Thoughts on Hoffman's trip to Cooperstown

Hoffman on joining Gwynn in HOF Trevor Hoffman got it ... all of it.

And he checked all the boxes.

The numbers alone gained him entry into the Hall of Fame. But there is -- and always was -- so much to Hoffman beyond the numbers. He even helped change the game.

The first thing I do each year when I receive my Hall of Fame ballot is conduct my "impact test." Did this player impact the game?

Trevor Hoffman impacted baseball -- and he impacted it well beyond 601 saves.

There were closers long before Hoffman. And many of those closers worked more than one inning ...

Hall of Famers like one-time Padres Rich "Goose" Gossage and Rollie Fingers.

But the game was changing as Hoffman was coming into his…