Tom Verducci, SI, questions Bruce Sutter's elevation WITHOUT Gossage's--1/06

(This post from theKeyMonk.blogspot.com, Jan. 11, 2006)

Bruce Sutter, Hall of Famer?

SI's Tom Verducci questions the BBWAA's decision to elect Bruce Sutter to the Hall of Fame and concurrently deny Goose Gossage.

Consider: Sutter was washed up at age 32; Gossage continued as a closer until age 34 and had previously lost one prime season of closing as a starter for the goingnowhere '76 Chisox. Gossage routinely posted ERA+ levels over 150, Sutter did it three times (his ERA compared to the league average, higher number is better); Gossage also was not a one-inning specialist -- he'd pitch 2+ innings to save games, Sutter would not.

Gossage pitched well, and often brilliantly (1978, 1980-82) on the biggest stage in major league baseball, Sutter made his reputation as a closer for the bottom-dwelling (just above the Mess) Cubs in the late '70s before pitching well, but not with Gossage-level excellence (other than 1984, for a third-place team), for the Cards. The most damning indictment of the vote comes from their player pages at Baseball Reference: Sutter's career most closely resembles those of Doug Jones, Tom Henke and Jeff Montgomery -- three closers far from HoF consideration; Gossage's most closely resembles the careers of Rollie Fingers and Hoyt Wilhelm, both of whom have plaques at Cooperstown.

• Ed. --No one has the guts to say what's going on here, but it sure as hell is obvious.