Jim Rice

Today at 2pm Eastern is his last chance to make the Hall of Fame.

Thoughts?

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Originally posted by Phlabibit
Today at 2pm Eastern is his last chance to make the Hall of Fame.

Thoughts?

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He couldn't hold Andre Dawson's jock strap.

Originally posted by no1marauder
He couldn't hold Andre Dawson's jock strap.

Only because he doesn't want to pull it off YOUR FACE while you're busy doing the Darth Vader voice saying, "Luke, I am your father"!

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Jim Rice is a real borderline call. Rice, Andre Dawson & Dale Murphy are all the same, although I would rank Murphy and Dawson ahead of Rice because of Gold Gloves to go along with MVP's.

Ricky Henderson should be a lock today. Jack Morris deserves to be in as does Bert Blyleven. Andre Dawson should also be in. I also think Murphy belongs in based on ability, but he will probably get screwed based on longevity. If Rice doesn't make it today, it could be a long while before he does because of all the players coming up for election in the next several years and the reluctance the voters and the committee have shown to large induction classes.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
Jim Rice is a real borderline call. Rice, Andre Dawson & Dale Murphy are all the same, although I would rank Murphy and Dawson ahead of Rice because of Gold Gloves to go along with MVP's.

Ricky Henderson should be a lock today. Jack Morris deserves to be in as does Bert Blyleven. Andre Dawson should also be in. I also think Murphy belongs in based on ...[text shortened]... l years and the reluctance the voters and the committee have shown to large induction classes.

Jim Rice was feared for 12 out of about 15 years of play.

He made it, and it was well deserved.

He also could drive a ball to the green on a par 4 consistently. If he's not YOUR HERO, you just don't know him.

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Originally posted by Phlabibit
Jim Rice was feared for 12 out of about 15 years of play.

He made it, and it was well deserved.

He also could drive a ball to the green on a par 4 consistently. If he's not YOUR HERO, you just don't know him.

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A pity vote.

Originally posted by Phlabibit
Jim Rice was feared for 12 out of about 15 years of play.

He made it, and it was well deserved.

He also could drive a ball to the green on a par 4 consistently. If he's not YOUR HERO, you just don't know him.

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You know, if you will recall, at the same time that Rice was being "feared" as a hitter in the AL, another guy was feared in the NL, but he is not now, nor should he ever be considered for the HOF. The player is George Foster. There was also Dave Kingman who either hit a bomb a mile long or struckout. He should not be in the Hall either. Rice was mediocre defensively. Richie "call me Dick" Allen was another contemporary of Rice's who was feared as a hitter but does not merit HOF consideration.

Andre Dawson played on a much worse club, on bad knees and was a much better overall player than was Jim Rice. I also contend that Dale Murphy was as well, but longevity will cost him. As far as a grat clutch hitter that may never get in but does deserve consideration in my opinion is Steve Garvey. Ron Santo also deserves consideration, but I believe he was on the cusp and will probably not gain admission.

While Rice was a very good player, I am not sure he was better than some who are still not in. Tony Oiva is another player who was a great hitter and deserves more consideration than he has gotten. I believe Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris should have gotten in and hopefully will in the near future, but with all of the retirees coming up in the next few years, it will be difficult. Lee Smith will gain some following as well, but I think the relievers are a bit diluted right now and it may be a while for Smith.

I don't think it is fair to compare Rice to Kingman. Rice was at the top of his career one, in not the, best hitters in the AL. Kingman just hit the ball far. Rice had a career .298 batting average and .352 OBP (Dawson has a .279 and .323 which really hurts him and in a lot of voters mind is greater than the difference in their defense).

Originally posted by quackquack
I don't think it is fair to compare Rice to Kingman. Rice was at the top of his career one, in not the, best hitters in the AL. Kingman just hit the ball far. Rice had a career .298 batting average and .352 OBP (Dawson has a .279 and .323 which really hurts him and in a lot of voters mind is greater than the difference in their defense).

Oh, but you miss a very big difference between Rice's and Dawson'snumbers. Dawson had little help for the bulk of his career (Gary Carter and Tim Raines part of their careers), whereas Rice had a much better group of talent playing with him including Fred Lynn, Carlton Fisk, Yaz, Dwight Evans, Mike Geenwell and let's not forget the DH which put another legitimate bat at the end of the lineup and more RBI's produced because of it. Flip flop the two and I believe Hawk outperforms Rice for their careers.

Free Pete Rose

Originally posted by PocketKings
Free Pete Rose

I agree whole-heartedly Rose deserves to be in as does Joe Jackson, as does Roger Clemens (when he is eligible).

If you can put Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt, Juan Marichal and Reggie Jackson in, then surely these men are justified as well. I can go on because the criminals run deep in the HOF.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
I agree whole-heartedly Rose deserves to be in as does Joe Jackson, as does Roger Clemens (when he is eligible).

If you can put Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt, Juan Marichal and Reggie Jackson in, then surely these men are justified as well. I can go on because the criminals run deep in the HOF.

Agreed. Those guys have to go in someday, but maybe they won't live to see it. As long as I live I won't forget what they gave the game.

Originally posted by Phlabibit
Jim Rice was feared for 12 out of about 15 years of play.

He made it, and it was well deserved.

He also could drive a ball to the green on a par 4 consistently. If he's not YOUR HERO, you just don't know him.

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very interesting vote.

Dawson will make it next year.

I think these are less of a vote for Rice and Dawson and more of a vote against McGwire.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
Oh, but you miss a very big difference between Rice's and Dawson'snumbers. Dawson had little help for the bulk of his career (Gary Carter and Tim Raines part of their careers), whereas Rice had a much better group of talent playing with him including Fred Lynn, Carlton Fisk, Yaz, Dwight Evans, Mike Geenwell and let's not forget the DH which put another ...[text shortened]... uced because of it. Flip flop the two and I believe Hawk outperforms Rice for their careers.

Dawson also played with Al Oliver -- another good hitter who batted in teh aprt of th eline up he did. The Expos had a nice top of the line up and speed that Boston did not have. I probably would not have voted for either, but when they are playing (obviously before you get perspective) I felt that in the late 70s Rice was the best hitter in the league and I never felt that way about Dawson.

Originally posted by quackquack
Dawson also played with Al Oliver -- another good hitter who batted in teh aprt of th eline up he did. The Expos had a nice top of the line up and speed that Boston did not have. I probably would not have voted for either, but when they are playing (obviously before you get perspective) I felt that in the late 70s Rice was the best hitter in the league and I never felt that way about Dawson.

Al Oliver was in the twilight of his career when he played in Montreal, and he never displayed much power. He was a good gap hitter and a good average hitter though. Lynn, Evan and Greenwell all struck more fear in opposing pitchers than Oliver did. Fisk and Carter were about equal. Yaz offset Raines offense. Plus, in the NL, the pitcher hit 9th while Dawson hit 3rd. Lots of missed RBI possibilities.

In any event, you either liked them or you didn't. As I said before, the best of all three was Dale Murphy and he just left the game too early.