Is Sammy a 1st ballot HOFer?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Sammy Sosa can still help a team. He can still play baseball at the ML level. So I ask again, why can't Sammy Sosa get a job?

 

Most teams see his line of 221/295/376 from last year and wonder if he has anything left.

 

Considering his age, rapid decline, and suspicion of steroids many have concluded that is all you will get from Sosa. Also, Sosa doesn't seem to have let go of the ego...so no one is going to put up with an ego and take a chance at that kind of production.

[Mizzou]

Sammy Sosa can still help a team. He can still play baseball at the ML level. So I ask again, why can't Sammy Sosa get a job?

Maybe he can't still play at the ML level?

[Backtobanks]

Sammy Sosa can still help a team. He can still play baseball at the ML level. So I ask again, why can't Sammy Sosa get a job?

 

Sammy can't help any Major League team, that's why he can't get a job. The only value he has is to put some people in the stands and that won't last long when the fans see he's running on empty. If he had anything left, don't you think some team would give him a contract just for the PR?

[soccer10k]

I tend to agree that Big Mac will be the test case. Some writers will be out to send a message and not vote him in first try. But it seems like an empty message to me if they then let him in on the second year. Either he's a Hall of Famer or he's not. Either steroids are a deal breaker, or they're not. Making someone wait an extra year or two seems petty. I can respect a writer who decides never to vote for those tainted by the steroids scandal. But those who merely delay their vote are just posturing.

 

I think Sammy, Mac and Bonds are all first ballot HOFers.

 

I agree that McGwire will be the test case for all of the steroids era sluggers. Contrary to what you say, I think that there is a a certain prestige in a player being a first ballot Hall of Famer and so making a guy wait that extra year is sending a message. I do agree that after that first year that it doesn't really matter if you get elected in your third year or your seventh year. In Sosa's case specifically, he should be criticized for the corked bat just as much, if not more, than for the steroids because there isn't as much suspicion surrounding Sosa than McGwire and Sosa.

[Andy]

Sosa will get in, but not on the first ballot. Of course, a lot may depend on the other players eligible the same year Sosa comes up.

If he retired before this season, there wouldn't appear to be anyone on the ballot of consequence with him. Jim Rice's tenure on the writers' ballot will be over by then, Mac will be in as well as Gossage, and other than possibly Larry Walker I can't think of any future HOFers who have retired in the last two years.

[Chocolate Milk]

I have trouble justifying putting a cheater in on the first ballot.

[erik316wttn]

I have trouble justifying putting a cheater in on the first ballot.

 

Ah, the cork incident.

 

Let me ask you a question. Do you have a problem with Gaylord Perry being in the HOF? Because Perry was busted (on more than one occasion, IIRC) for throwing a spitball. It was rumored he threw it much of, if not all of, his career. Yet nobody ever seems to remember that. He got in no problem, as I recall.

 

This isn't excusing what Sammy did, however.

[Chocolate Milk]

I have trouble justifying putting a cheater in on the first ballot.

 

Ah, the cork incident.

 

Let me ask you a question. Do you have a problem with Gaylord Perry being in the HOF? Because Perry was busted (on more than one occasion, IIRC) for throwing a spitball. It was rumored he threw it much of, if not all of, his career. Yet nobody ever seems to remember that. He got in no problem, as I recall.

 

This isn't excusing what Sammy did, however.

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Sammy shouldn't get in ever, I am just saying that I think he should have to wait a year because of that incident.

[Andy]

I have trouble justifying putting a cheater in on the first ballot.

 

Ah, the cork incident.

 

Let me ask you a question. Do you have a problem with Gaylord Perry being in the HOF? Because Perry was busted (on more than one occasion, IIRC) for throwing a spitball. It was rumored he threw it much of, if not all of, his career. Yet nobody ever seems to remember that. He got in no problem, as I recall.

 

This isn't excusing what Sammy did, however.

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Sammy shouldn't get in ever, I am just saying that I think he should have to wait a year because of that incident.

I've heard much evidence to suggest that the only help corking your bat gives you is in your head. Not excusing it, but just an interesting point.

[erik316wttn]

I have trouble justifying putting a cheater in on the first ballot.

 

Ah, the cork incident.

 

Let me ask you a question. Do you have a problem with Gaylord Perry being in the HOF? Because Perry was busted (on more than one occasion, IIRC) for throwing a spitball. It was rumored he threw it much of, if not all of, his career. Yet nobody ever seems to remember that. He got in no problem, as I recall.

 

This isn't excusing what Sammy did, however.

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Sammy shouldn't get in ever, I am just saying that I think he should have to wait a year because of that incident.

I've heard much evidence to suggest that the only help corking your bat gives you is in your head. Not excusing it, but just an interesting point.

 

Yeah. I heard it weakens the bat and it has less mass, therefore its more prone to breaking.

 

And the effect of cork is minimal if anything.

[erik316wttn]

I have trouble justifying putting a cheater in on the first ballot.

 

Ah, the cork incident.

 

Let me ask you a question. Do you have a problem with Gaylord Perry being in the HOF? Because Perry was busted (on more than one occasion, IIRC) for throwing a spitball. It was rumored he threw it much of, if not all of, his career. Yet nobody ever seems to remember that. He got in no problem, as I recall.

 

This isn't excusing what Sammy did, however.

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Sammy shouldn't get in ever, I am just saying that I think he should have to wait a year because of that incident.

I've heard much evidence to suggest that the only help corking your bat gives you is in your head. Not excusing it, but just an interesting point.

 

Yeah. I heard it weakens the bat and it has less mass, therefore its more prone to breaking.

 

And the effect of cork is minimal if anything.

[erik316wttn]

I have trouble justifying putting a cheater in on the first ballot.

 

Ah, the cork incident.

 

Let me ask you a question. Do you have a problem with Gaylord Perry being in the HOF? Because Perry was busted (on more than one occasion, IIRC) for throwing a spitball. It was rumored he threw it much of, if not all of, his career. Yet nobody ever seems to remember that. He got in no problem, as I recall.

 

This isn't excusing what Sammy did, however.

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Sammy shouldn't get in ever, I am just saying that I think he should have to wait a year because of that incident.

I've heard much evidence to suggest that the only help corking your bat gives you is in your head. Not excusing it, but just an interesting point.

 

Yeah. I heard it weakens the bat and it has less mass, therefore its more prone to breaking.

 

And the effect of cork is minimal if anything.

[nucubs]

I personally think that if Sosa or McGwire is denied first vote HOF, we need to re-evaluate every inductee in baseball history. Cheating has been a major part of baseball forever. How many pitchers in history used a little something to mask the spin of their pitch? Who knows if Ruth or Gehrig or Foxx used a little something to make them better. Ty Cobb was just a bad human being, does that count for anything? The bottom line is, both Sosa and McGwire put up great numbers and brought casual fans back to the game. That's gotta count for something.

[Chief_Cardinal]

Sammy Sosa can still help a team. He can still play baseball at the ML level. So I ask again, why can't Sammy Sosa get a job?

 

Sammy could get a job with several ML teams right now! The problem is, Sammy isn't the player that Sammy thinks he is, so he won't accept a job doing what he is best fitted for right now. Not that I can blame a guy who should be a HOFer for not wanted to be anything other than an everyday player, but if he really wants to play another year, there are plenty of teams who could find a role for him.