Forum > Rafael Palmeiro on his HOF candidacy (and steroids)
If McGuire didn't get in on his first try then there is no way Palmeiro will get in. But I think a more interesting question would be about A-Rod, an admitted user that also has incredible stats plus a ring, and his chances at the HOF.
Pryor
Palmerio is one of only four players with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. Those are the sort of numbers HOF voters just let people in, regardless of other stats. If Palmeiro isn't voted into the Hall, it will be because of the steroid scandal, not because of a lack of resume.
Also, what's it going to take for Drew Davidson to be a staff writer at the S/T? Unless he's really working for the DMN? Or has another job...? I think he's earned the title, "staff-writer" and not "special to the Star-Telegram."
Josh Bowe (Josh 2.0)
I'll just say that Palmeiro's career wOBA (.380) is tied with Wade Boggs. He's also ahead of Al Kaline, George Brett, and Reggie Jackson. That wOBA paired with his cumulative numbers (12th in HR, 15th in RBI, 24th in H, and 31st in BB) make him HOF-worthy in my book.
Dave H
Just build a new area in the HOF and put them all in the new "PED" section, the "Steroid Era" section, or the "Asterisk" wing. That way they all get in (Bonds, McGuire, ARod, Clemens, Palmeiro, etc.) on the first ballot and people can decide if they want to visit that section and read about it all over again. This would be a great way to showcase the before and after pics of Bonds and McGuire.
It happened. Put 'em in and note it. I mean, all the seasons still counted, sooo, the balls were hit, the pitches made, the fans ooohhed and aaaaahed.
Raffy's #'s are good enough IMO btw.
dub
So you only stick the guys who were unfortunate enough to get caught in that wing? What about Pudge, who has been hounded by PED allegations for years? Or Juan Gonzalez? I don't find any real purpose in forcing these guys to carry scarlet letters. Either they're HOF-worthy or they're not.
Joey Matschulat
No, no....by "etc". I was meaning all of them or everyone that qualifies from the "era" in question. Your last sentence is exactly what I was getting at. It all counted, if the numbers are worthy, put em' in. I mean, they note the dead ball live ball era's...so just note that these guys played in the PED era. To me, it's just as noteworthy as anything.
Pete Roses' sitch is similar, but just one guy. He's in, but you have to note that he bet on baseball. The guy is a HOF'er that bet on baseball. Bond's is a HOF'er that juiced. Phil Niekro is a HOF'er that put stuff on the ball. I don't know where the line should be drawn. For now it's just betting on baseball I guess.
dub
Non-Clubhouse post, as it's not really Rangers talk per se, but considering his low profile since
being scapegoatedretiring, this four-page FWST feature on Palmeiro has been a long time coming:As Palmeiro has become just another guy in everyday life, will voters see him as just another player from the steroid era?
"I'd hope voters would look at my body of work over my career and maybe put more emphasis on that," said Palmeiro, who finished with 569 home runs and 3,020 hits. "That one steroid incident is unfortunately all people remember. They don't remember the other 19 years that I played the game the right way. I always played the game the right way, I never created any problems, and I always honored my contract and came ready to play.
"If that's not good enough, then you know... I never played baseball for the Hall of Fame. I played baseball because, as a kid, I loved playing baseball. Along the way, I thought there would be a chance to make it a career and I worked towards that. I never had the thought of the Hall of Fame, and it didn't even come into play until reporters and announcers started commenting on my career and the possibility of 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. But that wasn't my goal. I simply loved to play baseball. I loved to play in front of the fans at Texas and Baltimore, and even on the road in Boston and New York. I lived for that stuff. It was my life. That's how I made a living, and I took it very seriously."
Was Raffy a -- gasp -- user? It certainly wouldn't shock me, but then again, I'm so completely out on the PED witch hunt that I'm not sure I could muster the energy to care even if he did come clean tomorrow. The more interesting issue to me is whether he'll make it into the HOF ... he's currently in that sort of borderline 60-70 career WAR area with guys like Craig Biggio and such (here), but his career .288/.371/.515 as a 1B/OF/DH will probably fail to wow some people, even if a lot of those statistics were compiled during lower-offense eras.