Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

I can feel the Blyleven love in the air.

This is the year.

 

This.

I hope.

Oh, wait. I forgot. I hate baseball and don't care. (unless it involves Blyleven in the hall apparently)

 

<i>Parker?</i> Could you elaborate?

 

Dave Parker, I'm guessing.

 

Dave Parker: .290-339 HR-1493 RBI-.339 OBP-.471 SLG, 1 MVP, 5 top 5 finishes, 7 ASG
Jim Rice:.298-382 HR-1451 RBI-.352 OBP-.502 SLG, 1 MVP, 6 top 5 finishes, 8 ASG

One guy has yet to get 25 pct of the vote, the other made it in after 15 years. Neither deserves to be in, but mention this the next time someone squawks about how writers have it out for players who were mean to them.

 

I took it to mean Smasher was asking why he voted for Parker, not which Parker he was voting for.

 

That's what's pertinent here. I hate the "well, if Tony Perez is in..." argument, which is based on repeating a mistake that's already been made. It's even worse when the comparative is a Veterans Committee choice who has been crony-ed in, but that's not relevant here.

Mr. Gee is a respected voter, so I'm interested in knowing why he sees Parker as a worthy candidate.

 

I thought that also because I think he is similar to Clemens, except Clemens has significantly more longevity and the milestones. But at the top of their games I don't think anyone says definitely pick Clemens, especially if it's the postseason. Clemens, Maddux, Glavine and Johnson are locks with 300. I'd say Martinez and Smoltz also are locks. Schilling is right behind those guys.

 

Those numbers are very close, although Rice is slightly better across the board, with the exception of RBIs. It reminds me a little of Mattingly and Puckett. the career numbers are very close, but Puckett got in 1st try and Mattingly's only shot looks like Veterans Committee.

 

Parker was a dominant player in the late 70s. He was widely regarded as one of the two, three best players. That is my first standard. Also, guys need 5 percent to stay on the ballot, and I felt he warrants that honor.

 

Parker had 1,133 more ABs than Rice and 42 more RBI -- and I say that as someone who thinks Rice falls short.

 

Parker had three huge years in the late '70s: 1977-78-79. Dale Murphy had a similar stretch over four years : 1982-82-84-84, but you're not voting for him.

This is Parker's 14th year on the ballot. It's not like he hasn't gotten a fair chance at election.