Hall of Fame Discussion

[Tucker (Padres GM)]

With this being a pretty interesting HOF class, hopefully people would participate in a nice discussion about who belongs in or out and why.

I'm a big time Bonds supporter, but fully believe he was a HOFer prior to his use of steroids. I also think that its ridiculous to keep him out when you have people like Hank Aaron in, even though he fully admitted to using Amphetamines

[Ben (Rays GM)]

I'd be completely filling my ballot this year - 10 names:

Bonds, Clemens, Piazza, Biggio, Bagwell, McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro, Schilling, and Larry Walker Tim Raines

Todd Walker's tough to pass up though (/sarcasm)

[Smitty (Mets GM)]

2013 Ballot

Raines, Piazza, Edgar Martinez, Kenny Lofton, Craig Biggio

[Brian (Blue Jays GM)]

I want to see Bagwell and Biggio inducted together

[Alex (Nationals GM)]

If bonds and Clemens dont get in nobody should. I may be biased as a Giants fan but EVERYONE was using steroids and no one even came close to doing what they did in their carers

[Ben (Rays GM)]

What an unforgivable mistake by the writers. It was easy to see this coming but to have NOT A SINGLE PLAYER ELECTED ON THE BEST HALL OF FAME BALLOT since voting began is a travesty. The system is broken in so many ways and it's time for a complete overhaul.

[Max (Tigers GM)]

Morris and Raines were my guys. met Raines when he was rehabbing with the Double A Norwich Navigators when played for the Yanks. TOTAL gentleman and a great player.

[Deleted]

We should have all 30 owners in this league vote and see who gets 75%. lol

My 2013 ballot:

Craig Biggio, Jack Morris, Tim Raines, Edgar Martinez


Anyone who thinks they should vote for a steriod user should read the following SI article.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/magazine/05/29/baseball.steroids/index.html

Can't send message to younger players that you will be rewarded, not only financially, but possibly with awards and honors like the Hall of Fame, by cheating.

[Deleted]

OK, answer me this though - how do we know Biggio didn't use PEDs? Or Edgar? Or Morris, for that matter? And I say this believing that none of those three ever did use PEDs, but I don't know that definitively.

The simple truth is, we don't know, and it's doubtful that we'll ever know, who all used PEDs during their career. And why are we so wrapped in steroids? Hank Aaron admitted to using amphetamines as a player. Raines was busted for coke in the 80s. Gaylord Perry was renowned for using spitballs. I just think the idea of penalizing one form of cheating when others have been used throughout time seems ridiculous. Vote in the best players of the era based on their performance IN THAT ERA, and leave it at that.

[Oren (Diamondbacks GM)]

I dont care that Bonds and Clemens took PED's im sure MANY of the hall of famers did but just weren't caught. they were arguably the best batter and pitcher to play the game during a time where so many people took roids...

[Brian (Blue Jays GM)]

Barry Bonds was a 3 time MVP long before he started taking steroids later in his career (started using in 1999)

Clemens had 4 Cy Young awards before he started using (started in 1998)

I was against letting these guys in because they cheated to be as good as they were, but then these facts were brought to my attention by ESPN's Jayson Stark and it swayed me. These guys were the most dominant of their era long before they started cheating. Did they make bad decisions? Yes. Should they be entirely discredited for their accomplishments? No.

[Kevin (Guardians GM)]

I think in regards to those two that you will see numbers change next year. I think people wanted to make a statement about "character" and many will vote for them in following years. Guess we won't know till next year though.

[Brian (Blue Jays GM)]

The writers who left their ballots blank this year (a few have already come forward) really piss me off, it's not fair to guys who played the game well and had zero allegations of misconduct (most of all Biggio) that they got left out because of these guys who decided that because some candidates were "tainted" they wouldn't vote for anyone.

[Zack (Mariners GM)]

^I agree with what Brian just said. No matter what your opinion on Bonds, Sosa, Clemens, etc..., there's is absolutely zero reason to punish obvious HoF's like Bagwell and Biggio, who have never been connected to doping.

[Ben (Rays GM)]

I'm torn. On the one hand I absolutely feel like Biggio, Raines, Piazza, Bagwell, and Schilling should be in the Hall, but on the other hand I almost prefer this to the idea of voters each drawing their own arbitrary lines as to who gets in and who doesn't (draw the line at association? suspicion? confirmation? suspension?)