I woke up this morning and tuned into Mike and Mike on ESPN as I do most mornings. Greenie was reading off the names of this year’s Hall of Fame class and discussing how many of them have been in one way or another linked to steroids. Of the names that he read off, the only two that have not been exclusively linked to steroids were Mike Piazza and Craig Biggio. They went on to say that it appears that no one in the class is going to make it in this year and that mostly had to do with the “steroid era”. The part that really got to me this morning was when Buster Olney joined the broadcast to clarify why Mike Piazza wasn’t getting the votes that he should have gotten. Buster said that there are writers who “believe” he took steroids even though he was NEVER linked to BALCO or any other steroid pusher. Basically, Piazza was being judged on the “suspicion” that he took steroids because he played in the “steroid era”. That pushed me over the edge this morning.
Just to add a bit of full disclosure here, Mike Piazza is my favorite player. I know fans usually pick a player from the ’80s teams or the ’69 Met team as their favorite and that’s cool. I can remember being a kid and going to Shea to root for Mike Piazza and then running the bases after the game. I still remember trying to emulate his swing and to this day I am still wondering how he managed to hit as many home runs as he did with that stance. Piazza is the best player that I saw and rooted for growing up, and that to me makes him my favorite player. I’m not big into the whole Hall of Fame deal and never have been but the fact that guy’s candidacy is now being judged by even the faintest whispers of steroid use is appalling. Is this the final fallout of the steroid era, a witch hunt that can eliminate a player’s chances of making the Hall of Fame? Derek Jeter was suggested as another player who might have taken steroids a few months back and he just brushed it off as nonsense; is he not making the Hall of Fame because of that suspicion?
Look, I realize that the BBWAA takes their jobs very seriously and puts a lot of thought into Hall of Fame inductees. If their stance is that no steroid user should be allowed to get in, I can respect that (even though I disagree). What I cannot respect is to jump from that to using the “eye test” to say a guy “looks” like he used steroids. The cases of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa have been heavily documented . There has been NO documentation regarding Mike Piazza and steroid use. I mean, what’s going to happen when Albert Pujols or Roy Halladay are up for nomination to the Hall of Fame? Are they not going to get in because of some whispers of steroid use? I guess this answers the question regarding the true impact of the steroid era in baseball. In my opinion, just assume that EVERYONE was using steroids because at the end of it, you just don’t know who did or didn’t. If you were STILL able to be dominant in your era of play at your position, then you deserve to be in the Hall. There is no question that Mike Piazza was the most offensively dominating catcher of his era, a dominance I am honored to have seen with my own two eyes.
50 comments
TX
1/9/2013-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
“I realize that the BBWAA takes their jobs very seriously”… No, they take themselves seriously, and their job is a way to self-promote their agendas and more than likely generate more hits/press. Now, some may take this thing seriously, but the BBWAA as a whole are as tainted in their thought process as the players they are voting on.
darknova306
1/9/2013-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
Precisely. They’re putting themselves above the game for their own benefit. It’s truly sickening.
srt
1/9/2013-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
You tell ‘em, Dirty!
My thought on this: There is no way to know for sure all who used, all who did not, all who might not have but been affected by those who did (pitcher vs. batter, for example).
Just base the vote then on the original criteria these votes should be based on: playing time, stats, character, etc.
Then, put a section up in the HOF for that time frame saying: ‘Players played during the steroid era’. Let the fans draw their own conclusions.
Stick
1/9/2013-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
agreed. i could have saved myself a lot of typing, because I just posted a long rambling comment in the last thread, pretty much saying the same thing!
srt
1/9/2013-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
Well…no one voted in this year.
Angelo
1/9/2013-11:13pm at 11:13 pm (UTC -4)
the hall will become a joke
gategem
1/10/2013-1:23am at 1:23 am (UTC -4)
Nice article Mr. Dirtysanchez. Now who the hell are you?
TX
1/10/2013-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Sooo…. schmoke and a pancake?
darknova306
1/10/2013-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
I’ll stick to bacon, thanks.
TX
1/10/2013-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
BACON!
rogue.com/beers/voodoo-bacon-maple.php
I have not tried it, as it only comes in bombers, but I would like to try a sip. I hear it’s over the top sweet.
darknova306
1/10/2013-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
I loved it.
The flavor is exactly the way they describe it: bacon and maple. If you like eating bacon covered in sweet maple syrup, you’ll probably love this beer. Otherwise, you’ll probably hate it. There’s not much middle ground. Definitely have someone to split it with, just in case.
SaltyGary
1/10/2013-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
A couple months ago a buddy and me were at a bar with a crazy beer menu and after getting through a bunch of porters and stouts we tried a Rogue Chipotle Ale and it was amazing. Just a clean fresh taste with a smokey bite. It probably wouldn’t of been as good if we started off with it, but either way if you can score it I highly recommend.
Prismo
1/10/2013-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t do bacon, and it sounds completely disgusting to me. But my roommates tried it, and were pretty divided. They said it DEFINITELY tastes like bacon and maple syrup…but strange for a beer.
darknova306
1/10/2013-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Strange for a beer, that’s for sure. It gets a very divided response from everyone I know that’s had it. One of those “love it or hate it” beers.
Also, bacon is the greatest. Don’t front, son.
Prismo
1/10/2013-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
Chocolate is the greatest, and it pairs much better with beer! Had Southern Tier’s Choklat (Stout) last weekend. MY GOD was it delicious.
darknova306
1/10/2013-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
I’ll have to agree on chocolate pairing well with beer. Southern Tier Choklat is wonderful.
gategem
1/10/2013-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
What’s next? Philly Cheesesteak Beer?
Prismo
1/10/2013-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Vomiting in my mouth just thinking of that.
fongulalou
1/10/2013-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
A bad joke Piazza didnt get in and that Bagwell got more votes. No PED evidence against either except in the case of Bagwell, the fact he had NO POWER in the minors and his 1st couple yrs in the majors despite already being in his 20s. Additionally his body type changed and BOOM..He becomes a 30-40HR guy a yr..
Further, thie apparent support for both Schilling and Smoltz as pretty much locks to get in fairly soon is unreal. Take a look at how many HOF yrs each had.
Neither belongs in. Lastly, as Ive said time and again,Jeff Kent???…Really??…So, Bonds will be held out until who knows when while the guy who hit directly behind him for a decade during the height of his “greatness”, when he was putting up OBP #s never seen, is gonna get in based on driving in Bonds??/
They dont take into consideration Kent had an extra 20,30,40rbis every season b/c of what they deem Bonds guilty of???
gategem
1/10/2013-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
Did you actually watch Smoltz pitch? The man was both an excellent starter and later in his career an excellent closer. Some Mets fans are already voting Harvey into the HOF. While Harvey possesses excellent stuff on the mound Smoltz was more talented than Harvey presently is or will be.
Prismo
1/10/2013-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
I think Smoltz is an easy Hall of Famer. I think his astounding success as both a starter and a closer in his career seals the deal for me. He had a ~20 year career which was almost entirely consistently excellent. Man, the Braves were lucky.
Stick
1/10/2013-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
the brave’s run was a lot more than just luck.
the fans were lucky, though they never seemed to really appreciate it.
TRS86
1/11/2013-8:42am at 8:42 am (UTC -4)
I couldn’t log in yesterday but yeah Smoltz is a no doubt HOF. Too dominant, our generations Eck.
Prismo
1/10/2013-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
So…Heyman wrote this piece in 2011 “Why Bonds belongs in the Hall”:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/04/14/bonds.hall/index.html
And then he didn’t vote for Bonds.
Yep.
darknova306
1/10/2013-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, what a clown.
kingman 26
1/10/2013-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
Heyman?
A clown?
Ringling Bros and the Big Apple Circus are quickly filing libel suits against you!
darknova306
1/10/2013-8:06pm at 8:06 pm (UTC -4)
Hahahaha! That made my day. Well played, Kong.
kingman 26
1/11/2013-8:09am at 8:09 am (UTC -4)
Humor is my business!
gategem
1/10/2013-7:34pm at 7:34 pm (UTC -4)
The press is both shallow and stupid.
Mr North Jersey
1/10/2013-7:45pm at 7:45 pm (UTC -4)
Off Topic:
Read a Q&A done with Hal Steinbrenner and one question in particular stood out.
Question: Do you foresee reaching an extension with Robinson Cano before he hits free agency next winter?
Steinbrenner: “Again, I’m not a big believer in extensions, but there are exceptions to every rule. We’ll see what happens. There’s been no real significant dialogue as of yet.”
Would the Yankees actually consider trading Cano during the season?
TRS86
1/11/2013-8:40am at 8:40 am (UTC -4)
I would say no, but then again, I didn’t expect the Yanks to penny pinch either.
Mr North Jersey
1/10/2013-8:51pm at 8:51 pm (UTC -4)
@AdamRubinESPN
#Mets interested in RHP Kip Wells on minors deal, per Evan Drellich. I covered Kip in 1999 with Birmingham Barons, which makes us both old.
https://twitter.com/AdamRubinESPN/statuses/289549227124723712
Here is the source post by Evan Drellich. Sad news is that “Wells has been training all winter but of late has had to give special attention to his 3 1/2 year-old son, who’s set to undergo heart surgery.”
http://mlb.mlblogs.com/2013/01/10/kip-wells-wants-to-pitch-draws-mets-interest/
srt
1/11/2013-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
No 3 1/2 year old should have to endure heart surgery. Here’s hoping that goes well for the little one.
gategem
1/10/2013-9:43pm at 9:43 pm (UTC -4)
Fellow Mets fans if I may change the topic here’s a photo of my old HS baseball team. I’m the fourth guy from the left. It’s amazing how much we resembled Kong’s old Seattle based band. Kong is definitely the manager wearing the suit and very much so the spitting image of Ulysses S. Grant.
http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/a3lm8Y5lcVTm4.0jFHNE6A–/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ–/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusmlbexperts/brooklynatlanticscardauction.jpg
kingman 26
1/11/2013-8:11am at 8:11 am (UTC -4)
HAHAHA!
Grant was an idol of mine growing up…he definitely had his shortcomings, but he did have an amazing life.
And he spent the end of his life right here in the Saratoga area, feverishly working to finish his memoirs as he was dying of cancer…they wound up making tons of dough for his family after he died. The cottage where he wrote them and died is still here and well-maintained—odd though, it borders a medium-security prison now, so when you go visit, you are very close to a fenced-in area with inmates playing basketball.
TRS86
1/11/2013-8:37am at 8:37 am (UTC -4)
LOL, you just liked him because he was a raging alcoholic who still managed to live an impactful life. .:)
kingman 26
1/11/2013-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, so what’s your point?
kingman 26
1/11/2013-10:31am at 10:31 am (UTC -4)
Oh and BTW I also loved Robert E. Lee—read a ton on both of those guys while growing up and in college.
The Civil War was one of my earliest historic obsessions.
TX
1/11/2013-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
It was all economics… with a sprinkling of superior Navy and most definitely the infrastructure of the railroad.
TRS86
1/11/2013-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
And politics of course. Many never learn that there was a huge portion of the North that wanted to secede from the South decades earlier.
TRS86
1/11/2013-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Whoops should say New England from Union. Getting too vague.
Prismo
1/11/2013-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
I still want to secede from the south!
Prismo
1/11/2013-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
Is this real? Is this a joke?
I mean I know you’re not a spring chicken Gategem, but this looks like a photo from 1853. Just want to make sure my leg isn’t being pulled.
If real, this is amazing. I’d love to hear some stories from back in the day (baseball-related).
Prismo
1/11/2013-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
-_- it was a joke
I have to say, my 1853 guess was pretty great though since it’s actually from 1865.
TX
1/11/2013-1:23am at 1:23 am (UTC -4)
NY Mets + Kip Wells… Boo Yah!!!!
TRS86
1/11/2013-8:39am at 8:39 am (UTC -4)
LOL, I like him as depth but man I would not say that elsewhere.
If he’s a guy that’s willing to compete for longman and then head to AAA if not needed, can’t hurt.
TX
1/11/2013-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
Grinds my Gears… that we don’t have a fresh canvas to banter back and forth upon…
SaltyGary
1/11/2013-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
LOL why don’t you run over to MMO and tell the man, he has been pretty busy over there.
TX
1/11/2013-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
He’ll just say that there is nothing to chat about…
Though we can always chat about what a comparable package it would be to match Seattle’s.
I would think Flores, Syndergaard, Montero/Tapia + 1-2 more may still be a little lite in AZ’s mind. I’d prob. pull the trigger on that myself, but between alligator arms alderson and “I left my wallet in my other rolls royse” Towers, I don’t see how anyone is paying this trade bill.
TRS86
1/11/2013-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Just another case of the man holding YOU down?