Billy Wagner is Paving Joe Nathan’s Path to Cooperstown

Billy Wagner was one of the most dominate relievers in the game when he was player. Joe Nathan not.

Billy Wagner was one of the most dominate relievers in the game when he was player. Joe Nathan not.

You're a National League guy right?  Check out Nathan's numbers. Scary good. On the Twins, tho

Did we realize what we had all those years with Nathan coming out of the pen for the 9th inning?  I don't have a vote, but he would be in for me.

And speaking of Nathan.  Every time Zach Littell enters a game I think of Nathan.  Just something about him causes me to think if it is possible that Littell can become the Twins current day Joe Nathan.  Sure would be nice, wouldn't it? 

Wagner struck out 33% of all batters he faced; Nathan almost 26%. Wagner ERA was less by about 0.5 run, WHIP was less than 1 for Wagner versus 1.12. His strikeout per walk was 3.99 versus 2.84.

Wagner was better than Trevor Hoffman who is in the HOF.

No.  I am not a relief pitcher in the HOF fan.  I loved having Nathan on the team, but never felt I was watching a HOF pitcher.  The fact is I would remove most of those already in rather than adding more.  RP and DH are just not on the same level as SP and players who have to field a position. 

While RPs are generally mediocre at best starters that found themselves pushed to the pen, I do think the elite of them should be in the HOF.

I do not think Hoffman is part of that elite club. Billy Wagner absolutely is. With Hoffman in, I can't believe Billy Wagner is struggling.

This coming from a guy who can't understand how Kenny Lofton was one and done while his vastly inferior teammate for many of those years, Omar Vizquel, is likely going to make it. But that's another discussion.

Joe Nathan is a borderline case. I am a big hall guy, meaning put in guys like Kenny Lofton, Andrew Jones, Tommy John, & Scott Rolen (not Omar Vizquel & Harold Baines big hall though...I have SOME standards). As far as reliever go, Nathan was clearly one of the six best ever. I'd say five best ever.

I'd put him in, but like Andrew Jones or Scott Rolen, it's not a travesty if he doesn't make it. 

As long as they don't include Harold Baines or Omar Vizquel. Then all the standards are broken.

I would love to see Joe Nathan in the HOF. As the parent of two young boys at the time, I considered him hands-down the most willing to sign autographs, etc., and he seemed to set the tone so that other bullpen guys followed his lead. 

That said, I wouldn't have considered him as having a shot until I look at the stats you name, which seem to suggest that he's better than I've given him credit. However, I think the fact that I had to look that up to see probably suggests how he's viewed.

I think he'll have a tough shot with the writers, but maybe veterans committees down the road will see him as a Ted Simmons -- really, really good, but typically under the radar. Now that I think of it, there's somewhat of a parallel with Simmons. Simmons was good under the shadow of Bench, the best catcher of all time. Nathan spent a lot of years in the shadow of Rivera, history's best closer. 

I look at other possible HOFers and think both Nathan and Wagner are marginal for deserving induction. This year, Jeter makes it on the first ballot and Curt Schilling should finally bring votes in (if the writers can put politics aside as they should - evaluate baseball). Larry Walker is another marginal guy. Whenever Clemons and Bonds get to their final year; that’s when you vote them in (just think of controversy in 15-20 years when cheating Astros are to be considered!). So, I won’t be upset either way if Wagner and/or Joe get a yes or no ultimately.

And let’s just hope the company that counted the votes in the 2020 Iowa caucus is not involved in the counting of HOF ballots.

And let’s just hope the company that counted the votes in the 2020 Iowa caucus is not involved in the counting of HOF ballots.

Joe Nathan was a very good closer for the Twins for a good stretch of time. A very valuable member of the team. But a Hall of Famer? Hmm... my gut feeling says no.