Roger Clemens
Craig Biggio
Curt Schilling
Sammy Sosa
Mike Piazza,
Kenny Lofton
David Wells
Julio Franco
Shawn Green
Steve Finley
Roberto Hernandez
Jeff Cirillo
Jose Valentin
Reggie Sanders
Jeff Conine
Jose Mesa
Royce Clayton
Bob Wickman
Ryan Klesko
Aaron Sele
Woody Williams
Rondell White
Mike Lieberthal
Tony Batista
Mike Stanton
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Damian Miller
Todd Walker
*if you've made it this far, thank you. I owe you a beer*
That is the list of players eligible, for the 1st time, for the Hall of Fame. If you said "fuck it" and skipped down here without reading all the names, go back, read them and I'll get that beer for ya in the process.
That is one HELL OF A CLASS!
Guys like Mike Stanton, Jose Mesa and Damian Miller don't stand a chance.
Julio Franco, Alomar Jr., Shawn Green, Kenny Lofton and guys like that, will and should get a few votes but most likely won't make a big push.
And now the big guns. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa should make things very interesting! Really, now that Mac came out about his use of steroids, we'll get a good idea about what will happen with these three.
Schilling, I believe should be a no doubt nod. BUT it's the writers who vote and apparently he wasn't too snuggly when it came to reporters. So he'll probably twist int he wind for a while.
Biggio- IN
And this is why the world will not end in 2012. Mike Piazza becomes eligible for the first time in 2013 and I will be damned if I miss that induction ceremony!!!
What makes it a little more interesting is that each writer is allowed 9 votes. Looking through this class alone, (assuming someone dosen't care about steroid allegations/admissions) there are 8 guys on here I feel are worthy for a vote. I personally say, if they used, fuck 'em. And as for "the Rocket", I found it very satisfying watching him blow up like the "Challenger"...
...
what, too soon?
So take that group, plus whoever may be leftover from previous years and there are some decisions to be made.
Take that conspiracy theorists...
(...Joe)
Bonds was in the 400/400 club before he ever touched steroids.
ReplyDeleteClemens had three Cy Young awards and an MVP before he ever touched steroids.
So many others did steroids and didn't get caught.
I don't know what to do about this steroid era. Punish the ones that got caught and reward the ones that didn't? Punish none of them? Punish them all?
It's a tough call. There is no doubt Bonds is a Hall of Fame player. He had essentially two careers, both of which would put him in the Hall. But...no way Bonds gets in on first ballot, if ever, because of the scandal and general hatred towards him.
The way I see it, if they can keep Pete Rose out of the Hall then those who admitted to steroids should be kept out as well. Essentially, they cheated. And essentially, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson cheated when he was involved in throwing the World Series.
ReplyDelete(...Joe)
Yeah, well I am in the camp that thinks Rose should be in the HOF. Rose didn't cheat while playing (unlike steroid users). Rose should be banned forever from baseball activities though because he gambled as a manager.
ReplyDeleteSo, yeah, if any admitted steroid users ever get in the Hall before Rose, it will be BS.
Oh, totally. Rose should 100% be in the HOF. Like you said, he never cheated. If anything, he did the opposite- betting on HIS team to WIN. Fuck man, if my manager had that much faith in me! haha
ReplyDelete