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

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Which is a huge assumption, one we really shouldn't be making.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Something else to consider: Should we really be using home run tallies as a talking point for the HOF? What if Fred McGriff had surpassed 500 home runs — do we declare he automatically belongs based on the "500 homers" talking point?

Let's not forget there are other factors that impact HR totals: Hitters' parks, expansion spreading pitchers a bit thinner, new training methods (which don't involve PEDs).

I tend to think HR totals are overrated as criteria.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

If I had a vote I'd go with Bonds, Clemens, Maddux, Piazza, Raines and Thomas. I'd probably also voted for Jacques Jones just to watch ACQB's head explode.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Interesting that the group collage photo MLB tweeted out with the ballot story does not Clemens, Bonds, Palmeiro, McGwire or Sosa.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/26/photo-of-the-day-whos-missing/

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

If you have a vote and want to support Clemens and Bonds that's fine. If your reasoning is because you think they didn't use PEDs until later in their career, that's just dumb. You have no way to know when they started their PED use.

I'm of the ilk that baseball did nothing to curb PED use when they knew it was rampant and records started falling. Therefore PED use should not be held against a player who was never suspended for said use. But that's just one man's opinion. Not a big deal with me if you disagree.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

That is all pretty reasonable. I think the first part is an especially good point. I cringe when I hear people talk about players only using starting at a certain point in their careers. We just don't know that.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

If I had a vote:

Jeff Bagwell
Craig Biggio
Tom Glavine
Jeff Kent
Greg Maddux
Mike Mussina
Mike Piazza
Tim Raines
Frank Thomas
Alan Trammell

My prediction:

Jeff Bagwell
Craig Biggio
Tom Glavine
Greg Maddux
Jack Morris
Frank Thomas

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

From that ballot, who I think deserve to get in:

Bagwell
Biggio
Bonds
Clemens
Glavine
Kent
Maddux
Mussina
Piazza
Raines
Schilling
Thomas
Trammell

Who I think will get voted in this year:

Biggio
Glavine
Maddux
Thomas

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

There is absolutely no way the voters put in six guys. The haven't put in more than three since 1947, when they put in four. That's the high-water mark besides the initial five-man class.

Bagwell has no shot with all the newcomers. I think the class either goes Maddux, Glavine, Morris or Maddux, Glavine, Biggio or Maddux, Glavine, Thomas. I'd be shocked if it gets to four.

Ultimately I'd be thrilled if they put Maddux, Glavine and Thomas in right away and added Biggio with him. Morris drops off the ballot so next year the question would be which one between Bagwell or Piazza goes in with Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

This kind of got passed over, but this is a game changer. Wonder how the BBWAA is going to react.

http://deadspin.com/deadspin-buys-hall-of-fame-vote-will-turn-it-over-to-d-1467003665

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Game changer. Yeah. HUGE!

They'll take away the guy's vote, everybody will get tired of that antic and the whole thing will be over next year.

Jesus Christ, people think Deadspin shits gold.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

What's up your ass? How can you not think this is a good thing?
If Deadspin buys a couple votes, the BBWAA loses all credibility. It will force them to rethink who gets to vote which will hopefully improve this process, which has been muddied down by the over 50 crowd which doesn't have a basic understanding of what a good baseball player does and doesn't do.