The voters for the Baseball Hall of Fame are idiots.I've honestly got no other explanation to explain how one year a guy is only worthy of X amount of votes and the next year he's jumped up 50%; he's been retired AT LEAST 5 years so he didn't hit any more HR's or win any more games or drive in any more runs. Just one year he's not worthy and the next year he is.
Case in point? Bert Flipping Blyleven. 287 wins, 60 shutouts, and 3,701 K's. And he hasn't pitched in YEARS. Last year? He got 338 votes; this year? 400. All of a sudden 62 more writers all of a sudden view him as Hall worthy? And why are writers the only ones with a voice? What about former and current players/managers/executives? Television and radio announcers for each team? For all we know the dude in Seattle with a vote hasn't seen a game not involving the Mariners since Ford was President, yet his vote counts more than Ichiro's or Griffey's?
Today it was announced Andre Dawson, former Expo, Cub, Red Sox, and Marlin finally got in. On his NINTH try. This process may be more idiotic than the BCS in college football.
To rest my case? Roberto Alomar didn't make it on his first try this year. Andre Dawson makes it after NINE tries and Alomar doesn't? Look, I realize he spit on an umpire and I also realize that was a pretty crappy thing to do. But do these dinks realize Ty Cobb is in the Hall? All HE did was go into the stands and beat up a heckler who DIDN'T HAVE ANY ARMS AT THE TIME!
Sorry, but the following stats, courtesy of ESPN.com, let anyone with half a brain know that Alomar belongs in Cooperstown.
"A 12-time All-Star second baseman, Alomar led Toronto to consecutive World Series titles in 1992-93. He finished with a .300 career batting average, 2,724 hits, 210 homers, 474 steals and 10 Gold Gloves."
Sure, he'll get in next year or the year after or the year after that. And if there is any justice Blyleven will get in as well. But the fact that decision is made by some writer sitting in a cubicle God knows where is what chaps my rear end. Let the BASEBALL people make the call and leave the writing to the writers.
Just my two cents.
And Truck Day can't get here fast enough.
6 comments:
I can't agree with you more. Anything I would have said on the matter.....you already did.
Thanks, Matty. Hope you and the family had a great New Year.
okay, my take:
first ballot means something. obviously, there are some players that are no brainers (henderson, for instance). alomar is not deserving of a first ballot, not even taking into account what a jerk the guy was throughout his career. the baseball HIF - character matters. ty cobb got in when racism wasnt such a taboo. and frankly, the character issue in general is more important now that it was 50 years ago.
that being said, character should count for you as well. dale murphy getting 11 percent of the vote with his numbers and with him being the ambassador for the game for a decade? criminal. doesnt help that he is a mormon. im know of 2 writers spoecifically that wont give hiom the vote on that alone
as far as blyleven - he was a very good pitcher, but never great. his only great number is strikeouts, and frankly, that is a prototypical "compilier" stat for him. nothing else remotely suggests he should be in the hall of fame. he was never considered to be a top 5 pitcher of his era. and ask yourself this: in a big game, who do you want - blyleven, or jack morris? or steve carlton? or jim palmer?
he was good for a long timw, but never great. id rather have someone that was great for 8 years but then ended his career early due to injury then let a good player who hung around for a long time to get stats
Morris should be in, no doubt. IMO, Alomar should have gotten in. Murphy and the Crime Dog? Yep.
I think they do put a little too much emphasis on the first ballot thing. It does get me to wondering how the BBWA deems itself to know more about the guys who play the game and their ability, work ethic, character, etc.
I'd like to see it done more like the NFL and have the living members of the hall of fame have the vote, not the BBWA who I wouldn't trust to pick out a pair of shoes for me.
Word, Jr.
Post a Comment