COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – The closer role once didn’t exist, then it did, then it was considered something of a gimmick, then it became very important, then not so much and now … who the hell knows?
That pretty much sums up the changing game of baseball, the capriciousness of life and why Lee Smith was using a media gathering Saturday as a pulpit to preach the gospel of closing.
“I’ve heard so many guys talk about that (closer) by committee,’’ he said. “Not going to work.’’
The former Cubs reliever will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, thanks to his 478 saves and the Hall’s Today’s Game Committee, which elected him after he came up short on the writers’ ballot for 15 years.