Oh goody! It's one of the two times all year when I absolutely have to talk about the Hall of Fame. I'm going to assume you've all seen who got elected or Al's post on the matter. In any case, I do congratulate the four inductees and they're all worthy. But I've got enough aggravation in my life without worrying who will or won't get honored by 75% of a group of (mostly) old white men.
I do wonder what Bleed Cubbie Blue will post at the end of the world.
- Bob Nightengale thinks it's a fascinating incoming class for Cooperstown.
- Jayson Stark explains his ballot. It's a much better ballot than many. He also defends voting for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.
- David Schoenfield names some winners and losers in this year's balloting.
- Tracy Ringolsby writes about the role Nolan Ryan played in turning Randy Johnson's career around.
- The Diamondbacks announced that they will retire Johnson's number 51. It's the second retired number for the Diamondbacks, after Luis Gonzalez's number 20.
- Tim Brown says that Pedro Martinez was one of a kind.
- Alyson Footer goes back to the decision to move Craig Biggio from catcher to second base and how it turned him into a Hall of Famer.
- Biggio talks about his feelings upon his election as the first Astros player to enter the Hall.
- I guess one assumes that Biggio will go in with an Astros cap and not a Asheville Tourists or Tucson Toros, the only other teams he's ever played for. But Craig Calcaterra has some thoughts about which cap will go on the new inductees' plaques. It's actually not so simple with Biggio as the Astros had three different cap designs during his career. But the big issue is whether Johnson goes in as a Diamondback or a Mariner. Or maybe they just induct both Martinez and Johnson as Expos.
- CJ Nitkowski was a teammate of three of the four new inductees. (Sorry Pedro) He explains what he learned from each one of the three Hall of Famers.
- Nitkowski also makes the case for Mike Mussina as a Hall of Famer.
- I guess this is the place to complain about who didn't get in. David Golebiewski wonders how Barry Larkin got elected while Alan Trammell gets minimal support. (I suspect it's Cal Ripken's fault. One of Larkin's best arguments is that he was the best shortstop in the National League from the time Ozzie Smith got old until, I don't know, Jimmy Rollins or Rafael Furcal came into the league. Trammell was mostly in Ripken's shadow in the AL East.)
- And oh yeah. Darin Erstad got a vote.
- In fairness to Erstad, he was a pretty solid ballplayer. Also, he thinks whoever voted for him is nuts too.
- Mike Oz declared it "Hall of Fame Outrage Day." This is why I no longer care about who gets elected to the Hall.
- Grant Brisbee explains why he still cares about the Hall of Fame. Although it sounds like he's just one or two years away from joining me in the "don't care" camp.
- Ken Rosenthal offers his thoughts on the Hall of Fame results.
- Craig Calcaterra looks ahead to the 2016 election. Start getting outraged now and avoid the rush.
- Rob Neyer thinks it may be a long time before another starting pitcher gets elected.
- OK. Enough of Cooperstown. The Yankees are close to signing Stephen Drew to a one-year, $5 million deal.
- That's the exact same terms that the Phillies signed Aaron Harang.
- Tom Gorzelanny signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Tigers.
- The Rays are talking with free agent outfielder Colby Rasmus.
- Ryan Howard can block a trade to 20 teams. The teams that he can't block a trade to are the teams that would have no interest in him. Coincidentally, the 20 teams he can block a trade to also have absolutely no interest in him.
- Sam Miller tries to determine why most of the free agents are signing with bad teams.
- Mike Axisa thinks the injury to Tim Hudson means that that Giants will try to pick up another starting pitcher. He doesn't think it will be a big name like Max Scherzer or James Shields though.
- Jim Callis gives some background on Manny Banuelos and what his future in Atlanta might look like.
- Tony Blengino looks at teams with the most and the least roster turnover since 1969.
- Sad news as former reliever Stu Miller has died.
- Rob Neyer writes that Miller had one of the greatest changeups ever.
- Andrew Simon lists five managers who start the season on the hot seat.
- David Kagan talks about the physics of successful base stealing. Getting a big lead is the least important thing.
- Bojan Koprivica writes about the promise and the problems of baseball in Uganda. An important read.
- Have you ever wondered what brand Ted Williams grabbed when he . . .oh, never mind. You can bid on some Ted Williams condoms. They're guaranteed to make you hit .400.
- And finally, you may have read about the "CNN Doomsday Video" that former Braves owner Ted Turner (just to get a baseball tie in there) had made to be played upon the end of the world. Well, Craig Calcaterra also has a picture ready for for the end of the world.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.