Why is Bruce Sutter in the Hall of Fame and Lee Smith not?

maveric

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Sun Jul-30-06 02:38 PM
Original message

Why is Bruce Sutter in the Hall of Fame and Lee Smith not?

Both closers. Sutter registered 300 saves, Smith 478. Most of all time.
Makes you wonder...

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JohnKleeb

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Sun Jul-30-06 02:42 PM
Response to Original message

1. Dunno

The writers though I think do a better job than the Veterans Committee in my opinion because the latter is prone to cronyism. There were a lot of guys elected in to the Hall of Fame who were no doubt good ballplayers but elected because their friends were on the Vets Committee.

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maveric

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Sun Jul-30-06 02:48 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Like Richie Ashburn, Phil Rizzuto, Billy Herman...

And the likes of Lee Smith, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, and Jim Kaat arent in.

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JohnKleeb

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Sun Jul-30-06 02:51 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Yeah those

I was thinking more about guys I'd never heard of if I didn't read the Hall of Fame list of inductees like Travis Jackson, Dave Bancroft, etc.

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Hand

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Sun Jul-30-06 03:01 PM
Response to Original message

4. Insh'Allah... nt

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Gidney N Cloyd

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Sun Jul-30-06 03:23 PM
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5. Maybe because Sutter invented the split fingered fastball?

Also, Smith played for a lot more teams and I have to wonder how that might affect his support.

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maveric

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Sun Jul-30-06 03:38 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. If a "closer's" job is to register saves....

and Lee Smith did it 178 times more than Sutter, and more than any other closer in MLB history. Then why...?
Race may play a minor role in this one.
Ya think?

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NJ Democrats

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Sun Jul-30-06 04:50 PM
Response to Original message

7. So should Richard 'Goose' Gossage!

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NewJeffCT

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Sun Jul-30-06 05:40 PM
Response to Original message

8. Race is certainly a part of it

However, some time in the 80s, I believe, baseball changed the save rule and made it a lot easier for one to record a save.

And, baseball has become much more specialized since that time... It's only been in recent years (mid 80s and later) where relievers have run up truly huge save totals year in and year out.

Smith was also overshadowed at times during his career - pitching for the Red Sox when Roger Clemens was in his prime as a starter.

That said, I do agree that race is part of it.

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Nickster

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Sun Jul-30-06 05:43 PM
Response to Original message

9. Hmmm, good question. I guess I never thought about the race angle.

I always loved watching Lee Smith come out to the mound though. He certainly deserves his slot in the Hall.

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