Schools across the state are closed today. Of course, they didn't announce it around here until after I got the Trinket up to start getting ready. She was pretty upset about it, which is both good that she likes going and bad that she gets really upset about something out of my control.
Humorously, though, the local news keeps telling us how terrible it is out there but showing video of traffic moving as normal...
I would suggest that getting really upset about things out of our control is not something that is exclusive to children.
Where's that "like" button?
Hall of Fame announcement comes out tomorrow. How about a prediction contest on who wins (not who should win). Here's a list of nominees and how many years on the ballot.
Jeff Bagwell 7th
Casey Blake 1st
Barry Bonds 5th
Pat Burrell 1st
Orlando Cabrera 1st
Mike Cameron 1st
Roger Clemens 5th
J.D. Drew 1st
Vladimir Guerrero 1st
Carlos Guillén 1st
Trevor Hoffman 2nd
Jeff Kent 4th
Derrek Lee 1st
Edgar Martínez 8th
Fred McGriff 8th
Melvin Mora 1st
Mike Mussina 4th
Magglio Ordóñez 1st
Jorge Posada 1st
Tim Raines 10th
Manny Ramirez 1st
Edgar Rentería 1st
Arthur Rhodes 1st
Iván Rodríguez 1st
Freddy Sanchez 1st
Curt Schilling 5th
Gary Sheffield 3rd
Lee Smith 15th
Sammy Sosa 5th
Matt Stairs 1st
Jason Varitek 1st
Billy Wagner 2nd
Tim Wakefield 1st
Larry Walker 7th
Well only 5 have a shot: Bagwell, Raines, Hoffman, Vlad, Pudge.
I predict the first 3 get in, with the latter two over 70%
the Baseball Hall of Fame Tracker is here.
Judging by the ballots made public so far, Bagwell and Raines will get in; Vlad, Pudge, and Hoffman are knocking on the door.
I find it interesting that of 1st-time voters in that self-identified sample, Bonds and Clemens both got 11 of 12, but on the 7 anonymous ballots, they only got 4.
I also find it ridiculous that MannyBManny is at under 24 percent. WTF? A career OPS+ of 154, 2500+ hits, 500+ HRs, 69.2 rWAR, 10th all-time LFer on JAWS (there are 19 in the HOF and he ranks above average against that set).
Of course, I also find it ridiculous that Bonds and Clemens are still on the outside looking in.
Although it's nice to know where the players stand, the tracker kind of takes the fun out of predictions. How about a (non-binding for Half-Baked Hall) WGOM ballot instead of predictions?
MannyBManny has two PED pops against him, the second of which precipitated his retirement (which he later revoked). I'm not entirely surprised that voters are holding two post-testing PED incidents* against him, regardless of his on-field performance talent & performance.
*Two more than Bonds, Clemens, Bagwell, etc.
Looking at the tracker, the only Twin Cities BBWAA member I recognize is Berardino, who voted for Bagwell, E. Martinez, Mussina, Raines, I. Rodriguez, and L. Walker. I don't follow much of the TC sports media, but I had assumed that LENIII, Reusee, and the Poultry Man had voting privileges.
Interesting that JoePos has not made his ballot public yet. Presumably tomorrow?
Reusse has stated he'll release his vote after the election. I think he has did that every since since he has been on Twitter.
Reusse's on Twitter? I guess "GET OFF MY LAWN" is fewer than 140 characters.
Didn't I read they were all going to be public this year?
The rule change take in effect next year.
Bags & Raines, although HOF tracker says Pudge too
What's interesting is that there's not a lot on that list outside the top 5 who will ever make it. Obviously the issue of Bonds and Clemons needs to be addressed but who else eventually makes it?
Edgar and Mussina have not zero chances. Schilling maybe later if he redeems himself a bit.
Bonds and Clemens will get in eventually, somehow.
The HoF should keep the spaces on either side of Seligula open for Bonds' & Clemens' plaques.
The difference between Ryne Sandberg (11th all-time 2b) & Jeff Kent (19th) is 12.3 rWAR. The difference between Larry Walker (12 all-time RF) and Vlad Guerrero (22nd) is 13.3 rWAR.
If Vlad gets in and Walker falls off the ballot/runs out of eligibility, that's a real shame. If Sheffield gets in and Walker doesn't, that's an injustice.
Walker was aided by Coors Field and a favorable exchange rate with Canada.
Joak, right?
shya
It seemed loony enough, but my filter is jammed today.
it's becoming that kind of world
My prediction (I haven't looked at the HoF tracker website)
Well this was fun.
It wouldn't (and shouldn't) happen today.
survivor's fallacy, et cetera
also, pre-Flood, when talent were serfs. Owners could make money by abusing their serfs in the short run.
I thought all of that was clearly spelled out with my "et cetera"
Apparently the '81 Fleer set was formative for this writer.
1981, the height of the "error card" phenomenon thanks to rookie years (more or less) of Donruss and Fleer
The next year, 1962, Williams was a significantly worse pitcher. His ERA went from 3.90 to 4.46, his WHIP went from 1.36 to 1.52, his FIP went from 3.45 to 4.16, his k/9 went from 7.8 to 5.2. I can't prove that his workload in 1961 is the reason why, but it seems reasonable to conclude it was a factor.
The flu sucks!
*steps back several paces* I'll take your word for it.