aren't the writers supposed to look past things like that and simply determine whether someone is one of the best players to have ever played the game?

Palmeiro is one of only 4 players with 500 homers and 3000 hits...the other three are in the hall. McGwire has his own records and I'm not saying either is better or more deserving...but I wouldn't expect Palmeiro's votes to be HALF of McGwire's

1/5/2011 3:10:49 PM

They're supposed to, of course, but its hard not to be influenced by the 24/7 media cycle. Raffy hit 38 homers 8 years in a row, which is just ridiculous. But consistency doesn't strike a chord with people; dominance does.

1/5/2011 3:16:04 PM

I suppose I'll just focus on the positive which is that it's fairly apparent Bonds has no shot of getting in

1/5/2011 3:17:34 PM

I think Bonds, Palmerio, McGwire, etc have a much better shot at getting in 15-20 years down the road when the whole "steroid era" is put in perspective against all the drugs and stimulants that were being used by players in the 60's, 70's and 80's without all the media outcry.

1/5/2011 3:19:29 PM

but will that time come before they lose their eligibility?

1/5/2011 3:30:27 PM

I'm not entirely sure how they system works. I think its 15 years, then you have to be on a certain percentage of ballots, or something like that. I know Blyleven was in his 14th year this year.

1/5/2011 3:32:37 PM

First of all, you have to play for 10 years and be retired for 5. Then you have to pass the "screening committee" which filters out guys who spent most of their time on the bench as a utility player. If you pass the screening, you are eligible.

In the BBWA election process, if you are ever under 5% in any one year, you're done. If you're on the ballot for 15 straight years and never get above 75%, you're done.

There's no way the steroid guys are going to get in through this process, and there's no way the vets are going to vote them in either.

McGuire is on his 5th year and went down from 23% last year: http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2011.shtml

[Edited on January 5, 2011 at 4:26 PM. Reason : .]

1/5/2011 4:25:00 PM

I think Alomar is the first player to be elected having played his entire career during my lifetime.

1/5/2011 5:05:13 PM

Quote :

"I suppose I'll just focus on the positive which is that it's fairly apparent Bonds has no shot of getting in"

How is that

1. Positive
2. Fairly apparent

1/7/2011 9:26:42 AM

Woot, Garza to Cubs.

1/7/2011 12:31:40 PM

Soriano to the Yanks...the good Soriano, Rafael.

This sucks. Tampa is not only losing their talent, but a lot is going in the division.

1/14/2011 2:10:33 AM

^ the yankees now have by far the best 1-2 punch at the end of the bullpen in recent memory

1/14/2011 7:49:35 AM

A 12 million dollar set up man, Jesus Christ

1/14/2011 9:07:17 AM

Damn that's a lot of $ for him to be the closer.

1/14/2011 10:13:46 AM

Manny Ramirez AND Johnny Damon to the Rays for 1-year deals

damon gets 5.25 MM, ramirez gets 2 MM

1/21/2011 9:23:32 PM

The Los Angeles Angels have acquired three-time All-Star Vernon Wells from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera.

stupid move for the Angels. does Zobrist move back to 2B for the Rays I guess? Damon, Upton, Jennings in the OF?

1/22/2011 12:59:56 AM

^damon, upton, joyce

they'll keep jennings in the minors to start the season (barring injury to one of those 3)

1/22/2011 10:12:34 AM

^^ haha vernon wells has one of the worst contracts in baseball. well done, jays.

1/22/2011 11:15:04 AM

is this real?


Ball Girl Makes Incredible Catch - Watch more Funny Videos

1/25/2011 5:01:07 PM

It's a Gatorade commercial from like three years ago

1/25/2011 5:02:51 PM

Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore

for

Bartolo Colon

1/25/2011 5:05:37 PM

Is this real?

1/25/2011 5:08:51 PM

Quote :

"Marlins will be home team at Seattle A three-game series between the Florida Marlins and Mariners June 24-26 has been moved from Miami to Seattle because of a U2 concert. An appearance by Bono and U2 in late June will force the Marlins to move three home games against the Mariners to Seattle. Major League Baseball said Thursday the change was made because of the scheduling conflict at Sun Life Stadium. The rock band U2 is scheduled to play at the stadium June 29 and the Marlins must vacate the stadium to allow setup time for the concert. Marlins president David Samson told MLB.com that the team was anticipating the series would be moved and invoiced the Marlins' season-ticket holders for only 78 games this season. "What happened was U2 had to reschedule for a year later, and the baseball schedule was such that there was no other way to have us at home that series," Samson told MLB.com. "We obviously couldn't play at home, because we don't control the stadium. For one final season, we are tenants. "So we worked closely with baseball for an alternate venue. The best and only solution was to play the games in Seattle." The Marlins are scheduled to move to a retractable-roof stadium in 2012 and will change their name to the Miami Marlins next season. Florida will remain the home team and will bat last, and the series will be played under NL rules, without a designated hitter."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6065119

This could only happen to the Marlins

[Edited on January 27, 2011 at 6:08 PM. Reason : Didn't know about the name change]

1/27/2011 6:03:16 PM

^ didn't the dirty Phillies get a free home game last year against the Nats or someone else due to some event?

1/28/2011 3:35:52 PM

Yeah, against Toronto, because of the G20 summit, which is almost as important as a U2 concert.

The Marlins are actually losing the series because it takes three days for U2 to prepare, no shit.

1/28/2011 3:47:31 PM

no brainer, the U2 concert will create way more revenue in miami than a marlins/mariners set

1/28/2011 3:51:23 PM

lol Marlins/Mariners

I wouldn't watch a game in that series if I had Hanley and Ichiro on my fantasy team with John Johnson and King Felix on the hill

1/28/2011 3:57:27 PM

What if Josh Johnson was squaring off against Felix?

1/28/2011 3:58:20 PM

thats what i meant

ok i'd probably watch, but barely

i'd immediately change the channel as soon as both pitchers gave up at least 1 hit

1/28/2011 4:01:24 PM

More time to write your recaps for Edge of Darkness and Repo Men!

1/28/2011 4:04:50 PM

Josh Hamilton signs a two-year deal, which seems kind of weird

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=6108953

Quote :

"It has been 11 years since the Rangers went to an arbitration hearing with a player."

But wow at that

2/10/2011 5:38:12 PM

Jim Edmonds retiring

2/18/2011 1:04:38 PM

I'll attribute the spread eagle freeze frame to your doing

2/18/2011 1:32:20 PM