Quote:
Originally Posted by ThatSeventiesGuy
Gotta wonder, with all the steroid era guys that are becoming eligible, the Hall might instead take a second look at "borderline" HOF guys who played in the 70's-80's like Rice, the Evanses, Dale Murphy, etc. Gotta put SOMEBODY in once in a while, right?
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I agree 100%. I think there are players that had zero chance of gaining induction 10 years ago that will be getting in because of the changed landscape.
I think players from the 80s were looked down upon, historically, as not being as good as players 20-40 years prior. I think there has been a change in that perception that will affect future votes, and Veterans Selections.
I do think Sabermetrics is influencing things more than ever before, but I also think that the Steroid era has tempered the swing to decisions being more numbers based. The Steroid era has forced those with decision making authority to make decisions on subjective criteria, even for those who think it is ideal to use numbers, only. Any numeric adjustment from an era when some used and some didn't and how that affects performance vs league averages for those that didn't use will be largely subjective, even if translated into a numeric equation.
I think Dale Murphy will get in, in no small part due to the Steroid era, but he is not on the ballot and will have to wait for Veterans Committee eligibility.
Before that happens, and it could happen this year, the Veterans Committee will be casting votes for "Golden Age" players, which includes another back-to-back MVP winner, Roger Maris.
I cannot think of any player whose stock has risen more in the last 10 years than Maris. If the writers were "making a statement" by electing no one in 2013, the Vet Committee would be making an even stronger statement by electing Maris.
10, 20, 30 years ago, I would have said Maris would never be inducted, and his career didn't warrant it. Now I think he can be elected, and may very well be elected due to current climate re PEDs and the integrity of records (which was something that was unjustly held against him in his lifetime).
I am not saying that I support a Maris induction, but I am not opposed. This is a shift in my opinion from not even 10 years ago.
If the Veterans Committee wants to make a statement, then it is through Maris that it will best be made.