As we digest from the end of the holidays and a weekend of football, here are some things to get the first work week of 2015 started. With the announcement of the Hall of Fame voting results coming up tomorrow, this is a Cooperstown-heavy version of the Monday Leadoff.
Dan Lewis from Amazin’ Avenue wrote this piece last year about Mike Piazza’s and the baseless steroid accusations against him. This is beautifully researched and in theory should put to rest any inkling of Piazza being a cheater (if that’s what you call guys who took steroids while they were not being tested for). This should be a must-read for anyone who has a vote.
David Lennon of Newsday penned this piece with his thoughts on the Hall of Fame voting process, and what appears to be broken with it. The easiest thing would probably be for the Hall to issue some kind of standard as it pertains to PED users.
Bruce Weber of The New York Times reflects on the case for putting Don Mattingly in the Cooperstown on his last try. As with most things that the Times publishes, it is very well written, and is worth a read even if you don’t agree that Mattingly should be enshrined.
Last night, I watched a roundtable discussion concerning voting for the Hall on the MLB Network. It was noted Piazza hater Brian Kenny, Peter Gammons, Tom Verducci, Ron Darling, Al Leiter, Ken Rosenthal, and one other person – I don’t remember right now. They seemed more appealed by Gary Scheffield and Jeff Bagwell than Piazza. Leiter put in a strong word, as did Darling. Rosenthal said basically I have no proof, and voted for him. No one else did. I was shocked!
Personally, as a big fan of Mike’s, I always believed that he was probably a user, though I would never try to support that with facts. It’s just what I infer, based on whatever it is I’ve learned over 53 years.
I also believe that it’s fair for a HOF voter to decide against voting for Piazza, based only on that hunch, for a year or two. But sooner or later, you have to admit that this is America, and people are innocent until proven guilty.
As a player, he obviously should be in there, and I’m confident that his day will come . . . hopefully as soon as next year.
Look, we all know that Pedro, Randy Johnson and Smoltz will get in. In my mind, two more, Biggio and Piazza should get in.
The PED stuff with Piazza is ridiculous. To say he shouldn’t be in the hall because a baseball writer “thinks” he could have is asinine. Without proof, it’s just an assumption. Keeping him out for that reason is ridiculous and shows the lack of class amongst many sports writers. There isn’t even anecdotal evidence against Piazza. It’s all based on the fact he was a really big dude and had bacne. I had that most of my life. Does that make me a PED user?
How does anyone know that Pedro or Smoltz didn’t use? That thinking is just stupid. I don’t care about the HOF, but how anyone can vote for any players at all and leave others off without proof is weird to me.
We know certain guys used PED’s. If we want to suspect everyone else then suspect everyone else.
Don’t pick and choose.
The guy who should not be in the Hall is Glavine, who actually threw a game. What is worse than that?
Proof on Glavine? Or just your inability to get over your disappointment?
What you are impugning is worse than PEDs. Can you back it up with facts?
You thought I was being serious on Glavine.
Jeez.
I appreciate your apology.
Pitchers are getting a pass in the HOF voting in my opinion. Except, of course, Clemens, but I think that is as much to with him being a general jackass, according to things I’ve heard.