I’m always interested/amazed at how some names even get on the ballot; good players—which most are to get to MLB—but Hall of Fame? And then there’s Alex Rodriguez….
It’s a 10 year career to be eligible. I would think for most, it’s cool just to have your name on the ballot. I also understand some voters throwing a random vote at a player just as an acknowledgment for a solid career.
I thought every person who met the 10-year threshold got on the ballot but then, the thought occurred to me, that means Rex Hudler was on the HoF ballot (he loves to tell the story about getting his gold VIP pass for hitting the 10-year mark)!
It turns out there's a committee that screens out any players "players of clearly lesser qualification". Hud was among the 10-year players who were left off the 2004 ballot, along with Billy Ripken, Tom Pagnozzi, and quite a few others. :-(
I would have voted for those six plus Abreu, Pettite, Manny, and A-Rod.
Even the most pessimistic reports I've seen/heard are that the Royals would spend $120 million this offseason. The more I learn about revenue sharing (i.e. that the worst-off teams get $70m from regular revenue sharing and probably another $15m from commissioner's discretion from the luxury tax amounts) the more I think the Royals should be embarrassed to spend only $120m.
That said, Taylor Ward's arbitration settlement was for a little less than $8m...
Manny and A-Rod aren’t getting in, so I just don’t even think about them. I was pro-Abreu before, but am less so now. Glad he gets enough support to hang around, though.
I’ve always scoffed at the limits set on payroll, especially for the smaller market clubs. The Royals are going to get an attendance bump AND have one of the marquee players locked up for his prime. Are they going to waste that?
Re: Extensions - Hunter Harvey s/b on a VERY short leash; what frustrates me about Isbel, Garcia and MJ is that despite their physical skills they always seem to have left their brain in their other pants when they come to the plate.
Re: HOF - completely agree Appier and Stieb s/b reconsidered and we should get used to completely new thinking re: Hall status for starting pitchers, given today's game.
I’m glad I’m not a Hall of Fame voter these days. There seem to be a lot of players on the very good/great line, and I don’t really know where that line is anymore. And it is definitely going to have to be adjusted for pitchers in the next couple of decades.
Right? That ballot is loaded with Hall of Very Good players. And it’s a line that’s always shifting. Part of what I find enjoyable about the whole process.
I, truthfully pay hardly any attention to the Hall of Fame voting every year. By its very name, the Hall of Fame is just that, it should not be the Hall of the very Good. I think it is becoming the Hall of the very Good. As a result, the only one I would vote for would be Ichiro. Each individual team has it's Hall of Fame, which is where a lot of these players belong. Enough said on that. I really hope they can get one big bat, either 3rd base or outfield.
At least these utility players don't come with major league contracts. Are there in house candidates that will compete for a spot?
I also am a small hall guy, but I'm not informed enough about the careers of some to weigh in in, other than to say that it's Ichiro's class.
Maybe Loftin on the infield? That’s about it.
Agree on Ichiro. He probably won’t be unanimous, but if anyone should be, it’s him.
I’m always interested/amazed at how some names even get on the ballot; good players—which most are to get to MLB—but Hall of Fame? And then there’s Alex Rodriguez….
It’s a 10 year career to be eligible. I would think for most, it’s cool just to have your name on the ballot. I also understand some voters throwing a random vote at a player just as an acknowledgment for a solid career.
I thought every person who met the 10-year threshold got on the ballot but then, the thought occurred to me, that means Rex Hudler was on the HoF ballot (he loves to tell the story about getting his gold VIP pass for hitting the 10-year mark)!
It turns out there's a committee that screens out any players "players of clearly lesser qualification". Hud was among the 10-year players who were left off the 2004 ballot, along with Billy Ripken, Tom Pagnozzi, and quite a few others. :-(
I would have voted for those six plus Abreu, Pettite, Manny, and A-Rod.
Even the most pessimistic reports I've seen/heard are that the Royals would spend $120 million this offseason. The more I learn about revenue sharing (i.e. that the worst-off teams get $70m from regular revenue sharing and probably another $15m from commissioner's discretion from the luxury tax amounts) the more I think the Royals should be embarrassed to spend only $120m.
That said, Taylor Ward's arbitration settlement was for a little less than $8m...
Manny and A-Rod aren’t getting in, so I just don’t even think about them. I was pro-Abreu before, but am less so now. Glad he gets enough support to hang around, though.
I’ve always scoffed at the limits set on payroll, especially for the smaller market clubs. The Royals are going to get an attendance bump AND have one of the marquee players locked up for his prime. Are they going to waste that?
Re: Extensions - Hunter Harvey s/b on a VERY short leash; what frustrates me about Isbel, Garcia and MJ is that despite their physical skills they always seem to have left their brain in their other pants when they come to the plate.
Re: HOF - completely agree Appier and Stieb s/b reconsidered and we should get used to completely new thinking re: Hall status for starting pitchers, given today's game.
It will be wild to see the shift in “requirements” for starting pitchers for the HoF. I imagine there will be some, let’s say feisty, debate.
I’m glad I’m not a Hall of Fame voter these days. There seem to be a lot of players on the very good/great line, and I don’t really know where that line is anymore. And it is definitely going to have to be adjusted for pitchers in the next couple of decades.
Right? That ballot is loaded with Hall of Very Good players. And it’s a line that’s always shifting. Part of what I find enjoyable about the whole process.
I, truthfully pay hardly any attention to the Hall of Fame voting every year. By its very name, the Hall of Fame is just that, it should not be the Hall of the very Good. I think it is becoming the Hall of the very Good. As a result, the only one I would vote for would be Ichiro. Each individual team has it's Hall of Fame, which is where a lot of these players belong. Enough said on that. I really hope they can get one big bat, either 3rd base or outfield.
If you had the deciding vote for ARod or Manny, would you vote for either?
I’m sad that Granderson and Zobrist probably won’t stay on the ballot next year.