Andre Dawson Elected To The Hall Of Fame
The Hawk
First let me say that I’ve seen some of the ballots and being a person that subscribes to the religion of baseball it makes me absolutely sick on how some of these writers who get admission into the Baseball Writers Association of America actually voted or in some chases choose not to file one single vote. Absolutely disgusting.
Back on November 29, I posted a detailed run down of who I thought deserved admission into the Baseball Hall of Fame as well as those I would not vote for, if I was lucky enough to have a vote, and today the results from the Baseball Writers Association of America told us the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame class would only have the inclusion of outfielder Andre “The Hawk” Dawson.
Dawson a five tool player was a 8-time All-Star and 8-time Gold Glove outfielder, was also the 1977 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1987 NL MVP. In 21 season he finished with 2,774 hits and 438 home runs as well as 1,591 RBI’s among many more baseball accomplishment’s. Dawson played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins. The Hawk on his ninth try received 420 out of 539 votes for 77.9%, 2.9% more than the 75% needed to be inducted.
Dawson, whose fielding prowess earned him the nickname “The Hawk,” will be honored along with manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey, who were elected by the Veterans Committee, will be inducted into the Hall July 25 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.
I hate to take away from Hall of Famer Andre Dawson moment but when you see that the BBWAA had 5 blank ballots, in what I am going to assume was pure laziness,just infuriates me considering guys like Bert Blyleven missed by 0.8% or that Roberto Alomar missed by 1.3%. While my blood is still boiling I would like to dot trademarks around the writers eyes that used their votes to tell me that Kevin Appier, Pat Hentgen, David Segui and Ellis Burk need to have a plaque of enshrinement next to Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Bob Gibson, Mickey Mantle, Ozzie Smith, Sandy Koufax and Willie Mays just to name a few.
Players may remain on the ballot for up to 15 years provided they receive five percent of the vote in any year. There were 11 candidates who failed to make the cut this year, all among the 15 players who were on the ballot for the first time. The first-year candidates who received sufficient support to remain other than Alomar were shortstop Barry Larkin with 278 (51.6%), designated hitter-third baseman Edgar Martinez with 195 (36.2%) and first baseman Fred McGriff with 116 (21.5%). Other holdovers who will remain on the ballot are pitchers Jack Morris and Lee Smith, first basemen Don Mattingly and Mark McGwire, shortstop Alan Trammell, outfielder-DH Harold Baines and outfielders Tim Raines, Dave Parker and Dale Murphy.
Once again congratulations to you Hall of Famer Andre “The Hawk” Dawson.
Who’s A 2010 Baseball Hall Of Famer?
All Alone
The 2010 ballot of potential Baseball Hall of Famers was released and it’s when O.G. baseball fans, like myself, sit around and provide our vote on who should be let into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. A candidate must receive 75 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America members to gain election.
This years ballot includes 15 new entrants, Roberto Alomar and Barry Larkin being the biggest names, alongside 11 holdovers. If any player fails to receive 5 percent of the vote their are forever removed from future Hall of Fame ballots.
Voting for the 2010 first timers are as follows:
- Roberto Alomar – NO, a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove second baseman, had a .300 batting average, 210 homers and 474 steals in 17 major league seasons. The pitting in the face of constant moving around in his career and spitting in the face of an umpire John Hirschbeck sure will cost him votes however I felt he was never a dominating second baseman.
- Barry Larkin – YES, a 12-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove shortstop in 19 seasons, all with Cincinnati. He had a .295 career average with 198 homers and won the 1995 NL MVP award. If it wasn’t for him playing in the same time as Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken he might have been mentioned as one of the best shortstops of all time.
- Edgar Martinez – NO, won two AL batting titles and finishing with a .312 average and 309 homers. A seven-time All-Star, he was a designated hitter in 1,412 of 2,055 career regular-season games and spent all 18 seasons with Seattle. I admit that Martinez was a wonderful hitter but since he is the first to be nominated solely for playing the DH spot I find it will be hard for him to achieve the 75%.
- Fred McGriff – NO, tied with Lou Gehrig for 26th on the career home run with 493 and had a .284 average in 19 seasons. He was a 5-time All-Star and led the AL in homers for Toronto in 1989 and the NL for San Diego in 1992. I was a huge “Crime Dog” fan but fan favorite doesn’t mean a spot in the Hall.
- Andres Galarraga – NO, a 5-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove first baseman. He was the 2000 MLB Comeback Player of the Year after returning from cancer treatment. He finished with 399 home runs in 19 seasons and 2,333 hits. The “Big Cat” provided power for the teams he played with but nothing dominating.
- Ellis Burks - NO, a 2-time All Star and a one-time Gold Glove outfielder. He finished with 352 home runs in 18 seasons. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Eric Karros – NO, the 1992 NL Rookie of the Year. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Ray Lankford – NO, a one-time All-Star who played in the NFL and MLB at the same time. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- David Segui – NO, played 15 seasons, probably known more for admitted to steroid use. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Robin Ventura – NO, a 2-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove third-baseman. He finished with a .267 batting average and 294 home runs. His baseball infamy came at the hands on Nolan Ryan as well as hitting a “Grand Slam Single” in 2000 NLCS. Probably will receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Todd Zeile - NO, is also one of 41 players ever to hit a home run in his final at-bat. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Kevin Appier – NO, a one-time All-Star. He finished with a win loss record of 169-137 and 1,994 strikeouts in 16 seasons. Hopefully will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Pat Hentgen – NO, a 3-time All-Star and 1996 AL Cy Young Award winner going 20-10. He finished with a win loss record of 131-112 and 1,290 strikeouts. Had one of the best curve balls in the game for a stretch but not Hall worthy.
- Mike Jackson – NO, in 17 seasons finished with 142 saves while winning 62 and losing 67. A setup guy out of the bullpen for much of his career. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Shane Reynolds – NO, in 13 seasons finished with a win loss record of 114-96 and 1,403 strikeouts. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
Voting for the 2010 holdovers are as follows:
- Harold Baines – NO, a 6-time All-Star in 22 seasons. A clutch hitter who had 2,866 hits and 384 home runs. An All-Star for sure but not a Hall of Famer.
- Andre Dawson – YES, an 8-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove outfielder. He was the 1977 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1987 NL MVP. In 21 season he finished with 2,774 hits and 438 home runs as well as 1,591 RBI’s. The “Hawk” deserves Jim Rice’s spot and doesn’t need to the Boston media to do his begging like Rice did.
- Don Mattingly – NO, a 6-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove first-baseman. Was the 1985 AL MVP. A great player but quite never provided the power in the batters box. If he had half the power of Mark McGwire he would for sure be a Hall of Famer.
- Mark McGwire – NO, a 12-time All-Star and one-time Gold Glove first-baseman. Was the 1987 AL Rookie of the Year and holds 2 MLB Records 49 home runs in his rookie season and 10.61 at bats per home run ratio. A great player but quite never provided anything but power. If he had half the baseball skill as Don Mattingly he would for sure be a Hall of Famer in my world. I do not figure steroids into any of the equation since it was not against the rules of baseball until 2005.
- Dale Murphy – NO, a 7-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove outfielder. Was a back to back NL MVP in 1982 and 1983. Finished with 2,111 hits and 398 home runs and 1,266 RBI’s. The “Murph” was not a stat guy but a baseball guy. His contributions are surely appreciated within the game but not a spot shouldn’t be held in the Hall for him.
- Dave Parker – NO, a 7-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove outfielder. Was 1978 NL MVP. The “Cobra” had a lethal right field arm, however his career suffered from injuries and cocaine use that caused him from being one of the games best ever.
- Tim Raines – NO, a 7-time All-Star and stole 808 bases in 23 seasons. The “Rock” was an All-Star for sure but not a Hall of Famer.
- Alan Trammell – NO, a 6-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove shortstop. Was the 1983 MLB Comeback Player of the Year and 1984 World Series MVP. An excellent defensive shortstop but played in an era when he was the fourth or fifth best.
- Bert Blyleven – NO, a 2-time All-Star and 1989 MLB Comeback Player of the Year. Pitched no-hitter on September 22, 1977.He finished with a win loss record of 287-250 and 3,701 strikeouts as well as a 3.31 ERA. Never won 20 games, no Cy Young Award and stands at 287 wins after 22 season. “Bert” was an All-Star for sure but not a Hall of Famer.
- Jack Morris – YES, 5-time All-Star and a four-time World Series champions. Was the 1991 World Series MVP. He finished with a win loss record of 254-186 and 2,478 strikeouts as well as a 3.90 ERA. Morris was a winner and a pitcher I would want to give the ball to in a seventh game.
- Lee Smith – NO, 7-time All-Star and a three time Relif Pitcher of the Year, twice in the NL and once in the AL. He finished with 478 saves and won 71 games and lost 92 with 1,251 strikeouts. I was a huge Smith fan and it even hurts me to say no but fan favorite doesn’t mean a spot in the Hall. A strong case can be made though for the third all time leader in saves.
Reporters who have been in the Baseball Writers Association of America for 10 consecutive years are eligible to vote, and results will be announced January 6. Inductions are scheduled for July 25 at Cooperstown.
St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols Wins National League Most Valuable Player Award
MVP
Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals has been named the National League Most Valuable Player in an unanimous decision, receiving all 32 first-place votes, conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Long since established as one of baseball’s great players, Pujols emerged as the game’s dominant figure in 2009.
It’s the second straight year that Pujols has won the award, and the third time overall. He is the 10th player in history to win three MVPs, and the fifth to win it three times in the National League. He is the 12th player to win back-to-back MVP awards. The last was Barry Bonds, who won it four straight years from 2001-04. Most remarkable may be that Pujols still hasn’t turned 30.
By some measures 2009 was Pujols’ best year at the plate. He batted .327 with a .443 on-base percentage, a .658 slugging percentage, 47 home runs and 135 RBIs. Moreover, he did it for a division champion.
Pujols led the NL in on-base, slugging, homers and runs (124). He ranked second with 45 doubles, third with a career-high 115 walks, third with 135 RBIs and sixth with 186 hits. He won his fifth Silver Slugger Award.
The on-base percentage was the second-best of his career, and the slugging was his third-best mark. Pujols won his first NL home run title, he came two RBIs short of a personal best and equaled his own high of 16 stolen bases.
There was only one person to be the face of baseball in 2009 and that was ALLAH.
Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer Wins American League Most Valuable Player Award
MVP
Joe Mauer catcher of the Minnesota Twins has been named the American League Most Valuable Player in a near unanimous vote,receiving 27 of the 28 first-place votes to easily beat out the Yankees’ duo of Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter, conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Mauer also joined an elite group of players when he won his third American League batting title this season.
The 26-year-old Mauer finished with 327 points, well ahead of Teixeira, who had 225, and Jeter, who had 193. Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who received the only other first-place vote, was fourth with 171 points.
Mauer became the fifth player in Twins history to win the MVP Award. He joined teammate Justin Morneau, who took home the honor in 2006, as well as Zoilo Versalles (1965) Harmon Killebrew (1969) and Rod Carew (1977).
He also became just the second catcher in the past 33 years to be named MVP. Texas Rangers Ivan Rodriguez (1999) is the only backstop besides Mauer to take home the honor since Yankees catcher Thurman Munson won it in 1976. The last catcher to win National League MVP honors was Cincinnati’s Johnny Bench in 1972.
Mauer put together the best season of his already impressive young career in 2009. He batted .365 to earn his second straight AL batting title. It was his third batting title in four seasons, making the 26-year-old the only catcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat. He is the 10th player in AL history with three or more batting titles.
In addition to leading the league in batting average, Mauer also was the leader in on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587), giving him what some stat gurus have deemed the modern Triple Crown. The last AL player to lead in all three of those categories was George Brett of the Royals in 1980. Mauer set career highs in home runs (28) and RBIs (96). And it was that unexpected power surge that was the biggest change for Mauer in 2009, as he more than doubled his previous high in homers (13 in 2006).
This award season had already been kind to Mauer. He was named the AL’s Outstanding Player in the Player’s Choice Awards as well as being named the top player in the AL by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He also earned his third Silver Slugger Award and his second straight Gold Glove.
Check back to read about Albert Pujols’ NL MVP award, which will be announced Tuesday.
San Francisco Giants Tim Lincecum Wins National League Cy Young Award
"The Freak"
Tim Lincecum the right-handed stoner of the of the San Francisco Giants repeated as the National League Cy Young Award winner, besting St. Louis right-handers Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright in the vote conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
“The Freak” became the first pitcher ever to win the Cy Young in his first two full seasons in the big leagues and the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson who won four in a row for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1999-2002. Lincecum (15-7, 2.48 ERA, 261 strikeouts) received 11 first-place votes and 100 points. Carpenter (17-4, 2.24 ERA, 144 strikeouts) finished second with nine first-place votes and 94 points, followed by Wainwright (19-8, 2.63 ERA, 212 strikeouts), who had 12 first-place votes and 90 points.
The six-point margin between Lincecum and Carpenter equaled the third-closest NL Cy Young election since the ballot was expanded from one to three pitchers in 1970. The closest vote occurred in 1987, when the Phillies’ Steve Bedrosian beat the Cubs’ Rick Sutcliffe, 57-55.
Although “The Freak” was fourth in wins he clearly improved overall. The 25-year-old trimmed his ERA by 0.14. Opponents hit .206 off him this season, compared to .221 in 2008. After walking 84 in 227 innings a year ago, he improved to 68 walks in 225 1/3 innings this season as well as leading the NL in strikeouts for the second year in a row, the first Giant to do so since Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson (1907-08). Lincecum also ranked second in ERA and tied teammate Matt Cain for the league lead with four complete games.
“The Freak’s” season was highlighted by four complete games, two shutouts and eight double-digit strikeout performances, due in large part to that ridiculous curve-ball and near unhittable changeup and a mid-90s fastball isn’t too bad either. July 27 also highlighted his season by striking out 15 against Pittsburgh.
Lincecum topped Wainwright and Carpenter in several other statistical categories, including opponents’ batting average, strikeouts per nine innings and strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Mike Scioscia Wins American League Manager Of The Year
34 Would Be Proud
Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels of Anhiem had to endure the most emotionally season of his 10 seasons as leader of the Angels and that culminated in him selected as the 2009 American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
It was Scioscia’s second Manager of the Year award. He was named by the BBWAA in 2002, when the Angels claimed their first World Series title under his direction after entering the postseason as a Wild Card. Scioscia, who is the first manager in Major League history to pilot six postseason teams in his first 10 seasons, received 15 of a possible 28 first-place votes for 106 points.
The Twins’ Ron Gardenhire finished second with six first-place votes and 72 points. Joe Girardi of the Yankees (four first-place votes) was third, followed by the Mariners’ Don Wakamatsu (two), the Rangers’ Ron Washington (one) and the Tigers’ Jim Leyland.
Coping with the death of young pitcher Nick Adenhart in a car wreck on April 9, Scioscia and the Angels emerged from early struggles — they were 29-29 on June 11 — to take flight en route to a third consecutive AL West title, their fifth in six seasons.
In the AL Division Series, the Angels swept their October nemesis, Boston, in three games before falling in six games in the AL Championship Series to the Yankees, who went on to subdue the Phillies in the World Series.
With 97 wins, the Angels continued a run of excellence under Scioscia, whose teams have won 900 regular-season games in 10 seasons. His 567 victories over the past six seasons represent a Major League best — one more than Joe Torre has achieved with the Yankees and Dodgers and two more than Terry Francona with the Red Sox.
Colorado Rockies Jim Tracy Wins National League Manager Of The Year
David Letterman
Jim Tracy of the Colorado Rockies was rewarded for his success on Wednesday not only did he win the National League Manager of the Year Award as voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America but he also was took home a new three year contract to run through 2012.
Tracy who took over the last place Rockies on May 29th was the overwhelming choice of the voters. He received 29 of a possible 32 first-place votes for 151 points. Tony La Russa of the Cardinals received two first-place votes and 55 points. The Dodgers’ Joe Torre received one first-place vote and finished third with 33 points.
When Tracy moved from bench coach to skipper, replacing Clint Hurdle 18-28, the Rockies went 74-42 under Tracy and won the National League Wild Card.
In the end, the Rockies were 92-70, and set a club record for wins in a season while making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. The Phillies eliminated the Rockies, three games to one, in the NL Division Series.
Tracy became the second Rockies manager to win the award. Don Baylor, who rejoined the Rockies as hitting coach last off-season,earned the honor in 1995.
Kansas City Royals Zack Grienke Wins American League Cy Young Award
Diamond Stud
Zack Greinke is the definition of a Diamond Stud and he proved it again by winning the American League Cy Young Award and he did it in a landslide.
The Royals’ right-hander received a rousing 25 of 28 first-place votes and had 134 total points in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voting. Runner-up Felix Hernandez of the Mariners had 80 points, with two first-place votes.
Greinke emerged from the shadow of a social anxiety disorder that took him away from the game for two months in 2006. He worked his way back to the Royals with a tour in the Minors that year and spent most of 2007 laboring in the KC bullpen. Back full force in 2008, he made 32 starts with a 13-10, 3.47 season that set the stage for this thunderous year.
But the 2009 season on the mound belong to Greinke, who posted a 16-8 record which was modest total for a Cy Young winner but no one could match his Major League-best ERA of 2.16. He was one of the most dominating pitchers of 2009 in either league especially being on a team that hardly backed him with run support and a bullpen that blew four of his leads.
Greinke becomes the third Cy Young winner in club history. Bret Saberhagen won in 1985 and 1989; David Cone won in 1994. Cone was the only other starter to win the AL award with as few as 16 wins, and he did it in a strike-shortened season. Brandon Webb (2006) was the last starter to win the National League award with so few.
Among other accomplishments, Greinke struck out 15 batters and threw a one-hitter in back-to-back outings in August as he headed toward a strong finish. He was 6-1 with a 1.75 ERA in his final 11 starts.
Greinke’s has three devastating pitches in a changeup (which was the best in 2009), a sizzling fastball and killer slider. Greinke’s 242 strikeouts, second in the AL to Jason Verlander’s 269, included the club-record 15 on Aug. 25 against the Indians. Then, in his next start at Seattle, came a one-hitter flawed only by a second-inning single. Greinke mowed down the last 22 Mariners he faced. That made him just the fourth pitcher in history to follow a 15-strikeout game with a one-hitter, matching Pedro Martinez (1999), Randy Johnson (1998) and Vida Blue (1971).
His ability to command his pitches, moving the ball in and out, up and down with pinpoint accuracy, and to vary his speeds is phenomenal.
Florida Marlins Chris Coghlan Wins National League Rookie Of The Year
Diamond Stud
Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan won the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year award. J.A. Happ pitcher of the Phildelphia Phillies finished second in the voting, which was carried out by selected members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Coghlan’s victory continues the Marlins’ streak of three: three winners in club history, with each coming in three-year spans. It started with Dontrelle Willis winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 2003, continued with Hanley Ramirez, the best shortstop in the Major Leagues, claiming the honor in ’06, and now the torch has been passed to Coghlan.
Coghlan finished his first pro season batting .321 with nine homers, 47 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 128 games. Indirectly because another one of the Marlins’ highly touted young players, Cameron Maybin, wasn’t producing consistently in the Major Leagues, Coghlan was called up from Triple-A New Orleans on May 8 and never really gave the team a chance to take him out of the lineup.
He was playing a position he’s never played before – left field – while hitting out of a lineup spot he wasn’t used to – leadoff – but he performed at each like a seasoned pro.
Coghlan posted back-to-back 47-hit months becoming the first NL player with 94 hits in a two-month span since 1978, finishing sixth in the NL in batting average and led senior-circuit rookies in runs (84), hits (162), total bases (232), doubles (31) and on-base percentage (.390).
His batting average was the highest by a Marlins rookie, easily topping the .292 clips Ramirez and Jeff Conine hit at.
From the All-Star Game until the end of the regular season, Coghlan helped keep the low-payroll Marlins in contention with a Major League-leading 113 hits – 11 more than Yankees captain Derek Jeter – and added a .372 batting average – 14 points higher than eventual American League batting champion Joe Mauer. Coghlan’s hits total in the second half matched Juan Pierre in ’04 for the franchise record and is the most in the Majors since 1965.
In what turned out to be a great year for the rookies you couldn’t go wrong with any of the top 5 vote getter. There were so many rookies who had great years.
Oakland A’s Andrew Bailey Wins American League Rookie of the Year
Diamond Stud
Oakland A’s right-hander closer Andrew Bailey won the 2009 American League Rookie of the Year award. Elvis Andrus shortstop of the Texas Rangers finished second in the voting, which was carried out by selected members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Bailey, 25, posted 26 saves while no other AL rookie reliever had more than two and posted an 1.84 ERA, also the best among AL rookies. He was listed first on 13 ballots submitted by two writers in each AL city, second on six and third on five to score 88 points, based on a 5-3-1 tabulation system.
Bailey is the second Oakland closer to win in the past five elections; Huston Street won it in 2005. Including shortstop Bobby Crosby’s honor in 2004, this marks the third time in six seasons that an A’s player has won the rookie award and the eighth time overall, tying the Yankees for the most winners in the league.
Moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen at Double-A Midland at mid season in 2008, Bailey didn’t just make a successful transition to relief work. He made the transition look like a breeze. Named to the 25-man roster in part because projected closer Joey Devine was out with an elbow injury that resulted in season-ending surgery, Bailey was handed a low-stress role in the season’s first several weeks but steadily climbed the ladder of responsibility.
He picked up his first save in early May and eventually took over as the full-time closer, converting his final 21 save opportunities dating to June 17.
Named the Athletics’ lone representative at the All-Star Game in St. Louis this summer, Bailey broke Street’s Oakland rookie record for saves and posted a 6-3 record with a 0.88 WHIP and 91 strikeouts against 24 walks in 83 1/3 innings over 68 appearances. Opponents batted .167 against Bailey, who surrendered 47 hits
In what turned out to be a great year for the rookies you couldn’t go wrong with any of the top 5 vote getter. There were so many rookies who had great years.
