Thome hit 600+ HRs but was only an All-star 5 times in a 22 year career and never close to being an MVP in the league. I don't think he ever got 1 vote for MVP (his best he came in was 4th). Hoffman only lead his league in saves twice and has a lifetime ERA over 3) so basically he just played a long time to buff stats in the age of the closer. Mariano Rivera played in the same era and was an all-star 13 times (7 for Hoffman). Not Hall of Famers IMHO. They should be the best players of their era (Cobb, Ruth, Koufax, Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Reggie, Seaver, Randy Johnson, etc).
So, I agree with the OP.
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