Baseball HOF ballot for 2008

[vasprtsfn]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071125&content_id=2307150&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

My votes: Gossage, Rice, Smith, Blyleven, Dawson, Morris, Raines.

[NightHawks2007]

Mattingly, McGwire, Rice

[Neilios]

Brady Anderson :eek:

Seriously, though, Goose Gossage. Get him in!

[downstairs]

Mattingly, McGwire, Rice

McGwire?!?

No way he gets in this year, if ever. I don't think you'll ever see Sosa, McGwire, or Bonds in the hall of fame.

[Brian McKenna]

Blyleven is the star here.

Gossage maybe but I'm in favor of making relievers wait as long as possible. If you average less than 90 innings a year, how great can your contribution be?

[SamtheBravesFan]

Blyleven and Gossage! NOW!

[STLCards2]

Gossage will get in pretty easily. I think that will be all, unfortunatley, as Blyleven will probably miss again, and Raines won't sniff 50%. I really wish there was any idea at when McGwire used. As of now, I don't see how he or Palmeiro can be kept out in a few years without having any idea how much/when they used or how it affected their performance individualy. Throw in the fact that using steroids wasn't technicaly "illegal" according to the players union and MLB, and I don't see how they can be kept out, even if I wanted them to be.

[Walt Zink]

My votes went for Blyleven, Concepcion, Gossage, Dawson, Mattingly, Murphy, and Rice. I may go to the induction this year. I went in '05 and it was the most unbelievable experience I've ever had. Then went to B-More the next day for a game (I was there in B-More when Palmeiro got busted!) and in Philly the day after that for another game.

[NightHawks2007]

McGwire?!?

No way he gets in this year, if ever. I don't think you'll ever see Sosa, McGwire, or Bonds in the hall of fame.

I never said he would get in this year. That's just who I'd vote for given a ballot. I tend to look at it from the perspective that steroids were not illegal and not the only reason McGwire hit all his homers. I might put Gossage in there too.

[stuffymcinnis]

The best candidate for election is not even on the ballot .. Albert Belle .. I hated the guy, too, but this snub is absurd and speaks volumes about the election process .. the media holds grudges and voters way overvalue longevity and are addicted to meaningless milestones that can be reached during mediocre seasons

the graph below compares averages for Total Bases, Home Runs, RBI and Runs .. for Belle it is 10 straight years from 1991-2000 .. for everybody else it is the average of their 10 best totals in each category over their entire career .. at the bottom, I've included some historical players who compare with Belle .. again, I hand picked the 10 best totals in each category for all but Belle

TB HR RBI Runs
Belle 321 37 120 95
Rice 322 31 113 97
Parker 300 25 102 87
McGwire 299 48 113 95
Dawson 295 28 98 87
Murphy 291 32 97 97
Mattingly 290 21 98 87
Raines 246 12 61 102
Trammell 241 15 71 85
Baines 262 23 96 75
Justice 240 27 89 79

Musial 356 31 113 120
Aaron 354 42 123 115
Mays 358 43 114 121

Ruth 390 50 150 151

[125osprey]

I would cast votes for Blyleven and Gossage.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I also want Dale Murphy in there, of course, but I've given up hope on him ever becoming a member.

[Gary Dunaier]

From the mlb.com article linked to in the first post:

Technically, Rijo is no first-timer. The 116-game winner previously appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2001 after having not pitched since 1995. But he returned to the Majors that year and pitched again in 2002. Although Rijo received only one vote in 2001, the rules of the voting allow him another opportunity on the ballot because of his return to the game.

"The rules of the voting allow him another opportunity on the ballot because of his return to the game."

How so?

[Brooklyn]

The best candidate for election is not even on the ballot .. Albert Belle .. I hated the guy, too, but this snub is absurd and speaks volumes about the election process .. the media holds grudges and voters way overvalue longevity and are addicted to meaningless milestones that can be reached during mediocre seasons



He wasn't left off the ballot as a snub, he was left off because he is no longer eligible. He was on the ballot last year, and only received 3.5% of the vote. Since it was less than 5%, he is not eligible again until a veterans committee

[Brian McKenna]

As of now, I don't see how he or Palmeiro can be kept out in a few years without having any idea how much/when they used or how it affected their performance individualy.

Whatever they did or didn't do, they are at the mercy of the men and women of the BBWAA. It all depends on how they judge the situation.

Throw in the fact that using steroids wasn't technicaly "illegal" according to the players union and MLB, and I don't see how they can be kept out, even if I wanted them to be.

I believe PEDs were outlawed for boosting professional athletic performance by federal law in 1991 or so. Employers are not required to "technically" list every law of the country they operate in within their by-laws. It is assumed.

[Biggtone23]

I was suprised at how tough the screening committe was this year. I didnt think any of them would actually make the Hall of Fame, but to for guys like Andy Benes, Mike Morgan, Delino DeShields, Darrin Fletcher and Mark Wholers to not even make the ballot is almost shocking. They are not even one and dones.

Oh and I would vote for Mattingly, Gossage, Blyleven, Raines, Dawson and Rice.

[slugger33]

If Ozzie Smith is in, Tram needs to be in!!!

[Mex4Prez]

From the mlb.com article linked to in the first post:

Technically, Rijo is no first-timer. The 116-game winner previously appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2001 after having not pitched since 1995. But he returned to the Majors that year and pitched again in 2002. Although Rijo received only one vote in 2001, the rules of the voting allow him another opportunity on the ballot because of his return to the game.

"The rules of the voting allow him another opportunity on the ballot because of his return to the game."

How so?


My guess would be that the rule is not case specific. Let's say that Rick Ankiel didn't play in 04, then somehow put's up hall of fame numbers as an outfielder. He would have been HOF eligible in 06(if he didn't play in 04). Should he be penalized for that other then the lose of playing years? Rijo should be able to have his whole career be looked at. But it still won't get him close.

[Einstein'sCurve]

The best candidate for election is not even on the ballot .. Albert Belle .. I hated the guy, too, but this snub is absurd and speaks volumes about the election process .. the media holds grudges and voters way overvalue longevity and are addicted to meaningless milestones that can be reached during mediocre seasons


Interesting comparison of Belle. He was a nightmare I thought was over, but there he is. Did you know he was an Eagle scout? That's what wikipedia says. Doesn't say he's a vampire, but maybe in the future it will be there.

Yeah, I have little respect for many in the sports media, most of whom vote in the HOF balloting. Their grasp of sports and baseball seems so banal, but maybe it's just the market they target.

Belle a modest BA, short career, and a slugger not even close to 500 HR. A darkhorse HOFer for sure. Agreed, he had very high value when he played, but maybe not as much as the runs and rbi numbers suggest since he was such a divisive figure.

It's a mystery to me why Mac was snuffed. Talk about being found guilty with no evidence, no charges, and nothing but the assertions of a felon and admitted drug addict low on funds with a book to sell. Mac being a positive role model in baseball during his career apparently means less.

Sure his testimony was weak in front of Congress, but really, that was just a dog and pony show to divert public attention from an incompetant congress in criminal neglect of it's own duties. Better a weak testimony rather than betray loyal friends or explain circumstances and invite investigations in the absence of any evidence.

I've no doubt Mac and every player of his era knew about steroids being used and may have experiemented here and there. I do strongly doubt he was taking steroids during his HR record season and am willing to assert that no proof will likely ever emerge from this period. We also know that part of the explosion of HRs in his era was because of park shrinkage, changes in the strike zone, and big contracts that rewarded free swinging sluggers more than ever. Without those conditions, baseball would still be on cruise control denial.

I'd also be willing to bet his physicians prescribed steroids to him during phases of that 3 yr recovery from leg injuries in the middle of his career. That's what modern docs do for many patients with persistant injuries requiring surgery.

The media was even joking about Sosa in those days being steroid free because he was such a dough boy. Pretty much sums up the poor research these hacks brought to their jobs. They are paid to create equal parts controversy and and warm fuzzy nostagia to sell to viewers which is why Belle made their easy job a suffering one when dealing with him.

Well, enough. HOF is just a beauty contest like MVP, Cy Young, ect, and the best not always rewarded. Life never to be fair. Got to go to heaven or hell if you want to be treated fairly.

[cardsfanatic]

I'd put McGwire, Gossage and Bly in. That's all I see on that ballot that I'd personally vote for. Possibly Raines.

[KCGHOST]

I'd vote for Gossage, Blyleven, Raines, Trammell and maybe Big Mac. The only one I will bet on making it is Gossage.

[Thorn]

Big Mac was a hall of famer in everyone's minds nearly two years ago--Now because Mcgwire chose not to lie under oath like Raffy Palmerio he's considered a disgrace--I don't think that's fair. Any way I vote for Big Mac, Gossage, Dawson, and Blyleven.