BUT I'M THRILLED JUAN SOTO IS GONE, CONEY!

If there's one person in baseball I can't get enough of, it's David Cone. The guy was an absolute magician on the mound, a fierce competitor, and a true athlete. But somehow, he might be even better in the booth than he was on the field. His insight, delivery, and wit make every broadcast a must-watch. There’s no doubt about it—Cone is simply the best in the business.

Speaking of the best in the business, let’s talk about how the Yankees are winning this offseason while the Mets are sitting in timeout, wondering where all their money went. Juan Soto leaving the Bronx? That wasn’t a gut punch for me—it was a sigh of relief! The Yankees were handcuffed, and now we’re free to make real moves. Meanwhile, Soto darted for the biggest bag he could find, landing with the Mets, and what do they have to show for it? A franchise staple in Pete Alonso twisting in the wind because suddenly, Steve Cohen found the budget button.

The Yankees, on the other hand, shouldn't cry over spilled Soto. They pivoted and went shopping—Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, and Max Fried? Not a bad haul. Soto’s departure set off a chain reaction that made the Yankees better, deeper, and more balanced. That’s what a real organization does. They adjust, reload, and get stronger. The Mets? They should’ve taken notes from the Yankees before writing a blank check to Soto, because now they’re stuck in financial purgatory.

And if you need even more proof that the Yankees did the right thing, listen to David Cone. The great Bob Klapisch had a fantastic Q&A with Coney about the Yankees and the Soto fallout, and Cone had some classic words for the Yankee fans still crying about it:

Cone: “Get over it... And how you get over it is just by what the Yankees are doing. You pivot.”

Q: Let’s start with Soto, since he was the catalyst to the Yankees’ turnover. Are you surprised he ended up leaving?

Cone: “I was amazed at how far (the bidding war) went. It’s really indicative of the current compensation system. You have someone like Soto, who drives everything up, as far as it can go, to find out what he can get in free agency.

“That’s been the Players Association’s mantra for years. In hindsight, I can understand why (Soto) left. I’ve seen it first-hand. The Cohen family, husband and wife, are dynamic. They can make you feel warm and fuzzy. I could see how Soto was going to feel that way about them.”

Q: Most of my friends who are Yankees fans weren’t as understanding as you, Coney. They’re still in therapy. But your message is about looking ahead, right?

Cone: “Just remember the Yankees aren’t even close to being done. They’re still trying to assess a long-term solution at third base. Is there another Scott Brosius out there? Someone that would fit perfectly – a guy who could pick it and hit some bombs?”

And there you have it, folks. Straight from the best in the business. You don’t dwell. You move forward. And that’s exactly what the Yankees are doing—while the Mets are stuck holding an expensive bag. Tough break.

THE DODGERS ARE THE NEW EVIL EMPIRE? NOT SO FAST

First, they signed Roki Sasaki. Then came Blake Snell. Next, they brought back Teoscar Hernández. And just when you thought they were done, they went and signed Hyeseong Kim—prompting most fans to Google "Who is Hyeseong Kim?" only to get mad when they realized he was now a Dodger. The reaction across the league? "This is over. It's unfair. One team shouldn't be allowed to sign all the stars!"

If you’re a Yankees fan, this panic should feel eerily familiar. Sound like 1998 to you? The 2024 Dodgers might look like the ’98 Yankees, but they’ve got a bit of the ‘96 Braves in them too—those Braves who boasted a rotation that could strike fear into anyone: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. A trio so good, they seemed invincible in a short series. Well, until they weren’t. The Yankees knocked them off. Repeatedly.

The '98 Yankees were a different beast altogether, one of the greatest teams ever assembled. With 114 wins in the regular season and a postseason that ended with them at a ridiculous 125-50 record, they were a juggernaut. Their ERA? Sixth best in baseball. Their runs scored. League-leading. This wasn’t just a team—it was a finely-tuned, record-smashing machine.

Now, back to the Dodgers. Their roster? It’s a veritable who’s who of baseball talent. Their rotation? Strong enough that their sixth starter might be better than some teams’ aces. Their payroll? The kind of money that makes other teams weep. But before you throw in the towel, remember this: baseball is wonderfully, maddeningly unpredictable.

The 1996-2000 Yankees were a masterclass in smart team building. They built up to it by nailing their drafts, grabbing Derek Jeter early and finding gems like Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte in the later rounds. They scoured the globe for hidden talent, unearthing Mariano Rivera, and pulled off clever trades like the one that brought Paul O’Neill to the Bronx. Scott Brosius was plucked off the A's bench—no one thought that move was season-defining, but it was.

Clemens joining the squad in 1999 as the moment the Yankees became the baseball equivalent of a Death Star. 

By the early 2000s, the Yankees shifted from precision to sheer accumulation. Jason Giambi.

But back to 1996 for a second, the Yankee build up to their run.  The 1996 Braves were untouchable—until they weren’t. The 2003 Yankees were packed with talent, but they fell to the plucky, wildcard Marlins. Even the Dodgers, for all their might, are vulnerable. Just like the Braves were dethroned by a scrappy, cobbled-together Yankees team in '96, the Dodgers can be beaten.

Yes, the Dodgers have it all: chemistry, depth, star power, and enough financial firepower to outbid anyone. But so did the ’96 Braves. And we all know how that story ended. The season’s not over until the final out. And in baseball, any team can have its Cinderella moment.

So go ahead, be mad at the Dodgers for doing what every team dreams of—stockpiling stars like it's a Black Friday sale. But keep rooting for your team. Because this is baseball, and in baseball, anything can happen. Just ask the ’96 Braves. Or the 2003 Yankees or even the 2001 Yanks. Sometimes, the Goliaths fall. And that’s what keeps the game so exhilarating.

By the way, shout out to Yanks go Yard for keeping us all thinking about stuff like this. Good Article.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

YANKEE FANS KNOW THAT FEELING OF "BELIEVING" VERY WELL

Pete Alonso of the Mets couldn't hit himself out of a paper bag for weeks.  So you knew it was only a matter of time for him to get a big hit in a big moment last night... and good for him.

For me, I'm not a Mets fan. I don't have any feeling for them good or bad. For me, they are just the Mets.  That's how it's been for a long, long time.  When Derek Jeter made that remark about the team recently, it just made sense for me. They ARE just the Mets. I don't particularly root for them, I don't boo them... I just watch them.  And that's about it.  

Last night, I was leaning Brewers just because of the fact that I long for the 80's, the Robin Yount, Gorman Thomas, Paul Molitor days. It was nostalgic for me. Plus, my kid's a Christian Yelich fan so it just made sense.  But to be honest, I went to bed not really caring who won, but I do have to say, it was a good game.

But the moment that Alonso had made us all bring us to those great moments in baseball. It is what makes baseball truly great. A home run when a team needed it most, the moment, the feeling, the triumph, the defeat on the other side. It was baseball at its best.  Happily, as Yankee fans, we have had many of those and they all made us feel incredible... especially during big games.

CBS News writes:

"At least we didn't get swept."

Jim Leyritz remembers saying that out loud when the Yankees' sixth-inning rally in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series still left them trailing 6-3, only nine outs away from going down three games to one to the Atlanta Braves....Two innings later, Leyritz changed Yankees' fortunes and pinstriped history with one swing, a game-tying, three-run home run off Braves closer Mark Wohlers. The Bombers would go on to win the game in extra innings, tying the series."

And how about the true team effort of Yankees in 2001 when the Yanks needed them most. Cronkite News writes:

"Those three nights included President George W. Bush delivering a perfect strike for the first pitch before Game 3, Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius hitting two-run home runs in the 9th inning off Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim in back-to-back games, Derek Jeter walking off Game 4 in the 12th, earning his title Mr. November, and the rookie Alfonso Soriano delivering a walk-off hit in Game 5 for the 3-2 New York series lead over Arizona."

The home runs when we need them most is vital to the fabric of the game of baseball and so great for the true baseball fan.  Last night was fantastic for Mets fans. It was important for Alonso, and we all felt it for a few minutes.  Life for the true Met fan was glorious.   But what happens next...

While the big home run is incredible, it depends on WHEN it takes place.  As all Yankee fans know, losing the 2001 World Series was a heartbreaker. The Yankee homers came at the right time and in bunches... but it wasn't enough.  In fact, a bigger moment came for the Diamondbacks against the greatest closer of all time when Luis Gonzalez hit that blooper to win the game.  Another moment in time that for the true baseball historian is just incredible.  For the Yankee fan, it was gut wrenching.  

For Leyritz, he would have several of those home run moments. The one in 1995 against the Mariners was incredible, but we didn't win that series.  Obviously 1998 Scott Brosius was on fire against the Padres, and in that World Series those moments were significant, we WON that.  But again... it's WHEN these moments happen that allow teams and their fans to truly love and appreciate being a fan.

 

Pete Alonso did something great last night. It should not be dismissed. But the Phillies are no slouch. The big question for the Mets is can the use that momentum to keep going, or was the highlight, as great as it was, only be a highlight that sits on a shelf, like Aaron Boone's homer against the Red Sox.  Something that we recall, but years later doesn't mean much.   It's a question every team clawing toward the World Series needs to think about.

I love big moments in baseball... we've had plenty as Yankee fans.  But it's how a team keeps going that is vital for the makeup of that team and what truly makes them a champion.  Mets fans are happy today. I respect that.  What I don't respect is the trash talk, rudeness, slapping down of Phillies fans before they even show up.   You are only as good as the game you played. When a new day comes, a new game comes.  The Phillies are not about the roll over. Mets fans need to take the homer, praise Pete, applaud the team, but then reset.  

Oh... and stop praising Grimace.  How about you root for your team instead of rooting for a false vibe?  That's the problem with Mets fans... they don't "believe in their team"... they believe in something fabricated to help them through the brutal fandom they've dealt with all these years.  That's no way to be a fan.

Big baseball weekend coming.  Go Yanks!  Let's get some.  Oh... and to the Mets, the Phillies... good luck.

SCOTT BROSIUS IS BACK!

Everybody loves Scott Brosius and when we interviewed him for Bleeding Yankee Blue a few years ago, it was one of our most read interviews ever.

Scotty made a name for himself when he came to the New York Yankees after what appeared to be a pretty lame time in Oakland with the Athletics.  With the Yankees, he won championships, MVPs and true recognition as being a terrific team player and excellent Yankee!

Well, I got news. Brosius is back in Major League baseball! No, not as a coach or player for the Yanks, but for the Seattle Mariners.  MLB Trade Rumors has the story:

"Scott Brosius is joining the Mariners as an assistant coach, per a team announcement. Now fifty years old, Brosius spent eleven years in the majors with the Athletics and Yankees. It’s not clear precisely what his duties will be — his title is simply “assistant coach” — but Brosius served last year as the hitting coach at Triple-A Tacoma."

Now when we spoke to Brosius, he was working as a coach at a college:

BYB: Many fans don't know you haven’t left baseball. You are in your fourth year as the manager of Linfield College Baseball team. Fans also might not know that you played for Linfield College for three years until being drafted by the Oakland A’s in 1987. How do you like being a manager and is managing in the Major Leagues something you would like to do one day?

Scott Brosius: I have been very fortunate to get the opportunity to coach at Linfield College, the school I played at. I knew I didn’t want to give up baseball altogether, so coaching gives me the opportunity to pass on some of what I learned along the way. I enjoy coaching tremendously, and doing so at Linfield also provides me with the balance to see my kids play as well and coach my son’s team in the summer. I am having a great time with it, and right now I don’t see myself moving back into the professional ranks, at least while my kids are still at home.

Read more at EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: SCOTT BROSIUS. That interview happened in 2011.  Wow. Time flies.

Anyway, this is great news, and we obviously wish Scott well!

HEY, YOU NEVER KNOW!

Recognize the guy in the inset photo next to Billy Butler? More on that in a moment...

Bleeding Yankee Blue got a great comment from a BYB reader and Yankee fan that showed up in the dead of night. I love those...

We wrote about the recent acquisition of Billy Butler last night in THE YANKEES JUST SIGNED BILLY BUTLER.  We explained that his pop has slowed down a bit since he's been in Oakland and I suggested that maybe with a change of scenery, and Butler about to face a bunch of lefty pitchers (he being a righty), maybe will find some life in the Bronx.

That's when I was reminded by whitehorse67 about another guy who once came from Oakland, and then came to New York and became the 1998 World Series MVP. His name was Scott Brosius:

Now all players are different. But I'd be lying if I told you I didn't grin at that comment. Kind of makes me happy to think about. It's true. When Brosius came to New York, he batted just .203 in Oakland the year before.

No one thought having him on our club was a good situation. In fact, it looked like the Yankees were plugging defensive holes.

But what came next was incredible. Scotty Bro developed into an important part of the Yankees historic run and it was wonderful to see him prove the doubters wrong... me included.

No one knows what Billy Butler will do in New York and he's quite different from Scott Brosius. But if you're crossing your fingers for success for Butler in the Bronx... it is true, you can click back to Scotty.  Maybe it's the same type deal... or maybe it's just a role of the dice. Whatever the case, I welcome Mr. Butler to the Bronx.

Thanks for commenting whitehorse67. Thanks for the memories.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CLAY BELLINGER

We've done this type of thing in the past when it comes to Opening Day.  We celebrate the day, but we celebrate all the Yankees here.

Bleeding Yankee Blue prides itself on being different, and have been since we began back in 2010.  We've had inspirational Yankee videos, straight talk about our team and what to expect and even interviews with new Yankees or veterans of the club.  We are blessed to have great contacts and terrific people surrounding us.  Last year we interviewed Garrett and Cassie Jones in what was a pretty popular Opening Day interview, celebration, whatever. (Read EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: GARRETT & CASSIE JONES.)  Cassie and BYB are still in touch for updates on Garrett.  It's a nice give and take.  Today though, we have another great treat.  An interview with former New York Yankee Clay Bellinger!

What feels like many months ago now, when I met my other half I learned a lot about him listening to many of his stories about when he used to be an EMT.  At the end of one of his stories he tells me about how he was helping transport a victim of an accident and mentions that his friend and former Yankee was one of the firefighters that responded on scene, named Clay Bellinger. He asked me if I knew who he was and I gave him the "DUH of course I do" answer but didn't believe him. Instead, I answered with "Sure, and I used to date Derek Jeter." Well it turns out he wasn't just telling a lie to try and impress me and he did spend a lot of time with Clay.

Fans remember Clay as a utility player for the Yankees from 1999 through 2001. I remember him as the guy who looked like a super hero in the 2000 World Series and the guy that ruined my dad's hope for the Mets to win the World Series that year. Now he is a leader outside of the baseball world for a whole other reason.

These days, Clay is working in my community as a firefighter for the town of Gilbert. Back in December, my boyfriend managed to arrange for me not only to meet Clay but to take a tour of the firehouse that all of these guys spend all of their time together and how close knit these guys are with one another. While I was there I asked Clay if he would take some time to talk to us and share some of his experiences with us at Bleeding Yankee Blue, and he agreed. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.

BYB: Everyone remembers their first hit, can you tell me who your first hit was off of and what do you remember about it?

Clay Bellinger: My first hit came off of Heathcliff Slocumb when he was playing with the Baltimore Orioles. There is a lot I remember from the game. Scott Brosius was supposed to play in that game but he couldn't because he twisted his ankle so I filled in for him. I remember Roll Call and hearing the bleacher creatures say everyone's name. It was a Wednesday night game on ESPN and I didn't get a hit until my fourth at bat and I was pretty nervous.

BYB: Who was the most difficult pitcher you had to face and why?

Clay Bellinger: I didn't get a ton of at bats since I didn't play consistently but Pedro Martinez was pretty tough. I remember I got one hit off of him, but hits never came easy. Pedro had such a nasty fastball, change-up and curveball.

BYB: Which stadium was your favorite to play in and why?

Clay Bellinger:     That would be Yankee stadium. I grew up 3 hours from there and I remember going to a game there once when I was young. I was a hometown kid it was probably the most historic place for me to play in. I remember how well they took care of the stadium. The grass and the field were impressive. It was such a great place to go and hang out at before and after the games. You can't forget the fans either. They were passionate. There are not too many other places like it.

BYB: What was it like to play with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera?

Clay Bellinger:    When I made the team in 99 everyone on the team was a big name person. They all treated me great. Everyone was awesome and they didn't treat me like I was a rookie. They were all class acts. They played the game well and were respectful so they were great to be around.

BYB: Yankee fans remember the Subway World Series back in 2000. You replaced David Justice in the game and robbed Todd Zeile of a home run. Walk us through that moment. What do you remember?

Clay Bellinger:     I  approached it like every other game. I didn't even know what inning it was but I remember replacing David Justice. As a kid you grow up dreaming about making a play in the World Series. I always wanted any ball hit my way. As soon as Zeile hit it I knew it was going to be close. I was just hoping I had enough room and I was going to be able to get back fast enough and catch it. After I caught it I made a good throw going into second to keep the runner off. It’s always cool when you don’t play a lot and get to make an important play. It was a pretty good play. I know the Mets weren't too happy about it. 

BYB: You have a son named Cody who plays baseball in the Dodgers organization, how is he doing?

Clay Bellinger:    He’s doing awesome. He had a good year last year. He changed his swing up to hit more home runs and he just had a phenomenal year for a 19 year old. He got invited to big league camp this year. He’s been meeting all of the big league guys and they all talk to him. He is excited so I am excited for him. He has the talent and the drive. I see all of the changes he is making and that is exciting for me. He went from no home runs to 30 home runs and 103 RBI so he’s doing well and this is going to be an exciting year for him. We are very proud of him.

BYB: You work now as a firefighter in Gilbert, Arizona. What is that like and are there any similarities to the baseball world?

Clay Bellinger:    September will be year number 10 for me. It’s just a phenomenal job there is a lot of reward to it. There are some days where we don’t do anything. Some days we have 10 calls to respond to. You go to work never knowing what is going to happen. It is a tiny clubhouse. Some stations have 8-10 guys in there and we have 4. You hang with guys for 24 hours and they become your second family. They rely on you to get things done. It’s very rewarding. To be a player and a firefighter in the same lifetime is amazing because I get to do two things that many kids dream of.


BYB:  Are there any similarities between life in a major league clubhouse and a fire station?

Clay Bellinger:  There are a lot actually. In the clubhouse you hang with 24 guys, but here is it 4. Just like during the regular season you eat and workout with them. These guys are my family basically. I have been at this station for 7 years now with the same engineers. People come and go just like on a baseball team but we are here for the same goal. It was not a hard transition for me because it's still working with a team of people and I love what I do.

I would like to thank Clay for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with us. Also a big thank you to the rest of his team for letting me tour their station and hang out. I not only thank you for all of the memories that you gave me during your time as a Yankee but I can't say thank you enough for everything you do to help keep people in my community safe. Kids say baseball players are heroes, but Clay and his team are involved in heroic acts all of the time and that should not go unnoticed. 

I also can't forget to give a big THANK YOU to my boyfriend for making all of this happen. Oh and by the way, I told Clay about my "I dated Derek Jeter" comment that I opened this story with and he laughed. 

 
   
--Jeana Bellezza, 
BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ 
 





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WHERE IS THE 'REAL' HOME PLATE?

What if home plate, from the original Yankees stadium, never made it over to the stadium they use now when the team moved across the street in 2009? What if the location of the original Home Plate is a complete mystery?

A few days ago I got a message from Casey asking if I could do some investigating. Apparently there is a discussion going on about the whereabouts of the "real" home plate. Several people seem to think that it stayed at Heritage field. 

To begin, I have to say that I am truly skeptical that the Yankees, a team that prides themselves in its rich history, would leave such an iconic part of the stadium behind. It seems more like the kind of thing they would take with them. If not for continued usage, then for display at the Yankee Museum. The museum has just about everything else on display, including Thurman Munson's locker, every World Series pocket watch and ring, jerseys, hats, and an entire wall of signed baseball by nearly every Yankee to have ever played. It's a beautiful place for fans to visit, and the most likely place for home plate to end up. 

You also have to consider some facts about Heritage field. For starters, the baseball field consist of three diamonds. When discussing location of the original home plate in relation to the new field, home plate would have been where second base is on the field closest to the corner of River Ave, and 161st St. Usually, when a stadium moves from one location to another, a plaque is left behind at the site of home plate to commemorate it. That seems unlikely in this case given that it would interfere with any game played on that field. The same is true for the actual home plate.

Of course you could argue that it's not on the field, but in the area around it. The walk around Heritage field is known as Ruppert Plaza, named after Jacob Ruppert, past owner of the Yankees. 

If you walk around the baseball fields, you'll occasionally see tiles with some fun Yankees facts. There is also the Lou Gehrig quote wall, as well as a decorative bench. It really is a nice little walk to take. Full of Yankees history, but no sign of the Yankees original Home Plate. Of course, I will just assume that is because the other objects are permanently placed, where home plate would be easily removed by anyone. But it's not there. No sign of it at all. The question is, where is it? What happened to the real home plate?

Well, home plate seems to be at Yankee stadium. In November of 2008, Scott Brosius, Paul O'Neill, David Cone, Jeff Nelson and the 1998 World Championship Team, were joined by a group of kids from a Bronx Youth group and dug up home plate and the pitching rubber from the old stadium, and transported them over to the "new" stadium, along with some dirt from the House that Ruth Built (HERE). 

So, there you have it, folks! The REAL home plate, is in fact at home at Yankee Stadium. Makes sense, if you ask me. Again, the Yankees pride themselves in the rich history. Leaving such iconic pieces of the stadium behind is not in the Yankees character. So the next time you're at the stadium, rest assured that a little piece of the old stadium is there with you. 

--Erica Morales 

BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

MY HALL OF FAME BALLOT AT HIGH NOON

A family member sent me this news clipping from June 14, 1939

This Wednesday, January 6th, the National Baseball Hall of Fame will announce the 2016 inductees. I am not a member of the BBWAA, so I will not get to contribute to some deserving players’ 75% of the vote. Like most of us, including my fellow writers, I have strong opinions on who I think deserves to get in. I am also a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA), which organizes and promotes the growing online baseball media and serves as a digital alternative to the BBWAA. We have our own Hall of Fame vote, and I wanted to share my votes for who I would put in the Baseball Hall of Fame and why. You already read my piece on Mike Mussina: MIKE MUSSINA BELONGS IN THE HALL and Alexis Garcia's piece on Clemens and Bonds: BONDS & CLEMENS DESERVE COOPERSTOWN.  Here are the rest of mine.

Ken Griffey Jr.: For nearly a decade, he was the most feared hitter int eh American League. Four times he led the American League in home runs. Four times he had an OPS over 1.000. For 5 consecutive seasons, he hit 40+ home runs, 100+ runs, 100+ RBI. He is 6th on the all-time list with 630 home runs, 15th on the all-time RBI list with 1836, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, and a 13-time All-Star. This is a no-brainer.

Gary Sheffield: Over the course of a 22-year career, he was a feared hitter who hit for power, hit for average, was a threat to steal, and mastered defense at multiple positions. He is 25th on the all-time HR list with 509. He is 27th on the all-time RBI list with 1676. He won a batting title in 1992. Six times he finished in the top 10 of the MVP voting. Unlike most power hitters, he never struck out more than 85 times in a season. Sheff has earned his spot in Cooperstown.

Curt Schilling: Put down the gun. If you’re evaluating him purely as a pitcher, there is no question. He pitched for 20 seasons and he knew how to win. Every team for which he was a regular starter went to eh playoffs. It is shocking that he never won a Cy Young though he came in 2nd three times. He was a 3-time 20-game winner, twice leading the league in Wins. Three times he threw over 300 strikeouts and a fourth time he threw 293, twice leading the league. He is 15th on the all-time list with 3116 K’s. He was notoriously durable, leading the league in IP twice and Games Started three times. Think durability doesn’t matter? Remember what happened when he went 1-4-7 in the World Series? Or the time he pitched with a bloody sock? Speaking of playoffs, he holds an 11-2 record with an ERA of 2.23, WHIP of 0.968, and a K/9 of 8.1 over 19 career postseason starts. He is likely the most deserving of all starting pitchers on the ballot.

Trevor Hoffman: The only reason people weren’t talking about him more during his career was that he had the misfortune of pitching at the same time as Mariano Rivera. He is second on the all-time saves list with 601 (to Mariano’s 652) and with 40 or more saves in nine of his 18 seasons. He also came in the top 3 in the league in saves nine times. He actually came in 2nd twice in the NL Cy Young voting and top 10 twice in the NL MVP voting, which is remarkable for a reliever. Aside from a Scott Brosius home run to dead center field, his resume is spectacular. Relievers get a bum rap in Hall of Fame Voting. It needs to change, starting here.

Lee Smith: This might sound surprising, but only if you never actually saw him pitch. He is third on the all-time Saves list with 478, and he was int eh Top 4 in Saves in 14 of his 18 seasons.  He was a dominant closer in an era when the value of a closer was just being discovered. People forget he was #1 on the career list for Saves the 13 years before Trevor Hoffman. This will be his 14th time on the ballot, and he should get more votes than he’s gotten in the recent past.

So that’s it for me. This Wednesday’s announcement should be exciting. There will be lots to talk about the winners and about who got robbed. Mike Mussina better be in the winners’ circle.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon







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