I have yet to place a closer on my Hall of Fame ballot, and while I wouldn’t rule it out in the future, I still believe the most overrated position in baseball is the bullpen closer. Usually, he sits around for eight innings, comes into the game with the bases empty in the ninth, maybe gives up a hit or a walk, gets his three outs and earns a save.

 

I was a baseball beat writer for 20 years, so I understand that closers often come into the game with runners in scoring position and the game on the line. I know they need to have ice water running in their veins. I know the good ones earn their pay. But people tend to get glassy-eyed over those low ERAs without realizing that a closer almost never pitches when he’s tired or has to face the same batter twice in the same game. And as long as a pitcher can “earn” a save by coming into a game with a three-run lead and the bases empty in the ninth, I will have a tough time comparing their numbers with starting pitchers and deciding they belong in the Hall of Fame.