Eck had an amazing 5 year stretch. So did Dan Quisenberry (2 CYA 2's and 2 3's in a 4 year span). But yeah, it was longevity and accumulated numbers. See the other Hall of Greats I mentioned. Whatever.
I care about fame. I do. It's the story of baseball. The stats obviously mean something, but your story means something more when I walk in the door. Eck is famous. Goose is Famous Rivera is Famous Rollie is Famous. Wagner is not. I don't think people really remember him.
I remember him. More than Goose or Rollie to be honest. And I care about dominance. I want to walk through the HOF, read the plaque and the stats and say "damn ! That was a player " That's more than if people remember them. How many people "remember" Babe Ruth?
I honestly never thought of him as a HOFer but his counting stats are there. It was always nail biting time when he came in and he performed pretty well outside of the playoffs.
And his rate stats are even better than his counting stats. Part of the reason he has been kept out is that he has fewer IP than any current HOF.
I really hope Wags gets in, but I personally wouldn't vote for him. Aside from Rivera I probably wouldn't vote for any full time reliever, I just think they don't impact the team enough over 162. I would only vote for Rivera because of his absurd Ryan Presslyesque October closing stats.
Once they let Hoffman in... they gotta let all these guys in now. I agree that the playoff performance (or lack thereof) of a closer should matter more for HOF considerations vs other position players or starting pitchers.
Hanging in there at 79% on the tracker so far. Looking like it will be very close but hopefully he gets in this year. I'm struggling with how Joe Mauer is a 1st ballot HOFer. He's deserving of a spot...but 1st ballot?
Billy Wagner has blown Games to the Atlanta Braves, giving up leads, Home Runs by Chipper Jones, Javy Lopez.
