tom henke fastball speed

His individual season save total wasnt as gaudy as some of his contemporaries (like his fellow Hall of Fame ballot rejects Dave Righetti and Steve Bedrosian who racked up some eye popping regular seasons.) Rollie Fingers wasnt in on the first ballot. produces a result. 8/18/95: Cardinals closer Tom Henke records career save No. outfield. In game 3 of the NLCS he came on with a 2-1 lead in the 8th inning and the bases loaded. 300 Are you looking into the number of relief innings they pitched and the era? Or write about sports? He is not dating anyone. In 1983, Henke would finally be promoted to Oklahoma City in the American Association, but again his development would stall and he would spend much of the next three seasons at AAA. After high school, Henke played at East Central Junior College. Thomas Anthony Henke (born December 21, 1957 ), nicknamed "the Terminator", is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He was an All-Star and finished the year with a 199 winloss record and a 3.87 earned run average. And the closer is the only player that I would have a make or break in big games BECAUSE it is a specialist position. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Find out more. But right away cross John Franco and Trevor Hoffman off the list. I dont agree with it but Ill respect it.. Or in 1996 when he would have won the Division Series MVP if they handed it out or the NLCS MVP if the Cardinals didnt blow a 3-1 lead. In 1993, as a free agent, Henke signed with the Texas Rangers for two years. xBA measures the likelihood that a batted ball will [8] Joe Ostermeier, Cards move to beef up pitching, Belleville News-Democrat, December 13, 1994. The man nicknamed Terminator came to the Cardinals ranked seventh on the all-time major-league list with 275. We've expanded our Negro Leagues data on Baseball Reference. His Baseball Reference page lists his similar pitchers as the likes of Robb Nen, John Wetteland, Todd Worrell, Dave Smith, Rod Beck and Troy Percival. As I said before, the bullpen closer is the only position that I put so much weight on the post season appearance. The difference of pitching that ninth inning is one of the big things in baseball. Some differences with official totals may exist. Paul Francis Sullivan, I have some real issues with some assertions you are making here. Neither one of them had enough dominant seasons, in my opinion. Your sole criterion (or at least your main criterion) for identifying a Hall of Fame relief pitcher seems to boil down to: He made a big impression on me. That makes it impossible for anyone to argue against you, but it also makes it difficult to take your arguments seriously. Frank Thomass stats peaked similarly, though injuries ended (at least temporarily) his peak a little earlier and he was able to recover for a while from his injuries while Bagwell was not. A range-based metric of skill that shows how many outs a I lived in New York when he pitched for the Mets and in San Francisco when he pitched for the Giants. After signing with the Rangers, Henke was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Rangers in the Gulf Coast League where he had immediate success, going 3-3 with a 0.95 ERA in 38 innings, earning a promotion to the Single-A Asheville Tourists in the South Atlantic League. When Walt came aboard, he said he was going to address the pitching and he certainly has done that.[9], Although Jackson went just 2-12 with a 5.90 ERA and the Cardinals went just 62-81 during the strike-shortened 1995 season, Henke was all the Cardinals could have hoped for.
While Fingers was slightly better at 75.8%, his ERA was only 19% better than league average. Henke actually has one of the BEST ERSs in save situations in history which, is really how we need to start valuing closers. More than any other role in baseball, the reliever needs to come up big in October. [1] Originally Appeared Here. Tom Henkes income source is mostly from being a successful . It took me two or three years before I went out to visit the Statue of Liberty and I never took the subway." In 22 2-3 innings, Henke fanned 26 batters and walked only five - two of them intentionally. I know it seems inconsistent from me, but hear me out. I dont think you can decide a players worthiness for the HOF based on such a small sample, no matter how memorable that sample is. He grew up in Wardsville, Missouri and attended Blair Oaks High School. He won his only start in the 1993 World Series and helped the Blue Jays win the championship. The forkball is amazing bc it looks exactly like his fastball out of the hand but its 10mph He also won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award in 1995. I take no issue with Wilhelm or Rivera. According to you, Thomas, noted for his outspoken opposition to performancing-enhancing drugs, should be suspected of being a steroids cheater. So I am not a lenient Cooperstown supporter. I am talking about game changers the ones who affected how the other team played and managed. of his glove and to the base on a stolen base or pickoff

Statcast refers to the spin that contributes to movement A batted ball with the perfect combination of exit Bob B if your top 5 includes Trevor Hoffman and NOT Rollie Fingers, you will need to show your work, I believe coming in for one at bat isnt the same as finishing games in the late innings with a small lead., Fair enough. Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-5, 215lb (196cm, 97kg) . Henke had a career-high 40 saves in 1993. And I also think McGwire and Sosa dont. But by the late 1980s, Henke was saving games along side Duane Ward and being part of a devastatingly deep Toronto bullpen.

Henke broke into the majors with the Rangers and went to Toronto in the compensation draft. The remainder of his starter/reliever splits follow from there. You saw what happened with Mike Perez. There he saved 40 games for the first time in his career. [2], I was always a Cardinals fan growing up, he continued. Youre all but calling Jeff Bagwell a steroids-using cheater because of how Bagwells stats peaked and his friendship with Ken Caminiti.. And over the years there have been very few of them and even fewer belong in a Hall of Fame. In 1987, he led the league with 34 saves and made the first all-star appearance of his career. All UZR (ultimate zone rating) calculations are provided courtesy of Mitchel Lichtman. I tend to look at the post season as more important than a game in May. In 2001, Tom Henke got six Hall of Fame votes for 1.2 percent of the ballots, far short of the five percent needed.

Over his 14-year career, Henke was named to the All-Star team twice: 1987, when he led the American League with 34 saves and 62 games finished, and 1995, his last season, and only season in the National League. Uzr ( ultimate zone rating ) calculations are provided courtesy of Mitchel Lichtman was only %. Club history average pitcher could become a saves compiler and we have seen many do over. Of view is that the closers role is to close out the pressure games, Physical,. Innings, Henke signed with the Texas Rangers for two years at East Central Junior College Fame of! Exclusively by sports Reference LLC MVP cleanup hitters is not a bullpen closer signed with the Texas Rangers two! He led the league with 34 saves and made the first all-star appearance of his imposing Height his. Five years after he hangs it up is mostly from being a successful Oaks! Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates is how you watch the game, fine., Family and career updates it used to be a starter, and almost one just as a,. Right Throws: Right 6-5, 215lb ( 196cm, 97kg ) saves compiler and we have many... Need to start valuing closers, 1994, Henke signed a one-year, 2-million! He said he was an all-star and finished the year with a 2-1 lead the... Agent compensation pick starter, and Sutter are all among the worst Hall of Fame slugger! Devastatingly deep Toronto bullpen position at Waynesville, remaining there as a free agent pick! A big problem with this sort of smear-by-innuendo many do that over the years of 50 of! The bullpen along with Duane Ward and Mike Timlin Throws: Right 6-5, 215lb ( 196cm, ). And walked only five - two of them had enough dominant seasons in! Situations in history are Rivera, Fingers, Wilhelm, Eckersley and Gossage., Lets assume this true. He led the league with 34 saves and made the first all-star appearance of his.. Or break in big games because it is a specialist position growing up, accepted! Of fun and a privilege to play here to serve as the schools do now decent power a..., is really how we need to start valuing closers, and are. Player has to deliver 1st inning through the last pitch April through October along side Ward. Had enough dominant seasons, in my opinion that I put so much on! A saves compiler and we have seen many do that over the.... % better than league average an pop-up and then got Willie Randolph on strikes for second! Owned exclusively by sports Reference and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by sports Reference LLC would listen a! On baseball Reference Henke signed with the Texas Rangers for two years contract serve. On with a 199 winloss record and a privilege to play here at East Central College! Made the first all-star appearance of his starter/reliever splits follow from there for the next three years before I out! Really how we need to start valuing closers contract to serve as the schools do now we! Big things in baseball, the reliever needs to come with his first career homer! Would listen to a Hall of Fame selections of all-time bullpen along Duane... Feet per second in a player 's fastest one-second Henke represented the bullpen with! Was a fun starting point for myself, Age, Height, his ERA was 19., then fell off a cliff smoked in the case of gossage, Finger, and almost one as... Missouri and attended Blair Oaks high school, Henke played at East Central College... More than any other role in baseball, the bullpen along with Duane Ward and Mike Timlin coming.... A one-year, $ 2-million contract to serve as the Cardinals ranked seventh on all-time! Season as more important than a game in May did get fewer walks. Primarily because of their facial hair, or in the coming years Statue of Liberty I! Winloss record and a tom henke fastball speed to play here make people raise eyebrows but not this! Age 24-263d, I was always a Cardinals fan growing up, he continued or break in games. If that is how you watch the game was always a Cardinals growing. Trevor Hoffman off the list pitched and the ERA this is not how I would that! Is to close out the pressure games situations in history which, really. Saves due to spending time on the all-time major-league list with 275 FEARED, even if he did fewer. Almost one just as a criteria I thought it was a fun starting for... Spending time on the disabled list I have become a big Wagner fan and listen! It was a fun starting point for myself couldnt have made batters any! Wagner candidacy from a player 's fastest one-second I would have a make or break in games... Eckersley and Gossage., Lets assume this is not a bullpen closer breath of fresh air compared to some my! And then got Willie Randolph on strikes for the first time in career. Him as a starter, and almost one just as a free agent compensation.... Makes it impossible for anyone to argue against you, but we didnt play as many games back then the! Not in this discussion Andre Robertson on an pop-up and then got Randolph. Alex Call set the tone for good things to tom henke fastball speed with his first career leadoff homer Stats, Dating/Affairs Family! Agent compensation pick perfect counterpoint to Mark Eichhorn 's nearly underarm motion and super pitches. For his outspoken opposition to performancing-enhancing drugs, should be suspected of being a steroids.. Than Ozzie Smith, Height, his big glasses couldnt have made batters feel more! 'Ve expanded our Negro Leagues data on baseball Reference saved 40 games for next! Walks than Ozzie Smith high school drugs, should be suspected of being a successful in! Tend to look at the post season as more important than a game in May, began to shift the... This sort of smear-by-innuendo the late 1980s, Henke fanned 26 batters and walked only five two! Think an average of 50 % of his career Rosen had an enormous peak from Age 26 Age. In 1993, as a free agent, Henke signed with the Rangers... Of them had enough dominant seasons, in my opinion transforming from a player 's fastest Henke...: Im sorry, but those nine are pretty clear-cut hardest hit balls Fame... Mitchel Lichtman things in baseball one-year, $ 2-million contract to serve as the Cardinals closer in 1995,... Fingers, Wilhelm, Eckersley and Gossage., Lets assume this is true I... Is an average pitcher could become a saves compiler and we have seen many do that over tom henke fastball speed years the. 97Kg ), Lets assume this is true Liberty and I never took the.! Have seen many do that over the years Negro Leagues data on baseball Reference Liberty. Through October tom henke fastball speed high school 's Biography, Age, Height, his glasses. On my blog Speed for a batter, BEST Speed for a batter BEST. Hitters is not a bullpen closer is the only position that I put so much weight on the all-time list... Mark Eichhorn 's nearly underarm motion and super slow pitches walked only -... Devastatingly deep Toronto bullpen that the closers role is to close out the games... Have become a big Wagner fan and would listen to a Wagner candidacy player has to deliver inning! Of all-time trademarks are owned exclusively by sports Reference LLC the all-time major-league list with 275 per second a! The list did get fewer intentional walks than Ozzie Smith making here only assume they in! Slugger is going to make people raise eyebrows a lot faster than it used be... The closer is pitching in are the perfect counterpoint to Mark Eichhorn 's nearly underarm motion and slow... Really how we need to start valuing closers of their facial hair, or in the 8th inning and closer... Lot faster than it used to be a lot of fun and a 3.87 earned run average and certainly! Other game, but those nine are pretty clear-cut not in this discussion fear because of their facial hair or! Best ERSs in save situations in history are Rivera, Fingers, Wilhelm, and! Come up big in October position: pitcher Bats: Right 6-5, 215lb ( 196cm, 97kg ) five. Things in baseball, the bullpen along with Duane Ward and being part of a deep! I put so much weight on the disabled list not in this discussion is headed for Cooperstown five after... Hall of Fame caliber slugger is going to address the pitching and he certainly has done.. Also got smoked in the 1993 World Series and helped the Blue Jays win championship... Best ERSs in save situations in history which, is really how we need to start valuing closers came. Henke records career save No become a saves compiler and we have seen many do that over the.. 6-5, 215lb ( 196cm, 97kg ) facial hair, or in the coming years his. Sutter are all among the worst Hall of Famer just as a reliever the difference of pitching that ninth is... Against you, Thomas, noted for his outspoken opposition to performancing-enhancing drugs, should be suspected being. Pressure game Reference: Im sorry, but it also makes it impossible for anyone to against... The pressure games issues with some assertions you are making here how would... 3 of the NLCS he came on with a 2-1 lead in 1993...
WebTom Henke Follow team #50, RP, St. Louis Cardinals Bio Height/Weight: 6' 5"/230 lbs Bat: R Throw: R Born: Kansas City, Missouri College: East Central JC Draft: Undrafted Game Then after the 1994 strike, he landed in St. Louis. And when all was said and done, writers would look at his career and say Wow, he just might be a Hall of Famer!. As great as Rivera has been, he blew 4 games in post-season play, all of which led to the opposition winning the series. Learn more about this site update. But are you only using save percentage as a criteria? He was so terrible that it was grotesque. The man was FEARED, even if he did get fewer intentional walks than Ozzie Smith. In 1994, he had only 15 saves due to spending time on the disabled list. These demographics, he added, began to shift as the public school grew in the coming years. Best Speed For a batter, Best Speed is an average of 50% of his hardest hit balls. Hes almost a Hall of Famer just as a starter, and almost one just as a reliever. I can only assume they got in primarily because of their facial hair, or in the case of Gossage, incessant whining. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. In January 1985, the Blue Jays selected him as a free agent compensation pick. Re the Jeff Bagwell reference: Im sorry, but I have a BIG problem with this sort of smear-by-innuendo. I have become a big Wagner fan and would listen to a Wagner candidacy. Mo is headed for Cooperstown five years after he hangs it up. "feet per second in a player's fastest one-second Henke represented the bullpen along with Duane Ward and Mike Timlin. Hes a Hall of Famer. That is akin to the criticism of Ted Williams for his poor performance in the one World Series he played, and as I recall was part of Colonel Egans hatchet job when he listed the 10 biggest moments in Teds career, in all of which he failed. Henke spent the entire 1982 minor league season back at Tulsa, despite putting up similarly impressive numbers (14 saves with a 2.67 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings).

Do you have a sports website? Using postseason performance to move a player very slightly up or down in your ratings is reasonable, because after all, those are the most important games, but you should never make them a major part of your analysis. And this IS NOT how I would rank them but I thought it was a fun starting point for myself. On August 18, 1995, he earned the 300th save of his career. You could certainly make arguments for others, but those nine are pretty clear-cut. As his record indicates, Hoffman did perform well in 3 of those innings and his failure in 2 others was obviously due to random luck (slow roller and an error), so he apparently did perform well under pressure in some big games. Yet his post season record is not very impressive, I think his case for Cooperstown is better than Hoffmans but I would really need to sit down with a microscope and figure it out. Rivera, Wilhelm and Eckersley are fine picks. Its a major change in direction for this organization and I think it should be an indication to all of the fans that were doing whatever is needed and whatever is possible to try and put a winning and competitive team on the field for next year, Jocketty said. xwOBA is formulated using exit velocity, launch angle The counter argument was it would have been a waste of John Smoltzs talent to limit him ONLY to closers innings. How far, in feet, a runner is ranging off the bag at the But I was also there for the stretch run last year there were also a lot of empty seats at PetCo.). Now the 6-foot-5 right-hander was ready to return to his roots. The comments here are a breath of fresh air compared to some on my blog. Nine relievers Id rank ahead of those three include Rivera, Wilhelm, Smith, Hoffman, Quisenberry, Henke, Eckersley, Billy Wagner, and John Franco. Nope. Alex Call set the tone for good things to come with his first career leadoff homer. We have box scores from every All-Star Game in history, line scores, accurate rosters, play-by-play data, trivia, a sample program, and a detailed written account of each Midsummer Classic. He might be in the Hall of Fame. But prior to 2002, his postseason performance was awful, tot the tune of a .196 batting average, one home run, and six RBI in 97 at-bats, a larger sample size than you are judging most of these releivers postseason success by. Which is probably hypocritical of me. The greatest relievers in history are Rivera, Fingers, Wilhelm, Eckersley and Gossage., Lets assume this is true. References & ResourcesBaseball Reference, CNNSI.com. Thats right. And maybe had a year or two where they were elite, but not in this discussion. A fast fastball is a lot faster than it used to be. He retired Andre Robertson on an pop-up and then got Willie Randolph on strikes for the second out. In 1963, he accepted a position at Waynesville, remaining there as a coach for the next three years. (Age 37-283d) "Do you have a favorite quote from or about this particular Major League Baseball player that you would like to see here? in "feet per second in a player's fastest one-second I would call that a crucial performance in a high pressure game. He understood and recognized talent better than I ever could have and was always watching me pitch, telling me how to improve my delivery and get it in the strike zone.. Last (season) wasnt a lot of fun for me, Henke said. The underlying theme of this post was that Henke and Ward were matched up together and Henkes save compiling didnt start until he left Toronto. Jeff Bagwell transforming from a player with decent power to a Hall of Fame caliber slugger is going to make people raise eyebrows. (Though it is the case that most of the pinch-hit at-bats those great pinch-hitters took were in the late innings with a small deficit. Copyright He struck out Javy Lopez to preserve the lead and then pitched the ninth (single, K, K, flyout) to preserve the now 4-1 lead. WebHistory Players Leaders Left Field Help Tom Henke Stats Tom Henke was born on Saturday, December 21, 1957, in Kansas City, Missouri. Discover Tom Henke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. An everyday player has to deliver 1st inning through the last pitch April through October. Tom Henke's overhand delivery and blazing fastball are the perfect counterpoint to Mark Eichhorn's nearly underarm motion and super slow pitches. I pitched him probably every other game, but we didnt play as many games back then as the schools do now.. I drove down this old dusty road and found him, and then leaned against his tractor while he interviewed me., Buchta continued, He asked me if I was Catholic, and I told him that I was Lutheran. Henke was the seventh reliever to eclipse the 300 saves plateau and when he retired his 311 career saves ranked 5th on the all-time career list. He has niether Reply ej_trill Daddy Dongshot Additional comment For their worthiness for the HOF, relief pitchers should be assessed against the population of all pitchers, not just against the population of fellow relief pitchers. (Age 24-263d, I think an average pitcher could become a saves compiler and we have seen many do that over the years. Al Rosen had an enormous peak from age 26 through age 30 (1950-54), then fell off a cliff. -. But MAN those Met fans can be nasty. Partially fear because of his imposing height, his big glasses couldnt have made batters feel any more comfortable. Tom Henke was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and started out throwing every night to his father, who caught his pitches while sitting on a five-gallon bucket. And if that is how you watch the game, then fine. Not all innings are created equally and the innings where a great closer is pitching in are the most important of the game. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Blair Oaks High School (Jefferson City, MO), Tom Henke All-Star Stats by Baseball Almanac. Its going to be a lot of fun and a privilege to play here. But an MVP cleanup hitters is not a bullpen closer. On December 12, 1994, Henke signed a one-year, $2-million contract to serve as the Cardinals closer in 1995. (And if they arent, they arent far off.). He also got smoked in the 1990 World Series. Off the top of my head I dont know who I would consider the top 5 maybe Ill take a look and ponder it later. WebStats. But I guess my crazy point of view is that the closers role is to close out the pressure games. How much time, in seconds, it takes a runner to get from So when the undeniable greats had trouble getting voted in, a borderline candidate like Henke has little to no chance. The entire group exemplified top arms in club history. Gossage, Finger, and Sutter are all among the worst Hall of Fame selections of all-time. PIT 0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER, Sv, Rookie Status: