June 1, 200818 yr I'm not going to disagree with any of your points, I'll just say that since he was a closer, working the 90's closer role, he couldn't possibly have had as big an impact as Kevin Brown in 1996. That was a truly special year.
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