New York ? Dennis Eckersley could set the standard for Hall of Fame closers.

Eckersley hopes to become only the third relief pitcher elected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America when voting results are announced today.

He and 3,000-hit man Paul Molitor, each on the ballot for the first time, have impressive Cooperstown credentials — but the waiting is driving Eckersley mad.

“It’s killing me is what it’s doing,” he said Monday. “It’s murdering me. Tell me already, so I can deal with it if I don’t. I feel like a little kid, where you’re dangling something in front of me. I can’t even sleep. I’m like a yo-yo.”

One player who knows he won’t be elected is Pete Rose, still ineligible from the ballot because of his lifetime ban from the sport.

Eckersley will have far more support. And how he fares in his first chance at election could have a ripple effect for other relievers.

Part of the problem is there’s no magic number for saves as there is for home runs (500), hits (3,000) or wins (300). Eckersley is third on the career saves list with 390, but saves didn’t become an official statistic until 1969.