400!

(Well, 402 and counting, actually.)

Closing Time congratulates Trevor Hoffman for becoming only the 3rd pitcher in major league history to tally 400 saves.

Hoffman is currently 22 saves behind John Franco for 2nd on the career saves list, and 76 saves behind all-time leader Lee Smith. With a little luck and continued good health, Hoffman could pass Smith during the 2006 season.

Hoffman was characteristically modest after the game, talking about his family, and about the unpopular trade that brought him to San Diego in the first place, while sending Gary Sheffield to the Marlins. "Sheffield was a proven star, and fans in San Diego were saying, 'Who in the hell is this kid?' Let's just say it wasn't a popular trade at the time." After finishing up 400 Padres wins and counting over the past 12 years, Hoffman has certainly won the San Diego fans over.

Phillies closer Billy Wagner, who has 252 saves, praised Hoffman after his 400th save:

"I couldn't be more impressed with Hoffman. He's one
of the greatest that will ever be, and one of the guys I look up to. He's the
master of the craft. He's learned so much over his time in the big leagues. His changeup scares hitters, and that's unheard of."

Wagner also addressed the issue of closers getting into baseball's Hall of Fame: "If you can't get in with 400 saves, you're not getting in. You should get in with 300. But closers are looked at as guys who don't do anything." Wagner should take heart in knowing that HoF voting trends indicate that next year's Hall class should feature Goose Gossage and Bruce Sutter - two dominating 300-save closers who advanced the concept of the relief specialist more than almost any other pitchers.

However, Hoffman will leave his Hall of Fame politicking to others. "My family background was always, 'Don't toot your own horn; let someone else praise what you do. I don't think you can foresee the things that happen to you. You just keep working, do the best you can each day and see where it takes you."

In Hoffman's case, his best effort has probably taken him to Cooperstown.

Dempster Closing in Chicago - Marte Again?

Everyone is reporting that, despite the Cubs' injuries in their rotation, Ryan Dempster will finally make the long-rumored move the the bullpen, where he'll serve as the Cubs' closer until Joe Borowski returns, which should be about one more week.

Cubs' GM Jim Hendry has long advocated using Dempster in the closer role, and this move, coupled with the recent announcement that Jason DuBois will finally get a much-deserved shot in LF, indicates that Hendry is taking some control of day-to-day decisions away from manager Dusty Baker, who had previously ignored the GM's suggestions that DuBois and Dempster move into those roles. Dusty, it seems, may be on the hot seat.

On the other side of town, the White Sox closer carousel continues on, unabated. Damaso Marte picked up his second save last night, picking up the final two outs after Dustin Hermanson pitched a scoreless 8th and recorded the first out of the 9th inning. Marte walked a man and allowed a hit, but closed out the Blue Jays. Whatever Ozzie Guillen is doing is working very, very well. Just assume that Takatsu (8 for 9 in saves) and Hermanson (5 for 5) will get most save opportunities, with Marte picking up the odd chance when several left-handers are due up.

In other news, interim (?) Royals closer Ambiorix Burgos went 2 2/3 scoreless in picking up a win Sunday. The entire Royals team has recorded two saves on the season, so it's safe to say that whoever winds up with their closer role won't be helping anyone out THAT much, but Burgos is clearly making his case to keep the job even after Affeldt returns. In 6.2 innings of work this season, he's put up a 1.35 ERA and struck out 7 men. He's allowed 3 hits and only one run.