The Modern Period Corridor of Fame poll isn’t a strict conflict of excellent versus evil. But it surely definitely will be seen that means.
The 16-person committee ought to vote in Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy and Fred McGriff, three nice gamers who additionally introduced solely honor to the sport. Mattingly and Murphy had been two of one of the best gamers of their time — nice peak gamers — whose general video games aren’t appreciated by defective retroactive defensive metrics. McGriff was a constant and dominant power at his finest in October.
Mattingly received an MVP, obtained MVP votes seven instances, and received 9 Gold Gloves. Murphy is a two-time MVP who completed within the high 12 six instances and received 5 Gold Gloves. Mattingly’s profession numbers are much like Kirby Puckett’s; Murphy has 398 profession homers; and McGriff, who hit 30 homers 10 instances, solely missed the 500-homer mark as a result of 1994 strike (he had 493).
Their offensive numbers do look lesser for the reason that steroid cheats dwarfed them by way of ignominious means. However let’s not reward the defrauders who already made extra money and received extra awards by way of shameful means.
Unusually, this new poll appears to be damaged up into this angelic trio plus the less-than-angelic duo of Albert Belle and Curt Schilling and a trio of gamers strongly linked to steroids — Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Rafael Palmeiro.
Neglect the persona downside; Belle has the apparent situation of being a two-dimensional participant who was discovered to have corked his bat and didn’t put up big lifetime totals. There’s good purpose he by no means obtained greater than 7.7 p.c of writers’ votes.
Schilling, whereas objectionable in his personal means, is extra deserving. As a pitcher, he was similar to Mike Mussina, and he received huge recreation after huge recreation on the most important stage. I’m not against his candidacy — I supported him, simply not over three worthy males of unquestionable honor.
Bonds and Clemens are clearly deserving on their stats, however not on the expense of three deserving gamers whose numbers, whereas wonderful, are unfairly diminished by the gamers who cheated the sport.
It's mathematically doable for the veterans committee to elect 4 gamers — although realistically, three might be the max. Mattingly, Murphy and McGriff are a trio to rejoice.
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