Posnanski on Jack Morris

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 29, 2007 10:29 AM CST in News

Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star breaks down the flaws of the Morris for the Hall campaign, and also boggles at those who vote for Morris but not Blyleven:

I'm not going to lie to you here -- I hate the Jack Morris Hall of Fame campaign. Hate it. Despise it. Loathe it. And it isn't just because there are a few people who will put Jack Morris on their ballots but leave off Bert Blyleven, which is so obviously and clearly wrong that it makes my teeth hurt. I know the other day I tried my best to climb into the minds of one of these voters, and I tried to put some logic behind it, but honestly, I failed miserably. To me, this Blyleven or Morris question seems easier than one of those sample questions you would get on those aptitude tests in the third grade.

Hmm, so you're telling me that Blyleven has 33 more wins, 32 more shutouts, 1,223 more strikeouts, 68 fewer walks, an ERA that more than a half run better, an ERA+ that's 13 points better, a better overall postseason record and five or six individual seasons that were better than Jack Morris' best season ... wow, can I have a few more minutes to think about this? Wait, Blyleven had a lot more losses too, so that, oh, he played for worse teams, yeah, that might have had something do with that, um, hold on, I need to sharpen my No. 2 pencil and think about this ...

Posnanski goes on to critique the "he was the best pitcher of the 80s" argument, in great detail...

Good stuff...check it out...

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Morris/Blyleven

I don't think Morris is a Hall of Famer, but I can understand why a lot of sportswriters think he is.

But the ones who vote for Morris, while leaving Blyleven off their ballots, should have their voting privileges permanently revoked. As Posnanski points out, Blyleven was a better pitcher in nearly every way possible.

At least it looks like Goose Gossage is going in this year. That Bruce Sutter got inducted before him, while being the worse pitcher, is another black eye for the BBWAA.

I will admit to being a bit biased for Gossage and Blyleven, as that would increase the number of Rangers in the HOF from three to five- and all pitchers, oddly enough.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Dec 29, 2007 10:49 AM CST reply actions

lol

Yah, that is odd that all the Rangers in the HoF are pitchers, given our history of ineptitude on the mound.

But Sammy and Pudge should change that soon enough.

I doubt Rafael gets in with the positive steroid test, considering how Big Mac has been treated.

Jaundo appeared a Cooperstown lock for a while, but there's no way he gets in now.

Can't think of anyone else.

"God plays by his own rules, folks. And HGH is f***ing legal as hell up in heaven." -Andy Pettitte

by thedirkatron on Dec 30, 2007 12:21 AM CST up reply actions

Cooperstown locks

Mickey Tettleton springs to mind.

Miles changes his signature too much.

by inactive lsb user on Dec 30, 2007 1:06 AM CST up reply actions

LOL

Not a chance. "Welcome to the Jungle" gotta love him for that though when he was here.

West Vagina who? Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Dec 30, 2007 3:39 PM CST up reply actions

Personally,

I look forward to Dean Palmer being added to the ballot next year.

"As of now they're (The Astros) world series favorites. Period." - Sharky

by DJCahill on Dec 31, 2007 5:39 AM CST up reply actions

Palmer

should be in the ouch, freaky injury hall of fame.

Cranberry Sauce

by t ball on Dec 31, 2007 6:55 AM CST up reply actions

Voting Morris

while leaving out Blyleven is just plain shameful. Typical press arrogance, "we report-we decide". Deign to offer a counter view and you're labeled extremist, hate-talker, pajama-clad loser typing in his mothers basement, and, well you already know how Bill Conlin feels.

Also, Adam in the comments section of the above article there is a link to a Paul White "everyman" blog. He does an interesting Morris comp to a pitcher X. Very illuminating. I'd link it but don't know how, maybe you could if you thought it worthy.

by ncrangerman on Dec 29, 2007 11:24 AM CST reply actions

Link

http://theeverymanblog.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/hall-of-fame-season/

It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin

by txranger7 on Dec 29, 2007 11:45 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks

by ncrangerman on Dec 29, 2007 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

Dave Steib

As I mentioned in the Inky post, he was a truly great pitcher for a good chunk of the 80s, and seems to have totally been forgotten about.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 29, 2007 12:07 PM CST up reply actions

Stieb

Agreed. If Morris is a Hall of Famer, so are Stieb, Dennis Martinez, and Orel Hershiser, who were all just as good, if not better.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Dec 29, 2007 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

Posnanski

Living in Columbia MO, I always grab the Star whenever JP is writing. He's refreshing to read, and is probably the most level-headed sports columnist I've read. I've never seen him write a column just to stir emotion, and every one of his articles are well-researched and well-put. This just reaffirms my thoughts.

Free Alexi Ogando!

by ghtd36 on Dec 29, 2007 12:23 PM CST reply actions

Interesting comment from a reader

"For me neither should be in the HoF, but then again I think the HoF is over populated with good players with long careers and not enough guys who dominated for a short time."

There is a lot of truth to that.

by Ajax on Dec 30, 2007 3:12 AM CST reply actions

Ultimate dominant peak/short career player

who ought to be in: Dick Allen.

Obviously there are some compounding factors there (number one being a famously nasty personality) but he had a stunning career. Basically if Albert Pujols stayed where he is for six more years and then fell off a cliff.

by a bebop a rebop on Dec 31, 2007 2:34 AM CST up reply actions