2014 HOF Vote (Angelswin Results are in!)

[Splint7438]

When I grew up catcher was a defensive position. Sandburg. Bob Boone. Fisk. Bench. Porter. Yeager. These are what defined the catching in my formative baseball years. All of them were very good defensively. Any offense was a plus. Maybe I am just confused about what a catcher should be. The offensive catchers in the HOF also played defense. Maybe I would look at piazza different if he didn't play at same time as pudge. Plus I am pretty sure a true HOFer doesn't call a press conference to announce that he is NOT gay.

[AngelsLakersFan]

When I grew up catcher was a defensive position. Sandburg. Bob Boone. Fisk. Bench. Porter. Yeager. These are what defined the catching in my formative baseball years. All of them were very good defensively. Any offense was a plus. Maybe I am just confused about what a catcher should be. The offensive catchers in the HOF also played defense. Maybe I would look at piazza different if he didn't play at same time as pudge. Plus I am pretty sure a true HOFer doesn't call a press conference to announce that he is NOT gay.

 

So you want to ban gays from the Hall of Fame?

[Vegas Halo Fan]

I tried doing this and all of my picks came to players connected to steroids, save Maddux and Glavine. It really comes down to whether you support players with those connections being in the HOF or not. If not the choices are pretty easy.

 

I don't support steroid use or cheating in any way, but aren't the same people who vote for the HOF the ones voting for MVP awards? Seems kind of stupid.

 

 

I have never understood those who say that they will never vote for a guy in his first year of eligibility. He doesn't suddenly become more worthy the second time around.

 

At first I was completely against voting for those tied to steroids. I then began to think that there were probably far more players using than we will ever know about, and baseball made no apparent effort to remove PEDs from the game. Many of the players these guys were competing against were also juicing, but since they aren't HOF candidates that doesn't seem to matter.

 

I suppose that I should have added Bonds, McGwire and Clemens to my ballot.

Edited January 5, 2014 by Vegas Halo Fan

[Docwaukee]

one of the only things that consistently burns my ass about baseball is that all of the voter based awards and recognition are so flawed, inconsistent, and subjective.  HOF, GG, MVP, All-Star games etc.

 

First of all, who get's to vote and why is the biggest problem.  I think it should be opened up to a larger number of people to better represent the masses.  Then at least the subjectivity isn't emphasized by a small sample. 

[mancini79]

There are 570 ballots which is a good sample size. The problem is who gets to vote. Once a writer is granted access, they have it forever. There are voters that used to cover sports and now write for Home & Garden. But they still get a HOF ballot.

[Brent Maguire]

One of the bigger issues with the HOF voting is overrating "milestones".

You can be a great pitcher but if you don't get at least 200 wins, then your chances are slim to get in.

You can be a great all around player but if you don't hit 400 HR or steal 400 bases, you don't get any recognition.

It will be nice when some of the newer writers like the guys from Fangraphs and Baseball Prospectus get their chance to vote. Right now, there aren't a whole lot of writers who are worthy of determining a players' worth.

[Stradling]

Maddux, Thomas, Glavine, Piazza, Mattingly and Trammel.

[Docwaukee]

there should also be a system whereby they can revisit letting someone go back on the ballot even if they dropped off. 

[mancini79]

I picked a lot of guys: Maddux, Glavine, Morris, Mattingly, Biggio, Piazza, Thomas, Raines. I also think it time you'll see Kent get in.

 

 

Maddux, Thomas, Glavine, Piazza, Mattingly and Trammel.

 

A lot must have happened in 1 day. Sorry Biggio and Morris.

[Stradling]

The list looked different. Haha. When you changed the format I struggled to remember everyone I picked. But great job strengthening your case Alan Trammel in the last 24 hours.

[maximus p]

Like Stradling, don't remember exactly who I voted for in the poll, but it was a full 10.

Bagwell

Biggio

Bonds

Clemens

Glavin

Maddux

McGwire

Piazza

Smith

Trammel

[mancini79]

The list looked different. Haha. When you changed the format I struggled to remember everyone I picked. But great job strengthening your case Alan Trammel in the last 24 hours.

 

I thought Biggio admitted to PEDs last night and Morris got busted with a DUI this morning.

[YouthofToday]

Even Lou Whitaker isn't in favor of Morris --> http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140105/SPORTS0104/301050031#ixzz2pZcwUmfb

[Jeff Fletcher]

Re: Schilling and Morris, either vote for both or for neither, because they had basically carbon copy type careers....

(Snip)

One surprise to Morris' stats: career ERA was 3.90 (ERA+ of only 105) in an era more pitching friendly than when Schilling pitched. Schilling's career ERA was 3.46 (ERA+ of 127).

Ummm ok

[summit21]

Maddux, Mcgwire, Biggio, Thomas, Bagwell, Bonds, Clemens, Palmiero, Piazza, Sosa.

Edited January 6, 2014 by summit21

[Splint7438]

So you want to ban gays from the Hall of Fame?

no I want to ban non gays

[happybat4]

maddux

Glavine

Lee Smith

McGriff

Edgar Martinez

Thomas

Biggio

Bag well

Piazza

Trammel

[happybat4]

Sorry take off trammel and put in Tim Raines

[nate]

I am not really qualified to go over the whole list but Maddux and Thomas are no brainers for me.

[Thomas]

Jeff Bagwell

Craig Biggio

Tom Glavine

Greg Maddux

Edgar Martinez

Mike Piazza

Tim Raines

Curt Schilling

Frank Thomas

[sneaky_flute]

Craig Biggio doesn't belong in the HOF

[NJHalo]

Maddox, Mussina, Glavine, Piazza, Morris, Lee Smith

[Coachbulldog]

I rarely go on a rant here, but this year's Hall of Fame selection really irritates me. 2014 will go down as the year the Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers, and the various selection committees were fully revealed as hypocrites and the election/selection process as nothing more than a grand farce. 

 

Tony LaRussa has already been elected unanimously by the expansion era committee. Looking at the final stats of LaRussa's managerial career he is certainly a Hall of Fame manager. But using the logic that currently prevails, he should never be enshrined in Cooperstown. Why? LaRussa's Hall of Fame credentials were accumulated managing some of the biggest 'roid users of the entire era. The players that played for him that put up amazing numbers and won hundreds of games that make LaRussa's resume shine will never be in the Hall because the self righteous, guardians of the game will never elect them. However, the man who managed them is allowed in at the first opportunity. Did LaRussa know about the steroid use of Cancesco, McGwire, and the rest of the players? He claims he didn't and voters give him the benefit of the doubt. Really?!?! LaRussa is a lawyer, a bright guy, and yet he had no clue of the rampant PED use going on in his clubhouse?  I believe LaRussa is a liar, but the hypocrisy is the electors refuse to give players like Jeff Bagwell and Mike Piazza the same benefit of the doubt they are giving LaRussa. 

 

By all accounts Tom Glavine is going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He will stand there on induction day and proudly accept his enshrinement while writers and purists applaud that he did it the "right way" in an era that was filled with PED use. What a joke. Glavine should be put in the same category as Bonds and Clemens because he is just as much of a participant in the issues of the PED era as any of the juiced up players. It comes down to this legal definition of  accessory:

 

Accessory: contributing to or aiding in the commission of a crime. One who, without being present at the commission of an offense, becomes guilty of such offense, not as a chief actor, but as a participant, as by command, advice, instigation, or concealment; either before or after the fact or commission.

 

Glavine was a high ranking member of the Players Association who was very vocal against instituting any drug testing. He wasn't the only player that resisted but he was one of the most outspoken and, as a leader in the MLBPA, he had a great deal of influence. While Glavine continued to stand on his principles, the PED era continued. If the PED users are considered to have committed "crimes" against baseball then Tom Glavine should be seen as an accessory to these crimes and viewed in the same light as Bonds and Clemens and kept out of the Hall of Fame. 

[Angelsjunky]

There are more than ten that I think are deserving, but I'll go with the following:

 

Jeff Bagwell

Craig Biggio

Barry Bonds

Roger Clemens

Tom Glavine

Greg Maddux

Mike Mussina

Mike Piazza

Curt Schilling

Frank Thomas

 

I'd like to vote for Edgar Martinez, Larry Walker, Tim Raines, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker as well, but alas.

[Adam]

Greg Maddux

Tom Glavine

Frank Thomas

Jack Morris 

Craig Biggio

Mike Piazza