Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Roger Clemens don’t have the integrity, sportsmanship or

[Mike D.]

Maybe it’s the residual Platonist in me, but I tend to think the answer is fewer, better qualified voters, not more.

Maybe not quite the 12-16 voters of the various veterans committees (too small has its issues too), but not hundreds or thousands.

And you want a qualified writer, analyst, TV or web writer, or even former player or fan…someone who understands, cares, and will do the research and analysis required.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Maybe it’s the residual Platonist in me, but I tend to think the answer is fewer, better qualified voters, not more.

Maybe not quite the 12-16 voters of the various veterans committees (too small has its issues too), but not hundreds or thousands.

And you want a qualified writer, analyst, TV or web writer, or even former player or fan…someone who understands, cares, and will do the research and analysis required.

Completely agree, Mike. I think a smaller panel would be better. The inaugural class had 226 voters, that should be the cap, I think.

[jiw98]

Maybe it should be that the players do the voting. Who should know more than those that actually played the game.
Or maybe a point system. Earn the number of points needed to qualify and your in.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by jiw98

Maybe it should be that the players do the voting. Who should know more than those that actually played the game.
Or maybe a point system. Earn the number of points needed to qualify and your in.

Too many players would probably just vote for their friends.

[GasHouseGang]

I think they should contact people on baseball card websites to vote for the HOF, because obviously we are interested in baseball and highly intelligent.

[egri]

If the results on the ballot tracker hold, this year's class will be Bonds, Clemens and Ortiz.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by egri

If the results on the ballot tracker hold, this year's class will be Bonds, Clemens and Ortiz.

LOL, nice they make Clemens and Bonds wait 10 years and Ortiz gets in the first year.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by bnorth

LOL, nice they make Clemens and Bonds wait 10 years and Ortiz gets in the first year.

When you're likable, its ok to cheat.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by egri

If the results on the ballot tracker hold, this year's class will be Bonds, Clemens and Ortiz.

There's usually a pretty solid drop off from what is listed on the tracker vs. what actually comes to be. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up seeing zero players from the traditional ballot, and the only players that end up going in are the ones from the Golden Era.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by Seven

There's usually a pretty solid drop off from what is listed on the tracker vs. what actually comes to be. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up seeing zero players from the traditional ballot, and the only players that end up going in are the ones from the Golden Era.

Yes, I’m not sure what the average drop off is, but it happens.

It makes sense…not to generalize, but those that don’t make their votes public typically aren’t still active writers (for working writers, it’s basically one or more “easy” columns a year talking about your ballot). And these writers (again, in general are less likely to appreciate modern stats, have seen the players regularly, etc.).

Also, the modern players aren’t as good as the stars from when they were 12 years old.