March 18, 2007

A Whole Lotta Stuff…

After months away, it’s time for the return of MLB Roundup. Plenty has happened since the conclusion of the 2006 season… just in case you’ve forgotten; the Cardinals are the defending World Champions, Barry Bonds gets ready to chase Aaron, the Red Sox have Dice-K, Gary Matthews Jr. says he didn’t do HGH, owners went on a free agent spending spree, Mark McGwire did not get elected into the Hall of Fame, nor did any veterans and last but not least – Pete Rose in back in the news…

Bonds, Barry Bonds… is no 007. Barry is just Barry with or without controlled substances, with or without his trainers. He’ll embark on a season long media frenzy to begin his home run chase – needing just 22 more long balls, Bonds will surpass Hank Aaron to become the “King of the Home Runs.”

From Day 1 of the season, expect the media to begin following him like a sick puppy dog. They’ll watch every move, every swing… they’ll probably follow him into the bathroom or showers if they could… if there would be a way to listen in during his various phone conversations, the media would do so. He’ll be put under one of the biggest microscopes he’s ever been under – so Barry, if you read this, it would be in your best interest to be on your best behavior all season long.

Hall of Fame Snub…

The snub of Mark McGwire into the Hall of Fame is just another reason why the Hall of Fame committee needs to restructure their guidelines for the Baseball Writers of America. When voting writers have the audacity not to vote at all, they shouldn’t have the right to vote at all.

Mark McGwire - snubbed in first attempt for Hall of Fame

When I read that some writers refused to vote for McGwire because they didn’t have enough information regarding his so-called use of steroids, I nearly fell off my chair. Don’t these jerks know that the criteria for voting is based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. As for the justice system – he’s not been proven guilty… and though he did admit to taking Andro, that banned substance was not ILLEGAL when he took it, and baseball DID NOT have a drug/steroid policy in place. So, tell me why he’s not in the Hall of Fame? Because the writers think they’re GOD.

It’s preposterous that writers say they don’t have enough information on him (McGwire)… what about the library, what about the internet, what about video… as a freelance writer, that doesn’t get paid for her work, I use as many sources as I can find to get information on a subject. Books, magazines – you name it I’ve probably used it. As a professional newspaper columnist/writer resources are at their disposal 24/7. It’s no excuse. It’s also no excuse when these same writers vote for some obscure player over a Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., or Mark McGwire because they don’t have enough information on them, or because they never saw them play – geez, where the heck have these writers been? Locked up in a cave I guess.

There are a handful of writers that have abused their credentials as a voting member – the abuse is that they’re currently allowed to vote. Only active and honorary members of the BBWAA, who have been active writers for at least 10-years and that, have been Association members for at least 10-years prior to the date of election in which they are voting are permitted to vote. These writers have used this gift bestowed upon them to discredit the criteria set forth by the Hall of Fame.

Writers are permitted to vote for 10-players, and some decided not to do so. This is a disgrace – there were plenty of players they could have cast a vote for, all of whom are worthy of being in the Hall. Once again, these writers have abused their voting/member credentials.

Like McGwire, the same will hold true for Barry Bonds when it comes time for his Hall of Fame election… there is absolutely no concrete evidence of Bonds using steroids – or that it’s been brought to the public forum. It appears that the burden of proof is nowhere to be found in regards to the Bonds’ accusations. Certain areas of the media have decided for us that Bonds is guilty (the same for McGwire) – and they’ve done it all without evidence. These writers have found ways to gain notoriety by conning the American public and defaming Bonds and McGwire. To refuse McGwire the honor he deserves based purely on the accusation of wrongdoing is morally apprehensible.

I say, if a voting member doesn’t vote for 10-players, or send back a ballot, the Hall of Fame needs to penalize these writers’ m by revoking their voting privileges. In addition, the newspapers/magazines they write must also take action…

Veteran Snubs… Poor Ron Santo… you’ve got to feel for this guy. Once again he was snubbed by the Veterans Committee for induction into the Hall of Fame. Santo missed out by a mere 5 votes, which would have given him the required 75 percent…

It’s ironic, that for the last three elections by the Veterans’ Committee (which is voted on every 3-years), there have been no players or any one from the composite ballot elected. The composite ballot consists of former baseball executives, managers and umpires, which is voted on every four years.

Santo led the players ballot with 57 (69.5%) votes, followed by for pitcher Jim Kaat (52 – 63.4%), former Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges with 50 (61.0) and former Twins outfielder Tony Oliva with 47 (57.3), the only players to be named on half of the 82 of 84 ballots cast with 62 votes needed for 75 percent. Santo and Hodges were also the leading vote getters in 2005 with 52 apiece, or 65 percent. In 2003, Hodges was first with 50 votes (61.7) and Santo third with 46 (56.8).

Former player and Vice Chairman of the Veterans’ Committee Joe Morgan said, “I take offense to anyone saying the players aren’t qualified to vote. I don't think the writers over the years made mistake after mistake, but a lot of the players on this list went through 15 years of writers’ voting without getting elected, so why get on the Hall of Famers for not electing someone?” When Morgan was asked if there needs to be a change from the 75 percent requirement for election, he replied, “Do we lower our standards to get more people in? My answer would be no.”

From a personal standpoint, I have always respected Morgan as a player and as a baseball commentator… his comments alone have caused me to lose respect for him. For someone of his stature, who has won a Sports Emmy, those comments made were totally out of un- called for…

Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark said that while the revamped process was not designed with the goal to necessarily elect someone, she acknowledged concern over three straight shutouts. “We are disappointed that no one has been elected after three cycles of voting. We said we would go through three cycles before we would discuss possible changes in the process. We’re not abandoning the effort. Maybe it needs a little bit of change.”

Well then, maybe after Wednesday’s (March 13th) semi-annual board of directors’ meeting of the Hall of Fame will vote on changing the criteria.

The current system, which began its revamping two months prior to the election of the Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski in 2001, calls for the living Hall of Famers, as well as Ford C. Frick Award winners for broadcasting and J.G. Taylor Spink Award winners for writing, to vote on two ballots – one for players every other year and one for executives, managers and umpires every four years.

Smelling Like I Rose?...

Pete Rose has finally admitted to betting on the Reds – every night while as the manager. Geez, we all figured that out a long time ago, even though he had said he bet on them just four nights a week.

In an interview with Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann on the Dan Patrick Show, Rose said that he believed in his team so much that he bet on them to win every night. “I bet on my team to win every night because I love my team, I believe in my team,” Rose said. “I did everything in my power every night to win that game.”

As we all know, Charlie Hustle accepted a lifetime ban back in 1989, and for over 15-years he denied that he had bet on baseball. That all changed in 1994, when he told it all in his autobiography that he admitted making baseball wagers while he managed the Reds. Since then, Rose has tried numerous times to be reinstated only to be shut down, though he really thought that when he met with Bud Selig well before the release of his book and coming clean with him would have led to a reinstatement – unfortunately for Rose that didn’t happen.

While on the show, Rose went on to say, “I quit worrying about it.” He says he doesn’t worry any more about getting into the Hall of Fame… he did say that if he’s ever reinstated, he hopes to manage again.

Rose admits that he made a huge mistake in betting on baseball… “I made a big mistake. It’s my fault, its nobody else’s fault,” Rose said. However, he said he should be reinstated because “I'm the best ambassador baseball has.”