2008 HOF Ballot

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

He's not on the list considering he was elected to the HOF in 2004.

Brain fart on my part..

[SAump]

First Round (IN) over (OUT)
P • Bert Blyleven over P • Rod Beck
P • Tommy John over P • Chuck Finley
P • Jack Morris over P • Todd Stottlemyre
P • Lee Smith over P • Robb Nen
P • Rich Gossage over P • Jose Rijo
SS • Dave Concepcion over SS • Shawon Dunston
SS • Alan Trammell over 3B • Travis Fryman
1B • Don Mattingly over 2B • Chuck Knoblauch
RF • Dale Murphy over RF • David Justice
CF • Tim Raines over CF • Brady Anderson
LF • Andre Dawson over 1B • Mark McGwire
OF • Dave Parker over DH • Harold Baines
OF • Jim Rice

Second Round (IN) over (OUT)
P • Bert Blyleven over P • Jack Morris
P • Tommy John over P • Rich Gossage
P • Lee Smith
SS • Dave Concepcion over SS • Alan Trammell
1B • Don Mattingly
CF • Tim Raines over RF • Dale Murphy
LF • Andre Dawson over LF • Jim Rice
OF • Dave Parker

Third Round (IN) over (OUT)
P • Tommy John over P • Bert Blyleven
P • Lee Smith
1B • Don Mattingly over SS • Dave Concepcion
CF • Tim Raines
RF • Dave Parker over LF • Andre Dawson

Final Selection (IN) over (OUT)
P • Lee Smith over P • Tommy John
IF • Don Mattingly
OF • Tim Raines over OF • Dave Parker

Possibly passed over several well deserving players.
Can't explain why my choices were not selected before, nor presume they will be selected this year.

[SAump]

Check http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/ho....jsp?year=2007
Name Votes PCT
Gossage, Rich 388 71.2%
Rice, Jim 346 63.5%
Dawson, Andre 309 56.7%
Blyleven, Bert 260 47.7%
Smith, Lee 217 39.8%
Morris, Jack 202 37.1%
McGwire, Mark 128 23.5%
John, Tommy 125 22.9%
Concepcion, Dave 74 13.6%
Trammell, Alan 73 13.4%
Parker, Dave 62 11.4%
Mattingly, Don 54 9.9%
Murphy, Dale 50 9.2%
Baines, Harold 29 5.3%

[UMP25]

And only one gets in.

[kylejt]

Until they change the name to the Hall of Pretty Good, I've got none of the above.

[dash_riprock]

Chuck Knoblauch??? YGTBSM.

.289 lifetime (.258 post season)
1 ROY, 1 Gold Glove

And the Yanks had to pull him off the field 'cause he couldn't make the throw to 1st base (he was a 2nd baseman!).

Sportswriters. Gimme a break. Let the players vote instead.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Until they change the name to the Hall of Pretty Good, I've got none of the above.

Damn, kyle, if none of those guys belong, you need to go to Cooperstown and destroy about 20 plaques.

• Brady Anderson No
• Harold Baines No
• Rod Beck No
• Bert Blyleven YES! (why is this guy not in?)
• Dave Concepcion Yes
• Andre Dawson No
• Shawon Dunston No
• Chuck Finley No
• Travis Fryman No
• Rich Gossage No
• Tommy John No
• David Justice No
• Chuck Knoblauch No
• Don Mattingly No
• Mark McGwire No
• Jack Morris Yes
• Dale Murphy No
• Robb Nen No
• Dave Parker No
• Tim Raines No
• Jim Rice Yes
• Jose Rijo No
• Lee Smith No
• Todd Stottlemyre No
• Alan Trammell No

I have a bias toward two-way players, even if their batting stats aren't the most impressive among the candidates.

Not only would I not vote for Gossage and Smith, I'd kick out Sutter, Fingers and Eckersley. "I can get four guys out every other day" isn't HOF stuff.

If we apply the "five or six years of sheer brilliance" standard that got Koufax and Drysdale elected, then I'd vote for Dale Murphy.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Publius

Not only would I not vote for Gossage and Smith, I'd kick out Sutter, Fingers and Eckersley. "I can get four guys out every other day" isn't HOF stuff.

I think you are over-simplifying the role of the closer in baseball. As if other people could actually do what these guys can do. Closers belong in the Hall of Fame as much as any starter does. Some teams would have never even gotten a sniff of the playoffs, much less gone to the World Series, without the players you just mentioned.

Padres fans like myself are very thankful that we have Trevor Hoffman as our most valuable asset every year, saving over 500 games over his career. And I remember 1984 as if it were yesterday, and Goose Gossage sure pulled our bacon out of the fire on many occassions. Same with Rollie Fingers. Sutter, Eckersly...how can you even blaspheme their names by wanting to kick them out of the HOF? Where would the Cardinals have been without them?

It's a good thing that we don't have any say-so in this voting, because some of us are awfully critical of some very deserving players.

[mattmets]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Padres fans like myself are very thankful that we have Trevor Hoffman as our most valuable asset every year, saving over 500 games over his career. And I remember 1984 as if it were yesterday, and Goose Gossage sure pulled our bacon out of the fire on many occassions. Same with Rollie Fingers. Sutter, Eckersly...how can you even blaspheme their names by wanting to kick them out of the HOF? Where would the Cardinals have been without them?

The Cardinals would have been in the same place there are now, with the exception of Sutter

Just pulling your chain....saying relievers don't belong is like saying DHs don't belong- it's not naming the best players of all-time, just the ones that made the greatest impact/contribution to the game on the field.

[canadaump6]

Taken from the Official MLB stats page:

Knoblauch had a career on base percentage of .378. Batting average is way over-rated. A hit is more beneficial than a walk only when there is a runner in scoring position.

[Publius]

Relievers are eligible for my HOF; I just can't find one I'd vote for. What they contribute relative to position players and starting pitchers isn't HOF worthy. If a guy spends his career as a DH, I'd never vote for him, either.

Now, Steve, I know you're going to disagree, but your claim that teams wouldn't have gotten to the playoffs is sheer speculation. It can't be proven or disproven. True in some cases, not in others. I'd be more impressed with saves if the rule granting one weren't so liberal. Two outs, last inning. Reliever comes in with a three-run lead and a runner on first. He gives up a two-run shot, then a double before the next guy flies out to the warning track. Save. Joke.

How many saves are granted to closers after set-up guys and middle relievers do the heavy lifting? R1, R2, no outs. Set-up guy strikes out two batters, then closer comes in, walks a batter and retires the next one. Save. Joke.

The save is the most overrated stat in baseball. I'm curious as to how many would be granted under a different condition: you don't get one unless you enter the game with the tying run in scoring position (not on deck). If a guy chalked up 300 of THOSE in a career, I'd vote to put him in the HOF.

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by Publius

"I can get four guys out every other day" isn't HOF stuff.

Relievers aren't eligible for your Hall of Fame? That makes a whole lot of sense...

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by Publius

Damn, kyle, if none of those guys belong, you need to go to Cooperstown and destroy about 20 plaques.

20 would be a minimum, plus I'd boot all the umpires. Safe, out, ball, strike. Throw in some rules and good knees. Big deal. How about the guy who runs the scoreboard at Wrigley, or the lady who plays the organ too? Scully? Yes. Bill Klem? I don't think so.

I did like seeing the uniform Gina Davis wore in "A League of Their Own" at the Hall though. Jocko Conlan's beanie did nothing for me.

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by kylejt

20 would be a minimum, plus I'd boot all the umpires. Safe, out, ball, strike. Throw in some rules and good knees. Big deal. How about the guy who runs the scoreboard at Wrigley, or the lady who plays the organ too? Scully? Yes. Bill Klem? I don't think so.

The Hall of Fame umpires all had an impact on the game in addition to possessing great judgement. Bill KLem created arm signals and the inside protector, Cal Hubbard, developed positioning for base umpires, Jocko Conlan was colorful and a natty dresser and well respected, Al Barlick umped in 7 all star games and 7 world series,Tom Connolly took over development of umpires for the American League after a great career on the field, same for Billy Evans who was a prolific author on umpiring, Bill McGowan worked 8 world series and never missed an inning in his career,Nestor Chylak dealt with such unprecedented unruly fans from ten cent beer night, and disco demolition, in addition to being one of the most respected umpires of all time.

Anyone who diminishes their election to the Hall of Fame diminishes the game, as well.

[canadaump6]

I sure hope that idiot Ron Luciano didn't make it.