I'm so excited, it finally happened.... JIM RICE WOO!
Despite the fact the writers barely voted him in (76.4%), Rice is in putting in 2/4 of the 1975 Red Sox outfield. Yaz of course counts, even though he was sharing time as a first baseman.
But Rice put up consistent, strong numbers in Beantown, nearly won the 1975 Rookie of the Year (he lost to AL MVP teammate Fred Lynn), but got no love from the writers. He hit a solid number of home runs for the time period (he led the league three times with 39, 46, 39) before teams built these tiny matchbox stadiums with shallow walls. Also his career fielding was near 98%, not too shabby for having to play leftfield at Fenway half the year.
Ricky was no surprise here to see, his stolen base record dramatically overshadows the fact he's played since the game was invented. Though in his defense he created the power hitting lead off man position, much to my dismay (Lofton didn't need to hit 30 home runs at lead off, that's what Ramirez was for).
Here are the other guys who didn't deserve to get in but got a huge amount of votes:
Jack Morris 44% - Granted I love him, especially since his 1991 World Series clincher, but his victories fall short of being a legend, despite having three seasons with 20 wins.
Tommy John 31.7% - Okay, so you have a surgery, apart from that out of over 25 years of pitching only three 20 win seasons, even then he never blew the league away.
Tim Raines 22.6% - He would be in for the Drug Users Hall of Fame (with Dale Berra and Keith "I'm Keith Hernandez" Hernandez, but what did he do after the 1980's? He floated around from team to team, especially late in his career, as a pinch-hitter and back-up outfielder. A .334 AVG in 1986 isn't enough to put him in Cooperstown.
Mark McGwire 21.9% - Why is he still even mentioned? Despite the league not banning his substances until after 1998, his play to the game is unofficial stricken from the record. He does not embody the game.
Don Mattingly 11.9% - I'll say this, I grew up loving Donny Baseball. However, my heart is not voting, his stats vote for him and despite his lovable spirit, his numbers do not come close to even being considered. He was like Dale Murphy, great at first but the quality just never really sustained time. Also, his career ended earlier than his likelihood of enrollment would allow.
Harold Baines 5.9% - I love ya, but really, should we vote in Ellis Burks (his time will be soon, I believe next year)
Mo Vaughn, Jay Bell, Jesse Orosco, Ron Gant, Dan Plesac, Greg Vaughn less than 2% - Are you kidding me? Who and why would you vote for them!?! Take away those writers votes!
Though again the things that troubles me is the lack of votes for Andre Dawson (67%). Every year it feels like he is getting passed over. The Hawk was a strong outfielder for Montreal and Chicago for the peak of his career, where he was the best of the players of that decade the 1980's. He held a steady average over time but did show flashes of power (49 homers in '87). He is similar to Rice in that respect though Rice was a stronger average hitter.
Also Lee Smith deserves his day in the sun. Lee Arthur Smith Jr. is one of the best closers in the game's history. He was a closer when those guys were required to pitch more than one inning, unlike today's closers. In 1991 and 1992, respectively, he had 47 and 43 saves, led the league. Better yet he was so effective in most seasons he was striking out more than innings pitched.
I hope in the future the writers will consider them next year, even though that class is stronger with Barry Larkin, Roberto Alomar and Edgar Martinez up to the plate.
Showing posts with label Hall of Fame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hall of Fame. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Great Debate: Hall of Fame Class of '09
I love the Hall of Fame. It showcases the best of the game and the greatest achievements of not only the players but of the human spirit. Nothing is more American than the National Baseball Hall of Fame. However, I hate some aspects of the Hall.
First and foremost I hate the Veterans Committee. A bunch of old players who think no one was every good enough to be voted in... except themselves of course.
"This guy didn't hit enough homers."
"This guy didn't have a 20 win season."
"This guy was too... BLONDE!"
Arg! I hate that.
The second thing I hate is the fact that as soon as retirements starts happening after the World Series the Yankee fans, writers, supporters start coming out of the wood work and demand their players get in. It's like when people apply for pardons from the President. None of them deserve it because if they did, then they would be free or in the Hall already.
First on the list is Mike Mussina. Yes, he retired this year and he did almost throw to perfect games (not a legit reason to vote someone in). He did not win 300 games, he had a decent strikeout total and he was a solid pitcher for the era.
However, meeting that win total and being considered a dominant pitcher is what will drag him down. Though he did finish second every year he was up for the Cy Young, the fact he never won and never really had that break out year is what will leave him staying at his home and not in Cooperstown when he is eligible. I'm sorry, he couldn't even get the Yanks a World Series with the staffs they had in 2001, 2003 or even the pennant in 2004.
Roger Maris is a consistent pick to be considered for the Hall. Granted he may have hit 61* homers in 1961 and he had some hardware to go with it, but need less to say, he was nothing special. He never had a season where he hit .300. His totals were never that great from 1961 beyond. The Yankee fans who supported him where not there in '61 when they pretty much attacked him, wished him dead, etc. So why do you guys think he is worthy to be with Ruth, Mantle and Aaron? Those guys were great sluggers.
Now, since this man has been having poor health recently and turned over the franchise to his sons (or is that spawn?). George Steinbrenner has been getting this grass roots campaign to be elected. Frankly, this man is not a saint or a person who held the game to the highest standard.
Yes, he was one of the first owners to embrace free agency and yes he won plenty of world championships. However, George was constantly being punished by Major League Baseball for breaking rules and flat out not caring about the rules that applied to "other teams". My favorite vice was when Dave Winfield came to New York and had an agreement with George to doante money to Winfield's charity. The payment was never made and George went out to assualt Winfield's character and charity. This man is as much a saint as Marge Schott was a civil rights activist. No embrace from me.
In fact we really need to examine our thinking of who is a Hall of Fame player. The last few years we have voted in the greats of the game. The last twenty/thirty years have blessed us with legends of the diamond but I hope that we don't try to water down the hall with slightly less standards and "Maris" like players.
Sal Sez: " I was catcher for the Red Sox when Maris hit #61."
First and foremost I hate the Veterans Committee. A bunch of old players who think no one was every good enough to be voted in... except themselves of course.
"This guy didn't hit enough homers."
"This guy didn't have a 20 win season."
"This guy was too... BLONDE!"
Arg! I hate that.
The second thing I hate is the fact that as soon as retirements starts happening after the World Series the Yankee fans, writers, supporters start coming out of the wood work and demand their players get in. It's like when people apply for pardons from the President. None of them deserve it because if they did, then they would be free or in the Hall already.
First on the list is Mike Mussina. Yes, he retired this year and he did almost throw to perfect games (not a legit reason to vote someone in). He did not win 300 games, he had a decent strikeout total and he was a solid pitcher for the era.
However, meeting that win total and being considered a dominant pitcher is what will drag him down. Though he did finish second every year he was up for the Cy Young, the fact he never won and never really had that break out year is what will leave him staying at his home and not in Cooperstown when he is eligible. I'm sorry, he couldn't even get the Yanks a World Series with the staffs they had in 2001, 2003 or even the pennant in 2004.
Roger Maris is a consistent pick to be considered for the Hall. Granted he may have hit 61* homers in 1961 and he had some hardware to go with it, but need less to say, he was nothing special. He never had a season where he hit .300. His totals were never that great from 1961 beyond. The Yankee fans who supported him where not there in '61 when they pretty much attacked him, wished him dead, etc. So why do you guys think he is worthy to be with Ruth, Mantle and Aaron? Those guys were great sluggers.
Now, since this man has been having poor health recently and turned over the franchise to his sons (or is that spawn?). George Steinbrenner has been getting this grass roots campaign to be elected. Frankly, this man is not a saint or a person who held the game to the highest standard.
Yes, he was one of the first owners to embrace free agency and yes he won plenty of world championships. However, George was constantly being punished by Major League Baseball for breaking rules and flat out not caring about the rules that applied to "other teams". My favorite vice was when Dave Winfield came to New York and had an agreement with George to doante money to Winfield's charity. The payment was never made and George went out to assualt Winfield's character and charity. This man is as much a saint as Marge Schott was a civil rights activist. No embrace from me.
In fact we really need to examine our thinking of who is a Hall of Fame player. The last few years we have voted in the greats of the game. The last twenty/thirty years have blessed us with legends of the diamond but I hope that we don't try to water down the hall with slightly less standards and "Maris" like players.
Sal Sez: " I was catcher for the Red Sox when Maris hit #61."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
