How Am I Supposed To Vote For Players In The Hall Of Fame?

In an era (at least the last twenty years) tainted by steroids in baseball, there has been much speculation over who deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame and who doesn't. This issue has raised much debate everywhere and this is why I say the exploitation of steroids has ruined baseball rather then helped it. Because you don't know 100 percent who did and did not take steroids, you either have to vote all the deserving players into the Hall Of Fame or none at all.

One way people shouldn't vote is based on race or who they like or dislike. On a poll on ESPN, America as a whole voted that they would elect Mark McGwire into the baseball Hall Of Fame over Barry Bonds. I suspect that's because the public just doesn't like Barry Bonds and that's not what the Hall Of Fame is about. Rather, the Hall Of Fame praises those who have impacted the game of baseball in a tremendous way and left a lasting mark on the game. Who better fits this description than the all-time home run leader Barry Bonds (steroids or not, it still takes timing, skill, and accuracy to hit the damn ball)? Also, do people forget how McGwire and Sammy Sosa revitalized baseball during the home run chase back in 1998. I bet the MLB knew they were taking steroids (see my conspiracy in baseball article), but baseball let it slide because they were bringing in massive income, fans, and ratings. And you mean to tell me now we hate these guys when all they did was entertain us, which was what he wanted all along?

Why did I go on a tear about Mark McGwire? Because he was NOT voted into the Hall Of Fame this year and that's wrong, especially after what he did for baseball. I suspect that's because people believe he took steroids and doesn't deserve to be voted in. This goes back to my earlier statement. In an era where practically every all-star and CY Young winner used some kind of performance enhancing drug and you really don't know who is telling the truth and who is lying, you either have to vote nobody into the Hall Of Fame or vote the players who deserve to be there into the Hall Of Fame as if steroids weren't an issue. I see no other way to do it. You can't pick and choose because of who you think took steroids.

So, who did get voted in this year? Rich "Goose" Gossage became only the fifth relief pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame, earning baseball's highest honor Tuesday in his ninth try on the ballot. Known for his overpowering fastball, fiery temperament and bushy mustache, the Goose received 466 of 543 votes (85.8 percent) from 10-year members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "It was very emotional I'll tell you, off the charts. I can't describe the feeling," Gossage said after learning the news. "I can't lie. There's been some frustration and some disappointment."

Jim Rice was passed over yet again in his next-to-last year on the ballot, getting 392 votes (72.2 percent), up from 346 (63.5 percent) last year but 16 short of the 75 percent needed. "Today's results are obviously a disappointment," Rice said in a statement. "I believe my accomplishments speak for themselves, and a majority of the voters seem to agree. It is tough to come this close, but I remain hopeful for the 2009 results."

Mark McGwire, a casualty of the Steroids Era in some writers' minds, received just 128 votes -- the exact total he had last year. His percentage increased slightly to 23.6 percent, up from 23.5 percent last year when he was on the ballot for the first time.

Rich "Goose" Gossage was the only player voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the 2008 ballot. Jim Rice, who has just one year remaining on the ballot, finished just 16 votes short of induction. Players remain on the ballot for a maximum of 15 years as long as they receive 5 percent of the vote.

Player	Votes	Pct.
Goose Gossage	466	85.8
Jim Rice	392	72.2
Andre Dawson	358	65.9
Bert Blyleven	336	61.9
Lee Smith	235	43.3
Jack Morris	233	42.9
Tommy John	158	29.1
Tim Raines	132	24.3
Mark McGwire	128	23.6
Alan Trammell	99	18.2
Dave Concepcion	88	16.2
Don Mattingly	86	15.8
Dave Parker	82	15.1
Dale Murphy	75	13.8
Harold Baines	28	5.2

Others receiving votes: Rod Beck 2, Travis Fryman 2, Robb Nen 2, Shawon Dunston 1, Chuck Finley 1, David Justice 1, Chuck Knoblauch 1, Todd Stottlemyre 1.

Could Roger Clemens And Andy Pettitte Go To Jail?

In no way do I want either of these guys ending up in the slammer. They've contributed too much to baseball and unlike Barry Bonds, these guys aren't rude, cocky, or hated by the media and the public. However, they are following the exact trail as Bonds, which may lead them to prison.

Why might they go to jail? Because Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte were asked Friday to testify before a congressional committee on Jan. 16, along with their former trainer, Brian McNamee. Once you're in front of Congress, you have to tell the truth. That's what put Barry Bonds in the position he is now. He lied under oath. Will Clemens and Pettitte lie like Bonds did or will they come clean under extreme pressure? And even if they deny their accusations, are they still citing the truth? What is the truth? Only time will tell.

Also invited to appear before the House Oversight Committee were former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, whose allegations were a central part of last month's Mitchell report on doping in baseball. Former All-Star second baseman Chuck Knoblauch also was asked to speak to the panel.

A day earlier, the committee is to hear testimony from baseball commissioner Bud Selig, union leader Donald Fehr and former Senate majority leader George Mitchell.

McNamee told Mitchell he had injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone during the 1998, 2000 and 2001 seasons. Clemens, in an interview to be broadcast by CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday, said McNamee injected him with vitamins and painkillers but not performance-enhancing drugs.

Pettitte admitted McNamee injected him with HGH twice while the pitcher was recovering from an injury.

The panel also convened a March 2005 hearing, when Mark McGwire refused to say whether he had used performance-enhancing drugs. Sammy Sosa said he had never knowingly used illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Rafael Palmeiro denied using drugs but tested positive later that year for a steroid.

The List of Names In The George Mitchell Report

Here is the long awaited blacklist of the names provided by George Mitchell of those who have used steroids both past and present and both dead and alive. Please note that this isn't a final list. There may be other players not caught or unrevealed yet.

First, it is interesting to note that many of these players are either overweight or unusually large (Jason Giambi, Troy Glaus)
Second, it is interesting to note that many of these players have emotional issues (John Rocker, Kyle Farnsworth, Milton Bradley).


Aaron Boone, Rafael Bettancourt, Bret Boone, Milton Bradley, David Bell, Dante Bichette, Albert Belle, Paul Byrd, Wil Cordero, Ken Caminiti, Mike Cameron, Ramon Castro, Jose Canseco, Ozzie Canseco, Roger Clemens, Paxton Crawford, Wilson Delgado, Lenny Dykstra, Johnny Damon, Carl Everett, Kyle Farnsworth, Ryan Franklin, Troy Glaus, Rich Garces, Jason Grimsley, Juan Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Jose Guillen, Jay Gibbons, Juan Gonzalez, Clay Hensley, Jerry Hairston, Felix Heredia, Jr., Darren Holmes, Wally Joyner, Darryl Kile, Matt Lawton, Raul Mondesi, Mark McGwire, Guillermo Mota, Robert Machado, Damian Moss, Abraham Nunez, Trot Nixon, Jose Offerman, Andy Pettitte, Mark Prior, Neifi Perez, Rafael Palmiero, Albert Pujols, Brian Roberts, Juan Rincon, John Rocker, Pudge Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Scott Schoenweiis, David Segui, Alex Sanchez, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Tejada, Julian Tavarez, Fernando Tatis, Maurice Vaughn, Jason Varitek, Ismael Valdez, Matt Williams, Kerry Wood, Brady Anderson, Manny Alexander, Rick Ankiel, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds

Some Comments on Certain Players:

1. No wonder Aaron Boone, a man of little power, was able to hit that clinch home run to win the series against Boston years ago.

2. The rage Milton Bradley showed against that umpire stems down to the steroids toying with his mind.

3. Mike Cameron is another man of little power so I can see why he would take steroids.

4. We all know Jose Canseco was the tattle-tale of this whole mess.

5. Only a man of steroids could pitch at the age Roger Clemens was pitching at and make it look good.

6. Johnny Damon? Talk about random. I guess pure contact and speed wasn't enough for this little guy.

7. When I watched Kyle Farnsworth pitch on the Braves, he was scary. He would throw the ball in a wild rage. Now I know why.

8. No! Not Troy Glaus! He's my favorite player. Anyway, now I know why his contact in baseball games was rated 60 while his power was rated 95.

9. Eric Gagne is another prime example of a player who needed surgery and recovery time and figured steroids is the best way to aid himself in recovering faster.

10. Nomar Garciaparra was a guy who became a nobody once he left Boston so I'm guessing through steroids he could put home runs on the board and become a well-known player again.

11. Jason Giambi's enormous size and baby-face attitude speaks for himself. Also, he wanted his brother Jeremy to get in on the action.

12. I have no explanation as to why Jay Gibbons used steroids. That's just random.

13. Of course, we all know Mark McGwire's and Rafael Palmiero's story.

14. I feel bad for Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Here are more examples of amazing pitchers plagued by injuries who thought steroids was the answer to recovery.

15. Andy Pettitte is one of the most controversial names on the list in my opinion. I think the Yankees may want to think twice before resigning in. I have no explanation as to why Andy Pettitte would take steroids, but I know many people who are Pettitte fans, especially one fan in particular. Let's see how loyal she is to him once she finds out he's a fake.

16. Oh wow. Albert Pujols is here. I gasp in disbelief. He was the best player in baseball. If he took steroids, no one can be trusted.

17. John Rocker's hate and racial speech stems from steroids.

18. I bet the Home Run Race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire was really a race about who can consume the most steroids in one year.

19. Now I know where all of Gary Sheffield's enormous power and violent swing comes from.

20. Jeff Bagwell seems more like a fossil. He's been playing for years belting out home runs and loved by many. Too bad he was a fake all these years.

21. And of course, the grand daddy of them all, Barry Bonds. At least Barry Bonds doesn't have to feel alone anymore or feel like the whole world was out to get him.

It seems like every player in this generation of baseball who has done something noteworthy or good deserves to be under the cloud of suspicion. I have a great feeling that this will be the first of many lists. I also get the feeling (and I know this should raise a big debate) that steroids in baseball have existed for years and years, but the MLB didn't want to blow it open because kids love the long ball and the prices of attendance have continued to rise. In other words, I smell a conspiracy and until Jose Canseco tattled because of his jealousy, the MLB wanted to keep this a secret. Think about it. The number of all-stars, CY young winners, and MVPs included in this list is tremendous. You mean to tell me since the early 90s the MLB was not aware of what these players were doing? I highly doubt that. I also believe this is connected to the infamous baseball strike that occurred in the 90s. The MLB needed to gain fans back so they allowed players to artifically increase their strength in order to provide a better show. I don't think its a coincidence that right after the strike McGwire and Sosa were slamming home runs left and right. I believe the MLB and the union knew about the steroid issue, but wanted to keep a lid on it. Also, yes steroids are bad for kids, but none of the kids would have known that their favorite players were using steroids. Steroids actually saved baseball and this entire witch hunt has destroyed baseball. However, once the government got involved, they couldn't keep it a secret any longer because steroids are illegal and MLB can't change that law.