Because its the only way that the MSM can feel comfortable claiming Rivera to be the better pitcher despite Hoffman having more saves - while ignoring all of the actual, plausible reasons to claim this.

Well...hasn't Hoffman done more than his fair share of choking in big spots?

Mariano Rivera?!?!? Terrible extension! This guy has blown so many huge games; you can't possibly count on him in a clutch spot! I mean, he plays for the Yankees so you can count on 40 saves easy in the regular season protecting three run leads, but he's blown almost every big spot he's ever been in! Remember, game tying homer to Sandy Alomar in the 1997 ALDS...SANDY ALOMAR! Pathetic! Of course, Game 7 of the World Series, the biggest spot you can have, he gives up a game tying hit to Tony Womack. Are you kiding? The only Game 7 World Series of his career and he blows it because he can't get out Tony Womack...of course, this was after he completely fell apart and threw the ball into centerfield. Then Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS with a trip to the world series on the line, the guy couldn't get out Kevin Millar, for chrissakes. Awful, it's like nobody's been paying attention. Of course, no one remembers that he ALSO blew Game 2 of the division series that year against the Twins, oh, and I love this...after he blows that save against the Red Sox, he comes out and blows the save the NEXT DAY! I MEAN, JASON VARITEK"?!?!!? You can't keep HIM in the infield? How many other games has he blown against the Red Sox? Remember when he yelled at Kenny Lofton for not catching a game tying hit? This guy is not a good teammate and not a clutch performer.

Mariano Rivera should have his children taken away!"

/Michael Kay

Oh please. There's no way Michael Kay could say all that clearly enough for anyone to understand him over the radio with Hal's c0ck half way down his throat.

with Hal's c0ck half way down his throat.

and there would be Salvia all over the place!

This idea that Hoffman is a choker seems to be a popularly held one. Which begs the question, is the BBWAA seriously going to elect a non-clutch closer into the HOF? Isn't a closer who chokes, like, basically a useless player?

I highly suspect that they'll vote Hoffman in anyway, but it's still a weird situation and I wonder just how much support he'll get.

(Note, I'm not saying that I myself think Hoffman isn't clutch, I'm saying that I'd imagine the writers think that.)

Michael Kay didn't get a radio show by expressing reasonable, well thought out ideas.

Kay is a homer, but he's not the worst talking head on NYC radio waves.
You should try listening to the moron who comes on at 1050 espn at 10am, after Mike & Mike.

This idea that Hoffman is a choker seems to be a popularly held one. Which begs the question, is the BBWAA seriously going to elect a non-clutch closer into the HOF? Isn't a closer who chokes, like, basically a useless player?

Loathe as I am to defend Michael Kay, he's right. Hoffman's record in big moments is pretty terrible. Just in a few minutes of searching, he has either blown the save or given up the lead (in a tie) in:

1996 NLDS Game 3
1998 NLDS Game 2
1998 NLCS Game 1
1998 WS Game 3

Plus he blew the save of two seperate games in 2007, of course, that would've put the Padres in the playoffs. And he has a 10.13 All-Star Game ERA for good measure.

None of which is to say that he will necessarily choke away the next big save he gets--and he has closed out tight games in October--but his record is not one that inspires confidence.

Michael Kay Everyone on the radio didn't get a radio show by expressing reasonable, well thought out ideas.

FTFY

Michael Kay Everyone on the radio didn't get a radio show by expressing reasonable, well thought out ideas.
FTFY

Yep. It's why I don't listen to the radio. Sometimes, silence is better.

Just to fill out RB's post, here's Hoffman's postseason record. It's really, really terrible.

96 DS 2 Tie -> Loss
96 DS 3 Tie -> Loss
98 DS 1 Lead -> Save
98 DS 1 Tie -> Loss
98 DS 2 Lead -> Save
98 DS 3 Lead -> Save
98 CS 1 Lead -> Blown Save
98 CS 3 Lead -> Save
98 WS 3 Lead -> Blown Save, Loss
06 DS 2 Lead -> Save