2007 Hall of Fame Ballots: Gwynn & Ripken Inducted

[fromthestretch]

But, to each his own! :-)

 

Completely off topic here, but your avatar reminds me of a picture of a friend of mine that played baseball at Purdue. He was a left-handed hitter, and there was a photo of him with a beautiful followthrough on a swing. You could also see the catcher, getting ready to throw the ball back to the pitcher since it was a swing and a miss. We had to crop out the catcher so we could use the picture in the media guide. I only mention it since you're clearly on the followthrough of your swing, but you can still see the ball around your ankles. You should have someone Photoshop it out. :)

[Rob]

But, to each his own! :-)

 

Completely off topic here, but your avatar reminds me of a picture of a friend of mine that played baseball at Purdue. He was a left-handed hitter, and there was a photo of him with a beautiful followthrough on a swing. You could also see the catcher, getting ready to throw the ball back to the pitcher since it was a swing and a miss. We had to crop out the catcher so we could use the picture in the media guide. I only mention it since you're clearly on the followthrough of your swing, but you can still see the ball around your ankles. You should have someone Photoshop it out. :)

 

Or have someone photoshop more in!

[OleMissCub]

But, to each his own! :-)

 

Completely off topic here, but your avatar reminds me of a picture of a friend of mine that played baseball at Purdue. He was a left-handed hitter, and there was a photo of him with a beautiful followthrough on a swing. You could also see the catcher, getting ready to throw the ball back to the pitcher since it was a swing and a miss. We had to crop out the catcher so we could use the picture in the media guide. I only mention it since you're clearly on the followthrough of your swing, but you can still see the ball around your ankles. You should have someone Photoshop it out. :)

 

Or have someone photoshop more in!

 

I'm not sure if that was a foul ball or a swinging strike. I'm leaning toward it being a foul ball. That would have to be a hell of a changeup or breaking pitch for me to already be following through and the ball still be in front of me like that.

[VanceJergins]

But, to each his own! :-)

 

Completely off topic here, but your avatar reminds me of a picture of a friend of mine that played baseball at Purdue. He was a left-handed hitter, and there was a photo of him with a beautiful followthrough on a swing. You could also see the catcher, getting ready to throw the ball back to the pitcher since it was a swing and a miss. We had to crop out the catcher so we could use the picture in the media guide. I only mention it since you're clearly on the followthrough of your swing, but you can still see the ball around your ankles. You should have someone Photoshop it out. :)

 

Or have someone photoshop more in!

 

I'm not sure if that was a foul ball or a swinging strike. I'm leaning toward it being a foul ball. That would have to be a hell of a changeup or breaking pitch for me to already be following through and the ball still be in front of me like that.

 

That's a swinging strike...you're the coaches kid, arent you?

[indifferent]

But will you vote for Big Mac?

 

Leaning toward it.

 

Are you bothered by his testimony in front of Congress and the difficult-to-ignore implications thereof?

 

Just asking - not judging. We value your insight and opinion.

 

Yes, I am bothered by his testimony.

 

What I think would be a travesty is if McGwire doesn't even garner the 5% of votes necessary to keep him on the ballot. Everyone's hearing a ton of this "not on the first ballot" sentiment. We should know a lot more in the next couple of year and it would be a shame if McGwire's completely wiped from future ballots due to steroid protests. Like it or not, we don't know who has used steroids or who continues to use them.

[OleMissCub]

That's a swinging strike...you're the coaches kid, arent you?

 

Upon looking at it again, you're probably right. Looks like it was a breaking pitch that I missed.

 

Naw, not a coaches son.

[Rob]

That's a swinging strike...you're the coaches kid, arent you?

 

Upon looking at it again, you're probably right. Looks like it was a breaking pitch that I missed.

 

Naw, not a coaches son.

 

He was the equipment manager, then?

 

Talk about crawling into somebody's jock to get what you want...

[Bruce Miles]

the HoF voting is a sham. 75% should only be mandatory if they make it mandatory for all eligible vpoters to actually cast ballots. plus we know that the voters are living HoF members, many of whom hold personal grudges, don't like the "new way of baseball", or purposely don't vote for players at their own position as to not somehow dilute their own greatness (coughjoemorgancough)

 

Living Hall of Fame members vote only for those on the Veterans Committee ballot. They do not vote in this phase of Hall of Fame balloting. This phase is reserved for BBWAA members who have been members for at least 10 years.

 

ah, my mistake. But is it the BBWAA or the Veteran's vote that is notorious for voters not sending ballots?

 

It seems to me it was the "old" (no pun intended) Veterans Committee that had trouble getting its full complement to vote. Before the system was revamped, the Veterans Committee was made up of a panel appointed by the Hall of Fame. Some of the older members at times could not get to the meeting.

The new Veterans Committee has higher voter turnout as does the BBWAA.

[Derwood]

the HoF voting is a sham. 75% should only be mandatory if they make it mandatory for all eligible vpoters to actually cast ballots. plus we know that the voters are living HoF members, many of whom hold personal grudges, don't like the "new way of baseball", or purposely don't vote for players at their own position as to not somehow dilute their own greatness (coughjoemorgancough)

 

Living Hall of Fame members vote only for those on the Veterans Committee ballot. They do not vote in this phase of Hall of Fame balloting. This phase is reserved for BBWAA members who have been members for at least 10 years.

 

ah, my mistake. But is it the BBWAA or the Veteran's vote that is notorious for voters not sending ballots?

 

It seems to me it was the "old" (no pun intended) Veterans Committee that had trouble getting its full complement to vote. Before the system was revamped, the Veterans Committee was made up of a panel appointed by the Hall of Fame. Some of the older members at times could not get to the meeting.

The new Veterans Committee has higher voter turnout as does the BBWAA.

 

and the system allows you to vote for as many or as few players as you would like, correct?

[Derwood]

EDIT: double post

[Mizzou]

There's no way in hell I'd vote for McGwire. I wouldn't vote for anyone who took roids though.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

the guy with a career line of .296/.369/.564 and a career ops+ of 143 should get in, but won't

 

okay, i give up. who?

 

That would be Albert Belle.

 

And yes, he belongs.

 

I'm torn on Belle. He really only played 10 full years but during many of those years he was very, very good.

 

Compare him to HOFer Ralph Kiner.

[Rob]

There's no way in hell I'd vote for McGwire. I wouldn't vote for anyone who took roids though.

 

Personally, I wouldn't take into account any consideration of steroids versus clean.

 

I'd vote for the best ballplayers. If the league doesn't want to encourage stuff like steroid use, it's up to them to ban these guys from HoF consideration. But when the writers have to choose who they think might have taken roids and who probably didn't...

 

Well, let's just say we wouldn't be allowed to induct anybody for quite some time if anybody our overzealous writers were suspicious of were considered ineligible.

 

Canseco, Giambi, Palmiero, and Bonds... four guys with HoF credentials and concrete evidence they used steroids. Everybody else has to be judged solely on the merits of their baseball career.

[rocket]

Ripken and Gwynn.

 

Regardless of the fact that he's a juicer, I still wouldn't vote for Big Mac on account of his one dimensionality as a player. He couldn't run, he couldn't hit for average, he couldn't play D especially well. He could hit home runs, that's about it.

 

tony gwynn was pretty one dimensional. and homeruns > batting average. so mcgwire's one dimension was more valuable

[Rob]

Ripken and Gwynn.

 

Regardless of the fact that he's a juicer, I still wouldn't vote for Big Mac on account of his one dimensionality as a player. He couldn't run, he couldn't hit for average, he couldn't play D especially well. He could hit home runs, that's about it.

 

tony gwynn was pretty one dimensional. and homeruns > batting average. so mcgwire's one dimension was more valuable

 

Tony Gwynn could swipe a bag with some of the best of 'em back in his early days.

[rocket]

Ripken and Gwynn.

 

Regardless of the fact that he's a juicer, I still wouldn't vote for Big Mac on account of his one dimensionality as a player. He couldn't run, he couldn't hit for average, he couldn't play D especially well. He could hit home runs, that's about it.

 

tony gwynn was pretty one dimensional. and homeruns > batting average. so mcgwire's one dimension was more valuable

 

Tony Gwynn could swipe a bag with some of the best of 'em back in his early days.

 

well i'll be damned, he did. that was also in an era when david ortiz would have swiped 15 bases though.

[OleMissCub]

Ripken and Gwynn.

 

Regardless of the fact that he's a juicer, I still wouldn't vote for Big Mac on account of his one dimensionality as a player. He couldn't run, he couldn't hit for average, he couldn't play D especially well. He could hit home runs, that's about it.

 

tony gwynn was pretty one dimensional. and homeruns > batting average. so mcgwire's one dimension was more valuable

 

Gwynn had over 300 stolen bases and had 5 gold gloves. That's 3 tools that Mac didn't have: Speed, Batting Average, and Defense

[bhogg]

David Ortiz would have stolen 15 bags just because of the era?

 

No way.

 

Gwynn stole bags because he was much much smaller, much much faster, and simply a smart baserunner.

 

Gwynn was 10 times the player McGwire was (just my opinion).

[Rob]

Ripken and Gwynn.

 

Regardless of the fact that he's a juicer, I still wouldn't vote for Big Mac on account of his one dimensionality as a player. He couldn't run, he couldn't hit for average, he couldn't play D especially well. He could hit home runs, that's about it.

 

tony gwynn was pretty one dimensional. and homeruns > batting average. so mcgwire's one dimension was more valuable

 

Tony Gwynn could swipe a bag with some of the best of 'em back in his early days.

 

well i'll be damned, he did. that was also in an era when david ortiz would have swiped 15 bases though.

 

Maybe.

 

I still have trouble thinking of Tony Gwynn as a burner though... the guy with deceptive speed who picks good situations, sure. 56 steals in a season? Can't do it.

[rocket]

David Ortiz would have stolen 15 bags just because of the era?

 

No way.

 

Gwynn stole bags because he was much much smaller, much much faster, and simply a smart baserunner.

 

Gwynn was 10 times the player McGwire was (just my opinion).

 

well, i was exaggerating. i thought it was obvious. maybe this page makes my point for me.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_leagues.shtml

[Bruce Miles]

the HoF voting is a sham. 75% should only be mandatory if they make it mandatory for all eligible vpoters to actually cast ballots. plus we know that the voters are living HoF members, many of whom hold personal grudges, don't like the "new way of baseball", or purposely don't vote for players at their own position as to not somehow dilute their own greatness (coughjoemorgancough)

 

Living Hall of Fame members vote only for those on the Veterans Committee ballot. They do not vote in this phase of Hall of Fame balloting. This phase is reserved for BBWAA members who have been members for at least 10 years.

 

ah, my mistake. But is it the BBWAA or the Veteran's vote that is notorious for voters not sending ballots?

 

It seems to me it was the "old" (no pun intended) Veterans Committee that had trouble getting its full complement to vote. Before the system was revamped, the Veterans Committee was made up of a panel appointed by the Hall of Fame. Some of the older members at times could not get to the meeting.

The new Veterans Committee has higher voter turnout as does the BBWAA.

 

and the system allows you to vote for as many or as few players as you would like, correct?

 

You may vote for as few as zero players and up to as many as 10.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

the HoF voting is a sham. 75% should only be mandatory if they make it mandatory for all eligible vpoters to actually cast ballots. plus we know that the voters are living HoF members, many of whom hold personal grudges, don't like the "new way of baseball", or purposely don't vote for players at their own position as to not somehow dilute their own greatness (coughjoemorgancough)

 

Living Hall of Fame members vote only for those on the Veterans Committee ballot. They do not vote in this phase of Hall of Fame balloting. This phase is reserved for BBWAA members who have been members for at least 10 years.

 

ah, my mistake. But is it the BBWAA or the Veteran's vote that is notorious for voters not sending ballots?

 

It seems to me it was the "old" (no pun intended) Veterans Committee that had trouble getting its full complement to vote. Before the system was revamped, the Veterans Committee was made up of a panel appointed by the Hall of Fame. Some of the older members at times could not get to the meeting.

The new Veterans Committee has higher voter turnout as does the BBWAA.

 

and the system allows you to vote for as many or as few players as you would like, correct?

 

You may vote for as few as zero players and up to as many as 10.

 

Do you ever publish the list of whom you vote, Bruce?

[Wilson A2000]

Scott Brosius should be a first ballot HOFer

[rocket]

Not that he'd get in, but it's pretty sad that no one even mentions this guy:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clarkwi02.shtml

 

He's not even on the ballot. That seems wrong.

[OleMissCub]

Not that he'd get in, but it's pretty sad that no one even mentions this guy:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clarkwi02.shtml

 

He's not even on the ballot. That seems wrong.

 

He's basically Mark Grace sans Gold Gloves. He did have THE prettiest swing though I think I've seen in the MLB. Griffey is a close second.