HOF for Late Inning Relievers now just an Extended "Cy Young" Award

(Newsday, Hermann): "Voters can be proud of electing Gossage. He deserves it

• for his 310 saves, and

• for his flair,

• his menacing look with that mustache,

• his many outings that lasted more than two innings,

• his penchant for being clutch."

Gossage had more than 310 "Saves." The Newsday writer fails to mention his post season record in his "saves" totals. I understand Cy Young is supposed to be about regular season only.

• The Hall of Fame now is just a longer-term Cy Young. None of the accounts in the press list the late inning reliever's post season stats.

Why should players sacrifice their "regular season" output--apparently the only one the media now recognizes for Hall of Fame--by killing themselves in grueling post season play when it doesn't count?

• While their counterparts are resting on the couch getting ready to accumulate more cookies for the awards?

Also, they said Gossage was a late inning reliever so much better than the "save" stat. But the writer keeps coming back to it anyway.

• (Was there something wrong with Gossage's post season numbers? Or his All Star numbers?)

Reference, Newsday article by Mark Hermann, "Gossage an Easy 'Hall' Choice in non-Steroids Era," by Mark Hermann, 1/08/08

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