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The Big
Kahuna's Essay Column
April
7, 2011
Something Fishy: In
an April 6 game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago
Cubs, played at Wrigley Field, Aramis Ramirez hit a home run
into the left field bleachers. This was significant because a
fan reached out over the basket designed to prevent such things
and caught the ball. The Diamondbacks did not argue and the
occurrence went largely unnoticed, except for the opportunity
for people to drag out references to Steve Bartman.
However, the fact that no action need be taken did not prevent
Commissioner Bud Selig from issuing a directive to all of the
teams to take whatever measures were necessary to ensure that
fans could not interfere with balls in play.
The Commissioner's office told the Florida Marlins that they did
not have to worry about it.
In a related story, the Florida Lottery announced that for the
remainder of the baseball season, the daily three digit lottery
game's winning numbers would be determined, not by a drawing,
but instead by the Marlins' paid attendance for that day's home
game.
When asked what provisions would be made if the Marlins' paid
attendance for any given game exceeded 999, the lottery office
spokesperson convulsed in laughter.
You may have also noticed that, this summer, former
Twins/Rangers/Pirates/Indians/Twins (again)/Angels pitcher Bert
Blyleven will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Apart
from immediately creating a vacancy in the Hall of Mediocrity,
the election of Blyleven causes a few problems. Chief among
those problems is, what is the criteria for electing a player to
the Hall (of Fame, not Mediocrity)?
In case you were unaware, Blyleven compiled a 287-250 record in
22 Major League seasons. So, essentially, Blyleven was a little
better than one game over .500 per season. Contrast this to,
say, Ron Guidry, who generates very little Hall of Fame support.
In fact, Guidry last appeared in the voting in 2002, when he
garnered a mere 23 votes.
In his career, Guidry went 170-91, which is 79 games over .500.
Guidry and Blyleven are essentially similar in career numbers
for ERA, strikeout ratios, and runners allowed averages.
Guidry's winning percentage is a stout .651, while Blyleven's is
.534. While it's true that Blyleven pitched around twice as much
as Guidry did, it's not like he was winning a lot of those
games. Heck, he was barely winning better than half of the
time.
So, I ask you, other than his high career strikeout total, which
is largely a product of the Twins and Angels being willing to
pay him to go something like 14-13 every year, and his own
campaigning for his induction as he announces Twins' games, what
makes Blyleven a more suitable Hall of Fame candidate than
Guidry?
Not to mention Allie Reynolds (182-107, plus two no-hitters),
Jack Morris (254-186),or Ed Ruelbach (182-108, 2.28 career ERA)
I'm not saying that Guidry, Reynolds, Morris, or Ruelbach fit my
criteria of a Hall of Famer, but they certainly appear to be
more deserving than Blyleven.
Now, there are people who are willing to tell you that Blyleven
was one of the 25 greatest pitchers in baseball history (they
are out there, but I refuse to link to their sites), but Bert
was seldom, if ever, even considered the best pitcher on his own
staff.
Tommy John (288-231) has a career of similar length to
Blyleven's, not to mention more wins, a better winning
percentage, and a very popular surgery named for him. It does
not appear that John is getting into the Hall anytime soon. Nor
should he.
No offense, but Tommy John is just not what I think of when I
think of a Hall of Fame pitcher. And neither is Bert Blyleven.
Let me put it this way, it's Game 7 of the World Series, you can
pick any pitcher in baseball history to start that game. Are you
picking Blyleven?
And if you do, and I pick Walter Johnson, or Sandy Koufax, or
Lefty Grove (or Ron Guidry for that matter), who is probably
winning that game?
Exactly.
Relevant Question Of The Month: What do the Barry Bonds'
perjury trial jury have in common with the Florida Marlins
current ballpark?-R.M. Hollywood, FL
They both only need 12 chairs.
Send your question for the Big Kahuna to:
bigkahuna@federalleague.com
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