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

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

It is the Hall of Fame. It is not the Hall of Accomplishments.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Well, then let's put Bo Jackson in there. Jose Canseco, too.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Worked for Jim Rice, oh-so-feared.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Tracy Ringolsby is a non-Thomas voter. Votes came in a flurry today so far.

Up to 12.5 percent and Piazza making a move.

100 - Maddux
98.6 - Glavine
87.3 - F. Thomas
81.7 - Biggio
———————————
73.2 - Piazza
64.8 - Bagwell
64.8 - Jack (The Jack) Morris

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Unfortunately, we'll never know. All the public quotes you can find from teams — about any free agent, not just Morris — in 1986-87 are along the lines of "He could be an interesting addition. When he submits his offer, we'll consider it."

In December 1986, Morris broke off negotiations with the Tigers since they wouldn't budge on their offer and announced that he would be seeking employment with any team that wanted him. Of course, he got no offers ... just like Tim Raines and every other big-name free agent that year, outside of Andre Dawson's infamous "blank check" deal.

Man, what a stupid debacle that was. But everyone outside of the MLBPA sure did forget about it quickly. I'm still not sure why MLB owners/GMs tend to get a pass on it.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Guess by definition of collusion Morris wasn't "highly sought." But at least during the charade of his free agency tour -- fur coat and all, I recall -- the praise was strong. Except, you know, when talk of money arose...

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Well, my point remains, Morris's reputation changed significantly after Game 7. I already cited a number of criticisms that were levied at him before then. Only after 1991 do you see the lofty descriptions of him as the "ultimate gamer."

Before then? His "personality, reputation, the regard in which he's held by teammates and opponents," as you stated, was more often criticized than praised. His own pitching coach called him a "big baby" during the middle of the Tigers' greatest season! Reputations do change, and his did, but I think hindsight is causing you to attribute traits to Morris that were only in evidence at the very end of his long career.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Could be the case, Buck. I remember it a little differently after covering during that time. Regardless, I'm comfortable with a HOF that includes Morris and, with my vote, believe it should.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

Hey, I'm cool with that. As long as you're comfortable with a Hall of Fame that includes the 14 or 16 players on the ballot who were better than Morris, too.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

And this is another reason why we have backlogs: Rob Biertempfel votes for Craig Biggio, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Lee Smith, Jack Morris. He has four spots open on his ballot. Last year he voted for Schilling Bagwell and Raines, who would easily fit in his ballot again. Yet he dropped those three to add the new three.

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

http://blog.triblive.com/bucco-blog/2013/12/31/six-for-the-hall-of-fame/#axzz2p5Khwnni

Here is his blog. The best part is he even says there is a good chance Bagwell, Schilling and Raines would be on his ballot again in the future. That makes absolutely no sense. He voted for them previously. He has room for them on his ballot this year and he expects to vote for them in the future, but leaves them off in 2013? WTF?

Must be Penn State's impending loss of Bill O'Brien weighing too heavily on his fanboy brain. (He's a big Penn State fan. Not sure if he is still on that beat.)

 

Re: 2014 BBWAA Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released

It's the same with Shaughnessy. He voted for Raines last yearm then writes this year that Raines "just doesn't look like a hall of famer to me"

There's got to be a good portion of voters who don't even look at their ballot from the previous year because the inconsistency in more than several occasions doesn't make sense.