Oakland Park Baseball

Just announced on MLB.com radio: Bruce Sutter was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 400 votes (76.9%) -- just enough to get in.

From the story on MLB.com :

Jim Rice and Rich "Goose" Gossage, who many thought had a chance this time around, garnered 64.8 percent and 64.6 percent, respectively. Andre Dawson, with 61 percent, was the only other player on the ballot who received 60 or more percent of the vote.

...

Any possibility of Rice, Gossage or Dawson making it will dwindle in 2007, the year Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr. and Mark McGwire are eligible for the first time.

Too bad Gossage and Dawson didn't get in... but I'm glad Sutter did.

I hope that McGwire doesn't make it into the Hall. What a punk-azz beotch he is.

Jim Rice and Rich "Goose" Gossage were my fist two picks. I fel Sutter's career wa a bit too short.

Sad to see Will Clark and Millie McGee get kicked of the ballots, though neither had a chance

The longevity argument is a good point, but apparently sportswriters agreed that:

1. Sutter was dominant in the years he was good
2. he pioneered BOTH
a. a new role (closer, differently than the modern-day ones, of course) and
b. the splitter, which has massively changed pitching

All those 3 things seem to override the longevity concern. I agree with that judgement.

I think Goose will get in, eventually and deservedly, especially now that Sutter is in. Rice, Dawson -- I dunno. Blyleven, Smith -- looking like probably not.

Yeah, fuck McGwire. It'll be really interesting to see what happens considering how recently the steroid shit has blown up. I'd be kind of amazed if Ripken gets less than 97% and Gwynn gets less than 94% next year. McGwire will be lucky to get 75%. Maybe more like 60%.

well on the McGwire note do you hate cause he took the juice or cuase he would admit to it

sad fact of the matter is that most players do and way more stars (Palmerio, Canceso, just as some stars that come to mind) do

you know bonds did should he get in he is clearly juiced
but his stats dont lie most HRs in a seasonand you know who is right be hing BIG MAC

maybe i just like another red haired slugger

well on the McGwire note do you hate cause he took the juice or cuase he won't admit to it

sad fact of the matter is that most players do and way more stars (Palmerio, Canceso, just as some stars that come to mind) do

you know bonds did should he get in he is clearly juiced
but his stats dont lie most HRs in a seasonand you know who is right be hing BIG MAC

maybe i just like another red haired slugger

Well, Big Mac only hit HRs! He hardly did anything else... small AVG, no speed, minimal defense... the steroid issue is bigger for him than say for Bonds... You could take away 300 of Barry's HR's and he is still a first ballot HOFer!

How can Sutter get in but not Lee Smith who is the career leader in Sutter's category. How does Goose Gossage not get in ? Well he probably never get in now with his whining about not getting in. Here's hoping Smith, Gooden, Jim Rice and my underdog fave Dale Murphy get in or at least a good number of votes in '08 ('07 is a wash). The Baseball Writers of America has to be the stodgiest and stuck up collection of people around.

Actually Peter... Big Mac was an above average 1st baseman for most of his career (pre- StL) with a career .993 and a GG in 1990. Only Mattingly was better for a number of years

Hah! 1st base. Big deal.

AntMoOAK wrote:How can Sutter get in but not Lee Smith who is the career leader in Sutter's category. How does Goose Gossage not get in ?

Thank you!!!

And, thanks for the info on Big Mac. It's fair points, but the fact remains is that comparing him to Bonds is thin, at best. it's like comparing Eddie Grabell to Rickey Henderson for OBP!

i did NOT mean to compare their stats directly only that they are/ were two of the best power hitters in the game while bonds numbers are better. ihust meant that they both juiced clearly

big mac is a clear 1st ballot HOFer
with a career Avg of 263, obp 394, slg 588 hrs 583 rbis 1414

while 263 avg is decent of a power hitter 394 obp is really good

oh yeah 10 mvps and 12 allstars the ROY (only once duh!)

if you want more stats go to www.baseball-reference.com
really cool site with every players stats just enter mark mcgwire

joe schmoe wrote: oh yeah 10 mvps and 12 allstars the ROY (only once duh!)

Uh.. Ten?

Yeah Mr. Shmoe... No MVP's - came as close as second in 1998. That list you're looking at is a ranking

Regarding Lee Smith, i feel that if you lead in career anything (positive) then you gotta be in the HOF. No?