NFT: "There’s a certain unanimity about Mariano Rivera"

thought Mussina wouldn't get in.

Granted, the writers are probably only letting him in finally because they intend to vote in Ortiz in a few years.

pretty much always vote for guys with a higher % than the final vote. So it's an overstatement to include Moose in the "looks like they are in" category. He (like a lot of guys) is typically 5% - 6% higher in the pre-announcement public ballots than in the final tally. So he'll probably be very close. (But certainly will make it next year if not this year). The guys below him will all be lower than just "on the cusp". Probably all will be in the 60's, except maybe Walker who might be in the 50's. Big jump for him from last year though, which he needs with only one more year.

That's funny - that's where my mind always goes too.

They are probably going to vote that fat, fake fuck in the HoF before Clemens, A-Rod or Bonds

Bill Ballou not voting for Mo?

In comment 14266835 B in ALB said:

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Bill Ballou not voting for Mo?

He's not voting at all, so his ballot simply doesn't exist.

It isn't like there is 100% evidence that all users are our of the HoF. There are definitely players in the hall who have used illegal substances.

Schilling having a higher percentage right now than Clemens and Bonds is just dumb.

In comment 14266818 FatMan in Charlotte said:

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thought Mussina wouldn't get in.

Looking at his numbers 10 years ago i was a firm no. BUt after some time and the finality of the steroid era his numbers now impress me. he should be in

Mussina will drop. He is expected to be within a dozen votes of the 75% threshold, either above or below. Private ballots are the ones that usually have well below the max number of votes. Some players, like Vizquel whose HOF case is not particularly strong but who some old-school voters like on the eye test, will see their vote % go up with private ballots, but a guy who most see as a near-run thing is likely to lose traction. Even Edgar will lose votes, though at this point his election seems very likely.

gets in and they laud him as being a cuddly ambassador of the game, they better open the floodgates for every deserving steroid user.

they won't vote for Schilling because he's an asshole, but objectively speaking Clemens is at least as much of a piece of shit at Schilling.

In comment 14266838 Mad Mike said:

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In comment 14266835 B in ALB said: Quote: Bill Ballou not voting for Mo? He's not voting at all, so his ballot simply doesn't exist.

Right. I'm sure he'll vote for Big Sloppy though.

is that first time voter Rene Cardenas is a complete moron.

Should be pretty obvious for you to see why...

In comment 14266890 moze1021 said:

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is that first time voter Rene Cardenas is a complete moron. Should be pretty obvious for you to see why...

Sorry.. long time voter... first time he ever went public..

...

In comment 14266902 Dunedin81 said:

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...

You are correct...

But separating Clemens and Bonds just makes no sense to me.

I mean I love Piazza more than anyone but him getting in before Clemens and Bonds also makes no sense...

Bonds but not Clemens maybe the asshole factor, but Bonds was certainly no more of an asshole than Clemens and even more dominant at his craft than Clemens was at his.

In comment 14266921 moze1021 said:

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You are correct... But separating Clemens and Bonds just makes no sense to me.

It's nothing unique to Cardenas. There have been other voters who voted differently on them every year they've been on the ballot.

lol

In comment 14266933 Mad Mike said:

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In comment 14266921 moze1021 said: Quote: You are correct... But separating Clemens and Bonds just makes no sense to me. It's nothing unique to Cardenas. There have been other voters who voted differently on them every year they've been on the ballot.

Right... they are all dumb.

Were unanimous?

In comment 14266975 Carl in CT said:

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Were unanimous?

None. No one ever. I think Seaver was the closest historically, and then Griffey topped him.

but with Mo at 100% so far, Griffey is the only other guy who was at 100% on the public ballots prior to the announcement. The other overwhelming guys - Maddux, Unit, Pedro - had all been left off by someone at that point. Mo being an overwhelming choice was obvious, but getting a level of support (so far) that not even some of the recent elite HOF'ers got is pretty neat.

think Thurm and Donnie should go in.

But Curt Schilling has to be in the HOF. He is an asshole to the highest degree.

But there aren’t too many pitchers you rather have the ball in a game 7.

In comment 14267092 dep026 said:

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But Curt Schilling has to be in the HOF. He is an asshole to the highest degree. But there aren’t too many pitchers you rather have the ball in a game 7.

Schilling is a HOF. He is also an asshole. Like it or not, the politics of a good many sportswriters play into their evaluation of whether his assholish tendencies are disqualifying. Clemens, again, is a much bigger asshole, but also a much better pitcher. Schilling is in, but not a first ballot no-brainer sort of in.

Than any other baseball player has been at theirs. His HOF argument as a Closer is undeniable by any measure unless you simply believe that Closers aren’t capable of being worthy of HOF status. I’m surprised no one has publicly made that argument against closers.

In comment 14267092 dep026 said:

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But Curt Schilling has to be in the HOF. He is an asshole to the highest degree. But there aren’t too many pitchers you rather have the ball in a game 7.

And to think Soriano took him deep in game 7 of 2001 in the top of the 8th in a blow that 9/10 wins the Yankees the WS

The top MLB pitcher with more than 1000 innings ever on ERA+. And by a lot.


Odd fact I did not know: He faced 50 batters in All Star Games. All Star ERA? 0.0

In comment 14267092 dep026 said:

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But Curt Schilling has to be in the HOF. He is an asshole to the highest degree. But there aren’t too many pitchers you rather have the ball in a game 7.

Absolutely. It’s a crime that one of the prominent right handers of his generation is getting black balled for politics.

A great post-season pitcher.

should have their ballot taken away. There will be someone who just doesn’t want there to be a unanimous selection, and there’s always going to be some degree of anti Yankee bias, but this one is a no brainer.

In comment 14266824 Bramton1 said:

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Granted, the writers are probably only letting him in finally because they intend to vote in Ortiz in a few years.

It might be more cause of Harold Baines. Martinez is twice the hitter Baines is.

In comment 14266841 robbieballs2003 said:

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It isn't like there is 100% evidence that all users are our of the HoF. There are definitely players in the hall who have used illegal substances. Schilling having a higher percentage right now than Clemens and Bonds is just dumb.

Absolutely.

The people would run these HOFs in every sport should make and devote a wing in the HOF to assholes. Call it the asshole wing. Then after any and all players are voted in as asshole HOFers they can try to get out of the asshole wing if so desired.

I have to say that seeing Mariano actually blow a save was as abnormal in sports as someone able to actually defend Michael Jordan. I think I can only remember two Blown saves from him, one against the Sox and the one in the World Series. I know he had a few more but I didn’t watch many Yankee games and it wasn’t common. He was dominant and seemed like a great teammate and person.

In comment 14267233 djm said:

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The people would run these HOFs in every sport should make and devote a wing in the HOF to assholes. Call it the asshole wing. Then after any and all players are voted in as asshole HOFers they can try to get out of the asshole wing if so desired.

awesome idea!

entrant. Nothing but class as a person and so much better than anyone else doing his same job that it's INSANE.

As another poster said, really great job by the Yanks in not having SO much drop-off in the pen post-rivera. Replacing the GOAT is never, ever easy.

being worthy, but he didn't want to spoil Mo's chance at 100% so he wouldn't vote at all, Ballou has voted, and voted for Mo.
lonk - ( New Window )

Mo - 100%
Halladay - 85.4
Edgar - 85.4
Moose - 76.7

but I'm really happy for Mussina. Always felt he deserved to be there and wasn't going to make it.