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  • Modern Era Ballot Full Of Flaws

    Cody Christie

    By Cody Christie

    Baseball’s election process for the Hall of Fame isn’t perfect. Strong candidates get skipped over. Top level players are left off ballots because of the 10 vote limit per ballot. Twins fans are well aware of the flawed process with players like Bert Blyleven, who eventually got in, and Tony Oliva, who is still waiting for the call.

    In order to address some of these flaws, MLB has created what some call a “back door” into the Hall of Fame. The 16-member Eras Committee (formerly known as the Veterans Committee) considers players from baseball’s different eras. This year’s ballot includes 10 names from the Modern Era (1970-1987).

    Image courtesy of Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

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    Candidates must receive 12 of the 16 votes in order to get elected. Each member of the committee can vote for a maximum of five candidates. Since 2009, only two players have been elected through this process, Ron Santo and Deacon White.

    Will Morris Get His Call?

    Some fans who grew up watching the Modern Era are surprised that Jack Morris isn’t already in the Hall. Morris topped out at 67% of the vote on his 14th time on the BBWAA ballot. Morris left his mark on the Twins organization with his 10 inning shutout in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. Other than that, his resume is lacking. He has a career 3.90 ERA and his career WAR of 43.8 doesn’t exactly scream Hall of Fame. Morris was part of three World Series winners and he had the most wins in the 1980’s (for what that’s worth). There are worse players in the Hall and I think other players feel like he should be part of their elite group.

    Are There Other Deserving Names?

    Alan Trammell and Marvin Miller also have a chance at being elected. Trammell has similar stats to Barry Larkin who was elected on his third BBWAA ballot. He has the eight-best WAR among shortstops which is the highest WAR total for an eligible shortstop candidate who hasn’t been elected. Miller, the former head of the MLB Players Association, missed being elected by one vote in 2010. With Bud Selig’s election last year, it should pave the way for Miller to be enshrined. Unfortunately, he has passed on since his last time on the ballot.

    Who Was Missed?

    With nine players and Miller on the ballot, there wasn’t much room for other non-players. In previous years, George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin were on the ballot. Don Mattingly made the ballot while Keith Hernandez was left off. Even though Hernandez accumulated a WAR total that is 18 points higher than Mattingly. Other names that were missed were players like Dwight Evans, Bobby Grich, Willie Randolph, and Lou Whitaker. All of these players accumulated a WAR of over 65. Some of the other names on the ballot just don’t stack up when compared to those left off the ballot.

    What are your thoughts? Will Morris finally get the call? Who was the biggest snub? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

    Cody Christie is a Twins writer and content contributor. His writing can be found exclusively at Twins Daily and his voice can be heard on radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. Outside of the Twins, he is a father, high school teacher, and avid runner.
    Follow Cody Christie on Twitter: nodaktwinsfan

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    OldManWinter

    OldManWinter 31

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    If I had a vote, Jack Morris would be enshrined!

     

    It is not possible to fairly rate players against each other, even as a HOF candidate or a minimum accomplishment for HOF enshrinement. HOF credentials are very individual.

     

    Morris was a star among stars as an active player, better than his peers and better than many members already enshrined.

     

    Oliva and Kaat would be members by now if I voted too.

     

    Both players careers were cut short by significant injuries. But, IMO still had sufficient credentials even if post injury performances were less than before!

     

    No doubt players from other teams have been equally snubbed.

     

    I say the standard should credit players for their accomplishments, not hold them out because of an obscure miss of a hurdle.

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    mikelink45

    mikelink45 10,958

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Yes, ERAs went up that high since 1993, yet Mussina (who started in '96) still bested Morris' ERA by half a run.

     

    ERA+ compares how a pitcher's ERA compares to others in their time.  Mussina's is 123, Morris is 105.  That's a considerable difference.  Means Morris' ERA was 5% better than league average while Mussina's was 23% better than league average.  

     

    Mussina's K rate was 7.0/9, his walk rate was 2.0/9, his WHIP was 1.192.

    Morris' K rate was 5.8/9, his walk rate was 3.3/9, his WHIP was 1.296.

     

    Mussina's playoff ERA: 3.42, with a 9.3K, and 2.1 BB/9
    Morris' playoff ERA: 3.80, with a 6.2K/9 and 3.1 BB/9.

     

    Mussina was way better than Morris even in the playoffs.

     

    And as far as new stats go, Mussina has 82.2 fWAR.  Morris 55.8.

    You write a good post and have great stats.  Its hard to explain why I would still take Morris, but that is the truth. 

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    ThejacKmp

    ThejacKmp 2,978

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Marvin Miller not being in the hall is the biggest travesty. If you made a list of the five people who changed baseball the most, Marvin Miller would be on that list and could rightfully be at the top. It is a travesty that baseball's owners have blackballed him from the Hall - especially because he undoubtedly made them money. Miller paved the path for baseball to go big business, forcing the owners to get the players on board to expand the game the way it currently is.

     

    It's so sad he never got to go in during his lifetime. No one loved baseball more and no one did more to make baseball the game it is today. It's only America's irrational hatred of union leaders that keeps his absence from being a front page story every election year.

     

    Ugh.

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    ThejacKmp

    ThejacKmp 2,978

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    In games he started where there was a save chance but he stayed in, he was 49 of 52 (94%) akin to Dennis Eckersley in his MVP and Cy Young season.

     

     

    This is a fascinating stat. Someone should do an article about this (probably can't do much in modern baseball because it happens so infrequently) but it would be a fascinating view of baseball history to see who could have used a closer and who didn't really miss one.

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    biggentleben

    biggentleben 2,583

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Marvin Miller not being in the hall is the biggest travesty. If you made a list of the five people who changed baseball the most, Marvin Miller would be on that list and could rightfully be at the top. It is a travesty that baseball's owners have blackballed him from the Hall - especially because he undoubtedly made them money. Miller paved the path for baseball to go big business, forcing the owners to get the players on board to expand the game the way it currently is.

     

    It's so sad he never got to go in during his lifetime. No one loved baseball more and no one did more to make baseball the game it is today. It's only America's irrational hatred of union leaders that keeps his absence from being a front page story every election year.

     

    Ugh.

     

    Thing is that he asked not to be inducted if he wasn't by the time he passed. Many feel his nomination now is disrespectful to his wishes.

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    The Wise One

    The Wise One 689

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    You write a good post and have great stats.  Its hard to explain why I would still take Morris, but that is the truth. 

    Morris was about the only significant change on a last place team that ended up winning a WS. That is not something that Mussina could ever claim. Morris was a leader, Mussina? IDK.  Sometimes the beauty contest is about intangibles and humans  rather than just cold statistics. 

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    biggentleben

    biggentleben 2,583

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Morris was about the only significant change on a last place team that ended up winning a WS. That is not something that Mussina could ever claim. Morris was a leader, Mussina? IDK.  Sometimes the beauty contest is about intangibles and humans  rather than just cold statistics. 

     

    Except that you had the rookie of the year, Chuck Knoblauch, Mike Pagliarulo, Scott Leius, a guy who finished with votes for MVP, Chili Davis, and basically an entire new setup crew - Mark Guthrie, Carl Willis, and Steve Bedrosian. The 1991 team was a big makeover from that 1990 team. Don't kid yourself.

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    jmlease1

    jmlease1 6,071

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    This question or point certainly doesn't hold water but I think it would be interesting to ask those who are in the Hall who faced Morris if they feel he is HOF worthy or not?   

     

    It might be interesting, but I wouldn't expect it to be informative. Players are notorious for overrating the guys they played with/against.

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