Hall of Fame

Here's hoping for Bruce Sutter's name to be announced. His split finger had such an impact on the game. Anybody else who should be inducted, sports fans?

I'd love for Tommy John to be inducted to the Hall of Fame. He spent 26 years in the major leagues; he seemingly had two careers-- before the infamous "Tommy John" surgery, and after. What dedication. What "stick-to-it-ive-ness." He pitched in 4710.3 innings! (760 games W/L-- 288/231)

He is a wonderful role model for everyone--especially those who blow am arm out--there IS life after surgery.

I have to think that having a surgical proceeding named after you has to be worth some votes.

Bruce! Bruce! Bruce!

Was Sutter the only player elected to the Hall this year? A great honor for a deserving individual.

How unusual is it to have only one voted in? Seems there are usually 3-4.

Way to go Bruce.

Yep, only Sutter. I was rooting for the Goose being from CO and all. I think the last time there was only one was when Ozzie Smith made it.

Not all that unusual, there have been years that the baseball writers voted no one in. In fact with under 77% vote for Sutter, almost happened this year. Glad he got in, very deserving. Would have liked to have seen Goose get in too.

I have been a fan of Tommy John.

He would have easily won 300 games if not for the Righetti experiment.

After some research:

Going back to 1980, the writers did not vote in anyone in 1996 (4 were voted in by veterans committee).

Years writers voted in just one:
2002 - Ozzie Smith
1998 - Don Sutton
1997 - Phil Niekro
1995 - Mike Schmidt
1994 - Steve Carlton
1993 - Reggie Jackson
1988 - Willie Stargell
1986 - Willie McCovey
1982 - Frank Robinson
1980 - Duke Snider

And by the way, if you haven't been there, you gotta go!

And once again - no Art Shamsky.

And no Jim Rice or Andre Dawson--if Snider is in they should be as well

hard to say that any of those guys don't deserve it. They were all dominant (except maybe TJ, but his longevity should be worth something...)

Sutter, at the height of his game (when he was with the Cubs) was the best closer ever.

Admittedly not for a long time. Not claiming he had the longest run at it, or the most saves.

But no one was ever better than those few years with the Cubs.

Not even Mariano on the Yanks?

While Sutter had a Hall of Fame career and a brilliant stretch with the Cubs, his best does not match Mariano Rivera by any objective measure. MR has six seasons with a sub-2 ERA. Sutter was sub-2 in 1984 only.

The only arguement I have with comparing sutter/rivera is go and compare how many innings Sutter pitched versus how many Rivera pitches.......

Closers came in much earlier innings back then than they do now.....