Kevin Brown retires

[savafan]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/sp...gin&oref=login

Kevin Brown pitched in successive World Series — in 1997 with Florida and in 1998 with San Diego — then signed a seven-year, $105 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baseball life would never be the same.

The contract completed, Brown, who will turn 41 next month, has concluded that life. His career is over.

"Kevin didn't have me pursue any teams because he wanted to see how his health was," his agent, Scott Boras, said. "He decided after the painful process last year he was not going to play. His arm is still remarkably good, but it's about his back. He had to endure a lot to throw last year."

Brown's back strains limited him to 13 starts with the Yankees last season, sent him to the disabled list three times and ended his season July 23. He finished his career with a 211-144 record.

[Cyclone792]

Player        Wins    Losses   Innings     ERA   LgERA    ERA+

Kevin Brown    211     144      3256.1    3.28    4.16    127

Kevin Brown = Hall of Fame, yes or no?

[savafan]

Player        Wins    Losses   Innings     ERA   LgERA    ERA+

Kevin Brown    211     144      3256.1    3.28    4.16    127

Kevin Brown = Hall of Fame, yes or no?

Very borderline in my opinion. I will have to think harder about this.

[Cyclone792]

Yep, you're definitely not alone with that sentiment, Sava. My little snippet of career stats for Brown really doesn't go very far at all in attempting to determine Brown's HOF worthiness or not, and right now I'm still undecided. I'll likely have to pull out my list of all starting pitchers I believe should be in the Hall and see where Brown ranks in both career and peak value.

My initial gut feeling is no because of a short career, but man, that 127 ERA+ figure demands a deeper inspection. Brown gave up less than 0.60 HR/9 innings for his career, which just goes to show you how keeping the ball in the park will treat you on the mound.

[RedsBaron]

No.
Compare Brown's career numbers with those of Bob Welch. Neither is a Hall of Famer.

[MrCinatit]

i'm leaning towards no, as well. pretty good pitcher, but when you think of dominant pitchers in this era, Brown is not one of the top names to come to mind (ie, Maddox, Johnson, Martinez, Clemens

[Strikes Out Looking]

No. Bert Blyleven is much more of a hall a fame candidate.

[cumberlandreds]

No HOF. Just doesn't have the stats. If healthy he would have been a shoe in.

[Heath]

Hate to player hate here - if Bert Blyleven can't get in, Mr. Brown stays out too.

Boy, if he was healthy....

[KearnsyEars]

The contract completed, Brown, who will turn 41 next month, has concluded that life.

I'm no Billy Shakespeare, but is this a sentence? Or a thought?

[redsmetz]

Player        Wins    Losses   Innings     ERA   LgERA    ERA+

Kevin Brown    211     144      3256.1    3.28    4.16    127

Kevin Brown = Hall of Fame, yes or no?

Baseball Reference lists similar players, two of who are HOFer's - Don Drysdale & Catfish Hunter. Among others are Orel Hershiser, Bob Welsh, Vida Blue, and Mike Mussina. I don't think he's in the category of Drysdale or Hunter. I suspect had he not been injured so much in the later years, he might have had a shot. He does rank 36th in Strikeouts, but I don't think the rest helps him much.

[redsfan30]

It's like Skip Bayliss says, it's the Hall of Fame....not the Hall of Very Good.

[MrCinatit]

I'm no Billy Shakespeare, but is this a sentence? Or a thought?

i stumbled on that one four times myself. another example of a writer trying to be cute - and failing miserably.

[Blimpie]

Player        Wins    Losses   Innings     ERA   LgERA    ERA+

Kevin Brown    211     144      3256.1    3.28    4.16    127

Kevin Brown = Hall of Fame, yes or no?

His surly attitude towards the media alone will most likely knock him "off the fence"

[M2]

Since Brown's now made it official I'm sure we'll see an outpouring of appreciation for the man from all of his friends in the game.