04/24/24
December 29, 2010
Should Rafael Palmeiro be in the Hall of Fame?: A look at Rafael Palmeiro's career, and the steroid allegations that ruined it.
ARod and Pettitte no, everybody else, yes.
posted by NoMich at 06:29 PM on December 29, 2010
The day may come where 3000 hits and/or 500HR (more likely this, if McGwire never makes it) are not automatic entries into Cooperstown; however that day is not now. While never a peak performer like Griffey or Thomas in the 90's, you can't argue with those numbers. First ballot on any writer's ballot who votes with integrity.
Tim "98-pound weakling" Kurkjian does not have integrity. Tim engages in the bullshit circular reasoning other writers have used to justify the hate on steroids users (and I'm not sure how strong the case is against Palmiero, other than the one failed test). He claims that "writers" will weigh the steroids more heavily than the stats... and his is part of the mass of such articles that the writers use to bully each other into the "proper" herd mentality. Few writers dare to buck the "conventional wisdom", but absolutely none can reasonably justify that conventional wisdom on its face. So they happily deny a vote to a deserving player, confident that their yellow-bellied comrades will have their back in this courageous blow for "integrity" in sports.
There are no dumber creatures in the world of "journalism" than the baseball writer. And I already can tell these racist, ignorant cunts will completely leave Bonds off the ballot in a couple of years. Eventually they'll yield, let in some player with a steroid past when the fake furor has died down, but in the meantime many of the greatest players to ever suit up will be denied access to the HoF where they belong.
posted by hincandenza at 06:29 PM on December 29, 2010
I hope he makes it, but I would be surprised if he did. Unless the league makes some sort of blanket pardon for all past PED use, I don't see the writers changing their tune anytime soon.
posted by dviking at 09:37 PM on December 29, 2010
He claims that "writers" will weigh the steroids more heavily than the stats
hincandenza, I'm not sure why you're so worked up about Kurkjian - based on the McGwire example the writers are weighing the steroids more heavily than the stats. Kurkjian seems pretty accurate with that assessment, and I think he's correct that the voters won't do Palmiero any favors compared to McGwire. Personally I think its nuts to imagine that the BBWAA is anything like a monolithical cabal when it comes to the HOF; Dan Shaunessey is not Ray Ratto is not Joe Posnanski is not Keith Law (once he gets his 10 years membership and can vote).
The article nicely sums up Palmeiro's dominant career and explains why he will certainly get fewer votes than he deserves/is expected based on raw numbers.
posted by deflated at 02:38 AM on December 31, 2010
Is the Miguel Tejada whom Palmeiro blamed for his positive test the same Tejada who denied that he had ever used steroids and then later admitted that he had used steroids?
Answer to the question posed re Palmeiro: Hell, yes, he should be in the Hall of Fame. Voters may keep him out because of steroids. Will they also keep out Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez, Tejada, etc. who have either admitted use or been accused of use?