It’s beyond me.
I just listened to an interview on MLB Radio’s Under the Lights with MLB.com reporter Jim Street who has made up his mind who he will vote for in the Hall of Fame vote. He shared his ballot during his interview. It’s not often a radio guest frustrates me twice on separate issues but Street managed to do so.
Street tells us that he has voted for Garvey in the past and has voted for him again this year. One reason he claims is because of “his character” and what he did “off the field”. Fine. He’s a fan of Mr, Paternity Suit.
Then he’s asked about Jim Rice. Well, he says Rice “wasn’t the most cooperative” with the media and he wasn’t the most personable.
So he likes Steve Garvey’s off the field character despite the adultery and paternity suit but because Rice wasn’t nicey-nice with the media and was moody in general, he’s going to hold that against him. Forget the fact that there were racial tensions in Boston at the time and maybe Rice was just a moody kind of guy.
Then he goes on to talk about Mark McGwire. He’s not going to vote for Big Mac.
But don’t get the idea that he’s skipping Mac because of steroid issue. No, Street thinks based on McGwire’s stats alone he doesn’t belong. He insists he’s a one-dimensional player. Street even goes as far as to bring up the fact that McGwire only has 12 career stolen bases. Please.
According to Street, “this isn’t a homerun derby”.
I’m looking at Mark McGwire’s entry in Baseball Reference and his Appearances on Leaderboards section is a page and half long. And they’re not ALL related to homeruns.
Sportswriters, if you have a problem with McGwire’s alleged issue with steroids, be honest with it. But don’t justify it by saying that you wouldn’t vote for him anyway because “he only won one Gold Glove.” (another Jim Street gem)
Here’s the Under the Lights interview with Jim Street, MLB.com reporter (the interview is toward the end of the show)
I heard another person compare Big Mac to Rob Deer. Argh!
another thing… Street says McGwire wasn’t like Canseco who had other qualities.. B-R lists Canseco #2 in their players most similar to McGwire.
Before you look, guess who’s #1.
Jay Mariotti is a Baseball Hall of Fame voter.
Its as simple as that-Cooperstown has lost all its credibility with me. If and when I get there, I’ll see the sites that I think are worthy; and while I’m walking around I’ll remember idiots like Mariotti have a vote. So when I see some totally unworthy person in the Hall, or notice the absence of someone who is worthy-well, I’ll just take it for what it is.
I agree, CB. The voting system is faulty. Not just for who has a vote but who doesn’t.
Look at people like Will Carroll and Peter Gammons. Probably two of the smartest baseball journalists in baseball out there today and they don’t have a vote.
Even people like Joe Morgan. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea as a broadcaster but he sees a LOT of baseball out there and he’s an intelligent baseball man and he doesn’t have a vote.
But right now, we’re stuck with this system of two baseball writers per baseball town.
Even Tim McCarver doesn’t have a vote.
Ok, I was kidding about Tim McCarver.
I stand corrected: The two writers per city is for MVP etc.
Todd corrected me on that on the show last night.
Still think Carrol and Gammons should be eligible to vote, though.