Is CC Sabathia a Hall of Famer?

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I still am amazed that Mariano Rivera was unanimous considering the general disdain for closers/relief pitchers getting into the Hall of Fame. Sure he's probably the best closer ever, but it's still hard to believe he got 100%.

Same...and I'm a huge Yanks and Mariano fan.

Figured at least a couple writers would have held out based on the Closer/Reliever argument.

I am certainly not in favor of forcing writers to publicly reveal their votes. Not with the Troll culture we have today.

Vote for so and so or death threats will immediately ensue, while Stephen A. Smith and Chris Russo and Skip Bayless and Pat McAfee and whoever the hell else, publicly eviscerates you to their Millions+ brainless audiences.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Same...and I'm a huge Yanks and Mariano fan.

Figured at least a couple writers would have held out based on the Closer/Reliever argument.

I am certainly not in favor of forcing writers to publicly reveal their votes. Not with the Troll culture we have today.

Vote for so and so or death threats will immediately ensue, while Stephen A. Smith and Chris Russo and Skip Bayless and Pat McAfee and whoever the hell else, publicly eviscerates you to their Millions+ brainless audiences.

The 100% thing only became a thing when it became a thing with Mariano. I agree that it surprises me that he was the one to finally break through the "tradition" that nobody can get 100%.

Once he did, though, it's interesting that a number of very popular players both came one vote short. I wonder if the same happens to guys like Pujols, Cabrera, or other "no doubt" guys on the horizon. If Rivera is destined to be the only one with a perfect vote, that's just....odd.

Personally, I disagree on public ballots. Getting a vote is a great honor that should be taken seriously. I feel many who have the vote don't take it as seriously as they should. If you're not willing to publicly defend your choices against a few internet trolls, decline your ballot. If everyone had to defend their vote, I think we'd see a lot less shenanigans.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Personally, I disagree on public ballots. Getting a vote is a great honor that should be taken seriously. I feel many who have the vote don't take it as seriously as they should. If you're not willing to publicly defend your choices against a few internet trolls, decline your ballot. If everyone had to defend their vote, I think we'd see a lot less shenanigans.

People get death threats and get their homes Swatted on a regular basis, for a lot less then: "You didn't vote for my favorite player", or better yet..."the guy I bet on to get a certain % of the ballots, didn't get that %".

Somebody making 40K or less a year to be a sportswriter (and a lot of them make a lot less then that nowadays), shouldn't have themselves and their families subjected to that, just because it's a honor just to be asked.

Certainly not because Stephen A. Smith wants to dole out his pound of flesh on National Television...not because he's personally outraged...but because it creates an angry and engaged audience that keeps him relevant and makes him and his employer shitloads of money in the process.

If the HOF thinks somebody is abusing their position as a voting member, just don't invite them back the next year...but it's not the end of the world because anybody does or doesn't get 100% of the votes.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

People get death threats and get their homes Swatted on a regular basis, for a lot less then: "You didn't vote for my favorite player", or better yet..."the guy I bet on to get a certain % of the ballots, didn't get that %".

Somebody making 40K or less a year to be a sportswriter (and a lot of them make a lot less then that nowadays), shouldn't have themselves and their families subjected to that, just because it's a honor just to be asked.

Certainly not because Stephen A. Smith wants to dole out his pound of flesh on National Television...not because he's personally outraged...but because it creates an angry and engaged audience that keeps him relevant and makes him and his employer shitloads of money in the process.

If the HOF thinks somebody is abusing their position as a voting member, just don't invite them back the next year...but it's not the end of the world because anybody does or doesn't get 100% of the votes.

This is true of anyone who writes anything publicly, including journalists. It sucks that that's the world we live in nowadays, but I don't know what makes the HOF vote any different than any other article or tweet anyone puts out there.