Hall of Fame thoughts

Just a few thoughts on this years balloting for the 2014 Hall of Fame induction into the hallowed grounds of Cooperstown,  New York, this summer.

● Three big leaguers, all first ballot players, Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux were voted for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

As a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance,  I included Thomas, Glavine, and Maddux on my BBA ballot this year.

●As usual, controversy reared its usual madness as many former big leaguers didnt achieve the reqiured 75% of all ballots cast by voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

For me, the HOF won't really be right until players like Buck Weaver,  Gil Hodges, Tim Raines, Dale Murphy, Jack Morris, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Alan Trammell,  Lou Whittaker, Jim Kaat, Edgar Martinez, and Don Mattingly are given tbeir proper due and Inducted into the HOF.

●The Dan LeBatard/Deadspin vote.

I didn't participate in Deadspin's vote, never paid attention to anything having to do with the secret writer/ballot stuff, as it seemed just to silly.

That said, the LeBatard/ Deadspin ballot was a pretty darn solid ballot for the HOF.

The ballot contained 7 players that I voted for on my BBA ballot.

The three that I didn't have on my ballot were...Curt Schiilling, a solid pick, and two I will never vote for...steroid kings Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

I have stated in the past that Bonds, Clemens, Manny Ramirez, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, will never have my support.

As for Schiiling...no until Morris, Kaat, pitchers better than Schilling, pitchers better than Mike Mussina, are chosen for HOF selection.

●Why would LeBatard, or any baseball writer, agree to such foolishness?

If LeBatard wanted to make the point that the BBWAA voting system is flawed...which it is, then why didn't he solicit possible selections for his HOF ballot through his TV show, radio show, or through social media like Twitter or Facebook?

Selling, or giving up your prized vote as a baseball HOF selector, means you really don't deserve a vote, nor do you want it, obviously.

●●●●Today the BBWAA stripped LeBatard from ever voting again for the HOF...probably what he wanted anyway, along with the publicity●●●●

●The 2014 HOF Class is a terrific group, Glavine, Maddux, Thomas, along with Veterans Committee selections, former big league players and Managers Joe Torre, Bobby Cox,  and Tony LaRussa.