Hall of Fame ballot

[Edgy MD]

So, how many have submitted ballots here. I'm one.

The problem with these polls is we don't get a denominator.

I guess we can just use the highest number as a denominator. Or put up polls in which the first selection is "Check this box if you are voting."

Stinks.

[Zvon]

seawolf17 wrote: Voted. Remember we have to post if we voted so we know a percentage of actual voters.

Edgy MD wrote: So, how many have submitted ballots here. I'm one. The problem with these polls is we don't get a denominator. I guess we can just use the highest number as a denominator. Or put up polls in which the first selection is "Check this box if you are voting." Stinks.

Who hasn't owned up?

I'm three.

[Edgy MD]

If we go by 15 total ballots cast, the Crane Pool has elected three Hall-of-Famers:

Candidate	Votes	PCT
Vladimir Guerrero	15	100%
Jeff Bagwell	13	87%
Tim Raines	13	87%
Edgar Martinez	10	67%
Ivan Rodriguez	10	67%
Manny Ramirez	8	53%
Barry Bonds	7	47%
Trevor Hoffman	7	47%
Roger Clemens	6	40%
Jeff Kent	5	33%
Curt Schilling	5	33%
Larry Walker	5	33%
Mike Mussina	3	20%
Lee Smith	3	20%
Billy Wagner	2	13%
Fred McGriff	1	7%
Gary Sheffield	1	7%
Sammy Sosa	1	7%
Matt Stairs	1	7%
Casey Blake	0	0%
Pat Burrell	0	0%
Orlando Cabrera	0	0%
Mike Cameron	0	0%
J.D. Drew	0	0%
Carlos Guillen	0	0%
Derrek Lee	0	0%
Melvin Mora	0	0%
Magglio Ordonez	0	0%
Jorge Posada	0	0%
Edgar Renteria	0	0%
Arthur Rhodes	0	0%
Freddy Sanchez	0	0%
Jason Varitek	0	0%
Tim Wakefield	0	0%

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Jeff Bagwell
Vladimir Guerrero
Trevor Hoffman
Mike Mussina (my borderline case)
Tim Raines
Ivan Ridriguez

[Fman99]

I voted for eight guys who, interestingly, happen to be the eight guys leading the vote tally here.

Bagwell
Bonds
Vlad
Edgar Martinez
Raines
Manny
Pudge
Larry Walker

I excluded some guys because they seem to be assholes. This may be part of the reason why I don't get a real life vote.

[Edgy MD]

I'm a big backer of Schilling, asshole though he may be.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm a big backer of Schilling, asshole though he may be.

Same.

Bagwell
Bonds
Clemens
Vladdy
Kent
Edgar M
Manny
Pudge
Raines
Schilling

[Guest d'Kong76]

Voting late, putting some cheaters in to be done with it...

Bagwell
Bonds
Clemens
Guerrero
Hoffman
Kent
Martinez
Raines
Smith
Sosa

Schilling can take lessons in fine dining from Ripken before he gets
my vote.

[seawolf17]

I would rather vote for Clemens than Schilling.

[Gwreck]

Chad Ochoseis wrote: So I'm fine with keeping a borderline HOFer like Mark McGwire out.

In a world without steroids, McGwire is only a "borderline" hall-of famer? I have a tough time with that. He's #13 all-time in adjusted OPS.

[Gwreck]

seawolf17 wrote: I would rather vote for Clemens than Schilling.

I agree, and there's no doubt that Clemens is more "deserving" anyway. I would vote for them both.

[HahnSolo]

I voted

[Edgy MD]

It's still looking like a three-man class.

Raines and Guerrero (the latter a little less likely) would join Gary Carter as players with Expo insigniae on their Hall of Fame plaques. And I imagine they would be the last, unless Bartolo Colón gets in and the Expos pull a big upset with the committee.

I frankly don't know what hat they'd outfit Colón with—hopefully a flying batting helmet. But Larry Walker would almost certainly be wearing a [fimg=12:3hoartlc]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/44/e1/35/44e135ad09f75fcfaa008ab28ac31f2c.jpg[/fimg:3hoartlc].

[Vic Sage]

I'm voting for 10, all of whom put up numbers over the average HOFers at their positions, without consideration of accused steroid use:

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
___________
3. Jeff Bagwell
----------
4. Edgar Martinez
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Curt Schilling
7. Mike Mussina
8. Ivan Rodriguez
9. Tim Raines
10. Vladimir Guerrero
---------
10a. Larry Walker [ranked a drop below Guerrero, only because of injuries and Coors factor. I would vote for him next year, if slot were available]

[Edgy MD]

That ballot appears to leave Pudge just one vote out of the money.

I salute anybody who has a career like his. Continued consistent quality excepting one brief stop in the Bronx where he gave his worst performance of his career.

The José Cruz Award. These men are fine Americans, even when they aren't Americans.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I had completely forgotten that Tim Raines was ever a Yankee. Even having been reminded of it, I still don't remember it at all.

[Edgy MD]

His tenth year on the ballot. It's borderline scandalous.

[Guest 86-Dreamer]

I voted:

Bonds
Clemens
Bagwell
Rodriguez
Raines
Mussina
Schilling
Kent
Walker
Vladimir

[Guest sharpie]

Bagwell, Bonds, Clemens, Guerrero, Mussina, Raines, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Sosa, Walker

[Edgy MD]

All Rodriguez needs is one voter to change his or her vote (or the next three ballots to include him).

[Chad ochoseis]

He's in.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah! Four-man class!

[Chad ochoseis]

He had more good years than I realized. His offensive production fell off the table after age 32, but that's not bad for a catcher. And I try not to penalize players who "stay too long" and hurt their average stats by becoming useful late-career part time players instead of retiring. As long as they're not stinking it up every day in a starting role (looking at you, Derek Jeter) and still making contributions above the replacement level, there's no reason not to stay around.

[Vic Sage]

here's a general question:

If you voted in this poll, which of your candidates received the fewest votes from your fellow Poolers?
Now make an argument for that player.

I'll go first.

Mike Mussina - my initial impulse on Moose was "NOPE", but though i hate to admit it, he was one of the best and most consistent pitchers in the AL for almost 2 decades, ranking in the top 10 in baseball for 11 years by a wide range of metrics (including WAR, ERA+, WPA), and top 5 for at least 5 seasons, not to mention 7 gold gloves. His numbers compare favorably with many current HOFers (whether using JAWS, HOF monitor, or black ink test). No, his peak wasn't as dominant as some, but he's easily in the range of pitchers like Glavine, Marichal, Drysdale, Sutton, and Schilling (who also deserves to be in). If elected, he would be an above-avg HOFer, not dragging down the bar. Yes, he's more about sustained excellence than brief greatness, but there is a wing of the HOF for that type of player, too.

your turn.

[Edgy MD]

I voted for Billy Wagner.

Wait, this isn't the Alpaca Hall of Fame?

[MFS62]

I also voted for Wagner, so I'll go for my second least voted choice: Lee Smith. He was the all-time saves leader during the era in which he pitched. And he wasn't just a pampered "closer". In those days, some saves were earned by pitching multiple innings.

Later

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Like Vic, I also voted for Mike Mussina. So much of this will will be a less eloquent rehash of Vic's reason's for supporting Mussina.

Mussina was consistently one of the better and more reliable pitchers in the American League during his 18 seasons. His peripherals statistics (ERA, ERA+, WHIP, & SO/W) were among the best in the AL during his career. He fielded his position well (7 Gold Gloves), but most importantly, he won far more games than he lost (270-153 63.8%) during his career.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Schilling and Kent.

What's the matter with you lib'ral lezzies?

[duan]

Billy Wagner.
I think he's a considerable tier above the likes of Lee Smith and to my mind was there or there abouts the best reliever in the game for an extended period. Everything about his performance was elite and while I actually didn't really like him playing for the Mets I'm choosing not to hold that against him. He was better then Hoffman, and as I voted for Hoffman too, I felt I had to vote for Wagner.

[Edgy MD]

That's pretty much where I was, I guess.

I suppose I don't have to feel good about it.

Hey, look, Edgar Martinez is up to 68%.