Morris Buttermaker once said that a tie was like kissing your sister. That’s pretty much how I feel about yesterday’s hall of fame voting. In this case Jack Morris is my sister.
Allow me to explain.
Jack Morris received 66.7% of the vote yesterday. This was a substantial jump from his 53.5% in 2011. Every player who has received more than 63% at some point during their candidacy, has eventually been elected to the hall fame. There is a very strong possibility Jack Morris will be in the hall of fame next year or the year after.
Unfortunately, Jack Morris has no business being in the Baseball Hall of Fame. According to baseball-reference he is 134th in career pitching WAR. That’s right ahead of Brad Radke, who appeared on the ballot for the first time this year. Radke received two votes.
Jack Morris made 14 straight opening day starts. This might be the lamest argument ever made for Hall of Fame worthiness. (Photo courtesy of MLB)
The case against Morris has been well established by writers much smarter and talented than myself. David Schoenfield, Greg Spira, Colin Wyers, Craig Calcaterra and particularly Dan Szymborski have all clearly articulated, that while being a very good pitcher, Jack Morris is by no measure a hall of fame player.
And yet if Morris is elected to the Hall of Fame it can only help Mike Mussina. Mussina is vastly superior to Morris in nearly every statistical category. The apparent tipping point for Morris’ HOF case is his stellar post season history. Mussina has him beat there too. Moose has a lower career postseason ERA, walk rate and hit rate. He had a higher strikeout rate and a K to BB rate more than twice that of Morris.
A Hall of Fame with Jack Morris makes it much easier to have a Hall of Fame with Mike Mussina. We’re willing to go ahead and kiss that sister if it helps the Moose.
Quick thoughts on the rest of the voting:
- It’s great to see Alan Trammell making up some ground. This is probably a function of a weak ballot with very few worthy entries this year, but perhaps it can spur Trammell’s candidacy going forward. Trammell’s career WAR is only two less than 2012 inductee Barry Larkin.
- It’s still a travesty that Lou Whitaker (who had a better career WAR than Larkin) dropped off the ballot after one year. The writers need to come out and apologize for this.
- It appears that Bagwell and Raines might be getting their due. Both players increased their vote percentage by more than 10%. They should both be elected some day and both richly deserve it.
- Juan Gonzalez dropped off the ballot after failing to receive more than 5% of the vote. Has any two-time league MVP in any sport ever received less Hall of Fame discussion?
Here’s Moose throwing out the first pitch on a Yankee game last year. Check out Mussina’s sick goatee.
