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Ok, I know the last post by Koko was fun, but I had to get something off of my chest. This week Major League baseball announced that their new class was going to be Ricky Henderson and Jim Rice. Upon first glance, which one of those doesn't belong?
I grew up during the time when both of these guys played. Baseball was my favorite sport. I had season tickets to the Brewers and listened or watched every away game. I also was addicted to "strat o matic baseball" "Pursue the Pennant" and later "Tony Larussa Baseball". In short (I know,"too late") I was a baseball and a stat junkie.
NEVER ONCE IN MY LIFE DID I EVER CONSIDER JIM RICE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO A HALL OF FAMER. What a fucking joke. How watered down can a hall of fame get when they choose mediocre outfielders.
That was my initial reaction, but I decided to do some fact checking to see if maybe, over time, Rice was able to accumulate some great career numbers. Upon further review, it is worse than I thought.
Career Batting Average - Under .300
Home Runs-382
RBI- 1451
World Series Titles- 0
It gets worse, but I don't want to bore you guys with all the details. In fact, Rice is not in the top 50 in any statistical category. None!!!! Oh wait, he is 3rd all-time in the number of times he grounded into a double play. Sorry about the oversite.
He also did not win a single World Series in 16 years and only appeared in 1. In fact, his post season average was only .225. He also has 0 gold gloves.
The only impressive thing I heard about him is that he was an 8 time all-star. People act like that is a statistical category, when, in fact, the fans vote for 100% of the players in the game. Boston happened to have more fans at their games than most teams, so low and behold, they had more all-stars.
I hate it when hall of fames' water themselves down like this. It insults the accomplishments of the greats before them and I sincerely hope they stop doing this. At least the journeyman 3rd-4th starter Bert Blyleven didn't get in. If he did I might start a riot.
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I heard another reason the judges granted him in the Hall of Fame was becuase he was a nice guy and everybody liked him.
Someone should have veto power and axe his ass. He does not belong, not even if he knew Mother Teresa.
I agree that Jim Rice may not be the elite of the elite...but let's not kid ourselves the HOF is not the elite of the elite anymore.
And, yes real humans vote on this consisting of former players and sportswriters so obviosly there is going to be a human factor put in.
But, contrary to what has been said Jim Rice did not have a good relationship with the media during his playing career.
And just to continue playing devils advocate:
Rice actually lead his team to 2 World Series (1 he broke his wrist in the playoffs so missed the WS) and he scored 14 Runs in the postseason the year they lost to the Mets on Buckners gaffe and those 14 runs in one postseason stand as the 5th most of all time during one postseason.
Rice was voted MVP in 1978 and he finished in the top 5 for MVP voting 6 times in his career. So, that means in a 6 year span he was considered to be the most valuable player in the league and if not at least in the discussion.
(Name me other players that are along that caliber)
While, I'm not saying this makes him a lock it certainly doesn't say the HOF is a joke.
Plus, He played with one team his whole career and was solid for most of those years.
Lastly, it took him to his last chance to be voted in. Say what you want but his numbers may not seem outlandish now but during that era those were pretty outstanding numbers.
And with the recent "Steriods Era" swaying numbers I think voters gave Rice more credit for doing it cleanly.
I mean look at Mcgwire.......He probably won't make into the Hall and the same with the all-time HR leader Barry Bonds. McGwire was eligible for votes and I think the writers/players are looking more fondly at role models of baseball that did it cleanly.
I say if Rice in is, then Mattingly should definitely be in.
Mattingly had a .307 career avg. 6-time all-star, 9 gold gloves, 3 silver sluggers and the 1985 MVP.
Yes he only had 222 homers and 1099 RBI's but if we're taking intangibles into account, which they certainly did with Rice, then Mattingly gets in on his leadership and the "what if" factor if he never got that crushing back injury.
Either way Mattingly's achievements are up to or exceed Rice's.
Its not the Hall of Solid, its the hall of fame. I can honestly say that although I don't think he should get in, that Mattingly is more deserving than Rice. You can't honestly say that as you were watching Rice play you were thinking "wow, here I am watching a future hall of famer". No chance. Being a top 5 player for 5 years is nothing. 1 MVP? Come on.
You are soiling the legacy of the great Robin Yount by electing Jim Rice.
Yeah I agree, I don't think either of them should really be in. However I think 9 gold gloves is a very undervalued achievment. Defense is a very big part of the game and not many 1st basemen are as highly decorated as Mattingly.
But if you're letting in Rice, then Mattingly should definitely be inducted as well.
Mattingly was the man. Growing up in New York in the 80's you heard a lot about 1st basemans. Hernandez was my boy. Anyway, Rice gets in, let them all in. I hope this isn't a "quota" thing.
When I watched Mattingly, I got the feeling that I was watching a future hall of famer and I hated the Yankees. The same feeling I got when i watched : Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, George Brett, Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddox, and dare I say mark Mcguire. The problem with Mattingly is that the career stats don't stand up to the test and baseball is a stats oriented game.
Alright, I've made my rant. I'm happy now!
Donnie Matt also played for the Yankees during their most glorious decade, the 80s! Which resulted in 0 playoff appearances. I remember rooting for Fred McGriff & the darn Canadian Blue Jays in the 87 season. You go Fire Dog!
Wrong, the Yanks were in the 1980 ALCS and the '81 World Series.
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