01-10-2003, 01:39 PM
Quote:He is only considered the best closer ever.Not by other relievers. (and yes he will get in - although I'm not sure 1st ballot). While he was a reliever, he was coddled, and was the first of the "start the top of the ninth only" relievers; Lee Smith is similarly over-rated. Eck will be helped by his starting career including 20 game winner.
I heard on ESPN a discussion, possibly by Dibble, but definitely including Gossage himself, on how these guys now have it easy to get saves. In sutter and gossage, 2 and 3 inning saves were common. Rivera might be a slightly different beast, because at least in the post season he has done enough of the 2 inning deals.