tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post8170487678645905859..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Friday Baseball PostJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-32789287763570377532013-01-12T20:11:09.746-06:002013-01-12T20:11:09.746-06:00I didn't expect Bonds to make it the first yea...I didn't expect Bonds to make it the first year, but he was a Hall of Famer before his home run records. They can't keep him out more than another year or so. Writers who have seen all the drugs over many the years (a few hours in the Pirates clubhouse in 1980 educated me) should know better than to be so moralistic about this. Captain Futurehttp://dreamingup.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-30804573265541338332013-01-12T12:38:46.471-06:002013-01-12T12:38:46.471-06:00You're right, I did overshrink Palmeiro's ...You're right, I did overshrink Palmeiro's history. PEDs -> longevity would be part of the calculus, there, I'd say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-66689942257185072962013-01-12T12:03:30.607-06:002013-01-12T12:03:30.607-06:00I'd think 3000 hits + 500 home runs is Palmeir...I'd think 3000 hits + 500 home runs is Palmeiro's claim, not just the 500 home runs. That puts him in a club with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, and nobody else. That includes nobody else from the steroid era. A. Rod will join them next year, presumably, but with Chipper about to retire, Pujols is the only other active player who looks likely to do it, and he won't hit 3000 hits before 2017.<br /><br />Maybe Palmeiro nonetheless doesn't deserve to be in the Hall - whether for steroids or just for not have a really outstanding prime (or some combination of the two). But his case isn't just the 500 home runs.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-8750781888246422162013-01-12T09:34:54.563-06:002013-01-12T09:34:54.563-06:00I'd think that when we all settle down we'...I'd think that when we all settle down we'll re-assess stats from this time on a different scale (in the same way that we distinguish stats from the "dead-ball era") so that, for instance, "500 home runs" will have lost its fetishistic power, and so Palmeiro--not a HOFer in any other way--won't make it; it might even mean that Piazza won't (I doubt that, and I'd regret it since in his case it's all speculation--not crazy speculation, though--uh, and also I'm a Mets fan). I'd never vote for McGwire because--just as he says--the PEDs kept him on the field. He was a great power hitter from the beginning, but never had full seasons, and surely never would have. It wouldn't have been a HOF career, then. Bonds and Clemens--can't keep 'em out for being sonsofbitches, though I sympathize with that sentiment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-27483164565964244652013-01-12T05:46:14.011-06:002013-01-12T05:46:14.011-06:00"Speaking of which...as much as I think that ..."Speaking of which...as much as I think that there's absolutely no difference at all between Bonds and Clemens on the one hand and Mays and Bonds on the other, I really don't care if they have to wait a few years. "<br /><br />One difference is there's a whole credible book (GAME OF SHADOWS) written by respected reporters that describes in great detail Bonds' use of PEDs.<br /><br />I don't have strong feelings about whether these players should be inducted or not. I do find arguments that we HAVE to induct them based on their accumulated stats odd though. We have record books and sites like Baseball Reference that make it simple to find out who had the best stats if that's all you want to know. It seems reasonable that a higher standard than just "was one of the best statistically" should be required for the Hall of Fame. And in fact, the voters are instructed to take into account non-statistical factors.<br /><br />Anyway hurray for pitchers and catchers reporting soon! May my Braves unseat your Giants as champions!Ron E.noreply@blogger.com