MLB, Barry Larkin, Barry Bonds, Ron Santo, Rodger Clemens
Yesterday, Barry Larkin and Ron Santo entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame.Larkin acknowledged what Pete Rose meant to him, but didn't say anything about Rose's controversial case for the Hall of Fame.
It's probably best that way, since Rose's controversy will pale in comparison to a few guys who are eligible next year.
Next year's potential Hall of Fame class will include players who are undeniably among the best all-time at their positions.
Barry Bonds, a 7-time MVP and 14-time All Star, will be at the forefront of the discussion, followed closely by Roger Clemens, a 7-time Cy Young winner, a 1-time MVP, and 11-time All Star.
Both players have already made appearances in court related to performance enhancing drug use (and subsequently lying about it), and both are the poster boys for performance enhancing drugs in baseball.
The Baseball Writers Association of America have already rejected Mark McGwire so far, who once held the single season home run record and 583 career home runs, 10th on the all time list. McGwire openly took androstenedione, which was legal at the time but is now banned in baseball.
The voters also snubbed Jeff Bagwell in his first year of ineligibility, despite no evidence whatsoever of PED use, and a clear HOF-worthy career. The suspicion alone was enough to keep Bagwell out, at least for now.
Bonds and Clemens, however, are better players than either McGwire or Bagwell, and it's not even close. Bagwell and McGwire were great, but Bonds and Clemens were ALL-TIME greats. They were Hall of Fame caliber players even before their suspected PED use.
But will it matter? There's still some time left before anyone has to make a decision, but what do you think the voters should do?
7/23/12 | beerstudk | 1538 respect
Pat's right, MLB rules banned players from doing illegal things like taking substances that are/were illegal like steroids, cocaine, heroin, etc... and acts like beating hookers to death and punching puppies.
Personally, I think that Bonds and Clemens should be in 1st ballot. Bagwell was iffy to me, definately not a 1st ballot guy. Same with McGwire and even more so with Sosa. However I think that most baseball writers have their heads so far up their a$$es worshiping the past that they (Bonds and Clemens) won't get into the HOF until they're dead.
7/23/12 |
Pat
|
4513 respect
But it was illegal, based on federal laws that were in place. Does Major League Baseball have to specifically ban things that are already illegal? Or does their illegality imply that they're already banned?
Also, is there any rhyme or reason behind your capitalization and ellipses abuse? Or do you have some sort of condition that manifests itself in randomly clicking the caps lock button, and occasionally resting your hand on the period key?
7/23/12 | Jeff_P | 19493 respect
the STEROID ERA.....lol.......what a JOKE......all the HR hitters ARE ASSUMED TO HAVE TAKEN ROIDS......ASSUMED.....NOOOOOOOOOOO PROOF.and at the time of the SO CALLED ERA...the drug WAS NOT BANNED........soooooooooooo WHY ALLLLLLL THE ASSUMPTIONS........if IT WAS NOT A BANNED SUBSTANCE...............OPEN THE DOOR............BONDS.........SOSA.......McGWIRE...........WELCOME...............WHO THE HELL ARE WE TO ASSUME AND JUDGE................
7/23/12 | ML31 | 3525 respect
This could possibly be the best group of first year eligible players since the very first induction. Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Piazza, Biggio... All are 100% certain Hall of Famers. The first two even more than the others.