tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post7830896493692615507..comments2023-12-29T14:39:38.577-08:00Comments on That Bootleg Guy: The Obligatory Hall of Fame Outraged ResponseAaron C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03840720779725600492noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-57776851981575667152010-01-11T11:13:42.439-08:002010-01-11T11:13:42.439-08:00You know what's worse than sportswriters that ...You know what's worse than sportswriters that leave a specific player off their ballot for a simple grievance? Sportswriters that leave their ballot BLANK (Jay Mariotti & Lisa Olson). <br /><br />Here's an article you might enjoy about the whole thing: http://deadspin.com/5443162/presenting-the-absolute-worst-hall-of-fame-voter-updateJoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167574089837775246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-49452966876536730932010-01-08T20:21:57.545-08:002010-01-08T20:21:57.545-08:00I would put this a solid second behind that awesom...I would put this a solid second behind that awesome Frank Thomas spot with him hitting the kid with the pillow (wasn't that commercial ultimately taken off the air) in the all time rankings for Canadian ads featuring Blue Jays or Expos. Glorious.Aaron C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03840720779725600492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-33289236903615706432010-01-08T19:04:34.147-08:002010-01-08T19:04:34.147-08:00As one of your many (?) Canadian readers I had to ...As one of your many (?) Canadian readers I had to throw this little video out there. Alomar could have been the worst 2nd baseman of all time and he should still be in the HOF simply based on this excellent <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnu9DCLJtRE&feature=player_embedded" rel="nofollow">Fruit Punch commercial</a>. Catch The Taste Cam, Catch The Taste.The Chadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13660283048586534956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-85538172534005658672010-01-07T12:14:00.619-08:002010-01-07T12:14:00.619-08:00@SHough610: It is the one time in a baseball playe...@SHough610: It is the one time in a baseball player's relationship that media has the upper hand. It is their time to air all their grievances.<br /><br />Belle's candidacy is already over. He got 7% his first year and 3% his second year. Less than 5% removes you from the ballot.Tomhttp://www.tdphillipsjr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-89640094695115818342010-01-07T10:34:57.193-08:002010-01-07T10:34:57.193-08:00If Belle doesn't make it or it takes a while i...If Belle doesn't make it or it takes a while it's the Jim Ed Rice/ Barry Bonds "he was an asshole to us and we can get him back now" reasoning. Belle might have been a crazy asshole but he was incredible at baseball.<br /><br />Too often self-righteous sports writers forget they're electing people to the Hall of Fame, not picking the Pope or canonizing someone as a saintSHough610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-50939416091216858342010-01-07T09:04:33.817-08:002010-01-07T09:04:33.817-08:00Jag: Ah, yes. The Eck home run. It killed off the...Jag: Ah, yes. The Eck home run. It killed off the A's "dynasty" once and for all, while elevating the Jays to the World Series and Alomar into the national spotlight.<br /><br />Only the Eck/Kirk Gibson shot was a bigger gut-punch for me as a fan.<br /><br />Alomar's the best 2B I ever saw. Definitely in discussion of top five ever, but considering the offensive-era he played in, I think it's hard to put him #1.Aaron C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03840720779725600492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-52094560622974486382010-01-07T08:58:03.860-08:002010-01-07T08:58:03.860-08:00Sam: I don't think I did a very good job of ex...Sam: I don't think I did a very good job of explaining. I do believe there were those who didn't vote for Alomar because of his vagabond career or the miserable way it ended, too. But, at eight votes shy, I think it's reasonable to assume that a handful of voters - maybe 10? more? - followed sportswriter/voter Marty Noble's grandstanding and used their vote to make a statement.<br /><br />To your other point, while I think that race played SOME role in the national villification of Bonds, I think the media made up the difference in negative coverage towards Clemens after his PED use came to light.<br /><br />Tom: Your Belle and Mattingly points are spot on. *No one* remembers how great Belle was. And, I really think that Mattingly gets a sympathy build towards eventual, undeserved election in another five years.<br /><br />Dini: I should go back an update my original in/out HoF list. I know I've been a proponent for Lee Smith and Mark McGwire.Aaron C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03840720779725600492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-25551533439959899242010-01-07T08:57:20.068-08:002010-01-07T08:57:20.068-08:00Completely agree with Alomar. I'm from Toronto...Completely agree with Alomar. I'm from Toronto and Robbie is still the best Blue Jay in the club's history (and probably in the top five of athletes to ever play in the city EVER). I don't think I've ever seen a ball get by him and his clutch home run against Eck and the A's in 1992 is arguably the second biggest home run in the team's history (after Carter's World Series blast, of course).<br /><br />Where do you think Alomar stands as the all-time best second baseman? Everyone picks Joe Morgan as the greatest but Alomar has to be in the top five at least.Jagnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-78124699723690037022010-01-07T08:34:54.769-08:002010-01-07T08:34:54.769-08:00I am assuming that the main reason that you linked...I am assuming that the main reason that you linked to the Posnanski article was merely because he gave a shout out to he of the porn star mustache, Carney Lansford. I acyually agree with almost all of his picks. I would probably put Baines in also. McGwire, I am not absolutely sure about--but it has nothing to do with steroids. The fact that Raines, Martinez, and Alomar are not in is ridiculous. Maybe I would give the nod to Lee Smith, maybe.throwdinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15330635492633366361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-1706387690126437172010-01-07T07:56:39.572-08:002010-01-07T07:56:39.572-08:00Great stuff. Three things:
1) If Albert Belle pl...Great stuff. Three things:<br /><br />1) If Albert Belle played one more season, he would have done in 10 years what it took Dawson 21 to do. Belle got like 7% of the vote when he came up on the ballot.<br /><br />2) I would love for the 300 or so writers who voted Yes on Dawson and No on Fred McGriff to explain to me, in detail, what the difference was. The difference can not be "Gold Gloves".<br /><br />3) If "he was injured a lot" is now a valid thing for Hall of Fame induction, then Yankee fans have a legitimate argument for Don Mattingly... which is insanity.Tomhttp://www.tdphillipsjr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-70677643520903321442010-01-07T07:22:37.946-08:002010-01-07T07:22:37.946-08:00I think it's the recency effect (and the numbe...I think it's the recency effect (and the number of teams he played for) rather than the spitting thing. <br /><br />I don't get the holier-than-thou deal with the HoF. Let Bonds and Clemens and Rose in, just make clear what they did. I hate Clemens but he should be in the Hall, just mention he took PEDs.<br /><br />Have you ever mentioned the double standard for Bonds that Clemens never got? Bonds was dogged for YEARS about PEDs but Clemens just had "grit" and "work ethic" and "white skin". I'd like to have seen Bonds say he wasn't going to travel or only play half a season and get away with it.SHough610noreply@blogger.com