Agreeing and Disagreeing with the writers

Before the 2013 MLB Hall of Fame results are made public, I wanted to take a second to draw attention to some of the various ballots that have already been made public. Some I agree with, some I painfully do not.

From ESPN: 

Tim Kukjian- I have no problem with your ballots for Biggio, Bonds, Piazza, Clemens and Bagwell. I can even understand voting for Morris, Schilling, Raines and even Martinez. What I take issue with is him voting for Alan Trammell and not voting for Lee Smith. And honestly, how can he vote for Trammell and not vote for Dale Murphy.

Jerry Crasnick- One of the more sensible ballots I’ve seen: Biggio, Piazza, Bagwell, Bonds, Clemens, Morris, Raines, Martinez, Murphy, McGriff.

Howard Bryant- Turned in a blank ballot. You are a big part of what’s wrong with this process.

Jim Caple- Shared a similar thinking to Crasnick. He voted for Trammell instead of McGriff. Still, neither voted for Lee Smith.

Gordon Edes- Biggio, Piazza, Bagwell, Bonds, Clemens, Raines, Schilling, Martinez, Trammell and then spends his 10th pick on Larry Walker? Come on Gordo!

Pedro Gomez- Gomez voted for Morris, Smith and Trammell. How on Earth do you vote for Trammell and not Dale Murphy?

Dan Graziano (ESPN NFL blogger, let that set in for a second)- Voted for Morris, Raines, Trammell and McGriff. No big argument here except only using four slots with at least eight more deserving players on the ballot and at least four with no connection to PED's.

Buster Olney- In another fairly sensible ballot, Olney voted for Biggio, Piazza, Bagwell, Bonds, Clemens, Morris, Murphy, McGwire, Palmeiro and Sosa. Nicely done.

Barry Stanton- Another voter in the WTF category. He votes for Biggio, Piazza and Bagwell, which I have no problem with. I’m ok with him voting for Morris, Martinez and McGriff. But then he votes for Alan Trammell (which I get, but not at the risk of exclusion of other more deserving players.) What gets me most is he spends two more votes on Don Mattingly and Bernie Williams and leaves a 10th spot blank.

From MLB.com reporters

Hal Bodley- Voted for Biggio, Morris and McGriff and said “It has always been my philosophy that players tied to PED use will never get my vote.”

Ken Gurnick- Voted only for Jack Morris saying, “As for players from the Steroid Era, I won't vote for any of them.”

Marty Noble- Only voted for Morris.

Tracy Ringolsby- Voted for Bagwell, Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Morris, Murphy, Piazza, Raines, Trammell and Walker. Then added this; “Sad part of this year's Hall of Fame voting is it doesn't seem likely that any of the votes are going to really matter, because there is a segment of the voters with an axe to grind. They want to turn this year's vote into the baseball version of the Salem Witch Hunt. And they have not only indicted and convicted Bonds and Clemens of wrongdoing in their minds, but are so intent on their anger toward Bonds and Clemens they will take it out on others and turn in blank ballots. Election to the Hall of Fame requires a player to be listed on 75 percent of the ballots cast. A blank ballot is a vote for no one but has to be counted if it is submitted. Each voter who turns in a blank ballot is not only expressing displeasure toward Clemens and Bonds, but also hurting the candidacy of every other eligible player. Nobody ever questioned Murphy's character, but he will suffer more than anyone else from the blank ballots because this is his 15th and final year of eligibility. There is no next year for him, like there is for the other candidates. The outrage over PEDs is the in-thing, but it is so inconsistent. My biggest challenge this year was trimming my list of candidates to 10 players, with apologies to Smith.”

Apologies to Smith yet you voted for Larry Walker? Hopefully Smith is still there next year to make it up to him.

Four other MLB.com reporters voted for only five players and one voted for four. What is wrong with these people who supposedly cover the game for a living?

Finally, I leave you with this nugget from Ken Rosenthal about Dale Murphy: “Another case in which I fear electing a player who would lower the Hall’s standards. Virtually all of Murphy’s career offensive numbers are light, and his peak was too short. I give him points for his exemplary character, but even in his 15th and final year on the ballot, I can’t bring myself to give him my vote.”

I think your bowtie is tied a little too tightly Ken. It’s just another classic example of a man who just isn’t paying attention. Or at the very least, didn’t pay attention in the 1980’s and/or has forgotten.