Jayson Stark-hissy fits about jealous late inning relievers....

• Stark has hissy fits about Mariano Rivera. Today he came out with another article saying someone else was better, but Stark left out substantial portions of Rivera's career/lifetime work. ESPN knows they can say whatever they want. Here's another of Stark's hissy fits against Mo from 5/25/07--again SAYING POST SEASON SHOULD NOT COUNT FOR HALL OF FAME--BUT MANIPULATIONS OF THE 'TOTAL SAVE STAT SHOULD.'

• "Toss all the post season numbers in the dumpster"--ESPN Baseball Awards Voter's Plea

ESPN's Jayson Stark is desperate again (5/25/07) saying post season doesn't count when deciding "value." That it's "criminal" to compare someone who has too many accomplishments in the post season with someone who hasn't. Stark's whole argument pivots again on the "total save stat" and "conversions" which are interdependent.

• But he doesn't say it's "criminal" to deprive a player of a substantial part of his career or lifetime achievement.

• (Jayson Stark, ESPN): "It's always fascinating how one month -- October -- can twist the perceptions of players in every conceivable direction. So we're going to toss all postseason stats into the dumpster and compare only the regular-season careers of two great closers.

Closer A and Closer B have both had long, distinguished careers. Closer B is considered a cinch Hall of Famer. Closer A still has folks debating whether he's Cooperstown-worthy or not.

• Yet Closer A has converted 89.5 percent of his lifetime save opportunities, struck out 9.8 hitters per nine innings in his career and held those poor opposing hitters to a .207 batting average and .264 on-base percentage.

So Closer A beats Closer B in every one of these categories. Closer B's figures: 87.9 percent, 8.0 strikeouts per 9 IP, .214 average, .270 on-base.

• Why, then, would anyone think that Closer A might not have Hall credentials as worthy as Closer B? Easy question. Because Closer B is Mariano Rivera, the Greatest Postseason Closer Who Ever Lived (34 saves, 0.80 ERA).

Closer A, on the other hand, is Hoffman, who once went eight years between postseason save opportunities through no fault of his own.

• Now obviously, I'd have to be a major goofball to argue Hoffman has a better Hall case than Rivera. But that doesn't mean Hoffman hasn't been criminally* underrated. Here's the best way to put their careers in perspective:

They have basically the same number of blown saves in their careers -- 58 for Hoffman, 57 for Rivera -- except Hoffman has had 70 more opportunities. In other words, Rivera would have to go two seasons without blowing a single save just to say he had the same save-conversion percentage as Trevor Hoffman. So can we please give this man his due already?"

• ESPN, & Stark--the gatekeepers: Put Rivera in the "dumpster." (Article, "Top 10 Underrated Players")

* NOTE THE USE OF 'CRIMINALLY.' It strikes me what a waste of time these ESPN.com people are. This is a bunch of nothing. They couldn't possibly have a shred of conscience. (sm)

• P.S. CONTEST FOR GOOSE GOSSAGE: TRY AND DEFINE YOURSELF WITHOUT USING THE NAME MARIANO RIVERA.

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