Wednesday, January 8, 2014

TODAY SHOULD BE A GREAT DAY FOR BASEBALL!



But it won’t be. Today is the day the 2014 inductees to the Hall of Fame will be announced. The Veterans committee already voted and they elected Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, and Joe Torre. I can’t think of 3 more deserving candidates!

Well today isn’t about them. And it’s not about the players on the ballot. Today is about the self-righteous baseball writers. The Hall is voted upon by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. This is when these “experts” decide who is deserving enough to be enshrined. What makes them experts? Is it because they write about the game? I write about the game and I’m not a member of the BBWA and I’m not allowed to vote. Is it because they get paid and are “professionals”. That’s idiotic!!

We all know some of these writers have agendas. They want to make a name for themselves. They’ll all do something so for the next week we’ll talk about them instead what really matters; the players themselves!

We’ve all heard about the writers who won’t vote for people in their first year of eligibility because no one deserves that distinction. Are you kidding me? Who made you God? If someone is the best player of their era, (hello Mariano Rivera) you put them in as soon as possible!



MLB.com posted their writers’ ballots Tuesday night. Sixteen of them voted for Greg Maddux. One of them, Ken Gurnick, did not. Instead, Gurnick has voted to make this about him.


Greg Maddux is probably the best pitcher I’ve seen in my lifetime. Gurnick only voted for Jack Morris. Morris was good, but I’m not sure he was ever dominant like Maddux was. Gurnick’s explanation, “As for those who played during the period of PED use, I won’t vote for any of them.”

Really? You’re going to throw out 20 years of players? Most people agree the PED Era began in the late 80s. Jack Morris pitched until 1994. So, I’m pretty sure Jack Morris pitched during the PED era. Not to mention all the things guys were taking during the 70s that only a few people talk about (Remember greenies? How about “leaded and unleaded” coffee?) Also, just because someone played during that time makes them guilty? Nobody has ever even whispered Greg Maddux and PEDs. Can we, as baseball fans, vote to take away your voting rights?

By the way, if I had a vote mine would consist of:
  • Greg Maddux, most dominant and feared pitcher I’ve ever seen.
  • Mike Mussina, like Maddux, not overpowering but an amazing pitcher who knew how to get it done.
  • Tom Glavine, probably won’t get in this year, but should go in with Maddux because they are the best 1-2 combination I can remember seeing. In a three game series, having to face them back-to-back…brutal!

All first year ballots! Suck on that BBWA.



--Lem Allen, BYB Contributor
Email me at: bybcurmudgeon@gmail.com



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