That Other Hall of Fame

[MFS62]

just like Vin Scully refuses to use the phrase "sacrafice fly".

OK, I give up, why?

[Frayed Knot]

That's what I figured.
There is, however, evidence which says that in SF situations (runner on 3rd, less than two outs) Fly Balls [u:2jp3zqmm]DO[/u:2jp3zqmm] occur at rates greater than random chance - suggesting that there is some element of 'intent' there, of batters maybe going after pitches they know they can lift and produce a run which they might otherwise leave alone.
Hence the 'Sacrifice' in both the name and in the scoring (non-AB) mechanism.

[ashie62]

If MLB creates a position, DH, don't they need to honor it at some point?

Then again the NFL won't put in a punter so who knows

[Valadius]

From Baseball Think Factory:

% Leaderboard after 75 Full Ballots� 86.7 - Alomar 85.3 - Dawson 82.7 - Blyleven 60.0 - Larkin 52.0 - J. Morris 46.7 - T. Raines 45.3 - Edgar 45.3 - Lee Smith 34.7 - McGwire 29.3 - Trammell 21.3 - McGriff 10.7 - D. Murphy 10.7 - Baines 10.7 - Parker 8.0 - Mattingly Top Partial Ballot Leaders� (103 Full/Partials) 75 - Dawson 74 - Alomar 70 - Blyleven

I think it's coming down to those three this year, with Larkin on the outside looking in for next year. Raines is receiving a large jump in support, with McGwire receiving a modest bump.

Looking ahead, next year, as I said at the time (2005-2006 offseason) will be very interesting. Jeff Bagwell, Rafael Palmeiro, Larry Walker, Juan Gonzalez, and Kevin Brown all appear on the ballot for the first time (as do John Olerud, Al Leiter, and John Franco) which will result in a bit of a glut and possibly some older names falling off the ballot. 2012 quite literally has nobody I'd consider even having a shot at making it in (though MFY fans will whine over Bernie Williams) while 2013 is the granddaddy of them all, featuring Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Curt Schilling, and Sammy Sosa.

[nymr83]

Will Clemens throw something at Piazza during their induction speeches?

[ashie62]

Will Clemens throw something at Piazza during their induction speeches?[/quote:2dpifl7a]

Yes..handshakes

Alomar, Dawson, Blyleven, E. Martinez

[Gwreck]

Looking ahead, next year, as I said at the time (2005-2006 offseason) will be very interesting. Jeff Bagwell, Rafael Palmeiro, Larry Walker, Juan Gonzalez, and Kevin Brown all appear on the ballot for the first time (as do John Olerud, Al Leiter, and John Franco) which will result in a bit of a glut and possibly some older names falling off the ballot.[/quote:2voyhmbu]

How many of those players are actually likely to get in?

Palmerio will almost certainly go the way of McGwire. Walker, Gonzalez and Brown are borderline at best. I see Bagwell getting in plus either Larkin or Edgar Martinez, one of the players who misses this year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Will Clemens throw something at Piazza during their induction speeches?[/quote:k7nx89sx]

I predict that Clemens will be home in Texas that weekend.

[Theoldmole]

Bagwell and Larkin would be my picks.

[bmfc1]

I vote for none of them. If Keith, Gil and Marvin Miller aren't in, then no one else should get in. Childish? Of course but I don't think that any of the nominees are more deserving than those three

[ashie62]

Maybe Bagwell..but he looked pretty juiced to me

[Valadius]

I see Larry Walker as a sure-fire, first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, and I have for years. I remember writing a passionate defense of Walker a few years ago, but don't know where that thread went.

I would love to set up a poll for this year's ballot, but with 25 poll options and 26 players, we'd all have to agree on one player to leave out. I nominate David Segui.