Congrats FJM

The great folks at FireJoeMorgan.com have won Busted Coverage's 2007 Sports Blog of the Year. Presidential elections never elect the right guys, but Busted Coverage got it right with this one. They beat the very solid Metsblog.com. I like to both of them...so...um, I am super smart.

More HOF Talk

Not doing anything for New Years except for drinking random things, watching West Wing, and reading baseball stuff. Joe Sheehan from Baseball Prospectus and often appearances on ESPNews released his HOF ballot, if he had one.

He follows my Blyleven and Raines picks and adds, "however, Raines produced value for his teams, so much so that he’s not only a deserving Hall of Famer, but like Blyleven, one who raises the standards for entry." I like that one. I think HOF voters don't look at that enough. The Hall should be tough as hell to get in. We should make it that and our voting is the way to do that.

I don't agree with Gossage or McGwire, moreso McGwire than Gossage. I just can't make myself vote for that roided up freak.

The Murph got a great line, though. "If you can’t stand out among a group of Hall of Fame nominees, it is likely that neither you nor the other guys are Hall of Famers."

My HOF Ballot

I got to thinking...why bitch about who the BBWAA votes for when I don't even give my vote on the matter? Well, here it is. According to the HOF's rules, "Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played." You can vote up to ten players, but do not have to vote for more than one.

First Year Options
Brady Anderson
Rod Beck
Shawon Dunston
Chuck Finley
Travis Fryman
David Justice
Chuck Knoblauch
Robb Nen
Tim Raines
Jose Rijo
Todd Stottlemyre

Back Again
Harold Baines
Bert Blyleven
Dave Concepcion
Andre Dawson
Rich Gossage
Tommy John
Don Mattingly
Mark McGwire
Jack Morris
Dale Murphy
Dave Parker
Jim Rice
Lee Smith
Alan Trammell

Of the newbies, only Tim Raines really stands out. He was one of the best leadoff men in the game when he played, but because he played during Rickey Henderson's time, Raines never quite received the press. His adjusted OPS+ was 123. His most comparable players according to BR include five current HOFers (and one very comparable reference to Lou Brock). On numbers alone, he's in as far as I'm concerned.

But then, he is an admitted cocaine user who used to slide on his stomach because he didn't want to bust the cocaine veils he kept his back pocket. Integrity clause speaks up.

The players who are back again are definitely more interesting. Starting with Harold Baines. Here is where electing undeserving players haunts you. Tony Perez, who was elected in 2000, has a quite similar career to Baines. Perez has the postseason numbers and played a "real" position. Hmmm, first base. Nevertheless, if you are willing to vote for Perez, you are willing to vote for Baines.

Bert Blyleven was a great pitcher and because he pitched in markets that weren't big on baseball, he is still out of the HOF. Get him in.

Davey C sucks, Joe.

Andre Dawson had power and speed and a great arm. Unfortunately, he lacks the career numbers nor was he that great of a player.

Rich Gossage was a good player. However, I am a bit on the fence about getting this guy into the Hall. Compared to his peers, his numbers aren't that incredible. But the Bruce Sutter decision hurts any argument here.

Tommy John and Don Mattingly are neither deserving, nor that interesting to keep around. But the Yankee writers don't agree.

Mark McGwire. Depends on whether or not you penalize on integrity.

I hate Jack Morris because of one game he pitched in 1991. Luckily, his adjusted ERA+ is not good enough to warrant an argument here between my bias and my knowledge.

Dale Murphy. Good player, one of the best of the 80's offensively, but just not a player with enough good baseball qualities and stats to get elected.

Dave Parker is almost in the same department with Baines. If you vote for Perez and Baines, don't you vote for Parker?

Yet again, Jim Rice is back and with a shot. He was incredible over a six year period covering 1975-80. However, after 1980, Rice did have four years where he was 30% or better than the average player. Most comparable player is HOF Orlando Cepada. I think I gotta keep him around.

Lee Smith. I once had a discussion on Smith in which I was called a racist. I don't mind closers going to the HOF, but I want them to be dominating. Smith's WHIP of 1.26 is good, but not dominating.

Alan Trammell has very good numbers for a shortstop, but I think he's a bit under Barry Larkin and I'm still not sure Larkin is a HOFer.

So...my HOF list?

1. Blyleven
2. Rice
3. Raines

I am going to give Raines a little credit for one, admitting to his usage, and two, cleaning himself up. I am going to keep Baines and Parker out because one wrong (Perez) does not make a right.

Andruw won't be an Angel...

Andruw Jones's main competition for top free agent center fielder signed today with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of The United States of the Western Hemasphere of the planet Earth of the Milkey Way Galaxy. Torri Hunter is an okay ballplayer, but someone is going to have to explain how he got $18M a year over the next five seasons when he hasn't been that good. Let's look at a comparison between Andruw and Hunter.

Andruw career OPS+ = 113
Andruw last three years OPS+ = 117
Hunter career OPS+ = 104
Hunter last three years OPS+ = 113

Andruw career EQA = .281
Andruw last three years EQA = .283*
Hunter career EQA = .262
Hunter last three years EQA = .273*

Andruw defensive rate = 113
Andruw last three years rate = 104
Hunter career defensive rate = 102
Hunter last three years rate = 98

* = not exact...just took the final total of the last three years and averaged them out, but it's pretty close.

But Hunter had a nice year last year, critics will say. Yes, he posted a 122 adjusted OPS, two points off his best total of his career. For a five year period before 2007, Jones had a 124 adjusted OPS. Yay.

Weird Name, but Big-Time Results

Changing focus for a post...

Tim Lincecum is expected to make his major league debut on Sunday. This means two things. One, my fantasy baseball team gets a major shot in the arm and two, I am forced to watch an ESPN Game of the Week and Joe Morgan will have me contemplating suicide before the fifth inning yet again. I simply put porn on and remember that even when my friends have left me, there is Jenna and Asia.

Anywho...I've been watching Lincecum for some time. Well, that some time started when I saw his name and thought, "that's naughty." But after that, I looked at his stats and saw how crazy good the 2006 number one pick for the Giants could be. He has been absolutely filthy so far this year. In five starts, he is 4-0 and has allowed just a run in 31 innings, striking out 46 and walking eleven. That last number isn't that pretty, but his stuff is so nasty that he has allowed just 12 hits (including no homeruns).

Even more, Lincecum has a 1.72 GB/FB ratio and opposing hitters are batting all of .119 against him.

Russ Ortiz, your injury has allowed you to become Wally Pipp. That is actually better than your career was likely going to allow. You should thank Tim.