Kids in the Hall
I received my Hall of Fame ballot earlier today from the BBWAA, which must mean I'm eligible to vote for the first time.
Newcomers to the ballot include former Orioles Roberto Alomar, David Segui, Pat Hentgen and Todd Zeile.
Alomar most certainly deserves induction, though perhaps not on the first ballot. He won 10 Gold Gloves and was a career .300 hitter with 2,724 hits, 210 home runs and 474 stolen bases. He also was named MVP of the American League Championship Series in 1992 and the All-Star Game in 1998, and won two World Series with the Blue Jays.
Other first-timers include Fred McGriff, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez and Andres Galarraga. Martinez already has sparked a heated debate among voters because he spent most of his career as a designated hitter.
I'm undecided.
Here's the entire ballot:
Roberto Alomar, Kevin Appier, Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Ellis Burks, Andre Dawson, Andres Galarraga, Pat Hentgen, Mike Jackson, Eric Karros, Ray Lankford, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Shane Reynolds, David Segui, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile.
I'll campaign heavily for Blyleven. It's a crime that he's been excluded for so long.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, Roberto Alomar, Lee Smith,and Andre Dawson.
They are all Hall-of-Famer's: First, second,third ballot, what difference does it make? So why not get it right the first time!
I'm thankful that there's another sportswriter that realizes blyleven should be in the hall. A day late but its just nice to hear more people realizing that he should be in.
Hey Roch! I hope you had a good Thanksgiving!
Isn't this year Andre Dawson's last year on the ballot?
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Thanks. I'll have to look up how long a player can remain on the ballot. I'm sure it's a pretty simple Google search (what would we do without Google?) - Roch
Congratulations Roch. Send us some warm weather, is getting cold in Florida.I can not wait for Spring Training.
Roch,
Sounds pretty exciting - getting to vote for the Hall of Fame. One more perk to not being at the newspaper any more, eh? I seem to remember they forbid writers from voting on any awards like that. Struck me as kind of a silly rule.
When I was still young enough to find baseball cards fascinating, Bert Blyleven was always one of my favorites. I thought he had a cool name, but even cooler than that was the fact that his stats took up so much space because he'd been pitching for so long. I hope he gets in the Hall of Fame. It's good to know that there's a new voter to his cause.
There are several hall of famers on that list. Blyleven, Alomar and Lee Smith are no-brainers. Andre Dawson should probably be there too. I'd say if you include Edgar then you should include Baines. Baines was once a 5-tool player but still did most of his damage as a DH. The DH argument is the only knock on him, that's why I would pair him with Edgar. I would also include McGwire. It's another can of worms but if you start excluding players because of the era in which they played, then where do you draw the line? We all know Big Mac juiced, but was it actually proven? Did we all know Raffy juiced before he was busted? Raffy was innocent until proven guilty, and Mac is guilty without proof. I say Big Mac belongs. Larkin, Morris, McGriff are close behind but not quite there. The biggest name left off the list again: Pete Rose. If Charlie Hustle doesn't belong in the Hall no one does.
Not on the first ballot? You are hard to please, Roch. I'd go with Alomar, Larkin, and Tim Raines.
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I said "perhaps" and was referring more to the other voters. Not sure if he'll get enough support. - Roch
Alomar, Blyleven, Dawson, Larkin, Edgar Martinez. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
I have been away for a few days, but haven't noticed anyone mention that the 2010 schedule is up on the Orioles website. Open up in Tampa Bay. If it has been noted, apologies.
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Yes, it was released a while ago. We're still waiting for the full spring training sked. - Roch
Alomar no doubt....tough one regarding larkin.....McGriff no....Martinez yes, mattingly is tough, too...great players...but the hall are the BEST players of the generation I think.....good luck with the voting!
Blyleven, Alomar, McGriff, Baines, and Martinez all deserve to be in. If you're going to make the DH a position, then you have to reward those who excel in it.
Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Lee Smith and Jack Morris for sure. Maybe Mattingly. Can't support Alomar because, although he had some good numbers, the teams that he played on made him better, not the other way around.
Both Blyleven and Morris need to be in the Hall, first and foremost. Lee Smith, Andre Dawson, Edgar Martinez, Barry Larkin and Roberto Alomar are all worthy as well, and I'd vote them in as well.
But first Blyleven and Morris, who have been deprived so long, it's a crime.
Jack Morris - longevity, CG's & IP's
Dale Murphy - a 5 tool stud
Bert Blyleven - Unreal Uncle Charlie
Lee Smith - Saves, saves & more saves. One of the first closers
Harold Baines - Clutch lefty & a BALTI-MORON !!!
These guys are not the best on the list, just some of my favs. I think Morris & Smith should get in though. Murphy is close, he could do it all
Not a very inspiring ballot, but there are a few guys on there that eventually deserve to be in the Hall.
Donnie Baseball
Trammall
Alomar
I guess it won't be long before our "beloved" GM is up for the Hall. Boy that will be a special day here in Baltimore. LOL
I agree completely about Blyleven. He was one of the dominant pitchers of the 1970s and 1980s. His induction is past due.
The "heart" side of me would love to see Harold Baines get in, but I just don't think he did quite enough to influence enough voters.
Roch, I agree with you about Blyleven. He had terrific stats and a very good W-L record even though he played with a lot of mediocre teams.
As for Roberto Alomar, I believe his selection should be a no-brainer. He was the best overall player of his generation, both offensively and defensively. Offensively, he did anything that a particular situation called for; defensively, I've never seen anyone play second base better in the many decades I've been watching baseball. He made fielding look so easy that you didn't realize how difficult many plays were until you watched someone else try -- and fail -- to make similar plays. He raised fans' level of expectation.
The Hall really cheapened itself last year by letting in a non-deserving player. A player is allowed to stay on a ballot for 15 years if they receive at least 5% of the votes, otherwise you're one and done Segui and most others. Glad to hear you will support Blyeven he should have been in way before the likes of Bruce Sutter (or any reliever for that matter) and Jim Rice, also please help save me from seeing a dh only go in.
Blyleven should should be there already, I'm suprised he's not. Mcgwire...hummmmm? What will you do with him?
Roch, congrats on the Hall ballot! How awesome is your job?
My "if only" ballot: Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Barry Larkin, Tim Raines, Alan Trammell. I could see myself voting for Edgar Martinez and Mark McGwire as well just to make sure they stay on the ballot for a few years.
I hope you'll look at some of the HoF work they've done at Baseball Prospectus (Jay Jaffe, I think). Definitely worth consideration. I'm not a big proponent of a HoF formula, but it's a good objective tool to use to get some perspective against some of the softer "clutchiness" arguments the media likes to latch onto.
Referencing the article from earlier, nice to see the O's on the front page of ESPN.com.
http://shup.com/Shup/246749/front-page-nice.png
Congratulations on the vote, Roch. There must be some satisfaction in being included. Nice and also unusual that you're sharing the experience with us. How many plyers to you get to vote for?
Harold Baines: he was one of my favorites in his Orioles tenure. Seemed like he was clutch and undervalued here. Here's my vote:
Harold Baines X
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I'll have to check the rules, but the ballot isn't that deep. A few names outta do it. And I hate to see any Hall become watered down. - Roch
A player can be on the ballot for 15 years, but also has to receive at least 5% of the votes to remain on the ballot.
I would vote for:
Alomar, Morris, Baines, Blyleven, Dawson, Raines, Larkin, Smith, Mattingly and McGriff.
You can vote for up to 10.
Blyleven and Tommy John both deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.
Roch,
I was talking with my Dad about MacPhail wanting to bring in at least one new pitcher this offseason to go with Guthrie, BB, Matusz, and Tillman. He raised an interesting question - what happens to Berken & Hernandez? I'm sure the logical move is the pen, but what would their role be?? Don't know if I see them as late inning guys. So, do you see either one of them (or both) being moved?
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I think one of them ends up being a long man in the bullpen. One of them could be starting for Triple-A Norfolk. - Roch
First and foremost, congrats on your eligibility!
As for my opinion, I think this is a very, very interesting class...
In my mind the only ones that deserve thought are Martinez, Larkin, McGriff, and Alomar. Burkes and Galarraga were both good, but they don't make the cut in my eyes, the others are a step even below them.
I think, because of defense and position, Larkin and Alomar are locks! Both have Gold Gloves and Larkin was an MVP and was an offensive threat at short before A-Rod and the likes really jumped it up from where Ripken left it.
McGriff has solid numbers in both hits and homers, among others and Martinez should be in IMO. I think this debate is much like the relief pitchers' situation. You have to admit that this part of the game exists whether you support it or not. However, like the relief pitchers, you let in just the absolute best, you have a slightly higher standard, and if you are looking for the best all around DH to let in, that is Martinez (sorry, Baines).
As for the old timers, gotta go with Blyleven, but honestly he's the only one I take for sure, though several others are on the bubble, I wouldn't vote for them, but I wouldn't be outraged if they were elected either.
Hope you vote for Edgar Martinez. Not his fault the DH exists!
And also:
Alomar, Blyleven, Larkin and even Jack Morris, for the mustache alone.
Also, don't know why you would not vote for some one the first time around if you think he belongs. It's worth noting that I don't have a HOF ballot...
That must feel so amazing to have a say in who gets in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Congratulations Roch, thats awesome!
Roch
Dont you think its a crime that Dale Murphy is not in already and shouldve been on his first ballot? MVP 2 straight years, Silver Slugger 4 straight years, Gold Glove 5 straight years, 7 time All Star,AND most HRs, RBI, games, AB, runs, hits, extra base hits, total bases, for the decade of the '80's...with a team that was at times horrendous!!!...PLEASE vote for him he deserves it
"I'm crushing your head!" Ahh kids in the hall memories. I was actually just talking about them the other day. Roberto Alomar is for sure a hall of famer, in spite of the spitting incident. I don't know that Harold Baines should be a hall of famer, but he ranks either 1 or 2 on all time best looking swings with Griffey Jr. Will Clark would be right behind them.
You won't get off the shore without voting for Baines.
Blyleven, Raines, Alomar.
Seriously look at Raines' stats. His biggest crime was playing the same time Henderson was. If Rice can get in with a 10 year peak in an otherwise average career then Raines belongs in.
Morris is a guy whose reputation overwhelms his reality. He was overall a good pitcher, who came up big a couple times in the playoffs, but he isn't a HOF guy. Dawson got hurt too early and Murphy and Mattingly could not put enough quality years in.
Smith, well I think closers are HIGHLY overated so I am not in favor of putting any of them in until Rivera comes up for enshrinment.
I agree about Blyleven...It is a SIN he isn't in the Hall already.
Alomar, Larkin, Trammel, Martinez, and Raines would get my votes. I don't think Dawson is quite good enough -- of course, I thought the same about Jim Rice, but that little-used "most feared" stat got him in. :-/ Lee Smith is a borderline case. If you hold up guys like Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera as the gold standard for closers in the Hall, though, I think Smith falls short.
I read an article recently (I think on the SI site, but don't quote me) that said John Hirschbeck (the umpire Alomar spat on during his infamous tirade) said he forgave Alomar and hoped that one incident didn't damage his Cooperstown chances.
As for how many years a player can remain on the ballot, it's 15. After that, he can only be voted in by the Veterans' Committee.
I believe the Robin Ventura/Nolan Ryan moment was first ballot.
I am glad you have a vote Roch.
Alomar,Blyleven,Raines and McGwire.
Will Edgar Martinez be the DH that changes the defensive player philosophy of the Hall? He is a First Ballot HOF IMHO with 300 homers,a .300 AVG,and over 500 doubles.
I'd go with Andre Dawson, Blyleven, Alomar and Edgar Martinez.
Roch,
All that most have said are good, but the one player that should be in is Pete Rose. He didn't bet on baseball as a player and his records were as a player, its time to put him in the hall!
From an Orioles perspective, Harold Baines should get in. He is easily as impressive as Dawson or Ventura.
Alomar and Edgar Martinez are slam dunks in my opinion. Paul Molitor being in should seal it for Martinez. He's worlds better.
I also never understood the "first ballot" thing. If a guy is deserving of the Hall I think voters should vote for him. I don't understand the logic in waiting to vote for a guy for a few years despite thinking he's deserving. I know it's unlikely, but imagine if every voter said "I'll wait and vote for Alomar until next year because I don't think he's a first ballot Hall of Famer." He wouldn't get the required number of votes to stay on the ballot.
I'm with you on Blyleven though. It's the wins and losses that are keeping him out. His stats are equal to or better than a lot of pitchers in the Hall. He was truly dominant during his time.
Anyway, my votes would go to: Roberto Alomar, Edgar Martinez, Tim Raines, Bert Blyleven, and Mark McGwire.
Does Alomar go in as an Oriole? How is that determined?
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He won two World Series with the Blue Jays, so I'm certain he'd pick them. - Roch
Blyleven and Morris(Stud!)
Roch,
Now that you have a say in the vote, does McGwire belong in the Hall?
Would you vote for him?
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I'll have to give that more thought, but on the surface, I say no. There are plenty of voters who would keep him out even without the steroid stench. Maybe down the road. But right now, I think there are more worthy candidates. - Roch
b_o, you really exposed yourself. There is no way in hell that Mattingly gets in the HOF. You musta been so high with that last comment. No chance.
Roch,
Congrats on your inception into HOF voting. You should be proud of yourself.
I'm going to agree w/ a lot of people...especially V. Putin. A HOFamer is a HOFamer no matter when. I don't really get the 'not a first ballot' poo.
Alomar, Blyleven (probably the biggest sham), Morris, Smith, Dawson...and I think I'll throw in Trammell, who was always overlooked in the 'Cal' era...great player.
I don't always look at the #'s, I look at the player...just think the other guys are just a little short of greatness.
However, and I know you have no control over this player, but I will go to my grave thinking (and I know I've written it in SOR before, and I'll keep writing it)
TONY OLVIA belongs in the Hall...one of the best hitters I ever saw.
Bert Blyleven
Mark McGwire
Jack Morri
Roberto Alomar
Blyleven, Larkin, Raines.
Blyleven belongs, and has belonged for a while.
Larkin had a great career and was, for a while, considered the best SS in baseball. That's one of my tests.
Raines' big issue was not, IMHO, playing at the same time as Henderson. It was playing in that media black hole in Montreal, and playing for an owner who couldn't afford to keep his team together. Imagine if Dawson, Raines, Cromartie, Carter, Steve Rogers, etc. were able to stay together.
BTW SOR,
If your not dead and like rock n' roll go see Pirate Radio...you will feel better.
No votes for Brummie?
My imaginary votes go to Blyleven (yes, I'm old enough, shut up), Mattingly, Trammell, and Robbie. I remember telling my friends that Blyleven was so horrible that his baseball cards were worth giving me for Bob Owchinko AND Tom Veryzer. And I am pretty sure I wrote a letter that my parents never mailed to the Indians (I was still living in CLE then) asking if they'd trade Jerry Dybzinski for Alan Trammel straight up. I was a baseball nerd back then, too...
The only reason I was able to come back in from the ledge when Robbie wasn't coming back to Baltimore was that he was going to turn some crazy sick DP's with Vizquel. And how pretty would THAT be? But I have grown to loathe Vizquel. Bleeechhh.
My real vote for Best All Star Ballot Name with a Hilarious Joke: What's blue and plays in the Braves' outfield? Dale Smurfy!
Okay. And I find the talking pothole commercials equally hilarious. Which means they are laugh-til-I-cry funny to me....and junk.
After a 16 hour day in hell, er, retail today... I wanted to add that I had an almost-as-cool moment... one of my new part timers brought me in a giant bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy today because he knew that's my favorite and I spent T'giving by myself. His mom admonished him in front of me for not telling her because she would have invited me over. I almost cried right there. And to think I didn't even want to hire this kid, initially because he was so weird. No weirder than the rest of us, I guess :)
Roch, I was very surprised, to say the least, to see you write that Alomar perhaps doesn't deserve entry into the Hall on the first ballot. Granted, he won't win a sportsmanship award, and he floated from team to team too much, but what on Earth would keep him out on the first go? He was, quite simply, the best second baseman of his era. So, what gives?
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I never wrote that he wasn't deserving. I'm just leaving open the possibility that he doesn't make it on the first ballot. Not everybody in the BBWAA is sold on him being a Hall of Famer, for whatever reason. - Roch
Congrats on being able to vote on the Hall. You will have a little but not unimportant link to the Hall for ever now.
Really that is cool.
Your daughter think it is cool? Probably not.
Someday I am sure she will.
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My guess is she'll have no idea what it means. - Roch
Roch, okay has anybody noticed the espn.go.com mlb homepage buster only has the orioles as a suprise team mabye making the playoffs do you think that can happend like buster say`s if we make the right moves this offseason ?
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I don't know how anyone can make a prediction for 2010 without the 25-man rosters being set. If we're going by the current projections, I don't see them being ahead of the Yankees, Red Sox or Rays. Will have to see what moves are made. But considering that they're not going to bring in Lackey, Bay or Holliday, or trade for Halliday, I'm simply hoping for .500 or a little better. - Roch
I always feel like Alan Trammell is deserving. Dude could play, and his teams were often real good.
No to McGwire.Yes to Alomar. No to Blyleven. Yes to Dawson. Yes to Larkin. A real interesting list. Lots of marginaly deserving guys but few slam dunks.
Alomar is a definite yes. Does it say anywhere on the ballot that there's a distinction between first ballot guys and not? It's an artificial distinction and it's silly. For each guy the question is: yes or no, is this player a Hall of Famer, period? For Alomar, the answer is yes.
Roch-
Wow. That really isn't the greatest class. I don't know that there are any 1st timers in there.
You sure picked a tough one for your 1st.
Blyleven might finally get in out of default.
287 Wins and 3700 SO. That's solid.
Larkin had almost 400 SB and the Gold Gloves.
Alomar is tainted.
Smith had the saves record for a while.
They all have little things, but nothing that really yells. Well, except McGuire.
But, that all depends on where you stand on the roids thing.
Blyleven and Larkin. That's pretty safe.
Roch-
1 more thing. I just saw where Halliday said he will approve a trade to the Yankees.
If that happens, I don't know that I could be a baseball fan any more. That might sound like sour grapes, but, how is that even remotely fair?
How do they even have any trade chips left? So many of their prospects are over-rated I guess. Jose Tabata and Austin Jackson never had decent stats in the minors.
But, anyway, I would hope that the MLB would veto a trade to NY. They have GOT to see that this whole competitive balance thing is totally out of whack. Angelos might as well sell the team or move it. Cuz the O's, under him, have never shown an desire to spend big and be aggresive in trading. At least not since 1999.
Roch,
First of all, congratulations on receiving the ballot, I am sure that must have been a nice moment for you.
I will list my picks for who I believe are Hall of Famers, but then I wanted to talk about two or three of them.
I think that Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, and Lee Smith are the Hall of Famers in the group listed above.
For Martinez, the DH, I don't like to think that he will be held out of the Hall because he rarely played the field. I liken it to the criticism I heard on ESPN radio yesterday about Tom Brady and Jimmie Johnson. Some people dislike them because they are winners and have flourished in a system. Well, Edgar flourished in a system, the DH system, and he is the second greatest DH ever behind Paul Molitor, so I don't see the point in keeping him out.
My other topic of discussion is Bert Blyleven, who I thought was a Hall of Famer until his crybaby outburst in the media following him not getting elected to go into the Hall with Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson. I have to be honest and say that following that, I really don't care if he gets in or not, but if he is elected, I'll be staging a one-TV-boycott of his speech by turning it off when he is at the podium.
Thanks, Roch.
Slim pickings on the hall ballot.
Jack Morris and Roberto Alomar are the only two that jump out as worthy in my opinion. Both had stellar careers and if you were fielding a team when they played you would want them on your team. No questions.
I would vote Jack Morris in over Bert Blyleven, no question. Jack was a big game pitcher and carried his team no matter where he went. It'll be interesting to see what team he goes to the hall with. He won a world series ring with Minnesota, two in Toronto but he spent most of his career in Detroit, where he also won a ring.
His ten inning, game seven performance in the 91 world series is probably a career highlight. He has thrown a no hitter and I remember there being a fuss in Detroit when he didn't win the Cy Young. He lost to a young Roger Clemens who MAY or may not have been juicing at the time.
I see Todd Van Poppel didn't make the cut. Neither did former Orioles Mark McLemore or Brook Fordyce.
Someone asked about Tommy John. Last year was his last eligible year on the ballot. He may not go in but his surgery deserves honorable mention.
I'd say it's about time the HOF committee figures out a solution to the DH problem. It certainly seems the position isn't going away, and it's by no means new. Heck, it's become one of the most important positions to fill if a team wants to be competitive in the AL.
How interesting only one comment included the "spitting incident". I would at least wait a year or two before including him on my ballot if even then. Character does matter. Bert Blyleven for sure. Maybe Lee Smith. The rest need a ticket to get inside.
Schoolman,
Blyleven had the most beautiful curve of his era.
I did not have time (too many reruns of The Office DVRed, calling out to be viewed; never watched until recently - fascinating interaction among dysfunctional quirky people - a perfect analog to the SOR below the rank of headmaster) to complete Thanksgiving wishes to you and my classmates.
So, to use even more blog space, and at great risk to my disintegrating reputation, I have added, "FELLOW STUDENTS" to the original "HAPPY THANKSGIVING, ROCH."
H is for the Hit and Run; in Dave’s first book - Basics of Baseball - it was Chapter XXI
A is for Aparicio, the tiny Anointed One
P is for the Press Box where Roch views the games
P is for posters who adopt amusing, creative, or very strange names
Y is for the Year-End Awards winners we try to guess
T is for the Trolls who - like little puppies - always leave a mess
H is for the Hangout, which often quotes our Headmaster; if a golden scoop does not get credit on SOR - it’s an unforgiveable disaster
A is for Anita, MASN’s distaff sports yakker; she blushes when Roch is near; and Roch, raised by his parents to be a gentleman, always overcomes his impulse to gag her.
N is for Norfolk where prospects go to fine tune and develop before making The Show
K is for a strikeout rung up by Koji Uehara – the O’s 2010 early season closer – if it’s the last out, we will hear Gary Thorne say, “Sayonara.”
S is for the School of Roch - a haven we all love
G is for Jonesy’s Gold Glove
I is for IBB - Intentional Walk - in 2009, the O’s lead the A.L. masses by handing out 45 free passes
V is for Verve, the way Young Felix plays the game, jumps on Luke, or slashes at a slow curve
I is for the letter not needed to spell “TEAM” and a pronoun, the choice of which, can cause Brummie to scream – “I was in a hurry!”
N is for, “No crying in Baseball” except for “Slap Boxer Benitez” when caught in a brawl
G is for Gonzalez, A. who is worth more than the O’s can pay
, is for grammar's sake because, unlike the NBA, verticality is not an excuse for making a mistake
R is for the Rumors that test Roch’s incredulity, but, none the less, he must run each one down resolutely
O is for the Our team – no amount of frustration will ever extinguish a true fan’s dream.
C is for the Cavalry, coined for the Fledgling Flingers as a nickname - one of the few things uttered by Dave on which the trolls did not harp and cry “shame.”
H is for Heavy Hitters we covet from other teams: Alex, Miguel, and Prince – their price tags would make even Warren Buffet wince.
&
F is for Fielding Independent Pitching, a very helpful metric, better than ERA but a little convoluted like a baseball’s pattern of stitching
E is for Error – few games are played without one; balls hit to glovemen are like money in the bank; balls hit to others become adventures that end with a clank
L is for the Liner smacked by a Royal Butler, creating a fracture, which could not be detected by a nuclear picture
L is for Lead off batter and quiet Clubhouse Leader; when Diana first gives birth there will be no trouble, just two idental twins- another Robert’s double
O is for an Oriole, Baltimore’s own bird – only major league mascot named for the home town … haven’t you heard?
W is for Wins – around 82 next year; just a guess – I’m not a seer
S is for Steroids. They made players bigger, stronger, wealthier; in the 70’s, Barry Bonds may have been sniffin’ - but, there is little doubt, that steroids gave him a head like Stewie Griffin
T is for Ted Williams, a sweet-swinging curmudgeon; my favorite player from the mythic era, his head ended up frozen like leftovers from a luncheon
U is for Umpire, a necessary evil, but PitchTrack and SloMo can make the men in blue seem quite medieval
D is for Dave, our career minor league coach, manager, and teacher who may spur the team to greatness by inspiring like a revivalist preacher
E is for Eddie an all-time fan favorite; a major pest batting right and a monster from the left side of the plate - very good splits. Eddie coaching Josh in Sarasota will pay off against left-handers with many more hits
N is for Non-tendered – one way to end a beautiful relationship which is about to be altered by arbitration - the compensation acceleration
T is for Tonker – short for “Big Tonker;” A Big Tonker's works in a medium of 450-foot Ruthian-like smashes; when a Tonker squares up, any bat will do - a maple or any one of the ashes
S is for Slide and the art thereof; in spring training, a few Birds should set time aside to eliminate an awkward slide. When attempting a theft, Jonsey has to take his foot off the accelerator sooner or end up in short left; we should cut Brian slack when he slides head-first into the second sack; and, Brian, continue avoid the armored catcher blocking home plate - he'll leave you dinged and out-of-action for at least 15 days - a lengthy wait. Now, that Melvin is gone, there may be zero head-first slides into the initial sack; an ill-advised technique, which usually results in an out and a barking back
ROCH!! JOSH JOHNSON IS AVAILABLE!!!!! According to the Marlins JJ is available NOW!! I think it wouldn't take more then a Luke Scott and a Brandon Erbe to get him. Maybe something else but not much and he is as LEGIT as they come. Get on the phone and tell the O's to do it.
-Steve 'Sno Sno'
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I just read a few reports on mlbtraderumors that question whether he's availabe. I doubt the Marlins would settle for Erbe. - Roch
Schoolman,
I was interested in the process, which produced the players eligible for the next HOF Class. Here are the basics required to end up with an eclectic list containing Alomar, Blyleven, Martinez, Mattingly, and ... David Segui.
Five years after retirement, any player with 10 years of major league experience who passes a screening committee (which removes from consideration players of clearly lesser qualification) is eligible to be elected by BBWAA members with 10 years' membership or more.
From a final ballot typically including 25–40 candidates, each writer may vote for up to 10 players; until the late 1950s, voters were advised to cast votes for the maximum 10 candidates. Any player named on 75% or more of all ballots cast is elected.
A player who is named on fewer than 5% of ballots is dropped from future elections. In some instances, the screening committee had restored their names to later ballots, but in the mid-1990s, dropped players were made permanently ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration, even by the Veterans Committee.
A 2001 change in the election procedures restored the eligibility of these dropped players; while their names will not appear on future BBWAA ballots, they may be considered by the Veterans Committee.
Actually Bill G: It is called the Boat that Rocked. But the US has to change around movie names to give it their own personal stamp. That finally came out in the US? I saw it in London last spring.
And I thought the O's front office was slow...........
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Roch.
I am not sure I agree with you on the whole first or second ballot. A HOF is a HOF-er, not sure there should be a difference IMO.
My votes:
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Pete Rose
Bert Blyleven
Roberto Alomar
Mark McGwire (difficult choice here, but I would have to seriously consider it)
Not sure why Harold Baines has not gotten more consideration.
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Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. I wonder if it would freak out anyone in the BBWAA if I wrote in Shoeless Joe's name. - Roch
Do not bother reading this. It is a very personal outcry against Brummie. I may be wrong about my thesis; but, I'll never know. I have read some things hidden between the lines, but the greater amount of evidence is in his own words in his submissions.
No kidding -- if you long ago got a snootful of anti-Brummie ranting -- please, scroll.
After absorbing all his idiotic posts -- containing half-truths, agenda-driven attacks, and crude English slang to which he resorts when particularly emboldened by his rage at being analyzed accurately -- I have isolated his most off-putting flaw.
He is a man who has disdain for his country; he yearns for sanctuary outside the U.S. in English-speaking nations. The one American burden he cannot shake -- to free him from our culture -- is a genuine love of the Orioles and baseball.
Bill G. said:
BTW SOR,
If your not dead and like rock n' roll go see Pirate Radio...you will feel better.
Ex Patriate Brummie said,
"Actually Bill G: It is called the Boat that Rocked. But the US has to change around movie names to give it their own personal stamp. That finally came out in the US? I saw it in London last spring."
Most of us enjoy adding some light when needed to a fellow student's submission; just read on to fully appreciate the pomposity of your post.
There were only relatively few American pirates - the most famous of which was Jean LaFitte who was born a Frenchman. Most pirates that redirected Spanish gold were English.
"Wikipedia" provides a different reason for the change of title, not " ... the US has to change around movie names to give it their own personal stamp." - Following the film's financial failure at the British box-office, Focus Features commissioned a re-edited version for North American release, retitled Pirate Radio. Curtis deleted approximately twenty minutes of footage from the original UK version to address complaints from several critics that the film's running time was excessive.
Once again, following your honed instincts as a reporter, you jumped in without checking the facts. The name was changed because, under the original title, it was a critical and financial failure; the delay in releasing it in North America was just the result of reworking the film into a vehicle that might actually turn a profit.
Your statement reveals how you feel about your country of birth, and underscores your infatuation with all things related to the U.K. Your answer to Bill G is simply a way to deliver a gratuitous slap at what you perceive to be American arrogance.
You are immersed in the footy culture - why not jettison the Orioles as you have done with so many things, which could give you away as an American?
Do you find that you are tolerated more readily when you interject swipes at America in your conversations in England and Australia. Is it cool to acknowledge our faults when meeting people for the first time.
You impress me as a chameleon scuttling away from your heritage; fawningly eager to toady-up so that you will be thought of as an anglophile.
Yes, it's time for Blyleven, but Lee Smith deserves to get in too. I'd vote for Larkin before I voted for Alomar.
Bainsey is desreving of votes, but even though Edgar Martinez was better, I'd vote for Harold.
Oh, the hell with it. Vote for all the O's.
The 1970 All-Star game film on MLBN with Earl miked was priceless. Just to follow him and see the close-ups was good enough...but to hear him talk!
If you leave DH's out of the hall because they only bat, then you have to leave pitchers out too because they don't bat. Plain and simple.