It's been a long 5 months but I hope to be a semi-regular contributor moving forward. While I would like to take a moment to recognize the 2012 64/60 Champions Landon Bowe and Co-Owner Jonathan Barker in Baseball and Todd Whitley in Football all first time Champions. Welcome to the prestigious club gentlemen.
Once the government's audit into the 64/60 books is completed you will be compensated with cash and a drink with the Commish.
The 2012 Baseball Hall Of Fame Class or lack thereof is the topic at hand. Baseball has created a predicament for itself and both players and ownership is to blame. Breaking News steroids were a major part of baseball for the better part of 20 years. Owners turned a blind eye to the fact. Owners needed something to put ass back in seats and what better than a race for a record, 61*. On the players side of things you have two parties; those who took steroids and those who together did not force the players union to address the issue. The end result is 20 years of baseball where everyone's accomplishments are nestled in a shadow of doubt or should be.
If we've learned anything from the current drug testing in baseball it's not your 30+ HR hitter getting busted. While Greg Maddux certainly doesn't have the stature of your perceived roid user do we really know for sure. I have little doubt Maddux will be a first ballot honorary next year. I don't feel as though Maddux did use it's simply making the statement that without first hand knowledge it's simply a guessing game and attempting to determine based on personal perception is a irresponsible voting process in my opinion. Ultimately I feel that at some point it will be impossible to keep both the best player and pitcher in the last 20 years out of the Hall Of Fame.
As the years go by the player pool is only going to grow increasingly questionable. Voters will become more open minded about the culture of the game and will begrudgingly accept it as is. After all the perception of fans does not change with inclusion to the Hall Of Fame. Ask anyone about Pete Rose's legend and not a single person will not include Pete Rose among the games best. Who cares about a damn plaque. Take Gaylord Perry. While his name is include in the list of 100+ players in the Hall it is a well known fact that he had a doctorate in doctoring the pill.
While this offense may not change my opinion of Perry it may offend Jim from South Beach. So while Jim is walking through the Halls with his son he will make it a point to provide his opinion of Perry's actions. In the end the Hall Of Fame is about the greatest the game has to offer. While the process doesn't always meet my approval making decision solely based on perceived guilt or innocence is as irresponsible as how the mess was created.
****** For a little added bonus here is my criteria. First and foremost I'm not a compiler so goodbye Biggio and your 3K hits. Yes this number is typically a ticket and ultimately it will be. For me Biggio was never the best player on his own team. Never amongst the best in baseball at his position. A good player for a long time nothing more. My Yes Votes.
Dale Murphy final year on the ballot. His peak was short lived but during that time he was amongst the Top 5 players in the game and the period lasted more than a handful of seasons.
Mark McGwire greatest HR hitter of my time.
Jack Morris somewhat of a compiler yet dominate in multiple seasons and pitched the greatest game I have ever watched pitched.
Curt Schilling simply put one game to win I' handing him the ball.
Barry Bonds best player during my lifetime. Most amazing stat ever. during one of his 60 HR seasons Bonds swung and missed at a ball in the strike zone something like 12 times the whole season.
Roger Clemens top pitcher the last 20 years.
Sammy Sosa yes I'm a Cubs fan but never supported Sosa. Simply put you can match his 7 best seasons with anyone in the history of the game, steroids may have played a part.
Mike Piazza statistically speaking the best hitting catcher of all time.
Don Mattingly same principal of Murphy, a top 5 player in the game for about 5 seasons in the mid 80's.
One other observation from the vote. Can we please take away credentials for voters who vote for the likes of Aaron Sele 1, Shawn Green 2, Steve Finley 4, David Wells 5, and Julio Franco 6.
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