Hoffman calls HOF election process 'nerve-racking'

With Hall of Fame ballots flying in as the deadline for submission creeps closer, Trevor Hoffman doesn't plan to make a big production out of things if he's elected into baseball's most exclusive club during his second year of eligibility.

That doesn't mean the vote isn't on his mind, though.

The long-time San Diego Padres closer, and owner of 601 career saves - second-most in baseball history behind Mariano Rivera - is paying attention to ballot submissions being tracked by Ryan Thibodaux, which has become a nerve-racking experience.

"It's going to be nip and tuck, honestly," Hoffman recently told MLB.com, according to Barry M. Bloom. "I've been taking a look at the tracking of the ballots (Thibodaux) has been able to see, and it's going to be a couple of percentage points either way. It's going to be a little nerve-racking, no doubt about it."

As of Sunday, Hoffman was named on 73.3 percent of 180 submitted ballots, which keeps him under the 75 percent required for election. The seven-time All-Star finished with 67.3 percent of votes in his first year of eligibility.

According to Bloom, Thibodaux said "in his experience the vote for closers actually increases by as much as 5 percent when the non-public ballots are tabulated," which is good news for Hoffman.

"I saw a column where I had about 60 percent of the vote among younger writers," Hoffman said. "It wasn't a huge backing by them. So, I hope what (Thibodaux) is saying stands true."

Despite the anticipation, Hoffman is attempting to remain even-keeled.

"I'm not going for the full media thing with cameras around," he said. "If I don't get in, it's like putting up plastic in the clubhouse (anticipating winning a championship) and not getting it done and having the clubbies have to rip it all down. It's going to be so close. I'm just going to lay low at the house and see what happens."

Over the course of his 18 years in the bigs, Hoffman appeared in 1,035 games - all as a reliever - earning a 2.87 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and striking out 9.4 hitters per nine innings.