The rest of the present Expansion Era ballot candidates.
The managers (4): Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, Billy Martin, Joe Torre. Only Martin has been here before.
The executives (2): Marvin Miller, George Steinbrenner. Repeating candidates both.
The managers.
7. Bobby Cox (managing career | playing career)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: never stood as a player candidate, did not have enough seasons.
VC voting: ballot rookie.
Seasons:
29 (28 full time, 1 partial) -- Atlanta Braves 1978-81 & 1990-2010, Toronto Blue Jays 1982-85.
Career W-L record: 2504-2001 (.556).
Best season: (by season record) 1998 Braves, 106-56 (.654), first place by +18 games, NL East champion; (by postseason success) 1995 Braves, 90-54 (.625), first place by +21 games, NL East champion, NL champion, World Series champion.
Worst season: 1979 Braves, 66-94 (.413), 6th place (of 6) by -23.5 games.
Finishes:
first place fifteen times (1985, 1991-93, 1995-2005; since MLB ignores 1994 for place finished streaks, that gives Cox 14 consecutive division championships), second place three times, third place three times.
Postseason appearances: sixteen (1985, 1991-93, 1995-2005, 2010).
Postseason W-L record: 67-69 (.493).
Postseason series record: 11-16.
Championships:
one, 1995 Atlanta Braves.
Great players managed
Hall Of Famers:
Phil Niekro,
Gaylord Perry. Very likely to be a bunch more in the years ahead, including Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Chipper Jones. Perhaps others.
Award winners:
1991 NL MVP Terry Pendleton, 1999 NL MVP Chipper Jones, 1991 & '98 NL CYA Tom Glavine, 1993-95 NL CYA Greg Maddux, 1996 NL CYA & 2002 NL Rolaids Reliever John Smoltz, 1978 NL ROY Bob Horner, 1990 NL ROY Dave Justice, 2000 NL ROY Rafael Furcal. Gave 2011 NL ROY Craig Kimbrel his major league debut in 2010. Broke in Andruw Jones at the age of 18.
Honors: Four time winner of the Manager Of The Year Award (1985 AL, 1991, 2004-05 NL). The Braves have retired Cox's #6 jersey.
Baseball bonus points:
Cox was a player for two seasons (1968-69) for the New York
Yankees. He played third base, was not very good at hitting, and was not all that at fielding either. His most common spot in the batting order was 8th, which in those pre-designated hitter years meant that he was the worst non-pitcher in the lineup. So this part of his baseball career does nothing to polish his Hall candidacy, not that he needs it. Cox also served as general manager of the Braves from 1986-90, so he was a key builder of the 1990s dynasty teams.
Bobby Cox's career managing the Braves was undoubtedly Hall-class performance. Sure he had massive talent on the roster, but he still had to use it, and he did so brilliantly. Granted there was only one trophy for the Braves' epic run of division titles, but the postseason can be slippery that way. Five trips to the World Series as the NL representative team is impressive by itself (pennants used to be held in higher regard). Cox had a brilliant career, and deserves the plaque. I'm pleased to support him, not that he needs it.
Chipmaker's vote: Yes!
8. Tony LaRussa (managing career | playing career)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: never stood as a player candidate, did not have enough seasons.
VC voting: ballot rookie.
Seasons:
33 (32 full time/majority, one of which was split between teams, 1 partial) -- Chicago White Sox 1979-86, Oakland Athletics 1986-95, St. Louis Cardinals 1996-2011.
Career W-L record: 2728-2365 (.536).
Best season: 2004 Cardinals, 105-57 (.648), first place by +13 games, NL Central champion, NL pennant. LaRussa has three World Series champions, but none of them were as strong as this team. The best of them was the 1989 Athletics.
Worst season: 1993 Athletics, 68-94 (.420), 7th place (of 7) by -26 games.
Finishes:
first place twelve times (1983, 1988-90, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004-06, 2009), second place four times, third place seven and one-half times.
Postseason appearances: fourteen (1983, 1988-90, 1992, 1996, 2000-02, 2004-06, 2009, 2011).
Postseason W-L record: 70-58 (.547).
Postseason series record: 15-12.
Championships: three -- 1989 Oakland Athletics, 2006 & 2011 St. Louis Cardinals.
Great players managed
Hall Of Famers: Carlton Fisk, Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson, Goose Gossage, Ozzie Smith.
Award winners:
1983 AL CYA LaMarr Hoyt, 1983 AL ROY Ron Kittle, 1985 AL ROY Ozzie Guillen, 1986 AL ROY & 1988 AL MVP Jose Canseco, 1990 AL MVP Rickey Henderson, 1992 AL MVP & CYA Dennis Eckersley (also won the 1988 & 1992 AL Rolaids Reliever Awards), 1990 AL CYA Bob Welch, 1987 AL ROY Mark McGwire, 1988 AL ROY Walt Weiss, 2001 NL ROY & 2005 & '08-09 NL MVP Albert Pujols, 2005 NL CYA Chris Carpenter.
Honors: A four-time winner of the Manager Of The Year Award (AL 1983, '88, '92; NL 2002). The Cardinals have retired LaRussa's #10 jersey.
Baseball bonus points: LaRussa was a player for six seasons (1963, 1968-71, 1973) for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs. He mainly played second base. Couldn't hit. But like Cox, this hardly matters to his baseball credentials or his Hall testimony.
LaRussa, similar to Cox, is ridiculously overqualified for the honor of the Hall. One of the best managers (or most infuriating, if you were rooting for the opposing team) of the past half-century, LaRussa fostered success, got the most out of his players (that's sixteen major awards listed above, earned by his players), and knew how to use everyone to get the most of their abilities. He changed how the bullpen is used -- no longer mop-up guys, while in Oakland he structured the 'pen so middle relievers would get the game to the ninth, where Eck would come in and nail the win shut -- it was all about getting the game to the closer. Some people despise this approach, but it has become the standard, and LaRussa deserves credit for that. He also was not afraid to try experiments when the season was in the drink -- in 1993, he tried using his starting pitchers in three to four inning roles, to see if opposing teams would be unable to adjust to different styles throughout the game. The experiment was unpopular with his own team and ended in less than two weeks -- but LaRussa had the tenacity to give it a try.
This man belongs on a plaque. I don't doubt that. However, this one time, I will not support his candidacy, and here is why:
The BBWAA voters have been callously mistreating player candidates who have been tarnished with even the merest whiff of allegation of involvement with steroids. Some we know were users -- Canseco, McGwire. Others are accused with nothing more than "lookit his arms" (Bagwell). The Hall has set no policy (officially), so the voters are free to do as they wish, and they are, to my eyes, being indefensibly petty. Prior to 2004, no rules were being broken, and given how enjoyable the baseball was in the moment, I'm willing to let any and all infractions, real or (more commonly) imagined, go and disappear into the winds of history. But I'm not a voter, so it is easy to project that the maltreatment of worthy candidates will continue.
LaRussa and his teams benefited from steroids and the men who used them. I don't really care who did or did not. But, as long as the player candidates are being so abused, being denied due votes, I think LaRussa deserves the same. He has claimed ignorance, but c'mon -- LaRussa is long noted for his keen mind and sharp intellect, and he was trained as a lawyer before entering baseball management. "I didn't see anything" is a weak shield here; even lacking knowledge, he must have suspected funny things were ongoing in his locker rooms in Oakland and St. Louis.
With the players being denied, I think, this one time, to make a (likely meaningless) point, LaRussa should as well.
If he's still on the Expansion Era ballot in the 2017 voting cycle, he'll have my support. This time, for the reason given, he does not.
Chipmaker's vote: No. But if he doesn't make it, mission accomplished, and I will support him next time, because he is extremely deserving.
9. Billy Martin (managing career | playing career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: as a player candidate, 1 ballot, 0.3%.
VC voting: 2003 -- 27.8% (22 of 79 votes), 2007 -- 14.8% (12/81), 2008 -- ≤12.5% (less than 3/16), 2010 -- ≤12.5% (less than 3/16), 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8/16).
Managerial career
Seasons:
16 (15 full time/majority, 1 partial) -- Minnesota Twins 1969, Detroit
Tigers 1971-73, Texas Rangers 1973-75, New York Yankees 1975-78, '79,
'83, '85, '88, Oakland Athletics 1980-82.
Career W-L record: 1253-1013 (.553).
Best season: 1977 Yankees, 100-62 (.617), first place by +2.5 games, AL East champion, AL pennant, World Series championship.
Worst season: 1982 Athletics, 68-94 (.420), 5th place (of 7) by -25 games.
Finishes:
first place five and one-half times (1969, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978,
1981), second place four and one-half times, third place three times.
Postseason appearances: five (1969, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1981), and managed the 1978 Yankees about 60% into the season.
Postseason W-L record: 15-19 (.441).
Postseason series record: 4-4.
Championships:
one, 1977 New York Yankees. Managed the 1978 Yankees for more than the
first half of the season but was not with the team when they hoisted
the trophy.
Great players managed
Hall Of Famers:
Rod Carew, Goose Gossage, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Reggie
Jackson, Ferguson Jenkins, Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, Phil Niekro,
Gaylord Perry, Dave Winfield.
Award winners:
1969 AL MVP Killebrew, 1974 AL MVP Jeff Burroughs, 1974 AL ROY Mike
Hargrove, 1976 AL MVP Thurman Munson, 1977 AL CYA Sparky Lyle, 1978 AL
CYA Ron Guidry, 1985 AL MVP Don Mattingly.
Honors: The Yankees have retired Martin's #1 jersey.
Baseball bonus points:
Martin was a player for 11 seasons (1950-53, '55-61) for the New York
Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians,
Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves, and Minnesota Twins. A member of
four Yankees championship teams, MVP of the 1953 World Series. One
All-Star selection.
Geez, Martin again? He must have some old drinking buddies on the selection committee, because while Martin was an interesting side show during his career, and was a good enough manager -- he did get teams into the postseason -- he had no staying power. He was a short-term fixer, and his fixes did not last, he burned bridges, and he wore out his welcomes speedily. Come on already, Hall of Fame grand poobahs, enact some relegation mechanism that keeps such obvious deadwood -- no matter how popular he might be in certain insider circles -- from getting back on the ballot every single time and clogging the way for better, or at least fresher, candidates.
Martin's career does not have sufficient historical weight, and his name needs to be placed in the back of the bottom drawer for a decade at least. Didn't support him before and won't this time, and the notion of actively campaigning against him is sounding appealing.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
10. Joe Torre (managing career | playing career)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: as a player candidate, 15 ballots, peaking at 22.2% on his final ballot (never broke 15% prior).
VC voting:
ballot rookie as a manager. As a player: 2003 -- 35.8% (29 of 81 votes), 2005 -- 45.0% (36/80), 2007 -- 31.7% (26/84), 2009 -- 29.7% (19/64).
Seasons: 29 (26 full time, 3 partial) -- New York Mets 1977-81, Atlanta Braves 1982-84, St. Louis Cardinals 1990-95, New York Yankees 1996-2007, Los Angeles Dodgers 2008-10.
Career W-L record: 2326-1997 (.538).
Best season: 1998 Yankees, 114-48 (.704), first place by +22 games, AL East champion, AL pennant, World Series championship.
Worst season: 1979 Mets, 63-99 (.389), 6th place (of 6) by -35 games.
Finishes:
first place thirteen times (1982, 1996, 1998-2006, 2008-09), second place four times, third place four times.
Postseason appearances: fifteen (1982, 1996-2009).
Postseason W-L record: 84-58 (.592).
Postseason series record: 19-11.
Championships:
four -- 1996 & 1998-2000 Yankees, the first three-consecutive titles since the 1972-74 Athletics.
Great players managed
Hall Of Famers:
Tom Seaver (for about two weeks, before he was traded), Phil Niekro, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs. There will be more in time, particularly Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
Award winners:
1982-83 NL MVP Dale Murphy, 1991-92 Rolaids Reliever Lee Smith, 1995 Rolaids Reliever Tom Henke, 1996 AL ROY Derek Jeter, 1996 Rolaids Reliever John Wetteland, 1999, 2001, 2004-05 Rolaids Reliever Mariano Rivera, 2005 & '07 AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, 2001 AL CYA Roger Clemens.
Honors: 1996 & 1998 AL Manager Of The Year Award.
Baseball bonus points:
Torre was a player for 18 seasons (1960-77) for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Mets. Won the 1971 NL MVP along with the batting title thanks to 230 hits. Nine
All-Star selections, including six starts (four at catcher, two at third base). One Gold Glove at catcher. Was the second-to-last player-manager, serving as such for less than a month with the 1977 Mets before hanging up his bat and glove. Has held various positions with MLB's home office since leaving the Dodgers, futzing around with player relations or field conditions or the next instant replay proposal -- he just won't leave.
Torre was a very good player but not quite Hall measure. His managerial career doesn't need any help, but his playing and managing combined push him way beyond the Hall's thresholds. This is not important, as Torre's years managing, particularly his Yankees tenure, gives him all the testimony he needs. Four championships? No one who wins four trophies is kept out without good reason, and there's no good reasons to keep Torre out. He's in, it just hasn't been announced yet.
Sure, he was blessed with great talent on his teams -- the 1998 Yankees were a juggernaut -- but he's the one who put the guys on the field. Give him due credit, and the Hall plaque.
Chipmaker's vote: Yes!
The executives.
11. Marvin Miller (reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall considerationVC voting: 2003 -- 44.3% (35 of 79 votes), 2007 -- 63.0% (51/81), 2008 -- 25.0% (3/12), 2010 58.3% (7/12), 2011 -- 68.8% (11/16).
Claims to fame:
executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association
from 1966 to 1983. Successfully negotiated increasingly more beneficial
Collective Bargaining Agreements with MLB. Planned for and accomplished
overturn of the reserve clause, granting the players free agency rights.
Marvin Miller is the most deserving honoree not yet in the Hall. He brought about profound and lasting change, for the better, to how baseball conducts its business. There are few across the long reach of the game's history who have made a contribution even close to the monumental scale of what Miller accomplished. Free agency is the best known part of his legacy, but he had other achievements as well.
He deserves the plaque. He is now deceased, sadly, and if the Hall's or Major League Baseball's powers-that-be feared a ranting diatribe and indictment from a Miller acceptance speech, that is no longer an operative concern, at least not from the man himself. Ah well.
Chipmaker's vote: as always, YES!
12. George Steinbrenner (reviewed on the 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration: 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8/16).
Claims to fame:
principal owner of the New York Yankees, from purchase in 1973 through
his death in 2010. Kept an active hand involved with team operations for
most of that time. One of the first owners to engage free agents,
signing Catfish Hunter in 1974 and Reggie Jackson in 1976. Oversaw
Yankees teams to 19 postseason appearances, eleven American League
pennants, and seven World Series championships (1977, '78, '96, '98,
'99, 2000, '09).
I supported The Boss last time, but uncomfortably. If I limit myself to no more than four votes, as the actual electors are constrained, then Steinbrenner would be my fifth, and I toss him overboard easily. I haven't given a lot of thought to reconsidering him as a candidate, but it does not trouble me at all to change my standing to No. The man owned the Yankees, brought about titles, and so forth -- but really, the best things he did was (a) spend money and (b) get out of the way of the smart baseball people. When he did put his hand in, mainly during the first half of his ownership (but after his "nervous rookie" phase, when he was hands-off), he messed things up. He knew business, but he didn't well know baseball. I don't think he belongs in the Hall.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
Summing up the managers and executives: I support Cox, Torre, and Miller. Combined with Simmons, that makes four votes, the maximum. Sorry, other candidates; LaRussa, if you're still here in three years, I've got your back.
Good luck, men.
Sunday, December 08, 2013
The Hall of Fame's 2014 Expansion Era ballot review -- part 1, the player candidates
Where has the time gone? Oh, I know where most of the year went for me -- down a spiritual drain -- but I'm thinking more about how the Expansion Era ballot (one of several successors to the Veterans Committee, though only the name has really changed) is going to be announced tomorrow, December 9th. So I best get a move on.
To save time, and because to do otherwise serves little purpose, I'm only going to do long reviews on new candidates. Fortunately (for this cause), the 2014 EE ballot has a lot of retreads, and since there's essentially nothing new to say about them and, after brief but fair consideration, no reason to give their baseball careers a thorough re-scrutinization or, indeed, any reason to change my previous support stances, I'll be doing rather short recaps on the repeat candidates. So let's go.
The players (6): Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Dave Parker, Dan Quisenberry, and Ted Simmons.
The managers (4): Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, Billy Martin, Joe Torre.
The executives (2): Marvin Miller, George Steinbrenner.
On with the players.
1. Dave Concepcion (career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 16.9%.
VC voting: 2011 -- 50% (8 of 16 votes).
Primary position: shortstop.
Playing career: 19 seasons, 1970-88 -- all with the Cincinnati Reds.
Standout season: 1978 -- 170 hits, 6 HR, 33 doubles (career high), .301/.357/.405, 114 OPS+, 3.7 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1974, 1976, 1981. Hitting was never Concepcion's forte, however.
Career WAR: 40.0.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: nine All-Star selections (five starts), 1982 All-Star Game MVP, five NL Gold Gloves for Shortstop, two NL Silver Sluggers for Shortstop, member (and a valuable one) of the legendary 1970s Big Red Machine, which won two World Series championships (1975-76), two other NL pennants (1970, '72), and two other NL West titles (1973, when Concepcíon was injured, and the final blaze of glory in 1979). Jersey #13 retired by the Reds.
Good with the glove, but not great. High profile due to being a worthy part of the Big Red Machine teams, but that doesn't make him a better player than he was. Defense-dominant candidates usually need a touch of field-built legend to drive their stories, and Concepcion does not have it, or at least not nearly enough of it. There was plenty of video in his years, so if there were some sterling plays to hold forth as his testimony, we'd have them available to review. Never measured up before, won't now.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
2. Steve Garvey (career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 42.6%.
VC voting: 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8 of 16 votes).
Primary position: first baseman.
Playing career: 19 seasons, 1969-87 -- Los Angeles Dodgers 1969-82, San Diego Padres 1983-87.
Standout season: 1978 -- all 162 games played, 89 runs, 202 hits, 36 doubles, 9 triples (his career high), 21 HR, 113 RBI, 40 walks, 10 stolen bases, .316/.353/.499, 137 OPS+, 4.6 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979.
Career WAR: 37.6.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: 1974 NL MVP, ten All-Star selections (nine starts), 1974 & '78 All-Star Game MVP, 1978 & '84 NLCS MVP, four NL Gold Gloves for First Base. Led NL in games played six times and hits two times. Six 200+ hit seasons. Member of five postseason teams, all of which went to the World Series, including the 1981 champion Dodgers. Jersey #6 retired by the Padres.
Garvey worked hard to make himself look good. And he was good -- but he was not great. He did step up in his postseason appearances, which is noteworthy. That's not enough, however.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
3. Tommy John (career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 31.7% on his final ballot.
VC voting: 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8 of 16 votes).
Primary position: left-handed starting pitcher.
Playing career: 26 seasons, 1963-74 & '76-89 -- Cleveland Indians 1963-64, Chicago White Sox 1965-71, Los Angeles Dodgers 1972-74 & '76-78, New York Yankees 1979-82 & '86-89, California Angels 1982-85, Oakland Athletics 1985.
Standout season: 1968 -- 10-5 (.667), 1.98 ERA, 25 starts, 5 complete games, 1 shutout, 177.1 innings pitched, 117 K, 1.038 WHIP, 161 ERA+, 5.6 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1969, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981. But his most important season was 1976, as no one ever expected him to pitch at all.
Career WAR: 21.9.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: four All-Star selections, three coming after 1975. Led the AL in shutouts three times, and the NL in winning percentage twice.
John had three 20+ win seasons, all coming soon after his landmark surgery. John was the first baseball player to undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery, a procedure which now informally bears his name: Tommy John surgery. His historic impact is the 1975 season, which he missed completely while recovering and rehabbing. Other than that, while he was a good pitcher, he was not a great one (though he bumped against the underside of greatness a few seasons). He holds a special distinction in baseball history, but that doesn't make him Hall measure.
I do think it is past time the Hall allowed his surgeon, Dr. Frank Jobe, the man who pioneered the ulnar collateral ligament repair technique, to stand as a Hall candidate. His impact has been enormous, restoring player health and playing careers. C'mon, Hall solons, think about it and do it.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
4. Dave Parker (career | reviewed on 2011 BBWAA ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 24.5% on his second ballot.
VC voting: ballot rookie.
Primary position: right field, finished as a designated hitter.
Playing career: 19 seasons, 1973-91 -- Pittsburgh Pirates 1973-83, Cincinnati Reds 1984-87, Oakland Athletics 1988-89, Milwaukee Brewers 1990, California Angels 1991, Toronto Blue Jays 1991.
Standout season: 1978 -- 194 hits, 32 doubles, 12 triples, 30 HR, 117 RBI, 102 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, .334/.394/.585, 166 OPS+, 7.1 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1985.
Career WAR: 37.8.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: Seven All-Star selections (four starts), 1978 NL MVP, 1979 All-Star MVP, three NL Gold Gloves for OF, three Silver Sluggers (two NL for OF, one AL for DH). Led league in batting twice, slugging twice, hits once, RBI once. Member of two World Series champions, the 1979 Pirates and the 1989 Athletics.
Good grief, Parker just finished his entire tenure on the BBWAA ballot, and here he is again, on the ballot his first time eligible. The Hall needs a better constraint mechanism, because if 15 years of the BBWAA clearly saying No to Parker does nothing to dissuade the Expansion Era selection committee from giving him another chance this soon, there needs to be a longer mandatory delay.
Parker had a great peak going, and then blew it due to a bad pharmaceutical habit. By the time he kicked that, he had lost several prime seasons. He recovered a bit, but the magic was gone, and then it was just a long, slow career tail. Parker truly was great for a too-short span, and then became a "coulda been". Oh well. Stay off drugs, youngsters.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
5. Dan Quisenberry (career)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 1 ballot, receiving a mere 3.8%, and relegated. This was brutally unfair.
VC voting: ballot rookie.
Primary position: right-handed relief pitcher. A classic submariner.
Playing career: 12 seasons, 1979-90 -- Kansas City Royals 1979-88, St. Louis Cardinals 1988-89, San Francisco Giants 1990.
Standout season: 1983 -- 5-3 (.625), 1.94 ERA, 69 games, 62 games finished, 45 saves, 139.0 innings pitched, 48 K, 0.928 WHIP, 210 ERA+, 5.5 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1982, 1984, 1985.
Career WAR: 24.9.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: three All-Star selections. Led the AL in saves five times. Five AL Rolaids Relief awards. Member of the 1985 World Series champion and the 1980 AL champion Royals teams. Finished in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting five times, twice as high as second place, which is rare for a reliever. His 45 saves in 1983 set the major league record (which lasted only until 1986, but for a brief time it was his).
At last, new blood on the ballot!
Quisenberry isn't a Hall of Fame level player, but he definitely deserved better than the BBWAA gave him in his one measly time on their ballot. Sure, relief pitchers are considered second-class baseball citizens -- moreso in 1996 when he stood as a candidate than today -- but this was the Quiz! His brilliant peak was evident! How did they miss so badly? Grrr.
Well, he did fall off a cliff after 1985. Partly this was due to the Royals collapsing after the championship season (which was flukish anyway, but they did it), so the save opportunities weren't there in large amounts. Partly Quiz got old -- 1986 was his age 33 season, and he'd been piling up plenty of innings. The CYA votes stopped being cast, though with good reason. He had a short, albeit very good career, and a short (four seasons, with two more preceding almost as noteworthy) peak, albeit a brilliant one.
I am delighted to see a new player name on this ballot, and I'm delighted to see it be Quisenberry, and I am delighted to see him get another chance. I will be thrilled if he gains the plaque -- but I doubt he will. Much as I liked him, and as good as he was, his career (even for an ace closer in the era he played during) is not Hall class, and I cannot support his candidacy.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
6. Ted Simmons (career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: one ballot, finishing with 3.7%.
VC voting: 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8 of 16 votes).
Primary position: catcher.
Playing career: 21 seasons, 1968-88 -- St. Louis Cardinals 1968-80, Milwaukee Brewers 1981-85, Atlanta Braves 1986-88.
Standout season: 1975 -- 80 runs, 193 hits, 32 doubles, 18 HR, 100 RBI, 63 walks, .332/.396/.491, 142 OPS+, 4.9 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980.
Career WAR: 50.2.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: eight All-Star selections (two starts), one NL Silver Slugger for Catcher. Twice led NL in runners caught stealing. Member of the first two Brewers postseason teams, including the 1982 American League champions.
Simmons was a switch-hitting catcher, and a good one, who never led the league in any popular offensive category (he did lead twice in intentional walks), but had a bunch of top five or top ten standings pretty much every year during his peak, as well as among career numbers for catchers. It is Simmons' hard fortune to have been playing the same position in the same league at the same time as all-time great and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, so Simba never looked to be better than second-best at anything, particularly among catchers. Being second-best to Bench is no cause for shame, though, and this man more than held his own on the diamond. A better player than most realized, and well deserving of the bronze plaque. I supported him before and I'm proud to do so again.
Chipmaker's vote: Yes!
Summary of the player candidates: I support Simmons.
Coming later tonight: the managers and executives. A few repeat candidates, of course.
To save time, and because to do otherwise serves little purpose, I'm only going to do long reviews on new candidates. Fortunately (for this cause), the 2014 EE ballot has a lot of retreads, and since there's essentially nothing new to say about them and, after brief but fair consideration, no reason to give their baseball careers a thorough re-scrutinization or, indeed, any reason to change my previous support stances, I'll be doing rather short recaps on the repeat candidates. So let's go.
The players (6): Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Dave Parker, Dan Quisenberry, and Ted Simmons.
The managers (4): Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, Billy Martin, Joe Torre.
The executives (2): Marvin Miller, George Steinbrenner.
On with the players.
1. Dave Concepcion (career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 16.9%.
VC voting: 2011 -- 50% (8 of 16 votes).
Primary position: shortstop.
Playing career: 19 seasons, 1970-88 -- all with the Cincinnati Reds.
Standout season: 1978 -- 170 hits, 6 HR, 33 doubles (career high), .301/.357/.405, 114 OPS+, 3.7 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1974, 1976, 1981. Hitting was never Concepcion's forte, however.
Career WAR: 40.0.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: nine All-Star selections (five starts), 1982 All-Star Game MVP, five NL Gold Gloves for Shortstop, two NL Silver Sluggers for Shortstop, member (and a valuable one) of the legendary 1970s Big Red Machine, which won two World Series championships (1975-76), two other NL pennants (1970, '72), and two other NL West titles (1973, when Concepcíon was injured, and the final blaze of glory in 1979). Jersey #13 retired by the Reds.
Good with the glove, but not great. High profile due to being a worthy part of the Big Red Machine teams, but that doesn't make him a better player than he was. Defense-dominant candidates usually need a touch of field-built legend to drive their stories, and Concepcion does not have it, or at least not nearly enough of it. There was plenty of video in his years, so if there were some sterling plays to hold forth as his testimony, we'd have them available to review. Never measured up before, won't now.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
2. Steve Garvey (career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 42.6%.
VC voting: 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8 of 16 votes).
Primary position: first baseman.
Playing career: 19 seasons, 1969-87 -- Los Angeles Dodgers 1969-82, San Diego Padres 1983-87.
Standout season: 1978 -- all 162 games played, 89 runs, 202 hits, 36 doubles, 9 triples (his career high), 21 HR, 113 RBI, 40 walks, 10 stolen bases, .316/.353/.499, 137 OPS+, 4.6 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979.
Career WAR: 37.6.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: 1974 NL MVP, ten All-Star selections (nine starts), 1974 & '78 All-Star Game MVP, 1978 & '84 NLCS MVP, four NL Gold Gloves for First Base. Led NL in games played six times and hits two times. Six 200+ hit seasons. Member of five postseason teams, all of which went to the World Series, including the 1981 champion Dodgers. Jersey #6 retired by the Padres.
Garvey worked hard to make himself look good. And he was good -- but he was not great. He did step up in his postseason appearances, which is noteworthy. That's not enough, however.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
3. Tommy John (career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 31.7% on his final ballot.
VC voting: 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8 of 16 votes).
Primary position: left-handed starting pitcher.
Playing career: 26 seasons, 1963-74 & '76-89 -- Cleveland Indians 1963-64, Chicago White Sox 1965-71, Los Angeles Dodgers 1972-74 & '76-78, New York Yankees 1979-82 & '86-89, California Angels 1982-85, Oakland Athletics 1985.
Standout season: 1968 -- 10-5 (.667), 1.98 ERA, 25 starts, 5 complete games, 1 shutout, 177.1 innings pitched, 117 K, 1.038 WHIP, 161 ERA+, 5.6 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1969, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981. But his most important season was 1976, as no one ever expected him to pitch at all.
Career WAR: 21.9.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: four All-Star selections, three coming after 1975. Led the AL in shutouts three times, and the NL in winning percentage twice.
John had three 20+ win seasons, all coming soon after his landmark surgery. John was the first baseball player to undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery, a procedure which now informally bears his name: Tommy John surgery. His historic impact is the 1975 season, which he missed completely while recovering and rehabbing. Other than that, while he was a good pitcher, he was not a great one (though he bumped against the underside of greatness a few seasons). He holds a special distinction in baseball history, but that doesn't make him Hall measure.
I do think it is past time the Hall allowed his surgeon, Dr. Frank Jobe, the man who pioneered the ulnar collateral ligament repair technique, to stand as a Hall candidate. His impact has been enormous, restoring player health and playing careers. C'mon, Hall solons, think about it and do it.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
4. Dave Parker (career | reviewed on 2011 BBWAA ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 24.5% on his second ballot.
VC voting: ballot rookie.
Primary position: right field, finished as a designated hitter.
Playing career: 19 seasons, 1973-91 -- Pittsburgh Pirates 1973-83, Cincinnati Reds 1984-87, Oakland Athletics 1988-89, Milwaukee Brewers 1990, California Angels 1991, Toronto Blue Jays 1991.
Standout season: 1978 -- 194 hits, 32 doubles, 12 triples, 30 HR, 117 RBI, 102 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, .334/.394/.585, 166 OPS+, 7.1 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1985.
Career WAR: 37.8.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: Seven All-Star selections (four starts), 1978 NL MVP, 1979 All-Star MVP, three NL Gold Gloves for OF, three Silver Sluggers (two NL for OF, one AL for DH). Led league in batting twice, slugging twice, hits once, RBI once. Member of two World Series champions, the 1979 Pirates and the 1989 Athletics.
Good grief, Parker just finished his entire tenure on the BBWAA ballot, and here he is again, on the ballot his first time eligible. The Hall needs a better constraint mechanism, because if 15 years of the BBWAA clearly saying No to Parker does nothing to dissuade the Expansion Era selection committee from giving him another chance this soon, there needs to be a longer mandatory delay.
Parker had a great peak going, and then blew it due to a bad pharmaceutical habit. By the time he kicked that, he had lost several prime seasons. He recovered a bit, but the magic was gone, and then it was just a long, slow career tail. Parker truly was great for a too-short span, and then became a "coulda been". Oh well. Stay off drugs, youngsters.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
5. Dan Quisenberry (career)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: 1 ballot, receiving a mere 3.8%, and relegated. This was brutally unfair.
VC voting: ballot rookie.
Primary position: right-handed relief pitcher. A classic submariner.
Playing career: 12 seasons, 1979-90 -- Kansas City Royals 1979-88, St. Louis Cardinals 1988-89, San Francisco Giants 1990.
Standout season: 1983 -- 5-3 (.625), 1.94 ERA, 69 games, 62 games finished, 45 saves, 139.0 innings pitched, 48 K, 0.928 WHIP, 210 ERA+, 5.5 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1982, 1984, 1985.
Career WAR: 24.9.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: three All-Star selections. Led the AL in saves five times. Five AL Rolaids Relief awards. Member of the 1985 World Series champion and the 1980 AL champion Royals teams. Finished in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting five times, twice as high as second place, which is rare for a reliever. His 45 saves in 1983 set the major league record (which lasted only until 1986, but for a brief time it was his).
At last, new blood on the ballot!
Quisenberry isn't a Hall of Fame level player, but he definitely deserved better than the BBWAA gave him in his one measly time on their ballot. Sure, relief pitchers are considered second-class baseball citizens -- moreso in 1996 when he stood as a candidate than today -- but this was the Quiz! His brilliant peak was evident! How did they miss so badly? Grrr.
Well, he did fall off a cliff after 1985. Partly this was due to the Royals collapsing after the championship season (which was flukish anyway, but they did it), so the save opportunities weren't there in large amounts. Partly Quiz got old -- 1986 was his age 33 season, and he'd been piling up plenty of innings. The CYA votes stopped being cast, though with good reason. He had a short, albeit very good career, and a short (four seasons, with two more preceding almost as noteworthy) peak, albeit a brilliant one.
I am delighted to see a new player name on this ballot, and I'm delighted to see it be Quisenberry, and I am delighted to see him get another chance. I will be thrilled if he gains the plaque -- but I doubt he will. Much as I liked him, and as good as he was, his career (even for an ace closer in the era he played during) is not Hall class, and I cannot support his candidacy.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
6. Ted Simmons (career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)
Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: one ballot, finishing with 3.7%.
VC voting: 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8 of 16 votes).
Primary position: catcher.
Playing career: 21 seasons, 1968-88 -- St. Louis Cardinals 1968-80, Milwaukee Brewers 1981-85, Atlanta Braves 1986-88.
Standout season: 1975 -- 80 runs, 193 hits, 32 doubles, 18 HR, 100 RBI, 63 walks, .332/.396/.491, 142 OPS+, 4.9 WAR.
Other noteworthy seasons: 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980.
Career WAR: 50.2.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: eight All-Star selections (two starts), one NL Silver Slugger for Catcher. Twice led NL in runners caught stealing. Member of the first two Brewers postseason teams, including the 1982 American League champions.
Simmons was a switch-hitting catcher, and a good one, who never led the league in any popular offensive category (he did lead twice in intentional walks), but had a bunch of top five or top ten standings pretty much every year during his peak, as well as among career numbers for catchers. It is Simmons' hard fortune to have been playing the same position in the same league at the same time as all-time great and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, so Simba never looked to be better than second-best at anything, particularly among catchers. Being second-best to Bench is no cause for shame, though, and this man more than held his own on the diamond. A better player than most realized, and well deserving of the bronze plaque. I supported him before and I'm proud to do so again.
Chipmaker's vote: Yes!
Summary of the player candidates: I support Simmons.
Coming later tonight: the managers and executives. A few repeat candidates, of course.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
49
This past Saturday was my 49th birthday. Yep, nearly half a century, still doing okay, drawing breath and so forth. It was, overall, a good day.
I haven't written much lately, not for publication, because my life went down a black hole last year. Don't ask; those of you whom I want to know specifics, already know (read enough between the lines that follow and you'll get the gist). No one is dead or sickly. Life goes on. But this was my first birthday since those dark times (which, admittedly, are not over, but they've progressed to a dark gray at least), and it worked out okay.
I really haven't cared much about my birthdays in years. I enjoyed rolling the tens digit at 30 and at 40, and I have appreciated what little fuss was made each year, but it is a day, it comes and it goes, and that's enough for me. But this was my first b-day since I started circling the drain, and I wasn't sure how it would go.... and really, I didn't care much, because this day had a far greater import. The daughter of a real-life friend, Alanna, was graduating college -- with a 4.0, summa cum laude! -- and I wanted this to be her day as much as I could make that happen. So I made arrangements for me and the kids to travel to the Dallas area in order to participate in the Alanna-fete.
Preparatory to the road trip, I made a post on a popular social media site -- yeah, that one, I'm not gonna name it -- thanking birthday well-wishers in advance, but I would be traveling. The wishes rolled in like usual, nearly one hundred eventually. I also got one HB by text, and while once upon a time this one salutation would have made my day, this year it was empty and meaningless. I ignored it.
I woke very early Saturday -- my sleep cycles are slowly normalizing, but I'm well used to how they go now -- and when the hour struck, headed out to take care of some errands. Car fueled, votes cast, a moderate amount of donuts procured for the sleeping offspring. Home again, one awoke, I continued doing things around the house, inflated the tires and so forth. Second one awoke, donuts were consumed, packing eventually got organized (one overnight is not difficult). And in here, somewhere, the dear kids gifted me a few birthday tokens -- handmade flavored fettuccine, a tiny stylized moose, a shadowboxed butterfly, some Pokemon cards, and roasted pecans. More than I expected (possibly more than I deserved), but all welcome -- my children as so wonderful. Finally I showered and threw our meager luggage into the car. We finally hit the road nearly an hour later than I'd wanted, but it was mostly my fault. One stop at Target, and we got underway with earnest continuity.
The miles clicked by, we made a brief stop in Temple for lunch, then continued northward. Anne called to check on our progress -- the afterparty had begun, were we near? Delays had added about 75 minutes to my estimate, but we would be there! ...Right after disconnecting, the highway turned into a parking lot, immediately after the I-35 East/West split. Dammit. After the crawl proceeded enough, I followed suit of other indignant drivers and made an illegal (but obviously popular) U-turn onto the oncoming side, followed immediately by taking I-35 West toward Fort Worth. More distance, more time, but at least we were moving!
I pulled over after a bit to fire up the GPS -- I hadn't planned on using it until almost to McKinney as I know the route by heart (but not the restaurant), but now I did need it; and with a splitter jack, I didn't have to sacrifice the Sirius-XM as well. We pushed on.
The kids, experienced lifelong travelers, we doing great. Carson played his Nintendo 3DS or scoured through his binder of Pokemon cards, while Amalie continued rocking out or writing on her iPad Mini. This level of technology is standard for them, and they thrive.
Finally the Dallas skyline appeared, and while traffic predictably got thick, it kept moving other than one bottleneck. Through that, and up the Distressway, and finally McKinney was on the radar. We got there, meals long since eaten, plates cleared, coffee being sipped -- but these wonderful people stayed, enjoying the event, and waiting for us. Waiting for me!
Almost as soon as we stepped in, Anne coaxed the well-coached crowd into serenading me with the traditional birthday song. I truly was touched; I hadn't even thought about my birthday since Austin.
Steve, Anne, Alanna, Leon, Ray, Barbara, and others unrecognized here -- thank you dearly. I love you so.
Rather than be introduced further, and the kids already seated and reviewing the menu, it was my turn to toast the guest of honor, Alanna. There is no recording (at least I hope not), but it went something like this.
"I've known Steve since our time at Rensselaer. In January 1983, I was sitting in a math class, waiting for it to begin, when a fellow student entered the room. I had seen him a few times around campus, we had run into each other once or twice down at WRPI, but this day elevated him to memorable for how he entered the classroom. He was festively dressed in a faux tuxedo tee shirt, suspenders -- and roller skates. Yes, he skated into the room and sat next to me. We hit it off.
"He graduated in December 1985 -- I stayed on, had unfinished business -- and moved to Nyack, where he lived downstairs from Barbara. And it turned out, Barbara had a daughter, Anne. The birds and the bees being what they are, they saw something in each other.
"Jump ahead to August 1986. The four of us -- me, Steve, Anne, and Barbara -- had a very nice dinner in Saratoga. Afterwards we walked the peaceful streets on a lovely evening. It turns out, and I don't think the term even existed then, I was Steve's wingman. I paired up with Barbara, we had pleasant conversation, but about fifty feet behind us, Steve and Anne were sparking something. And it's worked out well for them.
"In early 1990, Steve helped me move out of Connecticut, in a blizzard, for Austin. And in April that year, I proudly stood as his best man. I gave a poor toast that day, and hope today to do better.
"In 1991, a few weeks after Alanna was born, I headed up to the Dallas area to watch the Red Sox lose to the Rangers. Steve and Anne were always good about putting me up on these trips, and of course I wanted to see the baby. I rang the doorbell that night, and Steve opened the door with a tiny bundle asleep on his shoulder and the proudest smile I have ever seen upon the face of man. Now that I have children of my own, I better understand the feeling.
"Later that weekend, Alanna spat up on my shirt. I have never forgotten the spit towel since.
"And since that time, I have watched that baby grow into this accomplished young woman. I took her to baseball games, which was an enormous leap of faith for Anne, letting her little one out of her sight, and in my company no less! Alas, my nefarious plan to corrupt her into baseball fandom failed, and she has turned out utterly normal in that respect.
"Alanna is not my child, but she is part of my family, one that has welcomed me and mine for so long.
"Alanna, I have in small amounts watched you grow and do things so amazingly well, and I am so delighted that you invited me to be here today. You are the pride and joy of a loving family, one that is not bound only by blood.
"Alanna -- congratulations."
That got me a round of applause, but I had one more sentiment to express:
"And if you don't cure cancer, it will be because you found an even cooler and more challenging world to conquer."
Cake was served -- there were three, it was quite the celebration -- and having ordered a late platter, I ate up, Amalie joining in. There were pictures to take and small conversations to have, but eventually the party broke up. The kids and I booked a hotel room and took a brief rest, but then it was back to S&A's home for the after-after-party.
It was a pleasant hang-out. I hadn't spent time at the house in too many years, and was awestruck by how the neighborhood trees had grown. I walked the kids to the nearby playscape -- it was rather undersized for them, but they exercised and drained some rambunctiousness, always a good thing. Back at the house -- the sun was setting at last -- I opened Steve's commemorative book of Wacky Packages artwork, parody product stickers I had grown up with. They're hilarious, several genuine gutbusters, and Amalie was gasping with laughter. Meanwhile, Steve was introducing Carson to Cosmic Wimpout, so his nefarious plan to corrupt my children was an immediate success.
Cosmic Wimpout is a fast-paced dice game -- there's a board but it's not necessary -- which can be learned in about two minutes. Points can accumulate quickly, but also evaporate in the tumble of a die. It is part of the game, it happens. Carson was trucking along with Steve, then I joined in, then Amalie sat as well. The gamer population ebbed and flowed, but we got in several games before darkness drove everyone else indoors (to keep on playing). I stayed to enjoy the gloaming and sip a beer. Others joined me, the conversation bubbled along, topics changing rapidly -- a joyous welter of words and interest. At last we all wandered in, where Amalie had just rolled an extremely rare supernova (five of a kind in one roll) and won the latest game. The party lingered and dwindled, and finally I packed out my tiny troupe and bivouaced at the Best Western. I was exhausted -- long day, long drive, birthday adrenaline finally waning. I set up the kids with the MacBook and a movie of their choice, opened a book, and passed out, arising around four in the morning. Gotta love a birthday weekend!
I showered and took a nap, woke yet again, and headed to the lobby for breakfast. The BW set a pretty good table -- the tiny cheese omelets were particularly good -- and I tucked in, satisfying myself for the drive ahead. Back at the room, the kids slowly revived, and I got them organized enough to also have breakfast. It was not very organized, but they both got things to eat, and somehow the lobby television got tuned to the latest Ice Age film, so we sat longer than we should have to enjoy it. I bailed out first, back to the room to take care of the packing (didn't take long), making sure we did not miss anything. I set the kids up with the obligatory Mother's Day call, and it was back on the road south at last.
As we approached Dallas proper, we all decided that a trip up Reunion Tower would be a good time, so we got off the highway, navigated, parked, and hiked (not far) to the foot of the Tower -- and learned that the observation deck had been closed for years. Who knew? So, a trick Steve larned me years ago, we popped into the neighboring Hyatt and rode the elevators to the top floor. The cool upshot to this is that they pass through the top of the atrium, and suddenly passengers are overlooking western Dallas. It was so cool that Carson requested, and received, a second go-around (it is pretty cool). Then we rode the lobby escalators, tossed some coins into a fountain for whatever luck might come, and wrapped up this last little adventure. Back to the trusty Honda, back on the highway, and on our way.
We had to refuel, and the GPS found us a Subway for lunch, at which time we called my mom (aka Grandma) as well. Then, more miles southward. Carson drifted off, Amalie continued to type. Just south of Waco, I pulled off for truckstop coffee and general stretching. Carson arose, and we all availed ourselves of the facilities. Traffic on I-35 got weird in places, compression nodes brought on by nothing obvious other than long stretches of ongoing construction (idle on a Sunday, nothing actually obstructive, just human reaction to confounding circumstances). We finally put that behind us, but delays added about half an hour to our ETA. We finally got to the northern outskirts of Austin, and amazingly traffic wasn't too bad; we reached the driveway just after 4:30 pm, ready to be out of the car.
We kicked back for an hour, finally arranged the Sunday exchange, and after I waved my departure to the progeny, my birthday weekend -- far better than I ever expected -- was at its end. Hello, 49. Bring it on. I can take it. (Gotta be better than 48 was.)
And, last bit -- one more congratulations to Alanna. Interstellar!
I haven't written much lately, not for publication, because my life went down a black hole last year. Don't ask; those of you whom I want to know specifics, already know (read enough between the lines that follow and you'll get the gist). No one is dead or sickly. Life goes on. But this was my first birthday since those dark times (which, admittedly, are not over, but they've progressed to a dark gray at least), and it worked out okay.
I really haven't cared much about my birthdays in years. I enjoyed rolling the tens digit at 30 and at 40, and I have appreciated what little fuss was made each year, but it is a day, it comes and it goes, and that's enough for me. But this was my first b-day since I started circling the drain, and I wasn't sure how it would go.... and really, I didn't care much, because this day had a far greater import. The daughter of a real-life friend, Alanna, was graduating college -- with a 4.0, summa cum laude! -- and I wanted this to be her day as much as I could make that happen. So I made arrangements for me and the kids to travel to the Dallas area in order to participate in the Alanna-fete.
Preparatory to the road trip, I made a post on a popular social media site -- yeah, that one, I'm not gonna name it -- thanking birthday well-wishers in advance, but I would be traveling. The wishes rolled in like usual, nearly one hundred eventually. I also got one HB by text, and while once upon a time this one salutation would have made my day, this year it was empty and meaningless. I ignored it.
I woke very early Saturday -- my sleep cycles are slowly normalizing, but I'm well used to how they go now -- and when the hour struck, headed out to take care of some errands. Car fueled, votes cast, a moderate amount of donuts procured for the sleeping offspring. Home again, one awoke, I continued doing things around the house, inflated the tires and so forth. Second one awoke, donuts were consumed, packing eventually got organized (one overnight is not difficult). And in here, somewhere, the dear kids gifted me a few birthday tokens -- handmade flavored fettuccine, a tiny stylized moose, a shadowboxed butterfly, some Pokemon cards, and roasted pecans. More than I expected (possibly more than I deserved), but all welcome -- my children as so wonderful. Finally I showered and threw our meager luggage into the car. We finally hit the road nearly an hour later than I'd wanted, but it was mostly my fault. One stop at Target, and we got underway with earnest continuity.
The miles clicked by, we made a brief stop in Temple for lunch, then continued northward. Anne called to check on our progress -- the afterparty had begun, were we near? Delays had added about 75 minutes to my estimate, but we would be there! ...Right after disconnecting, the highway turned into a parking lot, immediately after the I-35 East/West split. Dammit. After the crawl proceeded enough, I followed suit of other indignant drivers and made an illegal (but obviously popular) U-turn onto the oncoming side, followed immediately by taking I-35 West toward Fort Worth. More distance, more time, but at least we were moving!
I pulled over after a bit to fire up the GPS -- I hadn't planned on using it until almost to McKinney as I know the route by heart (but not the restaurant), but now I did need it; and with a splitter jack, I didn't have to sacrifice the Sirius-XM as well. We pushed on.
The kids, experienced lifelong travelers, we doing great. Carson played his Nintendo 3DS or scoured through his binder of Pokemon cards, while Amalie continued rocking out or writing on her iPad Mini. This level of technology is standard for them, and they thrive.
Finally the Dallas skyline appeared, and while traffic predictably got thick, it kept moving other than one bottleneck. Through that, and up the Distressway, and finally McKinney was on the radar. We got there, meals long since eaten, plates cleared, coffee being sipped -- but these wonderful people stayed, enjoying the event, and waiting for us. Waiting for me!
Almost as soon as we stepped in, Anne coaxed the well-coached crowd into serenading me with the traditional birthday song. I truly was touched; I hadn't even thought about my birthday since Austin.
Steve, Anne, Alanna, Leon, Ray, Barbara, and others unrecognized here -- thank you dearly. I love you so.
Rather than be introduced further, and the kids already seated and reviewing the menu, it was my turn to toast the guest of honor, Alanna. There is no recording (at least I hope not), but it went something like this.
"I've known Steve since our time at Rensselaer. In January 1983, I was sitting in a math class, waiting for it to begin, when a fellow student entered the room. I had seen him a few times around campus, we had run into each other once or twice down at WRPI, but this day elevated him to memorable for how he entered the classroom. He was festively dressed in a faux tuxedo tee shirt, suspenders -- and roller skates. Yes, he skated into the room and sat next to me. We hit it off.
"He graduated in December 1985 -- I stayed on, had unfinished business -- and moved to Nyack, where he lived downstairs from Barbara. And it turned out, Barbara had a daughter, Anne. The birds and the bees being what they are, they saw something in each other.
"Jump ahead to August 1986. The four of us -- me, Steve, Anne, and Barbara -- had a very nice dinner in Saratoga. Afterwards we walked the peaceful streets on a lovely evening. It turns out, and I don't think the term even existed then, I was Steve's wingman. I paired up with Barbara, we had pleasant conversation, but about fifty feet behind us, Steve and Anne were sparking something. And it's worked out well for them.
"In early 1990, Steve helped me move out of Connecticut, in a blizzard, for Austin. And in April that year, I proudly stood as his best man. I gave a poor toast that day, and hope today to do better.
"In 1991, a few weeks after Alanna was born, I headed up to the Dallas area to watch the Red Sox lose to the Rangers. Steve and Anne were always good about putting me up on these trips, and of course I wanted to see the baby. I rang the doorbell that night, and Steve opened the door with a tiny bundle asleep on his shoulder and the proudest smile I have ever seen upon the face of man. Now that I have children of my own, I better understand the feeling.
"Later that weekend, Alanna spat up on my shirt. I have never forgotten the spit towel since.
"And since that time, I have watched that baby grow into this accomplished young woman. I took her to baseball games, which was an enormous leap of faith for Anne, letting her little one out of her sight, and in my company no less! Alas, my nefarious plan to corrupt her into baseball fandom failed, and she has turned out utterly normal in that respect.
"Alanna is not my child, but she is part of my family, one that has welcomed me and mine for so long.
"Alanna, I have in small amounts watched you grow and do things so amazingly well, and I am so delighted that you invited me to be here today. You are the pride and joy of a loving family, one that is not bound only by blood.
"Alanna -- congratulations."
That got me a round of applause, but I had one more sentiment to express:
"And if you don't cure cancer, it will be because you found an even cooler and more challenging world to conquer."
Cake was served -- there were three, it was quite the celebration -- and having ordered a late platter, I ate up, Amalie joining in. There were pictures to take and small conversations to have, but eventually the party broke up. The kids and I booked a hotel room and took a brief rest, but then it was back to S&A's home for the after-after-party.
It was a pleasant hang-out. I hadn't spent time at the house in too many years, and was awestruck by how the neighborhood trees had grown. I walked the kids to the nearby playscape -- it was rather undersized for them, but they exercised and drained some rambunctiousness, always a good thing. Back at the house -- the sun was setting at last -- I opened Steve's commemorative book of Wacky Packages artwork, parody product stickers I had grown up with. They're hilarious, several genuine gutbusters, and Amalie was gasping with laughter. Meanwhile, Steve was introducing Carson to Cosmic Wimpout, so his nefarious plan to corrupt my children was an immediate success.
Cosmic Wimpout is a fast-paced dice game -- there's a board but it's not necessary -- which can be learned in about two minutes. Points can accumulate quickly, but also evaporate in the tumble of a die. It is part of the game, it happens. Carson was trucking along with Steve, then I joined in, then Amalie sat as well. The gamer population ebbed and flowed, but we got in several games before darkness drove everyone else indoors (to keep on playing). I stayed to enjoy the gloaming and sip a beer. Others joined me, the conversation bubbled along, topics changing rapidly -- a joyous welter of words and interest. At last we all wandered in, where Amalie had just rolled an extremely rare supernova (five of a kind in one roll) and won the latest game. The party lingered and dwindled, and finally I packed out my tiny troupe and bivouaced at the Best Western. I was exhausted -- long day, long drive, birthday adrenaline finally waning. I set up the kids with the MacBook and a movie of their choice, opened a book, and passed out, arising around four in the morning. Gotta love a birthday weekend!
I showered and took a nap, woke yet again, and headed to the lobby for breakfast. The BW set a pretty good table -- the tiny cheese omelets were particularly good -- and I tucked in, satisfying myself for the drive ahead. Back at the room, the kids slowly revived, and I got them organized enough to also have breakfast. It was not very organized, but they both got things to eat, and somehow the lobby television got tuned to the latest Ice Age film, so we sat longer than we should have to enjoy it. I bailed out first, back to the room to take care of the packing (didn't take long), making sure we did not miss anything. I set the kids up with the obligatory Mother's Day call, and it was back on the road south at last.
As we approached Dallas proper, we all decided that a trip up Reunion Tower would be a good time, so we got off the highway, navigated, parked, and hiked (not far) to the foot of the Tower -- and learned that the observation deck had been closed for years. Who knew? So, a trick Steve larned me years ago, we popped into the neighboring Hyatt and rode the elevators to the top floor. The cool upshot to this is that they pass through the top of the atrium, and suddenly passengers are overlooking western Dallas. It was so cool that Carson requested, and received, a second go-around (it is pretty cool). Then we rode the lobby escalators, tossed some coins into a fountain for whatever luck might come, and wrapped up this last little adventure. Back to the trusty Honda, back on the highway, and on our way.
We had to refuel, and the GPS found us a Subway for lunch, at which time we called my mom (aka Grandma) as well. Then, more miles southward. Carson drifted off, Amalie continued to type. Just south of Waco, I pulled off for truckstop coffee and general stretching. Carson arose, and we all availed ourselves of the facilities. Traffic on I-35 got weird in places, compression nodes brought on by nothing obvious other than long stretches of ongoing construction (idle on a Sunday, nothing actually obstructive, just human reaction to confounding circumstances). We finally put that behind us, but delays added about half an hour to our ETA. We finally got to the northern outskirts of Austin, and amazingly traffic wasn't too bad; we reached the driveway just after 4:30 pm, ready to be out of the car.
We kicked back for an hour, finally arranged the Sunday exchange, and after I waved my departure to the progeny, my birthday weekend -- far better than I ever expected -- was at its end. Hello, 49. Bring it on. I can take it. (Gotta be better than 48 was.)
And, last bit -- one more congratulations to Alanna. Interstellar!
Monday, January 07, 2013
The Hall's 2013 BBWAA ballot
The Hall of Fame main ballot, entrusted to members of the BBWAA as electors, will have its results announced Wednesday, January 9, 2013.
This year's ballot has a whopping 37 candidates, of which 13 are returning candidates and 24 are rookies. I've lost interest this year for doing the long reviews, despite the wealth of intriguing new names, so this one is going to be rather short.
Of the returning candidates, I supported nine last year, and so they get an automatic placement on my 2013 slate of players I would vote for if I had a vote (I do not). This includes Bagwell, Martinez, McGriff, McGwire, Murphy, Raines, Smith, Walker, and Bernie Williams. Returnees I do not support: Mattingly, Morris, Palmeiro, and Trammell.
Turning to the new candidates, we find Sandy Alomar, Jr., Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Jeff Cirillo, Royce Clayton, Roger Clemens, Jeff Conine, Steve Finley, Julio Franco, Shawn Green, Roberto Hernandez, Ryan Klesko, Kenny Lofton, Jose Mesa, Mike Piazza, Reggie Sanders, Curt Schilling, Aaron Sele, Sammy Sosa, Mike Stanton, Todd Walker, David Wells, Rondell White, and Woody Williams. I'm not going to check career stats for these men; not even WAR. I'm just gonna pick the ones I think are Hall worthy, combine that set with the returning candidates I previously supported, and winnow that group down to ten, which is the ballot limit the Hall imposes upon actual electors. Perhaps some other time I will do a more thorough review, but not today.
My selections from the rookie class: Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Piazza. That makes for 13 candidates, so three have to go. I will stand by my four new selections, so the returnees must be culled.
I easily toss Bernie Williams overboard. I was never a staunch supporter, and he's one of the few Yankees I really didn't like.
Dale Murphy, despite my supporting him since his first ballot, never mustered much support, and is clearly a goner. He deserved better, but his window is closed.
Finally, Larry Walker, while a very good player, is fighting the Coors Field Effect, and I doubt the writers will ever get behind him.
That leaves me with ten: Bagwell, Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Martinez, McGriff, McGwire, Piazza, Raines, and Smith.
And that's a ballot I can live with. I don't expect to see more than three of them elected, probably only two, with Biggio being the easiest choice.
This year's ballot has a whopping 37 candidates, of which 13 are returning candidates and 24 are rookies. I've lost interest this year for doing the long reviews, despite the wealth of intriguing new names, so this one is going to be rather short.
Of the returning candidates, I supported nine last year, and so they get an automatic placement on my 2013 slate of players I would vote for if I had a vote (I do not). This includes Bagwell, Martinez, McGriff, McGwire, Murphy, Raines, Smith, Walker, and Bernie Williams. Returnees I do not support: Mattingly, Morris, Palmeiro, and Trammell.
Turning to the new candidates, we find Sandy Alomar, Jr., Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Jeff Cirillo, Royce Clayton, Roger Clemens, Jeff Conine, Steve Finley, Julio Franco, Shawn Green, Roberto Hernandez, Ryan Klesko, Kenny Lofton, Jose Mesa, Mike Piazza, Reggie Sanders, Curt Schilling, Aaron Sele, Sammy Sosa, Mike Stanton, Todd Walker, David Wells, Rondell White, and Woody Williams. I'm not going to check career stats for these men; not even WAR. I'm just gonna pick the ones I think are Hall worthy, combine that set with the returning candidates I previously supported, and winnow that group down to ten, which is the ballot limit the Hall imposes upon actual electors. Perhaps some other time I will do a more thorough review, but not today.
My selections from the rookie class: Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Piazza. That makes for 13 candidates, so three have to go. I will stand by my four new selections, so the returnees must be culled.
I easily toss Bernie Williams overboard. I was never a staunch supporter, and he's one of the few Yankees I really didn't like.
Dale Murphy, despite my supporting him since his first ballot, never mustered much support, and is clearly a goner. He deserved better, but his window is closed.
Finally, Larry Walker, while a very good player, is fighting the Coors Field Effect, and I doubt the writers will ever get behind him.
That leaves me with ten: Bagwell, Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Martinez, McGriff, McGwire, Piazza, Raines, and Smith.
And that's a ballot I can live with. I don't expect to see more than three of them elected, probably only two, with Biggio being the easiest choice.
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