Hall May Go to Bullpen

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Bruce Sutter could become the first pitcher with no career starts elected to the Hall of Fame when results of 2006 balloting are released Tuesday.

With no strong first-year candidates, Sutter, fellow reliever Rich Gossage and outfielder Jim Rice appear to be the players most likely to gain election among the 29 on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot.

Only three pitchers who spent a large part of their careers as relievers are in the Hall: Hoyt Wilhelm (52 starts), Rollie Fingers (37 starts) and Dennis Eckersley (361 starts). Wilhelm was elected to the Hall in 1985, Fingers in 1992 and Eckersley in 2004.

"Lee Smith, Sutter, Goose Gossage. I'd like to see more closers," Ryne Sandberg said after he was elected last year, "There's nothing better on a team than a big closer."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060110/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_hall_of_fame;_ylt=AhW.QbWIoEdZ_MZlzpinRPms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3cm82NXAwBHNlYwM3NTU-

 

[MikeO]

Sutter was the only guy to get in this year. I agree with that. Jim Rice is still getting screwed though. Sure he was a prick to the media, but so what he should be in.

 

[GreenMonster]

Sutter was the only guy to get in this year. I agree with that. Jim Rice is still getting screwed though. Sure he was a prick to the media, but so what he should be in.

If Rice gets in so should Dawson.. I still have a hard time believing these guys aren't, who was better during there time..

 

[ILPhinFan88]

Sutter received 76.9 percent of the vote -- only 1.9 percent more than the necessary 75 percent to gain election -- as his name appeared on 400 of the 520 ballots, 12 of which were returned blank.



2006 Hall of Fame
voting results

The complete vote (520 ballots, 390 to gain election, 26 to remain on ballot):
Player Votes %

Bruce Sutter 400 76.9%

Jim Rice 337 64.8%

Rich Gossage 336 64.6% Andre Dawson 317 61.0% Bert Blyleven 277 53.3% Lee Smith 234 45.0% Jack Morris 214 41.2% Tommy John 154 29.6% Steve Garvey 135 26.0% Alan Trammell 92 17.7% Dave Parker 75 14.4% Dave Concepcion 65 12.5% Don Mattingly 64 12.3% Orel Hershiser 58 11.2% Dale Murphy 56 10.8% Albert Belle 40 7.7% Will Clark 23 4.4% Dwight Gooden 17 3.3% Willie McGee 12 2.3% Ozzie Guillen 5 1.0% Hal Morris 5 1.0% Gary Gaetti 4 0.8% John Wetteland 4 0.8% Rick Aguilera 3 0.6% Gregg Jefferies 2 0.4% Doug Jones 2 0.4% Walt Weiss 1 0.2% Gary DiSarcina 0 0.0% Alex Fernandez 0 0.0


http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060110&content_id=1293389&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

[Ray Finkle]

Sutter was the only guy to get in this year. I agree with that. Jim Rice is still getting screwed though. Sure he was a prick to the media, but so what he should be in.

I agree. Sutter deserved it but Jim Rice did get screwed. He was and still is a prick however he was dominate for a decade and was like the Manny Ramirez of his time with the bat but he was Barry Bonds with his mouth. Once he mouthed off the the sports writers in his rookie year when he should have won the MVP and Rookie of the Year award instead of Fred Lynn saying he didn't win because he was black and playing in Boston he has been hated ever since.

I also agree with Green Monster, I thought Sutter, Rice and Dawson were all going to get in this year. I highly doubt Rice, Dawson, or anyone else on the ballot this year will ever get in.

 

[MikeO]

If Rice didn't get in this year he never will. You have Ripken and Gywnn next year.

Dawson isn't a hall of fame player in my opinon.

 

[GreenMonster]

If Rice didn't get in this year he never will. You have Ripken and Gywnn next year.

Dawson isn't a hall of fame player in my opinon.

Mike, why would you put Rice in but not Dawson. To me they are on equal level, and I would actually give the nod to Dawson. Each were great hitters, and Dawson could run and play the field. I liked both and thought they should both get in. I agree that this was the best chance any will have until the vet. commitee.

 

[finfansince72]

Sutter received 76.9 percent of the vote -- only 1.9 percent more than the necessary 75 percent to gain election -- as his name appeared on 400 of the 520 ballots, 12 of which were returned blank.



2006 Hall of Fame
voting results

The complete vote (520 ballots, 390 to gain election, 26 to remain on ballot):
Player Votes %

Bruce Sutter 400 76.9%

Jim Rice 337 64.8%

Rich Gossage 336 64.6% Andre Dawson 317 61.0% Bert Blyleven 277 53.3% Lee Smith 234 45.0% Jack Morris 214 41.2% Tommy John 154 29.6% Steve Garvey 135 26.0% Alan Trammell 92 17.7% Dave Parker 75 14.4% Dave Concepcion 65 12.5% Don Mattingly 64 12.3% Orel Hershiser 58 11.2% Dale Murphy 56 10.8% Albert Belle 40 7.7% Will Clark 23 4.4% Dwight Gooden 17 3.3% Willie McGee 12 2.3% Ozzie Guillen 5 1.0% Hal Morris 5 1.0% Gary Gaetti 4 0.8% John Wetteland 4 0.8% Rick Aguilera 3 0.6% Gregg Jefferies 2 0.4% Doug Jones 2 0.4% Walt Weiss 1 0.2% Gary DiSarcina 0 0.0% Alex Fernandez 0 0.0


http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060110&content_id=1293389&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Look at those votes, the voters are complete BS. I mean guys like Gregg Jefferies, Walt Weiss get votes and guys like Rice, Gossage and Dawson can't get in? Who are these buffoons? Dale Murphy might be borderline but thats messed up that he has only12% he was an MVP and a great player in his time. Trammel was great too. Im not sure what the criteria is for the Hall of Fame but the voters are just a joke. Watch next year Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn wont get 100% of the votes. Players like Hank Aaron dont get 100% of the votes, who the hell votes against these guys?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Look at those votes, the voters are complete BS. I mean guys like Gregg Jefferies, Walt Weiss get votes and guys like Rice, Gossage and Dawson can't get in? Who are these buffoons? Dale Murphy might be borderline but thats messed up that he has only12% he was an MVP and a great player in his time. Trammel was great too. Im not sure what the criteria is for the Hall of Fame but the voters are just a joke. Watch next year Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn wont get 100% of the votes. Players like Hank Aaron dont get 100% of the votes, who the hell votes against these guys?

The writers are buffoons. Even Hal Morris, Doug Jones, and Ozzie Gullen got votes. I heard that Weiss got 1 vote, I bet that the writer who voted for him didn't have Rice, Dawson or Gossage on his ballot.

Of course don't forget that the guys in the Hall of Fame vote too.

 

[finfansince72]

The writers are buffoons. Even Hal Morris, Doug Jones, and Ozzie Gullen got votes. I heard that Weiss got 1 vote, I bet that the writer who voted for him didn't have Rice, Dawson or Gossage on his ballot.

Of course don't forget that the guys in the Hall of Fame vote too.

Man Walt Weiss's wife wouldnt vote him into the Hall of Fame.

 

[MikeO]

Mike, why would you put Rice in but not Dawson. To me they are on equal level, and I would actually give the nod to Dawson. Each were great hitters, and Dawson could run and play the field. I liked both and thought they should both get in. I agree that this was the best chance any will have until the vet. commitee.

Jim Rice was the best right handed hitter in the AL for a stretch of years. Dawson was good, but he wasn't Jim Rice. A notch below! (in my opinion)

 

[MikeO]

one more thing. Bert Byleven should be in.He and Rice are the 2 that are getting royaly screwed.

And if you let Sutter in then you must let Lee Smith in! And letting these closers in now means Rivera and Hoffman are sure fire first ballot HOF pitchers now.

 

[finfansince72]

To me this is the year writers should have let Rice, Dawson, Gossage and a few others in. They arent going to the votes when Ripken, Gywnn, McGwire, etc are on the ballot. The writers are idiots. Their votes should be made public so we can see who is doing this. I guarantee if they had to answer for their votes many of them would change their votes.

 

[Ray Finkle]

one more thing. Bert Byleven should be in.He and Rice are the 2 that are getting royaly screwed.

And if you let Sutter in then you must let Lee Smith in! And letting these closers in now means Rivera and Hoffman are sure fire first ballot HOF pitchers now.

Byleven probably deserves to get in too. He was 13 wins away from 300 (the magic number). He had a ton of complete games and shut outs.

I think Rivera was a lock to be a first ballot HOFer before Sutter got in. I think Hoffman will be in the Hall, but I don't think he'll go first ballot unless the ballot isn't stacked with big names.

I disagree with Lee Smith. Yea he had a ton of saves but like Jeff Readon he was hardly a dominate relief pitcher.

 

[GreenMonster]

Jim Rice was the best right handed hitter in the AL for a stretch of years. Dawson was good, but he wasn't Jim Rice. A notch below! (in my opinion)

From 81' to 91' Dawson made the All-Star team 8 times, won ROY in 77', won MVP in 87' and finished 2nd in 81' and 83'. 8 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers. In Rice's 10 best years from 77' to 87', he had 8 All-Star teams, 1 MVP in in 78' and finished 3rd, 2 other times. 0 Gold Gloves and 2 Silver Sluggers. To me both should get in, and I actually give the slight nod to Dawson for his defense and speed.