Larkin's Time Approaches!
In a couple of weeks, the new inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced. By all accounts, this will be the year that Michigan great, Barry Larkin, is voted in. And, Bo thought he was crazy to pass-up the opportunity to play football at Michigan! Go Barry! Go Blue!
December 30th, 2010 at 8:47 AM ^
- have played for Bo and wore the winged helmet?
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<br>or
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<br>- win a world series and (potentially) be inducted into the Hall of Fame?
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<br>The 2nd is the clear winner but it is not as easy of a decision the more I think about it. Playing for Bo and coming out of that tunnel to touch the banner would be something.
December 30th, 2010 at 9:20 AM ^
If I had that chance, I'd go for Bo and the Winged Helmet every time.
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December 30th, 2010 at 8:51 AM ^
I would hate to have to tell Bo that I'm not going to play fooseball but rather I'm going to play baseball instead. Could you imagine what would come out of Bo's mouth? It wouldn't be pretty.
GO BLUE!!
December 30th, 2010 at 9:00 AM ^
a few times. Bo was furious and told him he was crazy!
December 30th, 2010 at 8:56 AM ^
it happens this time, but I think he'll have to wait a little longer. Whenever he gets in, my dad and I are going to Cooperstown for the induction.
December 30th, 2010 at 9:07 AM ^
Due to the steroids era and sportswriters not wanting t vote for those who played in that era, I think this may be Barry's best chance to get in. His best years were before that era so he should be untainted by it.
Jack Morris and Alan Trammel may also have a chance at getting in this year too. That would be sweet if all of them got in the same year. That being said I wouldn't be surprised if none of them do although I think all 3 do deserve it.
December 30th, 2010 at 9:17 AM ^
Of the three, I think Morris is most deserving. While Trammel and Larkin were both good for many years and major contributors on World Series winning teams, Morris was truly dominant and a key part of the success of three different teams.
December 30th, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^
I think a ton of people are going to question your definition of "truly dominant." I'm a huge Jack fan... but he was never truly dominant. He does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Larkin is a no-brainer. If not this year, in the next couple for sure.
December 30th, 2010 at 10:34 AM ^
I also think that Jack Morris is the most deserving. He had the most wins of any pitcher in the 80's and he was "truly dominant" in the Playoffs. Morris is under appreciated because his ERA is relatively high but Morris did what it took to win. If the team scored 8 runs then he'd relax and allow 5 if they scored 2 runs then he'd bear down and allow 1. I hope Larkin gets in but I don't think I'd call it a no-brainer. I didn't follow his career closely but it never occured to me that he'd get into the hall when he was playing. Best of luck to all three though, seeing any of those three get in would make me very happy.
December 30th, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^
The argument of pitching to score has never been proven.
Morris may have led the majors in wins in the 80s... but he also led the majors in earned runs allowed in that same time span.
December 30th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
The Jack Morris Project:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1815
And Rob Neyer discussing Morris:
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/6713/jack-morris-just-doesn…
Basically, Baseball Propesctus went back and looked to see if Morris really did "pitch to score" and they found no evidence he did.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
Morris was a very good pitcher -- and is probably better than a couple of undeserving members of the HOF -- but he's really not deserving either. The pitcher who's gotten the short end of the stick is Blyleven. As for Trammell, he should be a no-brainer, but it's amazing how little support he (and Lou W) have gotten over the years.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
I agree. I grew up watching Morris and loved watching him in Detroit. Even rooted for him when he pitched in the Series for Minnesota and Toronto. I'd love to see him in the Hall with Lou and Tram. Does that mean he deserves to be in? Of course not. If you look at Morris objectively, there's really no way you can put him in the Hall. If you do, you are opening the door to a whole bunch of pitchers who were "really good" but not nearly Hall-worthy. I mean Morris never finished higher than 3rd for Cy Young.
December 30th, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^
December 30th, 2010 at 4:46 PM ^
Larkin was a 12-time All-Star, won 3 Gold Gloves and 9 Silver Sluggers and was the 1995 NL MVP. I was surprised those numbers weren't good enough to get him in last year, though he did miss a fair amount of time due to injury. I just remember him starting at shortstop for the NL for seemingly my entire childhood.