Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

Score that an "E-6" on your cards, kids. :D

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

They hated the cold! They played them game the right way....

Rob :tu

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

I typed out that same reply a couple of times but thought better of it. :r

But, I concur. :noon

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

Bless you all. :tg

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

Gossage was long rumored to doctor the ball, and since apparently all we need now our allegations...

But more to the point. Both Gossage and Eckersley were in that Oakland clubhouse (Eckersley more so than Gossage) when the Bash Brothers & Co. were doing their thing (and both benefiting might I add). I won't go so far as to say that they were complicit by their silence, but if they didn't speak up then, they come off as self-righteous b!tches sounding off 20 years later. :2

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

*are* not *our*. Blasted 15 minute time limit edit. :D

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

Thanks, Stephen. :tu

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No problem, boss. I know I'm in the minority in all of this, but I must say, it is a a tad entertaining to see the BWAA voters catch some blowback over how this has been handled.

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

Yup, I am no fan of the writers associatrion either.

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

To be fair I've never heard of Gossage doctoring the ball.
Also, Gossage didn't get to Oakland until 92' and left in 93'.
92' was Canseco's last year in Oakland, as he was traded at the deadline.
In 93',Gossage's last year, Mcguire only played 27 games for the A's.
I understand your point of "all we need now are allegations", and I'll give you your gripe with Eckersley, but to lump Gossage in with to your argument, is painting with too broad a brush.

I'm glad you bring up the bash brothers.
It seems to me, a lot of people think the steroids era started in 98, when Sosa and McGuire both broke the record.
I clearly remember allegations against McGuire, Canseco and the like, going back to 87' when Mcguire hit 49 HR as a rookie, and 88' when Canseco became the first member of the 40/40 club.
I wonder why the writers haven't held steroids against players that played in the late 80's - early 90's?

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

Which is more than enough time with a ballclub to have known what was happening is a pretty safe assumption to make, wouldn't you say?
Yeah, there's a lot of sports writers out there with egg on their face. They either:

1. Sucked at their job and were oblivious as to what was going on
2. Knew what was going on and turned a blind eye, thus making them sucky at their job AND hypocrites

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

I am afraid I am to blame for that.
Rumor has it after he was seen hanging out with me in San Juan late November, his chances of the HOF went to crap.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...17697D8AF3.jpg

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

Nice pic.

Speaking of nice "picks", did he allow any passed balls down there, or peg the ball into center field instead of to second base? :r

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I was going to ask if you could feel his backne through his shirt or maybe it had cleared up by then..

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I laughed.

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I don't know about Gossage, but Gaylord Perry flat out admitted to doctoring balls in his autobiography, yet he made it in the Hall.

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Another year gone by and none of the steroid players get in.
I figured it would be awhile until Bonds or Clemens got close, but I thought Piazza or Biggio might get the nod.
I also thought Mussina and Schilling might get in.
So the saga continues.
Do these guys ever see the hall?

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I say no...although I feel they deserve to be in there, just like Pete Rose does.

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Rafael Palmiero off the ballot.....

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

Feel pretty crappy that Jack Morris won't ever be in the hall. No 300 wins but the guy was the dominant pitcher of his era AND he pitched arguable one of the best pitching performances in World Series History.

After not getting in today he said I was upset but glad it's over. 15 years of hearing my critics was long enough.

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He goes before the Veterans Committee in 2016...all hope is not lost for Jack.

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What type of douche doesn't vote for Maddux? I shake my head at the process....

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"I'm going to be THE GUY that makes a first ballot HOF'er, not"

No to mention Biggio, yea...make him wait one more year...:rolleyes:

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If you were following this "saga" on the interweb, you know the stink some raised about Maddux not being the first unanimous HOFer. Me, I don't see the big deal. He got in with a landslide, so who should care? IMHO, though Maddux certainly earned his election on the first ballot, the only player I have witnessed lately who deserves to be elected unanimously is Mariano Rivera . . . and five years from now that ain't gonna happen either. I won't care, and neither will Mo.

I doubt if Greg does either.

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If you think Maddux not being a unanimous selection is a sin, consider the fact that Joe Dimaggio wasn't elected on his first ballot.
He didn't get in until his 3rd try.

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'Er ya go. Consider that, as well as the fact than NOBODY'S been elected unanimously yet. You really think Greg Maddux was better than anybody else ever elected? Plu-leeeze.

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That's because the Hall of Fame used to be for great (elite) players. Now it can be referred to as the Hall of Good. Any player who had a decent career is on the ballot now. And some get in.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :2

Re: 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
 

I get your point, Peter, but it does not explain why Don Mattingly received only 8.2% of the votes, which is less than Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Lee Smith, Mike Mussina, Jeff Kent, Mark McGwire, and Larry Walker (Larry Walker? Who the fark is Larry Walker? :D), and only slightly more than Sammy Sosa. True, the stats of many exceed Donnie's, but many are also on that "tainted" list.

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I stick to the fact that not voting for someone who is clearly the elite of the elite, a 1st ballot HOFer if there ever was one, just "because it's the way it is done" is a joke. We are not talking about someone who needs discussion, arguments for or against.... he's in, everyone knows he's in and there are those that don't vote for him related to history of how it has been done or whatever....it is a joke.

I am sure Maddux could not care less, but I care. As stated above, I shake my head & roll my eyes at the process....

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That's allowed, brother. Just don't expect it to change. :r

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I don't....usually never giving it a second thought, even this time of year. Maddux is special to me, so there is just some extra "rock in the shoe" with this one....

On the flip side, he's in and I'm heading to Sun Valley, ID for the weekend, things are looking up....:tu

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Hope you get some fresh powder to soften the feel of that rock in your shoe. :tu