Mariano

Vintageclout · #1 01-22-2019, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric72

I’m happy for Mariano. However, the fact that he was the very first player to be unanimously voted into the Hall is unreal. Never once, in all these years, has someone gotten 100% of the votes. Yet, somehow Mariano Rivera (a relief pitcher) accomplishes this astounding feat.

Absolutely stunning.

So true but you have to understand that for virtually the longest time, there would always be a handful of baseball writer HOF voters that made it “their” rule NEVER to vote for first ballot candidates. For whatever stupid reason they made this stance, it made it impossible to be unanimously voted in. Additionally, my assumption is that some of the voting sportswriters possibly had a grievance with a particular player on the ballot (once again for whatever reason), leading to the voter omitting them from a respective vote. With Mariano being the consummate professional and portraying unparalled class throughout his magnificent career, he obviously did not piss off many sportswriters, if any at all. Also, it is highly likely that the handful of previous “pig-headed” non-first ballot voters have either been phased out or changed their stance. That said, I strongly believe that Derek Jeter will be the 2nd unanimous Cooperstown Inductee.

wazoo · #2 01-22-2019, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

So true but you have to understand that for virtually the longest time, there would always be a handful of baseball writer HOF voters that made it �their� rule NEVER to vote for first ballot candidates. For whatever stupid reason they made this stance, it made it impossible to be unanimously voted in. Additionally, my assumption is that some of the voting sportswriters possibly had a grievance with a particular player on the ballot (once again for whatever reason), leading to the voter omitting them from a respective vote. With Mariano being the consummate professional and portraying unparalled class throughout his magnificent career, he obviously did not piss off msny sportswriters, if any at all. Also, it is highly likely that the handful of previous �pig-headed� non-first ballot voters have either been phased out or changed their stance. That said, I strongly believe that Derek Jeter will be the 2nd unanimous Cooperstown Inductee.

Could not have said it better...

RCMcKenzie · #3 01-22-2019, 11:40 PM

The beauty of the career WAR statistic is that the list reads like the greatest players of all time that you would expect to see--

1 Babe Ruth
2 Cy Young
3 Walter Johnson
8 Roger Clemens
#15 Pete Alexander
17 Kid Nichols
21 Tom Seaver
26 Greg Maddux

...down the line is Rivera, who is #227, which is very good. He is in the company of #220 Dave Stieb #225 Orel Hershiser #208 Chuck Finley, all very good pitchers. I thought Bruce Sutter was a better closer, but Rivera is right up there with Lee Smith or others you might name. I think he should be in the HOF, but I'd much rather have Tom Seaver in his prime.

GregZakwin · #4 01-22-2019, 11:33 PM

For anyone actually arguing Rivera is the greatest pitcher of all-time....

Rivera's dominance doesn't occur without starting pitchers (and other relievers) excelling ahead of him. Those starters can excel without relying on Rivera.

Not even getting into simple mathematics of a great starter vs. a great reliever from an innings standpoint.

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