ESPN Writers' HOF Ballot

by Sentinel on Jan 10, 2009 10:08 PM PST Comment 55 comments

Really, Pedro? Really?

I'm sure a lot of you have seen this already, but I figured I'd put it up. As is always the case with these things, there is a lot that's up for debate. One thing did jump out at me, though, as is probably the case with a lot of people.

Apparently, Pedro Gomez believes this guy belongs in the Hall of Fame. Now, I'm a big proponent of "to each is own", but voting for Jay Bell on a Hall of Fame ballot seems pretty ridiculous to me.

0 recs | Comment 55 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I'd say Brendan Roberts' ballot was the best.

No on Rice, yay on Blyleven, Raines and McGwire. That gets a thumbs-up in my book.

Every day I hear about Seattle sports' failures. Every night I fall asleep to the sound of my own tears.

by Benne on Jan 10, 2009 10:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I like Michael Knisley's ballot.

Those are some good names, but not HOF worthy.

And what is Pedro Gomez thinking? Willie Bloomquist is going to have a shot to get a vote.

by Wilder. on Jan 10, 2009 10:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know, I think Blyleven, Raines, and Trammell all have solid resumes,

but I’m generally in favor of a bigger Hall, primarily because there are more teams and much more players in the modern era than there were before. I’d definitely like to see McGwire in as well, but that’s a loaded issue. The only thing that will bother me if/when Rice gets in is that he will be going in ahead of some of his more deserving contemporaries.

by FlaskInSafeco on Jan 11, 2009 10:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You mean like his Lynn and Evans

who started in the same outfield?

by JI on Jan 11, 2009 10:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Lynn is probably as deserving as Rice, yes.

But I was thinking more along the lines of the three I mentioned above who I view as clearly superior to Rice.

by FlaskInSafeco on Jan 11, 2009 10:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Lynn is far superior to Rice, and Lynn is borderline.

by JI on Jan 11, 2009 10:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I guess I shouldnt have said "the only thing that will bother me"

and should have gone with “the primary thing that will bother me.” I really dont want to see Rice go in. If he hadnt played in Boston, no one would really talk about him much for HOF, both because of park effects and the sway of Boston media. And a lot of his case is built on a bullshit “most feared hitter of his time” argument that doesnt hold water because the man was almost never walked, intentionally or otherwise.

by FlaskInSafeco on Jan 11, 2009 10:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What hilarious is that there's a good chance that Bell and Rice were equally as good.

by JI on Jan 11, 2009 10:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah when you factor in defense you might even be able to make a strong argument that Bell was better.

by FlaskInSafeco on Jan 11, 2009 10:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure how to adjust for league and park

But if you were to say that in today’s game Bell (who was ~league average hitter, and a very good defensive short stop) would average something like a .335 wOBA, and a +6 on defense, and Rice averaged a .380 wOBA and a ~~7 in LF, Bell would be better~~- but obviously I’m assuming a lot there.

by JI on Jan 11, 2009 11:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is one of the more curious bugs in SBN 2.0

by JI on Jan 11, 2009 11:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Anyway it seems like a great starting point for an article.

by JI on Jan 11, 2009 11:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I've always hated the "most feared" argument

By that rationale, Albert Belle and Mo Vaughn should be HOF locks as well.

But don’t try telling that to Dan Shaughnessy.

Every day I hear about Seattle sports' failures. Every night I fall asleep to the sound of my own tears.

by Benne on Jan 11, 2009 9:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't doubt it. Just couldn't recall much about him without looking up some info.

by Teej on Jan 12, 2009 8:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark McGuire's fucked isn't he?

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jan 10, 2009 11:35 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well, if McGwire doesn't get in

then neither will Sosa, Palmero or Clemens.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jan 11, 2009 12:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not true

I mean, I understand what you’re saying. However, the writers have shown, again and again, that the entire steroid thing only matters on a case by case basis. In other words, they’re complete fucktards and the world would probably be better if they were forcibly castrated.

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Jan 11, 2009 12:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sosa probably will, I doubt Palmeiro will, and if Roger Clemens doesn't get into the HOF I'm burning something important down

I don’t like the guy but if there were ever a HOF eligible player he’d be it

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Jan 11, 2009 9:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

All of them not getting in does help Edgar's chances of getting in though

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Jan 11, 2009 9:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I dont see how the fate of the steroids bunch affects Edgar's case.

Frankly, I dont see Edgar going in under any circumstances, as much as I love the guy. He didnt reach either of the 500/3000 marks, he didnt play a premium defensive position, and his legend as a postseason hero is confined mostly to the Northwest. That pretty much seals his fate as far as the HOF writers are concerned. Harold Baines has a much better shot of being the first DH, simply because his counting numbers are higher, and I really dont see that happening either.

by FlaskInSafeco on Jan 11, 2009 10:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The steroids bunch were the best the years Edgar played

Eliminate good players from contention and there’s less competition for Edgar

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Jan 11, 2009 12:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I just dont think the writers vote that way.

In the past they’ve seemed perfectly content to elect no one if they no candidate is deemed worthy.

by FlaskInSafeco on Jan 11, 2009 12:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess we just have to hope he gets voted in because he was a good "natural" hitter

Where they play up what a great guy he was and how he was better than all those steroid taking assholes

We’ll see

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Jan 11, 2009 12:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think the writers really give this much thought at all.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jan 12, 2009 9:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Edgar has a way better chance than Baines

his peak was much much better

by JI on Jan 11, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree he was a much better hitter,

but I just dont think he stands a chance as a DH who didnt get particularly close to 500 or 3,000 and didnt play in a World Series.

by FlaskInSafeco on Jan 11, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

There's no Harold Baines award

by Graham on Jan 11, 2009 1:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Very good point

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Jan 11, 2009 1:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No, it's not

it’s a terrible argument.

by johnbai on Jan 11, 2009 2:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's not an argument about his effectiveness

It’sabout his noteworthiness. MLB believes him to be the best DH in history.

by Graham on Jan 11, 2009 4:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Reasonable counter argument

But you’re still talking about giving credence to these “experts.” Maybe the same people who invented the Edgar Martinez award are the ones who vote for HOF. I don’t know.

by johnbai on Jan 11, 2009 6:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Awards that should exist:

Johnny Bench Award
Albert Pujols Award
Joe Morgan Award
Alex Rodriguez Award
Mike Schmidt Award
Ted Williams Award
Mickey Mantle Award
Babe Ruth Award
Mariano Rivera Award

by JI on Jan 11, 2009 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That last one's just silly.

Unless it’s just for relief pitchers generally, but then I might want to name it after Gossage.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jan 12, 2009 9:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

(There's already a Edgar Matinez Award, and a Cy Young Award)

by JI on Jan 12, 2009 10:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Morgan?

Big Z is the MAN.

by Taylor H on Jan 12, 2009 9:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The black one

by JI on Jan 12, 2009 10:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Right.

Big Z is the MAN.

by Taylor H on Jan 12, 2009 11:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The white one used to mange the Red Sox

by JI on Jan 12, 2009 2:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

'

Mange (from Middle English manjeue, from Old French manjue, from mangier, meaning to eat)1 is a parasitic infestation of the skin of animals. Common symptoms include hair loss, itching and inflammation, all of which are caused by microscopic mites. Mange is most commonly found in dogs and other canines, but it can occur in other domestic and wild animals, such as turtles, causing them to lose their shells.

Big Z is the MAN.

by Taylor H on Jan 12, 2009 10:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs