A bonus version of Embrace the Chaos looking at perhaps the most polarizing candidate on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot. Omar Vizquel played in almost 3000 major league games, was a steady and reliable shortstop on six postseason-qualifying teams. …
Tag: Hall of Fame
Embrace the Chaos: Curt Schilling
In the final installment of Embrace the Chaos, we look at Curt Schilling‘s Hall of Fame resume. More to the point, Schilling is the cautionary tale of what happens when a celebrity doesn’t know when to shut his mouth. His post-career pratfalls …
Embrace the Chaos: Billy Wagner
Turning our attention to the pitchers, this entry of Embrace the Chaos looks at longtime closer Billy Wagner. One of the most dominant firemen bridging two generations of baseball, Billy the Kid’s Hall of Fame case is clouded by the …
Embrace the Chaos: Paul Konerko
In the third entry of Embrace the Chaos, we look at another overlooked slugging first baseman who quietly put together a very, very good career. Paul Konerko doesn’t have a chance. And that’s really too bad.
Embrace the Chaos: Scott Rolen
Or, How the writer came around on a guy who until about two weeks ago had no chance of making his ballot. Embrace the Chaos, this time looking at Scott Rolen.
Embrace the Chaos: Adam Dunn
Let’s face it, after a 2019 full of faux pas, unforced errors, glorified tennis balls and myriad scandals simmering just underneath the surface, Hall of Fame talk doesn’t hold the same, sacrosanct place for those of us used to bickering …
Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and a paradigm shift
Benchmarks for the Hall of Fame were once defined by whole numbers and equal parts quantity and quality. The new game and the new generation of players like Max Scherzer, however, are changing that perception entirely.
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My 2019 IBWAA Hall of Fame ballot
Wherein the writer discloses his inaugural Hall of Fame selections, shamelessly self-promotes and otherwise gets lost in the tantalizing illusion of ushering ballplayers into immortality. Or, pretends to be a voting member of the BBWAA without the annual extortion dues …
Adrian Beltre and the tale of two careers
Perhaps no one in baseball history had a Hall of Fame career sneak up on us like Adrian Beltre.