Off-Topic Forum

If Papi didn't use steroids, neither did any of the others.

Between Bonds and Ortiz, I am not sure which one "ballooned" more from the use of steroids. Though Ortiz was not mentioned in the Mitchell report, the fact that the chair of the investigating board was a director of the Boston Red Sox probably had something to do with his omission (just a minor "conflict of interest"). The funniest thing about the report was how Clemens was attacked over and over again (mentioned over 80 times in the report) probably because he had left Boston on very bad terms with the owners. An independent investigation was called for by some but MLB refused to do so. If Papi gets in, then open the doors to everyone else including Palmeiro, Canseco, McGwire, Sosa, Clemens, Bonds, etc.

Of those on the ballot, I would like to see Vizquel and Kent get in this year, Rolen, Helton and Pettitte eventually

If you're Putting in A-Roid then Bonds/Clemens/McGwire/Sosa/Palmeiro all belong in as well .

It's disgusting how Kent hasn't gotten elected SOONER since he has comparable #'s to other HOF 2Bmen 

Well, when you spend a career pi$$ing on the people who will vote on your case.... Right or wrong, his media relationship didn't help his case on top of being in Bonds shadow (yes, not his whole career, I know) and playing in the steroid era. Yes, players like Ted Williams had bad media relations too, but it was TED WILLIAMS! Though some didn't vote for him because of that. Anyhow, it'll be an interesting case for the veteran's committee when that time comes. I don't think he's making the 40 point jump in 2 years.

I understand Cooperstwon looks forward to a high-revenue weekend, but how about nobody gets in this year and we keep the Hall a bit elite?

Ortiz most likely will get the first-time nod (he was a media darling, loved by fans of many other clubs, and - although irrelevant to his career - gets sympathy for coming out of the 2019 shooting okay).

Aside from the *questionable* participants, there are a lot of mediocre and middle-of-the-road numbers floating around this ballot.

Thank you JMetal! Yes, I was slow on the uptake this year and only realized today was the big day at about 3:00 this afternoon. I'll probably comment later, but I wouldn't be shocked if no one gets in this year. Not that some of these players won't eventually, but, as others have said, there are a lot of Hall of Very Good players and a lot of tainted players. They will punish A-Rod, at least for a year. Ortiz is shaky. No one else is a sure thing. It's going to be interesting. Most importantly, I have only two slots left on my display before I have to find a way to expand it -- add a shelf to the bottom, I guess -- so I'm hoping for no more than two players...

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I'd focus on the overdue cases:

Sheffield.  No idea why he's not in.  I don't think he has any steriod accusations.  

Schilling & Pettitte.

Start a new wing and membership category if you must: 

Bonds, Clemens, Rose.  Throw them in there in there with the known racists and wife-beaters that are already in.  Are they moral heroes?  Absolutely not.  Are they baseball legends?  Yes.  Don't just pretend they don't exist.

I'd focus on REALLY overdue cases: 

Early baseball committee ballot: Bill Dahlen, John Donaldson, Bud Fowler, Vic Harris, Grant Johnson, Lefty O'Doul, Buck O'Neil, Dick Redding, Allie Reynolds, George Scales. 

And it gets even more interesting in the Golden Days Era ballot: Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Roger Maris, Minnie Minoso, Danny Murtaugh, Tony Oliva, Billy Pierce, Maury Wills. I wouldn't be crushed if many of these made it. (Gonna need another shelf...)

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PS: As I've said before, I'm over the steroids thing. So, yeah, Bonds, Clemens, Rose, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, A. Rod, etc. Hell, cheating or not, Sosa and McGwire basically saved baseball. 

Ugh. They're forgetting Bill Freehan again....

Anyway, they're going to have to address steroids somehow. According to many sources, around 50% to 70% of players were using them in the late 1980s-early 2000s. Heck, players are still using them.

Wills probably shouldn't get in. I'd say that Oliva, Minoso, Kaat, Hidges, Boyer, and Allen should get voted in eventually for the Golden Days Ballot.

Early Baseball players, I'm not sure about.

Roid users that should get in: Palmeiro, Bonds, Clemens (Although he denies it), Rose (Gambler), McGwire, A Rod, Sosa, and Big Papi (Probably through sympathy vote). Like it or not, they saved baseball. Manny Ramirez should probably get in for teh same reasons.

Already 7 votes tracked by Ryan Thibadeaux for those who dont like surprises... if that link doesnt work type in bbhoftracker.com because its a spreadsheet it doesnt open properly on my phone...maybe on an actual computer ot works? 

And...i see that the 7 votes are not actual votes yet...just "sample" votes for some reason..