I heard him this morning on ESPN 1050 (unfortunately this is the only station where I can get sports info) talking about the Hall of Fame vote.  He intimated that some voters should not be allowed to vote because they left Ripken and Gwynn off of their ballots.  Then he couldn’t understand why voters didn’t vote for McGwire and how could they then vote for Clemens?  Then, he goes on to say how can we keep McGwire out and let Gaylord Perry in because both cheated?  Finally, he lamented the crazy vote totals of Goosage and Lee Smith.  Smith has received less vote totals recently whereas Goose has gotten more support. 

1) Personally, everyone knows that I believe Ripken and Gwynn are first-ballot Hall of Famers.  However, if someone wants to abstain from voting one year because they believe that because Ruth wasn’t unanimous, Cobb and Joe Dimaggio weren’t unanimous Hall of Famers, then that’s their perogative. Just because Stark hasn’t met someone who he thinks isn’t Hall of Fame worthy well then maybe we can’t explan it to him.  Personally, I like the idea of if Joe Dimaggio wasn’t unamimous well then neither should Ripken or Gwynn.

2) Stark said: “I vote based on what I saw, not what I think I know.”  I tell you what I saw with McGwire, then I’ll tell you what I know.  Over the course of ten years, I saw someone’s body type change, I saw a spike in McGwire’s performance.  He hits 47 HRs in 1987, then he only hits 40 again in 1992.  Then, in 1996 in 130 games he hits 52 HRs!  There’s a suspicion there.  Then, I read Jose Canseco’s book where he directly implicates McGwire (they were teammates!).  Then, I see McGwire’s Congressional testimony.  What the hell else am I supposed to conclude?  As far as Clemens – there have been whispers.  But consider this: Clemens was a great pitcher before the steroids era.  Clemens played with Canseco on the 2000 Yankees.  Canseco never implicated Clemens and Canseco was not shy about pointing fingers.  So, based on what I saw and what I know, McGwire is out.  I would have no problem voting for Clemens, unless something dramatic happens.

3) Gaylord Perry.  Put aside for a second the actual merits of his candidacy.  I’ve explained this before so I won’t labor the point.  There are different levels of cheating!  The problem with steroids is that it’s got two different components to it.  It’s illegal and gives you a tremendous unfair advantage.  Doctoring the ball is not illegal, it gives you an edge.  Taking anphetamines is illegal, but it’s effect as a performance enhancer is suspect.  Taking anphetamines, I don’t think, ever allowed someone to hit 70 HRs!  When did someone do that in the 60’s and 70’s!  Maris hit 61 which was clearly lightning in a bottle and I don’t even know for sure that Maris took anphetamines.  He didn’t strike me as the type of guy to do that.  Corking your bat gives you an edge, but is not illegal.  If Jayson Stark can’t appreciate these differences than maybe he shouldn’t vote.

4) Closers.  Closers are difficult to evaluate.  Their statistics are misleading and it’s a position where you have to go on “feel” as well as stats.  Attitudes changed on Lee Smith.  His overall totals are initally impressive but when you look at how many innings it took to get those saves, well then your opinion starts to change.  Goosage, I recognize is a debatable case.    Â