Hall of fame results today

NEW YORK -- Dennis Eckersley could set the standard for Hall of Fame closers.

Eckersley hopes to become only the third relief pitcher elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America when voting results are announced Tuesday.

He and 3,000-hit man Paul Molitor, both on the ballot for the first time, have impressive Cooperstown credentials -- but the waiting is driving Eckersley mad.

"It's killing me is what it's doing," he said Monday. "It's murdering me. I can't even sleep. I'm like a yo-yo."

Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith and Goose Gossage were all on the ballot again this year. Several active closers, led by San Diego's Trevor Hoffman, will warrant Hall of Fame consideration after they retire. And though the bullpen has become such an important part of modern baseball, voters have been slow to reward star relievers with enshrinement in Cooperstown.

Part of the problem is there's no magic number for saves as there is for home runs (500), hits (3,000) or wins (300). Eckersley is third on the career saves list with 390, but saves didn't become an official statistic until 1969.

Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers are the only relief pitchers who have been elected to the Hall by the BBWAA.