TheHurl

And I laughed at Charlie Manuel because he didn't really manage that long and I hated those Phillie teams...but only one losing season out of the 12 he managed is actually pretty impressive

and it's a different committee that nominates the 10 on the ballot. Those selections were terrible. Beyond Smith and Baines it was: Steinbrenner (I could have bought him getting in) Pinella (just one WS hurts but the record for wins in a season kind of makes up for not having a second) Hershiser (peaks were great) Belle (5 times in the top 10 MVP voting, but he's Albert) Will Clark (hall of above average) Joe Carter (LOL) Davey Johnson (If it was just for overall baseball maybe...but there are better managers and much better players) Charlie Manuel (why? Just why?)

He would just have to claim that the injuries forced the retirement and get fully paid out. The only player I can remember walking away while owed big money was Gil Meche.

Best tweet was "if you put everyone better than Baines in Cooperstown, they wouldn't fit in Cooperstown"

Baines is a "we still have control of this thing, not you statsy types" vote. Led by two huge Baines proponents LaRussa (who managed him for quite a few years and has many times called him "his MVP") and Reinsdorf. Don't know who the other 10 that voted for him are but I'm guessing there is some influence. The 10 on the ballot were stupid (as is the fact that there are just 10 on this ballot). I mean Steinbrenner deserves in, Pinella I can buy it...but Joe f***ing Carter. May as well have a fan vote.

couldn't happen to a nicer owner

The CTE is already there, so the roof top dive is already in the cards regardless. The NFL QB is the most protected thing in America.

A backup/practice squad QB in the NFL might be safer than baseball. He's already got $4.66M from Oakland. Would be a huge douche move to take a NFL contract now...but would be kind of funny in the same way.

Is equating all things Italian to pizza...racist?

Big, innings eating ACC pitcher... But this one is a Dukie so I love him regardless.

2008 2.0. Great draft for catchers. Everyone else disappoints

How the f*** was he voted 7th greatest Canadian?

Keuchel loves all things Italy. What's more Italian than Toronto...I mean other than New York, and Philly...well Chicago and Boston are up there too.

How about a free vacation to Venezuela instead?

Yep A's have to be scrambling to cut a deal with him. By deal I mean some way in which he can play NFL and still play in the minors.

you can't ban 02 as mod...I tried many times myself.

He won't be after...

Cistulli is common Asian name though

Almost gave you way too much in Patronage. Excellent first article. Shared with J-Money. Nick, excellent article even if there were way too many big words for me.

Apologies he was the one guy I didn't look up as I was certain he had just completed his rookie year. Nice catch

Alive is Halladay a 1st ballot?

dead baseball players go to Iowa

you lost me at "personal feeling"

28 years ago today was the Jays trade with San Diego. WAR didn't exist of course but got into a discussion about the trade and tried to find a comparable today. To Jays Alomar 20 years old, 3.9 fWAR in his rookie year Joe Carter 30 years old 1990 -2.0 fWAR, 1989 1.8 fWAR, 1988 3.2 fWAR 2 years left on his contract as a top 10 paid player (crazy that $4M was top 10) to SD Fred McGriff 27 years old 1990 5.5 fWAR, 1989 6.4 fWAR, 1988 6.6 fWAR 2 years of Arbitration remaining. Signed a 2 year extension after the deal (4 years $16M the 5th biggest contract) Tony Fernandez 28 years old 1990 4.9 fWAR, 1989 3.6 fWAR, 1988 4.4 fWAR. 3 years left on his contract at an AAV of $2.2M. Best example I could give was Houston trading Altuve (him being the equivalent to McGriff after the extension) and Springer for Soto and Zimmerman. Worked out mostly because Olerud and Winfield/Molitor more than replaced McGriff/Olerud. It's still one of the most interesting deals to look back on, and knowing that a similar deal will almost never happen again. I apologize in advance for the upcoming Olerud post.

Banning the shift is gaining momentum. I can't wait to see a play overturned because someone didn't stand in the right place