Thursday, January 9, 2014

And Now the Baseball Hall of Fame…


Yesterday is was announced that Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas will be enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  It will be the first time since 1999 that three players have been inducted into Cooperstown via ballot.  While all these players are deserving of being held in the highest regard of baseball history, let’s be honest, the Baseball Hall of Fame is joke.

It actually pains me to say that.  When I was a kid there was no place on earth where I wanted to be more than the BHOF.  It was my Mecca.  It was a place full of unforgettable baseball memories and honored the greatest players.  I still like to believe that is what it once was.  It’s not easy.  In reality it’s nothing but a fraud dictated by a bunch of writers who hold themselves in higher regard than the players who have buttered their bread.  Yeah, I’m taking aim at the Baseball Writers Association of America.

The BBWAA are the biggest bunch of jerkoffs in all of sports.  They are nothing but a bunch of fat slobs who have never as much picked up a baseball, yet spell it.  They hold grudges and put their own personal feelings in front of what is best for the game.  They think by doing this they are making a point, yet all they are doing is embarrassing the game I love.

Want an example?  Here’s one.  One of these assholes actually voted for Armando Benitez.  Armando Fucking Benitez.  A journeyman closer who has a losing record and a career 3.13 ERA?!?  He’s more known for beaning Tino Martinez in the 1998 playoffs and then getting the shit knocked out of him by Darryl Strawberry than being a Major League pitcher.  I don’t know who thought it would be funny to vote for Benitez, but he shouldn’t be allowed to cast a vote for his local school board, no less baseball’s highest honor.

While these asswipes vote for Benitez, JT Snow, and Kenny Rogers (who also received a vote), players deserving like Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza will hope they get in next year (it’s not like either of them were Brady Anderson).

Biggio is 1 of 28 players in baseball history who have 3,000 hits.  He excelled at THREE positions (catcher, second base, and centerfield).  He was a seven-time all-star.  Aside from Pete Rose (who belongs in the HOF), and Rafael Palmeiro (who should also receive consideration), he’s the only eligible player with 3,000 hits NOT in the HOF.  He also was never named in any PED allegations.

Piazza was the greatest hitting catcher of all-time.  His career numbers are better than Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, and Roy Campanella; three who are considered the greatest.  The only time in Piazza’s career that he had to defend himself was that he wasn’t gay.  What he did or did not in his bedroom is not anyone’s business, nor enhanced what he did on the field.

Now I’m not saying that Maddux, Thomas, and Glavine don’t deserve to be in the HOF.  By all rights they do.  It’s just sad that there are players on the ballot for multiple years, while deserving, get overlooked due to an era of PED’s. 

That in its own right is a bunch of bullshit.  PED’s have been used throughout the history of the game.  Fergie Jenkins used cocaine, Ty Cobb used racism, Mickey Mantle used booze, Babe Ruth used hot dogs and broads, and countless others used things like amphetamines to give themselves an edge.  The Steroid Era happened, move on and get it over with.  Like it or not, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are Hall of Famers even if they NEVER put a needle in their ass.

I’m sick and tired of these debates about who’s in and who’s out.  If you think Jack Morris belongs in the HOF, you’re idiot.  He’s not a HOF pitcher, but unfortunately he will eventually will be inducted.  Yet baseball’s all-time hit leader, home run leader, arguably the greatest pitcher of all-time, will never be. 

Such an embarrassment…

I know this is a hot debate, so I want to hear from you.  Drop me a line a gimmeasign@gmail.com.  Follow me on Twitter @JayPlatt for more mindless rants.

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