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[RichN]

Here's something to think about.  No slight intended towards Bruce Sutter, but I read that in 1999 he got 25% of the votes.  So, how come 6 years later, 75% of the voters now think he should be in the hall?  I think relief pitchers are under-represented, and I saw Sutter, Gossage, and Lee Smith pitch, and they were probably more dominant than a lot of the starters that have since gone into the hall.  I'm not a fan of how relief pitchers are racking up tons of saves in this era, ala Trevor Hoffman, but these relief pitchers of the 80s need to get their due.

[LostArtofRolando]

well, as time goes by, only the really sucky folks won't get elected in, because they have to get so many people in... well, the sucky folks and Pete Rose.

[disnut8]

Just wait until next year.  RichN was saying how Cal Ripkin, Jr., probably the best player of all time (don't argue, think about it) will NOT be voted in with 100%.  No player has ever been voted in with 100%.  The all time top percentage winner?  Tom Seaver.

We'll be in Cooperstown in July 2007 for the ceremony.  It'll be Cal and Tony Gwinn.  Some how, Mark McGuire's name has mysteriously disappeared from contention.  It'll be a zoo.  Ever seen Cooperstown?  It's a small town.  Not much room.  I envision a mob scene for the two classiest guys in baseball.  My gosh, just thinking about the history of the Orioles that will be there.  Wonder if Brooks Robinson will remember my mother-in-law again?

[LostArtofRolando]

Yeah, I've been there.  My grandmother lives about 3 hours away from there.  Its a pretty cool setup theyve got there... those are the kinds of towns id like to retire in, especially up in the Northeast, smalltown delis and all that good stuff, mom and pop grocery stores.  werd.

[elmono311]

I don't know how long we've had this trip planned... probably since 2001 I bet when Ripken retired

[disnut8]

Actually, I think we've had this trip planned since we went to Cooperstown back in 1998.  Started thinking about it then.  Going to call this summer for the same place we stayed at way back then (it is still there, I checked on it).  Three rooms - us, The Kids, and the in-laws.  Already told my boss I need that time off.

[elmono311]

No tornadoes this time I hope

[disnut8]

You remember that?!  That was an awesome trip.  Stephen King's house and Cooperstown all in a week.

[elmono311]

Don't forget the Canadian border guard who thought Nebraskans couldn't afford let alone ever see a Ford Mustang in Nebraska despite the fact we had a Corvette chilling back at the house...

[disnut8]

And I do have a trip report for that one.  First one I ever wrote.  The beginning of the end for our family.

[Vengeance]

Just make sure the Kids room is on the end somewhere so we're not sharing a wall with strangers. Marlie can be a noisy kid. 

[disnut8]

Um, this is one of places when I called last time right after the start of the new year said "ayah, you're calling quite early aren't you?"  They'll probably have a heart attack when I want to reserve three rooms at once.  And you guys are going in between us and the in-laws.  That way YOU can hear US.

[elmono311]

LINK

Not surprising

[elmono311]

Hall of Faming voting is today. I'm just curious as to the percentage of votes Ripken gets since there's douchebags out there who refuse to vote someone in on the first go around despite their accomplishments. There's really no basis in it. But they cry out that many of the top players didn't make it in on the first try when the Hall opened but the fact of the matter is, there was a tremendous backlog and the Hall put a cap on only five inductees. Stupid douchebags.

[disnut8]

The reason the voters will give for not going 100% for Cal is because he didn't win that many Gold Gloves.  And the reason for that is because Cal didn't have to make the splashy moves because he always knew where to be for each particular batter.  Come on - he made 4 errors in one year and didn't get the Gold Glove.  Or, you'll have some voters who still strongly believe that Cal should have sat down during his streak and not played when "hurt".  Cal did everything when he was hurt.  Some also believe he should have sat down within one game of the record in honor of Lou Gehrig.

I believe Cal Ripken was the classiest and the most hard working player in baseball history.  Do you realize that when the record was broken in the fifth inning to make the game history, Cal had requested the game NOT be stopped.  That whole run around the stadium for the fans was because his teammates made him go out and do it.  They said the fans deserved it.  Cal just wanted to play.

[elmono311]

It was three errors, wasn't it? And I think he didn't even get the Gold Glove that year

Edit: Wikipedia pulls through. His 3 error season was in 1990 and he did not get the Gold Glove. It went to Ozzie Guillen... who had 17 errors. Does that even make sense to anybody?

[elmono311]

I want to shoot this guy in the face. What a frakkin moron.

LINK

[elmono311]

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 98.5%

Gwynn (97.6%) made it as well, McGwire (23.5%) did not

[disnut8]

And remember when I asked you for all the stats because the trivia guy would probably ask something related to the Hall of Fame voting yesterday?  He did.

"Which Los Angeles Dodger won the NL MVP award in 1974?"

And yes, it WAS related to the Hall of Fame voting.  Rich knew it.  Steve Garvey.  What did that have to do with the voting?  Garvey was in his last year of eligiblity and obviously didn't make it.  The only way in for him now is the veteran's committee.

[RichN]

It was three errors, wasn't it? And I think he didn't even get the Gold Glove that year

Edit: Wikipedia pulls through. His 3 error season was in 1990 and he did not get the Gold Glove. It went to Ozzie Guillen... who had 17 errors. Does that even make sense to anybody?

Yes, it was three errors.  The Gold Glove voters like the Ozzie Smith style of shortstop, jumping, diving, doing cartwheels.  No disrespect to Ozzie Smith, as he deserves the Hall,  but 3 errors in over 600 chances and you can't get a Gold Glove?  OK, OK, you probably know that I'm a Ripken fan, so I'll shut up now.

[elmono311]

Yeah, many people bring up the fact that Ripken positioned himself for each batter so he didn't have to make flashy plays like that.

[RichN]

That was probably me who said that.  He was such a student of the game, that he knew what would happen on a particular pitch to a particular batter.  Uncanny.

[disnut8]

Can anyone name a current playing baseball player who can do that at any position?  Baseball used to be a sport.  It's turned into entertainment.  Just about all professional sports has.  When a player's earrings cost more than my house, there's something wrong.

[elmono311]

Here's the 2008 Hall of Fame voting results

One player made it. Yes, one.

Goose Gossage, only the fifth reliever to make it into the Hall of Fame, finally got the votes (86%) on his ninth try on the ballot.

Jim Rice, also waiting for his call to the Hall, got 72.2% of the votes, just a hair shy of the 75% needed to get in.

After last year's class, man oh man. Seems kind of pathetic

[disnut8]

I'll bet there are a ton of Cooperstown residents going "S***, I can't charge $40 for anyone to park at my house for Goose Gossage!"

Last year, there were about 100,000 people and the crowd not only went to the treeline but beyond.  This year, people will probably be able to see the stage, use the bathrooms without lines, and be able to get food.