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Posted By: jay behrens

I don't understand what people have against Lee Smith. He holds one of the major career records. Plenty of people have started off on a great pace to break the record, but cannot hold up to the rigors of closing every day for 10 plus years. At the end of this year, Trevor Hoffman will be 38 and still be more than a full season away from Smith. Rivera will be 35 and still 2.5 years away from Smith. This based on both of the guys getting 40 saves each year. This pace seem unlikely since the only player get 40 or more saves at age 37 or older is Eckersley. Hoffman can also do it if he gets 3 more saves this year. The most saves over the age of 37 is 36 saves by Eckersley. So the projected time for Hoffman and Rivera to pass Smith is generous based on historical data.

No matter how you look at it, Smith belongs.

Jay

My place is full of valuable, worthless junk.