He represents everything great about old school baseball players, plus he has the hits. Hopefully these dip#### voters will pull their head out of their ass next year and do the right thing.
This is a valid point if all or most of the voters were big believers in the new stats and analytics but we know most of them aren't. They're basing their votes on personal preference/bias which makes it even more frustrating because Biggio should be in the Hall already based on numbers (3000 hits) and his place as one of the top 2-3 best 2nd Baseman of his generation where you could conceivably move him, Alomar and Kent around any which way.
Technically... he's in the majority as both Bagwell and Biggio are receiving 50+% of the vote. Biggio is simply trapped in a numbers game right now because of the silly 10-player cap (coupled with the PED witch hunt). He is going to get in, guaranteed. And five years from now, no one will care (much) that it took him three years (it's not like they engrave that on your plaque). There are basically four segments of voters: 1) smart, progressive voters who recognize the greatness of Bagwell and will overlook the PED issue; 2) smart, progressive voters who recognize the greatness of Bagwell but can't overlook the PED issue; 3) dumb, old voters who will overlook the PED issue but can't recognize the greatness of Bagwell; 4) dumb, old voters who can't overlook the PED issue, period and paint with a very large, and stupid, brush. The group we need to target is #3; groups #2 and (especially) #4 aren't moving. Right or wrong, they've taken their stand and that's that. Fortunately, group #3 is larger than we think - which, on the one hand, is sad; but also hopeful because, as Barry Bloom has proven, it's a group that can be poked and prodded.
So, you're saying he's not one of the better/best 10 on the ballot. Good to know! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Add me to list RT <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN">@Buster_ESPN</a>: Already have seen more than two writers indicate they would've voted for Biggio if not for the Rule of 10.</p>— Seth Livingstone (@SethLivingstone) <a href="https://twitter.com/SethLivingstone/statuses/421032827753623553">January 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Craig Biggio missed Hall of Fame by 2 votes. I didn't vote him b/c 10 is max. He was 11 on my ballot. Time for BBWAA to change max rules?</p>— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobMaaddi/statuses/420998273113944064">January 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
These idiots should not have the right to vote in any election. Even if you include clemens/bonds on your ballot, there is no way not to have room for Biggio. It seems like a lot of HOF voters are using their voting privileges to be celebrities. They should make it a secret ballot to where the voters cant post on twitter about who they did/didn't vote for Keep the Max 10 rule. If they raise that number, the list of players that stay each year would get crazy.
lol, Armando Benitez <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Can we take the two votes given to J.T. Snow and give them to Biggio please? God.</p>— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) <a href="https://twitter.com/craigcalcaterra/statuses/420996824648777728">January 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Armando Benitez got a vote! I hope we find out that ballot didn't have Biggio.</p>— Will Leitch (@williamfleitch) <a href="https://twitter.com/williamfleitch/statuses/420994442397380608">January 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Brett Dolan chimes in You have got to be kidding me? Two votes? Two stinking votes kept Craig Biggio from the Hall of Fame. Cooperstown is worth the wait but it still stings. Craig won’t complain but I am under no such constraints. Hello sportswriters, don’t make me count to 3,060. That’s how many hits #7 produced. Only four players who have reached that number have yet to be voted into the Hall. One is Pete Rose and he isn’t eligible and another, Rafael Palmeiro, will have problems with steroid issues. Derek Jeter is the fourth and he is almost a certain first ballot lock five years after he retires. Here is another accomplishment to chew on- no right handed hitter in the game’s history has more doubles (668) than Biggio. Digest that one for a second. He is 15th all time in runs scored. Isn’t that the objective of the game? He was a seven-time all star. He played on four division winning teams and two Wild Cards, including 2005 when that club won the National League pennant and advanced to the World Series. He won five Silver Slugger Awards and four Gold Gloves. He owns the National League record for most lead off home runs. And a partridge in a pear tree. Apparently it wasn’t quite enough to get into the Hall for 2014. Did I mention he was hit by a pitch a modern record 285 times? It kind of feels like we all took a fastball in the ribs doesn’t it? I joined the Astros as a rookie radio announcer in 2006 when the team was fresh off a World Series appearance. The club was filled with stars: Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte and later that year, Roger Clemens. Bagwell’s career was cut short by injury. The others left via trades or free agency. Only one remained until the end. I was hoping to join so many Astros fans in celebrating him and his career today. Instead I am reminded on an incident in 2006 when the Astros were in Chicago to play the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. I went to the stadium early and Craig and his son Conor were trying to get into the tunnel leading to the visiting clubhouse. The attendant in the main lobby wasn’t sure who he was and insisted on seeing some identification. As I stood behind the Biggios, I looked over at the mural of the first pitch of the ’05 Series covering the entire wall. I told the security guard, if you want to know who he is, look in the batter’s box. He is batting. Same guy. Let him in. I would like to tell the writers who failed to vote for Craig the same thing. Let him in. Don’t get me started on the Hall of Fame voting process. It is flawed and possibly broken. I will save that diatribe for another day. I came into today preparing to celebrate Biggio’s career and I am going to do that regardless of the fact he came two stinking votes short. I told Craig several times I can’t imagine anyone being able to write your script in life- let alone sports. It just doesn’t work that way. But #7 came awfully close. He got to play with one team his entire career, play alongside some incredible teammates and make post-season baseball in Houston almost accepted instead of a pipe dream. The Jersey native made Texas his home and raised his three kids in the community that he became so active in with his charitable endeavors. Craig became synonymous with the Sunshine Kids and was so aptly recognized with the Roberto Clemente Award in 2007, an award given annually to a player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team. Those contributions to his team were special. As fans, we recognize and honor athletes who can perform amazing feats, put up staggering numbers or who are amazingly consistent. There is a special place reserved for those that can put up fantastic numbers consistently. It is called the Hall of Fame. Craig Biggio will get into the Hall of Fame, probably even next year, but it stings that it didn’t happen today. It brings me back to being able to write your own script. The night of his 3,000th hit was a great example. I was supposed to have the call of the game in the 7th inning. Craig came to the plate sitting on 2,999. I deferred the call of the at bat to Milo. I would have loved the opportunity and challenge to describe Astros baseball history. But it seemed like the right thing to do. Instead I had one of the best seats in the house and a chance to do something I haven’t been able to do in 20 years as a play-by-play broadcaster. Turn off my mic and observe. Biggio blistered a pitch from Aaron Cook into right-field, he sprinted around first base on a dash towards possibly another double, before he was thrown out. Out at second, but in the 3,000 hit club. He became one of just ten players to reach that plateau with one team. I stood and silently applauded, enjoying the moment as much as the fans. Craig’s wife Patty and their three children were soon on the field. Then Jeff Bagwell came out of the dugout, being drug back between the white lines by his long time friend and teammate, allowing that duo to be recognized together at the signature event. Craig said later he told Jeff he promised to pay part of the fine should Major League Baseball levy one. Bagwell quickly pointed out that Craig agreed to pay “part” of a possible fine. Who writes this stuff? At home, sell-out crowd, beautiful family and great friend and teammate all on the field to celebrate the moment? We almost forget that he went 5-5 that day and Carlos Lee hit a walk-off grand slam in the tenth inning. We don’t and won’t forget the moment on the field after the hit. I was lucky enough to be on the field to interview Craig right after his final game in 2007 before he took a victory lap around a sold out stadium in an otherwise forgettable season. That is a moment I will never forget. But there is one that even rises above the final weekend. It was the day he announced his retirement in June of 2007. After the press conference I interviewed him for the pre-game show. Just Craig and his family in a semi-circle in the media room underneath the stadium. A few hours later he hit a grand slam to beat the Dodgers. After the game I grabbed Craig again, for a post-game radio interview. Just #7 and myself as the dugout cleared and we waited to go live. I have a picture of the two of us in that interview. It is enclosed in the autographed and framed #7 jersey that hangs on the wall of my office. I look at it every single day. A game winning grand slam on the day you announced your retirement? Again, who writes this stuff? I would love to have that script writer back. Apparently he or she took today off. Please come back soon, preferably next year. When they write a final chapter to Craig Biggio’s playing career, we know where it will end up, Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. It may not feel much like it today, but it will be worth the wait.
2 votes...Fck the BBWAA...Cant believe that arguably the best Astro ever gets jobbed two years in a row... I could understand if Bag's didnt get in, but Biggio shouldve. Da.mn pr.cks from the East Coast...I really am pssed.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/01/08/craig-biggio-falls-short-of-hall-of-fame/ ... Ken Gurnick from MLB.com dismissed the entire class from the so-called “steroids era” and submitted a ballot with only one vote for Jack Morris. Former New York Times baseball columnist Murray Chass snubbed Bagwell, Biggio, Bonds and Clemens, citing them on a list of players that he said were either proved to have cheated, admitted it or were suspected to have cheated. “If I have doubts about a guy for the Hall of Fame, I don’t vote for a guy,” said veteran MLB.com writer Marty Noble, who says he decided to omit Biggio from his ballot after some former players accused the Astro of using steroids. “I know what I heard and know the tone of voice that I heard from a lot of players. I really don’t have any idea how many I spoke with over the course of a week. It was probably a whole week.” ... Comcast Sportsnet New England’s Sean McAdam, who has covered the Red Sox for 25 years, voted for Bagwell but not Biggio or Clemens. “While he was a very, very good player for a long time, to me he didn’t quite meet the standard of dominance that I set for players that I vote for, for Cooperstown,” McAdam said of Biggio. “One of the things that jumped out at me, here’s a guy who played 20 years and in only three seasons did he receive MVP votes, and only two of those were Top 5. “To me if you’re going to be elected to the Hall of Fame, you don’t necessarily need to be an MVP but you have to be in the conversation more than twice in 20 years. I voted for five players, and that’s the most I’ve voted for in 15 years.” McAdam voted for Bagwell, Maddux, Glavine, Thomas and Curt Schilling, another former Astros who fell shy of the 75 percent threshold needed. ... ...
This is where the steroids argument cuts both ways against Biggio. If you think he did steroids because you're sisters's best friend's cousins told you so at 31 Flavors, then you keep him out for that. If you don't, you dismiss his stats and cite MVP voting in an era where others WERE using and had hugely inflated numbers that make Biggio's accomplishments look less than they really were. Fantastic.
People hate Ken Caminiti, and so everybody on that team is being held to the fire. I can't help but think that this is also small market vs big market. People either didn't watch the astros back then or they have a grudge against them. Tim kurkjian called Bagwell a top 10 first basement of all time EVER and some have him top 5. What really gets me is that Piazza looks on track to get in next year (he increased his votes), whereas Bagwell went backwards. Tell me what the difference in Piazza is to Bagwell? Big market, the dodgers. I'm telling you it is shameful that Piazza and Thomas are getting in but Bagwell won't for a while. Shameful.
As I said before, "Biggio falling two votes shy" is the lead story for any national network's HOF coverage... and that only helps his cause. I also think it helps his cause when the people try to "defend" their non-vote by throwing out arbitrary things like "MVP voting" (another voting system), and "He played 20 years! of course he's going to get numbers!" (show me the list of non-pitchers who played 20 years, and I bet each of them were excellent players, maybe not all Hall worthy but then again they didn't accumulate the numbers that Biggio did). What's next? "We aren't voting for Biggio any more because if he was good enough, he would have gotten in on the first two ballots..." Hopefully the few writers brave (or dumb) enough to come out and try to defend their non-vote against Biggio by looking at his "stats" and his "career" will be flooded and inundated with the same "stats" and same "career track" that makes him worthy of being in the HOF in the first place.
I think people are ever-so slightly overrating Craig Biggio. I think he’s an absolute Hall of Famer. More, I think him getting ensnared in a silly numbers game of the Hall’s own doing and/or a fruitless PED witch hunt is remarkably bogus. But…. I don’t think he’s no-brainer top 10; not in this crowd. Setting PEDs aside, Bonds, Clemens, Maddux, Thomas, Piazza, Bagwell and Palmiero are unquestionably better players/candidates. And Glavine (who I was less bullish on than the voters, apparently), Raines, Martinez, Mussina, Schilling, McGwire and Sosa could all very easily be ranked ahead of Biggio. Whatever their ranking, that’s 13 very qualified candidates beyond Biggio – and, frankly, Kent and Walker are probably in the mix, too. (In fact, Kent becoming eligible probably hurt Biggio as much as anything; 87 people voted for Kent and I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think that at least some of those 87 voters picked Kent instead of Biggio). He’ll get in. But I don’t think his lack of induction is terribly egregious, nor do I think it’s a terrible slight – it’s a numbers game. The ballot is overstuffed with no relief in sight (though finally getting the thoroughly undeserving Morris off the ballot will help, too). A cap of ten players is crippling the voters as is, frankly, the low standard for staying on the ballot. (Why is Kent staying on? He received 15% of the vote; that should equal elimination – nix the bottom six who are still eligible, but with less than 100 votes, and you’d free up 363 votes.)
My friend pointed out a slight silver lining. On the bright side, had Biggio made it in this year he would have been over shadowed by the two Atlanta pitchers. They were going to take the lion's share of press about those that made it.
I'm tired of the he was good, but not great argument. He was elite from 94-99 The strike seasons really killed him, if you project to full seasons 1994_125 Runs_55 SB_6.5 WAR 1995_141 Runs_38 SB_7.1 WAR 1996_113 Runs_25 SB_5.5 WAR 1997_146 Runs_47 SB_9.4 WAR 1998_123 Runs_50 SB_6.5 WAR 1999_123 Runs_28 SB_5.0 WAR He had a .306/.401/.473 slash, while playing solid (although certainly not GG ) defense at a typically low offensive position. Not to mention playing his home games at the notoriously pitcher friendly Astrodome. Derek Jeter never had a stretch that good, and his elite level will never be questioned.
