Billy Wagner HOF?

So what's your excuse for starting a HOF thread about Billy fuckin Wagner then?

 

Because that's all he can do, BYH

 

FUCK. NO. That is all.

 

Hoffman was a damn good pitcher for a long time. While saves are a flawed statistic, it is ta closer's job to pile them up. Hoffman didn't just do that by hanging around forever. He was a dominant reliever in his prime.

 

tMaybe Ilmago can consolidate all these threads into "Guys I Think Might be in the HOF Runnning hread" instead of starting a new one for every guy that pops into his head.

 

No way he deserves to be in over Steve Bedrosian.

 

Maybe not first or second ballot, but if you're going to deny the guy who is fifth all-time in saves, why have a Hall of Fame?

For the last 35 years, closer has been one of the most important roles on any team that wins. If you're going to deny Wagner, then there needs to be a program developed in which current members can be voted out because they're obviously not qualified, either.

Wagner was a top closer for a good while and even more in his favor is the fact that not once but twice he came back from elbow surgery (one for the flexor tendon, one for Tommy John surgery) and returned to full effectiveness. Fifth all-time in any other category and a guy is a shoo-in.

The game has changed a lot over the years. Anyone who would ignore the importance of the closer's role doesn't know jack about baseball.

 

I'm not sure first all-time in saves is a shoo-in, though I think Hoffman will eventually get in. I doubt John Franco or Lee Smith are getting in and they are both ahead of Wagner in saves.

 

Orosco doesn't have the 1987 Cy Young collecting dust on his mantle, that's for fucking sure.

 

Dooley Womack will get in before Wagner

 

That's why voters need to re-examine their thinking. If they keep their minds in the 1960s and don't want to put any relievers in, then I guess there should never again be a pitcher in the Hall, because today's starters certainly don't stack up to yesteryear's starters from the days of four-man rotations and complete games.

 

I know what the blue font means, but what does the ghostly red font mean?

Anyhoo, Wagner did have just as good a spring as I did.