As another week of the offseason kicks off, here are three things to keep an eye on around baseball:
1. Phillies to hold press conference for Aaron Nola
The Phillies will host a press conference this afternoon at 12:30 PM CT to officially announce the re-signing of All-Star right-hander Aaron Nola. On Sunday, the two sides came to terms on a seven-year, $172MM contract to keep the longest-tenured Phillie in red pinstripes through his age-37 campaign. The deal marks the first nine-figure transaction of the offseason, and Nola becomes the first of MLBTR’s top 50 free agents to come off the board.
While his $24.57MM average annual salary is merely a few hundred thousand dollars lower than the $25MM figure we predicted at MLBTR, his total guaranteed salary is higher. What’s more, Nola reportedly took a hometown discount (per Jon Heyman of the New York Post), turning down even higher offers from other teams to stay with the club that drafted him seventh overall in 2014. Thus, it will be interesting to see how his deal influences the market for other starting pitchers in a similar tier, including Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and NPB star Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto to be posted this week
Speaking of Yamamoto, the Orix Buffaloes are expected to post the righty sometime this week, kicking off the 45-day window MLB clubs will have to negotiate with the 25-year-old superstar. Buster Olney of ESPN suggests the three-time NPB Triple Crown winner will be posted as early as today, and the 45-day countdown will officially begin on Tuesday.
Yamamoto is widely considered the best arm available in free agency, and it would have been reasonable for a top pitcher like Nola to wait for him to set the market at some point in the next six weeks. However, it turns out Nola was the first domino to fall, so perhaps we’ll see the other clubs that were in the mix for his services pivot to Yamamoto instead.
3. Hall of Fame ballot to be revealed
The 2024 BBWAA ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be unveiled today. Returning names will include Todd Helton (6th year on the ballot), Billy Wagner (9th), Andruw Jones (7th), Gary Sheffield (10th and final), Alex Rodriguez (3rd), Manny Ramirez (8th), Omar Vizquel (7th), Andy Pettitte (6th), and Bobby Abreu (5th). Helton and Wagner each earned more than two-thirds of the vote on the previous ballot, and each has a solid chance to earn the necessary 75% of the vote this time around. Meanwhile, Sheffield will hope to jump from 55% to 75% in his final year on the ballot.
Newcomers to the ballot will include Adrián Beltré, Joe Mauer, Chase Utley, David Wright, Bartolo Colon, Matt Holliday, and José Bautista. Beltré is a likely Hall of Famer and has a chance to enter on his first ballot. Mauer and Utley aren’t as likely to reach the threshold for enshrinement right away, but they will hope to begin drumming up support for an eventual election. Finally, Wright, Colon, Holliday, and Bautista are long shots to enter the Hall, but with their various accolades and career accomplishments, they should earn enough support to remain on the ballot.
My HOF list: Helton, Wagner, Jones and Beltre.
I wonder why Sheffield does not get more consideration…. Over 500 homers, .292 BA, and almost 2700 hits.
Just like A-Rod and Manny, Barry and Rog…
It’s time to drop the holier than thou mentality the writers have, they’ve let in steroid cheats already so let the greatest in the game in. Bonds and Clemens are not just Hall of Fame worthy, they are two of the greatest players ever to play the game.
Agreed. because they were jerks should not prohibit them from entry. Ortiz cheated and he is in, deservedly so. He was a really nice guy, though. That is how I read the HOF.
they are two of the greatest players ever to play the game.
============================
That’s what makes the cheating so much worse. It’s like these mega-rich people trying to cheat on sales tax.
Character clause is such nonsense.
Disagree with you. They cheated period. If anyone should be allowed in the Hall it is Pete Rose. Bonds almost destroyed the game with his cheating. Hank Aaron is still the home run king as far as I am concerned.
VPH;
Image is everything!
Every single steroid user, worthy or not, should be elected into the HOF before Pete Rose. Great player but he broke the one rule that cannot be broken…betting on the game and ruining its integrity.
“…but he only bet on his team to win…”
Doesn’t matter. Could he have made decisions that were aligned more with his pockets than what’s best for the team? Give you a scenario…Say Rose was the manager of the Angels this season and had a big money bet on his team because Ohtani is pitching. Ohtani is tired but the bullpen is trash, so Rose leaves him in an extra inning or two and he blows out his shoulder…ruining his career as a pitcher AND hitter. But the Angels win the game, Rose wins his bet so it’s all good?
Agreed Joe. Why have a HOF if there are no fairness/ethical rules in place? Too many deserving players that didn’t cheat are overlooked because of PED tainted stats. I’d rather admire the accomplishments of Dwight Evans, Luis Tiant, Thurman Munson and Reggie Smith over Bonds, Clemens and Sheffield.
Can’t take his hits away- and he did it CLEAN.
Funny how MLB is now lining their pockets with Sports Gambling ads. “Rules for thee but not for me”
Sorry but never to Rose who has repeatedly lied and only wants enshrinement for who and financial purposes. Had he shown humility, he would have probably gotten another chance.
Rose also diddled children, I say that is way worse than gambling or steroids. It will be interesting to see what the MLB does with Franco.
If you play in the most games and have the most plate appearances of any player all time there would be a strong probability that you would have the most hits.
Pete’s career OPS+ puts him 18% above average.
Pete defined hustle, and defined team player as he moved off 2B to accommodate a young Tommy Helms, moved from RF to 3B when Dan Driessen faltered and George Foster was ready for a 2nd round as a starting OF.
But he was still 18% above average at the plate and didn’t establish himself on defense at second,in the OF, at third or on first..
If the hall of fame represents accumulators, then Pete’s hits, runs etc make him a sure hall of famer.
If being among the best players in any era is indicative of hall of fame worthy, 18% above average doesn’t seem like HOF worthy.
Then kick Pudge, Henderson, Piazza, Ortiz and everyone else who used or were suspected of using out.
Ok, let more cheats in then, the damage is already done. Hall of fame my butt. Who really cares anymore?
He was a really nice guy, though.
=======================
Some of that is certainly true. Bonds, Clemens, and ARod are really dislikeable. Pettitte is a likeable guy and still gets votes. Papi is a political hero in Boston, and much of the US, and that counts.
But it is like that in much of America where good guys often do finish 1st.
Yep. You nailed it. Play nicey nice with the media and they magically overlook your “issues”. Ortiz is a perfect example.
First ballot no less.
No one should “reconsider” a guy who slept with 13 year olds. Sorry.
yep… the sex with kids is what makes me puke about Rose…
Should be 2 Hall o Fame 1 for Steroid User and
1 for Regular Hall of Fame, Beltre belong to this one
Silent Bob23
“Bonds almost destroyed the game with his cheating.”
You mean McGwire and Sosa, don’t you?
Bonds cheated because he got sick and tired of those guys (who he was far better than) getting all the praise and accolades. He knew he was better than both of them.
During the steroid era, 2/3, if not more, of all players were juicing. And Bonds still hit more home runs than any of them.
Which ones?
Anyway, I think the biggest issues facing the writers is
1. How much proof of the player cheating is there?
2. Was the player caught and punished?
3. The level of proven or theorized cheating (scandal level)
4. Clean players may not have won MVPs, HR titles, etc or didn’t get into the HoF because their stats were deflated by cheating players in the steroid era. So how is it okay to let steroid era cheaters in?
I’m not sure what the argument against A-Rod is at this point except people don’t like him. He cheated, but he also got caught and severely punished, unlike Bonds. Though like Bauer, Rodriquez was punished so severely to protect the important big market team more than the players actions…
.Ortiz played almost his entire career during the testing era. Certainly his entire career where he was good. He never failed a test. He was tested 10x a seaon… His name was leaked as part of the catastrophe which was initial screening by MLB, but it was never leaked what it was he tested positive for or even whether or not he tested positive at all since several people on that list tested inconclusive, not positive. Like many other people, I’m tired of people using Ortiz as some sort of scapegoat for why their favorite cheater or presumed cheater players should be in. It’s a terrible argument.
There are more or less compelling arguments for each player on a case by case basis. Right now, it certainly appears to be a popularity contest. Guys like Bonds and Clemens WILL get in. It might just be the veterans committees that do it.
Holding Curt Schilling out of the HoF because of his personality is a bigger issue to me.
Wampumwalloper
You’re right about Rose.
But still, longevity in any sport is very difficult. Being 18% above average for 24 years is a remarkable thing to achieve.
Pete Rose, the MLB player, should be in HOF. Pete Rose, the manager (when he bet on baseball) should not be in the HOF.
Let’s go to revisionist history and remove Ty Cobb, Mickie Mantle, Babe Ruth & many others who fail the morality clause for enshrinement into the HOF.
Martras, I’m as big a Sox fan as there is and I believe he found a way to avoid being caught. He was waived by the Twins when he arrived in Boston. His last season says it all for me along with the team retiring his number BEFORE he was enshrined. His season was perhaps the greatest but a 40 year old yet no one promotes it. The team then changed their rules to retire his number. Why? Because I believe they feared he could get outed and then they would have received backlash for still retiring it. How about retiring Evans’ and Tiant’s numbers while their still with us?
“Bonds cheated because he got sick and tired of those guys (who he was far better than) getting all the praise and accolades. He knew he was better than both of them.”
And imagine if he never did? How revered would he be in baseball history today? He likely wouldn’t be the all-time home run king, but would have been 500/500, and like topped 600 homers…he was that good. It was him and Griffey, and I always believed—and the numbers back up—that he was the better all-around player.
“Pete Rose, the MLB player, should be in HOF. Pete Rose, the manager (when he bet on baseball) should not be in the HOF.”
Do you know for sure that he didn’t bet on games as a player?
Arod was busted not once, but multiple times.
There is ONE rule in every clubhouse. Rose broke that rule. He agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball. He will only get in the HOF the same way any of us can, buy a ticket.
Bob – so Rose didn’t cheat? Let’s see; he broke the rules, lied about it for years, agreed to a lifetime ban & then wants that ban to be lifted even though he practically likes at various gambling venues. Zero contrition. And idiots like you think all that should be overlooked!
Lou because he admitted to doing roids. He said he didn’t know what they were at the time but he did them.
Steroids were not against MLB rules when Bonds used them.
They were against the rules. They just weren’t testing for them.
“Steroids were not against MLB rules when Bonds used them.”
They have always been against the rules, its just that the league didnt have a testing system for them.
Times like this I wish there was a down vote option.
Not to mention illegal.
And Clemens risked his freedom in court where he was found not guilty of lying when he denied using steroids. I think that makes him a special case.
They were illegal to possess, distributr, sell or use. Why else do you think everything was done behind closed doors, for cash and mailed to someone else? Andro was different. Had McGuire only been using that, he wouldn’t have faced the music. That was legal and. available at GNC then. It was though a supplement to the ROIDS or whatever it was he was using then.
Yes they were. There was no testing but use was against the rules.
Steroids specifically were included in the very first CBA when Kuhn was Commissioner and every drug that carried a felony charge for possession has been against the rules since then. In 1991 Fay Vincent sent out a memo regarding the illegality steroids. One of Selig’s first official acts after becoming commissioner was to send out basically the same memo.
Steroids were against the rules and had been for a very long time.
Bud Selig loved steroids!
@Captain Dunsel – Clemens’ case is a real oddity with some various positives and negatives associated with it. In the United States, you’re presumed guilty and you must prove your innocence (no, that’s not a typo).
Guilty Pros
*Late career resurgence
*Brian McNamee’s testimony
*Sketchy potential witness tampering on multiple occasions.
*Andy Pettite’s initial testimony
Guilty Cons
*Brian McNamee got a HUGE benefit for testifying against Clemens
*Clemens was totally exonerated of everything and congress and the FBI desperately, and I mean DESPERATELY wanted to bust him. They spent millions and millions on it. Even a person who was not-guilty would have likely been found guilty here, even with weak evidence.
*If Clemens was guilty/used he took incredible risks that attorneys would have never, ever allowed.
Steroid implications
He cheated. This will be his final year on the ballot then he can go slink away in infamy and buy a ticket to see real HOF players.
Sheff was on the list of players tied to BALCO. He has the numbers to make it in but if he doesn’t make it, that’s why. As kids we used to emulate his swing!
From CBS Sports-
“Sheffield was a legitimately terrible defensive player — his career minus-28.6 defensive WAR is second worst in baseball history -”
” “The Brewers brought out the hate in me. … I was a crazy man,” Sheffield said. “I hated [GM Harry Dalton] so much that I wanted to hurt the man. I hated everything about that place. I didn’t even want to come to the ballpark. If I missed a ball or something, so what?
“If the official scorer gave me an error that I didn’t think was an error, I’d say, ‘OK, here’s a real error,’ and I’d throw the next ball into the stands on purpose. I did it all.”
Add in the PEDs issue, and it is a little bit too much.
PED use. He admitted to using the “clear/the crene”, q lotion that you rub into your skin, which he said he didn’t know what was in it was a PED.
That will be held against him as much as they hold it against Bonds, etc…
I agree that Sheffield has hof number but the peds is something voters would have to overlook. The thing with Bonds and Clemens is they were hofers before they took peds. Arod was heading there but he screwed up way to early in his career to merit it. It’s kinda how I feel about Sheffield. Did he have a hof career before he took peds? I think the answers is no. But I couldn’t agree more with your name Whitaker has been overlooked for to long. How is Trammell in and Lou isn’t? Smh.
” The thing with Bonds and Clemens is they were hofers before they took peds.”
And if those HOF resumes weren’t good enough for them individually, why then should it be good enough for the HOF?
You’d have to ask Bonds and Clemens that wouldn’t you? I would assume Barry went off the deep end after having fantastic 97-98 seasons and not getting a bit of press because of Big Mac and Sosa were getting it all. And when the BoSox traded Clemens they wished him well for “the twilight of his career” which pissed him off and also brought him back with his exteammate Canseco. But let’s say Clemens last ped season is 97 that would make him 194-112 3.04 2500ks 80.7 WAR. Let’s say Bonds last ped free season was 99. He’s got 400/400 and over 100 WAR. All those years are guesses but I’d assume I’m not far off. They would both be in the hall if they retired after 97 and 99. That’s all I’m saying. If I had to guess I’d say they were both egomaniacs who wanted more money and recognition.
I agree with you 100%. I think if Bonds never used PEDs he’d be one of the most revered players of all time. Overall, he was better than Griffey Jr., and likely still finishes his career with about 650 homers, likely gets to 3,000 hits, and his slugging/OBP/OPS+ were some of the best all-time. He’s the best player I’ve ever seen—for as great as Trout was in his best years, he was never on Bonds’ class.
He was a player I loved watching play—except when he’d face the team I rooted for because he always did something amazing.
And I used to make the same argument…he was a HOF’er before PEDs. He was, and he never needed to use them..
Overall, I don’t care if he’s in the HOF or not, and I don’t care whether a player used PEDs or not. We’ll never know all who did and all who were clean. I enjoyed watching baseball in the 90’s during the home run barrage—although, the thing I enjoyed the most, and miss the most, was watching dominant pitching and seeing starters finish the game—and can only assume that players who put ridiculous numbers used PEDs did so off pitchers who also used PEDs..
Let’em ALL in, the HOF is a shell of its former self. If you don’t believe me ask Harold Baines. Ahahaha!
Baines may not be as deserving as some others but he’s more deserving in my eyes than those I believe cheated like Papi, Bagwell, and IRod.
But if Harold Baines is in why isn’t Dale Murphy,Lou Whitaker,Darrel Evans,Dave Parker and your name sake. Hell Bill Buckner and Al Oliver. It’s the Hall of Fame and what kept those guys out seems to be the reason that Baines got in. He stuck around forever and had a lot of counting stats. I know Nellie Fox and Rizzuto got in. But both at least won an MVP. I loved Harold Baines. I just don’t think he’s a hofer. Most of those cheaters don’t actually have a positive test. All hearsay. Bagwell hit a ton of homers from the start. Papi might have a positive test it’s questionable but he was the best clutch hitter of this generation.
Baines got in because of Tony Larussa, who loved him and was on the very small veterans committee. There is absolutely zero reason Harold Baines should be in the HOF. Neither should many of the players you mentioned except Lou Whitaker. Evans, Parker, Murphy, etc. aren’t HOF worthy.
Baines got in because of Jerry Reinsdorf. He doesn’t belong there neither do any of those players with the exception of Lou Whitaker belong in the hall. My point is it’s not the hall of very good. Its the hall of Fame.
Big sexy before everyone! His run around the bases on his 1 home run was epic! That alone puts him ahead of the cheaters in my book!
I could be talked into Utley and Mauer. They were borderline to me.
I’m sure Nola turned down higher offers….
I don’t get it, are you doubting that he actually did?
I love how we could just discredit multiple journalists without any proof. That’s the world we live in.
I know. It’s as if everyone should always be looking for a new job to make more money…regardless of how much you like your current job, where the new job is, or what affect it might have on your family.
The same world where Jon Heyman equates to “multiple journalist”.
I’m sure teams were calling Heyman saying “hey, we were willing to give Nola more money!” Or his agent, more likely, said “we had offers for more money but Nola loves Philly and wanted to stay”.
Call me cynical but I don’t see multiple teams that Could spend 170 some million dollars that were making actual offers considering those big market teams are the same ones interested in Ohtani and will be waiting on his signing or hard pass to engage in the next big ticket item.
* I could believe that different teams made different offers.
* I can believe he would stay in Philly because he simply like it there.
* But I seriously doubt that GMs called Heyman to discuss their offers to Nola, if indeed they existed. A lot of teams are probably still finalizing their wish lists. I am not sure that any teams are willing to commit to the process this early. Especially at this price tag.
Jon Heyman is a hack.
Phillies were the only team seemingly willing to go to a 7th year. He took less AAV, but took the higher overall $$$ with the phillies.
Some reports say different in terms of overall $$$, but time will tell.
Regardless it’s refreshing to see a guy take less to stay with the team that brought him up, and specifically because they’re winning.
According to his agent
Mauer will probably get in, but he shouldn’t. Sure his 2100 hits and career .306 AVG look great for a catcher, but he only played half of his career games as a catcher. People might overlook that.
Mauer is the only AL catcher to EVER win a batting title. He did it three times. His peak is unmatched and probably long enough to get in eventually
Thurman Munson deserves enshrinement before Mauer. He was an MVP and ROTY.
Mauer>Molina<Posey
Mauer and Posey are both first ballot hall of famers. Anyone who thinks differently needs their head examined.
0 chance. there are only 2 1st ballot catchers ever. Bench and Pudge.
DarkSide830
Yogi Berra wasn’t a first ballot Hall of Famer, yet Bench and Pudge were.
Go figure.
Joe Mauer
Caught 921 games
.388 OBP
124 OPS+
Gene Tenace
Caught 892 games
.388 OBP
136 OPS+
Gene played in an era when OBP was ignored, In Joe’s era it became (and rightly so) glorified.
That’s BS. Mayer caught until 2013 and put up the vast majority of his WAR during that time. During the time Mauer caught, he was hands down the best in the league.
Mark Buehrle will also return on the Hall of Fame ballot
Very underrated pitcher
I wonder if Mark Buehrle is still in game shape. The Cardinals need arms. He always wanted to pitch for the Cards.
Man-Ram from 1995-2008:
AVG: 317
OBP: .414
SLG: .599
OPS: 1.013
OPS+: 157
Insane.
Steroids do that to a talented baseball player.
hi
E
Im more lenient than others on my HOF ballot but IMO Andruw Jones should be in my favorite player of all time.
Also Todd Helton, Billy Wagner, Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Omar Vizquel should already be in.
And I would also vote for Adrián Beltré, Joe Mauer, and Chase Utley as well.
And I know some of them are steroid users but there are already ped users in the HOF and all those years that players were doing it openly no one in the media batted one eye and even jumped on Steve Wilstein when he uncovered Mark McGwires androstenedione in 1998 and then helped keep it hid along with MLB until Jose Canseco blew the whistle on everyone. So imo if they gonna keep players out of the Hof they should keep the reporters out that didn’t do the investigative due diligence about Ped use and obviously they aren’t going to do that because the media is never held accountable.
So put in the players that made an impact and put in the numbers.
Also anyone who has a vote and doesn’t vote out of spite to just cost these players should lose their right to vote as well.
The DA allegations probably bury Vizquel’s chances.
Personally I wouldn’t vote for Jones due to a domestic violence incident in 2013 (might be wrong on the year) same for Vizquel.
My ballot would be:
Helton
Wagner
Sheffield
Aubrey
Beltre
Mauer
Utley
Buehrle
Beltran
So we should all be moral judges? You realize domestic violence is often (a large amount of the time!) an absurd charge. ANYONE can claim their spouse or relative abused them and the word “abuse” is…abused. I have personally seen “domestic violence” where police were called and a case was opened for the most absurd reasons. Not to mention we are dealing with rich athletes who can be threatened by the suggestion of making a simple phonecall to “expose” them. Many times these people are money hungry or (often overlooked) mentally ill/delusional, or intoxicated. This is not to overlook truly bad cases tho.
We aren’t saying it’s wrong or right to leave him out. Just stating the obvious that there will be voters who hold it against him.
Most Americans have committed “domestic violence” by definition. The problem is there is no discrimination. We can argue about whether it is right to spank a child, for instance, but it could certainly be considered criminal. A woman could find out her husband has lied to her for 30 years and slap them and go to jail. I could be arrested for playfully punching my friends arm if he decides later that day he doesn’t like me. We want police intervention for every aspect of our lives: to the point that a person can pick on someone ruthlessly and you cannot slap them. That’s absurd. It’s abused a lot by people who think they can say anything without consequence. The only person who considers themselves fit to be a moral judge of anothers life is a person unaware of their own feelings and behaviors. This is the type of person who becomes a police officer lots of the time.
I was referring to the person who said they wouldn’t vote for Andruw Jones.
There are 3 instructions given to BBWAA voters that are related to morals and character. So yes, morals count and voters follow instructions and keep those who don’t fit the moral criteria out of the HOF.
Most Americans have NOT committed domestic violence as defined in the law and that you are trying to say they have speaks to your lack of moral character. If also tells me I never want to see your comments again.
Whenever these HoF discussions come up, it’s startling how few fans know the actual criteria for voting or even care to know.
🙁 🙁
adrian beltre played so many games out west. His #s are outstanding. He blows Rolen out of the water.
Beltre will go in first ballot because of it. That doesn’t change the fact that Rolen deserves his place in the HOF.
I know it would break the bank wide open but hear me out. Jays sign Yamamoto to entice Shohei to sign in Toronto. Extend Yusei and then in 2025 jays would have 3 Japanese starters plus a World Series win in 24
Yamamoto looks like a Dodgers guy
Camden;
I hope you’re right.
Like Hideo Nomo?
Beltre is a HOF’er and while I don’t think Mauer is I think he’ll get in because he’s a catcher who won 3 batting titles. Wright and Utley have uniquely similar careers in that they were dominant for 5 or so years and then not so much. HOF’ers if they could have maintained that performance for longer and avoided injury.
Carryforward HOF Jones, Wagner, Helton
Newbie HOF Beltre, probably Utley, and I’d have to research Mauer’s catching time, but I think more likely than not.
Arod, Andruw Jones, Beltré are the only HOF caliber players on that list
Wagner and Mauer probably get in later on veterans committees
What about Manny? If you’re going to include juicers like A-Rod, then don’t you have to add Manny? His numbers are easily Hall-worthy. The only thing that kept him out is because he did PEDs.
Curt Schilling is better than everyone on the ballot. Jeff Kent too.
Schilling, yes. Can’t agree on Kent
Schilling is an antisemitic racist whose character flaws should make him ineligible for the Hall
Oh now he’s anti-Semitic and racist? You’re showing your woke roots, TheMan.
Somebody said woke! Everybody drink!
Gotta kick Cap Anson and Rogers Hornsby out. Probably need to survey who else made racist statements too. We can get the Hall down to half maybe.
Kick out anyone who laughed during Animal House too.
We are not living in 1928. Just like you are not a child anymore. Learn. Grow up. Acknowledge that racism or prejudice of any kind is wrong.
Ccddf…. I’m at the top of mlb trade rumors
I’m curious on your source that Schilling is antisemitic?
@Manfred Rob’s Earth Band
I was curious too so I googled it. It seems Curt did recently share a post on X that was definately anti semetic.
Thanks CardsFan57
Schilling is a dikwhistle..let me be that source.
Ty Cobb made it in.
Ty Cobb was not racist. He was just an a-hole. That one book that said he was racist has been thoroughly debunked.
Cobb, like Jimmy Stewart for example, has been unfairly bashed by blacks for decades. It’s always easy to attack dead white men. Fact is that Cobb gave tons of money to allow inner-city kids to play baseball and hailed Roy Campanella as the greatest catcher ever. People like Ken Burns owe the Cobb family and all of America a major apology for trying to harm Mr. Cobb’s legacy and name.
It was a white man that wrote the book about Cobb.
I know Phillies final piece is a true ace but they should wait on Snell. He’s not really that guy
They’re not in on Snell, so don’t worry. They are in on Yamamoto but so are many clubs.
I actually think they’re done with SP outside of the longshot with Yamamoto. I think they’ll focus more on Neris or Hader.
Phillies need to sign Yamamoto, run out a super rotation in 2024, then let a 35 year old Wheeler walk after they take down the World Series.
The fact Wagner isn’t in yet is a crime
Hall of Fame is a joke these days. All about politics rather than merit. Perfect reflection of our society as a whole.
LMAO
“Hall of Fame is a joke these days.”
Tell me you know nothing about the voting in the 70s without telling me you know nothing about voting in the 70s.
“All about politics rather than merit”
How about expanding on that. While a case can be made for Schilling, that’s about it. And even then it isn’t a strong case. And well known conservatives John Smoltz and Mariano Rivera had no problem getting in. Rivera is the only unanimous vote getter in the history of the HOF.
But that doesn’t fit his narrative!
I don’t think he’s talking about party politics. He’s talking about popularity, agreeability, and rule breaking in the baseball world.
I don’t care what his politics are or what kind of a person he is, but the fact a relief pitcher was the first unanimous hall of famer totally drives me mad!!!!
guy couldn’t even make a simple throw to 2nd base!!!
Totally agree on that and I’m a fan of Rivera.
Schilling is a borderline hall player as is. It’s hard telling what kind of bs reporters know about him. He’s a guy who his own teammates didn’t like publicly at the time. The ’93 Phillies thought he was a gamer and a moron.
Schilling had a strong HOF case. The only pitchers above him in WAR not in the HOF are Clemens and Verlander. Verlander will be in 5 years after he retires. Schilling is tied with Bob Gibson and Tom Seaver in adjusted ERA+. Add to that the 3000+ strikeouts and he’s in easily without the personality issues.
The Hall of Fame has ALWAYS been influenced by outside factors. For instance, a ton of old Cardinals and Giants made the Hall of Fame strictly because Frankie Frisch was on the Veterans Committee and pushed for his old teammates. Fergie Jenkins waited for years to be elected because of his drug possession charges (all of which were thrown out because of a lack of evidence).
Kje76…what’s the odds a Canadian sports legend could wiggle out of charges in his home country?
Damn shame that DWright was robbed by injury. He’s a class act all the way.
Yeah, he was a great representative of the game, and had he not gotten hurt he’d have been in.
Sad end to a solid career. I think he just doesn’t have the numbers to make it. A few more healthy years and he would’ve been a lock.
I remember the day he was called up. I was at work and my brother told me he’d be “just another over-hyped Mets prospect.” Even in those 2 seasons when the Phil’s came back to win the division, Wright was hitting like a super hero in September. He did everything he could to try to prevent those meltdowns.
The Captain would and should have been a HoF, but the injuries held him back. IT all started when he got pegged in the head by Matt Cain. I will never forget that game. Then the back issues kicked in.
Man I remember watching that game. Dubs will always be my favorite Met, even more so than Doc, Keith, and Piazza.
I always respected Wright as a player. Gave his all, had a ton of talent, and was everything you want to see in a player. Certainly he is on the too long list of players that could have been immortals if their body cooperated (the could have/should have list?).
Hall of Fame Ballot
Andruw Jones
Alex Rodriguez
Manny Ramirez
Andy Pettitte
Adrian Beltré
Joe Mauer
ARod is insufferable as an announcer absent the whole JLo thing. Getting into the HOF, then listening to him gloat every other inning will drive me to watch the WS of poker
Troubling criteria for eligibility, eh?
While I agree with you, the hall of fame should be based on how you played the game of baseball alone and as much as I am not a fan of his personally a lifetime .295 hitter with over 3,000 hits 2,000+ RBI and 696 home runs a world championship multiple mvps and 14 all star selections more then says he belongs
The criteria for voting for the HOF include 3 instructions that preclude cheaters.
The way I see it is there were to many great players who off the numbers are no doubt hall of famers that people don’t want to let in based off of them using steroids and I feel that would be a disservice to the game make a note on there plaques if need be but to ignore players like a-rod who was one of the premier players of his era just hurts the hall in the long run as these are players you can’t tell the history of the game without
Letting cheaters in hurts the Hall of Fame more than keeping them out. There is a reason for those voting instructions. If you cheat then you are not really very good as a player.
I visit Cooperstown once a year. If Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and other cheaters are enshrined I will never visit again. More than 50% of living HOF players have said they will not participate in the activities and induction ceremony if players like Bonds are inducted into the HOF.
I’m a guy who says put in all the juicers and put them all in a separate room at the HoF. Lots of guys were using and there are already users in the Hall. And of the newcomers, none of them deserve 1st ballot recognition IMO. And longer term, maybe one or two deserve a longer look but no one jumps out at me as a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
The HOPeds, I like it
Can we move a couple players over there who are in already? I can move one that wasn’t suspected. That’s how pervasive ped was.
I thought Bartolo was still pitching!!!!!
Lets get Big Sexy in there.
Doesn’t matter when Steriods became taboo in MLB. Bottom line it’s cheating. Bonds, Clemens and a few others were already great players but they didn’t want their skills to erode with age and they ended up with ridiculous stats after using Steroids. I would never vote for those bums. Rich bums. Put Pete Rose in if your going to put those cheaters in.
Taboo shouldn’t matter. They were federally illegal in 1988. Its always mystified me how federal law didn’t seem to apply to MLB rules. Roids were illegal to possess yet legal…
Federal Law is irrelevant. Ask the people working on the southern border, or the $15/hour workers cleaning SF before welcoming fellow communist for a tour. Enough with the holier than thou garbage. The game has never been as pure as people have been brainwashed to think. (Gaylord Perry, George Brett, etc) I imagine the writers, executives have their own issues as well… much like the folks running out once great country. Athletes are role models, but shouldn’t be. Parents should be the true role models and we’re short on HOF parents.
Slide piece. You built a strawman. We’re talking high profile possession…and yeah a league should abide by the laws of the nation it plays in. It’s not about being holier than anything…it’s about branding. It’s about a league with a reserve clause federally breaking federal law. Its just so high profile.
All drugs that are a felony to possess have been illegal in MLB since the very first CBA.
Federal law applied to MLB. Kuhn made that clear. Vincent made that clear about steroids. Selig repeated what Vincent had already said.
Steroids were illegal in baseball and have been since long before Bonds or Clemsens ever played in a pro game.
Pads fan- perhaps true, but a joke. I know atleast one team that not only knew it’s players were using but who’s GM knew the medical staff was supplying. Selig was a farce. We have a HOF player off that team in the Hall.. i never hear suspected. I PERSONALLY heard the GM talking to a trainer during BP about it in ’96. This has always been a farce. And I have it on good authority from two current players that their teams are juiced to the gills now. The Con got better than the game.
With Colon’s case, I guess it is dependent on when you last played in the MLB and not on other leagues or when you officially retired. I guess if he had signed to an MLB team’s active roster that would have reset his clock.
Big Sexy has to make it in!
We’d have to have a concensus on steroids first
Very interesting list of new players. you can make a case for all of them. Utley’s stat line looks very similar to Ryne Sandberg’s (with 1400 less PA), and he had very good postseason numbers too. Wright had a very good 7-year peak before injuries got the better of him. Colon probably won’t make it because of peds. Except for Beltre i don’t think anyone will get in first time, but i can see 2 or 3 more getting in after a few years on the ballot.
Here’s my ballot. Wagner. That’s it. And he should have been in five years ago. Most of that list consists of cheaters (Beltre, Ramirez, Helton, A-Rod, Pettite and Big Fatty). They need to get out of that “give everyone a trophy” mindset and honor the true greats.
Never heard any steroid rumors on Beltre or Helton. Did I miss something?
Not sure about Helton but Beltre had rumors swirling while he was playing. He never tested positive though to my knowledge. He would have my vote if I had one.
Manny only did roids when he was old and hurt. He belongs in the Hall of Fame
Is that what he told you
Manny said it to the Green Monster scoreboard “operator” when he went in to take a break during a pitching change!
I think he used for a long time, and more than when he was hurt. And I still think he should be in the HOF.
Voters that send in a blank ballot should have their privilege to vote revoked.
As long as Curt Schilling isn’t a hall of famer the HOF is joke. People would rather let proven cheaters in than a man who they don’t like his politics.
I agree.
racism and hate mongering is not just politics. nobody cares what your party afilliation is.
What did schilling say that equated to racism and hate mongering?
And if that is your measuring stick, you should probably go ahead and kick out the majority of players who played before 1980.
That is what happens when you advocate for the lynching of journalists and journalists are the ones that vote for the HOF.
What is a bigger joke is trying to advocate for Curt Schilling for the HOF despite his moral turpitude.
You let Pudge in, you better start letting the others in too.
Helton
Wagner
Jones
Beltre
Mauer
Vizquel needs to be in. Ozzie was a first ballot. He has 11 GG, 2877 H, a 45.6 career WAR, 400+ SB and 1000+ BB. I saw both repeatedly in their prime and their defense was very comparable. IF Ozzie was a first ballot guy how is Vizquel not in yet? The domestic violence stuff is what is keeping him out and that isn’t fair for a number of reasons. If Scott Rolen is in Vizquel should be a lock
Guys are kept out for PED usage. Vizquel committed real crimes and did damage to people’s lives. If we’re comparing the severity of what actually happened, what Vizquel did is infinitely worse than any PED user.
Until he actually is convicted you need to use the word “supposedly” or “allegedly”.
Keeping guys out who are not convicted…or even charge…with a crime is not appropriate. IMO MLB should put on their big boy pants and make the determination if someone deserves a chance to get in snd keep them off the ballot if they don’t. The BBWA should only get to vote on whether the guys on the ballot are statistically deserving.
My guess for Hall of Fame is that Beltre makes it as a first-timer, and Helton ekes out the extra dozen or so votes to put him over the top. Wagner is possible, but might be 2025. I don’t see Sheffield finding 80 votes in his last year.
Eventually, I think Mauer and Utley will make it, but they might take a few years.
Several on the ballot – ARod and Sheffield particularly – will probably be bound up until the steroids logjam is broken (if it ever is).
The only way Jose Bautista gets his ballot punched to the Hall of Fame is if Rougned Odor does it for him.
Helton, Mauer, Utley, and Beltre will all be in the HOF within the next 2 years.
None of the others mentioned in the article will come close to induction-though 1 or 2 might eventually get in through the Baines I mean back door
And Andruw Jones will be inducted on his final ballot
Morals Clause LMAO. Good . taking greenies , When only white players allowed , spitball . Bad steroids. Please greenies were Steroids of their time. Always laugh when one of these holier then thou old white american guys talk. LMAO
Beltre a likely hall of gamer? He’s a no doubt first ballot HOFer. Any writer voting otherwise is a complete idiot. Like forget that he’s 4th all time in career WAR at 3B – he even has the counting stats with >3000 hits and >450hrs. When you look full package, defense and offense, he’s arguably the GOAT at 3B (personally I take Boggs or Schmitt)
Anyhow… the steroid era obviously poisened everyone’s brain. The shrine should be all about telling the story of the sport. Beltre is the Texas Rangers, Wright was the Mets, Utley the Phillies, Helton the Rockies … put ‘em all in, life will go on
Jimmy Rollins is a HOFer! Compare his stats to Barry Larkin and other HOF SS’.