Maddux, Glavine, Thomas elected to Baseball Hall of Fame; Biggio just misses

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Why ever would we use objective stats when we go by our perfect memories.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

These players aren't worthy because they may have put something in their bodies that may or may not have been legal when they may or may not have done it.

About which PEDs is there some question of legality, and who is keeping players out because of these particular PEDs that Jonah Keri writes of?

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Well said.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Also from Keri's column:

Again, I'm not saying Sosa and Palmeiro have perfect track records, especially to voters who won't back players suspected of PED use(.)

"Suspected"?

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

In the context of the sentence, yes. That would include Piazza, Bagwell etc.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Since the two most common arguments pointing to Bonds's PED use are that (a) his numbers shot to the moon at an age when that very rarely happens, and (b) he went from being an athletic, all-around terror to a gigantic home run machine, let's also assume that Bonds started juicing after the 1999 season.

And, you know, the documented dosage sheets and other evidence meticulously documented in "Game of Shadows" and elsewhere.

I like Jonah Keri.

But in this particular piece, Jonah Keri, like many of his sabermetric brethren, engages in a lot of intellectual dishonestly to rationalize his puppy love crush on PEDs.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

This one is a beauty, the stance against PED's the lack of understanding of stats,era adjustments and best of all, trying to make a case that although Morris would be have the highest ERA of any hall of fame pitcher, it is mainly due to the fact he pitched most of his career through the steroid era. And here I thought he simply pitched to the score. Enjoy.

http://www.themorningsun.com/sports/20131218/caputo-by-any-standard-morris-and-trammell-belong-in-baseball-hall-of-fame

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

The whole "guys on the ballot who you covered" idea sounds nice, but in reality it's impossible to use as a rule.

Let's say you stopped covering baseball in 1992. Are you only allowed to vote for players on the ballot who were playing before 1992? Does that mean you can't vote for Frank Thomas? What if a guy had just barely started his career in 1992?

All that matters is that you pay attention and have access to statistics AND people. I started covering baseball in 1997. I talk to a lot of former players (many of whom are coaches for teams I've covered) about guys who played before I was covering the game. I also talk to older writers for their opinions.

I have been in favor of some sort of limit that prevents people from just voting forever simply because I don't see any reason that a HOF ballot should be a lifetime right. But mostly that would be a PR move to demonstrate to the critics that the BBWAA is making changes.

In reality, the vast vast majority of retired voters probably do as good a job of voting as anyone. I'm sure there are a few crackpots who aren't qualified to vote (probably former sports editors or columnists, more than former beat writers), but it's a very small number and doesn't change who gets in to the HOF.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Very well put and truly shocking that once again Joe can't handle anybody questioning what the voters do.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

I'm with you, BB. I trust responsible voters at both ends of the age/experience spectrum and haven't seen evidence that there is a legitimate problem with those who might be irresponsible or some other form of outlier.

I still think the baseball HOF process kicks butt on the other Halls, both because of the large number of voters and the mix of their backgrounds, tenure, etc.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Must admit, I'm a major Keri fan. I think he's had a stunning season. And with him being as much of a geekhead as he is, that must have been some fine writing.

But actually, that's about as good a point as I've seen. And believe me, I have no love for the old boys' network.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Don't strain something patting yourself on the back so hard.