Monday, December 1, 2003
For Your Consideration
The Hall Of Fame Ballot: Bert Blyleven, Joe Carter, Dave Concepcion, Danny Darwin, Andre Dawson, Doug Drabek, Dennis Eckersley, Jim Eisenreich, Cecil Fielder, Steve Garvey, Rich Gossage, Keith Hernandez, Tommy John, Jimmy Key, Dennis Martinez, Don Mattingly, Kevin Mitchell, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Randy Myers, Dave Parker, Terry Pendleton, Jim Rice, Juan Samuel, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, Dave Stieb, Bruce Sutter, Bob Tewksbury, Alan Trammell, Fernando Valenzuela.
There is not a single player on this list who should be in the Hall of Fame. Except maybe for Paul Molitor. He actually spent an extended amount of time being an elite player in the major leagues.
But the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the truly elite. When he's eligible, Tony Gwynn is in. When he's eligible, Barry Bonds is in. When they're eligible, Roger Clemens and Cal Ripken are in. And out of all the players on this year's ballot, none of them are in the same class as these players. Out of all the players on the ballot, Molitor comes closest; he wound up ninth all-time in total hits and had quite a few years' worth of outstanding batting averages. But he's not in the same class.
Nothing wrong with letting a year go by without anyone getting in. The place is too crowded. The unforgivable error of allowing Gary Carter into the Hall of Fame could make it easier for players like Jim Rice and Ryne Sandberg to get in, and these guys aren't near the caliber we should reserve spots for. Does anyone believe Keith Hernandez should be in the same club as Lou Gehrig? Alan Trammell with Ozzie Smith? People wondering why Bert Blyleven is on the ballot may be surprised to learn he is fifth all-time in strikeouts. But then again, he's Bert Blyleven, for cryin' out loud. Out of 22 seasons in the big leagues, he was great for maybe four or five, and never elite, ever.
And what's with Bob Tewksbury getting on the ballot? And Jim Eisenreich? Juan Samuel? Who, exactly, did these men blow to get on the ballot? I mean, bless them and everything, but come on. Why? Why, why, why??
If I'm a voter, my ballot gets sent in blank. Let them know what the standards are.
Aaron's Baseball Blog: One of the most elaborate baseball blogs I've seen so far, has moved the link to E.K. Sports from "Down on the Farm" up to "Pinch-Hitters"...I'll be the first to admit that I do not belong in the category "Hall of Fame Blogs"; I have not been an elite blogger for very long. Heh, heh.
There is not a single player on this list who should be in the Hall of Fame. Except maybe for Paul Molitor. He actually spent an extended amount of time being an elite player in the major leagues.
But the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the truly elite. When he's eligible, Tony Gwynn is in. When he's eligible, Barry Bonds is in. When they're eligible, Roger Clemens and Cal Ripken are in. And out of all the players on this year's ballot, none of them are in the same class as these players. Out of all the players on the ballot, Molitor comes closest; he wound up ninth all-time in total hits and had quite a few years' worth of outstanding batting averages. But he's not in the same class.
Nothing wrong with letting a year go by without anyone getting in. The place is too crowded. The unforgivable error of allowing Gary Carter into the Hall of Fame could make it easier for players like Jim Rice and Ryne Sandberg to get in, and these guys aren't near the caliber we should reserve spots for. Does anyone believe Keith Hernandez should be in the same club as Lou Gehrig? Alan Trammell with Ozzie Smith? People wondering why Bert Blyleven is on the ballot may be surprised to learn he is fifth all-time in strikeouts. But then again, he's Bert Blyleven, for cryin' out loud. Out of 22 seasons in the big leagues, he was great for maybe four or five, and never elite, ever.
And what's with Bob Tewksbury getting on the ballot? And Jim Eisenreich? Juan Samuel? Who, exactly, did these men blow to get on the ballot? I mean, bless them and everything, but come on. Why? Why, why, why??
If I'm a voter, my ballot gets sent in blank. Let them know what the standards are.
Aaron's Baseball Blog: One of the most elaborate baseball blogs I've seen so far, has moved the link to E.K. Sports from "Down on the Farm" up to "Pinch-Hitters"...I'll be the first to admit that I do not belong in the category "Hall of Fame Blogs"; I have not been an elite blogger for very long. Heh, heh.
