THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Hall of Fame Issues

Studes checks in with his.  Here’s mine: instead of a “yes” ballot, why not have a “yes” ballot (max 10 names) and a “ask me next year” ballot (min 1 name; any non-returned ballot puts everyone you didn’t vote in the ask-me ballot).  Imagine you are on the fence for, say, Jim Rice.  You think he has a compelling case, but, you haven’t researched it enough: you’ll look at it next year.  But, the ONLY way to look at it next year is if 5% of your peers have agreed that he’s a “yes”.  That is, for you to look at his name next year, someone else has to have decided this year.  It’s insane.  Change “Jim Rice” for “Dwight Evans” and you see the insanity.  Dewey is already off the ballot.

In order for the guy’s name to appear in next year’s ballot, instead of the 5% “yes” ballots, he’d need 50% yes plus ask-me ballots.  Since you eventually need 75% yes ballots, a 50% cutoff threshold seems appropriate to keep those somewhat qualified on the ballot, and remove those hangers on who have no business being considered every year for 15 years.

Also, I’d make the date of eligibility when the player turns 45.  I don’t like the idea of Kirby Puckett being considered so many years *before* Rickey, when Rickey’s career started so much earlier.  Kirby should be compared to his peers, and his peers are those close to when he was born, not those close to when he retired.  If that means that the Nolan Ryans could be an active HOF, so be it.  If you insist, you can put in a “must be retired for a full season”.