vance_the_cubs_fan

I have a David Cone signed pic. I just didn't feel like listing all my pics. who cares. you have a picture of you and god jr. (sammy sosa) No, I've never gotten a pic of me and Kent.

1992 ROY for the Brewers.

I have a David Cone signed pic. I just didn't feel like listing all my pics.

Ok, there's no way I could list all my autographs, but I'll start until I get tired. Auto Bats: 1. Nomar 2. Sammy Sosa 3. Cal Ripken Jr. 4. Ryne Sandberg 5. Frank Thomas 6. Mark Teixeira 7. Eric Chavez 8. Andre Dawson 9. Corey Patterson 10. Jeff Bagwell Autoed mini-bats: 1. Ryne Sandberg 2. Albert Pujols 3. Brooks Robinson 4. Ron Santo 5. Jeff Bagwell 6. Ozzie Smith Autoed mini helmets 1. Ryne Sandberg 2. Cal Ripken Jr. 3. Mark Teixeria 4. Michael Barrett 5. Ron Santo 6. Corey Patterson 7. Aramis Ramirez 8. Derrek Lee Game-worn Diamond Jaxx Jersey signed by Matt Murton Pair of cleets signed by Adam Dunn I have pics of me with Sandberg, Grace, and Sosa all signed. Team Signed Items 2003 Cubs ball (No Sosa, no Wood, no Ramirez) 2004 Cubs ball (No Nomar, no Maddux) 2005 Cubs ball (No Neifi) 1997 Cubs ball (30 sigs) 1998 Cubs ball (No Sosa) 1997 Team signed mini-helmet 1996 Texas Rangers 1997 Texas Rangers 1998 Texas Rangers Balls 1. Kerry Wood 2. Nomar 3. Zambrano 4. Michael Barrett 5. Aramis Ramirez 6. Joe Borowski 7. Moises Alou 8. Corey Patterson 9. Mark Prior 10. Greg Maddux 11. Dusty Baker 12. Andre Dawson 13. Jerome Walton 14. Dennis Eckersley 15. Rick Sutcliffe 16. Harry Caray 17. Rod Beck 18. Rick Wilkins 19. Luis Gonzalez 20. Kevin Foster 21. Turk Wendell 22. Brooks Kieschnick 23. Mark Grace 24. Amaury Telemaco 25. Steve Traschel 26. Eric Young 27. Tom Gordon 28. Ryan Dempster 29. Ryan Harvey 30. Doug Glanville 31. Tom Pacorek 32. Kyle Farnsworth 33. Willie Mays 34. Duke Snyder 35. Willie McCovey 36. Gary Matthews 37. Bob Gibson 38. Red Shoendeist 39. Buck Oneil 40. Wade Boggs 41. Ryne Sandberg 42. Derrek Lee 43. Don Sutton 44. Billy Williams 45. Fergie Jenkins 46. Ernie Banks 47. Cal Ripken Jr. 48. Frank Thomas 49. Tom Grieve 50. Reggie Jackson 51. Harmen Killebrew 52. Joe Morgan 53. Rollie Fingers 54. Hank Aaron 55. Lou Brock 56. Goose Gossage 57. Bob Feller 58. Ozzie Smith 59. Yogi Berra 60. Nolan Ryan 61. Stan Musial 62. Kirby Puckett 63. Mike Schmidt 64. Ken Griffey Jr. 65. Dale Murphy 66. Tom Glavine 67. Terry Pendleton 68. John Smoltz 69. Alex Rodriguez 70. Sammy Sosa 71. Andruw Jones 72. Chipper Jones 73. Jose Canseco 74. Steve Garvey 75. Steve Avery 76. Ben Sheets 77. Brad Lidge 78. Will Clark 79. Geronimo Berroa 80. Jim Kaat 81. Wes Helms 82. Prince Fielder 83. Joe Nuxthall 84. Justin Morneau 85. Alex Gonzalez (Cubs) 86. Cecil Cooper 87. Manny Ramirez 88. Bret Butler 89. Cecil Fielder 90. Rocky Coppinger 91. Danny Tartabul 92. Bob Eucker 93. Chris Berman 94. Steve Stone 95. Jeff Bagwell 96. Ryan Klesko 97. Adam LaRoche 98. Jimmy Key 99. Mariano Rivera 100. John Wetteland 101. Bernie Williams 102. Joe Girardi 103. Derek Jeter 104. Tim Raines 105. Andy Pettite 106. Eric Byrnes 107. Mark Mulder 108. Miguel Tejada 109. Barry Zito 110. Eric Chavez 111. Morgan Ensberg 112. Hee Seop Choi 113. Joe Carter 114. Frank Howard 115. Bo Hart 116. Chuck Knobloch 117. Tim Salmon 118. Brad Wilkerson 119. Raul Mondesi 120. Gabe Kapler 121. Bobby Bonilla 122.Adam Dunn 123. Darrell Hamilton 124. Jose Cruz 125. J.D. Drew 126. Rob Dibble 127. Jose Valverde 128. David Delluci 129. Juan Gonzalez 130. Ivan Rodriguez 131. Dontrelle Willis 132. Luis Castillo 133. Josh Beckett 134. Mike Lowell 135. Rafael Palmeiro 136. Alphonso Soriano 137. Jim Edmonds 138. Charles Nagy 139 Sandy Alomar Jr. 140. Roberto Alomar 141. Buddy Bell 142. Antonio Alphonseca 143. Kevin Orie 144. James Baldwin 145. Vince Coleman 146. Rusty Greer 147. Carlos Beltran 148. Kent Mercker 149. Dave Justice 150. Mark Teixeira 151. Mo Vaughn 152. Gary Sheffield 153. Todd Van Poppell 154. Johnny Oates 155. Dean Palmer 156. Bobby Witt 157. Brady Clark 158. Matt Murton 159. Sergio Mitre 160. Rueben Mateo 161. Victor Santos 163. Gavin Floyd 164. Dallas McPherson 165. Bobby Kielty 166. Todd Wellemeyer 167. Lee Smith 168. Barry Larkin 169. Shea Hillenbrand 170. Tom Seaver 171. Bob Costas I have a Harry Caray signed check. Signed caps by Sandberg, Frank Thomas, and Nomar. I have signed photos of many players and too many cards to list.

I'll start one...or more than one. I would volunteer to spot start, but I'm hardly ever online... :D

Boras has been fired before. My guess is that there are philosphical differences between what Zambrano wants and what Scott Boras wants for him. At this stage, it could be a good sign. My guess is Boras was wanting to go to arbitration and Zambrano either wanted to sign before the process as has been the Cubs custom or possibly work on a long term deal which Boras almost never wants with his players. At the moment, I see this as a very good sign that Zambrano wishes to remain a Cub for a long time.

I see no reason for the Dodgers "B" grade (or the Padres for that matter). Perry's analysis seems inconsistent. That's my assessment as well. While I have no issue with the harsh grade on the Cubs, has the Astros offseason been any better? He gives them a higher grade and they've lost Clemens and added Preston Wilson. The Cubs lost no one of significance and added Pierre. I'd think the additon of Pierre would outweigh the loss of Clemens and the addition of Preston Wilson. That's one particular inconsistency, but there were others as well.

The novelty has worn off. I say can it.

YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW. Isn't it something like a baby seal dies?

You're right. All those things could be relevant. Some even believe that the drug scandal is what has kept Dave Parker out of the Hall. Albert Belle seems to have been penalized for being a total jackass, while Ralph Kiner gets in with a shorter career and similar numbers. The voters have never been consistent. That's a proven fact. What does seem clear is that most, if not all, voters seem to take their task as keeper of the gates to baseball's Valhalla serious business. They would rather err on the side of caution in not letting someone in than be too generous with admission. (The old vet committee was a different animal, however.) I think they believe, or many do, that since a player is on the ballot for 15 years, there isn't the urgency to make sure everyone who may be deserving gets in on their first try. They also have seemed to use the HOF to make statements as well. What seems abundantly clear is that today's voters want to make a statement about the "steroid era." This is especially true of older voters who have watched the records of Maris and others fall to chemically enhanced athletes. You can say, "unless you're prepared to interogate every athlete, leave McGwire alone," but my guess is that such rhetoric would fall upon deaf ears with the HOF voters. As I've mentioned earlier, they set their own standards and are accountable to no one. My guess is that they don't see the black issue or the amphetamine issue or the cocaine issue in the same light as they do the steroid issue. Is that fair? I guess each individual will have to answer for themselves. And, yes, though, I think they will end up leaving McGwire alone. Which means he won't be sharing that podium with Gwynn and Ripken in 2007. Will he be there in 2008 and beyond? I don't know. That may depend more on McGwire than anything else.

He may not get the opportunity........... you're right. My guess is that the sun will still shine on he and his family at their California home, even if he doesn't get into the HOF. He'll be fine. Why would anybody ask him that, at a HOF ceremony? Unless it's going to be standard for them to ask ALL inductees, then it wouldn't be appropriate, and I think he'd be wise to tell them to kiss his .......". I gurantee that if he goes in, someone (and probably more than one) will ask. And I guarantee you that he'll politely tell them to go pester someone else, because he's not interested in making them famous by giving them something to print in their paper. They're wasting their time, if they ask him. And I think many voters will withhold a vote until he answers them. So, my guess is before he's elected, we'll have the answers.

I think the difference is that to many, this isn't "off the field problems." When looking at his record, and the records of many others, people want to know did substances contribute and if so, try to determine the effects. This isn't the same as Wade Boggs extra-martial affairs which weren't and shouldn't have been mentioned during or around the time of his induction. Those had nothing to do with what he was being recognized for. If a player took steroids while playing baseball and putting up HOF numbers, then it would be relevant to the other factors of his induction.

He may not get the opportunity........... you're right. My guess is that the sun will still shine on he and his family at their California home, even if he doesn't get into the HOF. He'll be fine. Why would anybody ask him that, at a HOF ceremony? Unless it's going to be standard for them to ask ALL inductees, then it wouldn't be appropriate, and I think he'd be wise to tell them to kiss his .......". I gurantee that if he goes in, someone (and probably more than one) will ask.

I think there's almost no chance that McGwire will go in next year. With Ripken and Gwynn, there's just too many writers that will withhold the vote. I think his chances rise significantly in the years that follow.

So how are we going to select Opening Day starter this year?

I don't think he "volunteered". I think when he was asked if he would help, he said he would. Has anybody asked for his help? Has anybody asked him to speak anywhere? I didn't say that had any effect on me, but in numerous articles on the subject, I've seen it mentioned. My biggest issue, is his repeated statements that he doesn't want to talk about the past. If that's the case, why should we consider any of his "past" in electing him to the HOF? He never said that he didn't want to talk about the past, did he? He said (paraphrasing) "I'm not HERE to talk about the past", meaning that he wasn't going to be a player in Congress' little circus. My interpretation - there's an appropriate time and a place to talk about certain things. A HOF ceremony would certainly be an appropriate time and place to talk about his baseball accomplishments. According to polls of the voters, it looks as if he may not get to do so on that opportunity. And what if at the HOF press conference, someone asks him if he took steroids, would that be a time for him to come clean?

I don't think he "volunteered". I think when he was asked if he would help, he said he would. Has anybody asked for his help? Has anybody asked him to speak anywhere? I didn't say that had any effect on me, but in numerous articles on the subject, I've seen it mentioned. My biggest issue, is his repeated statements that he doesn't want to talk about the past. If that's the case, why should we consider any of his "past" in electing him to the HOF?

I've heard some reporters say the biggest strike against McGwire is that he volunteered to assist in encouraging young people to stay off steroids at the hearing and has done nothing since. To some, keeping him out of the hall might send the message.

Yes, it was very much legal and he openly admitted using. so people are basing their non-vote for McGwire on Canseco's book and the general increase in HR's during the 90's, coupled with his congressional statement, and through no basis of fact? I think there was an FBI agent who also implicated McGwire...but his non-denial is what is mostly doing him in.

If he has anything left, Nelson could be a decent pick-up.

What's a Clement board? I've heard of a Clement beard... :-k http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/baseballdesert/clement2.jpg

You know that the line from that movie is "California Penal League" ? I don't know what a California Pino league is. I also don't know what your comment has to do with the thread at all.

You may be right, but unfortunately that isn't how most sports writers feel. And they are the vote that will count. If you read my first post in this thread, I stated I'd reluctantly cast a vote for McGwire unless something else comes out between now and then. On the other hand, the feelings of Bernie are being felt from sportswriters across the country. Informal polls are showing that roughly 40-50 % will not vote Mac in next season. As to Gwynn and Ripken using steroids...you could be right, but there's nothing to cast them under suspicion. With McGwire, there's a handful of circumstantial evidence that does. And when he was given an opportunity under oath to deny, it didn't. To a lot of people, that speaks volumes. Maybe you have another reasoning for it, but to many that reasoning doesn't hold. Finally, I think one thing that I find incredibly ironic. In the congressional hearings, McGwire said he didn't want to talk about the past. Ok, let's forget the past. Then without the past, what has he done since the then to become a HOF? Nothing. We can't look at his 583 HRs or his playing record, because that too would be talking about the past. McGwire implored us to leave him alone and not discuss the past. Shouldn't we do just that? Therefore, to elect him to the HOF would be opening up the past, something McGwire himself has said we shouldn't do.

Steve Smith...oh wow.

Even Bernie Miklasz doubts McGwire belongs. McGwire did neither as Miklasz points out. Good points. I think not only will McGwire be hurt by the fact voters won't want to give a first ballot entry to someone who may be tainted, but they also won't want those allegations to take away from the enshrinement of Ripken and Gwynn. If a reporter in the heart of Cardinal Country feels this way, imagine how voters across the country will view it as well.