Comments on: Gwynn, Ripken win on Hall of Fame ballot

By: msb

msb — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:49:01 +0000

and Jim Caple on McGwire & the voting...

By: msb

msb — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:41:49 +0000

Jerry Crasnick on Edgar’s chances in 2010:

“Martinez, universally admired as a hitter, has a combined career on base-slugging percentage of .933. That’s better than Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, among others. Unfortunately, it also puts him in a dead heat with Albert Belle, who dropped off the ballot this year for failing to receive the requisite 5 percent of the vote.

Martinez, of course, is burdened by the perception that a pure DH must go above and beyond statistically to make it to Cooperstown. While his “rate” stats (e.g., a .418 on-base percentage) are terrific, his “counting” stats (2,247 hits and 309 homers) aren’t exactly overwhelming for a one-dimensional player. And Harold Baines’ meager 5.3 percent haul this year certainly didn’t help his cause.”

By: msb

msb — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 22:30:53 +0000

#71– FWIW, Paul White was saying last night that he thinks Gossage goes in next year, when it is a really thin ballot (David Justice & Tim Raines, anyone?)

By: msb

msb — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 22:27:46 +0000

Kevin Hench takes on Paul Ladowski, who turned in the blank ballot....

By: IdahoInvader

IdahoInvader — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 21:59:14 +0000

Does anyone know if ANY of these few moron voters who didn’t vote for Cal or Tony on this 1st ballot get called on it?

I mean does anyone EVER get any answers as to specifically who didn’t and why they wouldn’t vote for them this time?

Fwiw, Gossage not being in just doesn’t seem to make sense. He was feared beyond belief, in the WS on two different franchises as the closer (so it wasn’t like he wasn’t a winner) and certainly played long enough.

I don’t see how Sutter gets in and Gossage doesn’t. Help me out here.

By: billT

billT — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 21:29:29 +0000

I recall Ripken stopped playing before there was steroid testing, as did Gwynn.

Indeed, and at least one voter turned in a blank ballot due to what I had posted above – they feel that they can’t vote for anyone who played in the ‘steroid era’. I’m not sure where you’re disagreeing with me. Someone asked if Clemens would get 100%, I said no for the same reasons that Ripken and Gwynn failed to do so.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:28:30 +0000

Explain how you pad your strikeout totals and not win games?

That’s kind of my point. It’s a baseless claim, but apparently it was made (when he was in Texas, I think).

By: Panev

Panev — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:25:12 +0000

McGuire should be in the HOF. If steriods was the primary issue for voters, he certainly couldn’t have been the only person using them (if he did). The pitcher throwing 5 MPH faster? The outfielder running faster to the fly ball? The coach throwing the base farther (kidding!)

Just put him in the hall.

By: rlharr

rlharr — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:59:52 +0000

I’m glad Buhner was on the ballot and got one vote. It’s appropriate. To my mind, if a guy spends pretty much his whole career with one team and does as well as Buhner – 170 home runs in a five year period with good OBP at his peak, but clearly not a HOFer – his home-town HOF voters should probably get together and agree that one of them will give the guy a vote. Kind of a last trophy.

By: terrybenish

terrybenish — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:24:37 +0000

“Also, Blyleven wasnâ€™t very nice. People didnâ€™t like him, he was widely viewed as a guy who padded his strikeout totals instead of winning games (something over which, of course, he had very little control).”

Where on earth does this come from? He is and has been one of the funniest guys in baseball for years. Jack Morris used to routinely hit people and knock them down. Explain how you pad your strikeout totals and not win games?

Reggie Jackson not worthy of a first ballot vote was mentioned too. Does anyone know about baseball in the 70s and 80s?