The primary objective of pitching is to suppress hitting. Over the past 105 years, Billy Wagner is one of the best pitchers at the most elemental definition of the craft—while pitching mostly with the game on the line.
Folks, that is a Hall of Famer. No need to complicate it.
Wagner was historically difficult to hit. He also did so while, year after year, managers trusted him in the highest leverage situations right to the end of his career. That is the short reason why Wagner should be elected to the Hall of Fame when voting results of the Baseball Writers Association of America are announced Tuesday.
And yet, it’s a cliffhanger. Wagner missed by five votes last year. This is his 10th and final year on the writers’ ballot. It would be enormously cruel if he is short again.